London Family Weekend Guide January 13-14
London Family learning, making and doing events
Royal Institute of British Architecture, Public Clayplay Workshop: Head over to the RIBA for a free, all ages, hands on, architecture workshop where children will make clay models. Free, all ages, booking required.
Institute Francais, Thinker Club: My kids loved this, bring the kids to this fantastic workshops where kids will work out how to create a winter lantern. There is good guidance, but space to work it out on their own. Saturday, 2:30, tickets £7 per child.
National Theatre, Pinocchio Workshop: Explore the world of Pinocchio in a fun family workshops that fuses drama, music and design. Saturday 11am-4pm, For ages 7-12 (no younger siblings), £12 adults, £8 children.
The National Gallery, Studio Sunday: This is a FANTASTIC workshop that I highly recommend. Transform painted dancers into 3D by exploring body and drapery in motion using wire and mod roc. Sunday 11am and again at 2pm, ages 5-11, free, tickets allocated on arrival.
British Museum, Make a Manga Comic: This is workshop comes highly recommended from several families (thanks Bex!!), we will try it out. Sunday 11am, 19m and 3pm, in the Samsung Centre, free, ages 7+
Battersea Park, Pumphouse Gallery: As part of A Hook but no Fish exhibition, join artist Fritha Jenkins to create sound sculptures to make different rhythms and objects that make sounds. Sunday, noon - 4pm, free, all ages
Royal Academy, Family Studio: Bring the kids to the RA and make portraits out of clay. Sunday 11am-3pm, all ages, free.
V & A Museum of Childhood: Bring the entire family to the Museum of Childhood on Saturday. Children over the age of 8 can attend the LSE lecture Money Smart Kids’ Workshop 11-noon, younger kids can explore the Michael Morpurgo Exhibit and take part in storytelling and craft making.
London Baby and Toddler Events and Activities:
Monkey Music Westminster and Chelsea’s Spring Term is just about to start. Do check out some of their fantastic venues which are clean, spacious, buggy-friendly and super convenient for school runs. Classes are starting at The Hut and National Army Museum in Chelsea; St. Stephen’s Gloucester Road and Cineworld on Fulham Road; Holy Apostles in Pimlico and St. Michael’s Church Chester Square. Get in touch with Monkey Music Chelsea and Westminster to book your place.
Book Now for Villa Pia, Italy’s finest baby-friendly, all-inclusive, fabulously valued family holiday destination for people who hate the idea of all-inclusive holidays – fabulous savings for off-peak stays, perfect for families with children not yet in school (mention London Baby and Kids when you book a term-time holiday and receive £100 off your booking) Read this review of Villa Pia and check out Mamalina’s Vill Pia video from her holiday.
Royal Festival Hall, Orchestra in the Age of Enlightenment: bring the family to Southbank for singing, hand-clapping, dancing and learn the ages of the orchestra. Ages up to 5, Sunday 10:30 and again at noon, tickets £9 adults, £1 kids and children under 2 are free.
Wigmore Hall, For Crying out Loud: Bring children under 12 months to Wigmore Hall for an informal, 45 minute concert. Friday 19th January, 11am and 12:30pm, tickets just £8.50
British Museum, Little Feet: Bring infants and children under the age of 5 to the British Museum at 11, noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm for a fantastic exploration of art for little ones. Free, under 5s
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 Tuesday 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: Darkest Hour. 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 The Darkest Hour and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri are showing.
Family Cinema
Prince Charles Cinema: Sunday, 2pm, Laputa: Castle in the Sky (studio Ghibli) tickets just £8.50 and just off Leicester Square.
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: Paddington 2 (best children’s film of the year) 11:30am, just £1.75.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: Shaun the Sheep Movie,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: Shaun the Sheep.
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature The Boss Baby. 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.
