June 2023: What's on London with kids

Happy weekend everyone! I hope those of you with kids have enjoyed half term as much as possible. There’s still time - this issue brings fun things for the final half term weekend, plus lots to look forward to in June.

What have we been up to? Our half term began with a family activity weekend away in North Wales. Arrows also flew on our visit to Harlech Castle, spectacularly brought to life during a medieval reenactment weekend.

With lawn games and a sweet fairy houses trail, Moseley Old Hall in Staffordshire made a great place to break the journey. I doubt Charles II enjoyed either when he hid at this Elizabethan farmhouse.

Back in London, we popped to the City for sound-based family activities at London Mithraeum - making an orange honk was a particular hit! After envying both his sisters’ prize gold bar pin badges for some time, Museum Boy finally had his turn to crack the safe at Bank of England Museum.

Museum Girl was in sequin heaven on the family trail for Ashish: Fall in love and be more tender at William Morris Gallery, pocketing a rainbow badge for her efforts.

We enjoyed a culture-packed day out on the North Bank. We were slightly creeped out by artist robot Ai-da at London Design Biennale at Somerset House. Then we became the artists, minus the wires, at Drawing with Wolves at National Gallery. And I'd never really thought about what the bar in Manet's famous painting smelt like, until Sensory Family Adventures at Courtauld Gallery. Hopefully nowhere near as foul as the civet musk-heavy version Museum Boy made!

I'd love to hear what you've been up to - hit reply, post in my Facebook group or DM me on Instagram.

June 2023: What’s on London with kids

June is an exciting month, packed with outdoor art and family festivals. It’s Pride month, Windrush 75 anniversary and Refugee Week. Here’s my pick of things to do with the kids in (or worth the day trip from) London this month:

1. With the sad news Jewish Museum London is closing, time is running out to try their Bake and Take sessions. This month, make soda biscuits inspired by refugee recipes. 4, 11, 18 and 25 June. Paid, book.

2. Get soaked, art style as Jeppe Heine's famous fountains Appearing Rooms makes a welcome return to the Southbank Centre. 7 June-3 September 2023. Free.

3. Squish Space, the creative play space for under 5s and their families, is back at Barbican. 9-11 June 2023. Free, book/drop in.

4. Dress-up, move and play in Tate Britain’s galleries with Queer and Now Pop-Up Play Studio. And join a workshop with ramshackle punk protest band, RugChats. 10 June 2023, free.

5. Celebrate east London at Queen Mary University London Festival of Communities. With creative crafts, hands-on science, heritage-inspired activities and more. 10-11 June 2023. Free.

6. Where else can kids sculpt vegetables? Family-oriented Lambeth Country Show returns with horticultural shows, crafts, diggers, birds of prey and an urban farm ‘cuddle corner’. 10-11 June 2022. Free.

7. Check out the Luxury and power: Persia to Greece exhibition at British Museum for nowt at Little Feet: Exhibition Explorer. 13 June 2023, free. Under 5s only.

8. Here’s three good reasons to visit The British Library: Celebrating Jaipur with colourful tales (10 June 2023), Windrush 75 storytelling (23 June 2023) and A Life of Compassion family workshops celebrating Judith Kerr during Refugee Week (25 June 2023). Free, drop in, ages 2+.

9. Explore an immersive installation of scribble sculptures, tactile shapes and cosy scented objects in Sculpting Conversations at Whitechapel Gallery, 14 June-3 September 2023. Free, drop in.

10. There’s three new, free sculpture trails to enjoy this month: Kensington And Chelsea Art Week Trail (from 16 June 2023), Sculpture in the City 12th edition (from 27 June 2023), Mayfair Art Weekend (from 29 June 2023).

11. The perennially popular floating Earth artwork, Gaia by Luke Jerram, returns to London at the Landmark Centre. Part of the Richmond Arts and Ideas Festival. 16 June-2 July 2023. Free, book.

12. Make paper brain hats, build a robot, race worms, meet scientists and much, much more at science-meets-art extravaganza The Great Exhibition Road Festival. 17-18 June 2023. Free, mix book/drop in.

13. It’s Waterloo Weekend at Apsley House. No, not Abba - the home of the Duke of Wellington brings to life the Battle of Waterloo with re-enactors. 17-18 June 2023, paid.

14. Find up to 70 uniquely decorated sculptures across Central London in Morph’s Epic Art Adventure. 19 June-20 August 2023, free.

15. Take vocal workshops, dance Calypso, make your own Windrush flag and more at The Spirit of Windrush family festival at National Maritime Museum. 24 June 2023, free.

16. After three years, the National Portrait Gallery reopens. Take the kids to their First Look family day for creative hands-on workshops, trails, storytelling sessions and family tours. 24 June 2023, free.

17. Make leaf props then wave them aloft in a joyous, free and immersive procession along the Thames Towpath Super Solstice Procession at Orleans House Gallery. 24 June 2023. Free, book.

18. The UK's biggest kids' books party returns with Barnes Children’s Literature Festival. Bookings now open, with their free events calendar coming soon. 24-25 June 2023. Paid/free, book.

19. Kids go free for this year's Summer Air Show at IWM Duxford. With awe-inspiring flypasts and a festival feel, there’s loads of hands-on activities for kids. 24-25 June 2023. Paid, book.

20. Celebrate rainbow families with interactive storytelling by the author of The Pirate Mums at Queer Museum. 25 June 2023. Paid, book. Best ages 3-7.

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

Weekend activities: 3-4 June 2023

Weekend looking empty? No fear - all these events can fit you in. Click the links for timings and any booking information.

1. Cross-stitch a greetings card, make bracelets and more at Family Day Migration Museum. 3 June 2023, free.

2. Bring old clothing to life with colourful badges and patches at Family Day: Elevate the Everyday at William Morris Gallery. 3 June 2023, free.

3. Share ideas for a new public garden and make ink of out of plants with Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration. 3 June 2023, free.

4. Join in with Little Architects workshops with the Architectural Association. 3 June 2023. Free, book. Ages 5-12.

5. Meet Miss Nightingale at Florence Nightingale Museum. 3 June 2023. Paid, drop in.

6. Experience the art through creative Drop-in drawing at Gagosian Grosvenor Hill. 3 June 2023. Free, book. Part of London Gallery Weekend.

7. Canary Wharf family film club kicks off with an outdoor screening of Sing. 3 June 2023, free.

8. Create a space for memories of mothers no longer with us in Families Create at Zabludowicz Collection. 3 June 2023. Free, book/drop in.

9. Make a small and colourful 3D boat at Craft Saturday at MyPlace, Romford. 3 June 2023. Free, book.

10. Create artworks to keep in Crafternoon at Gerald Moore Gallery. 3 June 2023. Free, book.

11. The Tiger Who Came to Tea visits Osterley House and Gardens. Discover Mog’s Imagination Stations, hear stories and see Mog’s Special Visitor. 3-4 June, paid.

12. Make your own charcoal and draw with it in Quentin Blake: Drawn to Water at WWT London Wetland Centre. 3-4 June 2023, paid.

13. Track down the culprits in THE CAKE THIEVES! An Interactive Storytelling Session at Bow Street Police Museum. 3-4 June 2022. Paid, book.

14. Take a playful story tour round Pitzhanger and build architectural models in this week’s Open Sundays at Pitzhanger. 4 June 2023, free.

15. Immerse yourself in a vibrant musical world in Windrush 75: Jamaican sound system culture at the British Museum. 4 June 2023. Free.

16. Celebrate innovation and imagination in the Spirit of Invention festival day at The National Archives. 4 June 2023. Paid, book.

Have a fantastic weekend! Do tag me in your cultural outings - I love seeing how you get on and it helps me choose which events to feature in future.

And if you enjoyed this newsletter, please consider forwarding it to friends or mentioning it on your social channels.

Until next time,

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