Actual real life events are back and museums are still re-opening. So if you\u2019re up for getting out and about, here\u2019s our pick of the best things to do in London, from the arrival of the London Transport Museum\u2019s Depot summer season, the re-opening of the Science Museum to virtual pools in Kings Cross and alfresco ballet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out our previous blog on what is opening up in the real world! From theme parks, cinemas, museums and attractions. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n But there\u2019s lots of virtual fun to be had too; venture into Westminster Abbey Knights and Dragons family day, learn how to make a shadow puppet, join Julia Donaldson with friends Nick Sharratt and Axel Scheffler and get ready to time travel through the history of the world in just 60 minutes or take on the National Trusts Monumental Building Challenge – there\u2019s lots to do, see and have fun with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you find it useful, please do share this and sign up to the newsletter. We\u2019ll be sending these out every week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OUR TOP PICKS OF THINGS TO DO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n London Transport Museum Depot opens for 10 days from Wednesday 19th August\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Depot houses most of London Transport Museum\u2019s extensive collection \u2013 over 320,000 artefacts from the Capital\u2019s transport history. After months in lockdown, the new summer season has been designed especially for families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There’s a family-friendly trail that takes you on a journey through the Depot to discover the stories of historic vehicles which served passengers over the last 200 years. Every child\u2019s ticket includes a special, sealed pack that has a fun craft kit to make during your visit as well as a take-home activity. Plus, don’t forget to end your day with a ride on the London Transport Miniature Railway!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more info & to book your tickets, click here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Pools\u2019 at Granary Square, Kings Cross<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jump into the virtual \u2018Pools\u2019 at Granary Square, Kings Cross to experience the latest artwork from award-winning German artist Stephan Zirwes. Alice in Wonderland, Alfresco Ballet (Saturday 15th – Monday 17th August)<\/a> Science Museum opens on Wednesday 19th August\u00a0<\/a> The Wonderlab will be back open too, and again will require pre-booking (Day passes from \u00a38).\u00a0 You could also download the museum\u2019s Treasure Hunters app<\/a> (free) where you can accept challenges or make your own personal tour of the museum, it\u2019s as easy as taking a photo!\u00a0\u00a0 Part of the Edinburgh Festival – Attenborough and His Animals \u2013 Watch Party Thursday 13th August at 2.30pm\u00a0<\/a> Tickets are \u00a35 GOSH Taskmaster (every Thursday until 2nd September)\u00a0<\/a> Unite your wit, skills and playfulness with your family and friends or go it alone to take on a hilariously mind-boggling task set by your favourite celebrity. Show off your creative flair as you prove your fundraising prowess for GOSH Charity.\u00a0 Designed for 12+, tickets \u00a320 per household, 1hr workshop\u00a0 Suitable for families with children aged 5+, the session runs for 1 hour RSPCA Virtual RSPCA Fun Cat Show (2pm, Sunday 16th August)<\/a>\u00a0 You can enter your own kitty up until Saturday with categories to choose from including Cutest Kitten and Cheekest Cat, competition entry costs \u00a32 per category.\u00a0 Bring the wild home with WWT<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Actual real life events are back and museums are still re-opening. So if you\u2019re up for getting out and about, here\u2019s our pick of the best things to do in London, from the arrival of the London Transport Museum\u2019s Depot summer season, the re-opening of the Science Museum to virtual pools in Kings Cross and … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":7813,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812","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\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7812"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7814,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7812\/revisions\/7814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
The two pools each span the length and width of one of the iconic Granary Square fountain bays and sit alongside other playful installations including a 2D maze, a giant word search and a series of hopscotch paths to be discovered across the estate. While you\u2019re there, check out the LollyPop Lounge<\/a> on the Regent Canal steps.\u00a0 Dotted with striped deckchairs and oversized colour-pop ice-lollies \u2018melting\u2019 onto the grass, all positioned to help everyone keep a safe social distance. All part of the Great Outdoors<\/a> programme for fun and free activities during the summer holidays (until 31st August).\u00a0
And if you are out and about with the family, there\u2019s also the Eat out to help out<\/a> scheme running until 31st August, Monday – Wednesday at participating restaurants where you can get a 50% discount on food or non-alcoholic drinks to eat or drink in (up to a maximum of \u00a310 discount per diner).\u00a0
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t be late for this very important date! Join Alice as she enters the curiouser and curiouser world of the White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts and Mad Hatter. Stunning dancing and much loved characters bring the famous tale to life in this magical ballet production performed in the outdoors, brought to you by Let\u2019s All Dance. Tickets \u00a37
To find out more, click here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
With tons to do, see and experience, you could download a map<\/a> before your visit to decide what you want to do. Entry to the museum is free but as with all museums and galleries now, you\u2019ll need to pre-book your free ticket in advance, book yours here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OUR TOP VIRTUAL PICKS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part of the reimagined 2020 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, tune in for a screening of an archive recording of Attenborough and His Animals, recorded at Adelaide Fringe, 2020.
A blue whale swims through the depths. Racer snakes pursue an iguana across the desert. Two hapless fools recreate wonderful scenes of the natural world. This award-winning family show features epic physical theatre and the largest range of animals you will ever see onstage. With a live Q&A with the show\u2019s creators after, find out more here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can\u2019t make this show, enjoy Dr Bubble & Milkshake\u2019s Bubble show<\/a> – free and available to watch whenever you want.\u00a0
To find out more about the reimagined 2020 Edinburgh Fringe Festival click here <\/a>\u00a0and to check out whats on click here<\/a>. The festival runs until 30th August.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A summer fundraising challenge, offering families and friends a chance to break the boredom by completing a stupefying weekly task set by a celebrity whilst raising money for GOSH Charity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Find out what the latest task is and take the challenge here<\/a>
Shakespeare\u2019s Globe Romeo & Juliet workshop (11am & 4pm, Thursday 13th August)\u00a0<\/a>
This event uses a range of activities and games designed to draw out elements of the play\u2019s language, characters and themes as Romeo & Juliet is brought to life in this interactive online workshop so jump in and enjoy exploring one of Shakespeare\u2019s greatest love stories.
Shakespeare\u2019s Globe workshops are led by one of the Globe\u2019s highly experienced practitioners who include actors, teachers and directors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Find out more here<\/a>
Westminster Abbey, Knights & Dragons; Family Day (11am & 2pm, Friday 14th August)\u00a0<\/a>
Let the adventure begin as you discover brave knights and ferocious dragons. Using Zoom breakout rooms you\u2019re able to join Westminster Abbey and their friends from the London Museum of Water and Steam and the Jewish Museum to uncover tales of courageous knights and fiery dragons.\u00a0 Explore steam and fire, forge your own ancient sea dragons and walk in the footsteps of a noble knight.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Find out more here<\/a>
Part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival – Gruffalos, Conjurors and Teeny Weeny Genies with Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler and Nick Sharratt (10am, Saturday 15th August)<\/a>
Join Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, as she treats you to some lively storytelling from her magical book, The Teeny Weeny Genie, followed by a guest appearance from illustrator Nick Sharratt, who shows you how to draw the Conjurer Cow at home.
Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler joins too, stopping by to show you Zog and the Flying Doctors – but this time, in special protective gear. How’s he going to do that?! To top off this fun show, be sure not to miss the performance finale, The Gruffalo in the Deep Dark Wood. This is a pre-recorded event suitable for families and 4+\u00a0
Find out more here<\/a>\u00a0
And at 11.30am, you can join author and performance poet Joseph Coelho for Poems Aloud<\/a>. To find out more about the book festivals other family friendly events, click here<\/a>\u00a0
Royal Albert Hall\u2019s Opera for Kids with Abigail Kelly (2pm, Saturday 15th August)\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>
Join Albert\u2019s Band\u2019s soprano Abigail Kelly as she delights families with opera favourites by Strauss, Verdi and Mozart, as well as some Jamaican traditional songs.
Opera For Kids is a regular series of events from Royal Albert Hall\u2019s Education & Outreach team and is perfect for children of all ages. Part of the Royal Albert Hall at Home series.\u00a0
Watch here<\/a>
And make a story-time diary date with David Walliams <\/a>next Saturday 22nd!
Prudential MyRide London (Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th August)<\/a>\u00a0
The eighth edition of Prudential RideLondon was due to take place this weekend, and while the festival can\u2019t go ahead as planned, you can still join in and keep the wheels moving. Get on your bike \u2013 or scooter, skateboard, trike, tandem, penny farthing, roller skates, unicycle \u2013 and help save the UK’s charities. Whatever your age or ability, you can join in \u2013 wherever you live in the UK and with whoever you like \u2013 family, friends or by yourself.
Get involved here<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This August the RSPCA are celebrating all things feline with their first-ever Virtual Cat Show! Join this live stream event directly from their Animal Centre as they announce winners and much more…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more info, click here<\/a>
Part of An Indian Summer Festival How to make a shadow puppet (9am, Tuesday 18th August)\u00a0<\/a>
Learn how to make your very own shadow puppet! Create your very own fierce Bengali Tiger shadow puppet using stationary you can find at home. Check out the festivals Activity Book to have a sneak peak at Mr Cleaver Monsters\u2019 tiger design, ready for your tutorial. Download here<\/a>
To find out what else is happening and check out the free films on offer, check here<\/a>
Ben Watson: The History of the World in 60 Mins (2pm, Wednesday 19th August)<\/a>
Join the theatre-maker behind \u2018Everything you ever wanted to know about everything \u2026 ever\u2019. A silly, surreal and speedy sixty-minute hurtle through history.\u00a0 Play time-travellers at the beginning of time and in order to return to the present day you must perform a series of creative tasks to fuel our rocket ship, but we only have 60 minutes to do this in!
Your adventure will take in games, songs, creative tasks, and general silliness in this rip-roaring journey through time and space.
To join this workshop you will need Paper, Card, Newspaper, Colouring Pens, Sellotape, Tissue Paper and Loo Rolls (though not all essential). Part of Live Art Local CIC.\u00a0
Your adventure starts here<\/a>
ANYTIME\u00a0<\/strong>
National Trusts Monumental Building Challenge\u00a0<\/a>
Take on the challenge, ignite your inner architect and build your own version of a World Heritage site, a monument, or your favourite historical place and uncover the fascinating history and legends of these world-famous sites. You could create Stonehenge out of books, Hadrian\u2019s Wall out of cushions or Giant\u2019s Causeway out of chocolate buttons.
Accept your challenge here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inspire the kids to connect with the natural world, no matter how much green space you have access to. Choose an activity or commit to all 12 home based projects; learn about the climate, marvel at minibeasts and why not become a plant detective.\u00a0 Or dip into a selection of short fun activities at your leisure.\u00a0
Go wild here<\/a>\u00a0
The Museum of the Imagination<\/a>
Step inside the world\u2019s first virtual museum! The House of Illustration presents the Museum of the Imagination, the world’s only PDF-size museum to the biggest and most wonderful place in the universe, created by Year 4 students at Carlton Primary, with a little grown-up input from illustrator-educators Pencil & Help and Augmented Reality experts Arcade Ltd.
Ready for a visit? Click here<\/a> to find out how.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n