Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
Welcome back to our monthly roundup of the best free things to do with children in the capital (and beyond). I’m Emmy and for the last five years I’ve been hunting down the best events and hangouts for Londoners with young kids and writing about them on my blog, bablands.com. I’ve learnt a lot about kids’ activities since I started blogging, but one of my most surprising discoveries is that the best stuff is often free. With that in mind, I’ll be partnering with MoneyMagpie each month to bring you the best free days out for families in London and beyond.
February is one of our favourite months to head out and load up on complimentary culture – often courtesy of the education teams at our favourite museums and galleries. After a long, cold January we’re all ready for some excitement, and the first half-term break of the year reliably delivers, with Valentine’s-themed activities to fall for and Lunar New Year celebrations you’ll be over the moon about. With free family festivals, spectacular performances, and endless opportunities to get creative this February, there’s never been a better time to be frugal.
British Museum will host a special Chinese New Year edition of its Little Feet under-5s sessions on the 3rd. Spot the hidden tigers in the pop-up rainforest, create a tiger-striped bracelet and take part in a story session about the 12 zodiac animals.
Museum of London Docklands celebrates Lunar New Year from the 4th-5th, with highlights including martial arts workshops, ribbon dancing, crafts, storytelling, film screenings and the chance to watch a Chinese dance troupe perform a magnificent lion dance.
There’s plenty of free fun to be had at the Southbank Centre’s annual Imagine Children’s Festival. Don’t miss Anna Bruder’s Family Activity Trail, Shape the World with OKIDO, ZooNation Youth Company’s Hip-Hop Half-Term and lots more.
Tate Modern will host two UNIQLO Tate Play workshops this month. Use recycled materials to create a futuristic life-size artwork in Holiday Make Studio on the 12th-20th or create stunning collages in Make Studio: Celebrate from the 26th.
The Foundling Museum is running a packed programme of free sessions this month, with opportunities to make your own biscuit cutter, create 3D models of seascapes, design your own uniform and make a musical instrument inspired by nautical wind instruments.
Llangefni’s Oriel Mon is offering two creative family workshops this month. Choose from Celtic Art with Eleri Jones on the 22nd or Environmental Art with Tim Pugh on 23rd.
Head to Newcastle-upon-Tyne for Baltic Family Days on the 23rd and 24th. Combine with a visit to the gallery’s free Albert Potrony: equal play exhibition.
Bristol Museum & Gallery is hosting a Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger event on the 5th-6th, with highlights including dance performances and martial arts demonstrations.
Head to The Albert Halls, Stirling, on the 18th for a free Family Day featuring graffiti art, animation, fruit DJing, circus skills and photo booths.
To read last month’s Bablands Column click here.