TOP 40 LONDON KIDS' EVENTS THIS JANUARY

The Capital's Best Family Experiences this January 2024

Back to school, back to work and trying to ignore the tumbleweed blowing around your wallet?

January can be a rotter if we let it, but London is still bulging with fun to cheer up the family, and we've rounded up the best of the bunch below.

It includes a gaggle of FREE and low-cost events, from giant interactive robots to sound and light shows, as well as a major new celebration of cuteness and your last chance to cling onto some festive joy with ice rinks, light shows and pantomimes.

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The Glowbot Garden

A spectacular, FREE promenade experience featuring a series of giant, soft, interactive robots will take over the Strand Aldwych pedestrianised area from 17 – 20 January.

Little ones will delight in meeting a gaggle of enormous, inflatable and pneumatically controlled characters at The Glowbot Garden, many of which are taller than double-decker buses.

This will be the largest presentation to date from creative soft robotics studio Air Giants. Highlights include a 9 metre long contorting snail and a dreamscape of 17 plants, including giant interactive vines, arches and ferns. The robots each respond with unique motion, light and sound, making no two interactions the same.

The Glowbot Garden, Pedestrianised area adjacent to King’s College London Strand Campus, Strand, WC2R 1ES. FREE. 12 - 8pm daily,. 17-20 January

Balloon Museum: EmotionAir

The world’s first inflatable art museum has opened in East London, after attracting two million visitors on its stops in Paris, Rome, Milan and Madrid.

The Balloon Museum launched with huge fanfare and giant queues for the EmotionAir exhibition, featuring works by 20 artists, in which air is a distinctive element.

Expect sound trapped in floating bubbles, giant pink rabbits, huge, otherworldly ball pits, psychedelic balls you can swing and monstrous weebles in a show big and little visitors are invited to immerse themselves in through play and touch.

1 Old Billingsgate Walk, London EC3R 6DX. Until 18 February. Tickets from £28.10 per person

Cute exhibition

A major new exhibition exploring the irresistible force of cuteness opens at Somerset House from 25 January, featuring a games arcade for all ages and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty.

The show brings together contemporary artworks and cultural phenomena from emojis to internet memes, video games to plushie toys, food to loveable robotic design, exploring how cuteness has take over the world.

Somerset House, Embankment Galleries, South Wing. 25 January - 14 April. £18.50pp. Concessions from £11. 

Life

Following the success of last year’s Space, St Martin in the Fields invites you to a shiny new sound and light show. Life will be projected onto the outside of the buildings, throughout the underground Crypt, culminating in a sensational light show, filling the whole Church. This colourful and immersive light display takes guests on a journey through earth, sea and sky and is suitable for all ages.

St Martin in the Fields. 30 January - 3 February. 5.30 - 9.45pm. Tickets from £8 pp or £6 for under 16s.

Hansel and Gretal at Shakespeare's Globe

Follow the trail of breadcrumbs all the way to Shakespeare's Globe, for their beautiful new production of Hansel and Gretal. Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage transforms the Globe Theatre into the gingerbread and lollipop festooned sphere of the world's most famous witch-conquering siblings, for this classic Brother Grimm fairytale.

In this timely retelling, a woodcutting dad and breadmaking mum leave their children in the woods to protect them from their war-torn village. And through music, magic and songs, little audiences follow the siblings on their adventure from a trail of treats to a strage old lady with a plan of her own.

Hansel and Gretal, Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT. 5-7 January. Tickets from £5 (standing) to £59 (seated, peak performances)

Charlie Cook's Favourite Book at Little Angel Theatre

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s deliciously meta book about the magic of reading has had a major new adaptation from our favourite puppet alchemists, Little Angel Theatre. Read our review here.

Adaptors Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane (who also directs) reunite for the show, fresh from their Olivier-nominated collaboration on Donaldson and Scheffler’s other hit book, The Smartest Giant in Town.

The puppet-filled musical will be supported by a programme of play-based workshops to inspire little readers and give families and teachers the tools to explore books through play. The story follows Charlie diving through books, magazine and encyclopaedias and encompasses 11 books, complete with ghosts, pirates, aliens and dragons. It will move from page to stage from 18 November to 4 February, before going on a UK tour next year.

Little Angel Studios, Sebbon St, London N1 2EH. Running time: 1 hour. Until 4 February. Adult tickets £16. Child tickets £14 (1-17) All tickets £8 Thurs and Friday at 4.45pm.

The Gingerbread City

The Museum of Architecture’s deliciously creative Gingerbread City returns with an eye-popping world of buildings and people made entirely from gingerbread, frosting and sweets, complete with moving trains and twirling parts.

Each year, the MoA challenges more than 50 leading architects and designers to create a futuristic, gingerbread city.

And it heads to Westfield London in December, where visitors can expect 70 gingerbread buildings, including sugary houses, train stations, markets, museums, schools and parks.

Visitors are invited to try their hands at consumable construction in workshops learning to make their own gingerbread masterpieces to take home. Sessions are bookable in advance at £18.50 per adult.

MoA’s Gingerbread City, Westfield London, Ariel Way, London W12 7GF. 2 – 7 January: Monday – Saturday 10am – 9pm, Sunday 12 – 6pm

Christmas at Kew

It's your last chance to check out the most festive botanical event this side of the moon, at Kew’s annual light behemoth. Discover glittering tunnels of light, dancing lakeside reflections and trees drenched in jewel-like colours. Warm up with flickering flames in the fire garden and wander beneath larger-than-life illuminations. Kew Gardens has four entrance gates: Victoria Gate (TW9 3JR) Elizabeth Gate (TW9 3AB) Brentford Gate (TW9 3AF)15 November - 7 January. From £29 per adult. £15 per child. Children under 4 go free.

Hogwarts in the Snow

Have a very Harry Post-Christmas at the Hogwarts in the Snow studio tour, when the iconic Harry Potter sets are twinkling with Christmas lights and covered in a blanket of snow. The Great Hall will be decked in golden decorations from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and you’ll find a banquet of turkeys and flaming puddings for the end-of-term Hogwarts feast. Learn the dance moves studied by Neville Longbottom ahead of the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, or how the invisibility cloak Harry Potter receives as a Christmas present was used to create the illusion on-screen. Then step into the Forbidden Forest, where the woodlands will be covered in snow, or stroll down Diagon Alley with its snowy shop fronts and cobbled stones. Stop by the Christmas shop which has returned this year to provide you with a premium and exclusive selection of Christmas gifts, souvenirs, and stocking fillers. The experience ends with a walk around the Hogwarts Castle model, which is blanketed with snow. Hogwarts in the Snow, Warner Bros Studios, Studio Tour Dr, Leavesden, Watford WD25 7LR. 12 November - 15 January. Child ticket £39.95. Adult ticket £49.95

The Ruckus: Everyone’s Invited

Inspired by the myths and legends of London, The Revel Puck Circus’s electric new show is inspired by folktales and the warmth of human connection. Staged in a magnificent Spiegeltent, The Ruckus will transport onlookers into the magical world of circus camaraderie with astounding aerial, hand to hand acrobatics and physical comedy

The Ruckus, Fellowship Square, Waltham Forest, London E17 4JF. Until 1 January. £12 under twos go free

Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith

Yes you can go to the ball, to enjoy Vikki Stone’s modern twist on Cinderella. Here, Cinders runs her own business at Shepherd’s Bush Market, where the Prince - in cunning disguise - has as mooch and falls in love with her. Annoyingly, pesky paps cause him to flee. And so begins a slapstick quest to unite the unlikely pair, with stepsisters Muffy and Gusset and stepmum Lady Jelly Bottom working hard to stop their happily ever after. Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Lyric Square, King St, London W6 0QL 18 November - 6 January. Tickets from £10

Glide at Battersea Power Station

Set against the backdrop of one of London’s most iconic buildings, this Insta-perfect rink offers stunning views of the Thames, while you skate around three interconnecting rinks surrounded by twinkling lights and a giant, 30ft Christmas tree. Afterwards, you can warm up with a hot chocolate - or something stronger - at the Glass House Nine Elms, London SW11 8EF. 10 November - 7 January. tickets from £14.

Skate at Somerset House

It's not too late if you haven't had a chance to visit London's most iconic ice rink yet. This time, the grand, open-air courtyard has been transformed by Switzerland Tourism into an icy, festive destination. Expect sessions inspired by Swiss regions of Bern, Lucerne and Valais; a new series of rink-side decks takeovers; their West Wing restaurant, Chalet Suisse, a rink-side view Skate lounge by Whispering Angel; Skate School lessons, and a pop-up Shelter Boutique pop-up store. Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA15 Nov - 14 Jan. Tickets from £11 for adults and £8.50 for children.

The Queens House Ice Rink

The Queen’s House Ice Rink is a magical, open-air ice rink in the heart of Greenwich's UNESCO World Heritage Site. The rink is surrounded by iconic architecture, with views of Greenwich Park to the south and the glittering lights of Canary Wharf to the north, providing a backdrop of some of the best views in London. Warm up with hot drinks and seasonal fare at the Benugo café, inside the skate exchange, next to the ice rink. The Queen’s House, Romney Rd, London SE10 9NF. 23 November - 7 January. Adults from £10. Children from £7

Ice Rink Canary Wharf

London’s longest running seasonal ice rink, Ice Rink Canary Wharf, has returned until Saturday 24th February. Offering visitors a magical skate session in the heart of Canary Wharf, this year’s ice rink will be putting on themed skating sessions, including 80’s, 90’s and Soul Classics nights to get skaters in the festive spirit. There’s a transparent roof, to thwart Blighty’s pesky weather, plus an apres-skate alpine bar serving winter warmers for skaters and spectators. And the centre piece this year is a glorious Christmas tree, beneath a suspended giant mirrored ball, casting disco reflections across the rink. Ice Rink Canary Wharf. Canada Square, London E14 5AB. 21 Oct - 24 February

The Witches

The National Theatre has launched its major musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s deliciously dark novel, about an English boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who discover child-hating, secret societies of witches. They are ruled by the evil Grand High Witch (played by three-time Olivier award nominated Katherine Kingsley) who heads to England on a mission to turn all of the children into mice.

The Witches, Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX7. 7 November to 27 January. Tickets from £20 per person. Recommended for 8+ years

Wizard Exploratorium

Soho's magic-themed Wizard Exploratorium is a five-storey, geek wonderland, offering a 4D wand-making workshop, immersive trick shop and suitably magical afternoon tea encompassing tea brewing, molecular gastronomy, and technology. Check out our review, here. Wizard Exploratorium, 26 Greek St, London W1D 5DE

The World’s Biggest Disney Exhibition

It all began with a mouse and now, 100 years later, a major new exhibition launches in London, inviting fans to experience the iconic characters, stories and experiences that touched the lives of audiences around the world. Disney100: The Exhibition arrives at London ExCel on 13 October, featuring 10 themed galleries bulging with more than 250 iconic props, costumes and treasures including the actual carousel horse that Dick Van Dyke rode in Mary Poppins, the glass slipper from Cinderella (2015), the Iron Man helmet from Avengers: Infinity War, original artwork from One Hundred and One Dalmatians and the red dress from the 2021 Cruella film. The 20,000 sq ft beast of a show has 14 interactive installations and themed galleries allowing you to dive into classics like Snow White and Encanto as well as the new additions to the Disney family, like Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel movies.

Disney100: The Exhibition. ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL. Tickets on sale now, starting from £16.50 off-peak for children. Until 21 January 2024.

Slimy Gootopia Sessions

Slime is a gloopy rite of passage for every child - parents quickly learn the art of removing it from hair and unwitting pets and it’s up there with ice cream in the kiddie delight department. Enter stage left: Gootopia, which brings its gloopy joy to Brixton and Lewisham. The venues have shelves of ready-made slime, slime ingredients, activator, and their ‘goo-to-go’ slime vending machine. They also offer a range of activities and experiences for kids of all ages, including slime workshops, birthday parties, school science workshops, drop-in slime-making sessions and live slime-making demonstrations by goo alchemists

Gootopia. Brixton and Lewisham locations.

Pampering for all the family at Pan Pacific London

Family activities that involve lying down and being pampered? Count us massively IN. Pan Pacific London has partnered with luxury children’s brand Bonpoint, to create a unique offering for the hotel’s dedicated Wellbeing Floor. The first partnership of its kind in the UK, the duo have created a range of unisex skincare treatments and packages for children aged 6 – 16 years old, that provide an opportunity for parents to spend quality time with their children and teens and enjoy a spot of pampering. Pan Pacific Family Pampering, 80 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AB. Treatments start from £100.

Power Up at the Science Museum

Following five successful runs, Power Up will make its permanent home at the Science Museum from July, allowing visitors to try over 160 consoles and hundreds of the very best video games, all year long. With the new Power Up annual passes, visitors can return whenever they fancy, to journey through the world of gaming. Experience the evolution of gaming – from classics such as Pong and Street Fighter to the latest PlayStation and Xbox – while discovering the science and history behind gaming’s most iconic developments. Power Up Ticketed, daily passes: £10, annual passes: £15   . Age: 5+. Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD

The Young V&A

The former Museum of Childhood has had a three-year transformation - the biggest in its 150-year history - into the UK’s first museum designed by and for 0-14 year olds.

The Bethnal Green cultural destination is FREE (woo) and packed with interactive and hands-on activities for kids and families.

Highlights of the £13m revamp will include colourful, sensory playscapes, including a finger skateboard park, an ‘Imagination Playground’ construction zone, a performance and storytelling stage and sandpit.

The museum has been shaped around childrens' interests to encourage playful learning and spark their imaginations. Three galleries, Play, Imagine and Design, will help children build the skills and creative confidence they need to thrive.

Young V&A. Bethnal Green, Tower Hamlets, Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA. General Museum Access: FREE

Get the Kids Climbing the Walls

Get the kids climbing the walls at London’s Parthian Climbing centre in Wandsworth.

The 25,000 square foot beast combines climbing with lifestyle, thanks to its café, bar, gym, retail and co-working space. And it is the first indoor climbing facility in the UK to feature an exact replica of The Titan Olympic bouldering wall, which will be used at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

They offer a range of kids’ sessions and courses for ages 3 and up. There are instructors for little ones taking on their first climbing experience, as well as the National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS) for a progressive syllabus. They also host kids’ parties, for 1.5 hours of climbing activities and games which are the perfect antidote to ‘Fun Freddie’ wrestling a balloon into a drooping sausage dog.

Parthian Climbing Centre, 52 - 58 Garratt Ln, Wandsworth, London SW18 4TF

Mrs Doubtfire

Hellooooo London, dear! Everybody's favourite out-of-work actor and divorcee is now in the West End.

Daniel loses custody of his kids during a messy divorce, so creates Scottish nanny alter ego, Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate bid to stay in their lives. As his new character takes on a life of her own, Mrs Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained about how to be a father.

rCreated by a transatlantic team of award-winning artists, this warm-hearted, comedy musical came to London earlier this year following a sold-out run in Manchester.

Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8DP

Titanosaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur

For the first time ever, the colossal Patagotitan mayorum titanosaur - one of the largest known creatures to have ever walked our planet - will go on display at Natural History Museum. Four times heavier than Dippy the Diplodocus and 12 metres longer than Hope, the museum’s legendary blue whale, this gigantic creature is a spectacular sight. You can view this gargantuan dinosaur skeleton up close at this fun, interactive family exhibition. You'll follow the life of a titanosaur, from a football-sized egg plucked from its nest to a fully grown adult, bearing the marks of an encounter with a ferocious predator that took a bite out of its tail. As you weave your way around the gallery, you'll handle specimens, stare into its gigantic sauropod skull and even smell its poo. Natural History Museum, Waterhouse Gallery, South Kensington, London. Under 3s are free. 4-16 are £9. Adults £16.

BBC Earth Experience

Travel the world and seven continents in one, visually delicious immersive experience through the hit BBC series, Seven Worlds, One Planet. With bespoke narration from Sir David Attenborough himself and hosted at Earl’s Court's purpose-built Daikin Centre, you will experience the incredible diversity of the seven continents through multiple, multi-angle, 360-degree screens, meeting the extraordinary animals which inhabit them. The event - suitable for all age groups - also boasts breakout zones where you can dive into the depths of Water World, marvel at the sweeping landscapes of the Vista Stage, and test your bravery by getting close to creepy crawlies in the Micro Life zone.

BBC Earth Experience. The Daikin Centre, Earl’s Court, Hammersmith, London SW6 1TR. Until 1 February 2024. Adult £28.50 children under three go FREE

Avora Family Experience

Up an unassuming, Shoreditch street is a secret portal to another planet. And on school holidays and Sundays, you can take your kids for a well-deserved break from Earth, on planet Avora.

Head here for our full review of this worthy and otherworldly adventure, encountering scientists, mocktails, aliens, army villains and closing with a child-pleasing, farty finale.

Avora: Family Immersive Adventure 5C, 127 Hackney Road, London, E2 8GY. Sundays, 12pm – 3:30pm. School Holiday weekdays. £24.50 per child (6-13) £29.50 per adult.

The Gunpowder Plot at Tower of London Vaults

Older children (12+) will be catapulted into the most exciting history lesson of their lives, in this explosive new, immersive experience, starring Harry Potter’s Tom Felton. Your mission is to go undercover and unmask the mysterious figures behind history’s most infamous plot. But when you’re surrounded by traitors, who can you trust? With surprises around every turn, descend into the vaults and experience a combination of live and digital actors, virtual reality and fancy pants technology like motion simulators and special effects, transporting you back to London 1605 in the heart of the Gunpowder plot.

The Gunpowder Plot, 8-12 Tower Hill Vaults, London, EC3N 4EE

Play Captain on a GoBoat River Picnic

If you’re looking for somewhere to spend a genuinely relaxing few hours for parents and children (plus dogs, if you have one) we recommend a GoBoat trip.

You can enjoy a picnic as captain of your own, electric boat through Canary Wharf, Paddington, Kingston, Thames Ditton or Birmingham.

Check out our review of the GoBoat Canary Wharf experience HERE GoBoat UK, Open 7 days a week from 9am - dusk. Prices start from £85 for 1 hour and £125 for two hours on the 8-person boats. GoBoat Canary Wharf, 22 Churchill Place, London, E14 5RE

Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

Brigit's Bakery launched the first, official Paddington Bear afternoon tea bus tour, celebrating the capital.The double-decker has built-in screens, so that Paddington and Mrs Bird can provide an animated guide to the tour, which includes some of Paddington's favourite landmarks, like Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Nelson’s Column, Downing Street, St. Paul's Cathedral, Borough Market, Green Park and Piccadilly Circus. The tour takes just under two hours, while you scoff treats including glittering shortbreads, designed to look like nibbled marmalade sandwiches, mini pizzas, smoked salmon and cucumber pretzels, turkey ham and cheddar or cream cheese and cucumber finger sandwiches and naturally, marmalade sandwiches. And for those who share the bear’s sweet tooth, the homemade sweet treats included a rice pudding studded with chocolate honeycomb, chocolate cupcakes crowned with Paddington’s chocolate paws, lemon meringue tarts, chocolate macarons and freshly baked scones with cream and jam. Brigit’s Bakery also provide vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal afternoon teas. Check out our review, HERE

Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus tour Departs from Trafalgar Square, Wednesdays to Sundays. Prices from £45 adult, £35 child.

Discover Children’s Story Centre

Stratford's immersive, sprog-storytelling Mecca is brimming with entertainment across three floors, plus a wonderfully imaginative Story Garden. Creep through caves, find fairy worlds within magical trees, explore hidden ships, perform in a puppet castle, leap over alligators and man your own spaceships and rockets across two floors, which also host art and craft stations, beautiful reading corners, storytelling sessions, immersive events and installations. Or head outside to the magical new play area to discover Baba Yaga’s hut held up by chicken legs, climb Hootah’s castle and slide out of the Stratford Sputnik. Check out our review here

Discover Children's Story Centre 383-387 High St, London E15 4QZ

Whizz Down The ArcelorMittal Orbit

How about hurling your children down the world’s tallest slide? The 178m long ArcelorMittal Orbit was the iconic landmark of the 2012 London Olympics and is now an attraction with three adventure experiences. Families can speed down the winding slide, abseil, or walk around the glass orbit at the top. You can also pretend it's a high-brow, cultural experience, because the orbit is also a sculpture by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond. And it beats the usual views of grubby swings and bins, because here you can check out the stunning views of Queen Elizabeth Park. To ride the slide, children must be at least eight years old and over 1.3m. ArcelorMittal Orbit, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 5 Thornton St, London E20 2AD. From £10.75.

Cutty Sark Rig Climb Experience

Originally climbed when the ship first arrived to Greenwich in 1954, visitors can now recreate this, by clambering up the famous masts of the Cutty Sark.The Rig Climb Experience invites kids and brave parents to step up from the main deck onto the ship’s ratlines and climb up its top mast, as hundreds of sailors did during the Cutty Sark’s heyday. Once at the top, climbers will experience a controlled descent from the rigging. Participants will be rewarded with some of the best views in London, overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard and Tower Bridge.

Cutty Sark King William Walk, London SE10 9H

KidZania

Ambulances and fire engines hurtle through the streets and emergency workers tumble out to jet hoses at the Grand Flamingo Hotel fire or treat the wounded, while police cordon off the area and Metro journalists interview witnesses.It might not sound like your typical half-term trip, but the kids will love every second, because they are the firefighters, paramedics, press and police role-playing in KidZania, London's extraordinary, 75,000 sqft indoor city for children. Check out our review, here

KidZania: Westfield London Shopping Centre Ariel Way W12 7GA. For 4-14 year olds

Snot, Sick and Scabs at the Centre of the Cell

Deliciously disgusting and sneakily educational centre in a futuristic, light-studded pod suspended above the laboratories of the Blizard Institute in Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Children can learn about the heart, teeth or senses, see scientists at work and enjoy their delightfully vile ‘Snot, Sick and Scabs’ session. Centre of the Cell, 4 Newark St, London E1 2AT

Out-of-Hours at the British Museum

Your little ones can walk in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks, Pharoahs or journey through the cultures of China at The British Museum's family-friendly, out-of-hours tours. Taking place between 8.50 – 10am, before the galleries are open to the public, you can beat the unsavoury crowds. And from 4 - 25 March, children can explore Roman history through Minecraft, create a Japan-themed family photo (11 March) and make mosaic masks inspired by the Aztec gods on 18 March. The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG. Under fives go free. £16.50 for 5-15 year olds. £33 Adults

Monopoly Lifesized

Go big or go home… or straight to jail at Monopoly Lifesized, an immersive, on-your-feet version of the classic, family game, played on a 15m x 15m lifesized Monopoly board. Enter the 4D experience and compete in challenges for your chance to buy properties. Stage a heist in Mayfair, compete against a clock to build some of London’s iconic buildings, solve a baffling murder mystery or step into the world of codebreakers. The 80-minute experience is suitable for kids from 9 and older and is open every day except Mondays.

Monopoly Lifesized, 213-215 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7PS. Tickets £49 pp

Crystal Maze LIVE Experience

Older children (from 8 onwards) can take on this immersive adventure, which brings the hit 90s TV show to life.Run around like mentalists, yell, complete a host of difficult challenges and end the game in a fetching, satin bomber jacket. Crystal Maze Live Experience, 22 - 32 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 7EU

Flip Out Hounslow

If your children are of the ‘charmingly indecisive’ type, then a trip to Hounslow’s newly-opened Flip Out might be the answer to your prayers. Cramming mini-golf, arcades, laser quest, bumper cars, inflatables, a ninja assault course and soft play under a single, cavernous roof, the beauty of Flip Out is that you pay for entry to the venue and not for individual activities. We’re yet to discover whether you can drive a bumper car around the laser quest arena, performing drive-by shootings with a slushy in your hand, but there’s only one way to find out.Entry is a very reasonable £19pp (dropping to £14 for children under 1.1m tall) for three hours in the ‘Arena’ and if you’re not local to the newest venue in Hounslow, Flip Out has similar offerings all over the country. BUY TICKETS Flip Out Hounslow, Units 3, 4 & 5 High Street Quarter, 8 Smithy Ln, Hounslow TW3 1EH

Holiday to Space at Royal Observatory Greenwich

Join Ted and Plant as they explore the Solar System in search of the best place to take a holiday in an intergalactic morning adventure, including a planetarium show and interactive workshop. Recommended Age: 3 - 6 yrs. Open 10am-5pm daily

Royal Observatory Greenwich Park, Blackheath Avenue SE10 8XJ

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