Morning, London! Happy Thursday. Barcelondon. That’s where we apparently live now. 27 degrees tomorrow. Somewhere between 28 and 31 over the weekend. 33 on Monday. In May. In London. Nobody knows how to behave. People already wearing linen. Pub gardens fully booked by Tuesday. Someone definitely saying “bit much actually” by Monday.

Half term could not have timed this better. The parks are going to be absolutely rammed, but that’s part of the fun I guess. Just don’t lose your kid. Ice creams before noon are fully acceptable btw. Dads across the city finally cleaning BBQs they haven’t touched since last August. Respect. And bank holiday Monday on top of it all.

Oh, and Arsenal are Premier League champions. First time in 22 years. Congratulations to the red half of our readership. North London will be absolutely unbearable this weekend. The Chelsea Flower Show is also on. If you’ve never been, this might genuinely be the year. And if you’re escaping the city instead, equally sensible. Either way, leave the coats at home.

There’s so much happening this week we’re skipping the news snippets and getting straight into it. Let’s go.

The intern has declared it “Mediterranean weather” and stopped answering emails. Go grab a free newspaper and enjoy five minutes of peace before the events section takes over your weekend. Have fun London!

I’ve had quite a few replies from readers saying they’ve been enjoying this little section where I share random interesting corners of the internet I stumble across. Which is nice. If you’re all secretly hating it, please let me know!

Anyway, found this one by accident and immediately lost five minutes to it.

It’ called Windowswap and it lets you look out of real people’s windows from all over the world. One click and suddenly you’re staring out from a rainy flat in Tokyo, a sleepy street in Lisbon or somewhere deep in rural New Zealand watching trees move in the wind.

There’s no game, no challenge, no algorithm trying to optimise your life. Just... windows. Weirdly calming.

Thought it could be quite fun to try with the kids over half term (under your supervision, obviously). Press the button and see where in the world you end up next. Give it a go!

💫 evim [my home] @ The Place
Date & Loc: May 23 (Sat), Euston WC1H
Finally here! A gentle, sensory dance show inspired by Rumi and whirling dervishes. Think music, movement and a bit of magic as kids explore the idea of “home” in a very calm, slightly hypnotic way. Last few remaining.
Age: 2–7 | Price: £10–£14 | Info

📦 Boxed In @ Half Moon Theatre
Date & Loc: May 21–23, Limehouse E1
A playful theatre show about confusing rules, mixed-up instructions and that feeling of not quite fitting in.
Age: 3–6 | Price: £9 | Info

🌸 Belgravia in Bloom @ Belgravia
Date & Loc: May 21–24, Belgravia SW1
One of London’s fanciest flower competitions returns, with entire shopfronts and streets turned into giant floral displays. This year’s theme is fairy tales.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🌺 Chelsea in Bloom @ Chelsea
Date & Loc: May 21–24, Chelsea SW3
Basically the floral Olympics for west London. Streets and shopfronts get covered in giant flower displays, with this year’s theme going full cosmic: planets, stars and “out of this world” creations everywhere.
Age: All ages | Price: no cost | Info

🎪 Giffords Circus @ Chiswick House and Gardens
Date & Loc: May 21–Jun 1, Chiswick W4
Giffords Circus pitches up in the grounds of Chiswick House. Small tent, performers right up close.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £16 | Info

🌳 Tales from Acorn Wood @ artsdepot
Date & Loc: May 22–26, North Finchley N12
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s cosy woodland stories come to life on stage with puppets, songs and plenty of gentle fun for little ones.
Age: 1+ | Price: from £15 | Info

🦸 MCM Comic Con @ ExCeL London
Date & Loc: May 22–24, Royal Docks E16
Three days of cosplay, anime, gaming, movie stars, comics and children begging you for merchandise that costs more than your weekly food shop.
Age: All ages | Price: from £27 | Info

🦕 Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep @ Natural History Museum
Date & Loc: from May 22, South Kensington SW7
New exhibition at the Natural History Museum. Giant prehistoric sea monsters, huge fossils and the sort of creatures that make sharks look quite manageable.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £7.50 | Info

🎧 Toto Kerblammo! @ Unicorn Theatre
Date & Loc: until May 22, London Bridge SE1
A powerful theatre show experienced through headphones and immersive 3D sound. Funny, moving and inventive in a way kids will remember for ages.
Age: 10+ | Price: from £16.50 | Info

🐱 Toto The Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: May 20–Jul 19, Islington N1
Dermot O'Leary's bestselling children's book comes alive with music, laugh-out-loud fun and extraordinary puppetry.
Age: 5+ | Price: £13.50 | Info

👱 Rapunzel @ The Albany
Date & Loc: May 23 (Sat), Deptford SE8
A funny, slightly twisted retelling of Rapunzel from award-winning theatre company Wrongsemble.
Age: 3–10 | Price: £9.50 | Info

✒️ Eid Letters: Creative Calligraphy for Families @ Leighton House
Date & Loc: May 23 (Sat), Kensington W14
A family workshop exploring Arabic calligraphy through colourful Eid-inspired lettering and patterns. Kids can learn to write festive phrases while pretending they’ve suddenly become extremely cultured for the afternoon.
Age: 5–10 | Price: £5 child / adults free | Info

🎂 Michael Rosen's Birthday @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: May 23 (Sat), Southbank SE1
The author and poet turns 80 and the Southbank throws a party. Silly rhymes, storytelling and special guests for the whole day.
Age: 5+ | Price: No cost | Info

📚 Family Station: May Half-Term @ British Library
Date & Loc: May 23–29, King’s Cross NW1
A relaxed drop-in creative space inspired by fairy tales, with crafts, games and plenty of hands-on bits to explore.
Age: All | Price: No cost | Info

🌸 A Line Florist by Anna Bruder @ Battersea Power Station
Date & Loc: May 23-31, Battersea SW11
A wonderfully odd pop-up where kids can build paper flower bouquets inside a black-and-white illustrated florist shop. Part art installation, part creative play session.
Age: All | Price: £10 | Info

🌈 Luminarium: Luxart by Architects of Air @ Battersea Power Station
Date & Loc: May 23–31, Battersea SW11
A giant inflatable maze of glowing tunnels, colour-changing chambers and dreamlike spaces taking over Battersea Power Station for half term.
Age: All | Price: from £10 | Info

👀 Eye Spy @ London Museum Docklands
Date & Loc: May 23–31, Canary Wharf E14
A clever little half-term activity inspired by Victorian optical illusions. Kids can make their own thaumatrope, handle historic toys and trinkets.
Age: 3+ | Price: No cost | Info

🫧 Bubble Explorers @ Science Museum
Date & Loc: May 23–Jul 12, South Kensington SW7
A live bubble show for younger kids at the Science Museum, featuring experiments and giant bubbles.
Age: 7 and under | Price: £4.50 | Info

🎪 The Big Bahooey @ Hampton Court Palace
Date & Loc: May 23–25, East Molesey KT8
Three days of circus acts, aerial shows, workshops, street theatre and general glorious nonsense taking over Hampton Court Palace gardens.
Age: All | Price: Incl. with adm. | Info

🦸 Superhero Family Fun Day @ Primrose Hill Community Library
Date & Loc: May 24 (Sun), Primrose Hill NW1
An afternoon of superhero games, face painting and soft play, with kids encouraged to come dressed as their favourite caped crusader.
Age: All ages | Price: £12 | Info

🎨 Let’s Get Creative: Story Cloths and Family Tapestries @ Orleans House Gallery
Date & Loc: May 24 (Sun), Twickenham TW1
A relaxed drop-in workshop where families create colourful textile artworks together using printing, collage, drawing and simple stitching. Fabric, sequins, patterns and the sort of wholesome crafty chaos that somehow ends with everyone very proud of themselves.
Age: 4–11 | Price: No cost | Info

♻️ TRASHITAS Workshop @ Museum of the Home
Date & Loc: May 24 (Sun), Hoxton E2
A gloriously chaotic upcycled art workshop where kids can turn cardboard, scraps and assorted “why are we keeping this?” objects into colourful creations.
Age: All | Price: No cost | Info

🐶 Greenwich Dog Show 2026 @ Old Royal Naval College
Date & Loc: May 24 (Sun), Greenwich SE10
A gloriously chaotic day celebrating all things canine, with dog competitions, pet stalls, treats, games and plenty of very enthusiastic humans too.
Age: All | Price: Some free / some paid | Info

🐶 Pooches & Pints Dog Show @ Big Penny Social
Date & Loc: May 25 (Mon), Walthamstow E17
A bank holiday dog show with treats, prizes and the sort of wholesome chaos that happens when several dozen dogs realise they’re all at the same party.
Age: All | Price: No cost | Info

🧵 Hackney Heritage Crafts @ Nisbet Community Hall
Date & Loc: May 25 (Mon), Hackney E9
A free drop-in workshop. Colours, patterns, storytelling and plenty of glue-stick diplomacy between siblings.
Age: All | Price: No cost | Info

🎨 V&A South Kensington Half Term Week @ V&A South Kensington
Date & Loc: May 25–29, South Kensington SW7
The V&A has gone full crafty chaos for half term, with free drop-in activities inspired by nature, design and bio-whatever-they’re-calling-it-now. Tarot card making, fungi fashion, digital drawing, performances and sensory play for babies. One of the strongest free half term line-ups in London this week.
Age: Various | Price: No cost | Info

📚 The Fairy Tale Fan Club @ British Library
Date & Loc: May 26 (Tue), King’s Cross NW1
Richard Ayoade + fairy tales is already a strong combo. Expect funny twists on classic stories, live readings, and plenty of “wait… what happened after?” moments.
Age: 8+ | Price: £12 | Info

🚤 Canal Museum Family Open Day @ London Canal Museum
Date & Loc: May 26 (Tue), King’s Cross N1
Boat rides, wildlife spotting and canal-themed crafts at the wonderfully niche London Canal Museum.
Age: All ages | Price: from £5.50 | Info

🧪 Kitchen Lab @ The Royal Institution
Date & Loc: May 26 (Tue), Mayfair W1
Turns out your kitchen is basically a science lab with snacks. Kids mix, experiment and make controlled chaos with everyday ingredients while learning the chemistry behind it all.
Age: 9–11 | Price: £25 | Info

☀️ Storytelling and Crafts @ Upper Norwood Library
Date & Loc: May 26 (Tue), Upper Norwood SE19
A warm, feel-good storytelling session inspired by I Shine Like the Sun, followed by nature-themed crafts for little ones.
Age: Everyone | Price: No cost | Info

🪄 Enchanted Creatures and How to Become One @ Royal Albert Hall
Date & Loc: May 26 (Tue), South Kensington SW7
Part shadow-puppet show, part interactive music session, part dreamy woodland fever dream. Kids help bring animated creatures to life with sounds, rhythms and live instruments in this beautifully odd little performance.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £12 | Info

🖼️ Family Day: Family Portraits Remixed @ National Portrait Gallery
Date & Loc: May 26 (Tue), Charing Cross WC2
A creative drop-in family day inspired by the gallery’s To Be Seen exhibition. Costumes, collage, playful photo backdrops and hands-on art activities.
Age: 3+ | Price: No cost | Info

⏳ Discovery Days: Time Travellers @ Hyde Park Learning Centre
Date & Loc: May 26–28, Hyde Park W2
A free half-term drop-in packed with crafty historical chaos. Kids can make plant prints, try calligraphy, design the park of the future and even meet Queen Victoria.
Age: All | Price: No cost | Info

🌸 Spring Myths and Merriment @ British Museum
Date & Loc: May 26–29, Bloomsbury WC1B
The British Museum’s free half term festival returns with storytelling, creative workshops and even Morris dancing.
Age: 6+ | Price: No cost | Info

🫧 Let’s Get Bubbly @ Museum of the Order of St John
Date & Loc: May 27 (Wed), Clerkenwell EC1M
A gloriously simple half term activity involving bubble wands, giant bubbles and “bubbly bugs” in the Cloister Garden.
Age: Families | Price: No cost | Info

🎻 Play Along: Virtual Orchestra @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: May 27–28, Southbank SE1
Kids can put on a VR headset, grab a virtual instrument and pretend they’re performing with a full orchestra.
Age: 5+ | Price: no cost | Info

🎪 Bop Stars Circus School @ Fulham Pier
Date & Loc: May 28 (Thu), Fulham SW6
Circus skills for kids without the stress of actually running away to join one. Juggling, plate spinning, ribbon work and even aerial silks.
Age: 3–8 | Price: £15 | Info

🏺 Young Archaeologists @ London Mithraeum
Date & Loc: May 28 (Thu), Bank EC4N
Kids can channel their inner Indiana Jones at this hands-on archaeology day exploring Roman London through real artefacts, puzzles and excavation-style activities.
Age: Everyone | Price: No cost | Info

🌼 Half-Term Bloom Bonanza @ South London Botanical Institute
Date & Loc: May 28 (Thu), Tulse Hill SW2
A lovely little nature morning with flower trails, seed-ball making, microscopes, botanical snacks and floral bookmark crafting.
Age: 5–14 | Price: No cost | Info

🏚️ The Place We Made @ Theatre Peckham
Date & Loc: May 29–30, Peckham SE5
A powerful theatre piece for teens about twelve young people escaping the adult world to build their own society deep in the Scottish Highlands.
Age: Teens | Price: Pay What You Can | Info

🧬 Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show @ Leicester Square Theatre
Date & Loc: May 30 (Sat), Leicester Square WC2
Explosions, fire, flying objects and the sort of experiments that make children immediately ask to “try one at home”.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £18 | Info

🐢 Tortoise and the Hare @ Polka Theatre
Date & Loc: until May 31, Wimbledon SW19
A classic fable turned into a lively, toe-tapping show with puppets, music and just enough chaos to keep small attention spans locked in.
Age: 3–7 | Price: from £10 | Info

🦢 The Ugly Duckling @ Puppet Theatre Barge
Date & Loc: until May 31, Little Venice W9
Andersen's story about not fitting in, told with puppets on the barge in Little Venice. A moving and careful piece of puppet work for a two-week run.Age: 4–10 | Price: £12 | Info

🧸 Teddy Bear Picnic @ Fulham Palace
Date & Loc: Jun 7, Fulham SW6
Pack the picnic blanket, grab the fluffiest member of the family and head to Fulham Palace for a teddy-themed day in the gardens. Outdoor theatre, games, crafts and small humans taking their teddy’s social calendar very seriously.
Age: All | Price: from £12 | Info

🕵️ Sherlock Holmes @ Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Date & Loc: until Jun 6, Regent’s Park NW1
A brand new Sherlock Holmes mystery set in Victorian London, performed outdoors in Regent’s Park. Fog, conspiracies and a bit of Baker Street.
Age: 12+ | Price: from £15 | Info

🛹 Skate 50 @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: until Jun 21, Southbank SE1
A celebration of London’s legendary skate scene with photography, video and stories from the Undercroft over the last 50 years. Cool enough that even non-skaters will suddenly want Vans.
Age: All | Price: Pay What You Can | Info

🛁 The Flying Bath @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: until Jul 12, Islington N1
Julia Donaldson and David Roberts' story about a bath that flies off into the night, with catchy songs, rubber ducks and everyday heroes.
Age: 2–5 | Price: £13.50 | Info

🐕 Dog Man: The Musical @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: Jul 30–Aug 16, Southbank SE1
Based on Dav Pilkey's bestselling books, hilarious and heartfelt in equal measure, with a dog for a hero. Tickets on sale now for the summer holidays.
Age: 5+ | Price: £27 | Info

🧚 Fairy Tales @ British Library
Date & Loc: until Aug 23, King's Cross N1C
The British Library opens a fairy tales exhibition with books, original illustrations, theatre costumes, puppets and pop-ups.
Age: 3-10yo | Price: £11.50 | Info

🙏 If this makes your week a bit easier, pls think of two parents who'd love it, or drop it in a WhatsApp group. Takes 20 seconds. Please don’t ignore me 😂.
Appreciated, kind Londoner!

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