Family Events in London November and December 2011
Get your diaries out and start booking some amazing events for the holiday season. I think I have found an eclectic range of special events for babies and big ones around London in the coming weeks.
Families local to the Pimlico Toy Library, please stop by the Toy Library Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and buy raffle tickets to sell to friends and neighbours. We are in desperate need of fundraising to keep our fabulous charity open.
For the Family:
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is open, we have been and you are in for such a big treat this year!!!
We have been every year, with one toddler, a child and a baby, a big kid and and toddler and even with each changing dynamic, I cannot get over how much fun we have each year; it’s a great family event no matter how old your kids are. Why is the woman who writes about textile ornament making telling you to go to Winter Wonderland? It is just that much fun: rides, food, hot adult beverages, people watching and the kids just love every minute of it.
The entry is free, the rides will costs upwards from £2 per child and adults are charged to ride. SantaLand has a free grotto, small rides for the littlies and a gentle atmosphere. The energy around the market and the “big kid rides” is a bit manic, as you can imagine. The ice skating rink is outdoors and built around the bandstand this year instead of being housed in the temporary building (huge improvement). Sadly, the antique “Parisian” car rides and gliders are not here this year, but perhaps we can persuade them to bring them back for next year.
If you can manage, go right at 10am on a weekday or on the weekends and you will be in a thinner more family crowd. For all budgets, its a great time out.
South Kensington Literary Festival at Le Institut Francais: Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th come and book to see drawing duels with Alex Sheffler and David McKee, watch a film, get your book signed by your favourite children’s author:
Chelsea Physic Garden Christmas Fair, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November , 10-4pm. Come and peruse the marquis covered gardens for fabulously crafted Christmas gifts. Enjoy mulled wine, mince pies, game stews and hot breakfasts all provided by the fabulous Tangerine Dream Cafe. £5 per adult, children under 16 free.
Southbank Winter Festival: The Southbank Christmas Market (now through 24th December) and Royal Festival Hall: Pack a picnic and enjoy shelter and entertainment in the Royal Festival Hall after walking through the Southbank Christmas festival and market. Take in the views from the Southbank, watch the entertainers, eat in the market and ride the fabulous carousal and then pop into the Royal Festival Hall and check out Forkbeard Fantasy Theatre of Imagination(2nd December – 8th January) an interactive with life size puppets, peepshow boxes, mechanical gizmos and cartoons. The Festival Hall is a community space, with toilets and highchairs and wifi for anyone to use. You can bring your own food or buy food there. Will write up more about the fabulous Christmas shows next week
Christmas on Elizabeth Street, Sunday 4th December, noon – 5pm: come and pet the reindeer, encounter the ice queen, see Father Christmas, listen to brass bands and carol singers … it is a fabulous family day for all to enjoy
Fortnum and Mason Storytelling of the Nutcracker: Saturdays and Sundays from 26th November – 18th December. Plus, Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th December: 12:30, 2:00 and 3:30, £15 per child. Come and listen to Father Christmas tell the story of the Nutcracker.
Just For Babies:
The Gate Picturehouse, Tuesday 10:30 am, Big Scream for infants under 12 months. This week’s picture: The Weekend, starring Chris New and Tom Cullen. Huge thank yous to Gate Picturehouse for the tickets for the Westminster NCT Big Coffee Morning Celebrating Canadian and American Thanksgiving:
Babies and Toddlers
NCT Christmas Party at the Chelsea Theatre with Pippa’s Poppets: Thursday 1st December 11:15 – noon. Come join the NCT Kensington and Chelsea Branch and Pippa’s Poppets for a fabulous free party complete with mince pies and Christmas carols, in addition to Pippa’s fantastic music class. Pippa was joint winner of The Times Christmas Carol Competition this year and will be performing her carol at Codogan Hall. http://web.me.com/pippacleary/Pippas_Poppets/Home.html book a place by emailing: [email protected] or get in touch with the Kensington and Chelsea NCT http://www.facebook.com/KensingtonAndChelseaNCT
Classical Babies: come and see the duelling violins, babies, toddlers and older children welcome to come and watch a scream-friendly concert in Belsize Park, £10 per family.
Bigger Kids:
The Wallace Collection, Little Draw: Sunday 4th December 1:30 – 4:30. Join artist Julia Iwasz for a free drawing session.
Do not miss, Family Art Workshops in the Saatchi Gallery on Sundays from 27th November – 18th December, £3 per card. The fabulous Valeria will take your children on a guided discovery through the galleries and then teach them how to print Christmas cards. http://familyworkshops.wordpress.com/about/
Also at the Saatchi Gallery, Wednesday 21st December 11am – 5pm, free family day of workshops, tours and tea!!
Two Temple Place: Come and check out the newly opened, sumptuously restored, period home and now art collection located near The Strand. Morris Christmas Craft Workshop, Saturday 17th December. Join Andrea Tierney for an afternoon of making Morris inspired Christmas baubles out of textiles. 10 – 4:30, £3
Just for Mums:
The Spa at Dolphin Square and I are putting our heads together to come up with a mum’s Sunday afternoon. Dads will take the kids out to explore The Kids Zone at the Army Museum, or a day out in Covent Garden or scores of other fun activities while mum’s book in groups of four for the most luxurious and relaxing afternoon of pampering. Watch this space!!
