October 2024: What's on London with kids

October is packed with excitement! From half-term adventures to Halloween spooks, Black History Month celebrations, and harvest festivals, I’ve gathered the best family-friendly events across London. Expect a mix of free activities and seasonal highlights to make the most of autumn.

This issue features 20 top picks for October, plus 10 activities tailored for Under 5s. And for the grown-ups, I’ve included some child-free cultural gems, inspired by an email from a lovely new subscriber who's after a bit of fun just for adults!

How’s your September been? My summer ended on a high with a sunny, child-free weekend in New York. My highlights were clambering up the inside of the Statue of Liberty to peer out from her crown, dinner at the retro Empire Diner, and gatecrashing a tour of American Museum of Natural History.

In between secondary school visits and heavy showers, we’ve also had some London fun: cheering on teams at The Great River Race, litter picking on the Thames with Thames 21 and building a play pirate ship with Woodland Tribe at Thames Day.

Heritage Open Days encouraged us to try new places - we had the rare chance to see the world’s largest Turner painting pulled out right before our eyes during a family tour Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre. It was a truly memorable experience!

Have a school newsletter or parents group chat? Share this newsletter to give everyone new ideas for family outings.

October 2024: What’s on London with kids

Ready to explore? Here's my picks of what’s on for kids this month!

If you’re looking for more spooky fun, check out my blog post for the best Halloween events happening across London!

And my other posts features TONS more ideas for October half term, which I am adding to all the time.

1. Art and Community Showcase Fun Palace at Westminster Community Library, WC2: Learn street dance, try an interactive tabletop game, or experience stage combat with a West End fight director. Enjoy live music, yoga, and arts and crafts from the Royal Academy and ICA. 5 October 2024. Free.

2. Other community Fun Palaces include comedy, circus and craft at St Margaret’s House; pop-up storytelling performances, music and movement workshops at Half Moon Theatre; and ninja, origami and printing workshops at Hoxton Hall. Select dates 4-6 October 2024. Free, book/drop in. Find more Fun Palaces near you.

3. Free Cultural Activities at Barbican Library, EC2: Hosted by the Black British Book Festival, dream up your first novel, design your own cover or simply get stuck into a good book. 5 October 2024. Free, drop in. Programme timings to be released.

4. Croydon Harvest and the Walnut Fair, CR0: Meet farm animals, create hand-puppets, kites, and more. Enjoy storytelling, global folk dance, animal face painting, a pop-up toy museum, and a harvest market. 5-6 October 2024. Free, drop in.

5. Apple Day at Fulham Palace, SW6: Join SuperCamps in the walled garden for archery tag, zorbing and more outdoor games! Plus apple pressing, themed crafts, intergenerational line dancing workshops and sensory reading sessions. 6 October 2024. Paid, book.

6. Other Apple Days in London include Rainham Hall (12 October 2024, free); Woodlands Farm Trust (13 September 2024, free); Dulwich Orchard (13 September 2024, free); Copped Hall (13 October 2024, paid) and Eastbrookend Discovery Centre (30 October 2024, free).

7. Black History Month at Stanley Arts, SE25: Join the launch (6 October 2024) of the Tapestry of Black Britons, celebrating Black British icons with stunning artworks, including a Stormzy portrait, and pieces by local school kids. Plus Family Poetry Workshop (6 October 2024) and Caribbean Folk Tales & Windrush Memories (13 October 2024). Free, book.

8. Sunday Sessions at Garden Museum, SE1: Print mushroom pencil cases and learn about the science behind fungi (6 October 2024). And create spotty clay masterpieces inspired by Yayoi Kusama in Clay Pumpkins (13 October 2024). Free, drop in on first come, first served basis. Ages 3-12, science session ages 8+.

9. Hyundai Commission: Mire Lee at Tate Modern, SE1: This year’s Turbine Hall installation is by the artist renowned for visceral, kinetic sculptures that explore life, emotion, and tension through motion. 9 October 2024-16 March 2025. Free, drop in.

10. Haegue Yang: Leap Year at Hayward Gallery, SE1: From paper collage to performative sculpture and immense sensorial installations, Haegue Yang weaves connections between disparate histories, cultures and traditions. 9 October 2024-5 January 2025. Paid, booking recommended.

11. Lauren Halsey - emajendat at Serpentine South, W2: Step into an immersive "funk garden" featuring assemblages and miniature dioramas inspired by South Central LA and the African diaspora, and a special installation responding to the surroundings of Kensington Gardens. 11 October 2024-2 March 2025. Free, drop in.

12. The Story of Britain’s Black Nurses at Florence Nightingale Museum, SE1: Meet legendary Britain Mary Seacole, followed by storytelling and a Q&A with Kandace Chimbiri, author of The Story of Britain’s Black Nurses. 12 October 2024. Paid.

13. Make it - Fashion at V&A South Kensington, SW7: Get hands-on with family-friendly printmaking workshops inspired by the Naomi In Fashion exhibition. Led by artist Kim Chin, explore textiles and design your own fashion prints to take home. 12 October 2024. Paid, book. Ages 5+.

14. Halloween at Kew: A brand-new after-dark Halloween trail at Kew Gardens, TW9, where flickering flames, glowing pumpkins, and eerie illuminated woods await. Wander through creepy neon cobwebs, giant spiders, and ghostly ghouls on this spooky adventure. 18 October-3 November 2024. Paid, book.

15. Ice Age Family Fun Day at The Geological Society, W1: Explore fossils, learn how Ice Ages begin, and watch a free film screening of Ice Age (2002). 19 October 2024. Free, book. Part of Earth Science Week.

16. The Storm Whale at Polka Theatre, SW19: Join Noi's magical adventure with his whale friend in this adaptation of Benji Davies' book. Expect beautiful puppetry and a heartwarming story of friendship. 25 October-3 November 2024. Paid, book. Ages 4-8. Plus Lantern-making workshop on 29 October 2024 (paid, book).

17. The World of Tim Burton at Design Museum, W8: Delve into the fantastical world of Tim Burton, through 500+ works, including illustrations, puppets, and film artefacts. 25 October 2024-21 April 2025. Paid, book. One for older children and teens.

18. Discovery Day at Holborn Library, WC1: Take part in pop-up exhibitions, games and activities with scientists from UCL, Moorfields and Francis Crick Institute. Includes LEGO dream city building and storytelling with Ross Montgomery. 26 October 2024. Free, drop in. Part of Bloomsbury Festival.

19. Diwali at Marble Hill House, TW1: Celebrate the Festival of Light in the beautiful gardens of Marble Hill with lantern-making crafts, a Bhangra dance workshop, and a magical light parade down to the Thames. 26 October 2024. Free, drop in.

20. Family Film Week at Barbican Cinema, EC2: The annual celebration of cinematic treats for young audiences and their grown ups returns! Enjoy a mix of global films, anniversary screenings, special previews, and fun workshops. 26 October-3 November 2024. Paid, book.

And if you’re looking for some cultural fun without the ankle biters, here’s my picks for adults this month:

1. Kehinde Wiley: Fragments from the treasure house of darkness at Stephen Friedman Gallery, W1: Wiley’s first solo show for three years features new paintings inspired by historic miniatures, spotlighting the beauty, self-invention and magic of being young and hip on the streets of West Africa. 3 October-9 November 2024. Free, drop in.

2. Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London at Fashion and Textile Musuem, SE1: Centring on the legendary nightclub Taboo, founded by Leigh Bowery, this exhibition showcases original garments and accessories from over 30 designers, to capture the rebellious, creative spirit of 1980s London. 4 October 2024-9 March 2025. Paid, book.

3. Hew Locke - what have we here? at British Museum, WC2: Renowned Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke turns his lens on the British Museum collection to explore histories of British imperial power. Featuring museum collections and new artworks by Locke. 17 October 2024 – 9 February 2025. Paid, book.

4. Harvest Festival at Garden Museum, SE1: Discover the diversity of UK-grown food, celebrating little-known crops, plant ‘offcuts’ and the ingenuity of UK growers and chefs. Activities include cooking demos, panel discussions on sustainable farming, foraging walks, and stalls from local producers. 20 October 2024. Pay what you can, book.

5. Get free entry to the Barbican’s latest exhibition, The Imaginary Institution of India: Art 1975–1998, with Open Gallery. 26-27 October 2024. Free, book. Tickets released at 10:00 on 10 October 2024.

Heading to one of the spots I recommended? Tag me @museummum in your posts - I’d love to see what you get up to!

October 2024: What’s On for Under 5s

1. Tuesday Tots at Garden Museum, SE1 are back! Explore the seasons through story telling and craft activities, including Anasi the Spider and a spider hunt, Hello Autumn with leaf rubbing, The Leaf Thief with printing activity, and Pumpkin Soup with spotty pumpkin painting. 1, 8, 15 & 22 October 2024. Free, drop in on first come, first served basis.

2. Design Baby: Sculpt and Play at V&A Museum, SW7: Explore experimental materials and sensory spaces in collaboration with Leap then Look. 2 October 2024. Free, book. Ages 0-3.

3. Stay and Play at Abney Park, N16: Enjoy outdoor play and nature activities in the newly-restored Abney Park, one of the 'Magnificent Seven' garden cemeteries of London. Plus indoor area with soft play spaces, books, and more. 4 October 2024. Free, drop in. Ages 1-5, younger siblings welcome.

4. Lordship Rec Parent & Toddler Sessions: Get your little ones confident on wheels with interactive, fun, friendly activities and balance biking at the historic Model Traffic Area. Run by Wheely Tots. Saturday mornings including 5, 12, 19 & 26 October 2024. Paid, book.

5. Pip and Posy and the Super Scooter at Museum of the Order of St John, EC1: Enjoy free crafting, storytelling, singing, and dancing sessions for under 5s with Artburst! 9 October 2024. Free, book. Under 5s.

6. Under 5s Explore - Creative Tales at Dulwich Picture Gallery, SE21: New! Join Rosie Tells Tales for interactive storytelling using songs, rhymes, Makaton, and movement. With a 'mini make' craft to take home. Upcoming dates include 11 October 2024. Paid, book.

7. Story Time with Little Supernovas: Macbeth for Bairns at Richmond Theatre, TW9: Award-winning storytellers share an immersive, sensory, theatrical version of Macbeth with bubbles! 11 October 2024. Paid, book. 18 months-5 years.

8. Little Feet - Captivating Korea at British Museum, WC1: Build a model tea house, explore a sensory area, or create a colourful canvas inspired by Korean paintings. 11 October 2024. Free, book museum entry. Under 5s.

9. Mini Museum: Autumn Special at Headstone Manor Museum, HA2: Step into the magical garden, craft leaf crowns, stick swords, and flags, then create muddy masterpieces in Cook’s kitchen! 27 October 2024. Paid, book. Under 5s.

10. Tots at the Docks at London Museum Docklands, E14: Join a light-themed version of this monthly, drop-in play session. 30 October 2024. Free, drop in. Under 5s.

The October session of this has sold out, so book now for November:

• Storyplay Play Labs - Autumn at Rich Mix, E2: Join the StoryPlay team for fun, creative sessions designed to promote literacy and social interaction. Led by experienced storytellers, writers and playwrights. 17 November 2024. Free, book. Ages 2-5.

For even more inspiration, check out my Under 5s cultural play sessions post.

Weekend events 28-29 September 2024

1. Family Festival: Build! at V&A South Kensington, SW7. 28 September 2024. Free.

2. History Street and Tricorne Hat Making at Royal Chelsea Hospital, SW3. 28 September 2024. Free.

3. Save Your Energy! Family Day at the Building Centre, WC1. 28 September 2024. Free.

4. Family Space at South London Gallery, SE5. 28 September 2024. Free.

5. Brockwell Lido Community Day, SE24. 28 September 2024. Free.

6. Big Dreams Early Years Theatre Festival at Polka Theatre, SW19. 28-29 September 2024. Free/paid.

7. Harvest Festival 2024 at Brixton Windmill, SW2. 29 September 2024. Free.

8. Bow Families: exploring natural flower dyes with Christina Brown at Bow Arts, E3. 29 September 2024. Free.

I hope this newsletter helps you have a fantastic month!

Until next time,

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