About Family Festival: Happily Ever After
Once upon a time the British Library mixed together inspiring creatives, timeless stories of wonder, and some library magic to reimagine Happily Ever After.
We are thrilled to host inspirational author and illustrator Chris Riddell with his Guardians of Magic; and beloved poet and author Joseph Coelho with Fairy Tales Gone Bad. Get ready for creative inspiration, thrilling wordplay and stunning illustrations.
Older families will love drawing along with authors and illustrators Alex T. Smith and Erika Meza as they share secrets and hone your illustration technique. Explore pop up techniques with Sion Ap Tomas and Mina Ikemoto, before discovering the gory thrills of fairy tales with Dragonfly Tales.
Enjoy games? Our Fairy Tales exhibition sponsor, Wayland Games, will be unveiling the secrets to Warcradle Studios' new, exciting Mix Up Fairy Tales card game, featuring artwork from the British Library's collection.
For younger adventurers author Gareth P. Jones will get everyone laughing and singing along with his fun filled mini musicals. Rosie Tells Tales is looking for magical storytellers to mix up new fairy tales and Wee Movers’ dancers need bold children to jump into new quests. You might even become a fairy tale character yourself as Isobel Power Smith transforms you with masks.
Then take to the floor with Baby Broadway’s West End singers for a magical family concert. Or discover your song writing skills with musician Aga Serugo-Lugo.
This event will be interpreted with British Sign Language and there is a sensory space provided for those who require it.
If you have any questions about access support, please contact us on familylearning@bl.uk
Please note you will need to purchase a separate exhibition ticket if you wish to visit our Fairy Tales exhibition.
Your support
The British Library is a charity. Your support helps us open up a world of knowledge and inspiration for everyone. Please consider adding a donation to your basket.
Will my Happily Ever After ticket include access to the Fairy Tales exhibition?
No. You will need to purchase a separate exhibition ticket if you wish to visit our family friendly Fairy Tales exhibition.
We recommend booking your Fairy Tale exhibition tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
Accessibility
This event will be interpreted with British Sign Language and there is a sensory space provided for those who require it.
If you have any questions about access support at this event, please contact us on familylearning@bl.uk
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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