Join and learn during Family Day in Chisenhale Gallery on Sunday afternoon, 7th December 2008.

Your family is warmly invited to join artist educators Jenny Hendra, Alice Finbow and Sarah Michaels, from the Institute of Education's Artist Teacher Programme, for a family afternoon of art workshops inspired by Simon Martin's exhibition. Come ready to investigate and reinterpret objects!

With drawing, storyboarding and bite sized performance, families will think creatively about familiar objects, work together to bring life to everyday items and have a family friendly introduction to the exhibition. See you there!

Family Day is in the gallery on Sunday December 7th, from 2pm-5pm.

Find out more about Chisenhale Gallery (this website is in development, so scroll down for information and click under Simon Martin about Family Day), email or call 020 8981 4518.

How to get there:

Trains - The closest train station is Cambridge Heath (London) Rail, then London Fields and Bethnal Green.

Underground - The closest tube stations are Mile End and Bow Road, then Bethnal Green.

Buses - 277 (to Victoria Park); 339, 8 and D6 (get off at Grove Road junction with Roman Road); 338 (get off at Grove Road junction with Victoria Park Road); 25 (get off at Mile End station).

Plan your visit to London with Transport for London's Journey Planner, whether you are walking, cycling or using the public transport system.

The London Children's Film Festival is upon us again and you can join in some of the fun for free in the Barbican from Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th November 2008.

It's the fourth year of the London Children's Film Festival and there are various school and family events all over the city including The Electric Cinema, Greenwich Picturehouse, Phoenix Cinema, Rich Mix, Rio Cinema, Ritzy Cinema and Stratford Picturehouse East.

Not everything in the festival is free but Drop-In Zone films, events and activities at the Barbican are. Open to all ages.

Programme (of free events!) in the Barbican Centre

Sat 22 Nov: 10am-4pm
Animate London: The Pixelise the Population Project - This festival needs you! The LCFF is running a mass pixelisation project, aiming to animate as many Londoners as possible to create an animation starring you! The Pixelise the Population Project will take just a few minutes to participate in so drop in and have a go. See the results played back on the big screen at the end of the festival.

Sun 23 Nov: 10am-4pm
Crafts Corner - Why not go to one of the African themed films, then have a go at real African Crafts? Inspired by the festival's films there will be lots of opportunities for you to get creative. (Available throughout the festival)

Sat 29 Nov: 10am - 4pm
Flipbooks - Star as a character in your own flipbook.
Film Wardrobe - Try on film costumes and have your picture taken as a star.

Sunday 30 November: 10am-3pm
Free Screens - Sit back in a beanbag, relax and enjoy short films especially for children and by children.
Tune In - Inspired by the exhibition Frequency and Volume make your own vegetable radio and use your body as a radio transmitter in the Curve Gallery. 

Find out more about the London Children's Film Festival (for free events put 'free' in the search engine).

How to get there

The closest tube stations are located at Farringdon and Barbican.

If travelling by bus the 55, 63 and 243 serve Farringdon and the 4, 55, 56, 100, 153 and 243 all serve Barbican.

To help you plan your visit, visit Transport for London's Journey Planner, whether you're walking, cycling, driving, using the tube or buses, Journey Planner will provide the fastest, most efficient route.

Now in its sixth year, Yellow Umbrella Day is Chiswick's largest annual charity event and Chiswick Park's celebrated community festival.

We will be raising money for 3 children's charities. The Log Cabin, The Shooting Star Children's Hospice and The Kid's Cookery School.

At the event there will be live performances from Elevation - a U2 tribute band, as well as local bands including Cushh and Two Spot Gobi.

Entertainment on the day will include the following: A Cake Bake Contest; Circus Skill Workshop; Street Performers; BBQ; Bar and Gaming Stations.

For the Kids there will be the following entertainment: Pony Rides; Mask Making; Insect Circus Museum and Characters; Treasure Hunt; Bouncy Castle; Face Painters and Giant Games.

BUT that is not all. There will be a grand prize draw with a chance to win amazing prizes, including a trip to Disneyland Paris, A Private Screening for you and 53 friends in Paramount's exclusive Chiswick Park Cinema; A meal for 2 at the Chiswick Union; and Family Tickets for London Duck Tours, Pit Stop Promotions Go-Kart Track, The London Wetlands Centre and Any UK Sealife Centre.

This fantastic event takes place at Chiswick Park on Sunday September 21st fr

Find out more about Yellow Umbrella Day.

How to get there

The closest tube station is located at Chiswick Park.

If travelling by bus the 27, 94, 190, 237, 267, 272, 391, 440, E3 and H91 all serve the area.

Join us for introductory sessions in creating ambient electronic music, make your own soundworlds inspired by this years Ether artists, from Goldfrapp to Harmonia.

Suitable for children aged six and over, every child must be accompanied by one adult and please be aware that spaces are very limited.

Workshops begin at 11am, 1pm & 3pm.

Find out more about free events at the Southbank Centre.

How to get there:

To help plan your visit to the Clore Ballroom, consult Transport for London's Journey planner. The Clore Ballroom is part of the Southbank Centre, South of the River Thames in central London and is easily accessible by foot, there are also good transport links:


Rail - Waterloo, Waterloo East or walk over the Hungerford Bridge from Charing Cross.

Underground - The closest tube stations are Waterloo (on the Northern, Bakerloo & Jubilee lines), Southwark (on the Jubilee line) or walk over the Hungerford Bridge from Embankment (on the Northern, Bakerloo, District and Circle lines).

Buses - All the following buses stop on Waterloo Bridge and you can take the steps down to Southbank on either side of the bridge or use the pavements that slope down away from the river and then double back to take you to Upper Ground, which runs behind the Southbank Centre: 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, X68, Riverside Bus (RV1 - which also stops on Upper Ground which runs by the back of the Southbank Centre). 77 (Upper Ground near the Festival Hall), 211 & 507 (Waterloo Road near the main station), 381 (Stamford Street). 45, 63 & 100 all stop at the southern end of Blackfriars Bridge, and there is a 10 minute walk along the riverside to the Southbank Centre.

A capoeira group from Rio De Janeiro led by Mestre Guimba. Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art that incorporates dance, acrobatics, martial arts and music. The workshops caters for beginners and those who have had some experience of capoeira, and includes a spectacular demonstration by the workshop leaders.

Suitable for children aged four years and above.

Workshops begin at 11am, 1pm & 3pm.

Find out more about free events at the Southbank Centre.

This spring holiday at the Museum of London is all about treasure; from digging for treasure, finding out about treasure that has been found, and learning how to protect your treasure!

There really is an awful lot going on, check out the list below for more details...

Working water - Saturday/Sunday  - 1pm and 3pm
Try out our working replica of a Roman waterlifting machine. Discover what it might have been like being a slave in London 2000 years ago.
 
The secret of London Bridge - Saturday April 5th, Monday April 7th, Wednesday April 9th - 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
Come and hear some mysterious stories about discovering treasures. What did the pedlar find by London Bridge, and where are other treasures hiding? Storytelling 5+

Digger - Sunday April 6th - 1pm and 2pm
This storytelling session for young children is about an archaeologist called Digger. Learn about the treasures that could be under London and why digging for treasure can be fun. Storytelling 3+

London treasures - Monday April 7th, Tuesday April 8th - 12pm and 2.30pm
The Museum of London is full of treasures. For two days we will be bringing some special ones out of the stores. What do they tell us about London and where have they been found? With Museum specialists children and adults will be discovering what a treasure really is. Drop-in 5+

Working water - Monday April 7th, Tuesday April 8th, Thursday April 10th, Friday April 11th, Monday April 14th, Tuesday April 15th, Wednesday April 16th, Thursday April 17th, Friday April 18th - 12pm and 12.30pm
Try out our working replica of a Roman waterlifting machine. Discover what it might have been like being a slave in London 2000 years ago.
 
Treasures from everyday London - Tuesday April 8th - 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm
What is a treasure? Does it have to be worth loads of money or can it be something ordinary? This storytelling session will create a sense of excitement around everyday things used in London today.

What will you find? - Wednesday April 9th, Saturday April 12th, Sunday April 13th - 12.30pm and 2.30pm
Like a game of battleships you never know what you will find when digging for old things. In this exciting workshop you'll have the chance to create your own archaeology game. No knowledge about archaeology needed and you might be surprised by what you find. Drop-in 5+
 
Working Water - Wednesday April 9th - 12.30pm
Try out our working replica of a Roman waterlifting machine. Discover what it might have been like being a slave in London 2000 years ago.
 
Inside the Treasure Chest - Thursday April 10th, Friday April 11th, Saturday April 12th - 12.30pm, 2pm, 3pm
Together with our storyteller open the exciting treasure chest, it is full of stories and special things from the museum's collection. You will be spoilt for choice and may never look at museum objects in the same way again. Storytelling 5+

Weird and wonderful - Thursday April 10th, Friday April 11th - 1.10pm
Ever wondered what mysterious objects museums have in their stores? Meet Museum of London curators who will show you a variety of strange treasures and explain the fascinating stories behind them. Drop-in object handling 5+.
  
Treasures from everyday London - Sunday April 13th, Wednesday April 16th - 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
What is a treasure? Does it have to be worth loads of money or can it be something ordinary? This storytelling session will create a sense of excitement around everyday things used in London today. Storytelling 5+
 
Digger - Monday April 14th, Tuesday April 15th - 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
This storytelling session for young children is about an archaeologist called Digger. Learn about the treasures that could be under London and why digging for treasure can be fun. Storytelling 3+

Keeping it safe - Tuesday April 15th, Wednesday April 16th - 12.30pm and 2.30pm
Need somewhere to put your treasures? In this creative art workshop you will be making your own treasure chest to take home and fill.
 
Shiny, shimmering gold - Thursday April 17th, Friday April 18th - 12.30pm and 2.30pm
A hoard of Roman gold coins is one of the most amazing treasures on display in the museum. Join this art workshop to get to know more about this treasure and make your version of a Roman coin.

Precious stories - Thursday April 17th, Friday April 18th, Saturday April 19th - 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
The stories behind our objects make them treasures for London's history. This inspiring storytelling session will tell you about how the Cheapside hoard came to the Museum and the background of other treasured objects.

Treasured Londoners - Saturday April 19th, Sunday April 20th - 12.30pm and 2.30pm
It's the people that make London. Who do you treasure? Make a piece of art to commemorate or in honour of somebody important to you or London.

Find out more about events at the Museum of London.

How to get there

Museum entrance is located on a pedestrian high walk which can be reached by stairs, escalators or lifts from Aldersgate Street; London Wall; or St Martins-le-Grand.

By Tube - Travel to Barbican on the Circle or Hammersmith&City lines, to Moorgate on the Northern line or St. Paul's on the Central line.

By Bus - The following buses stop nearby: 4, 8, 25, 56, 100, 25, 172, 242 and 521.

By Train - The Museum is close to Liverpool Street Station, which has national rail links. Barbican and Moorgate  stations both service local trains.
 

Every Saturday afternoon Little People from all over London are discovering their inner baker.

The fun starts at 2.30pm at Vilandry; Little People meet baker Bassett and learn how to make and decorate their very own gingerbread cookie.

The afternoon's programme goes like this:

1. Make and decorate cookie.
2. Join mum and dad - who can lunch, drink in Villandry bar or browse the food store
3. Collect cookie and eat it or take it home for later!

Sounds great! To find out more information please call 020 7631 3131.

How to get there

The closest tube station is at Great Portland Street.

If travelling by bus the 18, 27, 30, 88, 205, 453 and C2 all serve the area.