September 2024: What's on London with kids

The kids might be back to school, but there’s still much more fun to squeeze out of the last weeks of summer. This newsletter features 20 things to do in September, plus 10 more activities for Under 5s. it was so hard to whittle it down! There’s also a Universal Credit days out update and events to book ahead.

My week has felt like a write off, thanks to a rotten bout of Cov!d. Luckily everyone else has swerved it, and I’m hopeful I can shake it off in time for some fun before the kids are back in uniform.

As I’m heading back to work these newsletters will no longer be weekly. I’ll aim to send my October What’s On Guide on Friday 20 September 2024. In the meantime, keep an eye on my Instagram Stories for events that are likely to sell out before the next newsletter lands.

Now, on with the guide!

Know a fellow parent looking for things to do with their kids in London? Share this newsletter and help them plan their next day out!

Affordable Universal Credit Days Out update

Several offers have been added to my wildly popular Universal Credit days out guide, including:

• £1 tickets to the Roald Dahl Museum;

• £1 tickets to Royal Botanic Gardens in Scotland;

• £1/£3 tickets to Chatsworth;

• £2 tickets to Cutty Sark;

• £2 tickets to Compton Verney;

• £3/£5 tickets to London Wetland Centre & WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre; and

• 50% off Glyndebourne Tickets.

I’ve also highlighted ways to save at every venue if you’re not in receipt of benefits.

Please do share the post with your school newsletters and parenting Facebook groups as it will help so many who might not otherwise be able to afford a family day out.

And if you spy more Universal Credit offers, anywhere in the country - let me know so I can add them to the list. It’s the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide on the topic and, with your help, I hope to keep it that way!

September 2024: What’s on London with kids

1. UNIQLO Tate Play Make Studio, The Joy of not Knowing at Tate Modern, SE1: Imagine and explore magical futures by creating props and costumes made from sensory, re-purposed materials. Every weekend, plus Wednesdays for Under 5s only, 31 August-23 October 2024. Free, drop in.

2. First Sunday Victorian Lesson at Ragged School Museum, E3: Give your kids a taste of back to school, 1800s style. 1 September 2024, and first Sunday of every month. Paid, first come first served.

3. Friends of Brompton Cemetery Open Day, SW10: Birds of prey, pedicab rides, face painting, musical storytelling, Chelsea pensioners, and more at this historic 182 year old site! 1 September 2024. Free, drop in.

4. London Mural Festival: Catch some of the best contemporary artists from around the world painting new outdoor artworks. 5-19 September 2024. Free, drop in. Special events include family hour at Opening Pop-Up (7 September 2024. Paid, book) and take home a piece of Angry Dan’s Map of London (8 September 2024. Free, drop in).

5. Heritage Open Days: See hidden places and try new experiences in England’s largest festival of history and culture - all for free! Search for events near you. 6-15 September 2024. Free, book/drop in.
   My picks are The Guards Museum Open Weekend (7-8 September 2024. Drop in); Association of Anaesthetists (7 September 2024. Pre-booking preferred); and Feels Like a Better Tomorrow Tour at The Prince Phillip Maritime Collections Centre (7 September 2024. Book, combine with their pre-book family craft in the morning).

6. Totally Thames celebrates our river with events across London throughout September. Family highlights include St Katharine’s Docks classic boat festival (7-8 September 2024. Free, drop in) and Great River Race 2024 (21 September 2024. Free, drop in).

7. Emerge East at Barking Riverside, IG11: Construct a windmill with Woodland Tribe, build a giant sandpit play area, make clay seed sowers and take home personalised poems. Plus immersive Arborialis Luminarium, home cooks street food, and DJ music. 7 September 2024. Free, reserve tickets.

8. Open House Festival: Doors are flung open to architectural gems across London. 14-22 September 2024. Free, book/drop in. My top five running free drop-in family activities are: Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility (14 September 2024); and London Museum West Smithfield, Zaha Hadid Foundation, The Geological Society and Brady Arts and Community Centre (all 21 September 2024).

9. Carnival season isn’t over yet! Party on at Woolwich Carnival (14 September 2024), Brassworks Street Brass Carnival (21 September 2024) and the spectacular street parade for Hackney Carnival (22 September 2024). Free, drop in.

10. London Design Festival: Celebrate the design capital of the world. 14-22 September 2024. Free, book/drop in. Promising installations include Duo at Old Royal Naval College (book), Liquid Light by Marshmallow Laser Feast (book), interactive light installation The Sun, My Heart (drop in) and the Barbie-inspired Pavilions of Wonder (drop in).

11. Colourscape Music Festival on Clapham Common, SW4: Encounter live musicians and dancers in an inflatable 70-chamber labyrinth of colour. 14-22 September 2024. Paid, book.

12. Harvest Festivals: City kids can give thanks to the crops with Apple Day at Horsenden Farm, UB6 (14 September 2024. Free, drop in) or Harvest Festival 2024 at Brixton Windmill, SW2 (29 September 2024. Free, drop in).

13. Frieze Sculpture at The Regent’s Park, NW1: Take a stroll around cutting-edge works by 22 leading artists from five continents. 18 September-27 October 2024. Free, drop in.

14. Thames Day at Church of St Magnus the Martyr, EC3: Build a wooden boat with Woodland Tribe, face painting, live steel band, and more. 21 September 2024. Free, drop in. Part of Thames Festival.

15. Family Day: Marvellous Me! at the British Library, NW1: Exploring untold stories and celebrating what makes us unique. Packed with activities from dozens of London venues - check out the full programme here. Delivered in British Sign Language and spoken English. 21 September 2024. Free, drop in.

16. Party in a Piazza at Brunel Museum, SE1: A family-friendly day of activities, food, drinks, and fun before the museum closes for a 9-month refurbishment. 21 September 2024. Free, book.

17. Play Build Play at Design Museum, W8: Celebrate play and design for all ages and abilities. Model your own tiny toy treehouse, explore an early years play environment, build dens and more. 22 September 2024. Paid, book. In collaboration with the Swiss Embassy and London Design Festival.

18. Yayoi Kusama: EVERY DAY I PRAY FOR LOVE at Victoria Miro: New Infinity Mirror Room, paintings and sculptures. 25 September-2 November 2024. Free, book. Tickets released 2 September 2024 at 14:00 via this site. Maximum of 2 tickets per person.

19. Chelsea Physic Garden Open Day Weekend, SW3: We had such a chilled day out at this event last year! Free entry plus pond dipping, storytelling and more in London’s oldest botanic garden. 27-28 September 2024. Free, book. Part of Chelsea History Festival.

20. Family Festival: Build! at V&A South Kensington, SW7: Build, make, move and explore. Creative workshops include radio broadcasting, abstract painting, poetry and making. Plus inflatable art and performances. 28 September 2024. Free, drop in

Attending one of the events I mentioned? Tag me @museummum in your stories so I can see how much fun you’re having!

Book Ahead!

For mams with a plan, here’s my pick of events to book ahead.

1. October half term family workshops at British Library, NW1: Invent your own Magical Moths, join Phoenix comic artist James Turner in Creepy Creatures, and create Mysterious Monsters. 20 October 2024. Free, book. Tickets released 3 September 2024 at 09:00.

2. Halloween at Kew, TW9: This brand-new, after-dark light trail is by the company who create their amazing Christmas light trail - so it should be spook-tacular. 18 October-3 November 2024. Paid, book.

3. Toddler Takeover Day at Headstone Manor Museum: A day for under 5's to take over the museum, becoming Security Guards, Archaeologists, Curators, and more! 20 November 2024. Free, book.

4. Father Christmas Storytelling at Fortnum & Mason, W1: Dates and prices to be confirmed. Tickets released 5 September 2024 at 09:00 (although they say time may be subject to change). Personally, I haven’t yet been able to bring myself to spend £40 per child on a group Father Christmas event, but this is one of London’s most popular festive experiences, and will sell out. I’ll share lots more affordable Father Christmas events in the coming weeks.

5. Vintage Christmas Grotto at Bletchley Park: Our favourite Father Christmas meet and greet. We met him several years in a row and the Museum Kids were furious I didn’t book it last year! Select dates 1-23 December 2024, with Relaxed Grotto for children with SEND on 30 November 2024. Ticket release date coming shortly, keep a very close eye on their web page.

Have you booked anything? Hit reply and let me know.

September 2024: What’s On for Under 5s

1. Shoe Baby at Jackson Lane Theatre, N6: A fantastical sing-along puppet show where baby explores the sea, the air, and the zoo – all from a shoe! Includes after-show play activities. 8 September 2024. Paid, book. Ages 2-6.

2. Mini Mondays: Under the sea at London Museum Docklands, E14: Meet friendly puppets, join in parachute games and play and learn together. Particularly aimed at those new to museums, though all families are welcome. 9 September 2024. Free, book. For non-walking babies. Tickets released 4 September 2024.

3. Design Baby: Sculpt and Play at V&A Museum, SW7: Explore experimental materials and sensory spaces in collaboration with Leap then Look. 11 September 2024. Free, book. Tickets released 4 September 2024 at 10:00. Ages 0-3.

4. Storytelling and Music with Paul Rubinstein at Museum of the Order of St John, EC1: A fun-filled, interactive journey accompanied by live music, movement and singing, followed by a chance to play. 11 September 2024. Free, book. Under 5s.

5. Family Under 5s Workshops: Signing Adventures at British Library, NW1: Supported by British Sign Language. A musical adventure exploring sensory props at magical destinations, making marks and sharing stories. 13 September 2024. Free, book. Tickets on sale 3 September 2024 at 09:00.

6. Little Feet at British Museum, WC1: There’s two sessions this month: Creative Korea (16 September 2024) and Explore your senses (30 September 2024). Free, book museum entry. Under 5s.

7. It Takes A Village Play Cafe, E17: This brand new play cafe is causing a lot of local excitement, promising ‘a stylish and comfy place for a little uninterrupted phone/email scrolling’ with quality caffeine, and locally-sourced eats. Opening mid-month, paid, book. Keep an eye on their Instagram account for exact dates and booking details.

8. Under 5s Family Day at Keats House, NW3: Discover the story of Keats and his poetry, with toys, crafts, refreshments and space to relax! No adults allowed without children. 21 September 2024. Paid, book/drop in.

9. Tots at the Docks at London Museum Docklands, E14: Under the sea-themed play session, inspired by the history of London’s Docklands. 25 September 2024. Free, drop in. Under 5s.

10. Big Dreams Festival at Polka Theatre, SW19: UK and international theatre shows, interactive events with famous Early Years authors, and free activities like a tongue-twisting installation, face painting, glitter tattoos, and more. 28-29 September 2024. Paid/free, book/drop in. Activities from ages 0-8.

For even more ideas, check out my newly updated Under 5s cultural play sessions post.

Weekend events 31 August-1 September 2024

If you’re looking for things to do this weekend, then scroll to the end of my last newsletter.

I’ll be back in a few weeks with my October’s What’s On Guide.

Until then, wishing you a sublime September!

Please check listings before heading out. Events can change or be cancelled at short notice; and, despite my best efforts, sometimes I make mistakes.