🦊 London breathes

Morning, London! Happy Thursday. After a hectic week of strikes and weather that nearly blew half of Zone 3 into the Thames, London is slowly getting back to normal. Well, sort of. Trump has landed, which might stir up a bit of chaos in central London, just in case you were getting too comfortable.

A quick heads up. Oxford Street will be part pedestrianised this Sunday as a trial for future plans. Could be brilliant. Could be carnage. We’ll see.

And last week’s trivia? Surprisingly tricky. The answer was Wilton’s Music Hall. One reader got in touch to say she actually got married there, while another admitted they’ve lived next to it for years and never been inside. Take this as your sign. Go check it out. It’s a proper London gem.

Let’s dive in.

. LONDON SNIPPETS .
Bits that caught our eye

🎨 Big Moves on the London Art Scene. Tate Modern is going full drama with Theatre Picasso, a new show exploring the artist’s obsession with performance, flamenco included. Meanwhile, the National Gallery just landed £375 million to build a shiny new wing between Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. Art scene, upgraded. Full story

🎭 A New Star Rises in Greenwich. London’s biggest theatre could soon open next to the cable car station on Greenwich Peninsula. Troubadour Theatres is planning a new venue with two 1,500 seat auditoriums, overtaking the London Coliseum for the top spot. Curtain up in 2026, if all goes to plan. Full story

🚇 Central Line Turns 125 — With a Treasure Hunt. London’s red line is having a big birthday bash. To mark 125 years of the Central line, TfL is hosting a one-day treasure hunt this Saturday along the original route from Shepherd’s Bush to Bank. It’s part puzzle, part history lesson, part excuse to finally read the station posters. Full story

. TINY MUNCHERS .
Spotlight: Little Dish

We all love the idea of cooking from scratch every evening. Reality? Not always possible. That’s where Little Dish comes in: for 20 years they’ve been helping parents with fresh, wholesome meals made from natural ingredients, developed with a leading child nutritionist, and approved by actual tiny humans. A proper safety net for busy nights.

And here’s a lovely extra: through their Buy One, Give One promise, Little Dish has already donated over half a million meals to children in need across London, working with The Felix Project to reach families who need them most.

. CASUAL EINSTEIN .
2 for 1: Wow your kid, and outsmart the other parents

Fun Fact: Giraffes have the same number of neck bones as humans. 🦒🦴 Seven vertebrae, just like us; theirs are just super-sized. It’s like having seven baguettes stacked in your neck instead of breadsticks. Same structure, wildly different vibe.

London Fact: Fortnum & Mason has beehives on its rooftop to make their own honey. 🐝🍯 The hives are perched above Piccadilly, and the honey is jarred in small batches and sold in-store. Fancy bees, fancy jars, very edible.

. EVENTS SCOOP .
What’s on this week?

🖌 Three Art Thursday @ Mercury Mall
Date & Loc: Sep 18, Romford RM1
Unleash your creative spark with artist Gill in a still life drawing session. All materials provided. Drop in, relax, draw and make.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🌟 Hartbeeps Magical Classes @ Stanley Arts
Date & Loc: Sep 18, Croydon SE25
Join a multi‑sensory morning of music, puppets, rhymes, play and stories with Hartbeeps. Three sessions tailored by age so everyone gets in on the magic.
Age: 8 weeks‑5 yo | Price: £14 | Info

🎲 Play After School @ Young V&A
Date & Loc: Sep 18-19 / 25-26, Bethnal Green E2
Drop in after school for creative activities inspired by the museum’s collections. Perfect for a midweek burst of colour and fun before heading home.
Age: 2+ | Price: no cost | Info

🧛 Dracula: The Bloody Truth @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: Sep 18 onwards, Hammersmith W6
A chaotic comedy take on Bram Stoker’s classic, as Professor Van Helsing desperately attempts to set the record straight with the help of an unprepared amateur cast.
Age: 13+ | Price: £10 | Info

🐻 We’re Going on a Bear Hunt @ Little Angel
Date & Loc: Sep 18 onwards, Canonbury N1
Join a family expedition through mud, rivers and forests in this puppet‑filled adaptation of Michael Rosen’s beloved picture book. An ideal adventure for brave hunters and bear lovers alike.
Age: 3–8 | Price: £13 | Info

🐰 Miffy at Bankside @ London Design Festival
Date & Loc: Sep 18–21, Bankside SE1
Jump into the whimsical world of Miffy with silkscreen prints, a towering Miffy lamp and a plush wall of 400 mini‑Miffys. Art meets cuteness.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🦉 WOW! Said the Owl @ Little Angel
Date & Loc: Sep 19 onwards, Canonbury N1
Journey with a curious owl through day light, colour and stars in this gentle puppet‑story show based on the book by Tim Hopgood.
Age: 2‑5 | Price: from £13 | Info

🛍 Bartholomew's Fayre @ Smithfield
Date & Loc: Sep 19–20, Smithfield EC1A
A two-day arts and community festival packed with workshops, walking tours, puppet shows, queer poetry, eco-friendly crafting, graffiti art and more. All ages welcome.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

😺 Puss in Boots @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: Sep 20, Hammersmith W6
The ultimate panto adventure with a clever cat, a silly hat and a lot of laughs. Expect catchy tunes, outrageous costumes and festive fun for all the family.
Age: 3-8yo | Price: £10 | Info

🚴 Get Moving! @ Royal Docks
Date & Loc: Sep 20, Royal Docks E16
Celebrate the grand opening of the Royal Docks Corridor with performances, bike‑ballet, interactive exhibits, smoothie bikes, workshops and family‑friendly cycling.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🔥 Great Fire of London Family Walk @ London Museum
Date & Loc: Sep 20 & 27, City EC3M
Step into the smoke-filled streets of 1666 with this guided walk through the story of the Great Fire. Expect fiery tales, iconic landmarks and plenty of historical drama.
Age: 5+ | Price: from £8 | Info

🐜 Family Fun: Minibeasts & the Garden @ Leighton House
Date & Loc: Sep 20, Chelsea SW7
Explore every nook for creepy crawlies with science kits and games in Leighton House’s garden. Ideal for young explorers keen to learn about minibeasts and their homes.
Age: 5–10 | Price: £5 | Info

🍿 Popcorn! Joy for Stuff @ Whitechapel Gallery
Date & Loc: Sep 20, Whitechapel E1
Experience sound, movement and colourful play in a joyful gallery performance by Eva Freeman and Jenny Pengilly that explores everyday stuff in a playful, experimental way.
Age: 16+ | Price: no cost (RSVP) | Info

👕 Family Day @ William Morris Gallery
Date & Loc: Sep 20, Walthamstow E17
Join artist Angry Dan to screen‑print your very own version of his William Morris‑inspired mural at the final weekend of Morris Mania. (limited numbers!)
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🌾 London Harvest Festival @ Woodlands Farm
Date & Loc: Sep 20, Shooters Hill SE18
Celebrate all things green and grown at this charming countryside fair. Expect falconry, ferret racing, music, crafts, sheep shows and the best scarecrows in London.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎭 Oliver Twist @ Charles Dickens Museum
Date & Loc: Sep 20, Bloomsbury WC1N
A tiny stage (toy performance), cardboard actors and classic drama. Enjoy Oliver Twist in the world’s smallest theatre, plus entry to the museum and Showtime! exhibition.
Age: Everyone | Price: £18 | Info

🏃 Emil Zátopek Charity Run @ Linford Christie Stadium
Date & Loc: Sep 21, White City W12
Join a family-friendly charity race in honour of the legendary Czech runner Emil Zátopek. Choose from 2k, 3k or 5k routes, or take on the one-mile fun run, plus music, food and a community atmosphere.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £7 | Info

🎨 Heritage Open Day @ Woolwich Works
Date & Loc: Sep 21, Woolwich SE18
Get hands-on in this special crafternoon for Heritage Open Day. Create paper artworks.
Age: 2+ | Price: no cost | Info

🎤 David Gibb’s Family Jukebox @ artsdepot
Date & Loc: Sep 21, North Finchley N12
Musical adventure full of funny songs, audience interaction and tales where teddy bears dance and dragons lurk under the bed. Sing, move and laugh along together.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £13.75 | Info

🌸 Japan Matsuri @ Trafalgar Square
Date & Loc: Sep 21, Trafalgar Square WC2N
Experience the fun of Japan with food, stalls, performances, martial arts and cultural workshops in a colourful free festival.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🖥 Digital Design Weekend @ V&A
Date & Loc: Sep 21–22, South Kensington SW7
Part of London Design Festival, this vibrant weekend at the V&A explores how digital tools and design shape our world. Expect interactive installations, family-friendly workshops, and techy art that sparks curiosity across all ages.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🐑 Counting Sheeps @ The Albany
Date & Loc: Sep 21, Deptford SE8
A playful adventure for little ones about bedtime battles, big imaginations and a herd of cheeky sheep. Expect music, laughs and plenty of silliness.
Age: 0-3yo | Price: £8 | Info

🎥 Film 100 Guinness World Record Attempt @ Old Royal Naval
Date & Loc: Sep 27, Greenwich SE10
Celebrate 100 years of film with pop-ups, screenings, and you could help set a Guinness World Record by dressing as your favourite movie or TV character.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

👑 Royal Day Out @ Buckingham Palace
Date & Loc: until Sep 28, Westminster SW1A
Explore the State Rooms, Royal Mews and King’s Gallery all in one ticket. A compelling 4‑hour royal experience that includes art, carriages and palace gardens.
Age: Everyone (under‑5s free) | Price: from £30.60 | Info

🩰 Family Sundays @ Royal Opera House
Date & Loc: Sundays from Oct 26–Nov 30, Covent Garden WC2E
Discover opera, ballet and backstage magic through hands-on creative activities, workshops and themed fun in the heart of the Royal Opera House. A great intro for curious kids and their grown-ups.
Shoutout to our reader Emma for this hot tip: tickets are released on Fridays at 1pm and usually book up fast — but she’s never failed to get in by checking a few weeks in advance 😉
Age: Everyone | Price: from £10 | Info

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. MUSIC .
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