London Baby and Kids Weekend Guide
Family Events This Weekend:
Christmas in Belgravia: Saturday 2nd December, 10am-4pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. These street festivals are a very enjoyable way to kick off the season. On Saturday head to Orange Square for live music, market stalls and some fantastic entertainment for the kids. Sunday head to Elizabeth Street for market stall, choirs, brass bands and great family entertainment.
The National Army Museum, Christmas Recce Racers: Saturday and Sunday 10:30-4:30. The National Army Museum is a fantastic day out for the kids, this weekend you can see the museum, book into the Playbase and also learn about army reconnaissance and make your own vehicle to take home. Monkey Music is holding classes for babies and children on Thursday afternoons. Free, drop-in, all ages.
The Shop Up, Babyccino at Chelsea Town Hall, Sunday 3rd- Monday 4th December. Coming from someone who does not at all enjoy shopping, particularly with kids, I find this an enjoyable event. There are beautiful gifts from independent vendors and some diversions for the kids including children’s activities. Plus, Wilford Social is rumoured to be performing!!
Learning, Making and Doing Events:
Parasol Unit, Sunday Family Workshop: Sunday 2-4pm. Join artist Alexandra Hughes for workshop where children will explore crating fantastic sculptures from wooden sticks, rods, bamboo and other interesting materials. £2 per child, £3 for parent/carer, 5+, booking required.
Museum of Comedy, Children’s Magic Workshop: Saturday 1:30. Book the kids into an interactive workshops where they can learn to basics of magic. Ages 7-13, £15
Institute of Imagination, Tinker Wonderland: Saturday 10am-4pm. Head to Lambeth and enter a Christmas market where you can explore 25 interactive stalls where you can make a Rudolph mini circuit, make flashing light monster, design and 3D bring you own decorations, make your own bird feeder. Food and drink will be available for purchase, dress warmly as its cold. £6 entry, children age 6-12, drop-in, some activities will have a small additional charge to cover materials.
British Museum: Saturday 11am-4pm and Sunday 11am-4pm. On Saturday make your own digital lucky charm using BBC micro:bit (ages 13-15, free, drop in) or make your own Greek athlete using free screen technology (7+, free, drop in). On Sunday, bring the kids to a hands-on activities exploring the use of tables (ages 7+, free, drop in).
Conway Hall, Young Photographers London: Saturday 10am-noon. Book the kids into this creative photography course that engages and inspires children to learn the basics of digital photography. £35 for a two hour workshop, ages 8-11.
Performance and Theatre:
St. Martin in the Fields, Family Christmas Concert with Audience Carols: Saturday 4-5pm. Bring the family to listen to excerpts from Royal Fireworks, the Four Season and then join in singing of festive carols. Tickets from £8-£16, all ages.
Museum of Comedy, West End Magic Presents: Saturday 4pm. Bring the kids to a very entertaining magic show in a curious venue - the crypt of a church. For ages 5+, great fun for the entire family. Family ticket £35, adults £12.50, children £7.50.
Chelsea Theatre, Once Upon a Snowflake: Head to the World’s End for this very sweet, festive play using shadow puppets, storytelling and original songs. Ages 3+, tickets £12 adults, £9 for under 12s.
The Puppet Theatre Barge, The Little Christmas Tree: Head to Little Venice and experience the wonder of the Puppet Theatre Barge. This season you can enjoy the beautiful puppetry and stagecraft making The Little Christmas Tree. Age 3+, adults £12, children £8.50.
Kings Place, Aurora Orchestra - Far, Far Away, Tchaikovsky and the Marvellous Kingdom: Saturday and Sunday 10am, 11am and noon. The entire family can join the musicians to dance with dewdrops, spy on fairies and tussle with the Mouse King. Tickets £6.50 children, £8.50 adults, £21.50 family of 4. This aimed for children age 0-4.
Babies and Toddlers:
Are you and your baby looking to meet local mums, in a clean, pleasant space and take part in an enjoyable activity? Are you near Maida Vale, Marylebone, Notting Hill, High Street Kensington or Hampstead? Could I suggest you try out one of London’s premier baby and mum activity - Monkey Music. For a limited time, Monkey Music Maida Vale, Marylebone, Notting Hill and Hampstead have special offer on their fantastic venues for new London Baby and Kids readers. If you and 2 other families join Monkey Music and mention London Baby and Kids, the £17 joining fee will be waived. Ring 0208 438 0189 or email [email protected]
Monkey Music at The National Army Museum: Starting Thursday 16th, Monkey Music will be holding afternoon classes in the beautifully refurbished National Army Museum. You can book into the amazing Playbase before or after your lessons and make a full day of it. Classes are filling up quickly, so do get in touch with Monkey Music to register your interest.
British Museum, Little Feet: Friday 10:30-noon. Bring the baby or little one and explore the Pacific Island of Kiribati. Free, drop-in, under 5s.
Baby Broadway: Baby Broadway are brilliantly fun monthly concerts where babies, toddlers, kids and grown ups can dance and sing favourite pop songs. Its great fun, great value and worth the effort to go!! Upcoming concerts in Putney, Sydenham, Balham, Stoke Newington, Highgate, Barnes, West Hampstead, Watford, Bromley, Chiswick, Covent Garden and Highgate.
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.
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, Becky Dixton and Samantha Sutherland where singing, storytelling and musical instruments are woven into one story session. £4, 11:30am
National Gallery, Welcome Wednesdays: Wednesdays 10:30-11:15. Bring children 16 months to 5 years to the National Gallery for Dance Adventures with Olivia Armstrong. Age 16 months – 5 years, tickets £5 per child.
Pimlico Toy Library: Bring the kids to the Toy Library for play sessions and toy lending. Fantastic resource for anyone in the area.
Electric Cinema, Electric Scream: Mondays 11am. This week’s feature: Paddington 2. Bring babies under 12 months to this amazingly plush cinema, relax with some coffee and catch a flick.
Big Scream, Ritzy Brixton: Mondays, 11am. This week Battle of the Sexes and The Death of Stalin 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 Star, 11:30am, just £1.75.
Institut Francais, Paddington 2. Sunday 11am. Best children’s film in years, tickets just £5 in English.
BFI Southbank, Family Film Sundays: Sunday 26th, 1:00pm with activities starting beforehand at 11am. Great value and great family cinema. £4 per child, £11.75 adults, 1 child 1 adult £10. This week’s screening, Funday Preview: Ferdinand 3D.
Barbican Framed Film Club: Saturday 11am. This week’s programme: London International Animation Festival, Amazing Animations. Tickets just £3.50
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: The Princess and the Frog,10:30 am. 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:The Princess and the Frog.
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature The Lego Ninjago Movie. 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.
