20 awesome things to do with kids in London: December 2023

Shifting Landscapes: An Immersive Exhibition is on at The Bargehouse from 1st-10th. A unique, multisensory ode to our changing Earth, the exhibition promises to immerse visitors in the music of birdsong, the migration of microbes and the breath of a rainforest. Free.
Head to V&A for Christmas Video Game Dance Party on the 2nd-3rd, when ages 5+ will learn how to create their own interactive video dance games. Or treat little ones aged 0-3 to a music and free-play session in Design Baby: Identity and Expression on the 6th. Free/paid.
There’s loads of free fun to be had at Museum of London Docklands this month, including a Snowy Silent Disco on the 2nd, the immersive Fun at the Frost Fair event from the 16th-20th and an interactive Festive Family Gospel concert hosted by Baby Broadway on the 20th. Free.
Foundling Museum is hosting a Christmas Craft Workshop for children aged 12 and under on the 2nd. This event is part of the museum’s Christmas family day, which will include a free carol concert featuring festive classics performed by The Borough Welsh Choir. Free.
London Eye’s Sky Candy Emporium opens from the 2nd-10th. Guests will be able to eat their way through a pick-n-mix forest, interact with the Candy Lab and pluck floating candy floss from sugar filled clouds above their heads in this unique sensory experience. Paid.
Polka will host its Big Bash Party and Snow Queen Performance on the 3rd. As well as enjoying the theatre’s Christmas performance, guest can enjoy face painting, glitter tattoos, balloon artists, puppeteers and a delicious winter picnic with fizz and bubbles. Paid.
From the 6th, The Moonwalkers: A Journey With Tom Hanks arrives at Lightroom, where powerful projection and audio technology will transform the immense space into a vehicle for a spectacular immersive voyage to our closest celestial neighbour. Paid.
Head to the British Museum on the 7th for Little Feet: Delight in December. Discover museum objects that celebrate the cold weather, explore the darker nights or help to warm you up when it’s cold outside in this cosy creative session for under-5s. Free.
Told by an Idiot’s Get Happy is on at the Barbican from 7th-19th. Enter a world of artfully controlled chaos for all ages: a mysterious bag that drops from a height, shoes that have magical powers and the strangest egg sandwich made in front of your eyes. Paid.
Dublin-born fashion designer Robin Lynch’s NOW Gallery exhibition opens from the 8th. Housed in a huge bouncy castle-esque inflatable structure, Greetings from Ireland will plunge visitors into the bold, playful universe of Lynch’s eponymous menswear label. Free.
Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition opens in South Kensington from the 8th. An Instagram sensation brought to life, the exhibition will offer an immersive, IRL exploration of real-life locations through the lens of the director’s iconic aesthetic. Paid.
Barbican is hosting a special Christmas edition of its Family Film Club on the 9th. Enjoy a screening of Tim Burton’s classic The Nightmare Before Christmas followed by a Festive Film Quiz – with festive jumper wearing strongly encouraged. Paid.
Half Moon’s Big Family Art Event runs on the 9th. This interactive art and literature experience will feature live drawing and storytelling sessions, interactive song-based shows, stimulating creative workshops and lots of opportunities to join in. Paid.
From the 9th-17th, Riverside Studios is hosting Riverscribes Presents Christmas Workshops for Kids for children aged 6-9. Choose from Christmas card making, writing and storytelling, Christmas stocking making or a Christmas singalong. Free.
RA invites kids of all ages to create their own textured and collaged artwork in Family Studio: Sir Frank Bowling RA on the 10th, while on the 13th its Early Years Studio: Shadows offers under-5s the chance to explore light, dark, shadows in a playful, open-ended way. Free.
Marching Orders: Chaotic Christmas will be at NAM from 12th-15th. This family tour will explore some of the festive items on display in the museum, answering questions such as “how did a football match call a temporary halt to the fighting on the Western front?” Free.
Takahiro Komuro’s Phantom Cave opens at Stolenspace Gallery from the 14th. Arranged in a fantasy cave-like setting, the artist’s sculptures draw influence from 1980s fantasy and science fiction films, vintage American action figures and Japanese soft vinyl monsters. Free.
Dulwich Picture Gallery will host Family Festival: Winter Light on the 16th. Activities will take inspiration from the work of Paul Rubens and will include sketching classes, fashion catwalks and trails around the gallery. Paid.
Bluey’s Big Play is on at Royal Festival Hall from the 20th. When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans. Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. Paid.
The much-anticipated Balloon Museum opens in Old Billingsgate from the 26th. Embark on a thrilling journey through over-the-top, oversized and emotive immersive installations, including an inflatable labyrinth and balloon pool. Paid.