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May half term London 2019

By CW Contributor on 23/5/2019

Welcome to half-term: you'll laugh, you'll cry, they'll laugh, they'll cry. On the upside, at least you can be cultured in the process. Here are some top picks of what's on in London during May half-term 2019.

Let them make slime

Slime Planet is every London parent's favourite new discovery: the kids are happy (they're making slime), and so are the parents (the slime isn't being made in the house). Check out the half term workshops for an awesome sensory experience where kids can customise their own slime (add glitter, scents like bubblegum or chocolate and foam beads). They can also make a giant slime as part of a collaborative effort with other kids.

WHEN

27 May 2019 - 31 May 2019, 11am, 1pm and 3.30pm

WHERE

Slime Planet HQ, 494 Rathgar Road, London, SW9 7EP

Kid-friendly books & bites at The Langham

Enjoy afternoon tea with Daunt Books and Benji Davies at The Langham

The Langham's afternoon tea with Daunt Books is just perfect for literature-loving children, and this half-term, Benji Davies, beloved author of The Storm Whale and Grandad's Island, is coming for a talk. Book in advance.

WHEN

27 May 2019, 12pm

WHERE

The Langham
Regent Street, , London, W1B 1JA

The Gruffalo pops up in Covent Garden

As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of The Gruffalo, don't miss the pop-up opening from Magic Light Pictures in Covent Garden over half term, offering arts and crafts workshops and immersive screenings of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler favourites like Room on the Broom and Stick Man, aimed for kids aged three to eight. There will also be character meet and greets, storytelling sessions and a shop to bring Gruffalos home with you (if your kids still have Gruffalo fever, then book in to see the live show at the Lyric this summer).

WHEN

25 May 2019 - 1 June 2019

Transit: FLIP Fabrique at Underbelly Festival Southbank

Check out the Underbelly Festival Southbank

There's a lot on offer at the Southbank this half term: Transit for circus fans, Monski Mouse's baby disco dance hall for the toddler set, Schlomo's Beat Box Adventure for Kids, all part of the Underbelly Festival, You'll be happy you skipped the car journey and stayed in London.

WHEN

27 May 2019 – 07 Jul 2019, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM

WHERE

Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

Take part in the fun and games at Hamleys

If you've ventured into central London with the kids and find yourself regretting that decision over half-term, don't fret: just head to Hamleys. The toy shop extraordinaire has something going on to suit all kids' tastes, from a Scalextric time trial with the Hamleys Race Team to the chance to meet Spongebob Square Pants. In celebration of Toy Story 4, Hamleys is launching new toys, including a walking Buzz Lightyear, as well as hosting treasure hunts on the 5th floor, where kids can search for Toy Story 4 mini-figures in the LEGO section - and build their own creations, of course (added bonus: 20% of all LEGO in the shop). There are also store-wide parades daily, where kids can make their dreams come true by dancing the conga across Hamleys. Even older kids won't complain: they'll be too busy testing out the new Fortnite toys in store, including a Fortnite Super Soaker and Nerf Dart Blaster.

WHEN

24 May 2019 - 3 June 2019

WHERE

188-196 Regent Street, London, W1B 5BT

Get stuck in the Soundpit at the Southbank Centre (photo: Pete Woodhead)

Play in the sand pit at Soundpit, Royal Festival Hall

Soundpit is the stuff of rainy day dreams: sand, music, light shows, and the kids even come out clean.

WHEN

13 Feb 2019 – 02 Jun 2019, Various 45 minute time slots available from 10:15am each day

WHERE

Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

Get a whole load of new books at the London Children's Book Swap

Baby bibliophiles, rejoice: on 25 May, the annual London Children's Book Swap returns. Brought to you by Discover Children's Story Centre, the annual event transforms various venues across London into book-filled bazaars. Follow the event on Facebook for all the latest info and venues.

WHEN

25 May 2019

WHERE

Various Locations

(Detail) SymmetryBreakfast © Michael Zee

Half-term activities at the V&A

Inspired by the newest V&A exhibition, Food: Bigger than the Plate, kids can pop out to the John Madejski Garden and help create a collaborative magazine with art collective Fallen Fruit, using collage and storytelling. And then they can get their feet wet in London's best paddling pool.

WHEN

27 May 2019 - 31 May 2019, 10:30am-5pm

WHERE

V&A
South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL

Beasts of London explores London's animal life, with Kate Moss voicing the Fox. Credit: Museum of London

Family festival time at the Museum of London

Inspired by the fab new Beasts of London exhibition at the Museum of London, the museum will be hosting a weekend of workshops and stories where kids can create animal puppet shows, make casts of animal footprints, design animal masks and learn the story behind the Tower of London's animal menagerie. Events are free, but you'll also want to book in to check out the immersive exhibition, which traces the history of London through its animal inhabitants in an exciting and accessible way. The Museum of London Docklands also has a week of activities over May half-term, where kids can learn about London's Roman history and ancient druids through crafts, storytelling and archaeology workshops.

WHEN

25 May 2019 - 26 May 2019, 12pm

WHERE

Museum of London
150 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5HN

Introduce them to dance with Cas Public, 9, Linbury Theatre

Introduce the kids to the relationship between hearing and music with Cas Public's dance show, by choreographer Hélène Blackburn.

WHEN

25 May 2019 – 30 May 2019, 14:45 Sun 16:00 Thur 19:00 Dur.: 50 mins no interval

WHERE

Royal Opera House
Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 9DD

Bittersuite are launching The Firebird Lab at the Institute of Imagination

Head to the Institute of Imagination for workshops

From STEAM-themed workshops with OKIDO magazine to Bittersuite's workshops exploring music and emotions, the Institute of Imagination will be buzzing come half term.

WHEN

May 18, 2019 - May 30, 2019

WHERE

Institute of Imagination
26 Lambeth High St, Lambeth, London, SE1 7AG

Go see the circus at Tower Bridge

Fancy running off to join the circus? There's no reason why you shouldn't: just take the kids to Tower Bridge this half-term to watch Victorian circus performers from Agenci take over. Acrobats, aerialists and jugglers will move across the Glass Floor, steel girders and accumulator towers of Tower Bridge, while a master storyteller will guide children on the journey. Entry is inclusive with your ticket

WHEN

27 May 2019 - 28 May 2019, 11am, 2pm and 4pm

WHERE

Tower Bridge, Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 2UP

Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever in Booksmart

Go see the new Ladybird, Booksmart

Olivia Wilde's directorial debut is the feel-good teen film of May. Go see it with your daughter, or, more realistically, sneak into the back row when she goes to the cinema with her pals.

WHEN

27 May 2019 – 27 May 2020, TIMES VARY