What’s On: London Baby, Toddler, Child and Family Events November 2012
Shutter and Sketch: London’s Only Bespoke Children’s Portrait Artist. I could not be more pleased with my son’s portrait from Shutter and Sketch. Check out Lucy SM Johnston’s fabulously affordable and beautiful results.
Come and join Linda Hedenstrom in Hyde Park Wednesday evenings, 7pm; or Holland Park Saturday mornings, 11am, and try Turn it Up Boot Camp. Also, Linda offers fabulous three month bespoke mums personal training packages tailored to get results through activity, mind-set and diet. Learn more
Have you gotten around to sorting through your children’s art work yet? Let Super Southwest London Mum Ann sort this out for you, she will beautifully photograph all your kid’s art work (paintings, junk modelling, you name it) and make a gorgeous keepsake treasure for you and your family. An excellent gift for any family member, check out my review and look at mykidsartbook.com or email [email protected].
Family Events Saturday 17th November:
Pumphouse Gallery (Battersea Park), Screen Printing Number Narratives: Bring the kids over to what sounds like an amazing workshop. Learn a bit about the alternative meanings and magical properties some people believe numbers hold. Have a go at screen printing after and take home your own number poster. All ages, drop-in, free
National Portrait Gallery Storytelling. Saturday 17th November. Come and hear at story about one of the portraits in the gallery and then head off to make a craft. Excellent activity, , 10:30-11:15 , ages 3+, free, drop-in.
National Portrait Gallery Family Art Workshop: Clay Characters. Saturday 17th November. Make your own clay mug inspired by portraits in the gallery in this fantastic workshop. Be prepared to transport home a drying mug!! 11:30-1pm, free, drop-in, tickets allocated one hour before the start.
Forge Arts Venue, Children’s Storytelling with Music. Saturday 17th November. Come and watch Giles Andreae’s beloved Giraffes Can’t Dance come to life in an enchanting session of old-fashioned storytelling brought to life with music. 10:30am, tickets are £6 per child (when booked in advance), £7 at the door. Adults free
St. Martin-in-the-Field, Mini-Maestro Family Concert: Saturday 17th November. Join London Musical Arts Orchestra and their charismatic presenter John Landon for an hour of Beethoven in St. Martin’s Church. Children are warmly welcomed and encouraged to participate in the concert. 4:30-5:30pm, £8.50 for adults, £6.50 children.
Family Events Sunday 18th November
Design Museum, Ahoy There: Design your own boat drawing on the Designed to Win exhibit currently running and all the boats and yachts that sail past the Museum each day. Ages 5-11, £4.50 per child, 2-4:30pm. Booking essential: 070 7940 8783
Barbican, When Santa Fell to Earth. (part of Barbican Kids Framed Film Festival November 17th-25th) Sunday 18th November. Get in the holiday spirit at this special family preview of this joyful adaptation of Cornelia Funke’s novel. Tickets £3 for children, £5 for adults. 11:15, cinema 3 (located off Beach Street). Ages 7+
Royal Academy of Art, Wax and Soap Family Art Workshop: Sunday 18th November. As part of the Bronze Exhibition, bring your kids to explore sculpture through carving wax and clay. Free, drop-in, 11am-2pm. All ages welcome
Camden Arts Centre, Card Making Workshop: Saturday 17th November. Come in between 2 and 4pm and make cards with artist Clare Beaton. Free, drop-in, all ages
And on to the upcoming week:
Just for Babies
Big Scream Gate Cinema: Located just up the steps for the Notting Hill Gate Underground, the historic and charming Gate Cinema puts on a fabulous baby cinema each week. Come on your own or with friends, there’s low lighting, changing tables and coffee … great way to brighten up the doldrums of sleepless nights and feedings. For infants under 1 year old, tickets £8, Tuesday 13th November, 10:30am. This week’s screening: Amour, a touching story about marriage and the challenges a couple faces growing older.
Babies and Toddlers:
Classical Babies, Pont Street, Knightsbridge. Come and here the violin and soprano duet Monday 19th November 11am. Come and hear luminaries from the London concert hall perform in a baby and toddler-friendly setting. Fabulous value at £10 per adult, children free.
Forge Arts Venue Imagination Station: A fantastic sensory movement and music session for infants from 4 months to toddlers 2 years. At the amazingly family-friendly Forge Arts Venue, The Foundry is a fabulous post-class gathering place for mums and coffee. Wednesday 21st November, 10:15 – 11:00. Tickets £5 in advance, £7 at the door
For Southwest London Families:
Pimlico Primary has broken ground on Lupus Street in SW1. Autumn 2014 will see the first intake of students for the new primary school that will follow-through to the academy. An open evening to learn more will be held Wednesday 21st November, 7pm in the Pimlico Children’s Library on Lupus Street.
Upcoming Family Events:
Dazzling Diwali Family Event, V & A: Sunday 25th November, 10am-5pm. Come and make Rangolies; dance to music; play in a giant game of musical snakes and ladders; purchase traditional Jain dishes in the V and A restaurant. Free, all ages, drop-in
South Kensington Kids Festival at Le Institute Francais, South Kensington. Wednesday 21st- Sunday 25th November. This is one of London’s finest children’s literary festivals. Hurry, while tickets last (there are still some plumb workshops available) and book an illustration session with Alex Scheffler, Quentin Blake, Emily Gravett, Mario Ramos to name a few well-loved artists who will be leading workshops over the weekend. Books will be available on site for purchase, give a signed copy of the Gruffalo for Christmas pressies.
Royal Academy of Music Family Play Day: A Christmas Carol. Saturday 24th November. Begin by exploring Dickens, listening to some of his writings about Christmas and then work on your own Christmas composition. 11am-12:30 5-7 year olds (this looks to be sold out) 2-3:30 8-11 year olds. Free, booking essential.
NCT Kensington and Chelsea’s Christmas Party, Friday 7th December, generously sponsored by The King’s Road favourite family-friendly private members club (check out my review), Beaufort House. Goody bags and children’s gifts donated by onefinesstay, London’s premier bespoke holiday letting service. Entertainment provided by Froggle Parties, children can create their own Christmas cards and decorations at the art station run by Little Art Studio. There will be stalls with unique Christmas gifts, provided by a host of fabulous mumprenuer and other local, independent businesses. Tombola prizes from our favourite Baby Friendly retailers. Tickets £5, booking essential
