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Entries Tagged as 'London'

Summer in London: A magical play fountain

July 24, 2015

The Summer holidays are in full swing and we’ve been getting out and enjoying London. We rarely go away over the Summer because London is such a great place to be at this time of year and there so many Summer activities for kids in London. This Summers mission is to enjoy as much of our beautiful city as we can and when I find something super fun to do, I thought I would share it here. Earlier this week, along with some friends, we headed to the Southbank which is always a fun day out. There is always a fab atmosphere, food, street performers and so much more. Our plan was to just wander around and soak up the sights and smells but we ended up discovering the Appearing Rooms Fountain. And once we discovered this, there was no moving the kids away.

The Appearing Rooms Fountain is no ordinary play fountain. It’s designed so that jets of water shoot high in to the air creating ‘rooms’ that appear and disappear as quickly as they appeared. It’s possible to stand in the midst of fountain and not get wet – the trick is finding the ‘room’ where there is no water shooting up or to move super quick when it does come. But the pattern of the fountain changes each time so you might get unlucky and get drenched. The kids headed in to the fountain and the joy on their faces was quite unbelievable. We thought they would play for a few minutes but they ended up playing in the fountain for hours. They absolutely loved it. There were kids of all ages there – from 2 to about 12 – and they were all squealing with delight and joy.

Right next to the Appearing Rooms Fountain is lots of outdoor seating so we sat there, ate and chatted while we kept an eye on the kids who just couldn’t believe their luck at stumbling across this magical play fountain. It may seem a bit over the top to go on about a fountain but the excitement was so evident on every child’s face so I think this fountain is a must visit for any kid. And the best part is that it’s free. Kids can easily spend 2-3 hours in there – just remember to bring a spare set of clothes or a swimsuit for them to wear while in the fountain. Because they will get drenched!

Have you discovered any London places that are fun and worth a visit? Do share so we can all check them out.

Anya wears quirky bear tee by ebabee and floral shorts by Zara (past season)
{all photos by ebabee}

Family friendly London: The National Portrait Gallery

August 8, 2014

A few weeks ago I attended a bloggers networking event at the National Portrait Gallery. I got to meet some inspiring bloggers and I also found out that the National Portrait Gallery has loads of free Summer events, workshops and activities for kids. Most of these events are held on Thursdays, Fridays and the weekend. So last Friday we decided to check one out. We attended a clay modelling workshop where kids get to pick a portrait from the gallery, draw it and then create a clay sculpture of it.

Even though the workshop was aimed at the kids, I totally got in to the clay modelling part and really enjoyed it too. And I wasn’t the only mum there that was almost taking over their child’s clay! Anya wasn’t crazy about the drawing bit but the clay modelling was a huge hit with her. The clay is cool and soft to the touch so it was lovely to feel and it was really fun to be able to mold and shape it and see a head and shoulders emerging. I’ll admit our end result looked a bit frightening but we had so much fun making it.

All the free kids activities on offer at the National Portrait Gallery are arty and creative which is why we were drawn to them in the first place. The clay modelling workshop is only one of many – others include colour workshops, using loom bands to create portraits, drawing sessions and more. Each year, as I discover more and more of the wonderful free events for kids in London, I feel so lucky that we can take advantage of these. Have you discovered any? Please do share in the comments so that others can try them too.

{all photos by ebabee}

Family friendly London: Alice the Opera

August 1, 2014

With the Summer holidays in full swing, we have been enjoying some of the amazing family events on offer in London. So I thought I would share a few of our favourite picks over the month of August. The first one I wanted to share is Alice in Wonderland, the Opera which is held at Holland Park. I found out about it last year but didn’t manage to get tickets for the 2103 season. This year I was prompt and Anya and I ended up going twice!

Any concerns I had about a 5 year old child getting bored at the opera were completely unfounded. The opera was fantastic. Each and every child sat there completely captivated and even though it’s an opera, every word was clearly understandable. It’s ideally suited to 4 years and over but there were younger kids who were never once bored. It’s a very intimate show, where you sit extremely close to the actors so you really feel like you’re a part of it which just adds to the charm. My favourite character was the Queen of Hearts who was absolutely outstanding but the rest of the cast were great too. The show usually takes place in the Yucca Lawns of Holland Park, weather permitting (this is London after all!). We ended up seeing the show once inside due to rain and once outside. The outdoor performance is probably even better for kids as you get to follow the cast around the gardens but the indoor performance really wasn’t lacking in any way either.

Even though tomorrow is the last day of the show for this Summer, they will return for the 2015 Summer season but in the meantime there will be other events around the country as 2015 is the Centenary of the publication of Alice in Wonderland. So check Alice the Opera for updates on interim performances. Otherwise, if you’re going to be anywhere near London next Summer, definitely put it in your diary now for July 2015; it’s unmissable. I’ve mentioned how much the kids enjoyed it but I went with my mum and Anya and all three generations loved it equally. Family events like these are such a treat and I’m wondering how I’m going to top this one.

Disclosure: I bought tickets the first time and was invited the second time. I was going to share this even before I knew I was going to be invited because I loved it and highly recommend it.

{all photos by ebabee}

Discover child friendly London with WowMom

March 13, 2014

I can’t believe apps have only been around for about 5 years but for most of us, we probably only really started using them about 3 years ago. And now, I can’t imagine life without some of my favourites that make life easier and more organised. Of course I love the fun ones too but it’s the ones that save me time and angst that I like the most. One app I wish I had when Anya was a baby is WowMom. WowMom is all about helping you easily find child friendly places (called WowSpots) for baby changing, for eating, for playing, for having a coffee and everything else you do with babies and kids in tow. So whether you’re looking for a gym with a creche or a playground to entertain your toddler, Wowmom has you covered.

Wowmom not only points you in the direction of kid friendly places based on your need of the moment but also details the facilities available at each place. So you’ll know if the place has a kids menu for instance or what age group it’s suitable for, if it’s paid or free or even if the venue provides crayons or toys to keep kids occupied. Handy. Apart from the useful side, I love the colourful and cute illustrations too making for a good looking app which always gets my vote. Right now Wowmom has the most WowSpots in London though there are many in other UK cities but they’re growing everyday with plans to include US cities too and if you want to find out more visit their campaign page. And did I mention, the app is free?

This post is brought to you in partnership with WowMom. All content, thoughts and words are my own. Thank you for supporting my work with carefully selected partners.

As a mum, do you ever indulge yourself?

February 28, 2014

While I’ve never been much of a make-up junkie, I have always had a weak spot for nice smelling creams and lotions as well as pretty clothes. Ever since I became a mum, my focus though has been Anya. Especially since I started this blog, I am always looking out for beautiful kids things and kind of tend to forget about myself. Last weekend while visiting Borough Market, I walked in to the Aesop store and this reminded me of how much I miss indulging myself and finding nice things for myself.

The store itself was a real experience, so stylish in a minimalist way and the service I got was nothing short of outstanding. Anya was with me and they even pampered her by sitting her down and putting some cream on her hands which delighted her no end. I ended up buying a face cream which smells divine but it wasn’t just the purchase that I enjoyed; it was the whole experience of doing something for myself and discovering this little gem of a store. I’ve since had a look at their stores around the world and beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe them.

Being a mum means very little time for yourself. But I feel it’s important to find a little time to do what you love doing. I want to try and focus on getting my mojo back by seeking out beautiful clothes, beauty products and experiences for me like I used to. And when I find something worthwhile like this experience, I will share it here with you mamas. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, are you good at finding a little time to indulge yourself in doing it? Or do you forget about yourself like me? I’d love to hear in the comments.

Have a wonderful and indulgent weekend! x

{top photo by Aesop, bottom by ebabee}

Feeling like a kid

January 31, 2014

A few weeks ago we were at London’s Southbank where they have a big, old-fashioned merry-go-round. The second Anya spotted it she of course wanted a ride but wasn’t keen to go alone. So my husband volunteered to go with her and then I said I’d go too. All three of us ended up on the carousel which was so much fun. It made me feel like a kid again and I so enjoyed the feeling. That’s one of the many joys of having a child; sometimes, you get to be a kid again and it feels great. My only regret is that we didn’t manage to get anyone to take a photo of all three of us. Next time.

Have a happy weekend!

Goodbye London, hello Rio…

August 13, 2012

The 2012 games have been magnificent. The atmosphere in London has been amazing and I know I’m not alone in saying that I’ll really miss the Olympics. But as we know, all good things must come to an end… for 4 years anyway (roll on Rio!). I’m really looking forward to the Rio games and I’m expecting lots of partying, lots of colour, lots of celebration delivered in a way only the Brazilians can.

So as a little goodbye to the Olympics and in anticipation of the next one, I wanted to share the works of an Argentinian artist that sums up everything there is to love about the 2 countries involved. The ‘Love London’ print highlights all of London’s major landmarks in a cute and childlike way. Perfect for a London themed kids room or for any kid who has a love for London. Then there is the ‘Brazil’ print so full of colour and vibrancy just as I imagine the place to be.

I love the way Migy Blanco, the artist, brings the country/city to life through the use of colour and cute little drawings that capture the essence of each place. There are many more wonderful prints of other countries and cities on offer but for today, it’s about an ode to the games that were and the games that will be. Goodbye London, hello Rio…

*Via Creative roots