Morning, London! Happy Thursday! Do you like snakes? 🐍 Well, next Wednesday London will burst into life with Chinese New Year celebrations. Thousands will take to the streets for dazzling parades, wild performances, and, of course, enough dumplings to make your jeans beg for mercy.

And speaking of planning ahead, who else feels like the Christmas chaos just ended, yet here we are staring down the barrel of half-term? Camps, day trips, or creative chaos at home—what’s the game plan? If you’ve found any gems (or lifesavers) when it comes to camps, share them with us! Let’s help each other keep the kids entertained.

If we were any closer to the mountains, I’d personally offer to teach your kids how to ski for free—in return for your loyal readership, of course. But alas, no slopes here—just a lot of drizzle and double-deckers.

Anyway, let’s see what else is happening around town this week!

• 🎙️ London Snippets: Bits that caught our eye

• 🍕 London Eats: New York vs Napoli!

• 📅 Readers’ Favourite: Family events this week

• 🧠 Casual Einstein: Two new playground-worthy facts

But first, the weather — as we're still patiently waiting for some proper snowflakes to fall. One can dream.

. LONDON SNIPPETS .

Bits that caught our eye

🛫 Heathrow’s glow-up plans are here, but it’s all “if” and “maybe” until someone finds the green light switch. CGI snaps are giving us a sneak peek at Heathrow’s future glow-up—if it gets the nod from the bigwigs, which could happen any minute now. Airport bosses say Heathrow is bursting at the seams and are pitching a casual £14 billion makeover to handle 260,000 more flights a year. Full story

📷 Teen Photographers Up for Top Prize. Young photographers from around the globe have been celebrated for their stunning snaps! The Sony World Photography Organisation (SWPO) has revealed the shortlist for its 2025 Youth competition—open to anyone aged 19 or under. Who knows? Maybe next year, your kid will want to participate! Check out all the incredible shortlisted pics. Full story

🚙 Golf Buggies Are the New Cool (?) Ride in West London. Move over e-bikes and e-scooters—west London’s got a new kid on the block. A fleet of electric buggies has hit the streets of Hammersmith and Fulham, where 10 Yo-Go buggies are part of a “world-first” trial. Think golf course vibes, but make it city chic. Full story

. LONDON EATS .

New York-style vs Napoletana. Which pizza side are you on?

Had this piece in the very first issue of the Scoop—back when my only reader was my mom. But hey, we’re all good with reheated pizza in the morning, right?

Pizza, the unrivalled family favourite—whether you're the cherished firstborn or the overlooked middle child, it's the one dinner that actually gets everyone to the table. But, let's be honest, nothing stirs up a lively family debate quite like pizza preferences. Just like how half the family wakes up early on Sundays while the other half rise from the dead at noon—it’s in your genes. You can’t fight it.

So, are you a crisp, thin slice with attitude—like a New Yorker on their third coffee—or do you prefer soft, fluffy pizza, more like a warm hug from Nonna? London’s got both, and here are two of London’s favourites for you.

First up, Napoli on the Road in Chiswick has chosen its side and gone all-in. They've snagged the coveted title of "Best Pizza in Europe Outside of Naples"—basically the pizza Oscars. We're talking soft, fluffy crusts with just the right char and fresh toppings that practically that shout "Italy" from the rooftops. It’s the kind of pizza that could make even the most loyal New Yorker question their allegiance... if only for a moment. Hungry for a preview? Check out their Insta at @napoli_on_the_road, where 30k fans can't be wrong.

Then there’s Crisp W6 @ the Chancellors, just down the road near Hammersmith, where the pizza isn’t just thin—it’s crisp. Like the sound your phone makes when it falls screen-down, but in a much less stressful way. With a crunch that rivals the best of New York, this spot has gathered over 110k followers at @crisppizzaw6. They’re so popular, they could practically fill Wembley—take that, Taylor Swift!

Tip: You don’t reserve a table at Crisp Pizza, you pre-order dough. Then a 5 minute stroll and eat it by the river. Call, text, or WhatsApp them on 07515930582. Chancellors pub, 25 Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9RL.

. EVENTS SCOOP .

What’s on this week?

🎭 Replay @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: Jan 21st onwards, Southbank
Enter an endless world of play and invention in a limitless recycled playground for children and their grown-ups to tap into their imaginations.
Age: 6 months to 11y | Price: from £7.5 | Info

❄️ Winter Lights @ Canary Wharf
Date & Loc: Jan 21st-Feb 1st, Canary Wharf
On its ninth edition, the trail will take you on a journey through 12 spectacular temporary installations, as well as the ever-popular permanent light artworks. Showcasing some of the most innovative light artists across the globe,
Age: All | Price: No cost | Info

🌌 Light Festival 2025 @ Battersea Power Station
Date & Loc: Jan 23rd onwards, 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 unmissable interactive experience will ignite your curiosity, fuel your imagination, and inspire you to see the world around you in new and exciting ways.
Age: 7-14y | Price: from £15 | Info

🌍 SOIL: World at your feet @ Somerset House
Date & Loc: Jan 23rd onwards, Embankment
This groundbreaking 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

📚 Story Festival @ Young V&A
Date & Loc: Jan 25th, Bethnal Green
Special day of free family workshops and performances across Young V&A, celebrating stories through music, design, dance, film and poetry.Enjoy pop-up music and dance performances, and find your own stories in hands-on creative workshops.
Age: All | Price: No cost | Info

📚 Burns Night Crafternoon @ Woolwich Works
Date & Loc: Jan 25th, Woolwich
Craft Club for families that love to create! Drawing inspiration from Burns Night, marking this Scottish tradition with glorious crafts.
Age: 2+ | Price: Pay what you can | Info

🦜 Big Garden Birdwatch from Home!
Date & Loc: Jan 24th-26th
Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. Every year, hundreds of thousands of nature lovers like you take part, helping to build a picture of how garden birds are faring.
Age: All | Price: No cost | Info

🎭 The Littlest Yak @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: Jan 25th, Hammersmith
This musical adaptation of the award-winning children’s book will delight audiences young and old with beautiful puppets, catchy tunes and an uplifting tale of self-acceptance for all the family.
Age: 3+ | Price: £10 | Info

🎭 Pig Heart Boy @ Unicorn Theatre
Date & Loc: Jan 26th onwards, 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 £8.5 | 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

🩰 Family Sundays @ Royal Ballet & Opera
Date & Loc: until Jan 26th, Little Venice
Family Sundays are a great way to explore the Royal Opera House, its artists and the world of opera and ballet in a fun relaxed environment. With bean bags, and plenty of space for your family to enjoy live music and dance, each Family Sunday is packed with creative and practical activities for all the family.
Age: Everyone | Price: TBC | Info

🎺 Scottish Ensemble: in Sync @ Queen Elizabeth Hall
Date & Loc: Jan 26th, Southbank
Join Scottish Ensemble for an energetic and interactive afternoon of folk and classical string music for all ages, performed entirely from memory.
Age: All | Price: from £10 | Info

🎨 Mini Masterpieces @ Dulwich Picture Gallery
Date & Loc: Jan 30th, Dulwich
Spark your child’s imagination through playful painting. Join these exploratory sessions for under 5s. Each session begins with a journey through the Gallery to discover the different people, places and animals in our paintings, followed by an art-making activity.
Age: Under 5 | Price: £16 (adult) | Info

🎭 Captain Sandy & The Sea Monster @ The Puppet Barge
Date & Loc: until Jan 26th, Little Venice
UK’s only floating puppet theatre. In the little village of Rocky Snore, all the fisherfolk are in a mess, where have all the fish gone? There are no fish to fish! Join Captain Sandy on her adventure to try and find out what happened!
Age: 4-10 | Price: from £10 | Info

👶 Adventure Babies @ Natural History Museum
Date & Loc: Jan 28th, South Kensington
Brought to you by the award-winning Adventure Babies team, take part in a host of activities designed specifically to engage babies and encourage their development.
Age: Under 5 | Price: £20 | Info

👶 Tots at the Docks @ London Museum Docklands
Date & Loc: Jan 29th, Docklands
Free monthly play sessions inspired by the history of London's Docklands. Dive deep in the river, stack cargo, put on a puppet show or build the tallest tower!
Age: Under 5 | Price: No cost | Info

🎭 The Snowy Day @ Polka Theatre
Date & Loc: until Feb 2nd, Wimbledon
The Snowy Day is specially designed for 1-4 year olds and their grown-ups, featuring one dancer, original music and an enchanting set.
Age: 1-4y | Price: from £14 | Info

🎭 The Nutcracker @ Polka Theatre
Date & Loc: until Jan 26th, Wimbledon
When squabbling siblings Clara and Fritz receive a mysterious Nutcracker toy from their flamboyant Aunty Drosselmeyer, Clara is certain that she doesn't want her accident-prone younger brother anywhere near it!
Age: 5+ | Price: from £12.5 | Info

🧜‍♀️ The Singing Mermaid @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: until Jan 26th, Angel
A fun, warm-hearted musical adventure, a charming family favourite returns to LAT, following a hugely successful national tour. Through beautiful puppetry and performance, and with music by Barb Jungr, The Singing Mermaid, is brought to life.
Age: 3-8y | Price: from £15 | Info

🎭 Barbie: The Exhibition @ Design Museum
Date & Loc: Ongoing until Feb, 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, uncovering how satirical cartoons influenced public perception during Churchill’s lifetime, and how they shape our understanding of his role in history 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 & outsmart the other parents

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

Fun Fact: A single cloud can weigh more than a million pounds. Imagine the sky's fluffy occupants holding the weight equivalent of 100 elephants!

London fact: London once tried to outdo Paris with its own Eiffel Tower. The Watkin's Tower project, started in 1894, was meant to dazzle but never got past its base in Wembley Park. A towering ambition that never quite stacked up!

. SPREAD THE LOVE .

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