March 2024: What's on London with kids

Here comes March, savage and serene - often in the same hour! Whether you want to enjoy the Spring sun or shelter from freezing winds, this newsletter includes 20 things to do with kids in London this month, plus 10 more activities for under 5s. Additionally, there are 10 free entry and special offers for National Lottery Open Week. Everyone’s a winner!

Psst: On the blog I’ve updated my Easter bumper what’s on guide with 2024 events.

I had a fab February, seeing new exhibitions Yoko Ono at Tate Modern, When Forms Come Alive at Hayward Gallery, The Time is Always Now at National Portrait Gallery and Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art at Barbican Gallery.

I was underwhelmed by Cute at Somerset House but Museum Girl loved it. Though I confess: I queued for the Cute pop-up cafe without her. We both however had a great time with interactive art and theatre for Imagine Children’s Festival at Southbank Centre.

Museum Boy rated the Teen Takeover at Young V&A a solid 10/10 - it’s hard to find events for secondary aged children, more please!

Outside London we saw beautiful snowdrops at Anglesey Abbey, played with Leap then Look’s interactive art at Turner Contemporary and stumbled through hand-dug chalk tunnels at Margate Caves. And I was moved to tears by Material Power: Palestinian Embroidery at The Whitworth. Is it too soon to call an exhibition of the year?

March 2024: What’s on London with kids

If you’re already egg-cited for Easter school holiday events, then chick out this bumper what’s on guide - I’m updating it regularly.

And on Thursday 28 March and Friday 5 April 2024 I’ll send out newsletters listing up to 5 free events for each day of the Easter holidays. Make sure you’re subscribed!

On with the March highlights:

1. Explore the connection between your brilliant brain and the world in Hello Brain at Francis Crick Institute, NW1. Opens 2 March 2024. Free, drop in.

2. Make a walrus headband to bid a temporary farewell to Horniman Museum and Garden’s famously overstuffed animal. 2 March 2024. Free, drop in.

3. Craft laser-cut acrylic bag charm or key ring with Tatty Devine in World Book Day: Bag Charm Workshop at Young V&A, E2. 7 March 2024. Free, drop in. Ages 7-11.

4. Celebrate women in science with workshops, activities, and Q&As at London Museum of Women in STEM, TW8. 9 March 2024. Included with paid entry. Best secondary school aged children.

5. Create biodegradable coasters in Make, Do and Maintain: Crafted Time at Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre, SE3. 9 March 2023. Paid, book.

6. Honour women with storytelling, create ‘garlanded’ art, and join the Inspiring Women in Art tour in Second Saturdays at Guildhall Museum and Art Gallery, EC2. 9 March 2024. Free, book. Ages 3-13.

7. Introduce young ones to international cinema in bite-sized chunks in International Women’s Day Shorts Programme at Family Film Club at Barbican Cinema, EC2. 9 March 2024. Paid, book. Best ages 5+.

8. Make natural forms using clay and glo-pigments and take a foraging walk in Clay-Glo Forest at Canons House, CR4. 9 March 2024. Paid, book. Ages 6-10.

9. Chart the solar system (ages 5+) and discover the secrets of astrophotography (ages 7+) at Royal Observatory, SE10. 9, 10, 16 and 17 March 2024. Included with paid entry. Part of British Science Week.

10. This Mothers’ Day, get half price tickets for The Golden Hinde. Explore the Elizabethan galleon with ‘crew’ tales and female pirate tours. 10 March 2024. Paid.

11. Design Pearly-inspired motifs, print Cockney Chat badges, and create personalized ’zines in Modern Cockney Festival at Whitechapel Gallery, E1. 16 March 2024. Free, drop in.

12. Celebrate St Patrick’s Day with dances, Irish stew, soft play area and kids’ disco in Family Ceilidh at Round Chapel, E5. 16 March 2024. Paid, book.

13. Join storyteller Olivia Armstrong for magical Irish folktales, from leprechauns to the Giant’s Causeway, in Whispers from Éire at the London Irish Centre, NW1. 16 March 2024. Paid, book.

14. Marvel at 40 of the UK’s best miniature railways, build kits and do modelling activities at The London Festival of Railway Modelling at Alexandra Palace, N22. 16-17 March 2024. Paid, book. Ages 5-16.

15. Create a miniature garden for bugs and fairies at Telegraph Hill Centre, SE14. 17 March 2024. Free, drop in. Part of Telegraph HIll Festival.

16. Jason and the Adventure of 254 explores disability with colourful sculptures, illustrations, and interactive dioramas at Wellcome Collection, NW1. 21 March 2024 – 12 January 2025. Free.

17. There’s wildlife activity trails, interactive storytelling and mini-shows with character meet-and-greets in Bing’s Nature Explorers at WWT London, SW13. 23 March - 2 June 2024. Included with paid entry.

18. The South Asian Astronomy live planetarium show at Royal Observatory Greenwich, SE10 celebrates Holi, Hindu astrology, and India’s space feats. 24 March 2024. Paid, book..

19. Ride free on historic vehicles on east London bus routes 62 and 145 for London Bus Museum Heritage Day. 24 March 2024. Free, drop in. Combine with Open Day at Barking Garage featuring vintage vehicles.

20. Two outdoor sculpture trails open: Paws on the Wharf at Canary Wharf, E14(25 March-17 May 2024) and We’re Going On A Bear Hunt in Kingston Upon Thames (29 March-7 June 2024). Free, drop in.

Finding this email useful? Forward this to your parent friends to help them out too - maybe you can go to one together?

Free and cheaper days out with National Lottery Open Week

From 9-17 March 2024, you can snag freebies, discounts, and special treats at loads of cultural places just by flashing your National Lottery ticket or scratch card! It’s their way of saying thank you for backing great causes.

Here’s my favourite 10 offers:

1. Free entry to Florence Nightingale Museum, SE1. 9–10 & 13–17 March 2024. Combine with the fantastic Meet Miss Nightingale on 9 March 2024, included with entry.

2. There’s 200 free entry tickets per day to Horniman Aquarium, SE23. 9-10 & 12-17 March 2024.

3. Experience the glamorous Leeds Castle in Kent for free! 16 March 2024.

4. Gain free entry to select National Trust properties including Osterley Park and House, Polesden Lacey, Knole, Nymans, Chartwell, Bodiam Castle and Wimpole Estate (9-17 March 2024).

5. And there’s also free entry to some English Heritage sites including Eltham Palace, Audley End House and Gardens, Wrest Park, and Dover Castle. 16-17 March 2024.

6. Get two-for-one entry to HMS Belfast, SE1 and IWM Duxford near Cambridge. 9-17 March 2024.

7. Kids go free at Kensington Palace, Tower of London, or Hampton Court Palace. 9–10 & 13–17 March 2024. One child per paying adult.

8. Step back in time with a free visit to Charles Dickens Museum, WC1. 13-15 March 2024.

9. From dinosaurs to space, enjoy a free family friendly immersive film screening in a pop up dome at Stanley Arts, SE25. 17 March 2024. Scroll down this page for booking links.

10. And get free entry to two stellar attractions of your choice at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. 15 March 2024.

Find more offers near you on the National Lottery Open Week website.

Tip: check listings carefully for Ts&Cs including number of lottery tickets required.

March 2024: What’s On for Under 5s

Nobody puts baby in the corner - here’s a selection of March’s cultural delights for Under 5s.

1. Express yourself through small, handmade photocopied magazines in Bring your baby Zine club at West Norwood Library, SE27. Every Wednesday from 6 March 2024. Free, drop in.

2. Dance with teddies to musical objects, follow ancient dancers, and craft musically inspired decorations in Little Feet: Disco Feet at British Museum, WC1. 7 March 2024. Free, drop in. Under 5s. 

3. Celebrate Holi at this month’s Little Flamingos at Gunnersbury Park Museum, W5. 8 March 2024. From sitting to under 5s. Paid, book.

4. Experience storytelling, gentle sensory interactions, sights, and sounds followed by a stay and play session in The Rainbow Builder at Half Moon Theatre, E1. 8-9 March 2024. Paid, book. Ages 0-2.

5. Join in with musical stories by Paul Rubenstein, inspired by objects at Museum of the Order of St John, EC1. 13 March 2024. Free, book. With separate Under 3s and Under 5s sessions.

6. Play peek-a-boo with puppets in this interactive theatre show Where’s Mrs Ladybird? at Stanley Arts Centre, SE25. 17 March 2024. Paid, book. For babies and toddlers.

7. William Morris Gallery, E17 relaunches its under 5s programme as Mini Morris, starting with Happy Birthday William Morris! on 21 March 2024. Free, drop in. Ages 2-5.

8. Join Keats House, NW3 for a special house opening, just for pre-schoolers and their adults! Under 5s Day, 23 March 2024. Paid, buy on the door.

9. School of Noise Takeover at Young V&A, E2 offers an afternoon of music, art and dance. 23 March 2024. Paid, book. Ages 3-6.

10. Sing songs and hear stories of Irish myths, legends and folk tale in Stóiríní - Stay and Play at London Irish Centre, NW1. 29 March and last Friday of every month. Paid, book. Ages 2 months-4 years.
    

Wishing you a fantastic March ahead! I’d love to hear about your experiences at these events, so feel free to tag or DM me on Instagram @museummum.

Until next time,

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