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🍄 5 things to do in London this weekend with the kids (15–16 June)

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Jeff – Dads in London
June 12, 2024

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY FOR SUNDAY! 

If you’re celebrating with a day off from dad duties, enjoy! If you’re celebrating with a full-on, fun-packed day with the kids, here are some ideas for how to spend it. 

Have a great day! 

Jeff xx

Saturday 15 June (and other Saturdays throughout June and August), 13:00–15:00
Canada Square Park, 25 Canada Square, E14 5AH
FREE

Summer Screens: Family Gaming is BACK! I say this with the confidence of someone who’s known about and attended this event for years – whereas  actually? No clue. Nada. Never heard of it before. 

Here’s what I’ve learnt: on Saturdays throughout June and August, you’ll be able to take part in a family-friendly game on a massive screen in Canada Square Park. On 15 June it’s Mario Kart, then on other dates it’ll either be Just Dance, Overcooked, or more Mario Kart (the three games are on rotation). It’s first come, first served, and suitable for ages 5+. 

While you’re there…

👍️ To pretty much guarantee square eyes after all that gaming, head straight to the cinema! At Everyman in Canary Wharf, you get food and drinks served directly to your ridiculously plush seat – and by “food and drinks”, I don’t mean “popcorn and Fanta”. I mean “salt and pepper squid”, “shrimp and avocado burgers” and “fresh baked cookie dough”, plus wine, beer, cocktails and coffee (to name just a few). 

Saturday 15 June, 11:30
St John’s Smith Square, SW1P 3HA
ÂŁ6 per ticket, plus ÂŁ3.50 transaction fee

You know when you do the whole, “It’s such a shame we can’t make it – it sounds like it’ll be amazing!” spiel? And you also have the accompanying pained face thing to show how you’re really so very bummed about missing out? Well you should feel genuinely distressed if you can’t attend The Musical Flying Machine this Saturday. I can’t go and I’m gutted: I’ve been to Southbank Sinfonia concerts before and they’re marvellous. 

This particular concert has some seemingly random overarching theme of imagining you’re “boarding a magical flying machine, soaring through space, and visiting distant planets” while you listen to music from some of your “favourite cinematic universes”. I don’t know what the planet stuff is all about, but I do know I’d love to settle down and listen to a fully fledged orchestra performing the main theme from Star Wars, the Mary Poppins Overture, music from Batman, E.T. and Aladdin, and other such cinematic gems. 

The great thing about Southbank Sinfonia family concerts is that you get to listen to proper good orchestral music for a fraction of the price and running time of a grown-up recital. Like I said: such a shame I can’t be there. (Accompanying facial expression: genuinely pained.)

While you’re there… 

👍️ The Houses of Parliament has a newish self-guided audio tour. It’s perfect for children because it contains a “family” channel, which is far easier to understand and includes fun little activities and quizzes along the way. (Tip: if you have a pram and don’t want to attempt the stairs at the entrance, ask a member of staff: they’ll take you to a lift via a back entrance, and you’ll get to walk through a whole extra part of the building that the public doesn’t normally get to see.)

👍️ Tate Britain is nearby, and contains famous works by William Blake (the one who loved angels but wasn’t so keen on science), J.M.W. Turner (the one who made bad weather look breathtaking) and Francis Bacon (the one who brought existential dread to life), among others. Specifically for kids, there’s Story Space, Play Studio and Tate Draw. 

👍️ I’ve never been to the famous-ish Regency Cafe, but I’ve read all the articles, seen the photos and skimmed the reviews – and now I really want to go. I can’t see how it’ll be markedly different from any other greasy spoon in London, but next time I’m in the area, I know I’ll be waiting in line for 30 minutes to find out. 

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Saturday and Sunday, 12:00–16:00
Cockpit Bloomsbury Cockpit Yard, Northington Street, WC1N 2NP
FREE

Cockpit is a social enterprise that provides crafters and makers with the studio space, business advice and community they need to become successful in a notoriously difficult industry. Crafts include jewellery, fashion, accessories, homeware, textiles, stationery, and framing. OK, just one person does framing. (Which is making me think… maybe I should get into framing if there’s such little competition?)

Twice a year, they open up their (intricately carved? sleek and minimalist? rugged metal?) doors to the public, so that we can meet “some of the world’s most celebrated craftspeople in their studios” and watch them work. If you have a child who’s arty and creative, I’m guessing they’ll be fascinated. You’re free to ask the crafters questions while you’re there, and you can also buy their products directly. 

The people behind Cockpit are nail-bitingly impressive, which is probably why they’re able to state unequivocally: “We have launched the careers of some of the biggest names in contemporary craft. Keep that in mind when you visit: you’ll be the first to discover the stars of the future.” Eek those are scary-good sentences. 

While you’re there… 

You’re surrounded by cool stuff! Here are just a few: 

👍️ Coram’s Fields is a seven-acre space with multiple playgrounds (each with different facilities), sand pits, a cafe, lawns, picnic tables, a wildlife garden and a paddling pool. Adults are only allowed in if accompanied by a child, which makes the place feel extra wholesome and friendly. 

👍️ How best to describe Sir John Soane’s Museum? Put it this way: before Marie Kondo gave up on tidying up (true story: she’s decided she can’t be bothered anymore), this place would have sparked absolutely no joy in her. 

It’s the former house of neo-classical architect John Soane, who effectively donated it to the nation after his death because he despised his son and didn’t want him to inherit anything. The house is pretty much exactly as Soane left it, which – and I’m understating things here – is batshit effing crazy. There’s a massive sarcophagus in the basement, hundreds (maybe thousands) of Chinese ceramics, Greek vases and Roman glasses, and more sculptures than a pigeon’s paradise. It’s a bewildering place, none of it makes sense, and it’s thoroughly worth a visit. It’s also free. 

👍️ Lamb’s Conduit Street has a large supply of restaurants and cafes at all price ranges. 

Saturday 15 June, 11:00
Barbican Cinema 2, Beech Street, EC2Y 8DS
Adults ÂŁ5, children under 18 ÂŁ2.50 (plus ÂŁ1.50 booking fee)

I decided to write the dullest of all titles for this one, because there’s just no point in competing with the one on Barbican’s website: “This futuristic-medieval-punk-metal mash-up is a face-meltingly brilliant thrill-ride perfect for the big screen!” WHOA! I. AM. IN! And if my kids don’t want to come, fine: they can have a babysitter. 

If you need more information before you book, the film is called Nimona, and it’s about a knight in a futuristic medieval world (?) who is framed for a crime he didn’t commit. The only one who can help him prove his innocence is a mischievous teen called Nimona, who happens to be a shapeshifting creature he’s sworn to destroy. 

It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, which (spoiler) it didn’t win. But then Saving Private Ryan lost out to Shakespeare in Love, so Oscars Shmoscars. 

Saturday and Sunday, 12:00–18:00
Various venues around Exhibition Road (SW7 2AZ) – see the map here
FREE 

The Great Exhibition Road Festival is marketed as “a free annual celebration of science and the arts each summer in South Kensington”, and there’s an INSANE number of activities on offer. Even when filtering the options to include family-friendly stuff only, you’re left with… wait let me recount that… hang on… FIFTY-EIGHT ACTIVITIES! There are workshops, performances, installations, crafts, games, music-making, arty stuff, coding, scientific showcases and so much more. 

To whittle it all down, here’s what I suggest you do: 1) visit the website and filter down to all the family-friendly stuff; 2) feel overwhelmed and swear a few times; 3) realise you should just attend and decide what looks good on the day. 

Having said that… while most activities are drop-in, some have advance (free) tickets. These activities will also have drop-in spaces available too, but you might want to book just in case. You can see all activities with advanced tickets here. 

While you’re there… 

Obviously you’re inundated with museums. But if everyone’s screaming “NOT AGAIN!!!” when you suggest the V&A, Science Museum or the Natural History Museum, there are plenty of other things to do instead. Including a slightly more under-the-radar museum. Ish… 

👍️ The Design Museum these days isn’t so much “under the radar” as “parading past the radar with a marching band”, but it still gets only about 11% of the visitors that the Natural History Museum does. So: “under the radar” it is. While I dearly miss its annual Design of the Year awards, the museum’s other displays are usually worth a visit. The current Enzo Mari exhibition looks fascinating, and this Guardian article does a good job of explaining the design world's favourite misery-guts.  

👍️ Dopamine Land is STILL going strong. It’s one of those multi-sensory experience thingammies that exist everywhere now, with infinity mirrors, a ball pond, floating lanterns, pillows to fight with, and lots of opportunities for Instagram-worthy photos. 

👍️ A guided tour of the Royal Albert Hall seems like a spectacular way to spend an hour. There are three different tours: the “classic” tour, a “behind the scenes” tour (limited availability), and a tour that focuses more on the architecture of the place. They all look incredible, and I’m jealous of anyone who decides to go this weekend. (If you do go, please do me a favour and let me know what you thought?) They all cost around ÂŁ10 for children and ÂŁ18 for adults. 

During Kids Week, any child aged 17 and under goes free when accompanied by an adult paying full price – and an additional two kids can attend for half price. Some shows will also have a workshop session or interactive curtain call before or after the performance, and you can see a list of them here. (Those shows will also have a blue star on the show’s calendar.) 

Kids Week runs from 24 July to 6 September, and there are loads of musicals, plays, comedies and children’s shows to choose from. Tickets are available now. 

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