You don’t have to travel far for things to do with the kids this half-term – from craft sessions to historical fun, across South London there is tons going on – here is our selection…
Get laughing in Blackheath
The Blackheath Halls are hoping kids and teenagers alike will be laughing in the aisles with a double bill of top comedy as half-term begins.
Shelf: The kids’ Show and Shelf: Teenage Men are on stage the same day but are made for different audiences.
The former is in the afternoon and is for the younger lot 3+, with sketches, songs, pranks and silly characters used to bring the story of best friends Rachel and Ruby to life.
The later show is a spin-off of their last show, Hair, where Shelf joked about being mistaken for teenage boys. Now, it’s time to grow up. It’s time to stop being teenage boys and start being teenage men.
This new show from this famous double-act, who have featured on BBC3 and ITVX includes anecdotes, songs, jokes about performing for kids, the Instagram algorithm, confronting your toxicity, and more.
It is for 14+ as there is likely to be swearing.
When? Saturday 10 February Shelf: The kids’ Show at 2pm; Shelf: Teenage Men at 8pm
Where? Blackheath Halls, The Hearn Recital Room, 23 Lee Road, London, SE3 9RQ
Admission: Family Ticket Available at £40. Multibuy Ticket Offer: Book for both Shelf: The Kids’ Show and Teenage Men to receive a 15% discount on all tickets. £12 adult / £10 under 16s https://www.blackheathhalls.com/whats-on/shelf-the-kids-show/
CLICK HERE
Terrible Histories Low Tide Walk in Deptford
Pull your wellies on and take a walk in Deptford Creek, learning about the environment and wildlife as well as the terrible histories of this fascinating place.
This adventure is sure to be filled with all sorts of gruesome and shocking stories about the river and the people, plants and animals that have lived.
It is suitable for ages 8+ and all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Places go fast so if there is no space check out other events coming up including a Bird Survey which is free.
When? Wednesday 14 February 10am – 12.00am
Where? Creekside Discovery Centre, 14 Creekside, Deptford, SE8 4SA
Admission: Child £2 / Adult £1 (All funds go towards the centre’s education and conservation activities)
Catch a Family show in Woolwich
In the Dead of the Night is a thrilling, funny, and heart-warming story about an awesome girl called Lily who faces her fears and saves the day.
It is being staged at Woolwich Works by Faceplant Theatre who previously won Family Show of the Year 2018 for One Duck Down.
This show adapted from Arthur McBain’s book is brimming with thrills, melodies, humour, and most importantly, monsters!
McBain’s book has gained international recognition in Australia, Korea, Turkey, and is a key title in Waterstones Children’s Books Range here in the UK.
It is suitable for ages 3+
When? Sunday 18 February 11am and 2pm (length 1 hour)
Where? Woolwich Works, Stonecutters Studio, The Fireworks Factory 11 No. 1 Street, SE18 6HD
Admission: Standard £14.00 | Concessions & Under 18s £12.00
Be part of the story at Mystery Makers
Children’s author and performer Gareth P Jones presents an improvised story where the audience stars and decides what happens.
Join him at the Albany Theatre in creating a brand new whodunnit where the audience make the story, play the suspects, discover the clues and solve the mystery.
Expect live music, fast rapping, jokes, frenetic improvised storytelling and a big twist ending.
Inspired by his ‘choose your own adventure’ books, Solve Your Own Mystery: The Monster Maker, The Time Thief, The Missing Magic and The Transylvanian Express, this is show for junior sleuths and young authors everywhere.
It is suitable for ages 7-12
When? Thursday 15 February 11am (length 1 hour)
Where? Albany Theatre, Deptford Lounge, Admission: Pay-What-You-Decide
CLICK HERE
Claytime and theatre in Bromley
Theatre does not get more interactive for kids then Claytime at Bromley’s Churchill Theatre.
Indefinite Articles present their work for the very young, where the audience are invited to participate creating fabulous forms, amazing animals and morphing monsters with clay.
Each Claytime is totally unique – creating its own world, its own characters and its own stories drawn directly from its young audience.
This show is made with and for 3 to 6 year olds.
When? Wednesday 14 – Thursday 15 February 11am and 2pm
Where? Churchill Theatre Churchill, High St, Bromley BR1 1HA
Admission: £11.50 – £13.50 (A transaction fee of up to £3.95 may apply to your order)
Crafts for Chinese New Year in Walworth
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with craft-making at Walworth’s new library.
Visit the newly opened Una Marson Library for this session – suitable for children aged 5 and over.
When? Saturday 10 February 2.30 pm to 4 pm
Where? Una Marson Library, 62 Thurlow Street, SE17 2GN
Admission: Free. (Open to all, no need to book)
The UK’s biggest children’s festival
Britain’s biggest children’s festival is returning to Southbank for ten days – and nearly half the shows are free.
Taking place across all Southbank Centre venues, the rich and diverse festival programme includes events for all ages ranging from children’s theatre to storytelling, comedy and poetry, dance theatre, interactive installations, DJ parties, book readings, puppetry and classical music.
There are more than 130 shows and activities on the programme – 40 per cent of which are free of charge.
When? Now til Saturday 17 February
Where? Southbank Centre,
Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
Admission: Free
CLICK HERE
Learn about the ‘superwomen’ in Waterloo
The Florence Nightingale Museum is hosting a special exhibition this half-term.
Super Women in Stem will celebrate four trailblazing Victorian heroes; Ada Lovelace, Mary Anning, Mary Somerville and Florence Nightingale.
Kids can learn about these women’s inspiring work in statistics, astronomy, computer programming and palaeontology through hands-on activities, make-and-take crafts and interactive museum trails.
When? Saturday 10 – Sunday 18 February (closed Mon)
Where? Florence Nightingale Museum, 2 Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7EP
Admission: Kids £6; Adults £12
CLICK HERE
Chicken Run Funday at BFI Southbank
Free Chicken-Run-themed workshop for anyone who buys a ticket to the special family screening.
Bringing half term to a close is Aardman Animation’s latest feature film – Chicken Run: Return of the Nugget at BFI Southbank.
Ahead of the screening, there’s a free drop-in arts and crafts workshop for kids in the foyer – with a Q&A by director Sam Fell.
When: Sunday 11 February (from 11:15 am, film starts at 12:30 pm)
Where? BFI Southbank,
Admission: £3.00 – £8.00 (workshop is free to ticket holders)
CLICK HERE
Free ‘70s-inspired family games
A free interactive game for families and young people – featuring dance-offs, quizzes and more.
The Intergenerational Game: Lunar New Year Edition is an interactive game for families and kids being hosted at the Southbank Centre.
Riffing on the 1970s TV show Generation Game, cross-disciplinary arts collective Orang Collectif presents this fun interactive family celebration full of games, dance-offs, quiz rounds and mass participatory fun.
Where? The Clore Ballroom, Level 2, Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
When? Saturday 10 February, 10.30 am & 1.30 pm
Admission: Free
Part of the Imagine Children’s Festival
CLICK HERE
Three Billy Goats Gruff in Bermondsey
Following a successful run last Easter, Stiles and Drewe’s joyful hit musical returns to the Unicorn for a limited run.
“Baby, Middle and Big are three very hungry goats, and there is no grass left to eat on their side of the valley. Come on their adventure as together with Little Bo-Frilly they hatch a plan to cross the bridge to the lush green grass on the other side, they just need to outwit that horrible tricksy troll first.”
Directed by Justin Audibert and featuring music and lyrics by Olivier award-winning composers Stiles and Drewe (Mary Poppins, Honk!), this magical, fairy-tale show is the perfect first musical for young families.
Where? Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, SE1 2HZ
When? Now until Sunday 18 February
Admission: Under 18s £11 – £18.50 / Adults £16.50 – £27.50
CLICK HERE
The Kid’s Table in Peckham
Drop the kids off for an afternoon of creating at Peckham Levels whilst you have some you-time.
The Kid’s Table is a pop-up children’s corner service that provides children 3 to 10 years old with crafts, games and creative tabletop fun (all supervised).
Where? Peckham Levels,
95a Rye Lane, SE15 4ST
When? Select Sundays from January – May, 12 pm – 4 pm
Admission: Free (for customers visiting Peckham Levels)
CLICK HERE
