Fun in London with kids: Yayoi Kusama art exhibit

If you are looking for a fun and free thing to do in London with kids this October (especially with October half term looming) I highly recommend Yayoi Kusama’s “Everyday I Pray for Love” exhibit at the Victoria Miro gallery. I was lucky enough to get a last minute ticket when they launched and found it to be a delight for for art loving kids and adults alike.

Having had the pleasure of seeing Kusama’s “All the Eternal Love I Have for Pumpkins” infinity mirror room installation in 2016 at the same gallery I was excited to get tickets to see her ongoing series which started in 2021. In this post I will share what I loved about the free, family-friendly Kusama exhibit at the Victoria Miro gallery in London. I also include tips on how you can spend a fun and easy day out in London with kids near the gallery.

Explore Yayoi Kusama new infinity mirrored room & artworks in London with kids

The ground level of the gallery is where to find Yayoi Kusama’s 2024 infinity mirrored room “Beauty Described by a Spherical Heart”. In the middle of the hexagonal space is a giant reflective orb. We were enclosed in this space for about 1 minute and 45 seconds while the light pulsates in different color themes. This is particularly fun for kids (who are not sensitive to flashes of light) as they enjoy finding all their own reflections. After the infinity mirrored room I head upstairs to the upper level of the gallery to take in Kusama’s paintings and large format installations.

Up a short flight of stairs I walked into an open space with 4 paneled walls of Kusama’s paintings all bursting with attention grabbing colors with various patterns, lines and of course her signature polka dots. What kids will be drawn to though is the unmissable, large-scale red forest-like installation titled “The Moment of Regeneration”. Sadly we are not allowed to touch the installations but it is a visual feast for the eyes.

The biggest installation in the north London art gallery is Kusama’s “Death of Nerves” which hang from the ceiling of the first floor and drops all the way down to the floor in the ground level. Marveling at this I cannot help but think of really long octopus arms in mostly primary colors.

Yayoi Kusama sculptures in the Victoria Miro garden

I ended my visit at the gallery’s canal-side garden where I, unexpectedly, saw my favorite Yayoi Kusama piece from the whole exhibit: Ladder to Heaven, 2024. The ladder is perforated with different sized polka dots which in itself was fun to see. But what I loved was the illusion of seeing beyond this plane into possibilities. I took away a hopeful message. I think the little ones will get a kick out of it too.

Even the London downpour did not put me off in spending more time in the gallery garden to peruse Kusama’s bronze sculptures. There are three further back in the garden near where the buggy/stroller parking area is. They are so whimsical and fun.

If you are looking for a fun and, even better, free thing to do in London with kids this October definitely look into getting tickets to the Yayoi Kusama exhibit at Victoria Miro. The exhibit ends 2nd November 2024 and while tickets are fully booked there are two ways of securing tickets. I’ll share the tips below along with where you can eat in this part of London with kids.

How to get tickets to Yayoi Kusama exhibit in London

Entry to the Kusama exhibit at Victoria Miro is free but you will need to book tickets for specific day and time slots. For those with a lot of flexibility I recommend going to the Victoria Miro booking page to look for returned tickets. This is how I booked my ticket to the Kusama exhibit. Get there at least 5 minutes ahead of time if you can and be prepared for a short line as the exhibit is wildly popular.

Another way to book tickets to the Yayoi Kusama exhibit is to visit the booking page on Mondays at 12pm for entry to Tuesday through Saturday of that same week. You will be entered into an online queue. Once you are in the live booking system select your tickets for the day and time of that week. Note that you are only able to book two tickets at a time due to high demand but as I mentioned before it is a wonderful art exhibit and great fun to explore with kids in London. I did call to confirm with the gallery that a baby does not necessarily need a ticket to enter.

How to make the most of your day out in London with kids to the Yayoi Kusama exhibit

My kids love the book Yayoi Kusama Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn’t Sorry by Fausto Gilberti. Beautifully illustrated, Gilberti talks about Kusama’s story and artist’s journey in very age appropriate and friendly terms. As a parent I appreciate the message that these incredible artists carved out untraditional paths to finding success without bending or having to apologize for who they are. I think you will find Gilberti’s “Yayoi Kusama Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn’t Sorry” a wonderful book to complement the art trip to Kusama’s exhibit at Victoria Miro.

Also within a 15 minute walk from the Victoria Miro is Birdies, an indoor crazy golf venue suitable for the whole family. It’s a great place for the kids to let loose a little after visiting an art gallery.

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Where to eat in London with kids near Victoria Miro gallery

Chances are before or after a visit to the Victoria Miro gallery you’ll want to grab a bite with your little one. Maybe decompress a little bit to ward off any looming breakdowns, yours or theirs! The closest obvious place is McDonalds which is just a minute walk down the street. But within a 10 minute walk from the gallery there are some great family-friendly places to eat in London with kids.

Tanakatsu

Tanakatsu is a lovely, minimalist Japanese restaurant by Angel that focuses on katsu and teriyaki. Tanakatsu also offer sushi and traditional Japanese sides. The katsu curry can be a touch too spicy for my kids but they love the chicken or pork katsu with rice, chicken gyoza, edamame beans, miso soup and custard dorayaki for dessert. While Tanakatsu does not offer a “kids menu” it has some really great options for kids and adults alike.

Address: 10 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7LT
Hours: open Mondays through Saturdays from noon to 9:30pm

Pophams Bakery

Pophams Bakery on Prebend Street in Islington is a 9 min walk from Victoria Miro. Stop in for a coffee/hot chocolate/babyccino and snack on beautifully crafted pastries. Pophams do serve sandwiches during lunch times with a changing menu each week.

Address: 19 Prebend Street, London N1 8PF
Hours: open Mondays through Sundays until 4pm. Check their website for opening hours as this changes.

Galata Cafe & Bistro

Canal No 5 is a great spot right on the towpath to settle down for a bite with the little ones on a nice day. They offer standard fare kids menu and burgers. Their specialty is seafood with a Turkish twist. For example the Turkish menu includes tiger prawns and calamari with chips. Seating is outdoors only. Also it is a quick walk to Angel station for ease of underground and bus transport.

Address: City Road Lock, The Regent’s Canal Towpath, London N1 8PZ