About A Feast of Tales: The Stolen Smell and The Feast by the River
One of our most popular storytellers, Vanessa Woolf brings to life two wonderful folk tales, The Stolen Smell and The Feast by the River.
Expect to be transported back to ancient Prague in this interactive storytelling session full of magic, music, and objects to look at, hear, touch... and maybe even smell!
Suited to ages 8 – 10 and their families.
The event accompanies the British Library’s Fairy Tales exhibition, which will be open on the day. Separate booking required.
Part of Jewish Culture Month, 16 May to 16 June, 2026.
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Vanessa Woolf
Vanessa Woolf tells stories that are happy and kind with lots of joining in, often using props and music.
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She has created stories for children for some of the UKs biggest museums, festivals and galleries. She’s curated afternoon of family stories with Guy Garvey for the Southbank’s Meltdown Festival and hosted an afternoon of spooky tales for Shakespeare’s Globe and told a season of stories on board the London Eye. She’s worked with pubishers of some of the UKs most loved childrens books (including Paddington, Elmer and the Mr Men) to create dozens of literary festival workshops in the UK and internationally.
Family activities at the Library
We have lots of free family events and workshops in London and West Yorkshire. Spaces can fill up quickly, so please book ahead.
You can also pick up a Family Trail from the Information Desk to help you explore the Library further, and visit our free Treasures Gallery.
Food and drink
Families are welcome at all of the Library’s cafés and restaurants. The Terrace Café on the first floor has lots of seating (including an outdoor terrace for sunny days). Highchairs are available in the Terrace Café and the Upper Ground Floor Café, subject to availability.
Families with children may also bring their own food to eat outside on the Piazza or in our public spaces, and there are water fountains that can be used to refill water bottles across the building. Please do not consume food or drink inside the exhibition galleries.
Baby-feeding
Parents are welcome to breastfeed or bottle-feed anywhere in the Library. Please ask a member of Library staff if you would like help finding a quieter space.
Please note that we cannot heat bottles or baby food in our cafés and restaurants.
Bags, cloakrooms and lockers
Our cloakroom and digital lockers are free to use, located on the Lower Ground Floor with step-free access. Please note our cloakroom is closed on Sundays, but you can still use our lockers. View more information on our bags and luggage restrictions.
Baby-changing and toilets
There are baby-changing stations available in the following toilets:
- in the men's and women's toilets on the Lower Ground Floor, near the cloakroom
- in the women's toilets near Reader Registration on the Upper Ground Floor
- in the men's and women's toilets in the Terrace Café on the First Floor
- in the men's and women's toilets in the Knowledge Centre.
Accessible toilets can be found on all floors. The nearest Changing Places toilet is at King's Cross station.
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