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For Tiny Londoners & Their Adults

Bablands is a resource for Londoners who find themselves with a small creature to dress up and entertain. Part-magazine, part-guide, Bablands follows the adventures of Bab as she seeks out London's coolest kids' shops, best child-friendly hangouts and under-fives activities that won't make mummy want to gauge her eyes out with a weaning spoon.

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    See London from a new perspective on board the Emirates Air Line cable car
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    Twenty awesome things to see and do with your little Londoner in July
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    Seven of the coolest maternity- (and paternity-)leave activities in London
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    Savour a healthy lunch (and five minutes' peace) at Belsize Park's 36 cafe
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    Seven London cafes with decent-sized play areas
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    Kick back in the Cubroom at Bear & Wolf, North London's coolest play cafe

Bablands on Instagram

I’ve never been to Israel but I’d still wager you need a pretty vivid imagination to convince yourself you’re on Tel Aviv Promenade when you’re actually five yards from the polluted pandemonium of Finchley Road. That said, Hampstead Beach is brilliant, offering a broad stretch of golden sand, deck chairs and a little paddling pool complete with inflatables and free-to-use buckets and spades. It’s at @jw3london until 2nd September, totally free to use and shaded by its own building in the afternoon so it’s perfect for boiling hot days. There’s a great cafe there, baby changing, you name it 🏖 (Thanks for reminding me about this one @laurabarkworth @i_savva ) . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #nw3 #hampstead #hampsteadbeach #jw3 #urbanbeach #londonbeach
On the blog today, Bab checks out the rather wankily named Emirates Air Line. We all loved this but I do find it hilarious the way all the marketing makes out like you’re embarking on a mission to Mars when it’s basically a jumped-up ski lift. Good though. Pretty. Link here 👆🏻 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #emiratesairline #emiratescablecar #northgreenwich #royaldocks #o2
As planned, we spent an entire, blissful day inside hiding from the sun. Messy play in Archway courtesy of @afinemessuk followed by four hours of play and yummy smoothies at Bear + Wolf. I feel SO much better and a million times less knackered than I’ve been feeling recently at this time in the evening. Tomorrow’s mission is to find a hangout with air-con. Hope you’ve all managed to stay cool today. . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #heatwave #bearandwolf #playcafe #tufnellpark #archway #northlondon #kentishtown
Oh yay it’s Monday 😬 The start of another week of solo parenting in this insufferable heat. Anyone else reeeeally struggling? Everything feels 50x harder when you’re dragging around in a 30 degree inferno and I’m finding it difficult to know what to do with ourselves. Dreaming about the freezer room at the (slightly disappointing) SCOOP museum last week. A walk-in freezer would be heaven right now. Going to try and beat the heat with lots of nice indoor, air-conditioned stuff this week. What are you guys up to? . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #scoop #kingscross #icecream #icecreammuseum #heatwave
I was so disappointed to miss the Crib Notes tour of the London Open 2018 at @whitechapelgallery when I was poorly last week, so yesterday we did our own little tour - minus the 15 or so other babies and carers and tea and biscuits afterwards - and we were not disappointed. My favourite piece was this installation, Invasion Curves by Katja Novitskova, which combines sculptural cut-out figures with humanlike baby-rockers, mobiles and projections. The work imagines a landscape overcome by a ‘biotic crisis’, ecologically impacted by humans, where imaging and technology are used in a process of mapping the exploitation of life. God I love a bit of post-human dystopia on a Saturday afternoon. Check out the London Open before 2nd September and look out for the next Crib Notes in my upcoming 20 Things lists. . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #eastlondon #whitechapel #whitechapelgallery #artistsoninstagram #art #katjanovitskova #thelondonopen2018
Staying close to home today. It’s too hot and we’re too knackered to venture far so we’re gonna pack a picnic and go vegetate under a tree somewhere. This ‘house’ is part of the 2018 Frieze Sculpture Park and sadly uninhabitable though if I could I’d move in tomorrow. Detached houses in the middle of fields are so very appealing as a flat-dwelling Londoner, and living in such close proximity to so many other people is about the only thing I really hate about living here. Ok that and the unsustainable cost of living... and the poison air that’s slowly killing us all... and the stabbings... Have a great day guys. . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #northlondon #regentspark #friezesculpturepark
We built this child on sausage rolls 🌭 I’d forgotten how much I love @thebrekkyclub - we used to go pretty much every weekend when we lived in Hoxton. I think I’d kind of discounted it as a no-baby zone after we had Babu but it’s got baby change and high chairs, plus tons of kid-friendly items on the menu so there’s really no reason not to take little ones. Everything is stupidly delicious and the staff are lovely. Go on a weekday or weekend afternoon to avoid the round-the-block hangover crew queue 🥞🥓☕️ . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #breakfastclub #hoxton #eastlondon #shoreditch
Today on the blog, I’ve finally put up that list of play fountains and splash pads in London, yaaay. It’s ready to use and I’ve tried to link to the most relevant site/pictures where possible. I’ll also be adding an extra fountain layer to the Bablands map when I get a spare minute. Feel free to message/comment with any more you can think of or correct me if I’m wrong with any of these as obviously we haven’t been to all of them and as a North Londoner my knowledge is a bit limited. I haven’t included paddling pools as I feel like they’re more common and less exciting but there’s some smaller water pumps on there as well as the big fountains and splash parks. And thanks again for all your great suggestions as always. Link up here 👆🏻 . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #splashpad #splashpark #fountains
Another ice cream day today (tbh not a day goes by that isn’t one atm 😑). Today’s excursion to @fortnums The Parlour was far superior to yesterday’s puddingy outing - for a start we actually got some ice cream! Really recommend this place with kids - high chairs, colouring and bowls the size of their heads, plus the staff are lovely. Get the Ruby Ice Chocolate or Ruby Ice Cream Sundae, y’know, if you want 🍨 📸 @mamamimosaldn . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #theparlour #fortnumandmason #fortnums #icecream
We thought @bmof_london SCOOP: The Wonderful World of Ice Cream was a teeeny but overpriced (£20 altogether for me and Babu) for what it was/how long it took to go round (20 mins). There were some fun bits but it needed to be more interactive - a la @sugarrepublic.au - and I wouldn’t recommend with an under-2 (although they’re the only ones who go free 😑). The ice-cream making was fun, even if ours turned out more like a sad milkshake, I liked the smell room and Babu enjoyed the glow-in-the-dark ice cream at the end🍦Also really into the weirdly Lynchian toilets (complete with baby change and iridescent ripple wallpaper). . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #scoop #icecream #icecreammuseum
This is the awesome playground we visited in Regent’s Park yesterday. Totally different to your average playground with a sand and water table, a tube slide, tunnels, musical instruments and even a climbing wall, plus all the usual bits round the corner. You can find it in the south-eastern corner of the park, near the Frieze Sculpture Park. Thanks for the recco @infant_art_club . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #regentspark
Everything is *not* lost. Today we actually left the house and did something and I honestly felt like I’d won the lottery. We stayed out all day, visited three playgrounds, walked miles and saw the 2018 Frieze Sculpture Park in Regent’s Park. There are a few maze-like interactive(ish) sculptures, a couple of pieces that will massively appeal to kids and the whole thing is just heaven. Such a happy day 🌞 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #regentspark #friezesculpturepark
Radio silence this week as I’m away/proper ill but provided I live that long me and my buddy @mamamimosaldn are running an awesome garden party event on the 29th, in the Beautiful Allotment popup curated by Bourne & Hollingsworth at The Geffrye Museum. Tickets include a welcome cocktail - all of which will be fresh, seasonal and sustainable, using ingredients grown on the grounds. Roaming ‘garden-tenders’ with wheel barrow bars will bring drinks to revellers as they lounge on sofas in amongst the home-grown plants. For those looking for a bite to eat, the food will almost be entirely BBQ led and locally sourced, with delicious and ever-changing wholesome platters of vegan, vegetarian, fish and meat options. Sounds good hey? Grab your ticket now 👆🏻 . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon
NOT GOING OUT. No, genuinely, we can’t in this weather. It makes us both grumpy and ill. We don’t have outside space so we’re limited to sitting in front of the industrial fan watching back-to-back Adventure Time and making Play-Doh snails. What the hell does everyone else do on stay-at-home days? We are not good at this. . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon
THANKS SO MUCH for all the play fountain suggestions guyz. Please keep them coming (drop a comment on the previous post) and I’ll put together a list that we can all use. We’ve got another day or so doing Londony things then we’re off up to Yorkshire to chill out a bit. By some miraculous act of God I’m getting a couple of child-free days at the end of the week so I’ll be working on some new stuff for the site (I’m also going to go swimming and actually swim and go out for dinner and actually eat - yaaaay!), so please stay tuned :)) . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #fountains #waterplay #granarysquare #kingscross
PLAY FOUNTAINS 💦 know any? I’m collecting them for a list, as requested by @nicolabrittin 🚿 We want ALL of them, from big public fountains like Granary Square and the Diana Memorial to unheard-of local splash spots (less bothered about little water pumps like this one in Coram’s Fields). Please help a girl out and comment below with your finds. There must be looooads. . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon
This year’s Serpentine Pavilion was designed by Mexican architect Frida Escobedo and combines geometry, water, light and a shit ton of cement roof tiles to create a courtyard space inspired by both Mexican domestic architecture and the Greenwich Meridian. Inside you can buy awesome coffee slushies and paddle around in an inch of luke-warm water, which is lovely until you slip over and smack your head on the floor ☹️ be careful guys. . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #serpentinegallery #serpentinepavilion #serpentine #hydepark
Things I am excited about this month: Frieze Sculpture returning to Regent’s Park, the Indirect Sunlight installation at @nowgalleryse10 and the Crib Notes tour of The London Open 2018 exhibition at @whitechapelgallery . Things Babu is excited about this month: placatory daily ice creams and fountain/sandpit trips. What the hell am I going to bribe her with when summer’s over? We’re ticking one off our 20 things list today... but which one? 🤔 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #thingstodoinlondon #babylondon #royalacademy #royalacademyofarts #ra250 #summerexhibition #rasummerexhibition

For Tiny Londoners & Their Adults

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