Here are some other top ideas for family fun this weekend (we won’t double up on the posts from earlier in the week) as that might make you feel like you have ‘baby brain’. We hope you find something new and inviting. xo
1. National Science & Engineering Week (All Ages : Free)
Events across the UK from 15th to 24th March.
For the next ten days National Science & Engineering Week shines the spotlight on how the sciences, technology, engineering and maths relate to our everyday lives, and helps to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers with fun and participative events and activities.
The theme for 2013 is ‘invention and discovery’. and there are so many ways to take part. Have a look at the website for links to events going on near you, and keep it handy as a resource for information and free download activities.
Take a visit to The Big Bang Fair at Excel, it looks pretty fantastic. It’s billed as the UK Young Scientist and Engineers Fair, (and primarily aimed at 7-19 year olds). This weekend on the 16/17th they hold their family days, and you can get involved in a range of activities with your entry ticket, as well as pre-booking others. It’s free (yes really, I checked the site a couple of times, and all you need to do is register your details for their capacity numbers).
They aim to engage and inspire young people through interactive and engaging activities, workshops and shows. You can see a list of some of this year’s activities, workshops and theatre shows here, but make sure to check back as we’re adding to this page all the time. The_Big_Bang_Fair_2013_Showguide. If you can’t make the fair this weekend, there will be a smaller event in London on the 3rd and 4th July. Check out www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/London for more information.
2. St Patricks Day Parade : Trafalgar Square : March 17th (All Ages : Free)
The Mayor’s St Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival. 12pm start.
The day kicks off with a spectacular parade of colourful marching bands, floats, costumed characters and street theatre groups.The parade leaves Piccadilly at noon and follows a route along; lower Regents Street, Pall Mall and finishes in Trafalgar Square. The event continues with a festival on Trafalgar Square with a food market, children’s area and an afternoon of top Irish comedy.
3. Royal College of Art : Secret Postcards (All Ages : Free )
RCA Secret returns for the twentieth year as one of London’s most popular art sales.
This exciting exhibition opened yesterday (Mar 14th) and will run until the day of the postcard sale on Sat 23 March. It goes a little like this … You try and guess your way to choosing a potential masterpiece work of post card art from the exhibition, then you can buy (£45 each) up to 4 of them, and when you have paid up, and only then, can you find out which of the many established artists (such as David Bailey, Julian Opie and Paula Rego plus designers Paul Smith, Manolo Blahnik and Orla Kiely) have made it into your family art collection. Each RCA Secret postcard is signed on the back. The exhibition sale is there to support the RCA Fine Student Award Fund.
Where : The Dyson Building, 1 Hester Road, SW11 4AN.
You must have an RCA Secret Collector’s Number to purchase a card at RCA Secret 2013. Register here.
Exhibition open: 14–22 March 11am–6pm
Late opening: Thursday 21 March until 9pm
Sale open: Saturday 23 March 8am-6pm
Free Admission
4. HMS Belfast’s 75th Birthday (All Ages : Free for U16 : Charge for Adults)
Seventy-five years after HMS Belfast was launched in Belfast on St Patrick’s Day, 17 March 1938, they are celebrating the anniversary with a weekend of family fun.
Get involved with the simulated firings of the 4-inch guns, live Irish music and the opportunity to meet veterans who served on board. Kids can also get hands-on by making plaster cast medallions of the ship’s crest and learning how to use Morse Code during live radio demos in the Bridge Wireless Office.
Weekend Activities:
- 4-inch gun firing at 11.15am and various times throughout the day
- Live radio demonstrations in the Bridge Wireless Office from 10.30am-4pm
- Medallion-making sessions from 10.30am-12.30pm and 2pm-4pm
- Semaphore demonstrations with the Sea Cadets on the hour from 11am-4pm
- Live music on the Boat Deck from 11am-3pm on Saturday and 12pm-2pm on Sunday plus a special Irish-themes menu served in our Café.
Weekend activities included in general admission price. (
Adults £14.50 Childred U16 Free)
Activities will be taking place across the weekend at different times. Please check with a Yeoman on board during your visit for more information.
Creative Bus Stop 