May 2024: What's on London with kids

Here comes May, the month where all things seem possible. There’s flowers, fetes, fairs and fun a-plenty plus extra family time to enjoy them with, thanks to two bank holidays (and another half term!)

In this newsletter I bring you 20 things to do in May before the half term hits, celebrate a year of this newsletter, suggest 10 things for Under 5s, and mention a few happenings this weekend.

Apparently I saved the best for last - on the inset day before the new term started, me and Museum Girl visited the London Eye and Shrek’s Adventure! with CSSC. Both shot into her holiday top 3, alongside Zippos Circus - a real honour, considering how much other fun we had over Easter.

Museum Girl cooked the rainbow at Garden Museum, made mini-figures in a drop-off session at Sir John Soane’s Museum, and tore it up (quite literally as paper flew everywhere!) at Tate Modern’s Uniqlo Tate Play. MG and friend then giggled their way around the ‘instructional’ artworks in Yoko Ono at Tate - although some staff were less than pleased to see excited kids exploring the space a little too creatively.

Last weekend we stitched books with Japanese binding at the British Library’s family day, and rocked out at the final weekend of Medusa’s First Kiss at Little Angel Theatre.

On Universal Credit, or know someone who is? My latest blog post features 45+ fantastic offers for those on low-income benefits, all across the UK. And if you’re not, I’ve included other ways to save.

Let’s celebrate! This newsletter is 1 year old

Last April, I nervously pressed send on my first ever Museum Mum newsletter. Since then, I’ve sent 28 newsletters featuring over 1,050 events from 250+ venues. An astonishing 70% of the events I’ve shared have been completely free.

A big thank you to for inviting me into your inbox, mentioning me on or after your visits, and sending me lovely DMs about your days out. Thanks also to the organisations who’ve sponsored a newsletter: Art Fund, National Trust South East, Southbank Centre, and Westminster Abbey.

I hope you don’t mind me making an anniversary ask to help keep this newsletter going. I’ve spent at least 250 hours this year researching and writing the newsletters. I want to keep them free but, especially as the free subscriber limit looms, this needs to stand on its own two feet financially. Time consuming AND a loss maker is never a good combo, amirite?

Here’s how you can help me grow and bring in more income. None should take more than a few minutes, and most won’t cost you anything:

• Share this newsletter with your fellow parents - forward to a friend or give me a shout out in your WhatsApp/Facebook groups.

• Mention me when you share somewhere you’ve been - if you tag me @museummum on Instagram I can reshare.

• Buy me a celebratory ko-fi, if you can (mine’s a decaf oat latte, cheers!)

• Reply and answer me this - what would you be willing to pay me for?

• If you know somewhere looking to reach more London parents, or support greater access to the culture sector, hit reply and let’s talk more!

Thanks again for all of your support, and here’s to another fun-packed year discovering London’s family gems!

May 2024: What’s on London with kids

If you’re thinking ahead, check out my May half term post for 50+ things to do with the kids in London. I’m adding to it regularly. And on Thursday 23 May 2024 I’ll send out a newsletter listing up to 5 free events for each day of the May half term holidays.

Here’s May’s highlights, before the half term hits:

1. Little People, BIG DREAMS family trail comes to Osterley Park and House, TW7. Inspire little ones with exceptional people including Malala Yousafzai, Jane Austen and Marcus Rashford. 1 May-18 June 2024. Paid. Best ages 4-7.

2. The vibrant IWA Canal Cavalcade sails into Little Venice with eclectic live music, the legendary illuminated procession, and kids’ entertainment. 4-6 May 2024. Free, drop in.

3. Ride miniature trains in the 2024 Steam Gala at Ruislip Lido Railway, HA4. With special guest train 'Sherpa', workshops, driver for a fiver experiences, refreshments, and more. 4-6 May 2024. Paid, book.

4. Dive into zorbing, bracelet making, archery tag, garden games and face painting at The Green Meet at Fulham Palace, SW6. Plus family yoga, mini-beast hunt, green market and mending lessons. 5 May 2024. Free entry if you book, pay on the day.

5. Enjoy food, ‘kermess’-style family entertainment, London’s best Mexican street food, a colourful market, and workshops in MexFest at Hackney Bridge, E15. 6 May 2024 (also 5 May, minus the kermess). Free, drop in.

6. There’s maypole, Victorian and Morris dancing galore in May Day at the Manor at Headstone Manor Museum, HA2. Plus fairground rides, live performances, craft activities and Duck Pond Market. 6 May 2024. Paid, book.

7. Maypole dancing, arts and crafts, facepainting, BBQ, meet the animals, planting seeds and live music May Day Celebration at Kentish Town City Farm, NW5. 6 May 2024. Paid, drop in.

8. Search for 17 shimmering steel and bronze sculptures in Kew Gardens, TW9 in Marc Quinn - Light into Life. Head to the Shirley Sherwood Gallery for frozen artworks. 4 May-29 September 2024. Included with paid entry.

9. If, like me, you can’t make the epic Playhenge at Stonehenge (17 May-4 June 2024, included with paid entry), the kids can still enjoy hammering their own play structure with Woodland Tribe at Brockwell Bounce (29 May 2024). Free, drop in.

10. Dulwich Festival returns! It's free family-friendly events include Kingswood Arts Open Day (11 May 2024), Dulwich Park Fair (12 May 2024), West Dulwich Spring Fair (18 May 2024), Goose Green Fair (19 May 2024). Plus paid family rave and concerts.

11. To celebrate the National Gallery’s 200th anniversary, help decorate a giant cake sculpture made of recycled paper in Big Birthday Family Weekend. 11-12 May 2024. WC2. Free, drop in.

12. Enjoy Punch & Judy shows in Covent Garden May Fayre Puppet Festival in the Garden of St Paul’s Church, WC2. Plus brass band grand procession, shows, stalls, workshops, folk music and maypole dancing. 12 May 2024. Free, drop in.

13. Chihuly at Chelsea Barracks, SW1 features four installations by the legendary American glass artist Dale Chihuly. 13 May 2024-October 2024. Free, drop in.

14. Join in with badge making and the famous bug hunt in the FONC Open Day at Nunhead Cemetery, SE23. Details are still tbc, but last year saw choirs, poetry and art performances - and a horse-drawn Victorian hearse. 18 May 2024. Free, drop in.

15. Cosy up on cushions and hear stories sprinkled with songs and games in Middle Eastern storytelling at V&A Museum, SW7. 18 May 2024. Free.

16. Get playful in Urban Village Fete at Greenwich Peninsula, SE10. With Allympics games, a doodle apartment, origami town building, face painting, pop-up photo portraits, book swaps, 3D printing and charity shop DJ sets. 19 May 2024. Free, drop in.

17. Visit Lauderdale House, N6 for their new Sunday Fun-day monthly family workshops! Dive into history with crafts, sensory lessons, and Tudor-themed activities. Play in Waterlow Park after. 19 May 2024. Free, drop in. Ages 4-10.

18. Find incredible ‘Floral Feasts’ themed installations across dozens of shops and venues in Chelsea in Bloom (20-26 May 2024). Or avoid the crowds, and head to Belgravia in Bloom for Floral Fun and Games (20-27 May 2024). Free, drop in.

19. Over 100 artists merge art and sound with site-specific audio-visual installations in REVERB at 180 Studios, WC2. Includes works by Es Devlin, Julian Knxx, Jeremy Deller and more. 22 May-28 September 2024. Paid, book.

20. Swirl around with a murmuration, chirp along with the dawn chorus, and see if you have the stomach to sniff a stinky seabird egg in Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre at Natural History Museum, SW7. 24 May 2024-5 January 2025. Paid, book.

May 2024: What’s On for Under 5s

Here are May’s most promising activities especially designed for little ones.

And if you’re looking for more - I’ve updated this Under 5s cultural play sessions post with all the latest dates to book.

1. Try Cutty Sark’s rebooted Under 5 session, Ship Mates. Guest practitioners explore the ship's stories with musical and storytelling activities. I’d love to know what you think! Wednesdays in term time, 1 & 8 May now booking. Paid, book.

2. Listen, play and make some noise in Sound Explorers at Young V&A, E2. 3, 10, 17 & 24 May 2024. Free, drop in. Ages 0-2.

3. Newly added to the Under 5s directory is Planet Play at Chickenshed Theatre, N14. 3, 10, 17 & 24 May and 5 & 12 July 2024. Paid, book. Ages 0-3.

4. Join the Foundling Museum at Holborn Library, WC1 for a creative, fun and free art workshop. 10 May 2024. Free, book. Under 5s.

5. Help with teddies build barracks barracks, prepare food, brush horses and polish armour in Little Feet: Life in the Fort at British Museum, WC1. 13 May 2024. Free, drop in session, book museum entry. Under 5s. 

6. Watch a short, sensory performance in a gorgeous garden-inspired set, then play in it after. The Baby Show at Unicorn Theatre, SE1. 14 May-19 June 2024. Paid, book. Ages 6-18 months.

7. See a play inspired by your clay creations in Claytime at Polka Theatre, SW19. 15-17 May 2024. Paid, book. Ages 3-6.

8. My top tip - Royal Opera House Dot’s Day is currently sold out, but they normally release an additional 100 tickets the week running up to it. It’s packed with relaxed performances, interactive workshops, and upcycling activities. 26 May 2024. Best ages 0-3. WC2. Paid, book.

9. Have fun with fabrics in Tots at the Docks – Little Fashion City at Museum of London Docklands, E14. 29 May 2024, 10:30-15:00. Free, drop in. Under 5s.

10. Set a reminder! The Autumn season of Chamber Tots at Wigmore Hall, W1 go on sale on 30 April 2024 at 10:00. These interactive music sessions always sell out. Choose from Autumn (20 September, 6 November & 5 December 2024) and Tree Tops and Forest Floors (17 October & 20 November 2024). Paid, book.

Keep an eye on my Instagram stories for more under 5 ticket releases - I pop on new events to book as I find them.

Weekend activities 27-28 April 2024

And finally, some super activities to see you through this weekend. Check the links for timings and any booking details.

1. There’s some cancellations coming up for Family Fun Day: RIBA Building Birthday Bash at RIBA London, W1. 27 April 2024. Free.

2. Drop-in Design: Tiger Den Collage and NVAP family-friendly Screening: The Tiger Who Came to Tea at V&A South Kensington, SW7. 27 April 2024. Free.

3. Hands On Armour at Wallace Collection, W1. 27 April 2024. Free. Ages 5+.

4. Minibeasts at Love Beckenham Place Park Community Event, BR3. 27 April 2024. Free.

5. Eddy’s Teddy Bear Picnic at Fulham Palace House & Gardens, SW6. 28 April 2024. Paid.

6. Family Studio: Costumes at Royal Academy of Arts, W1. 28 April 2024. Free.

Wishing you a fantastic month ahead! Let’s keep the conversation going - tag or DM me on Instagram @museummum to let me know how your days out are going.

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.