What’s On: London Baby, Toddler, Child and Family Events May 11th-18th 2013
Love Swimming Fast Track Swimming: Book a fast track lesson with Bila and Rui at the end of May and take a “swimming staycation” read my review of my son’s marked development during his fast-track course. Fast-track is an affordable and highly effective way for beginners (I am not exaggerating, Bila got my son to swim in two lessons) to advanced swimmers who will work on technique.
London-baby.com has been nominated for a Brilliance in Blogging award with Britmums (a fabulously informative, supportive group for bloggers). Would you please take a few minutes to click on this page for the Bib Awards, find “The London Baby” in the travel section and vote for me. I will be honest, it’s a little bit arduous as there are several categories and scores of bloggers, but takes only a few minutes and I would very much appreciate the help.
If I win, I will post a picture of me cradling my trophy, wiping tears of joy off my mascara-stained face and include it in the end of June email and post. Promise.
Family Events Saturday 11th May
Cadogan Hall, Crash, Bang Wallop!: Little Red Riding Hood. Bring the family to Sloane Square’s Cadogan Hall for this whimsical classical music concert where you can introduce the little ones to Fuare, Saint-Sans and Glienne. Tickets are £8 per adult, £6 per child, family ticket £24 (2 adults & 2 children)
Southbank Centre, Peter and the Wolf. Bring the kids over to Southbank to delight in Prokoviev’s classic tale. There will be “have a go” sessions with the instruments at 10:30 and again at 2:30. Tickets £10 - £18. Noon, all ages.
Little Angle Theatre, Going on a Bear Hunt. Micheal Rosin’s classic lovingly brought to the puppet theatre, directed by Peter Glanville with original music by Barb Jungr. Tickets are half-price Saturday and Sunday, children over 2 years permitted (this is strictly enforced). 11am, 1:30 and 3pm, tickets £6 each (normally £12)
Saturday Films:
Barbincan Family Film Club:Wreck-it Ralph Tickets are £2, bring the kids and escape the cold while you chill and watch a movie. Great price. 11am, all ages.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Tickets £1 with £4 membership, popcorn and juice £2. My husband’s rainy day ace in the hole read the review, fabulous value for Saturday morning family time in a great location. Also, head down the road to The Gold on Portobello Road and have a fabulous family-friendly meal in a pre-gentrified Notting Hill gem. Be sure to get one of the balcony tables in the atrium area … wonderfully food, cool venue and very family-friendly for slightly older kids.
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature, The Croods; 10:30am. Check out the newly refurbished Electric Cinema with its plush, red velvet beds, sofas and armchairs. Looks like a great way for Dad to occupy the kids on a Saturday morning. Tickets £8 per person. All ages
Family Events Sunday 12th May
Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival. Join in St. Paul’s church on Sunday at 10:30 to begin celebrating Punch and Judy’s birthday. 11am there will be the grand procession, a special service at noon, performances until 5:30. Free, all ages
Geffrye Museum Family Workshop. Create your own pampering products using flowers and herbs from the museum garden. Learn about the healing and soothing properties while making your own concoction to take home. 10:30-12:30 and 2-4pm. These workshops are well worth the effort as they are amply staffed and resourced.
Battersea Park, Pumphouse Gallery: Become a Guardian. Take part in a workshop where children learn to be guardians of their local green space and why they need to teach others to respect and cherish it. Take a micro hike in Battersea Park and meet a tree. Sunday noon-1:30 and 2-3:30 aimed at ages 7+, but younger siblings welcome.
Forge Arts Venue, Keys and Coffee. Piano concert with Daria van den Bercken. Great way to begin a Sunday with little ones. Tickets £10 adults, £4 children.
And on to the upcoming week:
For Babies and Toddlers:
Pippa’s Poppets: SW1’s favourite singer and songwriter has a new venue … GAMBADO!!!. Bring your kids along to Pippa’s class and get one hour of play in Gambado after!!! Wednesdays 9:45 for babies and 10:10 for toddlers. Also, there is now an early morning class on Tuesdays and Thursdays at St. Saviour, St. George’s Square (just by the Pimlico Tube) from 9:35am for 4 months- 3 years. £7.50 per class. Mondays and Wednesdays at St. Gabriel’s Church, Pimlico. Thursdays in Chelsea at Beaufort House (fabulous London family club) and Tuesdays in Knightsbridge.
Bach to Baby, Notting Hill Community Church. Concert, “Around Europe in 60 Minutes” featuring Dominika Rosiek on violin and Miaomiao Yu on piano. £10 per adult, children free. Coffee from 10:30, concert starts at 11am.
Electric Scream: Mondays, 11am. Come and see Star Trek Into Darkness (directed by JJ Abrams) Experience the luxury of the newly refurbished Electric Cinema. This screening is only for carers with infants under 12 months, dim lighting, changing tables, quality food, even wine!! £15.50 for an armchair, very pricy but great fun.
Imagination Station, play music and movement for babies 4 months +: Fun and affordable interactive music and movement class for infants and toddlers. Mondays at the Kensington Library, Wednesdays at the Forge Arts Venue in Camden, Fridays in Marylebone. See web site for details.
Gate Picturehouse, Big Scream. Tuesdays at 10:30. Bring your infant under 12 months on for a screening of Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence (Nagisa Oshima’s pivotal work featuring David Bowie as a WWII POW). Tickets are £8.50.
