About Family Festival: Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time the British Library gathered together inspiring creatives; timeless stories of wonder; and some library magic to build an unforgettable day of fun.
You’re invited to the first family festival of 2026, where we’re getting reading for our upcoming family friendly Fairy Tales exhibition.
Join inspiring authors Michael Rosen and World Book Day® 2026 author A. F. Steadman as they share stories, unveil inspirations and take your questions.
Then explore our wonderful festival. The Jolly Postman needs your help to deliver the mail, while Rosie Tells Tales is looking for magical storytellers to bake a gingerbread flavoured fairy tale. Author Gareth P. Jones is performing his fun filled interactive mini musicals Rabunzel and CinderGorilla, and Wee Movers’ dancers need bold children to move into a bear house with cheeky Goldilocks.
Older children can design fantastical creatures with illustrators Thiago de Moraes and Mina Ikemoto and join fashion illustrator Elyse Blackshaw to reimagine fairy tale characters. Dancers from Akram Khan Company explore storytelling through dance; while musician Aga Serugo Lugo challenges us to experiment with our voices and words as we re-write opera.
Then create and build with artists Abigail Hunt and Sion Ap Tomas, before joining Baby Broadway’s West End Singers for a magical family concert.
Discover magical stories, encounter fantastical creatures and embark on your own creative quest as we play with Fairy Tales.
Please book one ticket for each member of your group.
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
More information
About World Book Day®
World Book Day is a charity that champions reading for fun. That’s because it seriously improves lives.
In fact, it’s the biggest indicator that a child will grow up to enjoy a happier and more successful future. Today, only one in three children likes reading. By changing this, we’ll transform lives.
Together, let’s help every child enjoy the life-changing benefits of reading for fun.
Get your £1/€1.50 World Book Day book token and find out how you can swap it for a book for free.
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.
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.
Prams and buggies
Fold-up prams and buggies can be left free of charge in the buggy park near the main entrance, subject to availability. Please note that there is limited space in the buggy park, so we kindly ask you to collapse or fold up prams and buggies where possible to leave space for others.
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.
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.
