What’s On London: Family Concerts, Family Cinema, Giant Snail Caravan, CoderDojo and more
You can take your mind off current apocalyptic events and speeches by heading into London and taking in a concert, learning how to code or heading out to Garsons in Surrey to pick strawberries.
As part of my “I am not teaching this term” project, I am going to endeavour to post earlier in the week. Not that its much help for Londoners with children of a certain maturity who book their weekends months in advance, but on the off-chance your weekend is free … here you go. I also reorganised the events as they broke so nicely into performance, STEM, Nature and the usual Just for Baby this week. Please share any feedback or preferences.
Last thing, should you know anyone interested in learning more about Blogging, in creating engaging content and learning how to work with brands who are increasingly looking to work with micro-influencers (loyal following < 10,000) then book into Mothers and Shakers, How to Grow a Blog for a fun, intimate and hands on workshop where we take you through, step-by-step, how to gain your 10K loyal followers. We will be meeting in Marylebone, 12th October, 10:30-1pm.
Family Concerts and Performance This Weekend:
St. Martin-in-the-Field, Mini Maestro Family Concert: Sunday 23rd, 4:30pm. Vivaldi’s Four Seasons family-friendly and audience engaging performance. Tickets £10 adults, £8 children.
Royal Albert Hall, Classical for Kids - All About That Bass: Saturday 11am and 1:30pm. Join Albert’s Band double bass player Alice Kent for an hour of fantastic music from Bach, Saint-Saens and more… babies, buggies and siblings all welcome. Tickets £12.50 adults, £8.50 children.
Cadogan Hall, Southbank Sinfonia Family Concert: Saturday 11:30am. Learn about the orchestra, the sounds of the instruments and how one might begin to compose. Fabulous introduction to the orchestra. Tickets £10 adults, £6.50 children.
Japan Matsuri, Trafalgar Square: Sunday 10:30 start. Arrive early and head to the family activities for the kids to have a go at Manga, Origami, calligraphy and Japanese games. The festival will showcase food, music, dance, martial arts and dramatic performances. Free, all ages.
STEM and Gaming Events:
Soapbox CoderDojo: Saturday 1:30-5pm. This is a GREAT workshop for kids of all abilities and exposure to coding; especially completely clueless parents as there are separate children and adult classes. Booking required and you need to bring a laptop, but free!!
The Chocolate Museum, E-textiles Workshop: Saturday 2-4pm. Effraspace, Part of the Brixton Design Trail, children age 9-12 can book into a workshop and learn to create a simple circuit using conductive materials on fabric. Tickets £12.
Le Institute Francais, Game Lab: Saturday 2:30pm. Bring kids aged 6-12 to the Game Lab on Saturday for a workshop exploring Monument Valley and Dreii in easy French (and English for those completely lost). Free, booking required, and “drop-off!!!!!”.
British Museum, Build Roman Britain in Minecraft: Sunday 11am-1pm and 2-4pm. Use Roman objects around the museum to find out more about Roman Britain and then build it in Minecraft. Free, drop-in, limited spaces.
Outdoor and Nature Learning
Pick Your Own in Esher: read my review of heading out by train to Garsons in Surrey to help bring in the harvest. Great day out for all.
Holland Park Ecology Centre, Autumn Seeds: Saturday noon-4pm. Head to Holland Park and explore the beautiful Wildlife Area, stroll around the woodland, discover more about the trees and signs of autumn and take part in seasonal craft activities. This fantastic centre is located right in the Adventure Playground, so its a great day out for kids of all ages. Free, drop-in, all ages.
Allotment in Kensington Gardens, Harvest Festival: Sunday 24th, 11am-4pm. The Shire Horses and Millers Ark Petting Farm will be at the event, cards doll making, face painting, storytelling, and meet experts from the 10th Essex Regiment who can talk about life in WW1. The Giant Snail Caravan will be visiting were you will have a chance to take part in creative activities focusing on the park’s invertebrates. Free, drop-in all ages.
Just For Babies:
Wigmore Hall, For Crying Out Loud: Friday 22nd, 11am. Bring infants under 12 months for a casual concert by a Royal Academy of Music musician. Tickets just £8.50 per adult.
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
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
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: Kingsman: The Golden Circle. 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: Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
Big Scream, Ritzy Brixton: Fridays, 11am. This week Borg Vs. McEnroe and Kingsman: The Golden Circle 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.
Barbican Framed Film Club: Saturday 11am. This week’s programme: Jamila Gavin (author Coram Boy, Grandpa Chatterji) Presents: Azur and Asmar - The Princes’ Quest. The author will introduce the screening of this beautiful French film by Michel Ocelot (dubbed into English). Tickets just £3.50
BFI Families: Sunday 1:10pm. Albert Lamoriss’s classic, The Red Balloon. Tickets £8.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: Molly Monster,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: Molly Monster.
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature, The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature. 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.
