London’s Best Free and Affordable Baby, Toddler, Child and Family Events 21st - 27th May 2012
Think you could make an income off your London home but can’t bear to ruin a holiday with more housework? Check out my new sponsor, onefinestay. They offer a bespoke holiday home letting service that takes all the hassle out of hiring your house or flat out to holiday makers (they vet the guests, insure your belongings, use their own linens/toiletries and clean your flat!) it is worth a look. Be sure to mention London-baby.com if you fill out their two minute questionnaire to see how what kind of an income you might earn while away this summer
Take Stars Gym and Creche up on their fantastic offer to try out their gym and crèche. Pay what you like, try it for free, try it for £5, take a look around and see if you could use Stars gym to keep up your current fitness levels or improve. Monday – Friday: 9:30 – 11:30 Ofsted registered crèche, very clean, very kind, very good, for 0-5 Review
S&A Studios has an introductory offer on their in-home or on-location family photography sessions from under £200, including 8 edited, high resolution images on disc. Book now for prints ready in time for Father’s Day gifts …
Spotted Zebra, London’s premier bespoke nanny agency, has begun offering Pop-up Nurseries around London: Clapham, Queen’s Park, Newington Green. Book in 48 hours in advance, leave your child in a small nursery cared for by a 3:1 staff of highly qualified nannies.
Just for Babies:
NCT Kensington and Chelsea Bumps and Babies Group: Gymboree, Baden Powell House. Every Tuesday 12:30 – 1:45pm, if you are new to motherhood, or have a new baby, this is a fantastic way to meet other people in the exact same boat. Its open to anyone, please drop by this welcoming and warm group. If you have a little one, they will love playing on the very clean, very fun Gymboree equipment. [email protected].
Gate Picture House Notting Hill: Big Scream. Come and enjoy a vintage theatre’s screening of The Source with your infant. Great chance to see current cinema without having to shell out for a sitter. Nappy changing set up, dim lights so you can see what they are up to … fabulous morning out.
Baby and Toddler Events:
NCT Kensington & Chelsea Pampered Like a Queen. Beaufort House Chelsea, Wednesday 30th May, 10am – noon. Celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by treating yourself to an indulging hand & arm massage or an enhancing nail treatment, generously provided by beauty therapists from Cupcake Club along with elevenses! And not to leave the kiddies out – Art Barn will be on hand to help Mums and tots to create their own Jubilee-inspired crown to take home. Violinist, Antonia Azoitei, from Classical Babies will be treating us with a 20-minute performance at 11am. Gift bags include samples from Apurru, London’s organic skin care shop, and other fabulous London retailers. Tickets are just £10 and places are limited, so get in quick!
Classical Babies: Wednesdays, 11:00am, Belisize Park, Interchange Studios. £10 per family for a delightful classical concert that is completely baby and toddler friendly, the perfect mid-week bit of brain candy read more about the fabulous bit of motherhood: My review
Classics with my Baby: As seen in the Independent, Time Out, and Gramophone Magazine, this critically acclaimed concert series specifically designed for parents and children (0-5 years) to enjoy together. Tickets: Adults £10, children FREE ( special offers for online tickets from website) Eat cake and mingle from 10:00am and concert begins at 10:30am. This is such a treat, easy to get to and worth every penny. My review
Little Dish Spring Party, Holland Park. Tuesday 22nd May 11am-1:30pm. Come and join Little Dish for their first spring party in Holland Park. Sharkey and George will be running party games, picnic provided by Little Dish and there will be a charity event for the little ones to participate in. RSVP [email protected]
Baby and Toddler Classes
Culture Kids Music Class: Chelsea, Marylebone and Hampstead
Check out their new web site!! Come along for the most amazing, dynamic, invigorating, multi-sensory, multi-instrumented music class. There is not the usual scrum for the shakers, every single kid gets a chime, ladybird game, sunglasses, gorgeous set of fairy wings, caterpillar costume … there are literally scores of props that come out with each song. Further, these props all change the following week when the class explores a new theme. Read my review.
If you “like” Culture Kids on Facebook and write “fabwebsite” on their wall, you will get a discount on your classes. Check the schedule for times and prices and age groups.
Story Craft Workshops at Rich Mix Bethnal Green, Monday 21st May 1:30 – 2:30pm, ages 2-5. Come and engage with stories using puppets, art and acting, all part of a fun workshop sure to entertain young and old alike. £3
Events for the Bigs, Smalls and the Whole Family:
Natural History Museum’s Big Nature Day: Sunday, 27th May 11am – 5pm, Cromwell Road, South Kensington. Bring the kids for a day of exciting workshops and activities is the Darwin Centre and the gardens. There will be pond dipping, an insect carnival, bee puppet show, make a bat box or bee hotel, bug hunts, nettle knowledge … a day of quality learning and making.
Forge Arts Venue, Coffee and Keys. Sundays 11am – noon, coffee from 10:30. Come enjoy pianist Beatrice Nicholas performing Debussy, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Chopin and more in this family friendly concert series. £8 adults, £4 children (includes coffee or tea)
Kids Club, Saturdays at Gate Picturehouse: Saturdays from 10am they have activities, then watch the flick at 10:30. Saturday 26th May will be Happy Feet Two. £4 to join the Kids Club, but then tickets are £1 after, popcorn and juice for the kids £2. Read more about the day out here.
BD and Comic Passion Festival at Institute Francais, South Kensington. Friday 25th - Sunday 27th May. Come and engage with artists and writers in a three-day festival of comic books. Films, workshops, talks and demonstrations are all on offer for children and families Saturday and Sunday. Events from £8 each, something for all ages…
Events for Big Kids
Self-Portrait Workshop with David Taborn, Lost Theatre Company. Join acclaimed artist David Taborn, current artists in residence at The Lost Theatre Company, for a studio workshop on self-portraits. Excellent for students building up portfolios for Y7, GSCE or A Levels. There should also be a class for younger children and their parents. £15 per person contact [email protected]
Judo Classes at Stars Gym Wednesdays 4pm (4-8 years) and 5pm (8+) with prospective Olympians Jonathan Purssey and Alex Farbon. Further, starting 3rd April, the engaging Carlos Andrade will be teaching Kickboxing on Tuesdays, 4:30 (4-9 years). Carlos’s class is drop-in, £9 per session, so come along when you like and have fun!!
Saatchi Gallery Family Art Workshops: Studio Portrait. Sunday 20th May 11:00am & 3:00pm. Bring the family and be taken on an artist-led tour of the Saatchi Gallery then join Valerie Amadei in the education room to create a portrait using photography and collage. £5 per child.
LOVE the idea of One fine stay - it really takes the hassle out of renting your flat out. Really good idea.
I love your round ups. Passing them onto my soon to be dad brother who lives in London, and looking forward to spending lots more time in London with my kids, once they have a cousin to visit
It takes out all the hassle, they make sure your place is better than when you left!! It means we can actually take a holiday …
Pass it on! Pass it on!! Pass it on!!