Check out local mum Daniela’s new home beauty service Gwenelda. You can have your hair cut, highlighted, facials, waxing, massage, make-up and kids’ cuts all done in your home at a highly competitive price point and most importantly, no sitter!!! Check out my review (and new mummy makeover). Mention London Baby and Kids and get 10% off; enter LBM15 at checkout to get the discount to apply.
This Weekend for the Whole Family
Trafalgar Square, Africa on the Square: Saturday 10th, noon-6pm. Come and celebrate Africa listening to music, watching performances and sampling food. The families area looks fabulous with mosaic and batik printing workshops, henna, face painting, hair braiding and more. free, all ages
Southbank Centre, Curious Cats: Saturday 10th, from 11am-4pm. Come and (re) discover the joys Macavity, Mr. Mistoffelees, Bustopher Jones and more at an entire day Celebrating Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. There is something for all ages, Rug Rhymes for the tiny ones; sewing cats and performing for older kids. It all looks amazing. Free, all ages
Diwali in London, Trafalgar Square: What a great way to celebrate Diwali! Starting with the children’s parade at 12:30, kids can then can take part in dance workshops, practicing yoga and meditation, trying on and draping saris, and more. Free, all ages
Cecil Sharp House, Family Barn House: Sunday 11th, 3-5pm. Bring babies, toddlers, and grownups to Cecil Sharp House for a fantastic afternoon of folk dance and music. £7 adults, £5 children, under 2s free.
NCT Nearly New Sale: The items for sale include baby and children’s clothes, books, toys, maternity wear along with baby and maternity equipment. Saturday 10th October, 10-noon, £2 at the door, Westbourne Grove Church.
Upcoming:
Love Swimming Half-Term Swim School: Treat your kids (and yourself) to Fast-Track swim lessons over October half term with Love Swimming in Pimlico. Results -driven, individualised lessons over half-term. Read more here
Save the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Garden: please take 5 seconds and let the the powers on high know that the 1 acre garden (if you have not been, get there while you can) is a special place and should not be bulldozed for expansion.
Big Fish Little Fish: Enter to win tickets to Sunday 18th October in Hackney Wick or Sunday 15th November in New Cross at Villa Pia, or just book tickets and your diary.
This Weekend for Slightly Older Children (and perhaps their younger siblings)
V&A, The Big Draw: Bring the kids to design your own magical hat inspired by “Clara Button and the Magical Hat Day” (Saturday and Sunday 10:30-5pm) and watch Pop-up Performances of “Peter Rabbit & Friends” (Saturday 10th October 11am, 1pm and 3pm). Free, drop-in, all ages.
Houses of Parliament, Suffragette Season, Suffragette Saturday: bring children age 7+ to the Houses of Parliament on Saturday at 2pm and 3pm for a 45 minute tour and some “Votes for Women” activities afterwards. My kids and I went last week and found the tour incredibly inspiring (my daughter has requested to see the movie Suffragettes and I may just take her out of school to do so). Adults £10, children free. Booking essential.
Battersea Park, Pumphouse Gallery Sunday Social: Sunday 11th, noon-4pm. Draw with thread and make portraits, letters, a picture and more. Free, all ages, drop-in
Somerset House Free Family Drop In, Delving into Dreamland with Alex Froster: Saturday 10th noon-3pm. Doodles and drawers, come and explore fairgrounds and scare grounds and build your own land of dreams with illustrator Alex Foster.
Clapham Pottery Family Workshops: Saturday 10th, 1:30-3pm. Bring the kids and adults to work with clay. £10 per person.
Babies and Toddlers
Do Re Me Babies: Tuesday 13th October 10:30. Come and listen to Bizet’s Carmen and Bernstein’s West Side Story in this clarinet and piano recital. £10 for adults, children free.
Wigmore Hall, Chamber Tots in the Jungle: Wednesday 14th, 10:15-11:15. Music concert and workshop for children ages 1-2 years old, absolutely charming. £5 children, £3 adults.
Royal Albert Hall, Storytelling and Music Sessions: bring children ages 0-4 to Royal Albert Hall on Wednesdays for a magical experience with storytellers Paul Rubinstein and Olivia Armstrong where singing, storytelling and musical instruments are woven into one story session. £4, 11:30am
Pimlico Toy Library: Pimlico Toy Library has a new web site showcasing all their wonderful children’s workshops and baby playtimes. This is a fantastic resource for any parent or carer, the toys are fastidiously cleaned and the art workshops are brilliantly planned with high quality materials.
Electric Cinema, Electric Scream: Mondays. This week’s feature: The Martian (with Juicy Matt Damon!). Bring babies under 12 months to this amazingly plush cinema, relax with some coffee and catch a flick.
Ritzy, Brixton, Big Scream: Fridays, 11am. £7.50. This week’s features: Sicario and The Martian
Family Cinema
Curzon Cinema, Victoria: This week’s programme, Big Hero 6. Saturday and Sunday, 10:30. £3.50 per person.
Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club: This week’s programme:Monster’s Inc.. £1 with £4 membership, popcorn and juice £2. (best £3 you will ever spend on a rainy Saturday)
Barbican Family Film Club: This week’s feature is Minions. Tickets are £2, bring the kids and escape the cold while you chill and watch a movie. Great price. 11am, all ages.
Ritzy, Brixton, Kids’ Club: Fridays, 11am. £1.50. This week’s features: Messy Goes to Okido
Electric Cinema, Kid’s Club: This week’s feature, The Secret of Kells 10:30am. Check out the Electric Cinema with its plush, red velvet beds, sofas and armchairs. Looks like a great way for Dad to occupy the kids on a Saturday morning.
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