Happy New Year & Some Activities for Kids in London

Happy New Year & Some Activities for Kids in London

Happy New Year! Hope you're having a lovely day wherever you are. We are in the English countryside visiting family and its been a great day with plenty of food, laughs and great company. I have a nap loading shortly, following a rather epic lunch.

Over the last three plus months, I have come across a few Mum and baby activities in London that I would like to share. Perhaps they will come in handy after the holiday dust settles and you're back in the world of your normal routines and looking to enjoy some activities with the kids. I have included price indicators with /£ meaning free and ££££ being the higher end of price range.

Just wanted to add that a lot of these activities are also available in other parts of the UK - definitely Water Babies and Monkey Music.

The Bees Knees Magical Indoor Playspace [££]
I am keen to check out this indoor garden at the Battersea Arts Centre. There are also regular classes split into newborn to sitting (baby bells), sitting to toddlers (baby beeps) and toddlers to 4 year olds (happy house - you can bring younger siblings along to this one). The classes also offer a free trial which you can book by calling or emailing.

Great list of day activities with babies listed at Lulaville.

Water Babies [£££]
I watched a video which must have been an advert, of a crawling baby who accidentally falls into a pool and then, quite unexpectedly, the baby starts to float without much effort, on his back. MisterB and I immediately got very excited about signing up (a then unborn) Coco for swim lessons. That is exactly what Water babies offers. Kids can start from as young as 0 to 3 years of age. Classes are bought and taught in terms.

These classes would be offered in other parts of the UK.

Monkey Music [£££]
We signed up online and went for a free Monkey Music class last year. What a delight it was. The babies responded differently to different activities, sounds, patterns, instruments. Monkey is a cheeky puppet and classes are split by age.  I am now keen to sign up for the next term which starts January 5th, if we can get a spot. This course also works in terms, but the free trial is offered to everyone, so find your nearest one, sign up and check it out. I doubt you would regret it. Also Coco was fast asleep before we exited the building, after the third minutes session.

Other music classes for under fives listed at West London Mum.

These classes would be offered in other parts of the UK. For the wider variety of music classes, follow the West London Mum link and then check out individual websites.

Baby Spa [££££]
Offering a ten minutes session in the specially designed baby pools for 0 to 6 month old babies, each session is followed by a baby massage. Subsequent sessions at Baby spa can be longer and bundles of visits can be purchased to take advantage of a discount. I would like to go for the cool photos and also to see Cocos reaction, she loves a bath, but I am curious about how she will act with a little just a floatation ring attached to her neck and alone in the pool.

Westfield [/£]
If your baby loves to be pushed in the pram, and Shepherds Bush or Stratford is within easy reach, then Westfield shopping centre can make a nice afternoon out. There's plenty to eat in a food court or in a choice of restaurants, many of which are baby/child friendly and off course, the shops, if you're after something for yourself or as gift. There are also family rooms, for changing baby, breastfeeding privately and a microwave to warm up food for older children. I like a trip to Westfield, although once it got to christmas shopping season, I avoided it.

Other shopping centres should be the same, within and out with London, so check online  to see if they have family rooms, as I expect they would.

V&A [/£]
The V&A courtyard is a great space for kids who love water in the summer. The fountain is literarily taken over by kids who splish splash in the water on hot days. I took my nephew in the summer and he wailed when it was time to go. He was completely drenched but so were all the other kids. Theres also some green space for laying down and relaxing and coffee and sandwiches are not far either, though pricey. I would advice to go 2 adults to a child atlas for this one, so someone can look after the belongings while the other goes into the water to play with younger kids.

London Schools [/£]
If you have started thinking about schools, which is not such a bad idea for some areas in London, the London pre prep website and blog is a great resource with plenty of information about options for private schools and state schools, taking into account the quirks for the different areas of london.  For families relocating to London, for a fee, the LPP team can provide you information or organise the admin  on your behalf.

Do you have any tips or fun places for kids up your sleeve? Please share. Don't forget to like us on Facebook here and follow us on instagram @bforbetula.

The first day of the beginning of the year, and the future. It feels good.

x

Happy New Year & Some Activities for Kids in London