May 2023: What's on London with kids

Happy bank holiday weekend everyone! And a big thank you for subscribing - I’m thrilled that 500+ of you are reading this newsletter after just one issue.

What have we been up? Last weekend we joined in with The Wild Escape at British Library Family Day: Animal Adventures. From giant inflatable insect forms in the courtyard to story creating with live illustration, animal crafting and an exhibition tour, it was a really enjoyable afternoon. I’ll share news of their future family events.

I had a proud mum moment watching MOO (Museum Oldest Offspring) perform at Theatre Royal Drury Lane for the Music in Secondary School Trust 10 year anniversary concert. They're an incredible charity who provide state school pupils with free instruments and music lessons. I also nabbed a selfie with Jason Donovan!

Name a better cultural toilet… This one is at Marx Memorial Library, which I visited on a Museums Association members event. We also toured their stores, learnt more about their collections and heard of their future transformational plans.

This school strike day, Me and Museum Girl explored Marylebone to bring you my first ever area guide - just scroll down. Lots of you ask for things to turn a cultural visit into a whole day out, so I hope this series helps.

Let me know what cultural activities you've been up to - hit reply, post in my Facebook group or DM me on Instagram. And please do tag me if I inspire a day out - I love hearing how you get on.

May 2023: What’s On London with kids

With three bank holidays plus a half term there's plenty of family time to fill this month. I'll focus on the Coronation and May half terms in future newsletters. So here's my pick of other things to do with kids this May 2023:

1. IWA Canal Cavalcade brings 110 colourful narrowboats to Little Venice, with 50+ arts and craft, food and drink stalls plus Punch & Judy, circus workshops, face painting and more. 29 April-1 May 2023. FREE, just turn up.

2. Climb netted play frames, play with bubbling ball ponds and rock on fishes at Under the sea soft play at Horniman Museum and Gardens. 5 May-3 September 2023. Paid, book. Under 7s.

3. Play with IKEA's fort building manual, improvising and adapting it in Family Art Fun Day: Den Building at Turf Projects. 6 May 2023. FREE, book.

4. At Tate Britain’s Story Space Read Aloud, hear Mexican author Erika Meza’s story about two young siblings' journey across the Mexican/ US border and join a playful animal mask workshop. 6 May 2023, FREE.

5. Inspired the Mother Art Prize, join in with a Families Create session at Zabludowicz Collection with artists Lorelle Aboagye (6 May 2023) and Rosie Gibbens (20 May 2023). FREE.

6. It’s your last chance to catch Mike Nelson: Extinction Beckons at Hayward Gallery. Museum Girl let her imagination run wild in his giant, maze-like installation. Closes 7 May 2023. Paid, book.

7. Expect wrestling, flamboyant costumes, acrobatic moves and high-flying fun, accompanied by Mexican dancers and musicians in Cinco de Mayo: Lucha libre fiesta! at Boxpark Croydon. 7 May 2023. FREE, book.

8. Dulwich Festival returns 12-21 May 2023. Family friendly events include Party in the Park with a giant inflatable course (12 May 2023, FREE), carnival workshops (20 May 2023, FREE, book) and draw with Rob Biddulph (21 May, paid, book).

9. Cult 1980s film is reimagined by Wayne McGregor in the context of our own ailing planet in UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey at the Royal Opera House. 13 May-4 June 2023. Paid, book. Age guidance tbc.

10. Welcome spring with a lively ceilidh and maypole dancing session in Family Barn Dance: Maypole Special! at Cecil Sharp House. 13 May 2023. Paid, book.

11. Urban Village fete is a free, fun-filled day of music, feasting, crafting, and dancing. Family activities include dog circus training, drumming workshops, eco glitter face art, and print making. 14 May 2023. FREE (some paid activities), book.

12. Garden Museum's new Branch Out programme is a series of free Thursday events and activities exploring gardening, art, floristry, plant science, history, design, and more! Many are suitable for children, including Design your Own Seed Packet (18 May 2023).

13. Explore Marble Hill’s history through play and exploration Under 5s Heritage Morning. 17 May 2023. Paid, book.

14. Journey around WWT London with an illustrated guide from the UK’s favourite illustrator in Drawn to Water: Quentin Blake. With nature-inspired creative challenges and art workshops. 18 May-10 September 2023, paid.

15. Bold Tendencies 2023: Crisis brings new art to the Peckham’s multi story carpark rooftop, plus large-scale performances and children’s Soviet opera. 19 May-16 September 2023, FREE.

16. After 50 years of abandonment, The Old Waiting Room at Peckham Rye reopens with an art installation by Sarah Sze. 19 May-17 September 2023. FREE, usual TFL fares apply to enter the station.

17. Make colourful abstract sculptures from found and foraged objects at Royal Academy Family studio: objects of intrigue. 21 May 2023. FREE, drop in.

18. Flowers on Film is the theme for this year’s Chelsea in Bloom. Stunning floral installations can be found across dozens of shops and venues. Plus free rickshaw rides return. 22-28 May 2023. FREE, just turn up.

19. Want more floral art? Belgravia in Bloom has an Into the Wild Theme which will appeal to kids - and it’s usually quieter than Chelsea. 22-29 May 2023. FREE, just turn up.

20. Ally Pally's 150th birthday party features performances from Chicken Shed Theatre, face painting, arts & crafts, storytelling plus drumming, camera and circus workshops. 27 May 2023. FREE (some activities paid/book).

I’ll share more events as they are announced over on my Instagram stories.

Marylebone with kids: the Museum Mum guide

Marylebone is like a posh village slap bang in Central London. With elegant streets lined with upmarket shops and quiet residential squares, it is easy for families to overlook it as a destination. But there’s plenty of kid-friendly activities - if you know where to look. Here’s my guide to Marylebone:

At first glance The Wallace Collection might not seem that child friendly - it’s packed with priceless paintings, fragile porcelain and fancy furniture. But their Hands on Armour Days (last Saturday of the month, FREE, drop in) allow kids to try on old armour and create their own artworks in their dedicated education room.

If you prefer unbreakable art, then head for Frameless (paid). Four immersive galleries make a fun intro to European art history - it’s my favourite digital immersive art experience in London.

The Bomb Factory outpost on the busy Marylebone Road has an enormous gallery. It’s currently showing the dark but thought-provoking All Things Fall by Matt Colishaw (until 21 May 2023, FREE).

On the charming Chiltern Street, The Gallery of Everything is London's first commercial space dedicated to self-taught and other non-academic artists. We caught Full of Days, where Andy Holden tells the life of Hermione Burton through her paintings he found in a charity shop and a docu-fiction film (until 30 April 2023, FREE).

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has been wowing audiences since 1932. This year offers productions for children and families throughout the entire season including a brand new adaptation of Ben Okri’s Every Leaf A Hallelujah, The Tempest re-imagined and Dinosaur World Live.

The international destination for chamber music Wigmore Hall offers family concerts and workshops. Under 1s are welcome at their For Crying Out Loud! informal concerts, whilst young toddlers make the music at Chamber Tots sessions. Older kids might be interested in the youth theatre run by Marylebone Theatre, London’s newest cross-cultural performance space.

Watch beautifully curated independent and studio films at the UK’s oldest cinema, Regent Street Cinema. Tickets start from just £6 on Tuesdays (or Choose Days).

Allow plenty of time to browse Daunt Books, one of London’s most beautiful - and oldest - bookshops. As well as its insta-famous travel section with gorgeous skylights and long oak galleries, they have a great children’s book selection. The Conran Shop earns a special mention for the free-to-play giant table football amongst its designer kids items.

Time to let off some steam? Paddington Street Gardens South has a popular playground with enough equipment to entertain kids for a short pitstop. The handlebar flying fox was Museum Girl’s favourite, and the giant London planes overhead create a calm, shaded space to escape the sun.

In Regent’s Park, Marylebone Green Playground has a spiralling concrete folly with slide inspired by Frieze art fair, as well as a giant sandpit and natural play area.

Seymour Leisure Centre is home to central London’s tallest roped climbing centre. It runs children’s courses and during the summer holidays it offers drop-in supervised sessions for all. And you can easily access their 3.5m bouldering wall throughout their year, much to Museum Girl’s delight!

Marylebone Library runs free drop-in children’s events, including story time (Fridays at 15:45), craft (Saturdays at 10:30) and under 5s rhyme time (Tuesdays at 10:30).

Feeling peckish? Pick up a sausage roll or hot takeaway roast lunch from rare-breed butcher The Ginger Pig, and scoff it down in nearby Paddington Street Gardens. Paul Rothe & Son have been serving sandwiches for over a century, making them one of London’s oldest delis. Pretty chocolatier Rococo Chocolates often hands out samples and serves delicious hot chocolates in winter. Marylebone Farmer’s Market claims to be one of London’s biggest and best farmers markets, bringing fresh and artisan produce every Sunday.

Marylebone Summer Festival offers the ultimate upmarket, urban village fayre experience. Expect funfair rides, food and fashion stalls, stilt walkers, bubble artists, juggler, live music and a dog show (11 June 2023. FREE, just turn up).

That was fun! Where would you like me to feature next?

More bank holiday weekend ideas

All of these events have availability at the time of sharing. Note: The first three events are all in or near Marylebone!

1. Family Fun Day: Circular Eco-and-ME at RIBA London. 29 April. Free, book.

2. Hands on Armour: Choppers and Pokers at Wallace Collection. 29 April 2023. FREE, first come first served.

3. Family Concert: Marvellous Magical Jukebox at Wigmore Hall. 29 April 2023. Paid, book.

4. Create a Coronation Crown with Bee Smith at Kingston Museum. 29 April 2023. Paid, book.

5. The Smeds and the Smoos by Tall Stories at Blackheath Halls. 29-30 April 2023. Paid, book.

6. The Green Meet at Fulham Palace. 30 April 2023. FREE, just turn up.

7. Celebrate Bengali New Year with Mela in the City. 30 April 2023. FREE, just turn up.

8. Frida Kahlo book launch at Dalston Curve Garden. 30 April 2023. FREE, book.

I hope that this newsletter inspires you to have some fun family days out. I’d like to know whether the hours I’ve spent writing it are useful. Please do tag me in your adventures, forward to a friend to subscribe, and send me any feedback.

Until next time,

\