Morning, London! Happy Thursday! Welcome to February, Jan’s sibling with a bit more attitude. Some sunshine, half-term, cold snaps, a snowy getaway for some… and, of course, the eternal hunt for lost gloves. Seriously, what does my kid do with hers at school? Toss them out the window? Run a secret mitten raffle? Would an AirTag inside a glove be extreme, or just solid parenting?

On a more serious note, it’s Children’s Mental Health Week—a reminder to help kids feel heard and comfortable talking about their emotions. This year’s theme, “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself”, is all about self-awareness and personal growth. A great excuse to check in, have a chat, and support your little ones as they navigate all the big feelings that come with growing up.

Anyway, it’s fairly sunny today—disclaimer: depends on how quickly you opened this email—so if you can, walk to school and soak up some much-needed Vitamin D. Or at least grab a dose on the way to the train station.

Last week’s trivia answer was Leadenhall Market—84% of you got it right! (Too easy… tougher one below.) I actually went there for lunch earlier this week, and it was stunning.

Let’s see what else we’ve got for you today:

• 🎙️ London Snippets: Bits that caught our eye

• ☎️ Trivia: Know your London?

• 📅 Readers’ Favourite: Family events this week

• 🧠 Casual Einstein: Two new playground-worthy facts

But first—the weather. Because, once again, that little cloud icon on Saturday is teasing us with some wet snow. Just like last week… a grey Saturday, but a sunny Sunday.

. LONDON SNIPPETS .

Bits that caught our eye

🚌 Universal Studios resort near London? Out of the way, Orlando—Bedfordshire is in the house! It seems plans for a Universal Studios resort in Kempston are still in motion, with the potential to bring epic rides, attractions, and a massive 500-room hotel. If it happens, it could be Europe’s biggest theme park—so watch this space! Full story

🏙️ London Pub’s £29 Meal Deal Wins ‘UK Bargain of the Year’. Well, ‘bargain’ is a strong word—but I suppose £29 is the new £15. A Soho hotspot, loved by Ed Sheeran, Margot Robbie, and anyone who enjoys a good pint, has just won big. Some say it serves the best Guinness in town. Beer and a decent meal? Worth a try if you haven’t. Full story

🚌 School Mobile Ban: A Flop? On my very first issue of the Scoop (here if you are feeling nostalgic), I posted a story about an MP on a mission to yank smartphones out of schools. Now, the latest study suggests that while the ban hasn’t improved health, wellbeing, or focus, excessive phone use is linked to worse mental health, poorer sleep, lower grades, and more classroom disruptions. So, what’s the plan now? Full story

. TRIVIA .

Think you know your London?

. EVENTS SCOOP .

What’s on this week?

📚 Stepping into Stories @ Kids’ Lit Fest
Date & Loc: Feb 4th - 9th, Herne Hill
An outstanding children's literary festival, children’s poetry, performance and storytelling. On Saturday 8th join illustrator Sharon King-Chai for a vibrant adventure with Colours, Colours Everywhere by Julia Donaldson.
Age: 4+ | Price: From £4 | Info

🎭 Animal Farm @ Rose Theatre
Date & Loc: Feb 6th-8th, Kingston
A powerful re-telling of George Orwell’s chilling and timeless classic. When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master and take over, they imagine it is the beginning of a life of freedom and equality for all.
Age: 11+ | Price: £15 | Info

🧸 Home Song @ Unicorn Theatre
Date & Loc: Feb 7th onwards, London Bridge
In this multi-sensory show, meet young Adwoa and her mum as they embark on a journey to find the true meaning of home, from the bustling streets of Kumasi to the vibrant heart of London.
Age: 6-18 months | Price: from £19.50 (adult + baby) | Info

🦢 Club Origami @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: Feb 8th, Southbank
See what you can make from a single square of paper at this interactive afternoon of performance and making with the crafty Club Origami.
Age: 5-11 | Price: Free | Info

🎻 Bach to Baby: Family Concert
Date & Loc: Feb 8th, Balham
Live music, feeding, crying, dancing & nappy changing. Classical concert series for families to enjoy live music together.
Age: 0-5y | Price: from £15 | Info

🎨 Family activities @ Guildhall Art Gallery
Date & Loc: Feb 8th, City of London
A revolving programme of family activities may have you heading into the Roman Amphitheatre and hearing tales of Roman conquests, or creating crafts from the Victorian paintings surrounding you.
Age: 3-11 | Price: Free | Info

🧵 Experimental Embroidery @ Turf Studio
Date & Loc: Feb 8th, Croydon
Turf studio artist Lucia Scarselletta will help you to create your own embroidery piece using all repurposed materials, such as scaffold sheets, plastic packaging, discarded fabrics and more.
Age: Family | Price: Free | Info

🔥 Campfire Adventures @ Discover Story Centre
Date & Loc: Feb 8th, Stratford
Time for the big kids to take over! Visit Discover after-hours for supper, crafts, scavenger hunts, a visit to a Monster Funfair and hot chocolate round a story-time campfire.
Age: 5-11 | Price: from £31 | Info

🎨 Wild Life Drawing for Families @ Picture Gallery
Date & Loc: Feb 9th, Dulwich
Gather your brood for an inspiring drawing workshop with beautiful birds of prey; Harris Hawks, Lanner Falcons and Eagle Owls. As we sketch the birds from life on their perches, we will be able to observe their natural behaviours including preening, calling and, more often than not, falling asleep!
Age: 7+ | Price: from £25 | Info

🧪 Adventures in Science @ Studio Theatre
Date & Loc: Feb 9th, North Finchley
Join ‘The Magical Mr West' on an incredible adventure into the world of science! Aided by his corvid companion Crowbert and a collection of curious contraptions, Mr West demonstrates the fundamental principles of scientific enquiry and tackles some of the trickiest questions in the history of humanity.
Age: 6+ | Price: from £12.75 | Info

🎭 BYOB: Bring your own Baby Comedy
Date & Loc: Feb 12th, Clapham
You don’t have to wind the bobbin’ up to have a good time… Grown up comedy, babies welcome. A funny, friendly afternoon of top comedy...and you can bring your baby!
Age: Adults with babies | Price: £13.50 | Info

🎭 The Koala who could @ Rose Theatre
Date & Loc: Feb 13th-23rd, Kingston
In a wonderful place, at the breaking of dawn, where the breezes were soft and the sunshine was warm, a place where the creatures ran wild and played free ... A Koala called Kevin clung to a tree.
Age: 3+ | Price: £16.50 | Info

🎭 Macbeth: Family Storytelling @ Shakespeare Globe
Date & Loc: Feb 15th-17th, Bankside
Join us for a thrilling, spooky retelling of Macbeth, set in medieval Scotland! Expect blood, ghosts, and ambition gone wrong in this classic storytelling adventure.
Age: 5-12 | Price: £15 | Info

🎭 The Dinosaur that Pooped @ New Wimbledon Theatre
Date & Loc: Feb 16th, Wimbledon
When Danny and Dino’s favourite rock band are playing their last ever concert, they go on a quest to get the last two tickets. But with a villainous band manager lurking, nothing goes to plan. Will the band perform? Will Danny rock out? Or will Dino’s rumbling tummy save the day?
Age: Everyone | Price: £16.50 | Info

🎭 Ballet Shoes @ National Theatre
Date & Loc: Jan 30th - Feb 22nd, Southbank
In a crumbling house filled with dinosaur bones and fossils, three adopted sisters – Pauline, Petrova and Posy – are learning who they are and what they want to be.
Age: 7+ | Price: from £25 | Info

🌌 Light Festival 2025 @ Battersea Power Station
Date & Loc: until Feb 23rd, Battersea
This interactive art trail features eight must-see light installations by British and international artists, with several making their UK or London debut. Shining both inside and outside the Power Station from 8am to 11pm daily.
Age: All | Price: No cost | Info

🔬 Wonderlab @ Science Museum
Date & Loc: Daily, Kensington
This hands-on experience will spark curiosity, fuel imagination, and change the way you see the world!
Age: 7-14y | Price: from £15 | Info

🌍 SOIL: World at your feet @ Somerset House
Date & Loc: Jan 23rd onwards, Embankment
This ground-breaking exhibition unites visionary artists and thinkers from around the world to explore the remarkable power and potential of soil.
Age: All | Price: From £10 (under 5 free) | Info

🎭 Pig Heart Boy @ Unicorn Theatre
Date & Loc: until Feb 22nd, London Bridge
Is it better to have a pig's heart that works … than a human heart that doesn't? This captivating new adaptation follows a boy in urgent need of a heart transplant, who yearns simply to reclaim his life.
Age: 9-13y | Price: from £8.50 | Info

🎪 Come Alive Show
Date & Loc: ongoing, Earls Court
Drawing inspiration from The Greatest Showman, "Come Alive" offers a circus extravaganza filled with all your favorite hits from the movie.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £95 | Info

🎭 Barbie: The Exhibition @ Design Museum
Date & Loc: until Feb 23rd, Kensington
A major exhibition exploring the design evolution of one of the world’s most famous dolls: Barbie.
Age: 6+ | Price: from £7 | Info

✨ Churchill in Cartoons @ Imperial War Museum
Date & Loc: until Feb 23rd, Lambeth
This free exhibition at IWM London marks 150 years since Winston Churchill’s birth, exploring how satirical cartoons shaped public perception during his lifetime—and how they continue to influence our view of him today.
Age: Everyone | Price: No cost | Info

As always, we appreciate you giving us feedback on this section to keep making it better and more useful:

 . CASUAL EINSTEIN .

2 for 1: Wow your kid and outsmart the other parents

Here are two cool facts to help you sound like the smartest parent on the playground:

Fun Fact: Sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins. Sloths can slow their heart rate and hold their breath for up to 40 minutes, while dolphins usually need to surface every 10-15 minutes. The slow life definitely has its perks.

London Fact: The Tower of London once housed a polar bear. In 1252, King Henry III received a polar bear as a gift from the King of Norway. The bear was kept on a chain, but allowed to swim in the Thames to catch fish.

. SPREAD THE LOVE .

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