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🍯 16 things to do in London this weekend with the kids (27–28 September)

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Jeff – Dads in London
September 24, 2025

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Hey DILFs!

Last week’s email was intense. This week doesn’t ease up much: London seems determined to hurl the entire cultural calendar at you before October.

If you thrive on abundance, you’re laughing. If you get paralysed by choice and found yourself hyperventilating while reading Dads in London last week, may I suggest you arm yourself with a paper bag, two Rennies and a stern chat with yourself in the mirror before reading any further.

And for any organisers reading: must everything be September? Try being contrarian for once. Do you think the Easter Bunny would get much attention if he turned up on the same day as Father Christmas? Exactly. Take it from Flopsy: pick a quieter month like February, when the nation is desperate for anything that isn’t drizzle or the slow death of New Year’s resolutions. You’ll clean up.

Good luck everyone!

Jeff xx

PS I completely forgot to show you the results of the “how to pronounce Marylebone” poll from the other week. Here you go:

How do you pronounce "Marylebone"?

  • Marry-le-bone: 12%

  • Marley-bn: 23%

  • Marley-bone: 59%

  • Mary-le-bone: 6%

  • Something else: 0%

The Marley-people are wise people! (And for those who chose “Mary-le-bone”, I hope you’re just trolling me.)

PPS This newsletter wouldn’t get written without caffeine. If you ever wish to buy me a one-off coffee, the link is here: Ko-fi.com/dadsinlondon

Celebrate Film 100: Guinness World Records Attempt
Saturday 27 September, 10:00–17:00 (record attempt at 13:30–14:15)
Grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, King William Walk, SE10 9NN
FREE

If you’re considering downing more than 36 pints of beer in an hour to achieve a new world record, please don’t: Guinness no longer wishes to encourage such unhealthy gluttony, and has discontinued almost all of the “eat or drink a lot” categories. You also shouldn’t try to beat the record for “most guitars smashed on a single tour” (140, by the band Muse) because that particular title has been retired for the sake of “guitar welfare”. And if you’re thinking of receiving more than 33 million cards for your birthday this year, just get your friends to post an emoji on your social media instead. Guinness no longer celebrates snail-mail-based achievements for fear it’ll overwhelm the postal system.

You know what you can still compete for? “The largest gathering of people dressed as screen characters.” I suspect the Old Royal Naval College knew a day of rope knots and naval history wouldn’t exactly pack them in, so it’s hitched itself to Elstree Studios to entice the crowds.

Much like Danish baby-naming rules, you must choose your character from an official list. And much like a Bake Off showstopper challenge, your costume has to hit every required element – outfit, prop, the lot. Miss a detail and you’ll be the reason the record attempt falls short. Imagine carrying that around with you for the rest of your life.

Also on the day: roaming entertainment with giant dinosaur puppets, drop-in craft activities, a silent disco, and the chance to do it all at the UK’s most-filmed heritage site (Bridgerton, Jurassic World: Rebirth, The Crown, Thor, Four Weddings and a Funeral…). It’s a magnificent muddle of a birthday celebration, but who cares that it makes no sense? If you're 100 years old and still throwing yourself birthday parties, that's enough of a feat in itself.

While you’re there…

👍️ You’re very near the National Maritime Museum and Cutty Sark, if you want to do something that’s more boat-related than a movie-themed Guinness World Record attempt.

👍️ Talking of Cutty Sark… you can climb the rigging if you fancy it!

👍️ … And be sure to check out this brand new soundscape (and immerse yourself in the sounds of the sea) while you’re there.

👍️ After doing all the boaty things, you can straddle the Prime Meridian Line – the home of Greenwich Mean Time – at the Royal Observatory. (There’s LOADS of other things to do at the Royal Observatory; check it all out here.)

2: Relive the glory days of slobber, bullies and one very mean vet

Beethoven (U)
Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 (on Sunday, the screening is followed by a free activity for children)
The Garden Cinema, 39-41 Parker Street, WC2B 5PQ
Pay what you can
Age guidance: “U” rating

Why has Beethoven fallen off our collective radar? I’m talking about the film, obviously: Beethoven the man is doing fine. Dead, but, you know, fine in terms of how many times I have to hear my son sing the opening notes to that damn Für Elise.

But Beethoven the film? Even though it’s pretty much the best family movie on record, no one ever talks about it. I blame the desire for an unnecessary moral arc these days – where the main character learns that they just need to be themselves, or that kindness solves everything, or that nature is dying and there’s still time to fix it.

I do NOT blame the film itself, which has 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and a critical consensus that reads, “Fluffy and incorrigible, Beethoven is a good boy who deserves a better movie.” What’s wrong with a simple plot about a massive dog who slobbers over everything, helps a boy fend off bullies and nearly succumbs to a mean vet? Who needs a CGI iguana forced to save the rainforest by reconciling with his estranged stepdad when you’ve got that??

Beethoven is marvellous. It’s not perfect. The slobber is genuinely revolting; the vet’s blood-harvesting subplot can frighten smaller kids; and there’s a weird undercurrent about working mothers that may need a gentle post-film correction. But all films have their flaws, and I’d much rather watch a gigantic St Bernard barrel through suburbia than sit through yet another cartoon that insists it’s imparting timeless moral wisdom while also shifting a gazillion units of Elsa wigs or Moana-themed pencil cases.

While you’re there…

👍️ You’re temptingly close to Sir John Soane’s Museum (totally free to visit) – a bewildering place that’ll make you feel better about your own living room clutter. It’s the former house of architect John Soane, who effectively donated it to the nation after his death because he despised his son and didn’t want him to inherit anything.

The house is pretty much as Soane left it – and yes, that includes the sarcophagus in the basement, the hundreds of sculptures, and the innumerable Chinese ceramics, Greek vases and Roman glasses. If you’re a neat freak, you’ll self-combust.

No obligation at all, but here’s the link if you fancy it:

x

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

A Celebration of A. A. Milne & Winnie-the-Pooh (in support of GOSH)
Sunday 28 September, 15:00
Garrick Theatre, 2 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HH
Tickets from ÂŁ36.45
Age guidance: 4+

Nearly sold out!!

What do you get when you put together the UK’s top national treasures with the country’s best children’s book series of all time?

Nope, not Judi Dench and David Attenborough reading The Famous Five.
Not even Stormzy and Claudia Winkleman reading Harry Potter.
Correct answer: Joanna Lumley and Gyles Brandreth tackling Winnie-the-Pooh.

And because the organisers clearly decided to hoard treasures, Jim Broadbent turns up too. Plus there’s Stefan Bednarczyk at the piano – not yet a national tresh (treszh?), but with a CV that runs from Mike Leigh films to cabaret, he’s basically in the waiting room. Together, they’ll sing songs, recite poems and tell stories from Milne’s four classic books.

There’ll also be “remarkable insights into the life of the man behind the bear” and “the poignant, complex story of three generations of the Milne family, who experienced both the blessings and burdens of fame”. Gyles actually knew Milne’s son, the real Christopher Robin (!!!), so he has all the gossip. I’m curious how they’ll slip the less uplifting parts of the biography into an afternoon that’s otherwise all honey pots and singalongs.

While you’re there…

👍️ Cecil Court is a 17th-century lane chockablock with shops selling secondhand books, rare art finds and antiques.

👍️ Fair Shot is a beautiful social enterprise cafe in Covent Garden that trains young adults with learning disabilities and autism for a year-long internship — teaching everything from customer service to hospitality skills — before helping them land proper paid jobs. We’ve been before and it’s a lovely place that has a great atmosphere and isn’t scary-busy like everywhere else in the area. Must admit our orders weren’t entirely correct, but they’d have happily fixed them if we’d asked!

Meet the Instruments
Sunday 28 September, 14:00
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
£14–£28
Age guidance: 4–8

Nearly sold out!!

Imagine an orchestra doing Mozart the way you do karaoke: no sheet music, no safety net, just memory and raw nerve. Hopefully less drunk. And more in tune.

That’s Aurora’s whole deal. They’ve made a name for themselves by chucking out the stands and playing entire symphonies from memory, which means they can actually move, make eye contact, and not look like they’re chained to bits of paper. Their mission is “orchestral music for everyone”, which basically translates to “less stuffy concert-hall etiquette, more fun”. Sometimes that means theatre, sometimes storytelling, sometimes full-on family shows with props flying about – but always with the orchestra at the heart of it.

Which brings us neatly to their latest adventure: a street party with festive clothes, singing, dancing, games, and the chance to peek behind different doors to see which instrument lives where.

You’ll be invited to join in, but only in the safe ways – a bit of clapping here, some singing there – not asked to bash out Rachmaninoff on an instrument you think is an oboe but can’t be 100% certain.

And if you can’t make the street party, Aurora will be at King’s Place on Sunday 23 November with Mahler and the Mountain Adventure – another family concert, but one that features a musical trek across streams, valleys and peaks.

Lawrence Lek: Life Before Automation
Saturday and Sunday, 12:00–18:00 (and every Wednesday–Sunday until 14 December)
Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art, St James’, New Cross, SE14 6AD
FREE

Have you ever wondered what satellites dream about, or whether your self-driving car might secretly need therapy? Lawrence Lek has – and he’s turned those thoughts into films, games and installations that sprawl across their own cinematic universe.

His guiding idea is something he calls “Sinofuturism”: treating China’s technological rise and the boom in artificial intelligence like one big sci-fi saga that’s already unfolding. Instead of putting people centre stage, he casts the machines themselves – not as cold gadgets, but as characters with ambitions, neuroses and career anxieties. It’s a conspiracy theory wearing a space helmet that’s been covered in soap opera bubbles. (Look, I didn’t say it was a useful metaphor. Maybe I’m just too human to explain a machine’s inner life properly.)

If you think that’s a crowded universe, spare a thought for Goldsmiths CCA, now trying to squeeze it all under one roof. The building just about holds.

Out front, you’re greeted by a brand-new artwork: a speculative timeline of AI history spanning 300 years. It hops between real events and fictional ones, dominated by Farsight – Lek’s imaginary mega-corporation that looms over his universe like a techy Bond villain.

Upstairs is the Sinofuturist Trilogy. First up, a video essay (Sinofuturism 1839–2046 AD) reimagined as a training environment. Then Geomancer, where a lonely satellite decides it wants to become an artist. And finally AIDOL, a feature-length musical in which a fading pop star gets an AI to ghostwrite her comeback album. That one screens in a virtual room, because yeah.

Elsewhere lurks Nøtel – a simulated marketing suite for a chain of “zero-star” luxury hotels that don’t actually exist. Visitors can wander around this interactive showroom, which is designed for the weary “global nomad”. It’s part video game, part architectural satire… I think. I'm so out of my depth right now.

Head to the basement and things get stranger. NOX (2023) transforms the space into a rehab centre for disobedient AIs, starring a self-driving car trying to work through its issues. Two films frame a touchscreen game where you play therapist to malfunctioning machines. Laugh now, but give it five years and you’ll be the one counselling the dishwasher through its midlife crisis.

It’s a whole parallel world crammed into one space. It sounds absolutely bonkers, but also absolutely not – and that’s about the best summary you’re going to get. Until the airfryer explains it better in 2035.

While you’re there…

👍️ NOT A PUB ANYMORE. I REPEAT: NOT A PUB. But if you fancy seeing the old Winchester from Shaun of the Dead (fake pub sign and all), it’s a short walk from Goldsmiths. Online reviews can’t resist the “pint and wait for it to blow over” gag – which, if it means nothing to you, puts you in the same camp as me.

6–16: Ohmygoodness so much more!!!

British Art Fair
Saturday 11:00-9​​:00 and Sunday 11:00–17:00
Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4RY
Adults ÂŁ22, under-16s free

“Presenting British art since 1988, British Art Fair takes place once a year to showcase the very finest Modern British and Contemporary Art. Set within the iconic Saatchi Gallery in the heart of London’s vibrant Chelsea, leading dealers from across the UK exhibit a variety of exciting, ambitious and rare works from Britain’s most celebrated artists. British Art Fair is the place to connect with dealers and collect the very best pieces in Modern and Contemporary British art.”

Chelsea Physic Garden Open Weekend
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00–17:00
Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS
FREE (pre-booked tickets all sold out, but walk-up tickets are still available)

“Step into Chelsea Physic Garden and travel back in time at London’s oldest botanical garden. Founded in 1673 for apothecaries to study the healing power of plants, the Garden is bursting with stories waiting to be uncovered. This special weekend is free to attend as part of the Chelsea History Festival.

Across the weekend of the Chelsea History Festival, the whole family can get hands-on with nature and history. Try pond dipping, craft activities, and enjoy lively storytelling sessions. Encounter historical characters who’ll share tales of medicine, botanical art and plants from centuries past.

Pond dipping, craft activities and storytelling are all included in your ticket and do not need to be booked separately. These activities will be running throughout the day.”

Lacrima (theatre)
Saturday 27 September, 15:00
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
£12–£45
Age guidance: 14+

“Paris, 2025. A prestigious fashion house receives an important commission: to create the wedding dress for a British royal princess.

Bringing together a British fashion designer, a Parisian fashion house, three French lacemakers and a beadworker in Mumbai, it’s an intense and arduous process, all for a dress that will spend mere minutes in the spotlight.

While, in the real world, everyone involved is bound to secrecy, in this gripping and cinematic show, their fates and efforts – their dreams and their tears – take centre stage.”

Mudlarking Weekend
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00–17:00
London Museum Docklands, No 1 West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, E14 4AL
FREE (no booking required)

“You won’t believe what mudlarks have discovered in the River Thames! Come and see thousands of historic artefacts recovered from the muddy riverbed and meet the friendly mudlarks who found them. In this highly interactive exhibition, you will hear the intriguing backstories about the artefacts on display within the museum, which is an old Georgian warehouse that was used to store goods from around the world. Each object reveals a unique story about the people who once lived and worked in London’s Docklands.

You won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to hold history in your hands and talk to the mudlarks who discovered the ancient artefacts. Arts & crafts activities provide an engaging experience for the whole family.”

Gorilla Circus: RPM
Saturday 27 September, 14:30 and 19:30
artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
ÂŁ19 per person
Age guidance: 7+

“A mesmeric new show combining exhilarating acrobatics, adrenaline-pumping street dance and breathtaking roller skating, set on a giant moving treadmill!

RPM explores the tragic, comic and absurd aspects of modern society, unravelling untold links between current problems and the UK’s troubled history – it asks the question: has this country ever confronted its colonial past?

Gorilla Circus is a contemporary circus company specialising in imaginative, sophisticated high-octane works with strong narratives surrounding global issues.”

Play and Imagine Activity Day
Saturday 27 September, 13:00–16:00
Orleans House Gallery, Orleans Road, TW1 3BL
FREE

“Join us for an exploratory workshop inspired by play and imagination. Talk, make and create with us.

Where does Play appear in your life? Both for you as an individual as well as with others – family or friends?

We would love to invite you to take part in a creative project, exploring how imagination and play shape our everyday lives—not just for children, but for adults too (this is a workshop for the whole family). Do you believe Play and Imagination still matter as we grow older? We’re curious to hear how they show up in your world to start the conversation.”

The Woolmen Sheep Drive & Livery Fair
Sunday 28 September, 10:00–16:00
Southwark Bridge/Queen Street Place area (EC4R)
FREE

There really isn’t a single paragraph that can sum up this bonkers tradition, so I’ll leave it to Ian Visits to describe it.

Goldsmiths’ Fair
Saturday 11:00–18:30 and Sunday 11:00–16:30 (also on 30 September–5 October)
Goldsmiths' Hall, Foster Lane, EC2V 6BN
One-day ticket: ÂŁ25 (run of entire show: ÂŁ30)

“For more than four decades, Goldsmiths’ Fair has brought together a selection of the UK’s best contemporary jewellers and silversmiths. This year’s 136 exhibitors work across disciplines and materials, each achieving distinct techniques and their own style with precious metals. The Fair gives visitors the opportunity to buy directly from makers and to discuss their skills, practices and inspirations, accompanied by a dedicated talks programme and exhibitions.”

Little Gift
Sunday 28 September, 11:00 and 14:00
artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
ÂŁ13.75 per person
Age guidance: 3+

“Meet Ted, a cautious old soul living all alone in a busy, bustling town. He likes it that way. It’s quieter and safer. Until one extraordinary day, a surprise visitor turns his lonely life upside down.

Told by a very special performer, with a playful mix of puppetry, music and songs.”

Family Art Day: Discover, Play and Share
Sunday 28 September, 10:00–12:00
Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, N1 2AN
FREE
Age guidance: under-5s

“Explore the captivating world of Ketty La Rocca, a pioneering artist who explored how we communicate with words, gestures, and our own bodies!

These family-friendly activities will invite you to discover her innovative art through hands-on experiences, creative challenges, and interactive explorations. From deciphering hidden meanings in everyday hand gestures to transforming images with your own words, families will engage with La Rocca's unique vision and unlock the power of visual language together. Join us for an unforgettable journey where art sparks conversation and creativity!”

SOLD OUT (but waiting list available)

Chineke! Junior Orchestra
Sunday 28 September, 14:30
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
ÂŁ12 per person
Age guidance: 7+

“The sister ensemble to the Chineke! Orchestra, the Chineke! Junior Orchestra is made up of majority Black and ethnically diverse musicians aged 11 – 22.

Both ensembles were founded in 2015 with the aim of creating opportunities for emerging and established musicians of Black and ethnically diverse heritage.”