Here are some creative ideas for you. Why ? Well because we like you, and you deserve it, and because it doesn’t cost much to share. That’s just the kind of karma we like at our Bus Stop.
Saturday 25th May
– Hear Cerys Matthews sing, and play her banjo at a family sing-a-long at the RFH (3pm), Southbank. Details here
– Family workshops (free) at the Zabludowicz Collection (Opens 12pm) read more here
– The House of Fairy Tales host a Free Family Event in Highbury : The Highbury Time Tangle and the Door of Dimension (12-6pm) read more here
– Dalston Children’s Festival : A summer festival of workshops, play-days, outdoor events, live music and entertainment in Dalston. LAUNCH EVENT SAT 25th MAY, FESTIVAL RUNS UNTIL 31st AUGUST www.dalstonchildren.org
– Be lucky and get tickets for the Dance Fever, Family concert at Cadogan Hall (Prob sold out check ASAP), Details here
– Family Day at Wigmore Hall (10.30-3.30pm) Beethoven inspired, create your own musical to perform on stage (bring your own instruments) Book in advance, details here ((NOTE JUST CHECKED AND THIS IS NOW SOLD OUT)
– More workshop fun for the history boys and girls at The National Army Museum., Details here
-Free drop in event at HMS Belfast, London Bridge (daily 11am & 2pm until Friday 31/May), hear about life on board, and imagine yourself as a sailor, More details here
– Fairy tale walk with Rachel Rose at the Southbank Centre at (1pm), book in advance, more details here
– Whilst you’re at The Southbank Centre, look out for the new beach, cheeky fountains, real food market, world food festival, purple udderbelly cow, loud busking band, tearful skaters, hungover literary types meeting at the BFI, festival of neighbourhood, London Literature of Festival and lost giraffe balloons from crying toddlers. If you can fit all of the above in a day, then you’re getting a Creative Bus ‘OBDE’ direct from the depot delivered by Hermes
– Saatchi Gallery Russian artists kids workshops with a gallery tour (ages 3-12yrs) book by email, more details here
– A treat for the stylish mums (it is hand’s on shopping after all!), visit the J Crew pop up in the Western Transit Shed, Kings Cross, Details here
– Join the wild and wonderful crew at The House of Fairy Tales in Highbury for a free family event (12-6pm) Details here
– Chelsea Fringe Festival, The alternative Chelsea Garden Festival, lots of events going on across London (all day) check here
Sunday 26th May
– Go East to The Whitechapel Gallery for a Tree Trail (Urban Ecology) family workshop from 1-3pm. (booking recommended) Join us for a walking tour exploring trees within the local area, inspired by The Bloomberg Commission: Giuseppe Penone: Spazio di Luce. Led by Eleanor Reast (Open Air Laboratories Community Scientist for London and the South East). More details here
– Walk through the Enchanted Woodland at Audley End in Essex, and see if you can spot the many little fairies and elves that live hidden in the woods in their fairy tree houses. You could also try seeing Hazel, the fastest flying elf who darts about at high speed in the woods, or if you look down, his friend Willow who is the tree loving elf and can be found in the depths of the tree’s twisted roots. You can also take a train ride on the Audley End Miniature Railway which offers a delightful 1.5 mile ride on Lord Braybrooke’s 10¼” gauge railway through private woodland. Located directly opposite Audley End House and close to the historic market town of Saffron Walden in Essex. Open weekends only until 29th September. £3.00 entry (no booking necessary) Opening hours: 12 noon – 4.45pm (Open 11am – 4.45pm on Bank Holiday weekends)
– Gold, Bones and Mementos at The National Gallery free workshop (11am) with Harriet Hill. More details below
– Museum of London, Hands on activities throughout the museum, and join a host to explore the museum together (11am & 2pm). Details here
Monday 27th May
– Dalston Children’s Festival : A summer festival of workshops, play-days, outdoor events, live music and entertainment in Dalston. RUNS UNTIL 31st AUGUST www.dalstonchildren.org
– British Museum : Villas, Vines and Volcanos : Great Court Free, just drop in
Help make a mosaic pavement in the Great Court, find out how the fashionable Pompeian lady had her hair done, and learn about food for rich and poor. Try doing a bit of ancient graffiti and hear Pliny the Younger talk about what he was doing the day Vesuvius erupted. There are drop in workshops all week until 31-May. Times 11-4pm on Monday and 11-5pm the rest of the week.
– Chelsea Fringe Festival, The alternative Chelsea Garden Festival, lots of events going on across London (all day) check here
– Bowie masterpiece at the V&A : Be in with the hip crowd, and design your own Album Cover at the Imagination Station : Bowie inspired of course
– National Portrait Gallery : What A Relief : Drop In (Free) workshop ages 5+ : 11.30-1pm (Room 14) Paint, cut, stick and create a relief self-portrait using different materials inspired by portraits in the Collection. Free ticket required, available one hour before the event starts on a first come, first served basis. Sessions last approximately 90 minutes. For ages 5+ and their carers.
– Keats Festival Hampstead : All the Fish in the Sea : Free workshop (10.30am-12.30pm) Create sparkling foil fish with artist Jennifer Conroy and frame them in a beautiful seascape to take home. Suitable for families with children aged four and upwards
- Fulham Palace workshops
Tuesday 28th May
Fulham Palace : Events & Workshops
May 28 : Maps Workshop : Maps, maps, maps, we would be lost without them. In this craft workshop make your own map inspired by old maps of London and Fulham Palace. £15, bursary places available, please enquire. Suitable for 8-12 year olds. Call 020 7751 2432 or email education@fulhampalace.org to book.
Family Events from Sat 25 May 2013 – Sun 2 June 2013 : Seminar Room One, Sackler Centre : FAMILY EVENT: Use your body and musical instruments to explore rhythm & music making. (Limited places available daily). Suitable for all the family especially for early years. Early years performances supported by Outset Family. (11.00, 13.00 & 15.00)
– Science Museum : A Star Is Born : Free storytelling for U7’s : Twinkle twinkle little star, lets find out what you are! Join us on a journey of a lifetime – the lifetime of a star. From stellar nurseries to glittering galaxies. This free storytelling is suitable for children 7 and under.
- Hyde Park workshop
Thursday 30th May
– Hyde Park Family Workshop : Butterflies & Bees : 30 May : 10-12pm
Why not bring your family to Hyde Park and help the Royal Parks Foundation celebrate its 10th birthday! Join us on a bug safari in the meadow using nets, pooters, jars and magnifying glasses to see what creatures you can find! After our expedition we’ll make nectar feeders out of recycled materials to provide food for the butterflies and we’ll hunt for a bee’s favourite place to forage. Then we’ll make a tissue-paper meadow in all the bee’s favourite colours. (NOTE:) No unaccompanied children (or grown ups!) No more than three children per one adults. Pre-booking required, book online below or call 0207 036 8056 for more details.
– Charles Dickens Museum : Mrs Dickens Kitchen : Workshops will take place at the following times: 10:15am, 11:15am, 1:15pm, 2:15pm : £3 per child/adult (Museum admission not included) Come and try your hand at making your own butter using authentic Victorian methods. Made according Catherine Dickens’s Maitre d’Hotel recipe, you will even have a chance to taste your delicious lemon and parsley butter when you have finished churning!
– Natural History Museum : Talk : Ages 7+ : Attenborough Studio : 12.30 & 2.30 : Sleepless nights are an occupational hazard when your job is collecting moths. Armed with light traps, insect repellent and sharp eyes, our scientists go all over the world to study moths. Join us to find out how they collect these creatures of the night and hear about some of the adventures they’ve had on their travels.
Friday 31st May
The National Gallery : Family Activities
During the holidays, join a range of activities at the Gallery designed for all ages. From special themed tours to workshops and storytelling, you’ll find plenty of ways to have fun together as a family.
Under 5’s: ‘Talk and Play’ and other workshops during the week check online above. Meet Catherine the marquise, a costumed character brought to life, for singing, talking and playing inspired by the 1691 painting by Pierre Mignard The Marquise de Seignelay and Two of her Sons. Age 5- 11: Gold, Bones and Mementos (repeated during the week, check online) ‘Relic’ means ‘something left behind’. Join Harriet Hill to create your own relic inspired by your talents, favourite people, places and heroes. Then take your memento home, or leave it on our mural in the Gallery for all to see!
Saturday 1st June
– The Wellcome Collection, Euston.
Get your Explorers Pack (our favourite yet of all the museum activity packs for kids) and check out the Medicine Man exhibition. For all those interested in the weird and the wonderful facts and exhibits about health and the body, Henry Wellcome created one of the worlds great museums. This exhibition reunites a cross-section of extraordinary objects from his collection, ranging from diagnostic dolls to Japanese sex aids, and from Napoleon’s toothbrush to George III’s hair. It also provides a very different perspective on some of our own obsessions with medicine and health.
– Natural History Museum : BAT FESTIVAL (until 2 June)
Our annual Bat Festival weekend is back with more batty treats for all the family. Flap over to the Museum’s Wildlife Garden to join the bat action.
– follow the bat trail and collect clues for the bat trail challenge
– discover how to create a bat bed and breakfast with plants, ponds and insects
– learn about the work of a bat hospital
– build a bat home
– meet the Bat Conservation Trust
– make an insect hotel (Sunday only)
– try some batty crafts like making flying bats, finger puppets, masks, hats, peg bats and trying origami
– enjoy teas and refreshments
Sunday 2nd June
– The Little Draw (drop in) at The Wallace Collection : 1:30pm – 4:30pm : Price: Admission Free : Ages: All Ages : Lecturer: Zoe Scammell
Free drop-in drawing workshop for all ages and abilities Come and meet our Little Draw artist Zoe Scammell this summer. Zoe creates detailed drawings of the grotesque beasts and monsters of the natural world. In these workshops, teaching the methods, techniques and materials of drawing, you’ll find Zoe taking inspiration from some of the fantastic beasts and monsters you can find hiding in the Wallace Collection. For more information about the ‘Big Draw’ and other workshops visit: http://www.drawingpower.org.uk
– Soho Flea Market, organised by Ciryshowcase.co.uk, Dean street is being closed to traffic for the popular indy-style market between 12-6pm
Creative Bus Stop 