Kids

Fun Family Science Day

Scientific activities and adventures to boggle little ones' minds, including a wax workshop, Professor Brainstorm show, the chance to get up close and personal with slime, and an ice cream workshop.

A super-local festival that brings an eclectic programme of films and workshops to 'pop up' cinemas in various Southside venues (cafes, pubs, clubs, schools, libraries, parks, even a boat shed). Film choices are often site specific or engage audiences by producing an event around the film.

Southside, Glasgow

Sun 19 May

Times vary / £5–£6

Scotland's Nature Festival

For ten days in May, the natural beauty of Scotland is highlighted as communities all over the country hold events that celebrate the plethora of lochs, forests, coastline, valleys and mountains we call home. Ranger-led walks, nature photography workshops and storytelling in the forest are just some of the events on the…

Various venues, Scotland

Sun 19 May

Times & prices vary

Mon 20 May

Times & prices vary

Tue 21 May

Times & prices vary

…and 5 more dates until 26 May

Meadows Festival

Edinburgh's festival season kicks off with the Meadows Festival, which offers the best local bands, dance groups, quirky performers and workshops amidst lots of family-friendly activities.

The Meadows, Edinburgh

Sat 1 Jun

Times vary / Free

Sun 2 Jun

Times vary / Free

Jack and Jill Market

An opportunity for mums and dads to buy and sell nearly-new baby and kids' (ages 0–9) items of good quality. Book a stall to sell or turn up on the day to grab a bargain.

Dundee International Sports Complex

Sun 19 May

£1 / 07794 240065

10:30 – 13:30
10:30 – 13:30

Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh

Sun 19 May

£1 / 07794 240065

10:30 – 13:30
10:30 – 13:30

The Play Drome, Clydebank

Sun 19 May

£1 / 07794 240065

10:30 – 13:30
10:30 – 13:30

Also on at:

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Milkshake! Live: Channel 5 And Premier Stage Productions

Children's show starring presenters from the TV channel, plus familiar characters including Little Princess, Scruff, Noddy, Tessie Bear, Roary, Big Chris, FiFi and Bumble.

Baths Hall, Scunthorpe

Mon 22 Jul

£12 (Children £10; £40) / 0844 854 2776

13:00
15:30

Beck Theatre, Hayes

Fri 2 Aug

£13 (Children £11; £44) / 020 8561 8371

13:00
15:30

Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea

Tue 28 May

£14 (Children £12; £48) / 01702 351135

13:00
15:30

Also on at:

St Ann's Well Gardens Spring Festival

Fun and activities for all,music stage with local bands,rollerdisco,skatepark,Brighton School of Samba,Adur Concert Band, market stalls,arts and crafts,nerfwars,karate taster sessions,drama,kids fun zone,Sing and sign sessions,WI cake competition,community arts project,Heritage walks,food from around the world, Hog…

St Ann's Well Gardens, Hove

Sat 18 May

Free / 01273 917272

Part of Brighton Fringe Festival.

11:00 – 19:00

Annual Model Railway Exhibition

See static displays of trains and working layouts, with trade stands.

Lutterworth Sports Centre

Sat 18 May

£4 (Children £1.50; £8) / 01455 203307

10:00 – 16:30

Happy Ears

Music group for dads and male carers and their little ones, giving mum the chance for a quiet lie in. Ages 0–3.

Calton Centre, Edinburgh

Sat 25 May

£5 per session / 07778 117333

10:00 – 10:45

Sat 1 Jun

£5 per session / 07778 117333

10:00 – 10:45

Sat 8 Jun

£5 per session / 07778 117333

10:00 – 10:45

…and 6 more dates until 31 Aug

Southside Fringe

A 16-day festival incorporating music, theatre and activities for all the family.

Southside, Glasgow

Sun 19 May

Times & prices vary

Mon 20 May

Times & prices vary

Tue 21 May

Times & prices vary

…and 5 more dates until 26 May back to top

Alien Invasion

A special extraterrestrial exhibition featuring costumes and props from some of the most iconic sci-fi films and TV shows of all time. Browse memorabilia from the likes of Predator, Star Wars and Doctor Who, or take in the 360 degree film, We Are Aliens, narrated by Rupert Grint (AKA Ron Weasley).

Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh

Sat 18 May

Included in admission / 0131 550 7800

10:00 – 17:30

Sun 19 May

Included in admission / 0131 550 7800

10:00 – 17:30

Mon 20 May

Included in admission / 0131 550 7800

10:00 – 17:30

…and 39 more dates until 28 Jun

The Flying Theatre

Fully functioning theatre based on a bus, travelling the continent with unique storytelling sessions. Suitable for all ages.

Riverside Museum, Glasgow

Sat 18 May

Free / 0141 287 2660

10:00 – 16:00

Sun 19 May

Free / 0141 287 2660

10:00 – 16:00

Minibeast Mayhem

Creep into the world of minibeasts, bugs and creepy crawlies. There'll be some pond dipping, so dress for splashes!

Dawsholm Park, Glasgow

Sat 18 May

Free / 0141 632 9299

Part of Scotland's Nature Festival.

13:00 – 15:00

Tudor Falconry Day

National Trust: Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbot Museum And Village, Lacock, Chippenham

Sat 18 May

Free, plus admission £10.80, child £5.40, family £27 / 01249 730141

10:30 – 16:00

Sun 19 May

Free, plus admission £10.70, child £5.30, family £27.30 / 01249 730141

10:30 – 16:00
10:30 – 16:00

Deans Festival

Family funday! Great day out for all ages and abilities! Climbing wall, games, sporting activities, displays, stalls, refreshments, top food, bar, plus many more fabulous things to see and do. Community Event of the Year 2012 - Argus Achievement Awards. A family friendly event (i.e. suitable for all ages).

Woodingdean Primary School, Brighton

Sat 18 May

Free / 01273 917272

Part of Brighton Fringe Festival.

11:00 – 16:00

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NoFit State Circus: Bianco

The latest show from the British modern-circus troupe, featuring circus acts, aerial acrobatics and live music.

NoFit State Big Top, Hove Lawn

Sat 18 May

£18 (£12) / 01273 917272

14:30
19:30

Sun 19 May

£18 (£12) / 01273 917272

15:00
19:30

Wed 22 May

£18 (£12) / 01273 917272

19:30

…and 11 more dates until 2 Jun

Pasha Kovalev & Katya Virshilas: An Evening With Stars From Strictly Come Dancing

Two of the more recent additions to TV's Strictly family of professional dancers embark on a national tour, performing ballroom and Latin routines alongside guest dancers and pupils from a local dance school. Kovalev and Virshilas will also take questions from the audience.

Beck Theatre, Hayes

Tue 4 Jun

£21 (£19.50) / 020 8561 8371

19:30

Belfast Waterfront

Tue 28 May

£22.50 / 028 9032 5913

20:00

The Core At Corby Cube

Thu 23 May

£19 (£17) / 01536 470 470

19:30

Also on at:

Rock-a-Buy Baby & Kids Market

Market for second-hand baby and kids' goods, with stalls from local family-focal businesses too.

Alona Hotel, Motherwell

Sun 2 Jun

£1 (Children free) / 07926 632337

10:30 – 13:30

Sun 7 Jul

£1 (Children free) / 07926 632337

10:30 – 13:30

Sun 4 Aug

£1 (Children free) / 07926 632337

10:30 – 13:30

…and 4 more dates until 1 Dec

Time Capsule, Coatbridge

Sat 18 May

£1 (Children free) / 07926 632337

13:00 – 15:30

Sat 22 Jun

£1 (Children free) / 07926 632337

13:00 – 15:30

Sat 24 Aug

£1 (Children free) / 07926 632337

13:00 – 15:30

…and 2 more dates until 26 Oct

Show Me: Chris And Pui

Sing songs, discover musical instruments and play games with BBC presenters Chris Jarvis and Pui.

Broadway Theatre, London SE6

Sun 19 May

£12 (Children £10) / 020 8690 0002

13:00
16:00

The Core At Corby Cube

Sat 25 May

£10 (£8) / 01536 470 470

11:00
14:30

Dorking Halls

Sun 2 Jun

£12 (Children £10) / 01306 881717

11:00
14:00

Also on at:

Spot's Birthday Party

Songs, stories and games in this fun-packed birthday party for Spot and his friends Steve the Monkey, Tom the Crocodile and Marco the Rabbit Magician who'll be performing a few tricks. Ages 2+.

Dundee Rep

Sat 18 May

£12 (Children £8.50) / 01382 223530

13:30

Sun 19 May

£12 (Children £8.50) / 01382 223530

His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen

Thu 13 Jun

£12 / 01224 641122

10:00

Fri 14 Jun

£12 / 01224 641122

Sat 15 Jun

£12 / 01224 641122

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Story Time

England's Lane Books, London NW3

Mon 20 May

Phone for prices / 020 7596 9764

11:00

Fri 24 May

Phone for prices / 020 7596 9764

16:00

Mon 27 May

Phone for prices / 020 7596 9764

11:00

…and 18 more dates until 29 Jul

Leytonstone Library, London E11

Fri 24 May

Free / 020 8496 1190

13:30 – 14:30

Fri 31 May

Free / 020 8496 1190

13:30 – 14:30

Fri 7 Jun

Free / 020 8496 1190

13:30 – 14:30

…and 7 more dates until 26 Jul

Linghams Bookshop, Wirral

Sat 25 May

Phone for prices / 0151 342 7290

11:00

Sat 1 Jun

Phone for prices / 0151 342 7290

11:00 – 11:30

Sat 8 Jun

Phone for prices / 0151 342 7290

11:00 – 11:30

…and 7 more dates until 27 Jul

Also on at:

Sunday Plant Sale

Brighten up your garden with a selection of home-grown garden plants, with proceeds going towards moorland conservation work.

National Trust: Marsden Moor Estate, Huddersfield

Sun 9 Jun

Old Goods Yard At Marsden Station

Free, plus admission charges / 01484 847016

11:00 – 15:00

Sun 14 Jul

Old Goods Yard At Marsden Station

Free, plus admission charges / 01484 847016

11:00 – 15:00

Sun 11 Aug

Old Goods Yard At Marsden Station

Free, plus admission charges / 01484 847016

11:00 – 15:00

Sun 8 Sep

Old Goods Yard At Marsden Station

Free, plus admission charges / 01484 847016

11:00 – 15:00

The Very Scariesome Lollipop Lady

A tale told in rhyme. A story of bravery, busy roads, friendship, a magical lollipop stick, and a really, really, really scary road crossing patrol officer. Ages 3-8. Babies welcome. Award-winning comic Martha McBrier’s first children’s show. “Resembles a Roald Dahl novel or a Dr Seuss poem”(Broadway Baby), “Warm, funny…

The Quadrant, Brighton

Tue 28 May

Free / 01273 917272

Part of Brighton Fringe Festival.

14:00 – 15:00

Wed 29 May

Free / 01273 917272

Part of Brighton Fringe Festival.

14:00 – 15:00

Thu 30 May

Free / 01273 917272

Part of Brighton Fringe Festival.

14:00 – 15:00

…and 3 more dates until 2 Jun

West End Festival

Taking over the West End of Glasgow each year, the festival treats the ears to a great musical line-up, tantalises all the senses with a carnival and delves into the creative depths of local studios and exhibitions with the Hidden Lane Festival.

West End, Glasgow

Fri 31 May

Times & prices vary

Sat 1 Jun

Times & prices vary

Sun 2 Jun

Times & prices vary

…and 28 more dates until 30 Jun

Zippos Circus: Carnaval

The newest show from the well-travelled circus, featuring horse rider Nicky de Neumann, a bunch of motorbikes in a giant ball known as the 'Globe of Death' and the flying acrobats of Havana Troupe, among many other circus favourites.