Things to do in London with kids this weekend: 1-2 February

Ok, there’s been quite a lot of talk about “will January ever end?!” and here we are. February starts off the best way – with a weekend. We’ve got five family friendly activity ideas for you and your crew to try this weekend. Launch the new month by getting out and soaking up some London goodness.

Two Family Shows at Vault Festival

Vault Festival 2020 kicks off this weekend, and while it may seem this is a cool underground (lilterally) adult scene you’ll be happy to hear there is a line-up of kid-friendy performances throughout the festival. This weekend there are two shows on that your family may like the look of.

Icarus: The story of a boy who flew too close to the sun? Or did the Greek bloke who wrote it down get it wrong? Theatre company The Wild and the Innocent use live music, puppetry, clowning and loud shirts to ask: Should you always listen to your elders? Is the sky the limit and who’s story is this to tell?
When: 1 Feb; 4.30pm / 2 Feb; 3pm
Where: Studio – The Vaults, Leake Street
Age guidance: 7-12
Cost: £11

The Misadventures of David and Sam: A comedy show for all the family. They don’t promise facts. They don’t even promise to get to the end of the show but they do so solemnly pledge a kaleidoscope of physical debauchery, completely chaotic magic and a unique little love story with a cow.
When: 2 Feb (and then the 9th, 16th and 23rd) at 3pm
Where: Pit – The Vaults, Leake Street
Age guidance: all
Cost: £11

More info for both shows: website

Explore the Barbican Conservatory

Visit the second biggest Conservatory in London and explore this hidden tropical oasis. Home to exotic fish and over 1,500 species of tropical plants and trees, a visit to our Conservatory is a great way to introduce kids of all ages to a wide variety of nature that they won’t find in the local park! And you can pretend you’re on a tropical holiday for just a moment.

When: 1 Feb 10am–7pm; Sun 2 Feb 11am–9pm
Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Age guidance: all
Cost: Free
More info: website

Rise And Fall

Explore an ecosystem of balloons: universes in miniature. In this non-verbal performance for little kids, you’ll meet all manner of balloons from small floating moons to vast bouncing orbs. Forever expanding and contracting, balloons are free to float, fly and sway. After the performance they’ll be a Balloon recepetion where you can pick up a lovely helilum balloon to take home.

When: 2 February; 11:30am, 1:30pm & 3:30pm
Where: Watermans, 40 High St, Brentford, TW8 0DS
Age guidance: 2+
Cost: £10, Family tickets available
More info: website

Tu b’Shevat Family Day

Celebrate the Birthday of Trees at the Jewish Museum London. Activities will include: making colourful fruit out of clay, designing a stained glass leaf, decorating a plant pot and planting a seed
and exploring the galleries with a tree themed scavenger hunt.

When: 2 February; 1pm – 4pm
Where: Jewish Museum London, Raymond Burton House, 129-131 Albert Street, NW1 7NB
Age guidance: all
Cost: £4 children, £8.50 adults
More info: website

Flip Out with the Family

Ok maybe you won’t all be doing flips but you can bounce, leap, jump and attempt the ninja course or laser room. Get sweaty and silly and escape the cold weather.

Read our full review of Flip Out London (Brent Cross) HERE