February 2024: What's on London with kids

We’ve (almost) made it through the darkest month of the year - and now we are heading towards the light. The first, and coldest, half term of the year beckons - and it’s chokka-block with family-friendly activities.

This newsletter includes 20 things to do in February 2024 with kids in London and 10 more under 5s activities.

We had a quieter start of the new year (because, bugs) - but even still, we’ve had some *literally* magic days out, starting with The New Years Variety Show at The Magic Circle.

Lights and art brought more joy - from Winter Lights at Canary Wharf to Glowbot hugs on the Strand. Catch Coalescence at Old Royal Naval College before it closes on 4 February 2024. And Rana Begum: Ordered Form at St Albans Museum and Gallery is well worth the travel.

I’ve been busy on the blog: I updated my February half term guide, and brought you three new blog posts: tips for visiting Winter Lights at Canary Wharf, where to find 30+ free light festivals across the UK and how to celebrate the Lunar New Year with kids.

If you know another parent looking for days out ideas, please forward them this email.

February 2024: What’s on London with kids

February is so filled with family fun I can’t squeeze it all into one list!

If you’re looking for February Half term events, I’ve shared 70+ things to do over the half term holidays in this post. On Friday 9 February 2024 I’ll send out a newsletter listing up to 5 free events for each day of the half term holidays. Make sure you’re subscribed!

And you’ll find 25+ family-friendly Lunar New Year events in this guide.

Now for 20 things to enjoy over the whole of February:

1. Two immersive art shows come to the Serpentine Galleries, W2. Barbara Kruger: Thinking of You. I Mean Me. I Mean You creates colossal text-based installations (1 February-17 March 2024) whilst Refik Anadol: Echoes of the Earth: Living Archive features innovative digital works (16 February-7 April 2024). Free.

2. Take a Horrible Histories trail through Legion: Life in the Roman army at the British Museum, WC1. 1 February-23 June 2024. Paid, book. Combine with their free Rebellious, revelling, rotten Romans Family Festival, 12-16 February 2024.

3. Join Dean Atta in Story Space Read Aloud at Tate Britain, SW1 for an interactive book reading, creative activities, and a colour walk in the galleries. 3 February 2025 at 14:00-15:30. Free, drop in.

4. Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with family-friendly Lunar New Year celebrations at National Maritime Museum, SE10 (3 February 2024), Museum of London Docklands, E14 (10-11 February 2024) and Lunar New Year Family Day at Museum of the Home, E2 (18 February 2024). Free, book/drop in.

5. Be inspired by the stunning natural beauty and incredible biodiversity of Madagascar in Orchids at Kew Gardens, TW9. 3 February-3 March 2024. Paid, book. Tip: visit first thing to beat the crowds.

6. The Everywhere Bear at Little Angel Theatre, N1 tells the adventurous journey of a class bear - washed down a drain, then rescued at sea, his return is uncertain. 3 February-14 April 2024. Paid, book. Ages 3-8.

7. The Grant Museum, WC1 reopens after refurbishment on 6 February 2024. They’re hosting two family events this month: Imaginary habitats with Collage Club (15 February 2024) and collaborative game Wild, a biodiversity story (24 February 2024). Free, drop in/book.

8. Imagine Children’s Festival returns to Southbank Centre, SE1 with 100+ events! Highlights include Rob Biddulph, Joseph Coelho, Prancer the Dancer’s DanceDance DiscoPartyFunShow, Zoonation’s Hip Hop half term, Art Makes People Powerful creative zone, placard making workshops and lots more! 7-17 February 2024. Free/paid. Drop in/book. Ages 0-11. 

9. Whilst, you’re there, check out Hayward Gallery’s When Form Comes Alive, filled with undulating, drooping, erupting sculptures. 7 February-6 May 2024. SE1. Paid, book. Best older children who won’t touch.

10. There’s two UNIQLO Tate Plays at Tate Modern, SE1 this month - their Rhythm Holiday make studio fills the tank with noises, hanging soundscapes and sound sculptures (10-18 February 2024). Then new theme Kinetic starts (24 February 2024-22 May 2024, weekends and Wednesdays). Free, drop in.

11. Explore the colourful relationship between dinosaurs and birds at Dinosaur rEvolution at Horniman Museum, SE23 with animatronic models, touchable fossils and more. 10 February-3 November 2024. Paid, book.

12. I’m intrigued by Time Quest, a family-friendly adventure exploring possible futures using Electro Acoustic Receiver devices to find hidden voices around Battersea Arts Centre, SW11. 10 February-20 April 2024. Free, book. Ages 3+.

13. Create recycled outfits, make personal statements, experiment with Victorian optical toys, and explore collage in Family Day - Picture This at National Portrait Gallery. 13 February 2024. Free, drop in on first-come, first-served basis.

14. Sow the seeds of peace on a ‘wish tree’ and play with an all-white chess set in Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind at Tate Modern. 15 February-1 September 2024. Paid, book.

15. Celebrate LGBTQ+ maritime history in Out at Sea Family Day at National Maritime Museum, SE10. Enjoy creative workshops, storytelling and performances. 17 February 2024. Free, book.

16. Discover how scientists use innovative thinking to solve problems with experiments and hands-on activities in Family fun day: AI and problem solving at the Royal Institution, W1. 17 February 2024. Paid, book. Ages 7-12, siblings welcome.

17. Take a moment of calm amongst 300+ locally sourced bamboo Zheng Bo: Bamboo as Method in Somerset House iconic courtyard, W1 and draw biodegradable leaf drawings. 22 February-28 April 2024.

18. Join an afternoon of workshops with creative professionals specialising in set design, manga, sound design and anime origami in Teen takeover: All about anime at Young V&A, E2. 24 February 2024. Paid, book. Ages 11-14.

19. Find fantastical beasts hiding in magical landscapes and create monsters in Family Fun: Fantastical Creatures Clay Modelling at Leighton House Museum, W14. 24 February 2024. Paid, book. Ages 5-11.

20. UEL: After Dark Festival in E16 celebrates the Olympic year with art, installations, tech showcases, puppets, African dance, and free activities. 29 February 2024, 17:00-20:00. Free, book.
    

February 2024: What’s On for Under 5s

Here’s a selection of February’s cultural events that will especially appeal to babies and toddlers:

1. Two under-5s sessions return to Orleans House Gallery, TW1 in February - unstructured creative play in Play:Make:Art (every other Friday, ages 2-5) and sensory musical session Curious Tots (every other Tuesday, babies and crawlers). Paid, book.

2. Tuesday Tots at Garden Museum, SE1 combines storytelling and craft with a different theme each time: Mad about Minibeasts (6 February 2024), The Giant Turnip (20 February 2024) and Hello Spring (27 February 2024). Free, drop in on first-come, first-served basis.

3. Explore the magic of nature with this very first opera with sensory play, You are the sun at Polka Theatre, SW19. 7-11 February 2024. Paid, book. Ages 0-2.

4. Enjoy beautiful acoustic versions of well-known pop songs with your little one in Wonder Gig at Royal Festival Hall, SE1. 8 February 2024. Free, drop in.
   And here’s all the Imagine Children’s Festival Under 5s events. 7-17 February 2024. Free/paid, book/drop in.

5. Help the teddies march in time, create a banner and hold a shield in Roman-themed Little Feet: Join the Legion at British Museum, WC1. 9 February 2024. Free, drop in. Under 5s.

6. The next Little Flamingos at Gunnersbury Park Museum, W5 is inspired by the book Guess how much I love you? 9 February 2024. Paid, book.

7. Gentle live music and coloured lights play in an ode to the lullaby in Rockaby at Royal Festival Hall, SE1. 13-15 February 2024. Paid, book. Ages 6-18 months.

8. Classic children’s story Dear Zoo comes to artsdepot, N12. 14-18 February 2024. Paid, book. Ages 2+.

9. There’s two Tots on the Docks sessions at Museum of London Docklands, E14. Where in the World? on 14 February 2024 and River Thames on 28 February 2024. Free, drop in. Under 5s.

10. Explore all the things and people we love in Littlest Angels – It must be love sensory storytelling at Angel Central, N1, with Little Angel Theatre. 16-18 February 2024. Free, book. Ages 6 months-2 years.
    

I hope this newsletter helps you have a fabulous start to February! I’d love to hear about how you get on, so tag or DM @museummum on Instagram.

I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with your free February half term guide. Until then,

Please check listings before heading out. Events can change or be cancelled at short notice; and, despite my best efforts, sometimes I make mistakes.