🦊 Warm weather, wild events & one big question

Morning, London! Happy Thursday! Remember that hot air balloon regatta I was banging on about last week? Turns out high winds plus floating fire bubbles equals a dangerous direct flight path to Heathrow. So, it was cancelled. Obviously.

I’m now deep into season three of Yellowstone and suddenly moving to a ranch in Montana feels like a completely rational life choice. I’ve fully convinced myself I could run a cattle ranch. Wide skies, no emails, just my family and some angry livestock. Then I remember I can’t even keep a basil plant alive.

Also, half term is creeping up fast. But fear not. Over the next couple of issues I’ll be posting a solid list of things to do for those staying in town. By the way, did you know it is officially the driest start to spring in the UK in 69 years?

Anyway, here’s what we’ve got for you this week:

🎙️ London Snippets: Bits that caught our eye
🗳️ Readers Vote: Keep or change?
🧠 Casual Einstein: Playground-worthy facts
🕰️ Blast from the Past: Peak hat game
📅 Readers’ Favourite: What’s on this week?

But first, the weather. Has your school sent that email yet? You know the one: “Please make sure your child arrives wearing sunscreen.”

. LONDON SNIPPETS .
Bits that caught our eye

🚄 London to Geneva? All aboard. We mentioned it a few weeks ago, and now it’s official: the UK and Switzerland have signed a shiny new agreement to launch a direct high-speed train link between London and Geneva. The plan? A smoother, greener alternative to short-haul flights, sealed with a handshake at St Pancras last Thursday. Full story

🏈 NFL returns to London. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but credit where it’s due, the Americans know how to put on a show. The Vikings, Broncos, and Rams are heading our way for the 2025 NFL London Games. Three matchups split between Wembley and Tottenham, with game one marking the 40th NFL game ever played in the capital. Hot dogs, helmets, and a lot of shouting. Full story

. READERS VOTE .
When should The Scoop land in your inbox?

. PRESENTED BY SNAPSOCIAL .
Sleek. Reflective. Ridiculously photogenic.

A few weeks ago, I was at a friend’s party in SW London. Not a big production, just a well-thought-out party with great energy, and one seriously cool surprise: a mirrored cube in the garden, filled with hanging silver balloons and soft lighting ✨.

Everyone was taking photos inside. Not a photo booth — more like a backdrop on steroids. In their words: an immersive mirrored installation that brings people together for fun, shareable, unforgettable memories. 📷

The founders, also guests that evening, had just launched in London after years running events abroad. I mentioned the Scoop, and they jumped at the chance to sponsor this week’s issue to spread the word.

They sort the setup, the takedown, the lot. And they’re offering a big friendly discount for Scoop readers. Birthdays, parties, brand events, anything really. I’m definitely booking it for the Scoop’s big anniversary bash.

Slots for spring & summer are filling quickly, so enquire with SnapSocial here. Let the parties begin. 🎉

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

Fun Fact: We normally blink around 15–20 times per minute. On screens? Just 7. That’s why your eyeballs feel like sandpaper by bedtime. Keep blinking, friends. Your corneas will thank you. 👁️

London Fact: There’s a room in the Bank of England where they test whether banknotes can survive a cup of tea. Officially it’s called liquid resistance testing. Unofficially? A very British emergency drill. 🍵

 .BLAST FROM THE PAST .
London circa 1903 - Solid hat game

  EVENTS SCOOP .
What’s on this week?

🎭 The Paper Dolls @ Little Angel Theatre
Date & Loc: May 15th onwards, Islington
When a little girl cuts out a string of paper dolls she takes them by the hand and together they go on a fantastical adventure whirling through their home and garden.
Age: 3-8yo | Price: from £13 | Info

🎵 Mini Museum w/ Caterpillar music @ Headstone Manor
Date & Loc: May 15th, South Harrow
Join Bill the Duck for music, movement, and crafts in a lovely Tudor hall. Quack-tastic fun for the under-5s.
Age: Under 5s | Price: £5 | Info

🎭 Bluey’s Big Play @ Royal Festival Hall
Date & Loc: Dec 18th - Jan 11th, Southbank
It’s not till the end of the year, but tickets go on sale this Friday — and you know how fast Bluey fans move. Expect music, mischief, puppets, and plenty of joyful chaos as Bluey, Bingo, Bandit and Chilli take the stage.
Age: Everyone | Price: £17 | Info

🎨 Play Studio @ Tate Modern
Date & Loc: May 16th, Southbank
Costumes, movement, and plenty of open-ended play for tiny creatives.
Age: Under 5s | Price: no cost | Info

📚 Story Explorers: Imaginary Worlds @ British Library
Date & Loc: May 16-18th, Regent’s Park
Books, ancient treasures, surprising sounds, quirky art, and yes, a giant furry octopus await!
Age: 2-9yo | Price: from no cost (booking req) | Info

🪐 Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? @ Natural History Museum
Date & Loc: May 16th onwards, South Kensington
New! Touch a piece of Mars, hold a fragment of the Moon, and snap a selfie with the Allende meteorite — older than Earth itself.
Age: 8+ | Price: £14 (adults) | Info

🎭 Pigs & Bears Don’t Come in Pairs @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: May 17th, Hammersmith
A double bill of furry fun where Goldilocks might just be scarier than the Big Bad Wolf.
Age: 3-7yo | Price: £10 | Info

🖍️ Design & Draw with Light @ V&A Museum
Date & Loc: May 17th, South Kensington
A sensory-friendly, family workshop for neurodiverse visitors. Explore the magic of drawing with light.
Age: Family | Price: No cost | Info

🛌 Dino Snores Sleepover @ Natural History Museum
Date & Loc: May 17th, South Kensington
Space exploration + night in the museum = unforgettable sleepover.
Age: 7-17yo | Price: £100 (sleepover) | Info

🧑‍🌾Young Archeologists’ Club @ Fulham Palace & Gardens
Date & Loc: May 17th, Fulham
Celebrate gardening, biodiversity, and community at this lush springtime gathering!
Age: 8-16yo | Price: from £16 | Info

🎪 Goose Green Fair @ Dulwich Festival
Date & Loc: May 18th, Dulwich
A true celebration of local artists and makers. Expect market stalls, international food, and a bouncy castle or two.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🌱 Plant @ Studio Theatre
Date & Loc: May 18th, North Finchley
A squirrel, a lost pigeon, and a story about sharing — a gentle, funny tale of nature’s small wonders.
Age: 3-6yo | Price: £12.75 | Info

🎉 Urban Village Fete @ Greenwich Peninsula
Date & Loc: May 18th, Greenwich
A free day-long festival with DJs, street food, pop-up talks and creative workshops.
Age: Everyone | Price: No cost | Info

🌳 Of the Oak @ Kew Gardens
Date & Loc: Ongoing, Kew
An immersive installation celebrating the mighty oak. Nature meets art.
Age: Everyone | Price: Included with entry | Info

🌸 Chelsea in Bloom @ Sloane St.
Date & Loc: May 19th-25th, Chelsea
A floral takeover of Chelsea’s streets, shopfronts, and secret corners — now celebrating 20 blooming marvellous years.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

📄 Early years studio: paper @ Burlington Gardens
Date & Loc: May 21st, Mayfair
Scrunch, shred, pulp, or craft paper from scratch—unleash creativity with this versatile material!
Age: Under 5s | Price: no cost | Info

🚗 Ready Steady Go! @ Unicorn Theatre
Date & Loc: May 21st onwards, London Bridge
Build your own cardboard car, zoom through roadworks, stop at a bubbly car wash, and learn road safety while having a blast.
Age: 3-8yo | Price: £12.50 | Info

🎨 Artificial Intelligence Family Day @ King’s College
Date & Loc: May 24th, Strand
Hands-on AI fun: robot football, brain-scanning games, Mario vs AI, and build-your-own robot outfits.
Age: 7+ | Price: No cost | Info

🎨 Make it: Painting @ V&A Museum
Date & Loc: May 24th, South Kensington
A monthly hands-on workshop inviting families to explore the creative world of design through paint.
Age: 5+ | Price: £20 | Info

🎭 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Storytelling @ Shakespeare’s Globe
Date & Loc: May 24th-25th, Southbank
An interactive, family-friendly retelling of Shakespeare’s magical comedy.
Age: 5-11yo | Price: £15 | Info

📖 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Workshop @ Shakespeare’s Globe
Date & Loc: May 24th-25th, Southbank
Take part in a lively, hands-on workshop exploring the play’s language and characters, two age-specific sessions available (5-8, 9-11).
Age: 5-11yo | Price: £15 | Info

🎉 Family Takeover Day @ Open Air Theatre
Date & Loc: May 25th, Regent’s Park
Kids’ comedy, live music, a mini rave, and snacks on the grass — basically your dream bank holiday, but with less whining (hopefully).
Age: Family | Price: from £15 | Info

🎭 Shakespeare for every day of the year @ Open Air Theatre
Date & Loc: May 25th, Regent’s Park
A witty, fast-paced evening of scenes and speeches drawn from the hit anthology. Shakespeare under the stars, what’s not to love?
Age: 11+ | Price: from £26 | Info

🧱 Digital Kids: Create with Clay @ V&A Museum
Date & Loc: May 27th-30th, South Kensington
Make words or characters from clay, then animate them into your own mini film.
Age: Family | Price: No cost | Info

🖌️ Half-term: Gold Reflections @ National Gallery
Date & Loc: May 27th-29th, Trafalgar Square
Hunt for gold in famous paintings, then join a creative workshop inspired by what you find.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🌼 Moomin 80: Play, Make, Dream @ Southbank Centre
Date & Loc: May 27th-Jun 1st, Southbank
Build and play inside a giant Moomin house on the terrace. Booking opens May 20th.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🧪 Top Secret - The Magic of Science @ The Exchange
Date & Loc: May 29th, Twickenham
Where magic meets science in a spectacular live show full of wonder and surprises.
Age: Everyone | Price: £12 | Info

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. SPREAD THE LOVE .
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