Summer half-term and the second bank holiday in May are almost upon us and we have compiled the best London has to offer for families, children and young people.
WildCity’s Big Art Picnic
Bring a picnic, blanket, family and friends and spend a creative afternoon exploring sculpture, timelapse filmmaking and photography to construct a collaborative, interactive tubing installation inspired by the Eden Community Garden. A free, accessible, creative event open to everyone.
When: Saturday 25 May 12:30pm – 4:30pm
Where: Eden Community Garden
Tickets: Free
Playing up at Tate Britain
Dress up as an imaginary animal, protest for what you believe in, and play with rainbows Playing Up is a game for kids and adults to play together. Join a playful, hands-on introduction to live art that encourages children’s creativity, confidence and imagination. All you need to bring is your imagination.
When: 25 May 12 til 5
Where: Tate Britain
Tickets: Free
How does it feel to be loved? children’s disco
Playing a mix of indie pop and soul, this children’s disco is a great opportunity for kids to bop around to The Smiths, Belle & Sebastian, Allo Darlin’, The Ramones and more, and for their parents to bop along with them. If you’re a fan of indie pop and Motown songs with your children, then this is the disco for you!
When: Sunday 26th May 2019 at 12pm til 4pm
Where: The Phoenix Cavendish Square
Tickets: £6 for adults £2 for children under 14 book here
Storytime with Anna-Christina
Join ‘Storytime with Anna-Christina’ this May for a fun musical Story Time of listening, learning. drawing, drama, singing, and dancing. Suitable for ages 2 to 7 children will learn about the circus and be encouraged to use their listening abilities and imagination. More info here.
When: Thursday 30th May
Where: Barbican Children’s Library
Tickets: Free but £1 voluntary donation suggested
Victoria and Albert 200
Children visiting Windsor Castle are invited to create colourful collages of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Victoria’s birth. On 27 May, interactive storytelling sessions will give children the chance to try on replica Victorian costumes, and on 1 June families can travel back in time with Victorian falconry displays in the Castle’s Moat Garden.
During her reign Queen Victoria commissioned performances of Shakespeare’s plays to entertain the court at Windsor Castle. On 30 May, a storyteller from Shakespeare’s Globe will perform a family-friendly adaptation of The Merry Wives of Windsor in the Castle grounds, while Bach to Baby concerts will give under-fives the chance to dance, roam about and enjoy live period music.
When: During half term 25 May to 2 June 2019 11am til 4pm
Where: Windsor Castle
Tickets: Adult £22 child £13 book here
Free Half Moon theatre show at All Points East Festival: In The Neighbourhood.
Join Tower Hamlet’s Half Moon Theatre for four days of performances and storytelling. Watch a special performance interspersed with witty stories and interactive conversations with the special host Amari Harris. For full info of the shows see here.
When: Mon 27th, 10am – 11:30am Tues 28th – Thurs 30th, 10am – 3pm
Where: Bandstand Stage in Victoria Park
Tickets: Free
Matisse Inspired Bottle Garden Installation at Horniman Museum
Children of all ages from The Horniman Primary school will be planting bee friendly plants, grown from seeds by them, to create a Matisse-inspired recycled bottle garden.
In collaboration with the Horniman Museum and Gardens, these Matisse-inspired recycled bottles will be installed in the Horniman Museum Grounds for all to enjoy. We have chosen Matisse for his bold colour and abstract cut outs, his childlike appeal, focusing on his colourful fern and floral shapes.
When: 18 – 26 May from 8am til 8pm
Where: Horniman Museum Grounds
Tickets: Free with ticket adult £8 child over 3 costs £4.50 under 3s are free
Roof garden fun day
Come and celebrate summertime at the Doddington and Rollo Community Roof Garden’s annual family fun day.
Activities include story time with Battersea Park Library, strawberry-picking, our famous slug-and-snail-hunt, face-painting and mud pie making. Explore the herb maze and play in our new geodesic dome.
There’ll be stalls from local community groups, music and lots of space to relax – all on a roof!
Free cooked lunch provided by Waste Not Want Not from 1pm. Guaranteed fun throughout! All welcome and it’s totally free
When: Saturday 25 May 12pm til 4pm
Where: Doddington and Rollo Community Roof Garden
Tickets: Free
All Points East: In the Neighborhood
One of London’s best free family festivals is taking place in Victoria Park over Half-Term and the bank holiday weekend. There is loads on for the whole family from outdoor cinema, food stalls, yoga, storytelling, live music, crafts, family sporting activities and much more.
When: Monday 27 – Thursday 30th May
Where: Victoria Park
Tickets: free
Pop-up Performances at the V&A
Every Saturday in May the V&A will host pop-up performances suitable for all ages. Meet either Queen Victoria, Prince Albert or Jim the dog and discover secrets and surprises of the museum, explore the collection and take part in a true story of theatrical delight.
When: 25 May, 1, 8 & 15 June
Where: V&A Museum
Tickets: Free
Poster printing at National Army Museum
Try your hand at poster printing in this design workshop inspired by the art of Abram Games. Make your own foam stamps and print a design of colourful, bold shapes. Then add a catchy slogan with stencilled or stamped letters. Get creative and use the art of persuasion to spread your message loud and clear
When: 30 May – 2 June from 11am to 1pm and from 2pm to 4pm
Where: National Army Museum
Tickets: Free
Discovery Day – Victoria & Albert Birthday bash
Victoria and Albert are turning 200! Help celebrate the bicentenary of their birth at The LookOut, Hyde Park. Come dressed up in your Victorian best and learn how they influenced both Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
When: 29th & 30th May 11am til 3pm
Where: Hyde Park
Tickets: Free register interest here.
Family fun day: all about elements
Get hands-on and celebrate 150 years of the periodic table at this season’s Family Fun Day! Expect a fun interactive day all about the elements with activities and events suitable for 7-12 year olds. More info here.
When: Saturday 1st June between 11am and 4pm
Where: The Royal Institution
Tickets: £16 or £10 Concession
Messy Mondays Colourblock
Play based play at the National Gallery for under 5s. Play with shape and scale to transform the studio into a radiant room of colour.
When: 27 May at 11 am til 12.30 pm and 2pm til 3:30pm
Where: National Gallery
Tickets: Free
Digital Kids
There’s something for everyone including Minecraft competitions, family gaming, the latest tech toys, fair rides, a Hoverboard disco and loads more family attractions. All attractions are included in your ticket (unless specified otherwise) so come meet some superheros, have fun on the rides and meet your digital heroes.
When: Sunday 26 May & Monday 27 May 2019
Where: Battersea Evolution
Tickets: £35 for adults free for under 2s book here
Storytime with Anna-Christina
Join ‘Storytime with Anna-Christina’ this May for a fun musical Story Time of listening, learning. drawing, drama, singing, and dancing. Suitable for ages 2 to 7 children will learn about the circus and be encouraged to use their listening abilities and imagination. More info here.
When: 29th May at 11am
Where: Wimbledon Library
Tickets: Free but a suggested donation of £1 encouraged
Morgan & West’s utterly spiffing spectacular magic show for kids (and childish grown-ups)!
Time travelling magicians Morgan & West present a jaw dropping, heart stopping, death defying, mind frying, spirit lifting magic extravaganza. Loads more shows at Underbelly Festival on the Southbank.
When: 25 May at 1.15pm , 30 June at 3.30pm & 1 September at 1pm
Ages: 5 plus
Tickets: from £10