January 2026
Christmas may be over, but there’s still plenty of family fun to enjoy in London this January.
From free light displays and story-filled festivals to cosy theatre and hands-on museum events, there’s lots to help beat the January blues.
We’ve also rounded up great shows ending this month, plus budget-friendly ideas that are easy to slot into family weekends.
The best things to do with kids in London this January, organised by age.
Events for 0–5 year olds
🎵 Groove Sensation sensory music show
A lively, sensory music experience for babies, toddlers and their grown-ups, blending funk, jazz and gentle electronic sounds.
With animations, interaction and plenty of room for dancing and joining in, it’s designed to keep little ones engaged without needing them to sit still.
Event details
Date: Saturday 24 January 2026
Ages: 0–4 years
Where: Lyric Hammersmith Theatre (Studio), W6
📖 Story Festival @ Young V&A (free event)
A one-day, drop-in festival filling the Young V&A with free performances, storytelling and hands-on creative activities. Expect music, puppetry, dance and sensory storytelling throughout the day, with plenty to dip in and out of and no booking needed.
Event details
Date: Saturday 24 January 2026, 11.00 am – 3.00 pm
Ages: All ages
Where: Young V&A, Bethnal Green, E2
🎶 Orchestra for Tots, an interactive classical concert
A lively, hands-on concert where toddlers sit close to the musicians and explore Baroque music through clapping, stamping and movement.
Relaxed and playful, it’s designed especially for ages 2–5 and works well as a first live music experience.
Event details
Date: Sunday 18 January 2026 (10.30 am & 12.00 pm)
Ages: 2–5 years
Where: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1
✨ Winter Lights @ Canary Wharf (free event)
Canary Wharf’s much-loved light festival returns with large-scale installations from international artists, turning the estate into an evening trail of glowing, interactive artworks.
Easy to dip in and out of, it’s a great after-school or early evening event to beat the January blues that’s also completely free.
Event details
Dates: Tuesday 20 – Saturday 31 January 2026, 5.00 – 10.00 pm
Ages: All ages
Where: Canary Wharf, E14
🎨 Barbapapa (1970s animated kids show screening)
A nostalgic screening of the much-loved Barbapapa animated series, featuring the colourful, shape-shifting characters from the classic picture books.
Screened in both French and English, it’s a gentle, low-key option for young children and a fun hit of nostalgia for grown-ups too.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 10 & Sunday 18 January 2026, 11.00 am
Ages: 2 years+
Where: The Well Walk Theatre, London
🍎 Snow White & the Messy Dwarves
A lively, gentle panto for younger children, packed with silly songs, puppets and plenty of audience participation.
Designed especially for under-6s, this playful retelling keeps things light and friendly, with lots of chances for little ones to join in.
Event details
Date: Saturday 10 January 2026, 11.00 am
Ages: 1–6 years
Where: Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate, N6
🦕 That’s Not My Dinosaur: Sensory Storytelling
A gentle, hands-on storytelling session for babies and toddlers, based on the much-loved That’s not my… books.
Little ones explore textures, props and sounds in a calm, supportive setting, with time to play and explore at the end.
Event details
Dates: Mon 12 Jan – Sun 22 Feb
Ages: 0–3 years
Where: Discover Children’s Story Centre, E15
🐰 Mini Morris: Bunny Ears & Bunny Tales
A free, drop-in craft and story session for toddlers inspired by William Morris’s love of animals.
Children make bunny ears, sing songs, hear rabbit tales, and explore the gallery in a relaxed, hands-on session that’s ideal for ages 2–4.
Event details
Date: Thursday 15 January 2026
Ages: Under 5 years
Where: William Morris Gallery, E17
👶 toooB: Gentle sensory adventure for babies
A wordless, sensory theatre experience designed especially for babies, featuring a playful shape-shifting character who invites gentle interaction.
With music, movement and a stay-and-play session at the end, it’s a lovely first introduction to theatre for little ones.
Event details
Dates: Friday 16 – Saturday 17 January 2026
Ages: 0–18 months
Where: Half Moon Theatre, E1
🐿️ Squirrel toddler theatre show
A gentle, interactive theatre show with puppetry and playful moments, following a fussy squirrel and their treasured acorns.
Designed for babies and toddlers, children are encouraged to take part, making it a lovely first theatre experience.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 17 January – Sunday 22 February 2026
Ages: 2–5 years
Where: Unicorn Theatre, SE1
🕊️ Flyaway Katie (puppetry theatre)
A colourful, imaginative theatre show based on Polly Dunbar’s much-loved picture book, following Katie as her world bursts into colour through play and imagination.
With gentle storytelling, music and puppets of different sizes, it’s a lovely short show for younger children, followed by a chance to meet the puppets.
Event details
Date: Saturday 17 January 2026
Ages: 2–7 years
Where: Lyric Hammersmith Theatre (Studio), W6
Events for 6–12 year olds
🪲 Cirque du Soleil’s OVO
A high-energy circus spectacular where the world of insects comes to life through breathtaking acrobatics, dazzling costumes and playful choreography.
Expect jaw-dropping stunts, visual magic and plenty of wow moments that work just as well for kids as they do for adults.
Event details
Dates: Friday 9 January – Sunday 1 March 2026
Ages: 5 years+
Where: Royal Albert Hall, SW7
🎭 Hamlet for kids
A fast-paced, funny and accessible retelling of Hamlet, specially adapted for younger audiences. Performed by just two actors and a musician using simple props and inventive staging, this 60-minute version introduces Shakespeare’s big ideas without feeling heavy or confusing.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 28 January – Sunday 1 February 2026
Ages: 8–12 years
Where: Polka Theatre, Wimbledon, SW19
🎬 Taste Film presents Monsters, Inc.
A special cinema-and-dining experience where families watch Monsters, Inc. while enjoying a themed menu served in sync with key moments from the film.
Best suited to older children and teens who can sit through a longer meal-style screening, and ideal as a treat outing rather than a quick cinema trip.
Event details
Dates: Friday 9 – Sunday 25 January 2026
Ages: 5+
Where: London
🐋 The Tale of the Loneliest Whale
A gentle, interactive theatre show following a singing whale on a journey to find connection beneath the sea.
With puppets, music and plenty of audience participation, it’s a thoughtful story about friendship and celebrating differences, created with neurodiverse children in mind.
Event details
Date: Saturday 10 January 2026
Ages: 6 years+
Where: Half Moon Theatre, E1
🎩 Out of the Box Magic Show
A high-energy, wordless family show packed with juggling, physical comedy and clever surprises, where everyday objects turn into playful adventures.
With lots of audience interaction and humour that works across ages, it’s a great pick for primary-school kids and their grown-ups.
Event details
Date: Sunday 11 January 2026
Ages: 5 years+
Where: Jacksons Lane, N6
🎼 FUNharmonics: Peter and the Wolf
An interactive family concert where the London Philharmonic Orchestra brings Peter and the Wolf to life, introducing children to the sounds of the orchestra through storytelling and music. Lively, engaging and easy to follow, it’s a great first classical concert for ages 6+.
Event details
Date: Saturday 17 January 2026
Ages: 6 years+
Where: Southbank Centre, SE1
🩰 We Call It Ballet: Sleeping Beauty Light Show
A modern twist on the classic ballet, with dancers in glow-in-the-dark costumes bringing Sleeping Beauty to life through movement and light.
Visually striking and easy to follow, it’s best suited to older children who enjoy dance, music, and theatrical spectacle.
Event details
Date: Saturday 24 January 2026
Ages: 6 years+
Where: Shaw Theatre, NW1
🦌 Pay What You Can: Bambi
A classic family film screening of Disney’s Bambi, following the young fawn as he grows up in the forest alongside Thumper and Flower.
These relaxed Sunday morning screenings are pay-what-you-can, with a free children’s activity afterwards, making it a lovely, low-cost cinema outing.
Event details
Dates: Sat 31 Jan – Sun 1 Feb
Ages: 5 years+
Where: The Garden Cinema, WC2B
🦕 Dino Disco for Kids
A unique family-friendly headphone disco inside the Natural History Museum’s iconic Hintze Hall, where kids can dance beneath dinosaurs and whales.
With three DJs to choose from and music for both children and adults, it’s a high-energy evening event best suited to ages 6–12.
Event details
Date: Friday 30 January 2026, 7.00pm
Ages: 6–12 years
Where: Natural History Museum, SW7
Events for 13+ year olds
💡 Neon Moves: A Light Dance Show with 2000s Hits
A high-energy dance show where glow-in-the-dark costumes and LED effects light up the stage to a soundtrack of iconic 2000s hits.
Fast-paced and visually striking, it’s a good pick for older children and teens who enjoy music, dance and big spectacle moments.
Event details
Dates: January 2026 (various dates)
Ages: 6 years+
Where: Shaw Theatre, NW1
🎨 London Art Fair
A January staple at the Business Design Centre, bringing together modern and contemporary galleries you can walk through at your own pace.
With short talks, themed sections and plenty to look at, it works well for teens who like art, photography or just seeing something different, without needing to commit to a full day.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 21 – Sunday 25 January 2026
Ages: 12 years+
Where: Business Design Centre, N1
🕹️ Activate London gaming experience
A high-energy indoor gaming experience where kids and teens become the players, moving between interactive rooms filled with climbing, laser-dodging and problem-solving challenges.
Fast-paced and physical, it’s best for older children who enjoy competition, teamwork and burning off energy.
Event details
Dates: Ongoing (winter 2026)
Ages: Best for 8+ (some games suit teens and adults better)
Where: Activate at The O2, SE10
🎮 BAFTA Games in Concert
A large-scale orchestral concert celebrating iconic video game music from the past 20 years, performed by a full orchestra and synced with visuals and gameplay on screen.
Featuring music from games like Journey, Tomb Raider, Cuphead and Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s a great pick for gaming fans who enjoy live music and big-screen spectacle.
Event details
Date: Saturday 31 January 2026
Ages: Best for 10+ (especially teens and gamers)
Where: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1
🏺 Young Archaeologists’ Club: Brooch Gilding
A hands-on archaeology workshop where older children explore historic brooches from different periods, then try traditional gilding techniques themselves. Designed for independent learners, it’s a focused, practical session for kids who enjoy history, craft and getting stuck in.
Event details
Date: Saturday 17 January 2026, 10.30 am – 12.15 pm
Ages: 8–16 years
Where: Fulham Palace, SW6
🎬 London Short Film Festival
A city-wide festival showcasing short films from the UK and beyond, with programmes covering animation, documentary, experimental film and family-friendly storytelling.
Great for teens who enjoy film, media or creative subjects, with short runtimes that make it easier to dip in for a single screening rather than commit to a full day.
Event details
Dates: Friday 23 January – Sunday 1 February 2026
Ages: 12 years+
Where: Multiple venues
🌺 Hawaiʻi: A Kingdom Crossing Oceans
A beautifully curated exhibition exploring Hawaiian history, culture and global connections, through feathered cloaks, royal objects and contemporary works by Native Hawaiian artists.
Best for older children and teens who enjoy stories behind objects, and a good choice for a calm, indoor January visit you can take at your own pace.
Event details
Dates: Thursday 15 January – Monday 25 May 2026
Ages: 8 years+
Where: British Museum, WC1B
🎭 Jo – The Little Women Musical in Concert
A one-night concert performance of a brand-new musical adaptation of Little Women, telling Jo March’s coming-of-age story through a sweeping score and big West End voices.
Event details
Date: Sunday 25 January 2026
Ages: 10 years+
Where: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, WC2B
Want more ideas like this?
Loopla’s weekly newsletter helps London families make the most of their weekends, with dozens of hand-picked events, new openings, last-chance reminders, and plenty of free and budget-friendly finds.
Sign up and we’ll send the best family events straight to your inbox each week.