• days out - Family Life - Local Review - London

    London Transport Museum Depot – We Love Steam!

    We’re huge fans of the London Transport Museum so when we heard they had an open weekend at their depot we bought family tickets for today. The last time we went we didn’t have children so I was interested to see how our visit compared. London Transport Museum Depot Happily we all had a great day out. This year they’re celebrating the 150th anniversary of the underground and we had the chance to see the newly restored Metropolitan Line Steam Locomotive No. 1 and the Metropolitan Jubilee Carriage 353 which was originally built in 1898 and is one of the…

  • days out - Local Review - London - playing

    William Morris Gallery Walthamstow

    A friend told me about the William Morris Gallery and Lloyd Park in Walthamstow, not far from us. Perfect (i.e. dry) weather was forecast this morning so we headed there. The building was beautiful and behind was a hidden gem, a huge public park with formal gardens, a moat, children’s park, cafe and much more. First of all we let the children (and daddy) run around the park. They loved it, everything was new and shiny and they had fun on the slides, trampoline, swings, slide and sand pit. The shiny paths were perfect for scooting along and there was…

  • days out - Family Life - Local Review - London - Wandsworth

    A very cold day out {Battersea Park Children’s Zoo}

    Even though we live in London it often doesn’t feel like we have time to enjoy it. So we were all very excited to find ourselves with a free day to do something last weekend.  It was a balmy 2° and we headed south to Battersea Children’s Zoo in Battersea Park. To be honest we very rarely go south of the river but I had always wanted to visit Battersea Park and after 10 years of London living we finally got round to it. A (very cold) day out at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo We decided to use public transport…

  • competition - days out - Local Review - London

    Win tickets to South Ken Kids Festival

    The South Ken Kids Festival brings you a marvellous mash-up of music, live drawing, and fun for the whole family! This children’s book festival features dozens of literary events, workshops and talks for kids of all ages. Quentin Blake, Emile Bravo and Tony Ross are all on the bill. This year we have Franco-British drawing duos, a preview screening of “Ernest and Célestine”, and many many workshops….see their website for full details. I have a great give away for 2 pairs of tickets to the Drawing Jam with David Coulter as part of the South Ken Kids Festival on Saturday…

  • crafts - days out - Knitting and Stitching Show - Local Review - London - sewing

    Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally

    I’m not really sure how old this knitting bag is but I couldn’t resist its wooden handle or vintage fabric. I’m not a big knitter but it’s perfect for holding my latest sewing project. It’s currently holding my purchases from my rather extravagant trip to the Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally. It’s my favourite sewing event of the year and I had the joy of visiting last week without children (thanks hubby!). Anyway, I admit I was excessive but living in London I just find it impossible to go searching for lovely sewing supplies. Faced with 200 sellers…

  • days out - Local Review - London - Olympics - pushchairs

    A day at the Olympic Park – London 2012

    Today was the day we had tickets for the Synchronised Swimming at the Olympic Park. We decided to take the toddler but leave the 8 month old with nanny who was happy to shop at Westfield Stratford. We drove to Buckhurst Hill and got the tube from there to Stratford which was only a couple of stops. Initially we had the tube to ourself, although it got busier at every station nearer to the Olympic Park. Once we got off the tube we felt like we were part of a very well-oiled machine. As well as thousands of spectators there…

  • days out - Local Review - London - Olympics

    Things to do in London during the Olympics

    I’m not planning on staying at home during the Olympics. School’s out for the summer and my toddler will want our normal adventures in London. Without a doubt our adventures will have an Olympic theme. We’ve already seen the Olympic rings at St Pancras and on Saturday we saw the Olympic clock in Trafalgar Square. We’ve also checked out Olympic decorations in other parts of town to make sure the ones in our borough are meant to look quite so lacklustre. We’ve scored some free tickets to see what the Dutch are doing as they take over Ally Pally, temporarily…

  • baby products - days out - Local Review - London - weaning

    A day at the farm

    Last week we were invited to Kentish Town City Farm to meet Paul Lindley who founded Ella’s Kitchen. He’s a lovely man and remembered we had previously met at an event at the ELC last year. Ella’s Kitchen always seem to be bringing out tasty new treats for our little ones and their latest is a new dairy range. We met at Kentish Town City Farm and I was a little nervous about going there as the toddler shows little interest in animals. He can name them all and is happy watching them on cBeebies, he’s just not so interested…

  • days out - Local Review - London

    The Go!Go!Go! Show

    Last week the toddler and I were invited to a VIP performance of The Go!Go!Go! Show at The Empire Leicester Square with celebrities including Sara Cox with her baby Renee, Chloe Simms with daughter Madison, Michelle Heaton with her baby Faith, Javine Hylton with daughter Angel and both Nicola McLean and Danielle Brown with their families. It’s not often we get to spend any time together without Little Sis so we were both excited by the prospect of a trip on the tube, a show in the West End and the chance to mingle with some celebs. The Go!Go!Go! Show…