Want to take your child to listen to the highest echelon performers in the classical music world at 10:30 in the morning? Do not miss the next Classical Babies concert in Knightsbridge where you and your progeny can enjoy passionate and enthusiastic music played by today’s leaders in the classical music field.

Classical Babies is the brainchild of Antonia Azoitei and Estella Garcia, both full-time mums and professionals in the arts who wanted to unite all their passions in one place. What a better way than to bring world-class talented musicians to vigorously perform classical repertoire to mums, dads, carers, babies, toddlers and children? This is such an amazing treat for anyone; whether you are a seasoned musician or a newbie to classical music, you and your offspring will enjoy a professional grade concert for £10.

 Antonia and Estella bring the highest calibre concert hall musicians; harpists, pianists, cellists, violinist, flutists to come and perform mid-morning concerts for children. Antonia has performed with the world’s leading musicians: she heads the Vilensky String Quartet, was a full-time member of the BBC Concert Orchestra, and continues to play with City of London Sinfonia and various other orchestras and performing groups.

Classical Babies Knightsbridge brings together all the elements for a perfect London-baby day: a world-class performance hall classical music concert a short walk from Sloane Square, around the corner from Harrods, ten minutes from the playground and Serpentine in Hyde Park: the perfect day out on the town with the little ones.

Have a coffee, browse the shops, treat you and your child to a beautiful concert, then top it all off with a trip to the playground near Hyde Park Barracks and feed the ducks to boot. You may even see the Regimental Cavalry out practicing, or better yet, returning from Changing of the Guard in full ceremonial attire. The Dell Restaurant just at the end of the Serpentine is particularly child and push chair friendly with a huge terrace filled with picnic tables (no one is really going to care if you buy a coffee and bring your own food for the kids) where the kids can lean against the rails and watch the water fowl.

Families local to the Pimlico Toy Library, please stop by the Toy Library Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and buy raffle tickets to sell to friends and neighbours.  We are in desperate need of fundraising to keep our fabulous charity open.

For the Family:

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is open, we have been and you are in for such a big treat this year!!! 

We have been every year, with one toddler, a child and a baby, a big kid and and toddler and even with each changing dynamic, I cannot get over how much fun we have each year; it’s a great family event no matter how old your kids are.  Why is the woman who writes about textile ornament making telling you to go to Winter Wonderland?  It is just that much fun: rides, food, hot adult beverages, people watching and the kids just love every minute of it. 

The entry is free, the rides will costs upwards from £2 per child and adults are charged to ride.  SantaLand has a free grotto, small rides for the littlies and a gentle atmosphere.  The energy around the market and the “big kid rides” is a bit manic, as you can imagine.  The ice skating rink is outdoors and built around the bandstand this year instead of being housed in the temporary building (huge improvement).  Sadly, the antique “Parisian” car rides and gliders are not here this year, but perhaps we can persuade them to bring them back for next year.

If you can manage, go right at 10am on a weekday or on the weekends and you will be in a thinner more family crowd.  For all budgets, its a great time out.

South Kensington Literary Festival at Le Institut Francais: Thursday 24^th – Sunday 27^th come and book to see drawing duels with Alex Sheffler and David McKee, watch a film, get your book signed by your favourite children’s author:

Chelsea Physic Garden Christmas Fair, Saturday 26^th and Sunday 27^th November , 10-4pm.  Come and peruse the marquis covered gardens for fabulously crafted Christmas gifts.  Enjoy mulled wine, mince pies, game stews and hot breakfasts all provided by the fabulous Tangerine Dream Cafe.  £5 per adult, children under 16 free. 

Southbank Winter Festival: The Southbank Christmas Market (now through 24^th December) and Royal Festival Hall: Pack a picnic and enjoy shelter and entertainment in the Royal Festival Hall after walking through the Southbank Christmas festival and market.  Take in the views from the Southbank, watch the entertainers, eat in the market and ride the fabulous carousal and then pop into the Royal Festival Hall and check out Forkbeard Fantasy Theatre of Imagination(2^nd December – 8^th January) an interactive with life size puppets, peepshow boxes, mechanical gizmos and cartoons.  The Festival Hall is a community space, with toilets and highchairs and wifi for anyone to use.  You can bring your own food or buy food there.  Will write up more about the fabulous Christmas shows next week  

Christmas on Elizabeth Street, Sunday 4^th December, noon – 5pm: come and pet the reindeer, encounter the ice queen, see Father Christmas, listen to brass bands and carol singers … it is a fabulous family day for all to enjoy

Fortnum and Mason Storytelling of the Nutcracker: Saturdays and Sundays from 26^th November – 18^th December.  Plus, Monday 19^th and Tuesday 20^th December: 12:30, 2:00 and 3:30, £15 per child.  Come and listen to Father Christmas tell the story of the Nutcracker.

Just For Babies:

The Gate Picturehouse, Tuesday 10:30 am, Big Scream for infants under 12 months. This week’s picture: The Weekend, starring Chris New and Tom Cullen.   Huge thank yous to Gate Picturehouse for the tickets for the Westminster NCT Big Coffee Morning Celebrating Canadian and American Thanksgiving:

Babies and Toddlers

NCT Christmas Party at the Chelsea Theatre with Pippa’s Poppets:  Thursday 1^st December 11:15 – noon.  Come join the NCT Kensington and Chelsea Branch and Pippa’s Poppets for a fabulous free party complete with mince pies and Christmas carols, in addition to Pippa’s fantastic music class.  Pippa was joint winner of The Times Christmas Carol Competition this year and will be performing her carol at Codogan Hall. http://web.me.com/pippacleary/Pippas_Poppets/Home.html book a place by emailing: toddlersnctkensington@yahoo.co.uk or get in touch with the Kensington and Chelsea NCT http://www.facebook.com/KensingtonAndChelseaNCT

Classical Babies: come and see the duelling violins, babies, toddlers and older children welcome to come and watch a scream-friendly concert in Belsize Park, £10 per family.

Bigger Kids:

The Wallace Collection, Little Draw: Sunday 4^th December 1:30 – 4:30.  Join artist Julia Iwasz for a free drawing session. 

Do not miss, Family Art Workshops in the Saatchi Gallery on Sundays from 27^th November – 18^th December, £3 per card.  The fabulous Valeria will take your children on a guided discovery through the galleries and then teach them how to print Christmas cards.  http://familyworkshops.wordpress.com/about/

Also at the Saatchi Gallery, Wednesday 21^st December 11am – 5pm, free family day of workshops, tours and tea!!

Two Temple Place: Come and check out the newly opened, sumptuously restored, period home and now art collection located near The Strand.  Morris Christmas Craft Workshop, Saturday 17^th December.  Join Andrea Tierney for an afternoon of making Morris inspired Christmas baubles out of textiles.  10 – 4:30, £3

Just for Mums:

The Spa at Dolphin Square and I are putting our heads together to come up with a mum’s Sunday afternoon.  Dads will take the kids out to explore The Kids Zone at the Army Museum, or a day out in Covent Garden or scores of other fun activities while mum’s book in groups of four for the most luxurious and relaxing afternoon of pampering.  Watch this space!!

Gate Picturehouse Big Scream: Tuesday 15^th November, 10:30, babies less than 1 year of age.  The Awakening with Imelda Saunton, Dominic West and Rebecca Hall; set in a 1920’s English country boarding school, the film explores a sceptics encounter with supernatural phenomena. 

http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Gate_Picturehouse/Whats_On/Clubs_Groups/

Babies and Toddlers:

Classical Babies: Wednesday, 11:00,InterchangeStudiosBelsizePark, £10, babies and toddlers.  Come join Anna Wagstaff and Tanya Ursova Owens for a cello and piano recital. 

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=200150270059506

Babies, Toddlers and Children:

Hyde ParkWinter Wonderland: Thank you to the very fabulous Anna for giving my family tickets to the press opening; London-baby.com has moved to an asset from a liability in my husbands eyes. We look forward to posting a review of all the rides, food and cocktails next week!!

http://www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/

Meet the Gruffalo at Selfridges: Saturday 19^th, 2-4pm, 4^th floor toy department Selfridges.  Come join the Gruffalo for storytelling and face painting (great way for one parent to get some shopping done)

http://style.selfridges.com/whats-on/meet-gruffalo-selfridges-london

Mini Maestro London Musical Arts Orchestra at St Martinin the Field, Saturday 19^th, 4:30 – 5:30, Beethovan’s Eroica Symphony, ages 4 – 12.   Fantastic, interactive orchestra who bring children into the performance. 

http://www.lmaorchestra.com/

South Kensington Festival:

Start booking for drawing workshops, film and book signing.  Quentin Blake and Lauren Child are just a few of the top children’s literati who will be working with our kids. 

http://www.institut-francais.org.uk/southkenkidsfest/events/sat26nov.html

 This weekend:

 Saturday 5^th November noon – 5pm, all ages

Wellcome Collection Day of the Dead: Come and experience the colourful and playful Mexican festival for what is honoured in the liturgical calendar as All Saints Day.  Religious in origin, the festival tries aims to interact and have fun with the idea of the afterlife.  Loads of crafts and interesting things to do while learning more about this fascinating Mexican festival. 

 Saturday 5^th November, all day, all ages

Regent Street Motor Show:Regent streethas been shut down and there will be 100 pre-1905 cars to view, cars from variousLondontoBrightonraces, 50 Mini Coopers … Loads to look at and roam around

 Sunday 6^th November, 3-5pm

Family Barn Dance: Cecil Sharp House, NW3.  Take the family to a traditional British Folk Dancing Party (no previous knowledge required).  An event for the whole family to learn and participate with the English Folk Dancing Society.  All ages, £5 adults, £3 children/

 Sunday 6^th November, 11:30

Mini-Make Believe at Somerset House:  Bring the under fives along to have a session of dancing, craft-making, singing and thinking about fireworks.  Free and brilliantly run. 

 Sunday 6^th November, 11:30

Daunt Books Heath Walk and Talk: Join Daunt Books on South End Road with your kids, dogs, prams for a walk in the Heath and a discussion about John Le Carre’s sublime novel, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.  Free and all ages

 Wednesday 9^th November, 11:00

ClassicalBabies: BelsizePark, Interchange Studios, babies and toddlers.  £10 per family.This is such a great time on a Wednesday morning, the venue is just a few doors down from the tube, the neighbourhood is very kid friendly, you can walk to the heath (a long-ish walk) a great way to enjoy some culture with your child

 Friday 11^th November 10:30 and 12:30

London Symphony Orchestra concert for the Under Fives, St. Luke’s Church, Old Street EC1.  Book now for an interactive concert for the very littlies, two performances 10:30 and 12:30.  Tickets are £3 per person, babies under 12 months are free.

  Next Weekend:

 Saturday 12^th November

The Kensington Hotel, Lessons in Table Manners for kids, ages 5 – 10, 3-4pm, The Aubrey Restaurant: FREE!!! Bring the kids in for some etiquette lessons at The Kensington Hotel. Leave the kids at the table to polish up their manners and adults can go partake in their own tea or enjoy cocktails!!  The children’s tea is free! Ring 020 75896300 or Email thedoylecollection@77pr.co.uk to reserve a place.

 Saturday 12^th November

Family Concert from The Little London Music School, 10:15 – 11:00am, £6 children & £8 adult.  Come enjoy an interactive concert for children.  Held is St. Columba’s upper hall onPont Street(a block or two from Harrods), a great location, wonderful room and near-by loads of shopping and playgrounds.  A great day out!!

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 …

The Big Draw’s Big Splash, King’s Place (King’s Cross Station), NI.  Noon – 5pm, free all ages

Well-loved, ubiquitous and fabulous children’s illustrator and author Quentin Blake will be hosting an illustrating workshop filled with amazing activities focusing on different aspects of book art and illustration.  Marion Deuchars, Sarah Bridgland, Kerrie Fansman, Nina Chakrabati are just a few of the children’s book illustrators and artists who will be hosting workshops on this fabulous day of learning and fun.  Further, there will be a floating studio on a canal boat taking artists around town to sketch.

All events are free and all ages are welcome.  Check out the workshops listed here , they can be booked in advance, or drop in and see if there is space.

If you miss that, log in and see Quentin Blake online: http://www.quentinblakevirtuallylive.co.uk/20110928/index.asp

Tuesday 27 September

Gate Cinema, Big Scream 10:30am

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.  Bring your child, under 1 year of age, to the Gate Cinema’s Big Scream Film club and check out this
sell-out movie.   You must join the Big Scream club to bring your child into the cinema (apologies, no baby, no entry).  Low lights are left on, bring the push chair right into the cinema, nappy changing facilities provided.

http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Gate_Picturehouse/Whats_On/Clubs_Groups/

Saturday 1  October

Trotters 20^th Birthday Party, Duke of York Square, 11am – 5pm

Come and celebrate Kings Road favourite independent children’s shop birthday!!  This is a birthday party done properly:  petting zoo, Victorian Carousel, music, biscuit decorating, traditional fete stalls, dancing, pampering from Liz Earle … loads of high-quality amusements and interacting.

Bring the family out to the Duke of York Green and have very child-centred fun family day out raising money for the Cairn Trust to help fund a school in Nepal

http://www.trotters.co.uk/blog/index.php/2011/09/08/celebrating-21-years/

Wigmore Hall

Giant, Lyrics and Lions in Partnership with the Wallace Collection, come take part in a day-long workshop using inspiration from the Wallace collection to create original musical compositions.  Explore the story of Hercules in the Wallace collections works featuring bulls, lions and giants with lecturer Bridget Crowley.  Children will be able to perform their work, if they like, on stage at The Wigmore Hall (I understand you are then free to claim that your child has performed at the Wigmore Hall on school forms!) From 10am at Wigmore Hall.

Ages 7+, adults must help children participate so younger siblings allowed only if they can participate, too.  £12 adults, £8 children. 10:30am – 3:30pm

http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/productions/giants-lyrics-and-lions-28250

Sunday 2 October

Wallace Collection

Little Draw Free Drop in Workshop.  Come join artist Julia Iwasz whose work explores the connection between photography and painting, as she lead little ones and older ones on a drawing journey exploring different media.  Free, all ages, 1:30 – 4:30pm

http://www.wallacecollection.org/collections/event/3716

Somerset House

Mini Make Believe: Into the Woods

This is SUCH a great event to take very small children to on the weekend.  The events are teeny tiny workshops that involve singing, dancing, movement, making, art, bubbles all based on a monthly theme.  These events are free, just collect a ticket up to an hour before in the Seaman’s Hall.  If you arrive early, have a coffee in the amazing courtyard and watch the kids run around.

Under 5’s, 11:30

http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/learning/family/mini-make-believe

Saturday 8 October

British Museum

The Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Great Court,  11am – 4pm, all ages, free

The Great Court of the British Museum will be filled with various stations where you and your kids can make, create and interact.  Bring your teddy bear, your kids and have fun drawing your bear with different works of art from the museum.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/october_2011/the_big_draw.aspx

Pippa’s Poppets

Spaces are rapidly filling up, but there are still a few spaces for babies, toddlers and small children in the Knightsbridge and Chelsea Venues

http://www.pippaspoppets.co.uk

Things are changing around London museums, but this change is genuinely worth the £2.50 per child the NAM is now charging for children over 1 year to enter the play zone.   If you plan to go regularly, you can by a season pass for £30 (the current pass is good until April) and put up to three adults on it and take up to three children with you. 

They have introduced new session times.  Instead of the first session being extremely long and the others a bit shorter, all the sessions are one hour long with a twenty minute break between sessions.  Further, you can obtain tickets for upcoming sessions when you enter the desk; if you find out the 10am session is filled, you can get a ticket for the 11:20am or a later slot and go off down The Kings Road for a while. 

The session times are as follows: 10:10 – 11:10; 11:20 – 12:20; 12:30 – 1:30; 1:45 – 2:45; 3:00 – 4:00; 4:15 – 5:15

The new Play Zone has been lavishly redesigned and brilliantly reconfigued.  The space is larger, big enough for children to run around in, with an even bigger climbing frame than before.  You can easily see into the climbing area and find out which child is tormenting and which child is crying, or see if a little one needs help getting around.   The kitchen is larger with room for loads of children to play, instead of just a few.  There are new, clean costumes to dress in and a swirling slide.  The best part of all, there is a section filled with soft climbing blocks for babies to pull themselves up on and fall down without getting hurt. 

There are no loos in the new Kids Zone, but there is one just across from the cafe that is wheelchair/pushchair accessible with a changing table.

The space is available for hire for birthday parties, complete with catering.

 Hope you enjoy!!

 V & A

The V & A is an amazing art education resource for the little ones.  Monday – Friday 10:30am – 5:00pm from now until the start of September, you can take your kids to the Imagination Station and create a really good piece to take home.  You and the kids take an adventure around the museum and get inspired to create an underwater themed craft.  In addition to the summer holiday workshops, the V & A offers Drop in Design every Sunday.  Children and their parents collect the materials in the Sackler Centre and go have a self-guided look around the museum and come back to create a keepsake.  Lastly, be sure to make the Marvellous Manuscripts Sunday 21st August Family Event for learning about Jain manuscripts.  Explore the theme with activities, storytelling and then make your own to take with you.

Free, drop-in, all ages (except Imagination Station is 4+ with younger siblings welcome), 10:30am – 5:00pm.

The Victoria and Albert Museum

Cromwell Road

London SW7 2RL

http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/f/families/

Horniman Museum

 Take your kids to the Horniman this summer and take part in Horniman Museum’s Family Art Fun (ages 3+ and younger siblings welcome) every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (various time throughout the day) for the remainder of the school holidays.  The children make a quality craft in the art studio of the museum. Further, the collection is interesting and very good for small children, so take along the big ones for the art and let the little ones have a good discovery of the rest of the collection. These sessions are free with spaces allocated on arrival.  Check with the desk when you arrive for information.

Horniman Museum and Gardens

100 London Road

Forest Hill

London SE23 3PQ

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/events/family.php

Saatchi Gallery

The Saatchi Gallery has just begun running family art workshops on Sunday mornings with Valeria Almadie.  These delightful workshops are for ages 4+ and generally run 11:00am & 2:00pm.  The workshop begins with a look around the gallery at three different works in the current show; the children are then taken down to the art studio and led in a discovery of design.  The classes are very small, with Valeria working very closely with each child.  This is a very child-friendly museum, please come out and support their latest efforts to cater to little ones.

Saatchi Gallery

Duke of York HQ

Kings Road

London SW3 4SQ

valeriaamadei@hotmail.it

http://familyworkshops.wordpress.com/about/

British Museum

On Tuesdays and Thursdays in August, the British Museum is offers activities for children to explore the Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics and Devotion in Medieval Europe exhibit.  They may make a glittering treasure box, hear tales of saints and monsters, create a pilgrim badge… different activities where they learn a bit about the exhibit and have a really cool artefact to take home with them.  Read the Family Events listings before heading off and have a great time learning and enjoying the British Museum.

British Museum

Great Russell Street

WC1B 3DG

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/family_events.aspx

National Gallery

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the National Gallery is holding different interactive workshops for the under fives.  Some are just based on stories and movement, others involve making something.  These workshops are not pre-bookable; however, you may arrive up to half an hour before the workshop begins to be allocated a place.  You meet in the education foyer, which is off the entrance all the way around the building, opposite Trafalgar Square. 

The National Gallery

Trafalgar Square

London WC2N 5DN

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/families/

National Portrait Gallery

Nearly every morning for the next few weeks, the National Portrait Gallery will be running Tour and Draw sessions for ages 3+.  In addition to these sessions, they will be offering Family Art Workshops for ages 5+, with younger siblings welcome to tag along.  These workshops are so enjoyable for young and old alike, the staff is really enthusiastic and make the sessions fun for all.  Check the web site for specific dates, times and activities.

National Portrait Gallery

St. Martin’s Place

London WC2H 0HE

http://www.npg.org.uk

Holland Park Ecology Centre

Over the summer holidays, be sure to take your kids to the very charming Holland Park Ecology Centre.  They have a lovely staff that will lead your child on a wildlife discovery focusing on fauna of the local area.  The session will start in the Ecology Centre which is located very close to the cafe, near the athletic fields.  The kids will begin learning about the topic (minibeasts, reptiles, making a shelter, orienteering) and then go on to create something to take away with them (potted seeds, a tree fairy, a clay lizard) and then go outside to explore and play games.  It’s very low-key and very enjoyable.  As a bonus, children over the age of 8 may be dropped-off.  Sessions cost £4 for residents and £5 for non-residents.  You may also book the Ecology Centre for birthday parties during the school year.

Holland Park Ecology Centre

The Stable Yard

London W8 6LU

http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/environmentandtransport/ecology.aspx

 Tuesday 26^th July, Westminster Abbey: Royal Wedding Forever.  2:30pm – 4:00pm, free (ages 4+).  Find out all about the Royal Wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  Sessions are limited to 40 children, so book ahead. http://www.westminster-abbey.org/whats-on/events/2011/july/summer-holiday-childrens-events-at-westminster-abbey

 Wednesday 27^th – Sunday 31^st July, National Theatre: Watch This Space.  All ages, free.  Loads of free performances music, manic pie throwing, miniature sets and plays, monkeys trampolining, an eclectic mix of performances beginning around 1pm and ending around 6pm. http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/wts

  Thursday 28^th July, Westminster Abbey: Make Like a Monk.  2:30pm – 4:00pm, free (ages 4+) Learn about the monks of Westminster Abbey and meet brother William who worked in the garden.  Discover natural plant dyes and have a go at dying a T-shirt yourself.  http://www.westminster-abbey.org/whats-on/events/2011/july/summer-holiday-childrens-events-at-westminster-abbey

 Saturday 30^th July, Royal Albert Hall: BBC Family Prom, Horrible Histories.  11am- 2pm, free, all ages.  Tickets places have all gone, but on the day of the Prom 1,000 tickets will be release.  Come sing along with the cast of Horrible Histories for the perfect Family Prom http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2011/july-30/23

 Saturday 30^th July, Leicester Square Theatre, “Help I’m a Prisoner in a Toothpaste Factory”.  2:30pm, £7.50 children, £10.00 adults.  Come watch a live recording of a radio drama written by much loved British author John Antrobus.  http://leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/126514991/events

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.