Top Picks for the week ahead 9th – 15th July 2020
Now that things are opening up we’ve pulled together some top things to do in July plus our usual round up of virtual top picks – there’s still so much going on and being made available.
Check out our previous blog on what is opening up in the real world! From theme parks, cinemas, museums and attractions.
With Drive-in’s a-plenty to enjoy a favourite film whilst scoffing delicious food from the comfort of your own car to the Happy Place Festival, from joining the Summer Reading Challenge that’s gone digital this year to assignments to explore and do at Camp Google – plus there’s a magic trick or two to learn online! There’s lots to do, watch and enjoy this week.
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TOP THINGS TO DO…
Relive the magic of the great American drive in movie theatre – a contact-free way to experience film, outdoor theatre and live performances. You’ll get the drive in experience, with live actors, classic cinema refreshments, and great entertainment – all from the safety and comfort of your automobile.
Sound is broadcast straight to your car’s FM radio, and thanks to op-of-the-range LED screen, you’ll have a great view wherever you park up, no matter the time of day. Snacks and drinks are available to order through our mobile app, and will be safely delivered to your car by our team of 1950s drive in attendants.
From the latest blockbusters to cult classics, stand-up comedy to live music, The Drive In movie theatre is this summer’s must-visit London attraction.
See the line up and book here.
Location:Troubadour Meridian Water, Harbet Road, Edmonton, London, N18 3QQ
Luna Cinema Drive in and Outdoor Cinema
They’ve got state of the art sound and screens, a fantastic selection of food and drink contactlessly ordered and delivered, a selection of some of the best films ever made, and all of it can be enjoyed whilst staying safe and socially distanced.
You can catch an unforgettable outdoor experience at the following locations:
Locations: Allianz Park in North London, Printworks in East London, Blenheim Palace in Oxford, Warwick Castle in the Midlands, Knebworth House in Herts, Harewood House in Leeds and Tatton Park in Manchester this summer.
Check out what’s on here.
Rooftop Cinema Drive in – Alexandra Palace
Check out the movies being shown from 7th – 31st July at Alexandra Palace
With food on tap, contact free movies from the comfort of your own car!
Location: Alexandra Palace
OUR TOP VIRTUAL PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD
Camp Google!
Let your kid make the most of this summer with two engaging weeks of interactive activities and assignments which will make this extended summer memorable for kids at home.
The Google camp started on 1st July and will share exciting and innovative assignments with your kids to help them explore skills such as painting, writing, storytelling, arts & crafts, coding and cooking. These assignments will also include internet safety tips which will teach you how to be responsible digital citizens while being safe online.
Kids have to complete various assignments and if they do at the end of the camp, they could get a chance to receive e-certificates, have sessions and courses with YouTube creators and get some exciting prizes!
Check out more here
Listen to Micahel Morpergo Read The Butterfly Lion (from Monday 6th until Sunday 12th July)
Michael Morpurgo will be bringing to life his bestselling novel The Butterfly Lion, as he reads two chapters a day in an exclusive series of videos recorded by Chichester Festival Theatre, available to watch for free on the Theatre’s YouTube channel from Monday 6th July.
Summer Reading Challenge 2020
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge has gone digital. Get rewards, play games and earn badges as you discover awesome books to read this summer! Join the Silly Squad and pick your Avatar, Discover awesome books to read, Play games, earn points and more! And unlock badges throughout the challenge.
There’s a Reading Club where you can find more about some of your favourite authors and illustrators, chat, activities, games and more!
Join the challenge here
Happy Place Festival (finishes Sunday 12th July)
Catch the last few days of this month-long schedule full of passionate people promoting mental and physical wellbeing is not to be missed! Inspired by Fearne Cotton’s podcast Happy Place, you can roam around virtual grounds and find inspiration from the amazing performances, tutorials, and speakers that are making this festival so special.
Check out the Happy Place Family Retreat with tons of ways to keep the kids entertained, interviews, meditations and chats about life! Plus celebratory story-tellers will be reading some of their favourite children’s books throughout the festival.
The Deep Blue Sea National Theatre at Home (Thursday 9th July, 7pm)
A brutal sense of loss and longing burns. Terence Rattigan’s devastating post-war masterpiece contains one of the greatest female roles in contemporary drama. Helen McCrory plays Hester Collyer and Tom Burke is Freddie Page.
The running time is 2 hours 5 minutes with a very short interval.
The BBFC rating is 12A, due to depictions of suicide attempts and some strong language.
Nature Live Online: Spiders! (Friday 10th July, 10.30am – 11.15am)
The Natural History Museum brings you nature Live Online and this Friday it’s all about Spiders!
What kind of spiders are living in your garden or home?
We might not have exciting mammals like lions or bears living in the UK but who needs them when you have spiders! Join volunteer Leah (and some special eight-legged guests) to learn more about the amazing spiders that live near you.
Once aired, you can rewatch this talk and any others on our Nature Live playlist on YouTube.
Tune in this Friday here
Magic Saturday – Online Magic Tutorials with Abracademy (every Saturday)
Every Saturday Alexandra Palace releases a new magic trick video tutorial by Abracademy. Learn the secrets of the magic world through a fun and informative series of videos. Make household objects appear and disappear, develop your sleight of hand and wow audiences by creating a professional act – the results will quite literally be magic!
Tune in here
What a Wonderful World Online Play at Little Angel Theatre (Sunday 12th July)
What a Wonderful World brings to life the much loved song in a story which encourages little ones to see the beauty of the world and to love other people. Huffington Post said of the book, ‘Hopgood does the impossible and makes a song as ubiquitous as What a Wonderful World feel fresh again’.
This is an adaptation of a book in Tim Hopgood’s classic songbook series. Little Angel Theatre also adapted Moon River along with a whole host of other theatre for free online plus there’s great activities for 3-6 and 7-11 year olds and even a guide on how to make a puppet in a week!
The Little Angel Theatre are offering all their online shows for free, but if you’re able to make a donation it would be much appreciated.
Bread Ahead IG LIVE Baking (Sunday 12th July, 2pm)
At 2pm on Instagram live Bread Ahead will be sharing their favourite baking lessons with you. Check out the upcoming recipes. Plus there’s online baking ebooks available to purchase here
BRIOCHE 12.07.20
SOURDOUGH PIZZA 15.07.20
MILK CHOCOLATE & BANANA COOKIES 19.07.20
ENGLISH MUFFINS 22.07.20
Museum of London, Great Fire of London Live stream (Part Two: Monday 13th July, 2pm)
The Great Fire live stream launched on Monday 6th July and will be available to watch in 3 parts. You can catch up on last week and also tune in for this week’s installment on Monday 13th July. The final live stream will take place next Monday. .
Grab your whole family and join The Museum of London for a private tour of their Fire! Fire! exhibition. You’ll also have the chance to ask your questions to a museum curator, all from the comfort of your own home. Part Two will explore how the fire was fought, including how people reacted and what equipment they used to put the fire out. Join on Facebook just before 2pm for the full experience and note you can also watch it live on YouTube or the website, you just won’t be able to share questions.
Aimed at 5+ and note that children must be accompanied by an adult whilst watching the stream. The live stream will last 30 minutes.
Find out more here
Football’s Premier League and the National Literacy Trust (Monday 13th at 11.30am)
As part of a Premier League ‘takeover’ of the National Literacy Trust Family Zone website, award-winning football author Tom Palmer will be running a free live event with CBBC’s Ben Shires. Register now for the Facebook Live event.to bring you free football-themed activities to try at home.
You can also visit the National Literacy Trust website to read a Roy of the Rovers book or graphic novel for free and enter a very special Premier League challenge.
Find out more here
A Virtual Bastille Day Celebration (Tuesday 14th July)
This year the organisers are adapting their Bastille Day celebration. But will still celebrate with joy and cheerfulness!
Join them for a fun and educational online event! There are speeches, be ready to answer historical questions as well as to learn some fun facts about the celebration of Bastille Day, and share with us your best memories about Le 14 Juillet. Last but not the least, we will show you how to make a Bleu/Blanc/Rouge cocktail!
Want to dress up and decorate your place to celebrate this very particular day? You are more than welcome!
Register here.
Tate Kids Livestream (Wednesday 15th July, 2pm – 2.45pm)
Tate Kids is offering a fun, live making session with artist and illustrator Joey Yu. Aimed at children under 10, this workshop is designed so that kids can get creative without parental support, although adults are always welcome to join in! Beaven will be teaching viewers how to make colourful collages, using materials that can be found at home.
This week create paper figures of people who you love. Experiment with different drawing techniques and make an installation using your figures.
Find out more here
2020 Digital Festival of Archaeology (11th – 19th) – Ask an Archaeologist Day (Wednesday 15th July)
The Council for British Archaeology will be delivering a series of day long events, including the #YouthTakeover, A Day in Archaeology, Ask an Archaeologist and our Young Archaeologists’ Day. They’ll be joined by Professor Carenza Lewis (from Time Team) as part of our ongoing Dig School(link is external) project, Wessex Archaeology will be delivering our Environmental Archaeology Day with careers advice, skills training and a special YAC 3D handling session. Plus you will have the chance to have your artwork turned into a published comic!
ANYTIME
Maths Whizz – Boost Confidence and Accelerate Learning in Maths
Maths-Whizz is an award-winning virtual tutor, designed by leading educationalists for 5-13yr olds, that boosts confidence and accelerates learning, helping your child to reach their potential in maths, and preparing them for success at school.
So, whether your child is struggling with maths, not feeling challenged at school, or you just want to give them a little extra support, Maths-Whizz is the perfect way to help your child with maths at home.
Check out more here.
Lets all Dance – Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Enjoy this recording made available for free of the children’s ballet Teddy Bear’s Picnic.
Running time 28 mins.
Watch it here.
London Transport Museum – Tons of Great Activities to do at Home
London Transport Museum have a great resource of things to do at home. The most recent include designing and colouring in your own moquette fabric like that you see on public transport around London as well as templates to create your own London Transport Museum from home with your own buses, trains and taxis!
Head over to their YouTube channel to enjoy Singing and Stories videos. They have cleverly repurposed songs and activities that they usually run in their popular Under-5s sessions at the Museum and Depot during term time.
Creative home learning – from the Royal Opera House, to your house!
Explore the magical world of the theatre and creative education from home. Fun, new activities each week to get you singing, dancing and making. Enjoy creative learning at home and complete the Challenge of the Week. #OurHouseToYourHouse.
Make your own Potion bottle, create your Drink me Dance or write a transformative poem or song. Each activity has age guidelines and exactly what you’ll need to complete the task!
Released on 7th July, Hugh Bonneville reads Chapter Thirteen of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Catch up with Matthew Lewis, Helen Howard and Imelda Staunton reading Chapter Twelve – released 3rd July – and you can hear Chapter 11, read by David Tenent and David Beckham here. If you haven’t managed to watch these readings, there’s still plenty of time.
You’ll need to sign up to the Harry Potter Fan Club to watch them and see the blog about all the other activities you can enjoy while you’re there.