London-baby.com’s best of October Half-Term, free and affordable activities in London for the Under fives
MUSEUMS
MUSEUMS
October events tend to be worth fighting the crowds as they are the best activities of all the school holidays. Aim to be at the museums 15 minutes prior to opening and you should avoid a lot of hassle.
BRITISH MUSEUM
Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG
Tel: 020 7323 8394
www.britishmuseum.org
Open 10:00 - 5:30pm daily
Admission: free for permanent collection
HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES: TIME EXPLORERS
Mon 25th - Fri 29th Oct 1st ; 11:00 - 4:00pm, Great Court
Come to the Museum and take part In various interactive events including music, storytelling, craftwork and games. Activities will vary throughout the week, check web site for detailed listings.
Free, drop in
NATIONAL GALLERY
Trafalgar Square WC2N 5DN
Tel: 020 7747 288
www.nationalgallery.org.uk
Open 10:00 – 6:00pm, 9:00pm Weds.
Admission: free for permanent collection
HALF-TERM WITH THE UNDER FIVES: STORYTELLING
Tue 26th Oct 10:30 - 11:15, Education Centre Foyer
Storyscape, interactive storytelling session
Wed 27th Oct 10:30 - 11:30, Education Centre Foyer
Drawing Stories: telling tales through art
The 28th Oct 10:30 - 11:15, Education Centre Foyer
Storyscape, interactive storytelling session
FREE, limited spaces allocated on arrival
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
St. Martin’s Place WC2H 0HE
Tel: 020 7306 0055
www.npg.org.uk
Open 10:00 – 6:00pm, 9:00pmThursdays and Fridays.
FAMILY TOUR AND DRAW
A week of tour and draw sessions led by artists and storytellers
Mon 25th Oct - Fri 29th Oct, 11:00 - 11:45 and 1:30 - 2:15
FREE, limited spaces allocated on arrival, 3+
VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM
Cromwell Road SW7 2RL
Tel: 0207 942 2000
www.vam.ac.uk
Admission: free, some exhibitions and event carry a separate charge
Open 10:00 - 5:45pm daily
DROP-IN DESIGN SPECIAL: PARADE OF ANIMALS
Sun Oct 24th - Fri Oct 29th; 10:30- 5:00pm, Art Studio & Lunchroom, Sackler Centre
Create a crazy animal based on exhibits in the galleries. Make a crazy animal costume, design a headdress, mask or cape.
Free, all ages welcome
GALLERY PLAY: PUPPET ON A STRING
Mon Oct 25th - Fri Oct 29th; 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00pm, Theatre and Performance Galleries
Join a famous puppeteering family as they travel around Europe and help make their puppets sing and dance.
Free, all ages welcome
TATE BRITAIN
Millbank SW1P 4RG
Tel: 0207 887 8888
www.tate.org.uk/britain
10:00 - 5:50 pm daily
Admission free, except for major exhibitions
TINY TATE’S SPECIAL FIFTH BIRTHDAY PARTY
Sat 30th October, 10.00 - 3:00pm
Free family festival for families with under 5s living in Westminster, Lambeth and Southwark. Come and enjoy fun and games, live music and dancing, decorate the galleries with your own artwork, play in magical creative spaces. Big brothers and sisters are welcome
Free, all ages
MUSEUM OF LONDON
London Wall, EC2Y 5HN
Tel: 0207 001 9844
10:00 am - 6:00 pm daily
www.musuemoflondon.org.uk
Admission: free
FAMILY DROP IN
Every day during the May half-term, a variety of hands on activities for ages 2+.
free, drop-in
Sat 23rd Oct- Sun 31st Oct, 11:00 - 4:00 pm
BIG DRAW
Come help make a giant model of London.
Ages 2+, drop in
Wed 27th Oct, 11:00 - 11:30; 12:00- 12:30; 2:00 - 2:30pm
PERFORMANCE
The Royal Albert makes a great impression on young and old alike, combine this with a trip to the near-by science museum and you have a perfect London half-term day for any space loving toddlers.
ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP
Tel: 0845 401 5045
Box Office open daily from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
www.royalalberthall.com
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS FESTIVAL
Family Ignite: To Infinity and Beyond
Come and enjoy live orchestral performance based on the theme of space.
Mon 25th Oct, noon & 3:00 pm
Free, all ages
PLANETARIUM SHOW
Goldilocks and the Three Aliens
Take a trip in our portable planetarium and explore the many worlds in our solar system
Wed 27th Oct, 9:00, 9:30, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, noon, 1:00, 2:00
£5 child, £6.50 adult, ages 4+
E.T. Screening, Dress up as Aliens
Children and adults are encouraged to dress as an alien to come watch the magic of E.T. with their parents.
Fri 29th Oct 11:00 am & 2:00 pm
£10 per ticket, all ages
DIWALI IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Come and enjoy dancing, live music and singing to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali.
Sun 31st Oct, 2:00 - 6:00 pm,
Free, all ages
Theatre
LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE
14 Dagmar Passage, London N1 2DN
Tel: 020 7226 1787
www.littleangeltheatre.com
FANTASTIC MR FOX
Roald Dahl’s classic take of wit and determination is brought to life with ingenious puppets and enchanting music. Discover the thrill of the chase and join Mr. Fox and his family underground as they battle to save themselves and the rest of the countryside from disaster.
Performances held daily Wednesdays to Sundays throughout October and the start of November; baby friendly performance at 11:00am on Sept 26th. Wednesdays - Sundays // Wed/Thurs 10am and 1pm // Fri 1pm and 5pm (11am & 2pm half term) // Sat/Sun 11am and 2pm. Baby Friendly - 11am on 26 Sept, 10 Oct, and 24 Oct
Tickets: from £5.00 - £13.00
Ages 4+, please note children under this age will not be allowed in the auditorium
THE PUPPET THEATRE BARGE
Little Venice, London W9
Tel: 020 7249 6876
http://www.puppetbarge.com/
Town Mouse and City Mouse
Come and delight in the re-telling of the classic tale, where Town Mouse meets the likes of the Billy Goats Gruff and City Mouse comes to know the Mouse who Ran up the Clock. Come and experience an afternoon of puppets, theaters, canals, boats in the ever-charming Little Venice.
Sat 23rd Oct – Sun 31st Oct, daily 3:00 pm
Tickets: £8.50 children, £10.00 adults
Soho Theatre , 21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE
Tickets from £10.50
Telephone: 020 7478 0100
www.sohotheatre.com/
Comedy & Songs 4 Kids
Treat your children to stand-up comedy with James Campbell’s new show with funny songs about life, sausages and how superheroes go to the toilet.
Sat 23rd October, 1:00 pm
Tickets: £10.00, family ticket £30.00
Cinema
Cini Kids at Renior Russell Square
Sunday 31st October, 11:30
Caroline, PG. Come see the Oscar nominiated “Caroline” with a spooky sock puppet workshop after the screening.
£3 for children, £1 or adults
http://www.curzoncinemas.com/#/events/cinekids
Kids Club at the Electric Cinema, Notting Hill
Saturdays, ages 3+, £5
Amazing upscale, gorgeous cinema that sells upscale snacks, beer and vino!!
Saturday 30th October, 10:30 am.
London Children’s Film Festival: Eleanor’s Secret.
http://www.electriccinema.co.uk/kids.php
Kid’s Club Gate Cinema, Notting Hill
Saturdays, 10:30
Saturday 23rd October, free family screening of the classic European fairytale, The Singing Ringing Tree
http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Gate_Picturehouse/Whats_On/Clubs_Groups/Kids_Club/
Family Film Club at the Barbican
Saturday 23rd October, 11:00 am. Cars, PG
Saturdays, usually with workshops and other activities included. Tickets £5 or £3 with free online membership
http://www.barbican.org.uk/family-film-club/
Literary Event
Foyles Bookstore
113 – 199 Charing Cross Road
www.foyles.co.uk
Foyles Fear Fest Day 1
Monday 25th October from 2:00 pm
Come join Scream Street author Tommy Donbavand for a reading of his new book for 5 – 7 year olds.
Then illustrator Sarah Macintyre will give a lesson in monster making at 3:00 pm.
Colouring, activities and Halloween goodies for all visitors.
Free, all ages
Nature
Chelsea Physic Garden
66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS
www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Creepy Crawling
Discover the diverse world of animals with Vic Taylor who will demonstrate his amazing collection of creatures including a hissing cockroach, giant millipede, corn snake, giant African snail and a tree frog!
Wed 27th Oct, 10:30 – noon or 1:00 – 2:30
Tickets £5.50 per person including adults
Booking essential: [email protected]
Spooky Halloween Events
Children’s Fancy Dress Autumn Party in Aid of Unicef
Westborn Park Baptist Church
Porchester Road, W2 5DX
http://www.westbourneparkchurch.org.uk/
Come join the Yoga Team, Dance Fusion Academy, Caterpillar music, Little Artistz, Gymboree, Kiddikicks and more for a great party. Fancy dress and £3 donation.
All ages
BATTERSEA PARK ZOO
Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ
Tel: 0207 924 5826
www.batterseapoarkzoo.co.uk
Open every day, except Christmas and Boxing Day, from 10 am. Close 4:30 pm in summer and 4:00 pm in winter
HALLOWEEN HALF TERM PUMPKIN TRAIL
Pumpkin Trail
Purchase a quiz sheet upon entry and use the clues to find where the pumpkins have been hidden around the zoo.
Sat 23rd Oct - Sun 31st
Admission plus £1, all ages
WEAR A WITCH’S OR WIZARD HAT
Any child wearing a hat may claim a spooky biscuit from the café.
Sat 23rd Oct - Sun 31st
Admission, all ages
MAKE A BAT THAT FLAPS
Come join that friendly staff at the zoo to create your own flying bat!
Tue 26th and Thu 28th Oct, 11:00 - 1:00 pm & 2:00 - 3:30 pm
Admission, all ages
SPOOKY FACE PAINTING
Have your face painted like a vampire or ghoulish ghost, but do not scare the animals
Sat 30th Oct
Admission plus £2.50, all ages
PURPLE DRAGON
Alexandra Avenue, SW11 4FN
Tel: 0207 801 8688
SPOOKY TEA AND PARTY BAG
Come and check out the choicest destination for extreme Halloween fun and see the expanding Purple Dragon, with venue soon to be opened in Chelsea.
Sat 30th Oct
Admission plus £25.00, all ages