This year marks the 800th anniversary of the\u00a0Lord Mayor\u2019s Show<\/a>. In 1215 King John issued a Royal Charter allowing the City of London to elect its own Mayor. The newly elected Mayor had to leave the safety of the City, travel upriver to Westminster and swear loyalty to the Crown.<\/p>\n The celebrations start with the Flotilla at 9am when the Lord Mayor boards QRB Gloriana at Westminster Boating Base and heads to HMS President with Tower Bridge opening and saluting the Mayor at 9.25am.<\/p>\n The Procession<\/a> starts at 11am at Mansion House as the State Coach<\/a> (normally residing in Museum of London) and boasts over 7000 participants, 20 bands, 150 horses, hundreds of carriages, coaches and other vehicles including steam buses, tanks, tractors, ambulances, fire engines, unicycles, steamrollers, giant robots, helicopters, ships, penny farthings, beds and bathtubs. Fireworks<\/a> end the celebrations as a launchpad floats in the river between Blackfriars and Waterloo. \u00a0For a map of the route, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n When: Saturday 14th November, 9am Floatilla, 11am Procession, 5.15pm Fireworks LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: Whether you\u2019re heading for the Flotilla, the Procession or the fireworks, try and pop by the Bank of England Museum<\/a>. \u00a0They have a fun packed family day<\/a> planned to celebrate the Lord Mayor\u2019s Show with a The Wind in the Willows theme, whose author, Kenneth Grahame, was Secretary of the Bank over 100 years ago. Face painters will be ready and waiting to transform the kiddies into Mr Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole.<\/p>\n ICE SKATING AT CANARY WHARF – ENJOY 50% OFF WITH LITTLEBIRD<\/strong><\/p>\n Ice ice baby! We love ice skating and with so many ice rinks in London it\u2019s almost a festive family tradition along with going to the pantomime<\/a>. \u00a0Canary Wharf boasts one of the largest 5* rinks in London, set against the backdrop of the impressive Canada Square, it features a main rink and a path looping under fairy-lit trees.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re taking little ones, polar bear skate aids are available (an extra \u00a35) subject to availability. \u00a0You can also book Ice Guides to help you keep up right (\u00a335 per hour) or offer assistance to groups of up to 11 and ice skating lessons too. With a viewing gallery if you’re not skating and the Tasting Room for warming drinks, hot food and tasty nibbles, a perfect family day out is promised.<\/p>\n When: Enjoy 50% 0ff with LittleBird until Friday 27th Nov LittleBird Top Tip: There are 15 pianos decorated by local, national and international artists dotted throughout Canary Wharf\u2019s open spaces, parks, malls and waterfront areas. Play Me, I\u2019m Yours<\/a> offers a musical canvas to inspire and produce spontaneous creativity! Take it away\u2026<\/p>\n CELEBRATING THE CITY AT THE MUSEUM OF LONDON<\/strong><\/p>\n To complement the Lord Mayor’s Show this Saturday, the Museum of London<\/a> and some of their friends from the Barbican, Barbican Children\u2019s Library, Epping Forest, London Metropolitan Archive and Tower Bridge are joining forces to celebrate the City of London. There\u2019s plenty of free family fun to be enjoyed throughout the weekend including dragon mask making, storytelling and performances as well as a special Minecraft spectacular with family challenges, demonstrations and competitions!<\/p>\n There\u2019s plenty of family favourites<\/a> at the Museum not to be missed when you visit including walking around Roman London, stepping inside a life-size Saxon house plus enjoy a reconstructed Georgian Pleasure Garden. Download Museum of London free Street Museum app<\/a> before you leave and let the kids discover a unique perspective of old and new London on your way home.<\/p>\n When: Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th November, 2pm – 4pm LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: Kids eat free at the London Wall Restaurant<\/a> and have you heard about the Museum of London\u2019s Victorian Grotto? Check it out here<\/a> and note there\u2019s a Grotto at the Museum of London Dockland\u2019s too.<\/p>\n FLOWING PETALS AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY, TRAFALGAR SQUARE<\/strong><\/p>\n This Saturday, let the kids celebrate Diwali and the different forms of light found in the National Gallery’s paintings. Flowing Petals<\/a> is a free family workshop where the kids get the chance to work with artist Bhajan Hunjan and make giant floor Rangoli patterns inspired by the flow of light and water in Turner’s<\/a> paintings. These regular family workshops start in the gallery and then move on to an art studio where the kids can get \u2018hands on\u2019.<\/p>\n Why not head into Leicester Square after and let the kids wander around M & M World. Did you know you can even personalise these little chocolate treats with messages and photos<\/a>! Chinatown lies directly behind and if you fancy a different culinary experience, try some dim sum at Joy King Lau<\/a>; delicious!<\/p>\n When: Saturday 14th November, 10.3am – 12.30pm LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: If the kids are feeling inspired, pop into the National Portrait Gallery, free to enter and just round the corner. \u00a0There\u2019s a digital art space where you can look up particular portraits you’d like to see and create your own tour<\/a>. Plus there are art stations with free sketch books available.<\/p>\n DIWALI: THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AT THE MARITIME MUSEUM IN GREENWICH<\/strong><\/p>\n Celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights<\/a>, at the Maritime Museum this Saturday with a day of fun activities for the whole family. Explore, discover and learn more about how trade by sea brought people, ideas, and culture from all over the world to Britain through workshops and storytelling, music and performance.<\/p>\n While you\u2019re here make sure you take the kids to the children\u2019s galleries. \u00a0AHOY!<\/a> is for 0 – 7 year olds and let the kids stoke the boiler of a steamship, land a fish and form new friendships in an interactive boatyard. If your kids are older head to Floor 2 for All Hands<\/a> aimed 6 – 12 year olds. They can fire a cannon and shoot down pirate ships in an interactive game, load cargo in the port and explore a ship as well as help prepare food in the ship\u2019s galley and find out about the strange meals sailors ate on board.<\/p>\n When: Saturday 14th November, 11am – 4pm LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: Don\u2019t miss the Sammy Ofer Wing<\/a> – attached the Maritime Museum, and of course, with The Maritime Museum being located in Greenwich Park there\u2019s lots more to see and do. Greenwich Park has a great playground and giant sand pit, a boating lake, deer and of course there\u2019s the Royal Observatory to visit as well as Astronomy Centre<\/a> \u00a0and check out the Astronomy Photographer of the Year<\/a> exhibition – it\u2019s free.<\/p>\n REGENT STREET CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON<\/strong><\/p>\n If you missed the Oxford St Christmas lights being switched on, here\u2019s your chance to be part of the festivities as the Christmas lights are switched on this Sunday on Regent St. This year\u2019s lights, sponsored by Jo Malone, promise to be the most technologically advanced Christmas Lights to date.<\/p>\n Regent Street will become traffic-free for the day enticing families to start their Christmas shopping if they haven\u2019t already. Fun and activities start at 12pm followed by a star-studded Christmas show for all the family. Musical entertainment from The Blondettes, KD Jazz and Dance Orchestra and The Haywood Sisters are scheduled plus the cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be making an appearance.<\/p>\n When: Sunday 15th November from 12pm LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: Treat yourself to brunch or lunch at the Heddon Street Kitchen in the Regent\u2019s Street Food Quarter where kids eat free<\/a> \u00a0every Saturday & Sunday from 10am – 5pm. The offer is valid for one child per adult dining.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BUILD ELF & FAIRY HOUSES IN KENSINGTON GARDENS<\/strong><\/p>\n Where do elves and fairies live? Join Muddy Puddles<\/a> this Sunday and let the kids create and build Elf Houses in Kensington Gardens in the roots of trees using twigs and flowers and more of nature\u2019s tools. After a morning’s work, the kids get to head home with a goody bag and the knowledge that a little elf or fairy has a home in the park in the build up to Christmas.<\/p>\n This is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the Talking Statue<\/a> innovative trail as the Peter Pan Statue is a Talking Statue. Swipe your phone on a nearby tag and hey presto: your phone rings and its Peter Pan on the line – carry on with the trail and who knows who might be calling\u2026. Abe Lincoln\u2026.or Queen Victoria. The kids will love this mixture of drama and humour and a dash of technology as it breathes new life into the statues that surround us. Download the map\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n When: Sunday 15th November, 10am-12pm LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: If you like enchanted woodlands, enjoy a 50% saving<\/a> on tickets with LittleBird to Syon Park<\/a> on Friday 20th and Sunday 22nd November. Listen out for the laughter of fairies and look out for the tiny lanterns, wonderful colours & sounds. Enjoy this illuminated, twinkling trail through the Garden and Arboretum of Syon – a unique and magical family experience.<\/p>\n A MIDSUMMER NIGHT\u2019S DREAM AT THE V&A, SOUTH KENSINGTON<\/strong><\/p>\n Enjoy a free screening at the V&A this Sunday of Shakespeare\u2019s A Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream<\/a>. Combining live traditional music with acrobatics, traditional dance with contemporary movement and folk performers with realistic actors, the show is a Dash Arts\u2019 production and was performed at the Roundhouse in 2007 in the original English as well as in six Indian languages by a company of actors from different areas of India. There\u2019s an introduction by the director Tim Supple plus free chai and Indian sweets to enjoy! The screening is part of the Fabric of India<\/a> exhibition (running until 10th January 2016).<\/p>\n The V&A has lots of offer families<\/a> with art trails, hands on galleries and backpacks and is in a great location. You\u2019re right by the Science Museum<\/a> and Natural History Museum<\/a> and Hyde Park is just down the road.<\/p>\n When: Sunday 15th November, 2pm – 5pm LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: Inspire the kids and learn more about Shakespeare and enjoy a great day out at Shakespeare\u2019s Globe – there are family trails, sword fighting demonstrations and a complimentary children’s audio guide too! Book your tickets here<\/a>.<\/p>\n MACHINES AT KEATS HOUSE, HAMPSTEAD<\/strong><\/p>\n Is the next Dyson living under your roof? Find out this Sunday! Explore and discover gizmos and inventions that run our lives at Keats House and Garden Family Day Machines<\/a>. \u00a0Sort through pictures and poems of inventions, use as inspiration, and then design your own. \u00a0Brand-new tin-opener, giant bulldozer or space-age robot? What will they create!<\/p>\n Romantic poet John Keats spent two years (1818 – 1820) living at this house that we now know as Keats House and penned his famous ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ from under a plum tree in the garden.<\/p>\n When: Sunday 15th November, 1pm – 4pm LittleBird Top Tip: Go to Hampstead early, pack your swimming bags and enjoy an invigorating family open air swim<\/a>!<\/p>\n YOU MAKE ME AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY, PICCADILLY<\/strong><\/p>\n Head to the Royal Academy this Sunday for free family workshops inspired by the work of contemporary artist Ai Weiwei<\/a> and explore how historical objects can take on a colourful new life. Imagine, create and cast mythical creatures from plaster with Art Macabre<\/a> artist Nikki Shaill, and paint and draw your new creations in an explosion of colour.<\/p>\n While you\u2019re here, enjoy the RA\u2019s Art Detective Family Trails, you can download the Ai Weiwei Art Detective Family Trail<\/a> inspired by the current Ai Weiwei exhibition. Or make your own artist sketchbook to bring along, click here<\/a> for instructions.<\/p>\n When: Sunday 15th November, 11am – 3pm LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip:\u00a0You\u2019re ever so close to Piccadilly Circus and the iconic statue of Eros, and Fortnum and Mason<\/a> is virtually opposite the Royal Academy – always good for a whizz around the chocolate and sweets departments on the ground floor that will be oh so festive; a cornucopia of Christmassy naughtiness!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fun and fantastic things to do with the kids in London this Weekend Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th November LORD MAYOR\u2019S SHOW IN LONDON This year marks the 800th anniversary of the\u00a0Lord Mayor\u2019s Show. In 1215 King John issued a Royal Charter allowing the City of London to elect its own Mayor. The newly elected … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,563],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-whats-on"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2131"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5571,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2131\/revisions\/5571"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"lordmayorshow2015\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/11\/lordmayorshow2015.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Throughout the City – for a map of the route, click here<\/a>.
\nAge: All
\nCost: Free<\/p>\n![\"canarywharficerink\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/11\/canarywharficerink.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Canada Square Park, E14 5AB
\nAge: 4 – 12
\nCost: Tickets from \u00a37 with LittleBird<\/a> – up to 50% off tickets<\/a> with LittleBird this November<\/p>\n![\"museumlondonfamily\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/11\/museumlondonfamily.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Museum of London, EC2Y 5HN
\nAge: 5 – 14
\nCost: Free<\/p>\n![\"flowingpetals\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/11\/flowingpetals.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: The National Gallery, WC2N 5DN
\nAge: 5 – 11
\nCost: This is a free event but you do need a ticket so go early to sign up to get your tickets.<\/p>\n![\"diwalimaritimemuseum2\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/11\/diwalimaritimemuseum2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: National Maritime Museum, SE10 9NF
\nAge: Families
\nCost: Free<\/p>\n![\"regentstreetlights\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/11\/regentstreetlights.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Regent St, W1
\nAge: Families
\nCost: Free<\/p>\n![\"muddypuddlesfairy2\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/11\/muddypuddlesfairy2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Peter Pan Statue, Kensington Gardens, W2 2UH
\nAge: 2 – 8 years
\nCost: Free but you need to RSVP to natasha.ascott@muddypuddles.com<\/p>\n![\"dashartsmidsummer\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/11\/dashartsmidsummer.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: \u00a0V&A, SW7 2RL
\nAge: All
\nCost: Free, drop in<\/p>\n![\"keatshouse\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/04\/keatshouse.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Keats House, NW3 2RR
\nAge: 5+
\nCost: Free drop in<\/p>\n![\"youmakeme\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/11\/youmakeme.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Royal Academy, W1J 0BD
\nAge: Families
\nCost: Free<\/span><\/p>\n