Reviews of Covent Garden and Soho Playgroups
Charing Cross Library Baby Rhyme Time
Charing Cross Libary, 4 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0HF
Bus: 24, 29, 176
Tube: Leicester Square or Charing Cross
What a hidden gem this rhyme time is … and it is going to get better. Robin Martin brings her wonderful voice and entertainment talents to the Charing Cross rhyme time in addition to the Wednesday session at the Mayfair library. Robin definitely adds West End panache to the Under Fives library sessions.
The space is small, but that is part of the charm. The toilets are on the ground floor, with a changing table and enough space to pull a buggy in (keep that in mind if you are ever need a loo in Soho). There are books and enough props for small children to play with. Robin brings out a gaggle of puppets and a box of toys for kids to play with after.
Beginning Monday, 1st March, there are going to expand the session to include a bigger play area and some larger toys. There is a big gala event from 10:30 - noon supported by Starbucks … should be really great fun and I am going to make every effort to be there.
Soho Family Centre
St. James’s Residence,23 Brewer Street
0207-439-1578
The Soho Family Centre is a unique space that holds a special vibe of being in The West End.
You enter the St. James’s Residence through a gated archway off Brewer Street, park you pushchair and descend a flight of stairs to the nursery. Note that there is only a minimal area of shelter from rain to park the pushchairs, so you may need to bring your rain cover. The space is so interesting and varied with really friendly mums who love London (not as many nannies) and staff. There is an outdoor space that is half under the building, half open to the courtyard “well” of the buildings. When you look up, you know that The West End is buzzing around you as you play in a great space for toddlers and small children.
As it is right next to Chinatown, many of the mums were speaking Mandarin and Cantonese with their children, adding to the charming Soho Vibe.
Dragon Hall Under 4′s Drop-in, Sure Start, 10 - 4pm
17 Stukeley Street, WC2B 5LT, 0207-404-7274
http://www.dragonhall.org.uk/
Really great resource for the West End. You park and fold you push chair and climb a flight of stairs to enter the playroom. There are great changing facilities, food preperation area, and a self-contained room of basic toys for the kids. There is an arts and crafts area, a small climbing frame.
The staff is extremely friendly, supportive and knowledgable. Lots of mums at this group, too.
