Story Explorers: Chaos, Kindness & a Dance Party at the British Library

When someone says “Family Festival at the British Library,” you might imagine a gentle, well-organised affair, perhaps with polite queues and soft-spoken storytellers surrounded by wide-eyed children.

Wrong.

Last weekend, Elias and I attended Story Explorers at the British Library — an inclusive, slightly chaotic, storytelling adventure where your best hope is to plan nothing, pack snacks, and prepare to fight other eager families for a spot in sessions including interpretive dance and suspiciously energetic toddlers.

Although it is a free event, booking in advance is essential, and we managed to get coveted tickets thanks to the wonderful team at Sense UK (big love to the team at our local Sense Centre, may your coffee always be hot and your Wi-Fi never drop).

Biggest tip: Get. There. Early.

Sessions fill up faster than a soft play on a rainy Sunday. We got turned away from so many I started to feel like I had personally offended the volunteer team manning the doors.

One of the highlights was the "Boogie in the Blue" dance session. I wasn’t sure how Elias would manage — he’s not exactly Strictly material, confined to his specialist pram on outings, and I was braced for a quiet retreat to the sidelines to enjoy watching everyone else take part. But the host was an absolute gem. She spotted Elias immediately, made sure he had a role in every activity, and even let him lead the party train. And when it came to pretending to swim under a sea of shimmering fabric, he got to go full Aquaman.

There was no awkwardness, no “What’s his diagnosis?” questions — just open arms and a lot of cheering. It’s hard to explain what that kind of welcome means when you’re so used to being the “different” family.

There was also a performance by the Chickenshed company, who are always incredible, even if this time there wasn’t a BSL interpreter. I did my best with my half-baked signing knowledge (pretty sure I made up a couple signs when they started talking about monsters and adventures), but it was a good reminder of how important it is that every session be accessible, not just some.

Despite the queueing, the missed sessions, and the fact I left rather frazzled and covered in crisp dust, it was a great day. The energy, the thoughtfulness, the sheer effort that went into making this event accessible and joyful for families like ours — it matters more than words can say.

Would I go again?

Yes.

Would I arrive at the sessions I want to attend an hour early with a flask and battle plan?

Also yes.

There is a special SEND Storytelling Workshop running August 4 & 18, 2025, check it out here.