London Weekend Family Guide May 5-7
London Weekend Family Festivals
Little Venice, Canal Cavalcade Friday - Monday: This is on of our favourite London festivals. It takes place in beautiful Little Venice and is great fun for the entire family. Last year we went in the rain with a large, multi-generational group and had a great time - we had lots of places to shelder, the adults got to visit and the kids had a blast.
Wandsworth Fringe Festival: A fantastic variety of workshops, performances and activities for the entire family. Entry is free, performances are ticketed individually.
Fulham Beach Club: the weather might just be warm enough to warrant this. Kids are welcome noon-5pm (no kids after) sand, dining and fun. Might be a relaxing way to enjoy the sunshine. £5 entry.
Just Announced: Wild Child Festival, Dulwich 17th-19th August. Wild Child Festival is a new London family festival that focuses on the arts, creative play and wellbeing for families with children under 12. This festival will have some of the best providers of quality children’s workshops, entertainment, yoga and more. Check out their page - be sure to like and follow to stay updated with offers and tickets.
Making, doing, thinking and performance this weekend
Imagination Station, Okido Get Into Science Family Event: Sunday 10:30-2:30. Take the kids to Lambeth for a day of exploring science in a hands-on, creative way. For children 3-7, but older children are welcome. Family sessions last 90 minutes £8 per child, £4 per adult, babes in arms are free.
The Poetry Cafe, Fairytale Double Bill: Sunday 2-5pm. Spoken works artists Hel Robin Gurney and James Webster offer two different take on immersive myth and fairytale. Explore themes of poor life choices, the sleeping princess motif and misogynistic theme of The Evil Stepmother. £9, The Poetry Cafe 22 Betterton Street Soho.
The Magic Fish, Royal Festival Hall: A classic tale of Vishnu and King Manu told through dance, storytelling and beatboxing. Free, ages 5+, noon, 1pm and 3:30pm.
Pleasance Theatre Islington, A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Saturday 5th, 2pm. Infinite Jest has produced a clever mix of original and modern language, live music, song, dance, physical theatre and audience interaction. Age 5+, tickets £10.
Gosh London Free Comic Book Day: Saturday 5th. Kids workshop from 10am-1pm; cartoonists signing from 1-6pm.
British Museum Seeking Soundscapes: Sunday 11am-4pm. Bring the kids to listen to the museum to hear music from around hew world and try and match it to the the instrument in the collection. Ages 5+, free, drop-in.
Little Forest Folk Holiday at Villa Pia: Fresh back from a visit to Villa Pia combined where a Yoga Retreat was being held - do not miss the chance to take part in the Little Forest Fold Holiday being held at Villa Pia 9th-16th June. It is the most relaxing and enjoyable holiday you and the kids will experience for years to come. Beautifully prepared meals, unlimited cakes, coffee, fizzy water, wine, beer and spirits … plus the kids go into Forest School first thing in the morning and you get to rest until 11am.
London Baby and Toddler Events and Activities
Whitechapel Gallery Crib Notes: Wednesday 9th May 10:30-noon. Parents and carers with children under 5 are invited to watch three short films by Rosa Barba, Robert Narkus and Jokubas Cizikas and Danielle Dean. Free, booking required.
Baby Broadway: bring the littlest ones to Highgate, Friday 11th, Bromley and Wimbledon Saturday 12th to sing along to show tunes and dance with your little ones. Just £10 and great fun.
Monkey Music Chelsea and Westminster: Monkey Music has a new, easy to use, online booking system. Simply check the venue and time and see if your class is available, then book yourself in for a complementary class. Venues in Pimlico, Chelsea, Gloucester Road, Belgravia, and Brompton Road. Meet local mums and give your baby a solid foundation in music education. Check out my review here or click through directly to Monkey Music Chelsea and Westminster’s new online booking system.
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: Wonderstruck. Bring babies under 12 months to this amazingly plush cinema, relax with some coffee and catch a flick. Big Scream, Ritzy Brixton: Mondays, 11am. I feel Pretty and Tully. Clapham Picturehouse, Big Scream, Thursdays 10:30; this week: Tully.
Family Cinema
Regent Street Cinema, Kino Club Films : Saturdays. This week’s screening: Alice in Wonderland 11:30am, just £1.75. Prince Charles Cinema: Land Before Time Saturday 4pm, and Ponyo at 3:15 on Sunday - tickets £8.50 kids just £4 and just off Leicester Square. BFI Families: My Neighbour Totoro: Sunday 12:45. Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme: Early Man, Saturday, 10:30 am. Tickets just £1 with £4 membership, popcorn and juice £2. (best £3 you will ever spend on a rainy Saturday) Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature Tad the Explorer and the Secret of King Midas, Saturday 9:30am. Clapham Picturehouse Early Man, Saturday 11.45am; adult/child £2 Hackney Picturehouse Early Man, Saturday at 10.30am; adult/child £2. Phoenix Cinema Kids Club Early Man, Saturday 12pm; Adult/Child £3 Ritzy Picturehouse Early Man , Saturday at 10.30am; adult/child £2.
