To compliment Somerset House\u2019s current Big Bang Data<\/a> exhibition analysing how data is transforming our world, let the kids enjoy a data detox<\/a> with Adam and Tobias of Graphic Digital Agency. You and the kids will spend the afternoon enjoying data themed activities looking at what we bring to the world both on and off screen and learning about this data explosion created through the new ways in which we communicate and learn e.g. emails, selfies, google searches.<\/p>\n While you\u2019re here, there\u2019s lots of other family fun to be had. It\u2019s Skate at Somerset House with Fortnum & Mason\u2019s <\/a>\u00a0final weekend plus TINTIN: Herg\u00e9\u2019s Masterpiece<\/a> free exhibition is still on (closing 31st January) – head to the Terrace Rooms in the South Wing. You can also enjoy a family trail at your own pace and discover more about Father Thames: the bearded river god. \u00a0Download the activity sheet\u00a0here<\/a> before you go and discover Somerset House\u2019s unofficial mascot.<\/p>\n When: Saturday 9th January, 12pm – 3pm LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: You\u2019re a 10 minute walk from Covent Garden and the London Transport Museum with its\u00a0family galleries<\/a>. Or you can just enjoy hanging out and watching the street performers. \u00a0Look out for the Opera Singers in the Market Building (Lower Courtyard) performing outside the Eric Snook Toyshop<\/a>; a treasure trove of wonderful, weird and wacky toys and a great place to spend any Christmas money. \u00a0There\u2019s a Cyber Candy<\/a> nearby too full of an amazing array of American sweeties including Unicorn Poop<\/a><\/p>\n GO APE IN BATTERSEA PARK<\/strong><\/p>\n Go Ape<\/a> has finally arrived in London – yaaay! Head to Battersea Park and share an exhilarating and thrilling family experience – or simply watch your own monkeys Go Ape<\/a>. You\u2019ll feel as though you have achieved the almost impossible \u00a0– or become Tarzan and Jane – \u00a0as you climb, swing, crawl, jump and leap around the tree top course, negotiating wobbly crossings, swinging from tree to tree and from tree to net, not to mention flying down the best zip wires out there. \u00a0You and the kids are \u00a0in for a \u00a0two \u2013 three \u00a0hour experience and you\u2019ll be talking about it for the rest of the week.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve been to a Go Ape before, Battersea Park promises to have the highest obstacle crossings – \u00a0double the height of most Go Ape courses with many \u00a0twice as long as usual, making them extra wobbly and challenging.<\/p>\n When: Tree Top Adventure is open daily with Tree Top Junior open on weekends and holidays. LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: Situated in the historic Battersea Park, there\u2019s a playground for the younger ones and an adventure playground aimed at 5 – 16 year olds, a cafe and of course Battersea Park Zoo and The Pumphouse Gallery.<\/p>\n THE LONDON TIME TOUR BUS, TRAFALGAR SQUARE – SAVE UP TO 58% WITH LITTLEBIRD<\/strong><\/p>\n Think Bill and Ted\u2019s Excellent Adventure and learn about history the fun way\u2026.by \u00a0going back in time whilst voyaging around London\u2019s famous sites on a classic 1960s Routemaster bus. \u00a0Enjoy this unique tour of London and journey through time as you visit iconic landmarks in central London. Let the quirky and enthusiastic Professor Quantum shares his time travelling tales with live theatrics and a quizzical air of mystery! The London Time Tour Bus<\/a> brings history alive in this imaginative, time travelling experience.<\/p>\n When: Tours depart weekends at 2.40pm until 22nd January LittleBird Top Tip: A hop, skip and a jump from Trafalgar Square, there\u2019s lots to enjoy before or after your tour. St James Park<\/a> is a 5 minute walk with pelicans, a playgrounds with a giant sandpit, deck chairs and a cafe. Or pop into the National Gallery<\/a> or the National Portrait Gallery<\/a><\/p>\n THE REACH CLIMBING WALL, WOOLWICH \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Looking to start the New Year with new family experiences? Then head to The Reach<\/a> Indoor Climbing Wall. Located right by the Thames, The Reach \u00a0offers one of the most impressive climbing walls in the country. The climbing facilities on offer are designed to be enjoyed by climbers of almost any age or ability. You can climb as a family or book the kids into a classic \u2018Young Climber\u2019 session<\/a> – they last 1.5 hours and are perfect for beginners.<\/p>\n Check out \u00a0the photographic tour<\/a> of the myriad climbing challenges at The Reach, including around 80 roped lines up to 11 metres high, with around 50 lead climbs; there is also around 650 sq metres of bouldering surface on the mezzanine floor, as well as a huge free-standing 4 metre high boulder on the ground floor\u2026there\u2019s a cafe too so that after you have climbed the dizzy heights you can sit and marvel at your achievements!<\/p>\n When: Open every day LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: Wrap up warm \u2013 if it\u2019s cold outside, it\u2019ll be cold inside \u2013 there\u2019s no central heating at The Reach!<\/p>\n MICHAEL ROSEN\u2019S BEAR HUNT, CHOCOLATE CAKE & BAD THINGS AT DISCOVER IN STRATFORD<\/strong><\/p>\n Head to Discover Children\u2019s Story Centre and enjoy the interactive exhibition \u00a0<\/a>Michael Rosen\u2019s Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things<\/a>. Swishy swashy and splash splosh your way with the kids through a Bear Hunt – I\u2019m not scared! Who \u00a0will be the first to step inside a humongous chocolate cake and explore a secret larder? And dare you explore the Bad Things in the Dread Shed?<\/p>\n Discover hidden rooms and brilliant clues that show what inspired Michael Rosen’s writing including his Grandparents’ sitting room and his classroom. Those of you with little ones can enjoy a Bear Hunt trail, whilst older children can go on a fun fact finding mission on Michael Rosen and create poems of their own to take away.<\/p>\n If you go this Saturday, you can enjoy nonsense poem sessions<\/a> at 12.30pm & 2.30pm to make everyone smile and laugh out loud.<\/p>\n When: until 10th April 2016 LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: There\u2019s lots to do at Discover including the Story Trail and Story Garden plus a cafe and a lovely shop full of great pocket money toys.<\/p>\n SHAKESPEARE\u2019S GLOBE, BANKSIDE – SAVE AN EXCLUSIVE 11% WITH LITTLEBIRD<\/strong><\/p>\n Head to the Bankside and imagine Shakespeare Globe as it would have been: the centre of what was once London’s most notorious entertainment district, surrounded by raucous taverns and bawdy-houses. Explore and experience, discover and learn together about the world\u2019s most famous playwright – William Shakespeare.<\/span> Shakespeare\u2019s Globe Exhibition and Tour<\/a> lets the kids explore the life of Shakespeare, the London where he lived, and the theatre for which he wrote.<\/span><\/p>\n Every weekend there are demonstrations that take place throughout the day, including stage fighting and Elizabethan clothing. Learn about Elizabethan stage combat techniques as well as the \u00a0intricacies of \u00a0Elizabethan dressing \u00a0as you watch a volunteer (it could be you!) be dressed as a character from a Shakespeare play. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of the Family Trail when you arrive and there\u2019s a free children\u2019s audio guide for the exhibition to enjoy too. Download the app<\/a> or enjoy the Globe fact sheets<\/a> before you go with the kids and get ready for your historic family day out!<\/p>\n When: Open Daily and save 11% with LittleBird<\/a> only at the weekends LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: If you can\u2019t make this weekend – get your tickets for next weekend and combine your day out with an early evening stroll around Trafalgar Square as Lumiere London<\/a> arrives (14th – 17th January) – download the map here<\/a>. See iconic architecture transformed with interactive installations and 3D projections – it looks amazing!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MAKE A MANGA COMIC \u00a0AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM, HOLBORN<\/strong><\/p>\n Enjoy the British Museum\u2019s Digital Workshops that run every weekend. This Sunday the kids can Make a Manga Comic <\/a>\u00a0learning the secrets of manga comic artists before being able to create their \u00a0own manga-inspired comic with characters from the Museum to print and take home. If you can\u2019t make this Sunday, the kids can enjoy \u00a0creating news reports <\/a>on Saturday from 11am.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019re here, don\u2019t miss Scanning Sobek mummy of the crocodile god<\/a>. Head to Room 3 and come face to face with an enormous mummified crocodile from ancient Egypt, covered with small mummified crocodile hatchlings. There are family trails too plus a selection of gallery backpacks that offer free activities to inspire – Be an Archaeologist, Jobs in Roman Britain, Life in Ancient Greece and many more – different backpacks are aimed at different ages and there is something for all.<\/p>\n When: Sunday 10th January, 11am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: Kids into their technology? Then the British Museum\u2019s new app could help keep them engaged. Go on a treasure hunt with Baron Ferdinand and find out what it takes to become a famous collector? Download the app here <\/a>– it\u2019s free. Plus kids eat free<\/a> at the Gallery Cafe – get one free child\u2019s meal when you buy an adult main meal.<\/p>\n CAPTURE A CREATURE \u00a0AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY, TRAFALGAR SQUARE<\/strong><\/p>\n Budding artists in the family who would love to have their artwork displayed at the National Gallery? Then you\u2019re in luck! Take the kids to the National Gallery this Sunday to Capture A Creature <\/a>and enjoy the chance to create two colourful prints. They\u2019ll be asked to find their favourite creature in the gallery and turn it into their own wonderful creature. \u00a0The kids will be able to take one print home and asked to leave the other at the Gallery. All prints will then become part \u00a0of a huge banner showing the creatures that stalk the Gallery. The banners will be displayed in the Education Centre during the Easter holidays so you and the kids can return over the school holidays to see their work hanging in the National Gallery, no less!<\/p>\n If you fancy going around the gallery at your own pace, enjoy fun free family printed trails and audios<\/a>. Print out the trails before you go including Katie\u2019s National Gallery Adventure<\/a> and Marvellous Blooms<\/a>.<\/p>\n When: Sunday 10th January, 11am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm LittleBird Top Tip: \u00a0Why 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 FAMILY BOUNCE AT OXYGEN FREE JUMPING IN ACTON<\/strong><\/p>\n Have a jumpin\u2019 time with the kids at Oxygen Free Jumping<\/a> this weekend. \u00a0The \u00a0trampoline park boasts 150 connected trampolines, an obstacle course and foam pit, slam dunk basketball hoops, dodgeball, runway and airbag. Enjoy a Family Bounce<\/a> session at the weekends in the morning (for those of you with kiddies both under and over 5\u2019s) \u00a0or if you\u2019d rather arrive later in the day and your kids are 5+, you can book a free jump session <\/a>. You and the kids \u00a0can \u00a0jump, \u00a0flip, twist, \u00a0laugh and giggle your way through a one hour session. There\u2019s a cafe for you to hang out in after and discuss who did the best backflip!<\/p>\n When: Family Bounce (weekends only, 9am – 11am) \u00a0Free Jumping – Open Daily LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: \u00a0Wear sporty comfortable clothes that you can move easily in like shorts and T Shirts and note everyone that jumps needs to invest in a pair of grippy socks that cost \u00a32.<\/p>\n WALTHAMSTOW WASSAIL<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0Ever heard of Wassailing? Wassailing consists of lots of singing and toasting good health to apple trees and a hopeful \u00a0good harvest. A medieval german drinking ritual, \u00a0Wassailing intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest. So where better to start the Walthamstow Wassail<\/a> than the Vestry House Museum<\/a> that has mature apple trees in it\u2019s garden.<\/p>\n There are crafts and singing at the Museum and the family wassail will be making a \u201chobby horse\u201d. \u00a0The procession starts from the Museum garden at 3pm and the \u2018hobby horse\u2019 will then be carried around the village. Apple-themed refreshments will be available – of course!<\/p>\n When: Sunday 10th January, 1.15pm – 4pm LittleBird\u2019s Top Tip: If you like the idea of Wassailing – check out \u00a0Wassail at One Tree Hill Allotments<\/a> next weekend and Camley Street Wassail Awakening Party<\/a> on Friday 22nd January.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fun and fantastic things to do with the kids in London this weekend Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th January 2016 DATA VIS\u2019 FOR KIDS \u00a0AT SOMERSET HOUSE, THE STRAND \u00a0 To compliment Somerset House\u2019s current Big Bang Data exhibition analysing how data is transforming our world, let the kids enjoy a data detox with Adam … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2286,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,563],"tags":[2077,2575,2576,394,2577,2578,2579,2580,859,2581,2582,494,2583,2584,2585,1157,13,868,970,1513,2108,1887,2586,2587,2270,1890,2588,2589,2590,556,691,2454,2208,1140,2591,2592,603,1527,1173,2593,2594,2595],"class_list":["post-2272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-whats-on","tag-activities-in-london","tag-acton","tag-apple-trees","tag-battersea-park","tag-beat-hunt","tag-big-bang-data","tag-capture-a-creature","tag-chocolate-cake-and-bad-things","tag-climbing-wall","tag-crocodile-god","tag-data-vis","tag-discover-childrens-story-centre","tag-family-bounce","tag-go-ape","tag-katies-national-gallery-adventure","tag-kids-in-london","tag-littlebird","tag-littlebird-co-uk","tag-littlebirddeals","tag-london-families","tag-london-fun","tag-london-mums","tag-make-a-manga","tag-marvellous-blooms","tag-michael-rosen","tag-mums-in-london","tag-oxygen-free-jumping","tag-scanning-sobek","tag-shakespares-globe","tag-somerset-house","tag-stratford","tag-the-british-museum","tag-the-london-time-tour-bus","tag-the-national-gallery","tag-the-reach-climbing-wall","tag-time-tours","tag-trafalgar-square","tag-urban-families","tag-urban-mums","tag-vestry-house-museum","tag-waltahmstow-wassail","tag-woolwich"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2272","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=2272"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5555,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2272\/revisions\/5555"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"bigbangdata\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2016\/01\/bigbangdata.jpg\")
<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Somerset House, WC2R 1LA (South Wing)
\nAge: 6 – 12
\nCost: Free, no booking required but limited spaces to arrive early to avoid disappointment.<\/p>\n![\"goapebattersea\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2016\/01\/goapebattersea.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ
\nAge: 6+
\nCost: Mini Tarzans (over 1m) \u00a318, 10 – 15 year olds \u00a325, 16+ \u00a333<\/p>\n![\"LondonTimeTour\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/08\/LondonTimeTour.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Tours depart on Saturday & Sunday from Northumberland Avenue, just off Trafalgar Square
\nAge: Families
\nCost: Single tickets \u00a310 including guide book – \u00a0buy now<\/a> with LittleBird, Under 5s go free<\/p>\n![\"thereach\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2016\/01\/thereach.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: The Reach Climbing Wall, SE18 5NU
\nAge: 7 – 17
\nCost: Adults \u00a320, under 18s \u00a310 \u2013 harness hire is an extra \u00a32.50<\/p>\n![\"michaelrosendiscoer\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/10\/michaelrosendiscoer.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Discover Children\u2019s Story Centre, E15 4QZ
\nAge: 0 – 11
\nCost: \u00a35 adult \/ child, \u00a318 for a family of 4<\/p>\n![\"shakespearesglobe\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2015\/10\/shakespearesglobe.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/a>Where: Shakespeare\u2019s Globe, SE1 9DT
\nAge: All ages
\nCost: Adults, \u00a314, Children \u00a38, Family Tickets \u00a340 – book now<\/a><\/p>\n![\"makeamangabritishmuseum\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2016\/01\/makeamangabritishmuseum.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: British Museum, WC1B 3DG (Samsung Centre)
\nAge: 7+
\nCost: Free but with limited spaces – sign up on the day.<\/p>\n![\"captureacreature\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2016\/01\/captureacreature.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: The National Gallery, WC2N 5DN
\nAge: 5 – 11
\nCost: Free but limited spaces, get there early to be avoid disappointment<\/p>\n![\"oxygenfreejumping\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2016\/01\/oxygenfreejumping.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Oxygen Freejumping, W3 0AF
\nAge: All ages
\nCost: Tickets from \u00a310 – \u00a0Sessions must be booked and last for an hour.<\/p>\n![\"walthamstowwassail\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2016\/01\/walthamstowwassail.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhere: Vestry House Museum, E17 9NH
\nAge: Families
\nCost: \u00a31 donation per child for the activities<\/p>\n