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London Children's Festival

By Siobhan
Last updated at 11:08:00 AM on 10 February 2012

Every year in central London's Soutbank Centre a special event for kids and run by kids takes place. The event focuses on getting kids involved in the arts and books. The 2012 Imagine Children's Festival runs from 11th to the 26th February and many of it's activities are free, making it a great event for families visiting London on a budget.

While many activities will take place on multiple days, some are run on only one day during the festival. One part of the festival that runs every day and is one of best is the funfair. Kids will love taking a ride on the carousel and trying out all of the old-fashioned fun games. It's bound to stir up that inner child in adults too.

For kids that love to make stuff and don't mind getting messy one activity not to miss is the Craft Pavilion, which runs from 11th to the 19th February. Kids will be able to participate by creating their own craft projects with themes centered around children's stories. If you do plan to attend this activity it is a good idea to wear suitable clothing. There is bound to be mess and it is certain to get on your kids clothes, so make sure clothes that you don't mind getting damaged are worn. Or you could bring a smock for your child to wear while taking part.

The event also has a choice of events that require you to purchase a ticket. Each special ticketed event will have a different price. These events give children a chance to meet some popular authors of kids books including, Cresside Cowell who wrote 'How to Train Your Dragon.'

The central location means that you will have an excellent choice of London hotels in most budget ranges. If you want a luxury hotel look for one of the many hotels that overlook the River Thames. Many of the rooms in these hotels offer fantastic views of the river and iconic attractions such as, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, which are particularly amazing at night. The best times to attend will be at non-peak travel times, especially if you plan to use public transport to reach the centre.