The LittleBird Family Pass Top Picks 16th – 25th July

We’ve rounded up some great activities and events to help you and your family stay entertained, inspired and active over the next two weeks

There is so much to look forward to – a brand new Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition has arrived in Covent Garden along with the first ever Butterbeer bar, there’s summer jousting at Hever Castle, Paddington’s taken up resident at the British Library and the dinosaurs have arrived at Whipsnade Zoo plus learn trapeze in Regent’s Park and find out what’s new at the cinema. 

There’s online entertainment too – don’t miss NHM Fantastic Beasts™: The Wonder of Nature – Behind the Exhibition event, a family art workshop and find out how to make your own ‘Maths of Me’ profile.   

Plus make your own healthy freakshakes, create your own scented rainbow bubbles, become a Climate Champion with Cartoon Network and get circus fit at home.  

Brought to you by The LittleBird Family Pass –  saving families money all year round. To find out how, click here 

  1. Book Forward
  2. Top Picks
  3. Virtual Events Dated
  4. Cinema
  5. Online Anytime
  6. Make This
  7. Read This
  8. Watch This
  9. Listen to This

BOOK FORWARD TO LOOK FORWARD

Duxford Summer Air Show
Imperial War Museums, Duxford
24th – 25th July 

Duxford’s first air show since 2019 will feature spectacular sights in the sky from the world-famous Red Arrows, parachuting displays courtesy of the Falcons and wingwalking from Aerosuperbatics. On the ground, actors and entertainers will be bringing history to life, and for the first time, an airside Flightline Walk will be included in the ticket cost giving visitors the chance to see the aircraft up close before they take to the skies.

Tickets; Adults £42.50, Kids £14.25 

Find out more here

Colourscape on Waddesdon lawns
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
28th July – 8th August 

Immerse yourself in an endless labyrinth of intense light, colour, space and music in 56 interlinked chambers and encounter unusual musical experiences during your journey at Colourscape.

Each day there will be different music and dance performances – resident musician, Michael Ormiston, creates family-friendly free-flowing workshops for all on weekdays and at weekends presenting Hurdy-Gurdy, panpipes, dance, flutes from around the world and a spectacular theatre-piece with dance and costumes.

Tickets; Adult £6, Child £4 and normal grounds admission applies – Adults £12, Kids (ages 5 – 17) £6 

Find out more here 

The Big Farm Sleepover 2021
Godstone Farm, Surrey
30th July – 1st August & 6th August – 8th August

The Big Farm Sleepover promises plenty of fun to keep the kids entertained – embark on a treasure hunt, be part of after-hours animal encounters, get exclusive use of play areas and of course toast marshmallows and make smores on the campfire. Each morning wake up and shake up with us before a day on the farm, starting with collecting eggs for breakfast or meeting the farm’s friendly mascots.

Tickets:  £79 per person, aged 2 and over

Find out more here 

Kids Week
Various venues in London
1st – 31st August

During Kids Week, a child (aged 17 and under) goes free when accompanied by a full paying adult to shows throughout August. It’s been set up slightly differently this year, so although it’s the same great deal in terms of what you pay, instead of 1 full price ticket and 1 free kids ticket it will be presented as two half price tickets with additional children going half price.

Find out who’s taking part, what’s on and when here 

The Wind in the Willows
Chelsea Physic Garden, London
16th – 26th August

Head to Chelsea Physic Garden for this immersive experience produced entirely from recycled, reclaimed, and repurposed materials. ‘The Wind in the Willows’ offers a blend of theatre, storytelling, audience interaction, and even some creative activity along the way. 

Spring is in the air and Mole has found a wonderful new adventure above ground. There’s boating with Ratty, a feast with Badger and hijinks on the open road with that silly old Mr Toad of Toad Hall. You and the foursome become firm friends, but after Toad’s latest escapade, can you join together and beat the wretched weasels?!

Tickets;  £22. Find out more here 

Zip World Slate Caverns
Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales
Open 7 days a week 

Slate Caverns promises both underground and above-ground adventures. With views across Snowdonia from the top of Titan 2 (the first 4 person zip line in Europe), where you can zip 1080m from half the height of Snowdon to the world’s only subterranean playground of its kind, Bounce Below, and Caverns, an underground adventure zip line and adventure course. 

Aimed at ages 7+ Tickets start at £60 for Caverns and Titan 2, and  £20 for Bounce 

Find out more here 

The Bear Grylls Adventure
NEC in Birmingham
Tuesday – Sundays 

Climb, Dive, Fly at The Bear Grylls Adventure. Discover 7 action-packed indoor and outdoor experiences: Indoor Archery, Indoor Climb, High Ropes, iFLY indoor skydiving, Shark Dive, Indoor Shooting, Snorkel and the Royal Marines-inspired Assault Course

Aimed at ages 8+. Tickets start at £20

Find out more here 

To discover exclusive Bear Grylls Adventure savings, join the Family Pass for £1. Find out more here.

Festival of Fairy Tales
Garden Museum, Lambeth, London
15th August 

For one day only, the Garden Museum will be transformed into a wonderland of circus, storytelling, and magic. Set against the backdrop of the Garden Museum’s home of a medieval church. Highlights include performances by contemporary Malawian folk band Nkomba, circus street performer Logy on Fire, and storyteller Lauren and the Storybox, and Originary Arts will be hosting a paper theatre, where children are invited to recreate the fairytale of the Golden Fish through collage. 

Aimed at ages 4 – 10. Tickets £15 per person, under 2s go free. 

Find out more about the Festival of Fairy Tales.


TOP PICKS

Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition
Covent Garden, London
Just opened  

Housing iconic photographs, the Photographic Exhibition will take fans behind-the-scenes of key moments in the film series, from Harry’s first day at Hogwarts through to the Battle of Hogwarts.

It will also be home to London’s only bottled Butterbeer bar. During your visit, you’ll be able to enjoy the wizard’s drink of choice served in a souvenir tankard, or take a bottle away to enjoy at home!

Tickets; Adults £20, Kids £14, Under 4s go free

Click find out more about the Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition

ChessFest
Trafalgar Square, London
Sunday 18th July 

ChessFest is a new family-friendly event celebrating the world’s oldest game, its cultural connections and universal appeal. Families will be able to learn the game, play chess, challenge a master or take part in Alice Through the Looking Glass-themed activities in a covid-secure outdoor space.

The Alice Through the Looking Glass theme celebrates the 150th anniversary of the publication of the chess themed book. ChessFest will be constructing a giant chessboard on which 32 actors dressed as Alice Through the Looking Glass characters will replay a game based on the book.

The event is free. Find out more here 

Summer Jousting
Hever Castle, Kent
17th & 18th July & more weekends this summer 

The Knights of Royal England will be entertaining visitors with exhilarating displays of action, stunts, falls and fights in an authentic arena complete with a Royal Box. Battling it out in the saddle and on foot in one-to-one combat, the valiant knights will then compete for points to find this season’s ultimate champion. Choose which knight to support and then cheer them to glory.

Entrance to the Jousting Tournament is included in a Gardens Only (Tickets; Adults £15.85, Kids £9.95), or Castle & Gardens (Adults £21.35, Kids £12.95) admission ticket. 

Find out more here 

Mr Men & Little Miss 50th Anniversary
Museum of Brands, Notting Hill, London
From 23rd July 

When Roger Hargreaves’ son Adam asked him what a tickle looked like, Hargreaves drew up the iconic round figure with long wiggly arms which set in motion the 93 characters that make up the series today. Starting with books, the series range has been extended to mugs, stationary, lunch boxes and much more. Mr. Men and Little Miss characters feature in the museum’s household brand collection, on products including 1970s yoghurt pots and 1990s bubble bath. 

Sparking curiosity and evoking feelings of nostalgia, enjoy a trail where you and the kids spot the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters included in the museum displays. See original sketches by Adam Hargreaves alongside limited-edition Royal Mail postage stamps and Royal Mint commemorative coins. Plus, the kids can make their very own Mr. Bump paper hat to take home. 

Tickets; Adult £9.00, Kids (aged 7 -16) £5.00, under 7s go free

Find out more this event and the Museum of Brands here 

To discover exclusive Museum of Brands savings, join the Family Pass for £1. Find out more here

The Luna Cinema
Over 50 locations across the UK

Visit some of the most prestigious locations around the UK with The Luna Cinema experience boasting state-of-the-art cinema equipment, including giant HD screens and cinema-quality sound systems. Food and drink are available either as a pre-order with your tickets or ordered from where your sat on the night using your smartphone so there’s no chance of having to miss your favourite part of the movie! 

Ticket from; Adult £15, Kids £11

Use Code LBIRD10 for 10% off all General Admission Tickets*

*Offer is valid on General Admission tickets to The Luna Cinema’s 2021 Open Air Season. Excludes Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Find out what’s on and where here

Pet Life at the Museum of the Home
Shoreditch, London
From 24th July 

Choose a pet friend to join you at the start of your visit to the Museum of the Home. Your animal companion will unlock different stories of real-life pets and their owners as you wander through the rooms of the museum.

With animations, projections, hands-on activities and stories written by author and storyteller Bernadette Russell. 

Tickets; Adult £7, Kids £5.25

Find out more here

Zoorassic Park
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Bedfordshire
24th July – 5th September 

Enjoy this immersive exhibition of life-size animatronic dinosaurs sure to thrill any dino-mad kids (and grown-ups). Time travel back more than 66 million years and come face-to-face with your favourite dinosaurs.

At Zoorassic Park experience first-hand how these giant creatures moved and behaved as you track down several different species of dinosaur. You’ll learn why dinosaurs went extinct and how to save their modern-day equivalents from a similar fate. Plus there’s a fossil dig pit and safari car track. 

Plus, discover the Snorassic Park experience, available on selected weekends, offering guests a special, evening tour of the Zoo’s dinosaurs after the zoo has closed to visitors, before spending the night camping under the stars opposite the dinosaur exhibit.

Tickets: Adults from £30.00, Kids from £19.50 (ticket prices include voluntary donation) 

Find out more here

Gorilla Circus Flying Trapeze School
Regents Park, London
Until 13th September

Fun and accessible classes for anyone who wants to learn trapeze. Start with a warm up then move on to practice a simple trick on a low bar. Then attempt the trick on the Flying Trapeze and towards the end of the class get caught by an instructor on a separate swinging bar.

Offering a mixture of drop in classes and courses. Tickets, depending on level, start from £25. Aimed at ages 8+

Find out more here

Paddington: The Story of a Bear
British Library, Euston, London
Until 31st October 

Join Paddington as he sets off on a new adventure at the British Library.

Whether tidying the attic, going to the laundrette or enjoying a birthday party, Paddington is forever making a mess. Follow his trail of marmalade splats to explore his tales of muddles and mishaps from his arrival in London, to home life with the Browns – but be careful to avoid Paddington’s toppling pots of paint!

Rediscover the many faces of Paddington that you’ve come to know and love, from original illustrations featured in the very first books to clips from the recent hit films and animated series. 

On Saturday 17th July there’s a free family friendly workshop, find out more here

Tickets: Adults £8.00, Kids (aged 12-17)  £4.00, Under 11s go free

Find out more here


VIRTUAL EVENTS

Zoom in on Nature with Pippa Pixley
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts Family Workshop, Saturday 17th July @ 10am

A Look, Notice and Sketch workshop inspired by depictions of the natural world found in The Barber Institute of Fine Arts summer exhibition Making a Mark.

Join artist and author Pippa Pixley to explore sketchbooking techniques and experiment with drawing materials, scribble down ideas, document multiple views, create beautiful things and have fun!

Aimed at ages 5+, tickets are free with booking required. 

Find out more here 

NHM Fantastic Beasts™: The Wonder of Nature – Behind the Exhibition, 22nd July @1pm 

Join exhibition creators and scientists to hear how they brought the exhibition to life. See how parallels have been made between mythical and magical creatures, and some of the most incredible animals on Earth. NHM celebrates real-life scientists who, like Magizoologist Newt Scamander™ from the Fantastic Beasts films, help us to understand our planet’s extraordinary creatures. 

You can also delve into the exhibition online with Google Arts & Culture and enjoy an immersive digital experience featuring stories and specimens, a 360° stroll through the exhibition and puzzles and games galore.

Tickets are free with booking required. Find out more here 

Meet The Maths Mates with Maths on Toast
Saturday 24th July @ 12.30pm 

Stay in with Maths On Toast. From birthdays to shoe size, numbers are a part of all of us. Get to know the Maths Mates through their profiles – made up of maths! Then have a go at creating your own ‘Maths of Me’ profile using the numbers that make up you.

Maths On Toast is a UK charity with a mission to make everyone, kids and parents too, positive about maths. 

Aimed at ages 4+. To join the event for free and find out what you need to take part, click here


CINEMA NEW RELEASES

The Croods: A New Age
16th July, PG Certificate

In this fun sequel the prehistoric family the Croods are challenged by a rival family the Bettermans, who claim to be better and more evolved

Searching for a safer habitat, the prehistoric Crood family discovers an idyllic, walled-in paradise that meets all of its needs. Unfortunately, they must also learn to live with the Bettermans — a family that’s a couple of steps above the Croods on the evolutionary ladder. As tensions between the new neighbors start to rise, a new threat soon propels both clans on an epic adventure that forces them to embrace their differences, draw strength from one another, and survive together.

Space Jam: A New Legacy
16th July
PG Certificate

NBA superstar LeBron James teams up with Bugs Bunny and the rest of the Looney Tunes for this long-awaited sequel.

STILL ON:

Black Widow (July 9th, PG-13) A Quiet Place II (PG-13)

LOOKING AHEAD

Jungle Cruise
30th July in Cinemas and on Disney+

Based on Disneyland’s theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles but with a supernatural element with Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson.

Suicide Squad
30th July
Certificate 15

Supervillains Harley Quinn, Bloodsport, Peacemaker and a collection of nutty cons at Belle Reve prison join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X as they are dropped off at the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese.

To discover exclusive cinema savings, join the Family Pass for £1. Find out more here


ONLINE ANYTIME

Climate Champions 
Cartoon Network

Discover tips on how to help save the planet and join in with these daily challenges, plus see  

see how kids are taking on Climate Champion challenges in different parts of the world. 

Find out more here 

Circus Fitness at Home 

Created for lockdown but a great one for any time, especially witch the summer holidays not far away, watch this series and learn how to juggle, tightwire, hoop dive and more with the National Centre for Circus Arts. 

Start with learning how to juggle and watch here

Virtual Museum Club
Ditchling Museum of Arts + Craft

Check out Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft’s virtual museum club. There are tons of activities you can do at home including blow painting with straws, weaving, colourful paper fans, marble painting and jar lanterns. 

Get hands on here 

Updating Happiness
Wellcome Collection 

Part of the Wellcome Collection’s On Happiness season (15th July – 27th February 2022)

use this emotional check-in device, by poetic data designer Stefanie Posavec, that playfully draws attention to small daily pleasures. Complete a questionnaire and in return receive a uniquely designed quote, which will be added to a growing archive of reflections on happiness. 

To find out what quote is, visit the Updating Happiness website

Cbeebies Bedtime Stories 
BBC

With the recent addition of Ryan Reynolds to the Cbeebies Bedtime Stories list of celebrity storytellers (you can catch him reading Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak on Friday 16th July at 6:50pm), it’s always worth revisiting the Bedtime Stories impressive library – there are 30 episodes to choose from – to find your (and of course the kids!) favourite storytellers, we mean stories!

Get comfy and press play here 

Soap Carving 
Guildhall Art Gallery

Try your hand at soap carving with this activity you can do at home created by the Guildhall Art Gallery and inspired by their Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers exhibition, celebrating the Company’s history and its crafts of joinery and woodcarving.

All you’ll need is a bar of soap, some paper, scissors and a teaspoon to do the carving.

Download the PDF and try it here and check out other home activities here


MAKE THIS

Freakshakes

Enjoy getting creative in the kitchen with EatsAmazing healthy spin on the classic freakshake. Make a towering healthy smoothie freakshake and have fun decorating with fruit kebabs.  

Get freaky here

DIY scented rainbow bubbles

Who doesn’t love blowing bubbles! When it’s so easy to make your own, why not take it to another level and add some scent and colour using food colourings and essential oils. 

Get mixing scented rainbow bubbles here


READ THIS

Fizzy and the Party

Author Sarah Crossan & Illustrator Nicola Colton
Bloomsbury 

It’s Fizzy’s bedtime, but next door Mrs Crumbleboom and her band are having a party. Fizzy is desperate to join in the fun. Will Mum let her stay up just a little bit longer? The characters from Fizzy and Bandit return in this family comedy from former Ireland’s Children’s Laureate Sarah Crossan, with delightful illustrations by Nicola Colton.

Part of the Bloomsbury Young Readers new summer releases.

Aimed at ages 6+

Find out more here 

The House on the Edge

By Alex Cotter & Kathrin Honesta
Nosy Crow 

Where has Faith’s dad gone? Why has he left his family living in an old house perched on a crumbling cliff top? A crack has appeared in the cliff and Faith watches anxiously as it gets bigger and bigger each day… Her brother is obsessed with the sea ghosts he claims live in the basement, and when he disappears as well, Faith starts to believe in the ghosts too. Can she find her brother and bring her father back before everything she cares about falls into the pitiless sea below?

The House on the Edge is a great mystery with real heart, from a captivating new voice in middle-grade fiction.

Aimed at ages 9-12

Find out more here 


WATCH THIS

Ophelia
IFC Film, Netflix
2008

Daisy Ridley (of Star Wars fame) appears in this modern re-imaging of Hamlet from Ophelia’s point of view.

Ages 13+

Atypical Season 4
Netflix

The final season of the comedy coming-of-age series created by Robia Rashid.

When a teen on the autism spectrum decides to get a girlfriend, his bid for more independence puts his whole family on a path of self-discovery.


Ages 13+

Ridley Jones Season 1
Netflix

Curious kid Ridley and her friends protect the Museum of Natural History’s treasures and keep its magical secret safe: Everything comes alive at night!

Ages 2-6

Naomi Osaka Limited Series
Netflix from July 16th

Limited docuseries on the young ladies tennis champion. Featuring unprecedented access to Osaka, the documentary follows her pivotal year, from the U.S. Open in August 2019 and on tour, as she plays in each of the Grand Slams and prepares for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Age 14+

Loki Episode 6 (The Finale)
Disney + from July 14th


LISTEN TO THIS

140 ideas podcast by the Serpentine Galleries

In the first episode of 140 Ideas, a new mini-podcast inspired by the publication 140 Artists’ Ideas for Planet Earth, Tomás Saraceno invites us to listen to the spider playing its web at night inside our homes.

Happy Podcast for Kids by Anorak 

Anorak: the Happy Podcast for Kids invites children to voice the burning questions that they have about the world around them such as ‘how do whales pee?” and “should every house have a jetpack?”. These are answered by a global cast of guests ranging from rock stars to scientists, architects to ice cream makers. And there are jokes too!

Death at the Wing

Adam McKay of The Big Short and Succession helms this fascinating eight-parter, which deftly examines the untimely deaths of a glut of basketball stars in the 80s, and what their tragic tales tell us about Reagan’s America. From guns to drugs to the media, McKay carefully assesses all the societal factors that left their mark on the NBA.


DOWNLOAD THIS

Toca Life World
By Toca Boca

Want to star in your own sci-fi movie? Design a house fit for a sloth? Or just hang out with your friends at the mall? In Toca Life World, you’re the boss! There are more than 90 locations to explore and over 500 characters to play with. Feeling creative? Remember to check out the Character Creator and Home Designer tools. Start building your world today!

Download from the App Store, Google Play and Amazon Fire

Brought to you by The LittleBird Family Pass –  saving families money all year round. To find out how,  click here 

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