Mostly For Babies:

Sunday 9^th October, Little Angel Theatre,  11:00am, £8

The DaSilva Marionette Circus: This very special and intriguing marionette show has been touring for over fifty years.  The large marionettes perform circus tricks that involve balance, tricky movements and other feats of entertainment.  The Sunday performance is baby-friendly, so you can bring the littlies along.

Tuesday 11^th October, Big Scream, Gate Cinema, £8.50 (mention London-baby.com and have your £4 membership fee waived)

Tyrannosaur: Paddy Considine (the story of a working class man’s path to redemption after the untimely death of his wife)

Wednesday 12^th October, Classical Babies, Interchange Studios, Belsize Park, £10

Solo Violin Recital: This is such a treat with babies and small children, older children are very much welcome.  This is a proper classical concert, but there is room for your pushchair, places for babies to crawl around, toys and books for slightly older children.  It is extremely easy to get to from the Belsize Park Underground Station

Saturday 15^th October, Half-Moon Theatre, 11:00am, 1:00pm & 3:00pm, £6 (ages three and under)

Circles in the Sand: Take your very youngest children to the theatre for an interactive performance perfect for babies and toddlers.  An experiential performance about sand, everyone can watch and everyone can play, too. 

Tuesday 18^th October, Big Scream, Gate Cinema, £8.50 £8.50 (mention London-baby.com and have your £4 membership fee waived)

Midnight in Paris: Woody Allen’s latest story about a writer in Paris.

For Older Children:

Saturday 15th October, Storytelling with Art Activity, National Portrait Gallery, 10:30, ages 3+, free

Edward’s Expedition: Hear the story of a young boy’s adventure to a far away land and then make your own map to take home.

Saturday 15^th October, Treasure from Your Travels, National Portrait Gallery, 11:30 – 1:30, free, ages 5+

Work with Clay: What did Victorians like to collect from their travels?  What souvenirs did they like to return from their travels with?  Find out in this workshop and make your own mini-museum treasure using clay.   

Sunday 16th October, Family Day at the V and A, 11:00am – 5:00pm, free, all ages

Big Draw: Bring the entire family to the V and A and everyone can take part in various drawing activities.  Little ones can use the imagination stations, where they can draw, stick and cut out creations; older children can take part in the drawing workshops held hourly from 11:30.  Loads of other workshops, demos, events and competitions, too. 

Next week, look for half-term activities from the Wallace Collection, British Museum, V and A, Portrait Gallery and more …

Fancy a classical music concert for you and your baby or toddler to enjoy in Belsize Park? Come and enjoy a fabulous morning of culture (and after cake) at Classical Babies.

Classical Babies made such a strong impression on my dirt eating, half-Labrador puppy little boy.  For nearly 20 minutes my two year old sat transfixed in my lap listening to two Schubert pieces, Debussy’s Romance; during Rachmaninov’s How Fair is This Spot, my son gave me a little kiss on the cheek! Oh heaven.

Sitting in the concert hall, my irritation with housework, whining, homework, the worry over secondary school fees became fleetingly trifle affairs belonging to a different woman in a different life.  For the duration of that concert, I was granted a moment of pure Motherhood: sharing the very best life has to offer with my child.

Estella Ronan and Antonia Azoitei have put together a mother baby activity of the highest standard: a quality music recital for £10 for mums who have to bring babies and toddlers with them.   Oh how I could wax on about this.  If you have a little one, do not miss your chance to go.

Wednesdays, 11:00 – 11:45, £10.00, Belsize Park, Interchange Studios (take a left out of the tube, cross the street and its next to the cafe.  Recital is held on the ground floor, no stairs.  Toilets up a flight of stairs, but you can change infants in the room.  Push chairs are kept in the room with you.

Next door is an amazing, British, independent bakery .. very child-friendly and very delicious.  Sausage roll, latte and madeleines for lunch … yummy!!  Check out the Euphorium Bakery

The Gate Picture House at Notting Hill is promoting their Tuesday Big Scream Club by offering free memberships to London-baby.com readers.  In addition to this great offer, they have teamed up with Le Pain Quotidien, next door to the cinema, who will offer Big Scream ticket holders a 10% discount off purchases of their fabulous drinks and cakes.

Tuesday mornings from 10:30 you can bring children less than 1 year of age to The Gate Picture House for The Big Scream Film Club.  Enjoy a cinema experience without worrying about noise, nursing, bottles, pushchairs, nappy changing, or any of the rest of it, as the theatre is only open to carers and infants.  The lights are dimly lit and changing area provided and space to park your pushchair.

This week the feature is Melancholia staring Kiersten Dunst (Best Actress at Cannes 2011, Melancholia), Keifer Sutherland, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Alaxander Skarsgard;  it is a strange plot, read the review http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117945258/

Taking the baby to the cinema is such a great treat; I urge all to take advantage of this opportunity while you can, because soon it will cost a fortune in babysitters for you to get out and catch a film.   The Gate Picture House is located next to the Notting Hill Gate tube stop, very close to the amenities of Kensington Gardens and the shops of Notting Hill.

Mention London-baby.com and have your £4 membership fee waived 

Sunday 5th December (tomorrow) from 11:00 – 4:00

Go to Elizabeth Street and Pimlico Road to see Santa’s sleigh and his real-life reindeer.  This year is sure to be stellar with the Ice Queen Stilt Walkers, Elf Balloon Modeller, choirs and brass bands; throw in a Peggy Porschen cake and Tom Tom coffee and I will have a perfect December Family Day.

 Christmas Lights:

I love taking the kids out once a year for a hot chocolate and to gaze at the lights, but we all get frazzled in the rush-hour crowds with the pushchair.  Some easy-on, easy-off places include

• Sloane Square: hop off the tube or the bus and walk over to the fountain.  Loads to look at and no one to bump into.  Wander over to Duke of York for a hot drink and more lights.
• Marylebone Village: wander up and down the high street and in and out of the shops to warm up.  You can walk over to St. Christopher place after and let the kids wander in the courtyard while you have a drink.
• Carnaby Street: they have an outer space theme this year and the lights are so cool.  Santa is floating through outer space.  Stop in the shops or go to Bo-Deen’s for BBQ

Christmas Club at Purple Dragon

• Monday 13th – Friday 17th December, 9:30 – 1:00 pm, ages 2 – 8 years, £25 per day per child.  Arts, crafts, messy play, cooking, sports fun and mayhem.   http://www.purpledragonplay.com/

Theatre and performance

• Sleeping Beauty Panto at the Tabernacle, Noting Hill.  Tuesday 21st December & Wednesday 22 December, £5.00 for kids.
• Granny’s Christmas Journey, The New Diorama Theatre (NW1), through 23rd December, Tuesdays and Fridays 10:30 & 1:30; Saturdays 11:00 & 2:00.  £6, ages 3 – 5
• Pinocchio, Roundhouse NW1 ages 4+.  22nd Nov – 24th Dec
• The Snowman, The Peacock Theatre WC2A ages 2+.  1st Dec – 9th Jan
• Hold on Mr. Rabbit, Little Angel, N1. Ages 3+ with babies welcome for Sunday mornings. 9th Dec – 30th Jan
• A Christmas Carol, Puppet Theatre Barge W9.  4th Dec – Jan

Museums and Galleries:

• British Museum: Book of the Dead Family Day.  Families get priority for entering the exhibit. Saturday December 22nd, 11:00 – 4:00 pm, £12 per adult or free for the children’s activities
• Transport Museum of London:  A new ticket policy that is far simpler than the old one.  Pay £13.50 per adult over the age of 16 and the ticket is good for a year.

Film:

• Barbican Family Films Club: The Legend of the Guradians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole 2D Saturday 11th December 11:00, art activities at 10:30. 
• CiniKids Russell Square: The Legend of the Guradians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole 2D Sunday 12th December 11:30, art activities at 10:30
• Electric Kids Club, Electric Cinema: Alpha and Omega 3D, Saturday 11th December 10:30 am.  Despicable Me 3D, Saturday 18th December, 10:30 am

Just for Babies:

• Electric Scream, Electric Cinema Noting Hill: New time for this heavenly treat, 11:00 am on Tuesdays. 
• Love Swimming with Bila at Dolphin Square.  Double check times, but fabulous morning of splendour in the warm pool with the baby at Dolphin Square.  £12 per class, but luxurious, towels included, very, very posh and nice. http://www.loveswimming.co.uk/

 Here is a list of what I found to be the most promising events for the little ones this summer in London.  Enjoy!!!

•  PADDLING POOLS AND PARKS: http://www.london-baby.com/browse-by-category/paddling-pools-and-outdoor-water-fun/

• MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS:

BRITISH MUSEUM

Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG

Tel: 020 7323 8394

www.britishmuseum.org

Open 10:00-5:30 pm daily

Admission: free for permanent collection

SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES: SOUTH AFRICA LANDSCAPE

Tuesdays and Thursday throughout August, 11:00 – 4:00 pm

Take part in a range of activities based on the plants, animals, landscape and arts of South Africa.

Free, all ages

HORNIMAN MUSEUM

100 London Road, SE23 3PQ

Tel: 0208 699 1872

www.horniman.ac.uk

Admission: free, except for some temporary exhibitions

Open 10:30 – 5:30 pm daily

SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES:

Nearly every day at the Horniman Museum there are events for the Under Fives; specimen handling, storytelling, arts and crafts … if nothing is planned, the museum has loads of toddler-friendly exhibits and an enormous garden with picnic areas.

• THEATRE AND SHOWS:

SOUTHBANK CENTRE

Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

Tel: 0871 663 2500

www.southbankcentre.co.uk

VISUALISE: RELOADED

A smash-hit at two Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, Visualise Reloaded is a mischievous mix of physical theatre, live science demonstrations, projected images and music.  The lack of language means less explanation and more exploration, making this show suitable for all ages.

Sat July 3rd, 2:30 pm

Tickets £10.00 adults, £5.00 children

All ages

THE PUPPET THEATRE BARGE

Little Venice, London W9

Tel: 020 7249 6876

www.puppetbarge.com

A DOUBLE BILL: THE BIRDMAN AND MONKEY BIZ

A magical and poetic double bill of two puppet shows.  The first half, The Birdman, tells of an old man who rescues a small bird that has fallen out of the nest.  Beautiful lighting and original composed music guarantee enchantment.  The second half, Monkey Biz, entertains with monkey marionettes performing tricks and turns with skill.  Includes a dissecting skeleton and a contortionist.

Tue June 1st – Sun June 6th daily 3:00 pm

Saturdays & Sundays June 12th – July 11th, 3:00 pm

THE TOWN MOUSE & THE COUNTRY MOUSE

These two famous cousins visit each other and both experience exciting new sights and sounds.  They end up all the wiser as a result of these adventures.  A very special delight for both young and old with music, songs and rod puppets.  Town Mouse meets the Billy Goats Gruff and other well known characters whilst the Country Mouse meets a cat and a grandfather clock, and faces up to the noisy city traffic.

July 31st – August 15th, daily 2:30 pm

Tickets: children £8.50, adults £10.00

THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE AND OTHER TALES FROM AESOP

These well-known fables are brought to life with drama and humour.  Staged with beautiful lighting and carved marionettes, enchantment is guaranteed.

August 18th – September 5th, daily 2:30 pm; Sept 11th & 12th, 18th & 19th, 25 & 26th at 2:30pm

Tickets: children £8.50, adults £10.00

LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE

14 Dagmar Passage, London N1 2DN

Tel: 020 7226 1787

www.littleangeltheatre.com

FANTASTIC MR FOX

Roald Dahl’s classic take of wit and determination is brought to life with ingenious puppets and enchanting music.  Discover the thrill of the chase and join Mr. Fox and his family underground as they battle to save themselves and the rest of the countryside from disaster.

Performances held daily Wednesdays to Sundays; baby friendly performance at 11:00am on Sept 26th.

Tickets: from £5.00 – £12.50

Ages 4+, please note children under this age will not be allowed in the auditorium

OPERA HOLLAND PARK

Central Library

Phillimore Walk W8 7RX

Tel: 020 7361 3570

FANTASTIC MR FOX

An operatic version of Fantastic Mr. Fox commissioned by Opera Holland Park especially designed to be performed in the beautiful gardens and natural scenery of Holland Park.

Tue August 3, Thu August 5th, Sat August 7th, Tue August 10th, Thu August 12th & Sat August 14th; 3:00 pm

Tickets: £2.50 children, £5.00 adults

All ages

FOR KIDS A LITTLE BIT OLDER …

• Kid’s week in the West End, children ages 5 – 16 attend selected plays for free with their paying adult www.kidsweek.co.uk.  August 13th – 27th

• Attend the Gorilla Flying Trapeze School in Regent’s Park, ages 6+, www.gorillacircus.com.  July 27th – August 23rd (AGES 6 AND UP, BUT YOU CAN TAKE THE LITTLE ONES TO HAVE A LOOK)

By the time my daughter was born, I had been living in London for two years.  I had no family near me and the only friends that I had made were co-workers who, because they did not have young children, seemed to live on a different planet than me after my daughter came along.

We lived in a tiny, central London flat; not being much of a homebody to begin with, my new-born and I immediately set out in October 2005 to discover what London has to offer the under 5’s.   I have found this city to be amazingly friendly to carers of small children.  In 2007, we moved to a different neighbourhood and I discovered an entirely new part of Central London.  Now that our son has joined us in 2009, I can continue to discover London for babies, toddlers and mums with more than one small child.

My reviews are the result of nearly three years of caring full-time for my daughter, and now infant son, in London while also experiencing being a parent travelling to different cities and towns in Europe and North America.  This web site is based on all the friendly chats that we have had in playgrounds here in London and elsewhere about destinations and activities for our small children.  Further, as a teacher I have accompanied and led groups of children around greater Chicago and London and I bring these experiences to this site.

Having listened to and given so many reviews of these destinations and others, I guarantee they will have exactly the kind of information that you will need for you and your baby and/or toddlers. If you know of new playgroups and classes in your area, please let me know and I’ll add them to the site!

To find local activities, playgroups and great child friendly places, just click on a neighbourhood from the list above to get started.