🦊 Mid-Jan Energy

Morning, London! Happy Thursday. It’s been one of those weeks where the rain feels personal. Constant, determined, and clearly not taking feedback.

If you made it through Monday, well done. Apparently it was “Blue Monday”, though that whole concept was dreamed up by a travel company trying to sell holidays. Which explains a lot. Either way, we’re past it now.

If you already need a bit of help filling diaries or buying yourself some breathing space, scroll on. There’s a useful note from The Strings Club further down that’s worth a look.

Let’s dive in.

. LONDON SNIPPETS .
Bits that caught our eye

🗣️ 'Six-Seven' Crowned Kids’ Slang of the Year. It means… well, nothing really. But that did not stop nearly half of UK kids from picking six-seven as their favourite slang of 2025. It beat out aura and delulu, proving once again that when it comes to language, vibes matter more than meaning. Full story

🥾 Alexandra Palace to Launch UK's 'Highest' Roof Walk. Launching this February, Summit will let visitors trek across the roof of Ally P,130 metres above sea level thanks to its hilltop perch. Expect 360 degree views, mild vertigo and bragging rights for walking on a roof without being told off. Full story

🎭 Double the Drama Coming to Greenwich. Troubadour has been given the go-ahead to build a major new theatre venue on the Greenwich Peninsula, with not one but two 1,500-seat auditoriums. Set to open in late 2026, it promises big shows, big crowds and possibly the best interval snacks south of the river. Full story

. FEB HALF TERM .
Spreading the Love (and the Music)

We’re happy to welcome back our friends at The Strings Club, whose holiday camps have become a firm favourite with London Scoop families. 🎶

This February half-term (w/c Feb 16), their much-loved camps return across London, offering joyful, screen-free childcare with a big musical twist. Children can join for a single day or stay for the full week.

Founded by mum Amy Cunningham, The Strings Club blends music-making with carefully curated activities. Mornings are spent learning guitar, ukulele or violin with expert teachers, while afternoons mix sport, drama, dance, art and wellbeing. The week finishes with a Grand Concert, which is always a highlight.

Screen-free camps 📵 • Low 1:8 adult-to-child ratio 👶 • 500+ verified 5★ reviews ⭐ • Flexible booking and daily photo updates 📸

📍Camps run across Balham, Blackheath, Bow, Brockley, Crouch End, Dulwich, Fulham, Greenwich, Hackney, Hampstead, Islington, Nunhead, Richmond and Walthamstow.

P.S. Use code NEWCUS10 for a little saving on your first camp! Sibling discounts apply, and you’ll get a free day if you refer a friend. 🎁

. BRAIN BITES.
Wow your kid, and outsmart the other parents

Fun Fact: You can estimate the temperature by listening to crickets. 🦗🌡️ Seriously. In warm weather, crickets chirp faster, and there’s a formula for it. Count how many chirps you hear in 8 seconds, then add 5. That’s roughly the temperature in Celsius. Nature’s weird little weather app.

London Fact: For centuries, London forgot it had a Roman amphitheatre. 🏛️🙈 Built nearly 2,000 years ago, it could seat 6,000 fans of gladiators and wild animal fights. Then it vanished under centuries of rubble until someone rediscovered it in 1988, under Guildhall Yard, of all places. Classic London, misplacing a sports arena and casually building offices on top.

. EVENTS SCOOP .
What’s on this week?

🦸 Superhero City Adventure @ Kensington Gardens
Date & Loc: Ongoing, Kensington Gardens SW7
A self-guided outdoor adventure where kids follow clues around the park, solving puzzles and completing missions to become city superheroes. Easy to start anytime.
Age: 4–8yrs | Price: £6 | Info

🦖🕺 Dino Disco for Kids @ Natural History Museum
Date & Loc: Various, South Kensington SW7
Jan dates sold out but availability for other dates. A family-friendly silent disco inside the museum, complete with headphones, dancing dinosaurs and multiple DJs to choose from. Big energy, big smiles.
Age: 6–12yrs | Price: £20 | Info

🎤 K-Pop Live @ The Clapham Grand
Date & Loc: Feb 20 (Fri), Clapham SW4
K-pop still going strong. A high-energy K-pop tribute show packed with live performances, choreography and big pop spectacle. Loud, colourful and full-on fun for fans.
Age: 4+ | Price: from £20 | Info

🦕 That’s Not My… Dinosaur @ Discover Children’s Story Centre
Date & Loc: Jan 22 (Thu), Stratford E15
A cosy, sensory storytelling session for babies and toddlers, inspired by the much-loved That’s Not My… books, with textures, puppets and gentle interaction.
Age: 0–3yrs | Price: £3.50 | Info

🐋 The Storm Whale @ Little Angel Studios
Date & Loc: Jan 22–24, Islington N1
A gentle puppet theatre adaptation of Benji Davies’ story about a boy and a rescued baby whale.
Age: 4–8yrs | Price: £15 | Info

🐧 Me… @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: Jan 22–25, Islington N1
A gentle, beautifully told puppet show about a baby penguin discovering the big wide world, inspired by Emma Dodd’s much-loved picture book. Calm, cosy and perfect for first theatre trips.
Age: 2–5yrs | Price: £10 | Info

🧺 Little Red Riding Hood @ Discover Children’s Story Centre
Date & Loc: Jan 22 – Feb 22, Stratford E15
An immersive, interactive play space inspired by the classic fairytale, where little ones explore Grandma’s cottage, dress up and follow the trail of the Big Bad Wolf.
Age: 0–8yrs | Price: from £5 | Info

🐿️ Squirrel @ Unicorn Theatre
Date & Loc: Until Feb 22 , London Bridge SE1
A thoughtful, visually rich theatre show about friendship, change and finding your place.
Age: 6mo–4yrs | Price: from £10 | Info

🎬 Family Film Club: Room on the Broom @ Barbican Centre
Date & Loc: Jan 24 (Sat), Barbican EC2Y
A relaxed weekend screening picked especially for families, with a child-friendly atmosphere and space to enjoy a proper cinema outing together.
Age: 6+ | Price: £2.5 | Info

🎶 Saturday Sounds Drop In @ Roundhouse Studios
Date & Loc: Jan 24 (Sat), Camden NW1
A drop-in music session for teens curious about songwriting, DJing or music production. Try beats, lyrics and mixing with guidance from professional tutors.
Age: 11–14yrs | Price: £2 | Info

✏️ The Art of Doodling @ Royal Festival Hall
Date & Loc: Jan 24 (Sat), Southbank Centre SE1
A calm, inclusive creative session where kids explore doodling, scribbling and drawing in a supportive, sensory-friendly space with artist Erdem Kuslu.
Age: 5+ | Price: No cost | Info

🧵 Meet the Designer @ Young V&A
Date & Loc: Jan 24, Bethnal Green E2
Drop in to meet textile designer Amanda Vesthardt in The Shed and explore sustainable making, recycled materials, and experimental techniques in action.
Age: Families | Price: No cost | Info

🎼 Family Sundays @ Royal Opera House
Date & Loc: Various dates, Covent Garden WC2E
These go fast but still some dates available. A relaxed family day with creative activities, short performances and chances to explore music, dance and storytelling inside the Royal Opera House.
Age: Families | Price: £20 | Info

💡 Winter Lights @ Canary Wharf
Date & Loc: Jan 21-31, Canary Wharf E14
The great light festival returns with glowing installations, interactive artworks and riverside wanders that feel especially magical after dark.
Age: Everyone | Price: No cost | Info

🎭 The Wind in the Willows @ St Anne’s Church Hall
Date & Loc: Jan 23–25, Wandsworth SW18
A family-friendly stage adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s classic, following Mole, Ratty, Badger and the wonderfully troublesome Mr Toad. Cosy, joyful and full of adventure.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £8.50 | Info

🎨 World of Colour @ British Museum
Date & Loc: Jan 23, Bloomsbury WC1B
Sells out super fast but worth keeping an eye. A family-friendly programme exploring colour across cultures through hands-on activities, storytelling and creative workshops around the museum.
Age: Families | Price: No cost | Info

🐻 Snow White, Rose Red, Brown Bear @ Half Moon Theatre
Date & Loc: Jan 24 (Sat), Limehouse E14
A gentle puppet theatre retelling of the Brothers Grimm tale, using storytelling, original music and a fairytale forest setting to explore friendship and kindness.
Age: 4+ | Price: £9 | Info

🥁 The Jolly Djembe Club @ Riverside Studios
Date & Loc: Jan 24 (Sat), Hammersmith W6
A joyful African drumming workshop where kids explore rhythm, music and storytelling through hands-on djembe sessions. Lively, energetic and great fun.
Age: Everyone | Price: £14 | Info

📚 Story Festival @ Young V&A
Date & Loc: Jan 24 (Sat), Bethnal Green E2
A one-day festival of free performances and hands-on activities celebrating storytelling through music, puppetry, dance and creative workshops across the museum.
Age: Everyone | Price: Free | Info

🎬 Can You Imagine a World? @ Garden Cinema
Date & Loc: Jan 25 (Sun), Covent Garden WC2B 5PQ
A thoughtful short-film programme for older kids, inviting young audiences to explore imagination, empathy and big ideas through beautifully made stories from around the world.
Age: 7+ | Price: from £12 | Info

🌱 Jack and the Beanstalk @ Jacksons Lane
Date & Loc: Jan 25–26, Highgate N6
A playful, modern twist on the fairy tale, packed with physical comedy and inventive storytelling.
Age: 3-10yo | Price: £14 | Info

⚡ Pokémon Pop-Up Shop @ Natural History Museum
Date & Loc: Jan 26 onwards, South Kensington SW7
A limited-time pop-up packed with Pokémon merch, plushies and collectibles, tucked inside the Natural History Museum. Expect excited fans and serious temptation.
Age: Everyone | Price: No cost | Info

🦖 The Dinosaur That Pooped @ Richmond Theatre
Date & Loc: Feb 1 (Sun), Richmond TW9
A laugh-out-loud musical adventure based on the bestselling books by Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter. Expect rock songs, big energy and an impressive amount of poo.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £17 | Info

🐷 Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show! @ New Wimbledon Theatre
Date & Loc: Feb 4–5, Wimbledon SW19
Peppa, George and friends hit the stage in a bright, gentle show full of songs, giggles and muddy-puddle energy.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £19 | Info

🐰 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland @ Studio Theatre
Date & Loc: Feb 8 (Sun), North Finchley N12
A playful, imaginative retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic, brought to life with live performance, handmade puppets and plenty of curious characters. Down the rabbit hole, minus the chaos.
Age: 3+ | Price: £13.75 | Info

🐞 Cirque du Soleil: OVO @ Royal Albert Hall
Date & Loc: Ongoing, South Kensington SW7
They are back! A dazzling, high-energy circus spectacular inspired by the hidden world of insects, with jaw-dropping acrobatics, colourful costumes and live music.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £45 | Info

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