Autumn 2015
Your at-a-glance guide to family-friendly arts events in the City of London
Ci
ty
of
Lo n
The Sno wm an
on
ph
!
py
ym
ap
S
tH
C BB
d an
he Wolf and t ter e P
Ge
yO mi rchestra Plus Fa
ly
T
he
don
Welcome to the City! More than meets the (googly) eyes The City of London is home to a myriad of arts and cultural offerings for families, with many destinations just a stone’s throw from each another. Did you know, for example, that the Museum of London is just a five-minute walk from the Barbican Centre, home to two theatres, three cinemas, a concert hall, two galleries, the Barbican Children’s Library, plus cafés and a lakeside area for you to relax and replenish? It is also home to two worldclass symphony orchestras, the London Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra. The Guildhall School of Music & Drama shares the Barbican campus; this leading conservatoire also presents many public performances, runs a Saturday school for under-18s and a range of short courses.
Practical The City, or Square Mile, is best known as London’s financial centre, but it also has plenty of places to eat, shop, park, picnic and rest. London Wall Bar and Kitchen, London Wall Pizza Express and Barbican Kitchen are just some of the local eateries which cater specifically for families, with kids’ menus and special offers; there’s shopping galore to be enjoyed at One New Change; and Fortune Park and St Luke’s Gardens offer relaxing green space. Ample parking is available at the Barbican Centre. Check out the map included in this leaflet for more or visit our website, cityfamilyarts.co.uk.
Well-connected Cultural attractions in the City are well served by public transport with mainline train stations including Liverpool Street, Moorgate, Farringdon, Old Street, Cannon Street and underground stations Barbican, St Paul’s and Bank. With the arrival of Crossrail at Farringdon and Liverpool Street in 2018, an estimated 90,000 extra visitors will pass through this part of London every day, putting it more on the map than ever.
Regular family events As well as the events listed in the highlights calendar, your family can enjoy the following regular activities all year-round*: Framed Film Club, Barbican Cinemas 2 & 3 Every Sat 11am A year-round programme of film and learning for 4- to 11-year-olds Museum Explored, Museum of London Every Sun 12pm 5+s are invited to join Museum hosts and explore the galleries through fun, hands-on activities LSO Free Friday Lunchtime Concerts, LSO St Luke’s Fri 4 Sep, Fri 2 Oct, Fri 16 Oct, Fri 13 Nov 12.30pm Discover instruments in short, informal concerts by musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra Rhyme Time for Under-5s, Barbican Children’s Library Every Fri 10.30am (babies); Every Mon 10.45am (toddlers) & 4pm (3+) A great opportunity for children to experience stories, rhymes and music in a relaxed atmosphere Storytime for 3–5s, Barbican Children’s Library Every Mon 4pm An engaging session for pre-school children and a good way for young children to begin socialising * We advise you to check online or call the relevant organisation before your visit, as there may be instances where an event is cancelled
Family Arts Festival 2015 A nationwide celebration
Festival in the City of London
The Family Arts Festival is part of the Family Arts Campaign, supported by Arts Council England, which aims to develop the range of arts events and activities available to families.
You’ll see from the calendar that the City Family Arts Network is presenting events for all ages during the Festival period. Here are our top picks:
The Campaign is the initiative of eight organisations including the Association of British Orchestras, Dance UK, UK Theatre, Contemporary Visual Arts Network and Family and Childcare Trust. The first Family Arts Festival took place in October 2013, and since then each Festival has entertained tens of thousands of families across the country with its ambitious and diverse programme.
Search for events near you Visit familyartsfestival.com to search for events near you and sign up for the e-newsletter. Don’t forget to follow the Festival on social media too, to pick up special offers and read reviews from other families.
facebook.com/familyartsfestival
When the moon rises … you learn to fly! Sat 17 Oct, Milton Court Alongside actors, mime-artists and musicians from the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, one of Germany’s premier symphony orchestras, share in the dreamland adventures of a young boy as he learns to fly. Designed to let your imagination run wild, this family concert is a delightful adventure. Make Do and Mend at the Museum Sat 24 to Sun 1 Nov, Museum of London Crafts, storytelling and drama all about making do and mending. Make your own designs inspired by posters from the Second World War, use recycled fabrics to create artworks and learn 1940s playtime stories and songs. LSO Family Open Day: Alice in Wonderland Sun 25 Oct, LSO St Luke’s A weird and wacky open day of music, art and drama. Musicians from the London Symphony Orchestra will lead this celebration of all-things-Alice – make sure you look the part so you can fit in with the March Hare and all his friends! Visit cityfamilyarts.co.uk for complete listings.
@FamilyArtFest
This leaflet has been put together by the City Family Arts Network
For other attractions in the area, visit cityoflondon.gov.uk/thingstodo
Find us & find out more
Barbican Centre Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS
Milton Court (Guildhall School) 1 Milton Street, EC2Y 9BH
The Barbican is Europe’s largest multi-arts venue, iconic in its architecture. Exit Barbican tube at street level, walk through Beech Street tunnel and turn right on to Silk Street for the main entrance. The Barbican Children’s Library is at the back of the main library on Level 2. The Barbican’s family events include Framed Film Club, family concerts from resident and visiting orchestras and Big Barbican Adventure, a do-it-yourself adventure trail.
Milton Court is the Guildhall School’s state-of-theart new building, which includes a concert hall and two theatres. It’s located opposite the School’s Silk Street building, with the main entrance on the corner of Silk Street and Milton Street.
barbican.org.uk/families cityoflondon.gov.uk/services (Children’s Library)
Cinemas 2 & 3 Barbican Centre
Beech Street, EC1Y 8AA
The Barbican’s Cinemas 2 & 3 are located on the corner of Beech Street and Whitecross Street, i.e. the left-hand side of the tunnel as you approach from Barbican tube. As well as Framed Film Club, the Barbican Cinemas offer Parent & Baby screenings, with specially adapted light and sound to create a soothing, relaxed environment.
gsmd.ac.uk/visitingus
Guildhall School Silk Street, EC2Y 8DT
The Guildhall School is one of the world’s leading conservatoires and drama schools, with two buildings which are directly opposite each other. The Silk Street building is next to the Barbican Centre, with the main entrance on the same side of the street. gsmd.ac.uk/visitingus
161 Old Street, EC1V 9NG
LSO St Luke’s, owned by the London Symphony Orchestra, is a stunning 18th-century church restored to become a 21st-century performance venue. Leave Old Street tube via Subway 4, turning left. The spire of LSO St Luke’s will be immediately visible ahead, to the right. Whitecross Street, with its famous food market, is the road linking the Barbican with LSO St Luke’s. The LSO offers family concerts, early years workshops, singing days, open rehearsals and more at both LSO St Luke’s and the Barbican Centre. lso.co.uk/families
barbican.org.uk/film
LSO St Luke’s
Museum of London
150 London Wall, EC2Y 5HN
The Museum of London, near St Paul’s Cathedral, is the only museum in the capital dedicated to showcasing London through the ages. It is a family-friendly venue with guaranteed activities at weekends and school holidays; family activity bags and information sheets are available from the information desk. The Museum’s entrance is on a pedestrian high walk which can be reached by stairs, escalators or lifts from Aldersgate Street, London Wall or St Martin’s-le-Grand. museumoflondon.org.uk/families
Autumn 2015 Highlights
com See th e p 201 lete au 5 tum c city a fam lendar n ilya rts. at co.u k
For Barbican, Guildhall, Milton Court and LSO St Luke’s events, call the Barbican Box Office on 020 7638 8891. For Museum of London events, call the Museum Box Office on 020 7001 9844.
Barbican Centre
Guildhall School
LSO St Luke’s
Cinemas 2 & 3, Barbican Centre
Milton Court
Museum of London
September 2015 Until 29 Nov All day
The Barbican Exhibition: Building a Landmark EXHIBITION
All ages Free
Sun 13 Sep 12.30-4.30pm
Get Stuffed DIGITAL WORKSHOPS
7+
Sun 20 Sep 11am–5pm
Open House: Milton Court TOUR
All ages Free
Fri 2 Oct 6pm
Strike up the Band! CONCERT
All ages Free
Sun 4 Oct 10.30am–4.30pm
Community Singing Day: A Taste of America SINGING DAY
12+
£20, £15 concs.
Fri 9 Oct 12.30–1.15pm
Musical Storytelling for Under-5s CONCERT
1–5
£3 u-5s, £5 adults
Sun 11 Oct 12.30–4.30pm
Stop-motion Animation Creation DIGITAL WORKSHOPS
7+
Free, ticketed
Sat 17 Oct 3pm
When the moon rises… you learn to fly! CONCERT
6+
£10 u-16s, £20 adults
Wed 21 – Sat 24 Oct 7.45pm
Out of India: Modern Moves DANCE
12+
£20 (50% off u-16s)
Free, ticketed
Family Arts Festival 2015
October 2015
Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov 12.30–4pm Make Do and Mend at the Museum WORKSHOPS
All ages Free, drop-in
Sun 25 Oct 10am-4pm
LSO Family Open Day: Alice in Wonderland WORKSHOPS
4–7
£5 u-18s, £7 adults
Thu 29 Oct 1-2pm
BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert: Alice Sara Ott CONCERT
8+
£5 u-18s, £12 adults
Thu 29 Oct 6.15pm
Reveal Ravel: LSO Family Workshop WORKSHOP + CONCERT
8–16
£5 u-18s, £10 adults
Sun 8 Nov 2.30pm
LSO Family Concert: Wonderland CONCERT + WORKSHOPS
7–12
£5 u-18s, £10 adults
Sat 14 – Sun 15 Nov 12–4pm
Celebrating the City: Family Festival Weekend WORKSHOPS
All ages Free
Sat 21 – Sun 22 Nov 11am
Framed Film Festival 2015 CINEMA
4–11
From £3.50
Sun 22 Nov 12.30-4.30pm
Animated Animals DIGITAL WORKSHOPS
7+
Free, ticketed
Sat 28 Nov 11am-5pm
Serious Play: The World of Charles & Ray Eames EXHIBITION + WORKSHOP
All ages Free
November 2015
December 2015 Sun 13 Dec 7pm LSO Choral Christmas CONCERT 8+
£5 u-18s, £10-29 adults
Thu 17 – Wed 30 Dec 10.30am, 1 & 3.30pm
Get Happy THEATRE
4+ £12
Fri 18 Dec 6.15pm
BBC Singers Plus Family: A Child’s Christmas in Wales
8–16 £5
INTERACTIVE INTRODUCTION + CONCERT
Sat 19 Dec 1.30, 3.30 & 5.30pm The Snowman and Peter and the Wolf CINEMA AND CONCERT All ages £16–30 (50% off u-16s) Sun 27 Dec – Sun 3 Jan 12.30-4pm London Celebrates HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS
All ages Free, drop-in
Please note booking fees apply (ranging from £0.60 to £4 per booking) to tickets booked online or by phone. This calendar is designed to give an overview of activity. Please visit the related websites (listed overleaf) for comprehensive information on all events, including further details about content and suitability, how to purchase tickets and any terms and conditions.
Old Street
ECROSS STREET MAR HIT W
KE
T
CROSSR COMING
AIL IN
St. Lukes
gs C
ros s
n
gdo
in Farr
ditch
Shore
une Fort Park
Mil to Cou n rt
an Barbic
Chil
dren ’s Libr ary
M
ll ha f a i l do l o a r m Gu ho Sc & D c usi
tre ea h T & Da
Kin
e nc
EX P L ORE Bank
Museum of London
St. Pauls
Moorg
ate
Liverpool St.