London Baby and Kids What’s On Guide
This Weekend for the Entire Family:
Open House Weekend: Saturday and Sunday. Open House London is a festival celebrating London’s amazing architecture. Check out Open House London and see if you can bring the baby to a grown-up tour or head over to the Open House Junior weekend, where all houses have children’s activities. My favourite is House of Sound’s Sonic Trail where you can listen to sculptural speakers that play what the site would have sounded like in a different age. If you head over to Paddington Central, there is a cluster of activities around Sheldon Square and Little Venice.
Horseman’s Sunday, St. John’s Hyde Park: this year marks the 50th anniversary of this special service to bless the horses of London. Bring the kids to watch a fantastic parade of horses and family-friendly activities. Service starts at 10am with the horse parade beginning at noon. Free, all ages.
Thames Sailing Barge Parade, Tower Bridge: Part of the Totally Thames Festival, bring the family to watch an amazing flotilla of classic Thames Sailing Barges arrive from Isle of Dogs. Tower Bridge will be fully open to welcome the tall ships into Pool of London. From midday, free, all ages.
Big Fish Little Fish, West London Pirate Rave: Head to Acklam Village Market under the Westways for a fantastic afternoon of DJs, dancing and drinks … just like the good old days, except its 1pm-3:30 not 1am-3:30am. Tickets £10
Bloomsbury Beginnings Wellbeing Incubator: Do you have an idea for a wellbeing business? Do you dream of starting a holistic therapy, fitness or coaching practice but you are not sure how to start? Join Bloomsbury Beginnings for a 6 week workshop where you will write your business plan and then go through the process of setting up your new business step by step with mentors who are successful mumprenuers themselves. Even better, there is an on-site creche for children under 5pm. Tuesdays 10:30am -12:30pm, from 26th September. £199-£343
For Older Kids and Perhaps their Younger Siblings
London Symphony Orchestra, Opera in a Day - The Faust Legend: Sunday 10am-4pm, Jerwood Hall. Spend the day exploring the legend of Faust and join in activities looking at what goes into making an opera while learning the story of Faust. Tickets £10 adults, £7 under 18s, ages 8+
Royal Academy, Family Studio: Sunday 11am-3pm. Check out the exhibit Second Nature: The Art of Charles Tunnicliffe and then draw your favourite feathered friends. Free, drop-in, all ages (exhibition is ticketed).
Le Institute Francais, Levitating Ships: Saturday 2:30-4pm. Part of the Thinker Club, children aged 9-12 can discover the mysteries behind magnetic fields and create their very own ship. £7 per child, bilingual and easy French.
Wigmore Hall, Open House Day: Bring the kids for a behind the scenes look at Wigmore Hall with free performances and workshops. Free, all ages.
For Babies:
Monkey Music is a great way to fit a music classes in around your nursery timetable and meet local mums. Classes are starting Monday 11th September, but there are a few afternoon opening in Belgravia and Pimlico. There are morning openings at Cineworld Cinema, Chelsea, St. Stephen’s Church Gloucester Road and The Hut in Chelsea. Right now, if you join with two other mums, the normal £18 booking fee is reduced to just £1 if you mention London Baby and Kids.
[email protected] or tel: 020 8767 9827
Baby Jazz at the Ranelagh: Wednesday 20th September, 11am-11:45. Head up to Wood Green to listen to Charlie, Miles, John, Ella, and more … with the baby!. £10 per adult.
Royal Albert Hall, Storytelling and Music Sessions: bring children ages 0-4 to Royal Albert Hall on Wednesdays for a magical experience with storytellers Paul Rubinstein and Becky Dixton where singing, storytelling and musical instruments are woven into one story session. £4, 11:30am
Dad and Baby Yoga, Half Moon Pub with PraSarita Yoga: Head to Half Moon pub with infants 2 months - 12 months old for a morning of yoga and beer! What could be better? Booking required, £10 per class. Contact 07954400705 or [email protected]
British Museum, Little Feet Go Greek: Thursday 21st September 11am-2pm: Move and stretch your body in the drop-in, free flow session inspired by ancient Greek sculpture and art. Under fives, parents and carers, free, drop-in.
Welcome Wednesdays: Wednesdays 10:30-11:15. Bring children 16 months to 5 years to the National Gallery for Art Adventures with Hannah Cushion. Ages 16 months - 5 years, tickets £5 per child.
Chelsea Swim Spa – head over to the most baby-friendly pool in London … The Chelsea Swim Spa. Find out more about this luxuriously warm, innovative pool for mothers and small children. Read my review here.
Pimlico Toy Library: Pimlico Toy Library his having a toys sale! Head to the Toy Library Monday 18th-Wendesday 20th, 9am-5pm. Thursday 21st the sale will be on from 9am-3pm. Here is chance to get some beautiful toys and support an extremely worthwhile charity.
Electric Cinema, Electric Scream: Mondays 11am. This week’s feature: The Odyssey. Bring babies under 12 months to this amazingly plush cinema, relax with some coffee and catch a flick.
Rich Mix, Parents and Babies: Monday noon, £6. This week’s screening: God’s Own Country.
Big Scream, Ritzy Brixton: Fridays, 11am. This week Mother and Victoria and Abdul are showing.
Family Cinema
Regent Street Cinema, Kino Club Films : You can now bring your children to London’s beautifully restored, sumptuous cinema for screenings of better than average children’s films on Saturdays. This week’s screening: The Emoji Movie (apparently, the movie is more tolerable than you might anticipate) 11:30am, just £1.75.
BFI Families: Sunday 2pm. My Life as a Courgette. Tickets £8. Sunday, 1pm.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: Spark,10:30. Tickets just £1 with £4 membership, popcorn and juice £2. (best £3 you will ever spend on a rainy Saturday)
Ritzy Picturehouse, Kids Club: Sunday 10:30. This Week’s screening: Spark.
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature, Eleanor’s Secret. Saturday 9:30am. Check out the Electric Cinema with its plush, red velvet beds, sofas and armchairs. Looks like a great way for Dad to occupy the kids on a Saturday morning.
