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- 🛌🏻 5 things to do in London this weekend with the kids (8–9 February)
🛌🏻 5 things to do in London this weekend with the kids (8–9 February)
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Hello DiLFs!
Let’s be clear: this newsletter is not a pyramid scheme. However… if every reader recommended it to just one other dad, and then that dad recommended it to one other dad, and so on, by next week we’d have enough dads to storm Legoland and declare ourselves a sovereign nation. Or, at the very least, secure a group discount.
And the best part? Unlike actual pyramid schemes, you don’t have to buy any essential oils or alienate your extended family. You just click click this link, send it to a dad in need, and feel good about your life choices.
Because somewhere out there is a father who still doesn’t know what to do this weekend. He’s considering soft play. He needs us. He needs you.
Do the right thing. Click this link. Recruit a dad. Rescue him from yet another lap around IKEA. Change a life.
We can do this!
Jeff xx
Saturday Sessions with Club Origami
Saturday 8 February, 13:00–15:30
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
FREE – no ticket required
Southbank Centre age guidance: 5–11
I love family events at the Southbank Centre: they always contain the most random assortment of incohesive activities that make no sense – but which seem totally reasonable to children who couldn’t give a toss about overarching themes or subject matters.
This month’s Saturday Session is a perfect example. It involves learning how to create entire worlds out of paper in a magical origami workshop – but first, we get to watch an interactive dance show. Because why not?
After the origami, there’ll be a Ballroom Boogie. Of course. There’ll also be “crafty corner” led by a lady called Kirsty, in which we’ll all get to make something else entirely but I’m not sure what.
While you’re there…
👍️ Have I really never discussed REPLAY: A Limitless Recycled Playground at the Southbank Centre before? Oh gosh: I’m so sorry. This is terrible of me. OK, I’ll explain quickly so you can get on and book. It’s like an indoor adventure playground made entirely out of random waste materials (tubes, foam, wooden things, strips of material, etc.) that have been repurposed for fun and imaginative play. If that sounds like a boring waste of time, blame me: it’s what happens when I panic-write. I swear it’s incredible.
Here’s a video from someone’s Insta, showing what it’s about. It’s suitable for ages 6 months to 11 years, and there are different session timings depending on the age(s) of your kid(s).
Wild Life Drawing for Families
Sunday 9 February, 14:00–16:00
Dulwich Picture Gallery, College Road, SE21 7AD
ÂŁ55 for one adult and one child, ÂŁ25 for each extra child
Dulwich Picture Gallery age guidance: 7+
What’s better than sitting in a silent room filled with serious arty types, trying to draw a naked person in “odalisque” pose? I’ll tell you: anything. Absolutely any other experience on earth is better than that.
What if you were to replace the nude human with an assortment of feathered friends – namely a hawk, a falcon and an owl? Get rid of the sombre mood and instead have excited kids and thrilled grown-ups? Keep the paper and pencils but focus on fun rather than form? I don’t know about you, but with that kind of experience on offer, I’m no longer begging my lurgy-filled kid to share his ice-cream with me.
This event isn’t just about the artwork: the beautiful birdies will be accompanied by an expert falconer who’ll share facts about their hunting habits, conservation, and their “unique personalities”. And if your artistic abilities currently go as far as “stickman standing next to another stickman holding a balloon”, the host will also give you helpful tips for improving your drawing skills.
Worried about the animals in all this? Wondering if they’re about as willing as Eeyore at a team-building event? While I guess we’ll never truly know how they feel about being the avian equivalent of Mona Lisa, you can rest assured that they enjoy being around humans – and that they’re being cared for by animal handlers who work to rescue, rehabilitate, re-release or rehome wild birds of prey in England.
Find out more: https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/family-events/2025/february/wild-life-drawing-for-families/
While you’re there…
👍️ The Crystal Palace Dinosaurs were built in 1854 and are the first dinosaur sculptures in the world. Funnily enough, they’re actually a pretty crap representation of the real things – due to the inaccuracies of early palaeontology. Information boards around the park give insights into the differences between what we knew then compared to what we know now.
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Young Masters: For the Love of Art History
Saturday and Sunday, 24/7 (and every day until 8 April)
The Exhibitionist Hotel, 8–10 Queensberry Place, SW7 2EA
FREE
DiL age guidance: 6+
This is one of those exhibitions where I’m suspicious that the name came first. It’s a clever name, though, and a really sweet idea for an exhibition. (I’m sure the organisers were aiming for something a bit grander than “sweet idea”, but here we are.) It’s all about how artists show love in art – and how they’ve shown love in art throughout history.
There are pieces that take inspiration from famous references – such as Klimt’s The Kiss or Giotto’s depictions of biblical love – but often presented with a modern twist. You’ll also see contemporary works that focus on love, but not just romantic love: there are depictions of friendship, family, self-love and religious devotion, as well as more playful and abstract takes on love. The idea is to show all the different ways love can look.
The curators have also been sure to include underrepresented voices – such as non-Western artists, LGBTQ+ relationships and identities, and so on.
The general gist is: “love is for everyone, and art is for everyone”. And isn’t that lovely? So lovely, in fact, that OH MY GOODNESS I’VE FORGOTTEN TO SAY ANYTHING REMOTELY SARCASTIC OR BANAL ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION.
Quick quick quick, Jeff: think of something!!! OK erm… OK got it:
Nothing says ”'love” like spending 15 minutes pretending to understand a hand-embroidered mutation study.
Phew, there we go. Sarcasm achieved. Ish.
Find out more: https://www.thecynthiacorbettgallery.com/exhibitions/323-young-masters-for-the-love-of-art-history/overview/
While you’re there…
👍️ I mean, you’re really not far from all the museums (V&A, Science, Natural History) if you can be bothered.
👍️ For a completely random tourist attraction, take a brief detour on your way home via Thin House.
👍️ Another odd pitstop: The Hole in the Wall. Basically, Hyde Park and Knightsbridge were once split by a massive wall, forcing Rutland Estate residents (on the northern side) into a mile-long detour just to reach the shops. Then WWII happened, a German bomb took out the wall, and the detour was replaced by a 100-yard stroll. After the war, locals fought to keep the shortcut – and “The Hole in the Wall” was born.
Campfire Adventures
Saturday 8 February, 17:30–20:30 (and also Saturday 29 March and Saturday 10 May)
Discover Children’s Story Centre, 383–387 High Street, E15 4QZ
Adults and children ÂŁ31 each
Discover age guidance: 5–11
Before having kids, I had three main concerns about being a parent. Now that I am a parent, they’re still my three main concerns: .
1: How do I deal with my kid’s BO and all the other associated delights of parenting a child through puberty?
2: What happens if my kid wants to take clarinet lessons? How will I cope with the mind-rattling squeaking sounds and the god-awful drool?
3: Sleepover parties!!! Argh! How do I avoid them?
My boys are still too young for these to be imminent issues yet, but you’ll be relieved to know that I have a plan in my back pocket for when my eldest starts pleading for #3. The plan: I’m going to take him to Discover Children’s Story Centre for a Campfire Adventure instead.
The Campfire Adventure involves visiting Discover after-hours for “supper” (ooh it’s a plummy sleepover!), crafts, scavenger hunts, a visit to the Monster Funfair, and hot chocolate around a story-time campfire. All the ingredients for a fabulous sleepover party.
But here’s the best bit: it’s done and dusted by 20:30. You can all go home and sleep in your own beds, and your kid won’t be a horrible human the next day from overindulging in computer games and Haribo on no sleep.
Find out more: https://discover.org.uk/event/campfire-adventures/
Crafty Fools: Adventures in Science
Sunday 9 February, 11:00 and 14:00
artsdepot, 5 Nether Street, Tally Ho Corner, N12 0GA
ÂŁ12.75 per person
artsdepot age guidance: 6+
I really tried to get to grips with what this show is about. I looked up descriptions of the same show on other venue websites, I visited the Facebook, YouTube and Instagram pages of the show’s creators, I searched for reviews. I did everything except call up the creators themselves – which I would have done if I weren’t so fundamentally opposed to phone calls. Basically, I tried everything within reason, and I found the same non-information everywhere – plus one “teaser” video that ought to be ashamed of itself.
All I can tell you is this: Adventures in Science is “an incredible adventure into the world of science!” that involves Mr West and his “corvid companion” (which I misread as “covid companion” the first five or so times) called Crowbert. With a collection of curious contraptions, “Mr West demonstrates the fundamental principles of scientific enquiry and tackles some of the trickiest questions in the history of humanity”.
We can expect “skills, silliness and the studious application of logic” in this show – and, to be honest, that might be all you need to know. As someone who’s been referred to as “anal-retentive” by more than one employer, more than one friend and the only spouse I’ve ever had, I want specific details. I’d like to be told about the fun-to-education ratio. I want to know if Key Stage 1 Science will suddenly be a breeze for my seven-year-old. I want clarification on whether “studious application of logic” is sarcastic or serious. I’d like examples of the kinds of things we’ll see on stage.
I can’t know about any of this, which means you can’t either. And you’re probably willing to take the risk anyway, because what we do know sounds brilliant. So… have fun. And tell me what I missed.
Find out more: https://www.artsdepot.co.uk/event/crafty-fools-adventures-in-science Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up!