DANDELION DISCOVERIES
What Made Us Smile This Week
She's behind you !
👸🏻 Everyone loves a Panto - even HRH The Queen!
A special display, at Windsor Castle, brings together for the first time costumes worn by Her Majesty and Princess Margaret as teenagers during wartime pantomimes, displayed in the Waterloo Chamber where the pantomimes were originally performed 80 years ago.
Hip Hip Hooray!
Open 25 November.
A special display, at Windsor Castle, brings together for the first time costumes worn by Her Majesty and Princess Margaret as teenagers during wartime pantomimes, displayed in the Waterloo Chamber where the pantomimes were originally performed 80 years ago.
Hip Hip Hooray!
Open 25 November.
Gingerbread Delight
🍭 This awesome mini edible city is back once again - this year setting up home in Motcomb Street.
Run by the Museum of Architecture this is baking on a whole new scale. Expect towering sweet-laden skyscrapers and epic candy constructions.
Book up one of their festive house-making workshops. Following this years theme, Nature in the City, there's a chance to build a greenhouse 🌳 We had so much fun doing them a few years ago.
Opens 4 December to 9 January. 6–7 Motcomb Street in Belgravia.
Tickets: £14 adults, £8.50- U12s, U3s free.
Family workshop £40 (a adult, 1 child) to make one gingerbread house.
Run by the Museum of Architecture this is baking on a whole new scale. Expect towering sweet-laden skyscrapers and epic candy constructions.
Book up one of their festive house-making workshops. Following this years theme, Nature in the City, there's a chance to build a greenhouse 🌳 We had so much fun doing them a few years ago.
Opens 4 December to 9 January. 6–7 Motcomb Street in Belgravia.
Tickets: £14 adults, £8.50- U12s, U3s free.
Family workshop £40 (a adult, 1 child) to make one gingerbread house.
Christmas House
🎄The Charles Dickens Museum is dressed for the festive season once again. We have visited this little gem several times in December - it really is charming.
Breaking News! Father Christmas will be dropping into the house on 18 December to visit his old friend Charles Dickens. Sounds like he'll have a small gift for any little visitors.
Tickets £10 adults, £8 child.
Breaking News! Father Christmas will be dropping into the house on 18 December to visit his old friend Charles Dickens. Sounds like he'll have a small gift for any little visitors.
Tickets £10 adults, £8 child.
The Healing Arts
🎨 The very first of its kind 'Arts in Health' exhibition opens at the Saatchi Gallery tomorrow. Browse through a selection of 20 bespoke artistic works created to help and inspire patients throughout their stay in hospital.
We are looking forward to seeing a new commission created by musician and artist Brian Eno. Many of the drawn artworks capture life in the hospital during the pandemic.
Admission: Free entry, no pre-booking required
Galleries 1 & 2, Ground Floor.
We are looking forward to seeing a new commission created by musician and artist Brian Eno. Many of the drawn artworks capture life in the hospital during the pandemic.
Admission: Free entry, no pre-booking required
Galleries 1 & 2, Ground Floor.
Ho Ho Ho !
🎅🏼 A very jolly visitor has taken up residence at the National Gallery with the smilest team of elves we have ever encountered!
Earn your honorary elf badge, make a magical snowflake before settling down in a winter wonderland to hear jolly Elven stories. After you've met Father Christmas in his log cabin (and grabbed your gift from the Elven sorting office) there will still be heaps of time to stroll through the gallery's incredible art collection.
See how many angels you can spot. 👼🏼
Open from 27 November. Click on the link below to book.
Tickets: U12s £22, adults £12
Earn your honorary elf badge, make a magical snowflake before settling down in a winter wonderland to hear jolly Elven stories. After you've met Father Christmas in his log cabin (and grabbed your gift from the Elven sorting office) there will still be heaps of time to stroll through the gallery's incredible art collection.
See how many angels you can spot. 👼🏼
Open from 27 November. Click on the link below to book.
Tickets: U12s £22, adults £12
Heroes for your Tree
💙 HURRAH for brilliant Daylesford who will be donating 100% of sales from these daring limited edition felt decorations to the NHS. Snap them up before they run out.
£5 each
£5 each
Christmast Past
🎄Expect a riotous rainbow of Christmas colour as you travel through 400 years of festive celebrations at the annual Christmas exhibition at the Museum of the Home.
Find out who first put a Christmas tree indoors and how Boxing Day got its name.
Great Christmas decorations in the museum shop too.
Find out who first put a Christmas tree indoors and how Boxing Day got its name.
Great Christmas decorations in the museum shop too.
Snow Sock
☃️ Do you want to build a snowman? Get creative and build a snowman sock at Chiswick House this Christmas hols. No sewing required!
18 Dec, 10.30–11.30am.
Ages 5+ tickest £10per child.
18 Dec, 10.30–11.30am.
Ages 5+ tickest £10per child.
👑 Wintery Family Tours
Exciting news from Buck Palace. For the very first time they are running wintery Guided Family Tours specially designed for little ones highlighting the Palace's wonderful regal history. Tours run from 5 Nov–30 Jan, Fri, Sats, Suns.
🎄NEW Christmas themed Family Tours will also run between 18 Dec–2 Jan with interactive games, activities, dancing and stories of Christmas traditions at the palace.
Tickets: £65 adults, £37.50 kids, U5s free
🎄NEW Christmas themed Family Tours will also run between 18 Dec–2 Jan with interactive games, activities, dancing and stories of Christmas traditions at the palace.
Tickets: £65 adults, £37.50 kids, U5s free
Wish You Were Here
📮 At any time, we would highly recommend a trip to the Postal Museum – including a ride on the Mail Rail 🚇 – but until 2nd January, your ticket includes entry to a super little exhibition celebrating 151 Years (covid-delayed) of the British Postcard. Romantic gestures, messages from soldiers, seaside souvenirs, collector's items, right up to digital versions. And there's a chance to send or keep your special postcard ✍🏽 A delight! (NB despite what the website says, it is necessary to book tickets online in advance 🎫)
Walk with Amal
🚶🏻♀️One little girl. One BIG hope.
EXCITING NEWS!
Join the travelling festival of art as Amal reaches our shores on the 19 October! Little Amal, a 9 yr old refugee, is on an epic voyage across Europe. In collaboration with the creators of War Horse the Handspring Puppet Company have created this incredible 3.5m puppet who is travelling 8,000km representing displaced children and raising awareness on the refugee crisis.
On 19 Oct Amal will arrive in Folkestone. We are definitely heading to St Paul's Cathedral at 10am on 23rd October to walk with her.
To donate and for more details click through below.
EXCITING NEWS!
Join the travelling festival of art as Amal reaches our shores on the 19 October! Little Amal, a 9 yr old refugee, is on an epic voyage across Europe. In collaboration with the creators of War Horse the Handspring Puppet Company have created this incredible 3.5m puppet who is travelling 8,000km representing displaced children and raising awareness on the refugee crisis.
On 19 Oct Amal will arrive in Folkestone. We are definitely heading to St Paul's Cathedral at 10am on 23rd October to walk with her.
To donate and for more details click through below.
Arty fun this weekend
🖼 There are a few places left on this Sunday's British Art Tour at Christie's with the brilliant Little Grand Tour. Study paintings by Ben Nicholson, Leon Kossoff and Winston Churchill as well as stunning sculptures by Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. Plus an early collage by Eduardo Paolozzi and other masterpieces by British Pop Artists.
3–5pm. £40 per child including worksheets and snacks.
3–5pm. £40 per child including worksheets and snacks.
Clarice Bean is back!
📚Lauren Child is at the Southbank on 23 October talking about her life in books and the comeback of a character who’s sold over six million copies worldwide.
Part of the London Literature Festival.
11am, Sat 23 Oct, Queen Elizabeth Hall. Tickets: £12 adults, £9 children. Ages 7+.
Part of the London Literature Festival.
11am, Sat 23 Oct, Queen Elizabeth Hall. Tickets: £12 adults, £9 children. Ages 7+.
Momijigari Trail at Kew
🏯 Follow this fiery foliage trail across the gardens at wonderful Kew. The trail will lead you through Japanese landmarks including the Minka House, the Ginkgo Grove and the Japanese Gateway.
Included in ticket price.
2–30 October
Included in ticket price.
2–30 October
Bedtime stories
📕Panic not! If you missed the live Foundling Museum bedtime stories read by Prue Leith and Lauren Child last week it's not too late to catch up and listen. Settle down and enjoy six different tales of adventure.
📕 Join Dame Prue Leith as she reads the wonderful Cockatoos, illustrated and written by Quentin Blake.
📕Author and illustrator Lauren Child CBE reads Tales for the Perfect Child, written by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Victoria Chess.
📕 Hear former Foundling Hospital pupil John Caldicott read John Patrick Norman McHennessy, the boy who was always late, illustrated and written by John Burningham.
📕Let author and broadcaster Lemn Sissay OBE read you Oh No George, written and illustrated by Chris Haughton.
📕Museum traineeship graduate Sofia Oliviera reads the popular children's classic story Goodnight Moon, written by Margaret Wise Brown.
📕Visitor Engagement Manager Tabitha Paterson reads Not Now Bernard, written and illustrated by David McKee.
📕 Join Dame Prue Leith as she reads the wonderful Cockatoos, illustrated and written by Quentin Blake.
📕Author and illustrator Lauren Child CBE reads Tales for the Perfect Child, written by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Victoria Chess.
📕 Hear former Foundling Hospital pupil John Caldicott read John Patrick Norman McHennessy, the boy who was always late, illustrated and written by John Burningham.
📕Let author and broadcaster Lemn Sissay OBE read you Oh No George, written and illustrated by Chris Haughton.
📕Museum traineeship graduate Sofia Oliviera reads the popular children's classic story Goodnight Moon, written by Margaret Wise Brown.
📕Visitor Engagement Manager Tabitha Paterson reads Not Now Bernard, written and illustrated by David McKee.
Tortoise Heaven
🐢 Excellent news for siblings Dolly, Polly and Priscilla! The trio of feisty females are moving into a swanky new island pad, where they’ll enjoy a choice of two lagoon pools to cool off in, a muddy wallow for self-care spa treatments and a tropical forest to explore.
From mid-August they will be sunning themselves in their new tropical island pad 'Giants of the Galapagos' where they'll bask in 30-degree tropical heat - the perfect temperature for these 26- year-old sisters.
Free with zoo entry.
From mid-August they will be sunning themselves in their new tropical island pad 'Giants of the Galapagos' where they'll bask in 30-degree tropical heat - the perfect temperature for these 26- year-old sisters.
Free with zoo entry.
Harry lands in Covent Garden
⚡️Calling all Potter fans!
You are in for a city treat this summer.
A brand new behind-the-scenes photographic exhibition will appear as if by magic on the 12 July in Covent Garden.
Delve into 10 years of wizarding history before taking a ride on a broomstick and gulping down a delicious Butterbeer.
A total end of term treat for all little witches and wizards.
© 'The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition.’
You are in for a city treat this summer.
A brand new behind-the-scenes photographic exhibition will appear as if by magic on the 12 July in Covent Garden.
Delve into 10 years of wizarding history before taking a ride on a broomstick and gulping down a delicious Butterbeer.
A total end of term treat for all little witches and wizards.
© 'The Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition.’
Live Music Returns!
🎶 We are longing to listen to live music again and – even better – here's an excuse to get back down to the Southbank for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's family friendly concert. The programme will include a host of popular pieces and film scores – from Jurassic Park to Star Wars. This promises to raise the spirits whatever your age.
Book your socially distanced tickets now.
🎶 Noisy Kids, Saturday 29th May 2021 at Royal Festival Hall 12.30pm or 4pm
Book your socially distanced tickets now.
🎶 Noisy Kids, Saturday 29th May 2021 at Royal Festival Hall 12.30pm or 4pm
Tiny Giants
🐌 Enter a new world of tiny mighty creatures at ZSL London Zoo's new show TINY GIANTS. Over 160 superhero species on dislay plus a new seven-metre live reef aquarium.
Shining a bright spotlight on the planet’s smallest superheroes the exhibit celebrates the species we quite literally couldn’t live without.
See through the eyes of a bug - from multi-lensed bees and HD vision jumping spiders to the psychedelic sight of a mantis shrimp.
Show included in zoo entry.
Shining a bright spotlight on the planet’s smallest superheroes the exhibit celebrates the species we quite literally couldn’t live without.
See through the eyes of a bug - from multi-lensed bees and HD vision jumping spiders to the psychedelic sight of a mantis shrimp.
Show included in zoo entry.
Isabella Beauty
🌺 A blaze of colour awaits you for the next few weeks at dandelion favourite the Isabella Plantation nestled in the middle of Richmond Park. The azaleas are in full bloom and the rhododendrons are well on their way too. A total treat.
Nearest car park - Broomfield Hill. Open from dusk til dawn.
Nearest car park - Broomfield Hill. Open from dusk til dawn.
Wild Garlic Foraging
🧄 Now is peak wild garlic season. From March to July look out for the distinct white flowers and long green leaves– if you're not quite sure, the smell is the giveaway! You'll most likely find wild garlic in dark forested areas, although our latest haul was overtaking a friend's garden.
We love this simple 👩🍳wild garlic pesto recipe 👩🍳:
🧄100g wild garlic leaves
🧄50g parmesan
🧄50g pinenuts
🧄several tbsp olive oil
🧄1/2 lemon (juiced)
🧄salt & pepper
Wash and tear up the garlic leaves. Combine all the ingredients in a blender except for the pine nuts. Blitz until smooth. Finally, add the pine nuts and give it one more quick blitz so that some of the nuts remain almost whole. Quantities are approximate depending on taste. You can always experiment – sometimes we like to add parsley with the wild garlic leaves. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
The pesto is delicious stired into pasta or served with fish or as a dip 😋
We love this simple 👩🍳wild garlic pesto recipe 👩🍳:
🧄100g wild garlic leaves
🧄50g parmesan
🧄50g pinenuts
🧄several tbsp olive oil
🧄1/2 lemon (juiced)
🧄salt & pepper
Wash and tear up the garlic leaves. Combine all the ingredients in a blender except for the pine nuts. Blitz until smooth. Finally, add the pine nuts and give it one more quick blitz so that some of the nuts remain almost whole. Quantities are approximate depending on taste. You can always experiment – sometimes we like to add parsley with the wild garlic leaves. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
The pesto is delicious stired into pasta or served with fish or as a dip 😋
Cemetery Cinema
🎥 The Luna Cinema is back! With over 175 screenings in 50 glorious UK locations we are itching to book up a movie night. Top of our list is NEW location Brompton Cemetery.
Choose from
Jurassic Park 28 Sept
10 Things I Hate About You 29 Sept
Top Gun 30 Sept
Full listings below. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.
Choose from
Jurassic Park 28 Sept
10 Things I Hate About You 29 Sept
Top Gun 30 Sept
Full listings below. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.
Virtual Open Square Gardens
🌳 Join Sarah Greene for a 90 min journey of discovery exploring London's garden squares, historic allotments and leafy rooftop gardens.
Sadly the gates will stay closed to real-life visitors once again this year but with interactive family fun you can still go 'virtually' through the gates of some of London's finest hidden gardens.
12 June 5.30pm live (and on demand afterwards)
£8
Sadly the gates will stay closed to real-life visitors once again this year but with interactive family fun you can still go 'virtually' through the gates of some of London's finest hidden gardens.
12 June 5.30pm live (and on demand afterwards)
£8
Calling Young Poets
👩🏻💻 Celebrate the magic of spring with the power of poems. Get your budding poets to write about the wonder of fluffy ducklings or the beautiful spring flowers popping up all around us.
The winning entry will be immortalised in stone and placed in the outdoor Storytelling Area at Brompton Cemetery, alongside the winners of their autumn and winter competitions.
All entries to be submitted by midnight on 31st May. Max 20 lines. Open to ages 7–11.
Click on the link below for entry details.
The winning entry will be immortalised in stone and placed in the outdoor Storytelling Area at Brompton Cemetery, alongside the winners of their autumn and winter competitions.
All entries to be submitted by midnight on 31st May. Max 20 lines. Open to ages 7–11.
Click on the link below for entry details.
Bluebell Dell
🍃 An indigo carpet is starting to sweep through Kew Gardens as Bluebell season arrives.
Stroll past thousands of tiny nodding bells as they jostle in the wind.
Head to the Natural Area at the back of the gardens. A total treat.
Stroll past thousands of tiny nodding bells as they jostle in the wind.
Head to the Natural Area at the back of the gardens. A total treat.
Busy Bees
🐝 The busy city bees on the roof of the Royal Albert Hall have been working very hard throughout lockdown.
Bag your jar of honey and help support the hall in it's last few weeks of closure.
£20
Bag your jar of honey and help support the hall in it's last few weeks of closure.
£20
Delphinium Delight
💐 We were BEYOND excited to get back into Covent Garden Flower market this morning after months and months of closure to the general public. Take your pic of the best blooms in town. We come home with a rather brimming car.
Open Mon-Sat
4am-10am
Open Mon-Sat
4am-10am
A Royal Picnic
🧺 For the first time ever the garden at Buckingham Palace will open to visitors from July to September this year!
We are hugely excited that you will also be allowed to enjoy a picnic on one of the palaces sweeping lawns. What a treat.
Explore a route through the garden that encompasses a 156-metre Herbaceous Border, plane trees planted by and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and views of the island and its beehives across the 3.5-acre lake.
The Garden at Buckingham Palace will open from 9 July to 19 September
Tickets: £16.50 adults, £6 (5–15) U5s free.
We are hugely excited that you will also be allowed to enjoy a picnic on one of the palaces sweeping lawns. What a treat.
Explore a route through the garden that encompasses a 156-metre Herbaceous Border, plane trees planted by and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and views of the island and its beehives across the 3.5-acre lake.
The Garden at Buckingham Palace will open from 9 July to 19 September
Tickets: £16.50 adults, £6 (5–15) U5s free.
Beano Big Bonanza
🌷Kew Gardens is getting ready for a big dose of mischeif and mayhem as Dennis and his naughty friends roll into town this Easter. Follow the interactive trail with whoopie cushion steeping stones and stinky slimey smelly plants.
🌷Trail included in ticket entry.
31 March–18 April
🌷Trail included in ticket entry.
31 March–18 April
Chocolate Easter Nests
🐣Easter is next weekend so here's one of our all-time favourite recipes. These chocolate nests are fun, easy to make and look lovely. Best of all they taste delicious!
🐥200g Millk Chocolate
🐥25g Dark Chocolate
🐥25g butter
🐥100g Shredded Wheat
🐥Mini eggs (lots!)
Melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave or in a bowl over boiling water. Crumble the shredded wheat in another bowl. Mix the chocolate mixture together with the shredded wheat until it is completely covered. Spoon on to the greaseproof paper (should make about 5 or 6 nests) and shape – use a spoon to press an indent in the middle of each nest. Leave to set (not in the fridge) and then move to your serving dish and fill with as many mini eggs as possible.
The quantities above are only a guide. It's fun to play about with the recipe: for a chewier version add some golden syrup or try white chocolate for a light-coloured nest. If you don't have shredded wheat use cornflakes – but we do think shredded wheat are particularly pretty!
🐥200g Millk Chocolate
🐥25g Dark Chocolate
🐥25g butter
🐥100g Shredded Wheat
🐥Mini eggs (lots!)
Melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave or in a bowl over boiling water. Crumble the shredded wheat in another bowl. Mix the chocolate mixture together with the shredded wheat until it is completely covered. Spoon on to the greaseproof paper (should make about 5 or 6 nests) and shape – use a spoon to press an indent in the middle of each nest. Leave to set (not in the fridge) and then move to your serving dish and fill with as many mini eggs as possible.
The quantities above are only a guide. It's fun to play about with the recipe: for a chewier version add some golden syrup or try white chocolate for a light-coloured nest. If you don't have shredded wheat use cornflakes – but we do think shredded wheat are particularly pretty!
Model Village Heaven
🚂 With over 200 buildings, 3,000 diddy people and 1,000 animals we can't wait to get back inside this charming model village. Set in a 1930's time warp Bekonscot has been one of our favourite places to visit for years.
Re-opening 12 April
Tickets £12.50 adults, £8 child
Re-opening 12 April
Tickets £12.50 adults, £8 child
One Day Drawing Course
👩🏽🎨The Wallace Collection
We enjoyed their last course so much we have just signed up for the final part of their 'Drawing a Figure' series 'Gods Entwined'. Mindful, informative, relaxing and creative - Julia and her arty daughter Amelie (16yrs) loved it.
27 March, 11am-16.30pm £45
We enjoyed their last course so much we have just signed up for the final part of their 'Drawing a Figure' series 'Gods Entwined'. Mindful, informative, relaxing and creative - Julia and her arty daughter Amelie (16yrs) loved it.
27 March, 11am-16.30pm £45
Spring Bloom Competition
📷 Cameras at the ready
Dandelion favouite the Chelsea Physic Garden have launched a lovely Spring Flower Photography Competition. A perfect way to get little people to notice the new life and spring bulbs bursting up around us.
They are looking for inspiring photographs of spring flowers from wherever you are in the world. Your photo must have at least one spring bloom but otherwise let your creativity run wild! There is an adult competition as well as U18's and U12s.
Closing date 31 March
Happy snapping
📷 U18s
1st Prize: £150 photo voucher and a Candide goodie bag
2nd Prize: RA membership and a Candide Goodie bag
3rd Prize: Candide goodie bag
📷 U12s
1st Prize: £150 photo voucher and a Candide goodie bag
2nd Prize £100 toy voucher and a Candide Goodie bag
3rd Prize: Candide goodie bag
'Taking notice' is part of the Chelsea Physic Garden Year of Wellbeing
Dandelion favouite the Chelsea Physic Garden have launched a lovely Spring Flower Photography Competition. A perfect way to get little people to notice the new life and spring bulbs bursting up around us.
They are looking for inspiring photographs of spring flowers from wherever you are in the world. Your photo must have at least one spring bloom but otherwise let your creativity run wild! There is an adult competition as well as U18's and U12s.
Closing date 31 March
Happy snapping
📷 U18s
1st Prize: £150 photo voucher and a Candide goodie bag
2nd Prize: RA membership and a Candide Goodie bag
3rd Prize: Candide goodie bag
📷 U12s
1st Prize: £150 photo voucher and a Candide goodie bag
2nd Prize £100 toy voucher and a Candide Goodie bag
3rd Prize: Candide goodie bag
'Taking notice' is part of the Chelsea Physic Garden Year of Wellbeing
Flower Power
🎍We are keeping our fingers and toes crossed that we might be able to get to a flower show this year. With a staycation on the cards for lots of families this summer we think flower show tickets will sell out fast as numbers are still bound to be restricted.
Click below to find out more about our four family favourites:
🌷Blenheim Palace Flower Show 25–27 June
🌷RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 6–11 July
🌷RHS Garden Wisely Flower Show 7–12 Sept
🌷RHS Chelsea Flower Show 21–26 Sept
Click below to find out more about our four family favourites:
🌷Blenheim Palace Flower Show 25–27 June
🌷RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 6–11 July
🌷RHS Garden Wisely Flower Show 7–12 Sept
🌷RHS Chelsea Flower Show 21–26 Sept
Take One Picture Outside
🚢 Museums and galleries may still stand silent but a big thank you to Ocean Outdoors who have teamed up with the National Gallery to take school childrens artworks from the brilliant Take One Picture exhibtion outdoors.
Look out for over 60 billboards nationwide in six cities across the UK including London from 1–15 March.
Inspired by 'Men at Docks' by George Bellows this model ship collage was our favourite from the exhibition.
Look out for over 60 billboards nationwide in six cities across the UK including London from 1–15 March.
Inspired by 'Men at Docks' by George Bellows this model ship collage was our favourite from the exhibition.
Happy 150th Birthday
🎶 Your Room Will Be Ready
Narrated by Sir Mick Jagger (reading a W. H. Auden poem) this wonderful NEW short film is a special present to wish the Royal Albert Hall a very Happy 150th Birthday.
This will definitely give you a lump in your throat.
The 90-second tribute to live music is directed by BAFTA-nominee Tom Harper (The Aeronauts, Wild Rose), and scored by Academy Award-winning composer Steven Price (Gravity, Fury).
Counting the days until they can throw open their days.
We miss you....
Narrated by Sir Mick Jagger (reading a W. H. Auden poem) this wonderful NEW short film is a special present to wish the Royal Albert Hall a very Happy 150th Birthday.
This will definitely give you a lump in your throat.
The 90-second tribute to live music is directed by BAFTA-nominee Tom Harper (The Aeronauts, Wild Rose), and scored by Academy Award-winning composer Steven Price (Gravity, Fury).
Counting the days until they can throw open their days.
We miss you....
New Peony Art Kit
🎨 Everything you need to create this colourful painting straight through your letterbox.
🎨 Kit includes:
- Pre-prepared acrylic paint set
- Hand-selected brushes
- Sponge
- Pre-sketched canvas (20x30cm, roughly A4 size)
- Step-by-step written instructions
- A printed image of the motif for reference
Watch Anna-Louise's step by step video tutorial to get some top tips before you start
£27 per kit
🎨 Kit includes:
- Pre-prepared acrylic paint set
- Hand-selected brushes
- Sponge
- Pre-sketched canvas (20x30cm, roughly A4 size)
- Step-by-step written instructions
- A printed image of the motif for reference
Watch Anna-Louise's step by step video tutorial to get some top tips before you start
£27 per kit
Summer Evening Cycle
🚲 Grab your bike and head to Kew Gardens for a summer evening cycle. Take in the beautiful blooms and flowering woodlands before stopping for a picnic or a bite from one of the pop-up food stalls.
Selected evenings in May, June and August. Full details below.
Tickets: £20 adults, £10 kids
Selected evenings in May, June and August. Full details below.
Tickets: £20 adults, £10 kids
Inspiring Half Term Games
🃏Get those eyes away from the screens with these fun museum shop toys
💕Mother's Day Love
Show your love (and support) with these thoughtful gifts all under £20.
Help re-wild a patch of garden in Hoxton; adopt an animal; take part in a floral masterclass; help keen Florences' lamp shining bright
Help re-wild a patch of garden in Hoxton; adopt an animal; take part in a floral masterclass; help keen Florences' lamp shining bright
Chinese New Year Workshop
Celebrate Chinese New Year at one of these fun online sessions with live teaching, gifts and games 🏮
16 & 18 Feb, 10am-11.45pm. £30. Run by Dragons Teaching. Great for ages 4-11.
16 & 18 Feb, 10am-11.45pm. £30. Run by Dragons Teaching. Great for ages 4-11.
Poetry Passion
The most inspired we have felt for months listening to the brillance of Amanda Gorman at Joe Biden's inauguration reading her poem 'The Hill We Climb' with such strength and passion. 'We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover'. Link below for her full recital. We've watched it 3 times already. 💛
National Youth Poet Laureate 2017 Amanda has just released the jacket of her book 'Change Sings' out in September and beautifully illustrated by Loren Long - it's an anthem to remind young readers that they have the power to shape the world. It's a calling card to get everyone involved: 'History has its eyes on us'. 💛
National Youth Poet Laureate 2017 Amanda has just released the jacket of her book 'Change Sings' out in September and beautifully illustrated by Loren Long - it's an anthem to remind young readers that they have the power to shape the world. It's a calling card to get everyone involved: 'History has its eyes on us'. 💛
The Winter House
Join in a snowy musical 🎶 adventure and magical journey around the world 🌎 SO excited for this interactive family concert including music by Vivaldi and Mozart with music- making and fun activities. Event tickets 🎫 £5, 20 Feb 2021 at 5pm. Thank you @voces8 🙏 🎶❄️🎻🎺🎧🎼
Zookeepers Turn Storytellers
Hats off to the staff at London Zoo and Whipsnade and their new 'Tails from the Zoo' initiative. A host of our favourite stories will be read by the keepers under the watchful eye of their animals.
You can watch online on the Zoos’ Facebook pages and YouTube each weekend from Saturday 16 January until Sunday 21 February.
First up is 'What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday' with Yoda the white-cheeked gibbon. Later in the series is The Tiger Who Came to Tea with Sumatran tigers, The Slightly Annoying Elephant at the elephant care centre at Whipsnade and Tom Fletcher’s There’s a Dragon in my Book with Ganas the Komodo dragon.
STORYTELLING SCHEDULE
Sat 16 Jan: London Zoo (Gibbons)
What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday, Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks
Sun 17 Jan: Whipsnade (Greater One Horned Rhinos)
Rhinos don’t eat Pancakes, Anna Kemp
Sat 23 Jan ZSL London Zoo (Gorilla Kingdom)
Gorilla, Anthony Browne
Sun 24 Jan: Whipsnade (Centre for Elephant Care)
The Slightly Annoying Elephant, David Walliams
Sat 30 Jan: London Zoo
(Partula Snail Breeding Room)
The Snail and the Whale, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Sun 31 Jan: Whipsnade (African Lions)
The Lion Inside, Rachel Bright
Sat 6 Feb: London Zoo
(Tiger Territory)
The Tiger who came to Tea, Judith Kerr
Sun 7 Feb: Whipsnade
(Whipsnade Railway)
Thomas the Tank Engine Goes on Safari, Katrina Pallant
Sat 13 Feb: London Zoo
(Attenborough Komodo Dragon House)
There’s a Dragon in Your Book, Tom Fletcher
Sun 14 Feb: Whipsnade
(Flamingo Pool)
The Go Away Bird, Julia Donaldson
Sat 20 Feb
ZSL London Zoo (Reptile House)
Oi Frog, Kes Gray and Jim Field
Sun 21 Feb: Whipsnade (Penguin Pool)
Lost and Found, Oliver Jeffers
Tales now extended to 27 & 28 Feb and every Sunday to 28 March at 6.30pm.
You can watch online on the Zoos’ Facebook pages and YouTube each weekend from Saturday 16 January until Sunday 21 February.
First up is 'What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday' with Yoda the white-cheeked gibbon. Later in the series is The Tiger Who Came to Tea with Sumatran tigers, The Slightly Annoying Elephant at the elephant care centre at Whipsnade and Tom Fletcher’s There’s a Dragon in my Book with Ganas the Komodo dragon.
STORYTELLING SCHEDULE
Sat 16 Jan: London Zoo (Gibbons)
What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday, Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks
Sun 17 Jan: Whipsnade (Greater One Horned Rhinos)
Rhinos don’t eat Pancakes, Anna Kemp
Sat 23 Jan ZSL London Zoo (Gorilla Kingdom)
Gorilla, Anthony Browne
Sun 24 Jan: Whipsnade (Centre for Elephant Care)
The Slightly Annoying Elephant, David Walliams
Sat 30 Jan: London Zoo
(Partula Snail Breeding Room)
The Snail and the Whale, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Sun 31 Jan: Whipsnade (African Lions)
The Lion Inside, Rachel Bright
Sat 6 Feb: London Zoo
(Tiger Territory)
The Tiger who came to Tea, Judith Kerr
Sun 7 Feb: Whipsnade
(Whipsnade Railway)
Thomas the Tank Engine Goes on Safari, Katrina Pallant
Sat 13 Feb: London Zoo
(Attenborough Komodo Dragon House)
There’s a Dragon in Your Book, Tom Fletcher
Sun 14 Feb: Whipsnade
(Flamingo Pool)
The Go Away Bird, Julia Donaldson
Sat 20 Feb
ZSL London Zoo (Reptile House)
Oi Frog, Kes Gray and Jim Field
Sun 21 Feb: Whipsnade (Penguin Pool)
Lost and Found, Oliver Jeffers
Tales now extended to 27 & 28 Feb and every Sunday to 28 March at 6.30pm.
Painting Box at the Ready
The Young Artists' Summer Show 2021 at the Royal Academy is now OPEN for entries. We are in love with this delightful feathery friend created by the brilliant Cressida (aged 5)! Submissions are open until 26 April. Nag your teacher to register your school and get your paint box out. Open to ages 5-19 yrs 🎨
Jane Austin LOVE FEST
Join for a bumper celebration of all things Austin on Valentine's Day. Get ready for fun readings, talks, music and games. Great for older kids with a passion for Austin's life and works.
Regency dress optional but encouraged!
14 Feb, 5-6pm. £10.
Regency dress optional but encouraged!
14 Feb, 5-6pm. £10.
Joyful Windows
Created by some of the brightest talents in theatre set design, Fortnums new windows in Piccadilly are here to bring a little cheer to the start of 2021. Plan a family stroll to see them this weekend ♥️
Anya's Marmalade
It's January and Seville oranges are in the shops. Here's Anya's family recipe for approx. 8 jars.
1 kg Seville oranges
75ml lemon juice
2kg grannulated sugar
🍊Scrub fruit removing buttons at top. Put oranges into a pan with 2.5L of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 2 hrs until skins are tender
🍊Remove oranges. Keep about 1.75L of cooking water (add water or reduce if needed)
🍊Cut oranges in half. Remove pips with a fork - flick them into a bowl. Strain juice from pips back into water and discard pips
🍊Cut oranges (peel & flesh) into thick/medium or thin shreds. Add to cooking water. Add lemon juice and sugar. Stir until disolved
🍊Bring to boil & boil rapidly until setting point is reached (104.5°C crinkle on saucer test*)
🍊Decant into sterile jars**and seal
*Drop a tsp of jam onto a very cold saucer (pop the saucer in the freezer/fridge before you start) and leave to set in the fridge for 5 mins. If the jam is firm and slightly crinkles when you push it you are ready to go
**Run the jars through the dishwasher or wash in hot soapy water and dry in a very low oven
1 kg Seville oranges
75ml lemon juice
2kg grannulated sugar
🍊Scrub fruit removing buttons at top. Put oranges into a pan with 2.5L of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 2 hrs until skins are tender
🍊Remove oranges. Keep about 1.75L of cooking water (add water or reduce if needed)
🍊Cut oranges in half. Remove pips with a fork - flick them into a bowl. Strain juice from pips back into water and discard pips
🍊Cut oranges (peel & flesh) into thick/medium or thin shreds. Add to cooking water. Add lemon juice and sugar. Stir until disolved
🍊Bring to boil & boil rapidly until setting point is reached (104.5°C crinkle on saucer test*)
🍊Decant into sterile jars**and seal
*Drop a tsp of jam onto a very cold saucer (pop the saucer in the freezer/fridge before you start) and leave to set in the fridge for 5 mins. If the jam is firm and slightly crinkles when you push it you are ready to go
**Run the jars through the dishwasher or wash in hot soapy water and dry in a very low oven
Get Snapping
With plenty of time to explore the outdoors at the moment we were delighted to read about the Young Landscape Photographer of the Year competition. Open to kids 18 yrs and under with a prize of £1,000 it might give your little people that extra bit of motivation to get outside with their cameras. Opens 13 Jan all entries need to be submitted by 14 April. Above pic taken by Fia (aged 15) on a walk with her Pa 📸
Highgate Cemetery
Do your kids like gothic and creepy? If so there is nowhere better than Highgate Cemetery on a foggy January weekend. With over 170,000 people in 53,000 graves its rammed with history. Search for the tombs of its famous residents including Karl Marx, Malcolm McLaren and Patrick Caulfield. We visited the East Cemetery - West is next on our list. There are loos at the entrance and shops to grab a coffee before you get there. Book your time slot before you go. Tickets: £4.50 adults, kids 50p. Leave your furry friend at home as dogs are not allowed