All week
Imagine Children's Festival at Southbank Centre
FAMILY DAYS OUT: Bored of trudging round the same old museums and parks? Try one of these seven alternative family days out in London, featuring caves, windmills and more. Or visit a budget-friendly alternative to the big attractions. Take a look a our map of where you can see animals in London — whatever the weather.
WHERE TO EAT: Finding somewhere to eat out with kids can be tricky, but these child-friendly restaurants in London offer more options that just pizza and chips. The pub may seem like an inappropriate suggestion, but bear with us — we've rounded up the best family-friendly pubs in London. See if your local made the list.
CULTURE VULTURES: You may think art galleries and theatres are a no-go when you’ve got little ones in tow, but these London theatres are great for kids’ shows, and these family-friendly art galleries will keep children happy, and have plenty for mum and dad too.
IMAGINE FESTIVAL: In his centenary year, Roald Dahl's work takes centre stage at Southbank Centre's children's literature festival. Other authors featured include Judith Kerr, David Walliams and Michael Morpurgo. 10-21 February
THE CAT IN THE HAT: Dr Seuss's children's book The Cat In The Hat is brought to life on stage at artsdepot, aimed at age 3+. £13/£11, prebook, 13-17 February
PUPPET THEATRE BARGE: There are daily performances of Joey's Fireworks on board the Puppet Theatre Barge in Little Venice. £12/£10/£8.50, prebook, 13-21 February
LOVE HEART HUNT: Visitors to Battersea Park Zoo are invited to take part in the Love Heart Hunt, and count up how many hearts they see as they go around the zoo. 13-21 Feb
KEW GARDENS: Tying in with the Orchids Festival at Kew Gardens, activities including face painting and carnival-inspired headdress making. 13-21 Feb
PLAY-DOH: Play-Doh takes centre stage at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green this week, with animation and modelling workshops for 5-12 years old. £5 per activity, prebook, 15-19 February
CHICKENSHED THEATRE: Chickenshed's week-long performance workshops for 5-12 year olds involve drama, dance, singing and story-making. Parents and friends will be invited in on the final afternoon to see a performance devised throughout the week. £130, prebook, 15-19 February
DINOSAUR FUN: Horniman Museum's Dinosaur: Monster Families exhibition opens on 13 February. To tie in with it, there are free dinosaur themed activities, including dinosaur finger puppet making. 15-19 Feb (not 17 Feb)
Saturday 13 February
LONDON CHILDREN'S BOOK SWAP: Several venues are taking part in the London Children's Book Swap today, where littl'uns can take along their old tomes and exchange them for others that have been donated: Geffrye Museum, artsdepot, Discover Children's Story Centre and William Morris Gallery to name a few.
EXPLORE ZOOLOGY: Head to UCL's Grant Museum of Zoology to get up close to some of the exhibits and specimens and learn all about them from museum educators. Free, just turn up, 1pm-4pm
Sunday 14 February
WINNIE THE POOH: BFI Southbank hosts a family screening of Disney film Winnie the Pooh, with the voices of Jim Cummings, Travis Oates and John Cleese. £11.75/£9.20/£4, prebook (on sale 19/1/16), 2pm
Monday 15 February
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG: Meet Tiana and Prince Naveen of Moldovia, who discover that life as a pair of frogs is nothing to croak about. The Princess And The Frog is screened at BFI Southbank. £11.75/£9.20/£4, prebook, 2.30pm
Tuesday 16 February
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: Little ones can get creative at the Royal Albert Hall. 5-11 year olds can take part in a creative workshop on the theme of Cirque du Soleil, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and learn more about the show. £5, prebook, 16-18 February
FOUR CENTURIES: Explore four centuries in the space of a week at Geffrye Museum's half term activities. Make a clay candlestick, create an animation and more, based on how people lived throughout the centuries. 16-19 February
Wednesday 17 February
WRECK-IT RALPH: Disney animated film Wreck-It Ralph is about a bad guy in an 80s-style arcade game who gets fed up with his life and leaves to explore other worlds. Catch a screening at BFI Southbank. £11.75/£9.20/£4, prebook, 2.3opm
Thursday 18 February
JAZZ FOR KIDS: The Dixie Ticklers present a special jazz session for children aged 4-9 at the Royal Albert Hall. They'll have a chance to get up close to the instruments and ask the band about how they put their music together. £13.24/£7.12, prebook, 10.30am/1.30pm
Friday 19 February
SINGALONG EXTRAVAGANZA: Mrs H and the Sing-along Band are coming to Southbank Centre for a family-friendly dose of music, tomfoolery and theatrical antics. Free, just turn up, 11am-1pm
Saturday 20 February
PIRATE FUN DAY: Aboard Golden Hinde II, the replica of Sir Frances Drake's ship, budding pirates can learn how to raise the anchor and fire the cannons, before scouring the ship for treasure. £7/£5, prebook, 11am-1pm
Sunday 21 February
MWALIMU EXPRESS: The free Pan African family event is back at Rich Mix with music and films from Africa, plus parent and toddler dance sessions, craft stalls and more. Free, just turn up, 2pm-6pm
KEATS' HOUSE: Keats' House in Hampstead teams up with the Keats Community Library for a free family fun day to tie in with World Book Day. Free, 1pm-4pm
