No need to wait around for a bus again; download the London Bus Checker Smartphone app for your iphone or Android for a mere £1.99.  Real-time updates from busses en route, easily downloadable route maps with stops indicated on street maps … read my review, or download from itunes here

Also, head over to Earl’s Court Destinations: The Holiday and Travel Show on Sunday 5^th February, noon, theatre 1 to hear London dad, safari specialist, conservationist and National Geographic presenter Hayden Turner talk about his award-winning documentary “Hunters of the Lost World” where he followed and documented the hunting and survival skills of 7 rare tribes.  Hayden will also be on hand to discuss family safari travel … read more

Just for Babies:

Gate Cinema: Tuesday 7^th February.  Big Scream.  Come and see Carnage this Tuesday without the crowds, hassle or need to pay a sitter.  Doors open at 10am, movie begins at 10:30, free coffee and pastries http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Gate_Picturehouse/Whats_On/Clubs_Groups/

 For Toddlers and Babies

Classical Babies: Wednesdays, 11:00am, Belisize Park, Interchange Studios.  £10 per family for a delightful classical concert that is completely baby and toddler friendly, the perfect mid-week bit of brain candy read more about the fabulous bit of motherhood: My review. 

Classics with my Baby: a classical concert series for mums and tots.  Classical concerts specifically designed for mums and children (0-5 years) to enjoy together. Tickets: Adults £10, children FREE (special offers on website)

 Tuesday Febuary 7th Islington - Christ Church, Highbury N5 1SA 2012 10:00am:  ”Eat Cake and Mingle” 10:30am:  Concert begins. Ends by 11:30am Tickets:  Adults £10 at the door, discounts available online, children FREE

 Wednesday Febuary 8th 2012 Chelsea - Christ Church, Christchurch Street, off Flood Street, London, SW3 4AS 10:00am:  ”Eat Cake and Mingle” 10:30am:  Concert begins. Ends by 11:30am
Tickets:  Adults £10 at the door, discounts available online, children FREE

 Le Institute Francias: Baby French Tales, A La Decoouverte De Paris (ages 0-3) Saturday 4^th February, 11am.  1 hour, in easy French.  A new baby elephant has arrived in town looking for his big city adventure.  Bring your kids along to Baby French Tales and explore the fabulous South Kensington area before or after.  £7 per adult, £5 per child.  www.institut-francais.org.uk/kids-and-teens/baby-and-kids-french-tales

 For Bigger Kids:

Somerset House: Mini Make Believe. Sunday 5^th February from 11:30 – 12:30.  Bring your 2-5 year olds along to learn about pairs.  Look, sing, dance, make and learn in this fabulously designed and run little workshop for very young children.  Free, tickets allocated on arrival.  www.somersethouse.org.uk/learning/family

 Somerset House: Family Workshop, Imaginary Menagerie.  Saturday 4^th February, 2:00-3:30pm.  Construct your own weird and wonderful beasts and mythical monsters at this drop-in making workshop.  Free, no ticket required, but you may have to wait for a turn to make something http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/learning/family/free-family-workshops

 Saatchi Gallery Family Art Workshop: A Bag Full of Art.  Sunday 5^th February, 10:30, noon, 3:00 and 4:00pm.  Explore the exhibition highlights through family oriented tours that incorporate interactive conversations and drawing activities.  The tour begins with the opening of a bag that contains media used by artists in Gesamkunstwerk.  Children will have the opportunity to touch, experience and interact with the materials.  Ages 4-12, younger siblings welcome, £3.00 per child.  Book required valeria@familyartworkshops@gmail.com  www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/a_bag_full_of_art.htm

 Kids Club, Saturdays at Gate Picturehouse: Scooby Doo, PG
From 10am they have activities, then watch the foodie/kiddie feel good flick at 10:30.  £4 to join the Kids Club, but then tickets are £1 after, popcorn and juice for the kids £2.  http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Gate_Picturehouse/Whats_On/Clubs_Groups/Kids_Club/

 Read more about the day out here.

Wallace Collection Little Draw: Sunday 5^th February 1:30 – 4:30.  Bring the kids along to a drop-in art workshop.  Come here after going to the expansive Marylebone Farmer’s Market (10am -2pm Sundays in the car park just behind Waitrose) and the gorgeous Paddington Green playground, located in the park just beyond the car park. http://www.wallacecollection.org/whatson/activitiesforadultsandfamilies/familyactivities

 For the Family Over Half Term

Half term week is rapidly approaching.  I will have an in-depth list next week of what to look out for, but you may want to book into an art workshop at The Wallace Collection, weaving at The V and A, a family concert at Cadogan Hall, events at The Imagine Festival at Southbank, Lollibop Mini Disco at Ministry of Sound, events at the Holland Park Ecology Centre.  Not ready to commit?  Don’t worry, there are loads of drop-in events coming in the complete list next week.

 For Adults:

NCT Interior Design Short Course A fabulous fundraiser for the National Childbirth Trust, an interior design course at Whole Foods Market on High Street Kensington.  Put together with the help of London Property Makeover, you can learn the basics of interior design (how to write a brief, colour theory, how to mix fabrics, create a mood board, spatial planning and lighting – wow!!).  This is intended for mums creating a nursery for their new-borns, but I want to come, too!!  Four Wednesdays 8pm – 9pm, from 29^th February.  £80 for the course, donation to the NCT included.  Read on … 

If you are around this summer, book into the Holland Park Ecology Centre’s Classes for ages 5+ (younger sibs welcome to come along)

10 am and 2pm sessions running now until September, Mini Beast Hunts, Build a Shelter, Learn About Peacocks, Pond Dipping and more.  £5 per session for non-residents, pre-booking required.

More details here: http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/pdf/summer%20holidays%2011.pdf

Come dressed as a Victorian and join in the fun: hog roast, ice creams, bouncy castles, face painting, Punch and Judy show, stalls offering goods for sale from local businesses, music, games and more.  Former members of St. James the LessSchoolare invited for a reunion and tour around the old school.  http://sjtl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=183&Itemid=148

 (not affordable, but really unique) Circus Glory, Primrose Hill Community Centre, Wednesday 27^th & Thursday 28th July

Ring to book a place for circus school!!  10am – 3:00pm drop-off, just off RegentsPark, NWI.  Ages 5+ £50 per day.  Send your kids with a pack lunch and lots to drink. Email: g.monastesse@googlemail.com (or email me, laura at london-baby dot com and I will send you her mobile)

 Paper Theatre Art Workshops, Saatchi Gallery, Sunday 31st July 10:30am (Ages 5+, £10 per child)

Contact Valeria at valeriaamadei@hotmail.it, to book a place.  Also, check out her web site for more information: http://familyworkshops.wordpress.com/about/

 Southbank, Real Food Market (Friday 29^th – Sunday 31^st) and Disappearing Rooms (fountains, ongoing)

If it heats up this weekend and you don’t want to cook, head out to Southbank.  Play in the disappearing rooms fountains (bring towels, the kids will get SOAKED).  Head over for foodie fun after in the Real Food Market where you can buy crafted prepared foods, jams, soaps, wines, coffees and baked goods. http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/hayward-gallery-and-visual-arts/tickets/jeppe-hein-appearing-rooms-1000091

 Also, book now Wigmore Hall Autumn events: For Crying out Loud (under 1 yr), Toddler Bop (1-2 years), Chamber Tots (2-5 years) www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/learning

 They are going to KILL ME for this, but .. Sneak the kids to see Moby!! 1^st August 5pm – 6pm

Foyles Royal Festival Hall.  Singing his new book photography book, Destroyed, and playing a short acoustic set!!  http://www.foyles.co.uk/Public/Events/Detail.aspx?eventId=1261

 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

 Hope you had a great Easter Holiday.  If you do not have school-age children you should know that London will be over-run the next two weeks with families on term break.  Most drop-in playgroups will be closed.  If you head out to the museums this week, get in the queue by 9:45 and be prepared for heaving crowds.

Below is a short list of events for children under five years of age, subscribe to London-baby.com to get the rest of the details.

Enjoy the next few weeks of school holidays,

Theatre:

Little Angel: Wednesday, 7th April – Sunday 11th April, 11:00 & 2:00 pm (2:00 & 5:00 pm Friday) Who’s Been Sitting in My Chair ages 3 – 7, baby friendly performance on Thursday 11:00 am. £8

 Unicorn Theatre: Wednesday, 7th April- Saturday 10th April, 11:00 & 2:00 pm, How Cold are my Toes, ages 2 – 7, £10.50, family ticket £30

 Puppet Theatre Barge: Tuesday 6th April – Sunday 18th April, daily 3:00 pm, The Hare and the Tortoise and Other Tales from Aesop. Ages 3+.  Tickets: Children £8.50, adults £10.00

Hands On:

V & A: Tuesday 6th April – Friday 9th April, 10:30 – 12:30 & 2:00 – 5:00 pm Drop-in Design Special: Quilts, Silks and Stories: design a textile panel to be added to the story quilt, no age restrictions, free

 British Museum: Monday 12th April – Friday 16th April 11:00 – 4:00 pm.  Come to the Great Court for a variety of activities. No age restrictions, free 

 Horniman Museum: Tuesday 6th April – Friday 10th April & Monday 12th April – Friday 16th April: Family Art Fun, 11:00 – 3:30 pm; Discovery fro All, 2:00 – 3:30 pm.  All ages, free

 Tate Britain: Tuesday 6th April – Friday 16th April, Art Trolley.  All ages, free

Stories and Songs:

National Gallery: Tuesday 13th April – Saturday 17th April, 11:30 – noon, Magic Carpet Ride, all ages

 London Transport Museum: Tuesday 6th April – Friday 9th April & Monday 12th April – Friday 16th April, 11:00 & 4:30 pm, Sing-along Suburbia. Under fives, free