From the 20th October until the 28th, little rascals are going to be running all about the place on a sugary and artificial coloured hype! So, to take the pressure off the parents we’ve thought of some fun things to indulge in across the city, to tire out those energetic little beings (if that’s even possible…)
Kidzania
What: The Kids Are In Control
If you’re not a parent then you simply won’t have heard of Kidzania. Keep it that way as long as possible. But if you’ve got children then you’re going to want to get down to this kiddie paradise where the young ones are in charge. If an entire city run by toddlers fills you with dread (worth remembering, London, that you voted for Boris Johnson as Mayor twice) then look away now: the as an entire city in the control of toddlers, who get to do everything from driving busses to putting out fires. Its enough to make you want to be 5 again.
Where: Westfield London, Ariel Way, Shepherd's Bush, W12 7GA
Website: www.kidzania.com
Science Museum
Albert Einstein It Up
The word science might not exactly entice the kids, but trust us – the Science Museum is so much fun! Entry is free, and once inside you can explore the interactive spaces and wide array of paraphernalia on show inside. If you fancy booking an event, there’s the Equinor Gallery, Space Descent VR with Tim Peake and much, much more.
Where: Exhibition Road, Kensington, SW7 2DD
Website: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
The Savoy
Roaring Amounts of Fun at The Savoy
If this doesn’t look like a cool afternoon tea, we don’t know what does! So, if you’ve always dreamt of having tea with a tiger and fancy a roar-ing time at The Savoy, then this is a great place to take the little-uns. Having partnered with HaperCollins Children’s Books, the unique Tiger Who Came to Tea experience will feature as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Judith Kerr’s classic. The tea is for five to twelve years olds and features a delicious array of sarnies, tiger striped scones and pastries. Yum!
Where: The Savoy, Strand, London, United Kingdom
Nearest station: Holborn (0.3 miles)
Website: www.fairmont.com
Creepy Exhibitions
Is it Groundhog Day? It seems like just yesterday that, back in 2008, Dr Gunther von Hagens brought his controversial Body Worlds travelling display to this country. The exhibition, which showcases the preserved dissected bodies of hundreds of donors, now has a permanent home here, and we think you should take the kids! The flayed corpses find their final home at Piccadilly Circus showcasing carefully preserved bodies, often arranged in lifelike poses!
Website: www.bodyworlds.com
Sophie's Steakhouse (Soho)
If the above image of a cutely positioned ice-cream doesn’t make you want to head across to Sophie’s Steakhouse in Soho, we’re not sure what will. The restaurant has vamped up a tasty kids menu courtesy of half term, with kids roast, hamburgers, roast chicken and sweet treats in the form of fresh fruit and (perhaps more popular), homemade ice-cream. Kids can get involved in a word search whilst they wait – it’s a no-adults-allowed game, so no cheating!
Where: 42-44 Great Windmill Street, W1D 7NB
Website: www.sophiessteakhouse.com
Harvesting in Style
We know the little ones frequently shy away from anything not dosed in sugar and coming in a packet most commonly labelled Haribo, so Skylight have found a way to put some fun into HarvestFest. Skylight has launched HarvestFest. Families will head up for an abundance of seasonal lawn games like Horseshoes, Urban Pallet Skittles and Apple Draughts. Skylight, if the name doesn’t give it away, is a rooftop destination so there will be heated seating areas on hand to warm you up, that and copious amounts of melted cheese and alpine street food.
Website: www.skylightlondon.com
The Dorchester
What a Beauty
The Dorchester, one of London’s grandest hotels and a byword in poshness, so it’s exactly the sort of place that a princess would stay. And eat tea. So how appropriate that they’ve devised a Sleeping Beauty tea in collaboration with the English National Ballet. The tea comes along with special entertainment put on by the English National Ballet School’s young dancers, with key characters from the fairy tale taking centre stage as guests enjoy their tea.
Monday 22 – Friday 26 October
Where: 53 Park Lane, Park Lane, W1K 1QA UK
Website: www.dorchestercollection.com
The Horniman Halloween Fair
Don your best trick and treat outfit and go to the Horniman for some spooky fun and games. The youngsters can spook it up in the Wild Fangs cave, indulge in sweets and treats, and get involved with arts and craft markets.
October 27-28th
Website: www.horniman.ac.uk
Harry Potter Wands
What: Harry Potter's Wand
You can gauge when someone got onto the Harry Potter band-wagon by when their Potter books turn from paperbacks to hardbacks on the shelf. But the latest generation of Potter fans weren’t even born when J.K.Rowling was churning out the classics. But young and old alike will appreciate the wandy amazingness of these Thames-side giant, 15 foot wands, an installation to celebrate the launch of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them at the cinema, and also to raise funds for Rowling’s charity Lumos.
Where: Millenium Bridge, Thames Embankment, SE1 9JE
Website: www.fantasticbeasts.co.uk
St Ermin's Hotel
A Buzzz-y Half Term
We’re buzzing for this one… (queue the bee puns), as The St Ermin’s Hotel launches an afternoon tea that conjures up some serious James and the Giant Peach vibes. The new Children’s Autumn Afternoon Tea will include sandwiches and seasonal treats including carrot cake, a bee lollypop, ladybug tea cake, banana and honey mousse beehive and ginger and honey macaron. Not to mention, it looks super cute and worthy of an insta or two! Bee-cause St Ermin’s hive it all, there will be honey harvested by the hotels very own bee colony residing in the Bee & Bee (blimey, they’re worse than me), on the third floor of the hotel. Bee-autiful.
Where: 2 Caxton Street, St James, SW1H 0QW
Website: www.sterminshotel.co.uk
Be a Book Worm
We know the kids might want a break from having (or pretending to have) their heads in a book. However Kingston Children’s Literary Festival does sound rather fun! In an effort not to judge a book by its cover, visitors will see the return of the three day reading and experiential event, alongside readings of children’s book faves read by UK children’s authors and illustrators. Kicking off the events will be Adam Hargreaves who says he’s “really looking forward to introducing Molly Mischief to the children at the Kingston Children’s Literary Festival this October”. So, if you want to be introduced to Molly Mischief then you better get book-ing (get it?)
Website: www.inkingston.co.uk
Cutty Sark
The old ones are always the best, and in this case they’re around 200 years old. A good old fashioned day out in Greenwich is the perfect activity for a half term day. Discover all the history of the Cutty Sark, the fastest clipper, check out the incredible naval college buildings, the market or take a pedalo and finally picnic in the park. Perfect.
Where: King William Walk, Greenwich, SE10 9HT
Website: www.rmg.co.uk
Carve Your Way to Success
Pumpkin carving has got a little competitive in reason years, what with the ability to share our creative carves across social media. So, to get the practice in why not get involved with a pumpkin decorating workshop. The class at Horniman Museum includes a pumpkin each which you can take home (or leave depending on how good it ends up looking!)
October 25th and 26th
Website: www.horniman.ac.uk
