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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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    Twenty awesome things to see and do with your little Londoner in September
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    Have your cake and eat it while the kids dive into the ball pit at Little Highness
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    Lose track of time in the brilliant ball-pit basement at ABC Studio
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    100 cool things to do with babies and toddlers in London
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    Spend a morning tumbling with your tot at Parent & Toddler Gymnastics
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    Binge on matcha brownies and black sesame lattes at Toconoco Japanese cafe

Bablands on Instagram

We schlepped down to @boxparkcroydon for my amazing friend @mamamimosaldn ‘s meet-up today and it was well worth the trek. Lovely mums and kids, a delicious souvlaki wrap from @greekonthestreetuk and monochrome soft-play with an apparently hilarious squishy crab. Infinitely superior to the Shoreditch Boxpark on a soft-play basis alone! I also somehow got roped into doing a filmed interview about coffee in return for a cinema ticket I’ll probably never use and then we did a mini street-art tour with @andrea_h84 😀 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #croydon #boxpark #boxparkcroydon
Probably the most playground-like LDF installation we’ve met and most likely the last one we’ll get around to visiting. What’s been your favourite thing from this year’s festival? . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #ldf #ldf18 #broadgate
Back at our all-time fave today. Project Light with the amazing @startingwithart at @parasolunit is the under-5s art class to end all others. Each one is totally unique, taking the form of a specially made installation inspired by the gallery’s current exhibition that kids are free to respond/add to or completely decimate as they wish. There’s no structure or rules, just two blissful hours of free, creative play in a beautiful setting. We’ve been coming for two years and I love seeing how much more Babu gets out of it as she gets older. I’m going to write an updated review of it because the original one is basically ancient now, so look out for that if this sounds like your kind of fun 👍 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #projectlight #hoxton #parasolunit #artwithkids
Try and find a toy department better than @theconranshopofficial ‘s Childshop and you will fail, as it’s the best one (I think). What’s your favourite London toy shop? . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #theconranshop #fulhamroad #chelsea
Multiply (geddit? Because PLY): one of this year’s more toddler-friendly London Design Festival installations and even then you’re sort of wondering at what point one of you is going to break their neck. . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #victoriaandalbertmuseum #southkensington #ldf18
My name’s Emmy and I’m an under-5s-friendly culture enthusiast. I know, I sound so cool right? And honestly a few years ago I couldn’t have pictured anything more revolting than hanging out in an art gallery with a toddler (I mean what kind of a moron takes their toddler to an art gallery?), but then somehow I became a #stayathomeparent (🤢) and you’ve just got to throw yourself into these things right? So I decided to use my lack of employment and homemade best buddy as an excuse to see and do all the things I always whinged about not being able to do when I had a full-time job. And yeah, hanging out with a two year old all the time is obviously bloody hard work and I have days where I think working all the hours and then blowing the lot on nursery fees (which, frighteningly, would be the reality) would be preferable, but on our good weeks I feel like I’ve honestly never been so creatively fulfilled - which probably says a fair bit about my paused “career” but 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m genuinely fricking ECSTATIC thinking about all the cool Babu-friendly things coming up this week and over the next month, and if that makes me lame then I’m totally cool with that 🤓 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #peckhamlevels #peckham
Now on the blog, our review of @rafmuseum , a woefully underrated gem that’s more than worth the trek to North West London’s upper depths. Hangar upon hangar of breathtaking war planes, plenty of super-engaging interactives and a cleverly conceived themed playground make this the perfect day out with little ones - and that’s coming from someone who hates planes. Link up here 👆🏻 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #rafmuseum
Today’s LDF outing was a bit of a fail. The Paddington Central Flip Book Garden was a bit of a non-entity - just a tiny platform with some men arranging some weird yellow fan things on it - so we hung out with this guy and his mate for a bit then found some deckchairs and some sort of egg igloo round the corner. The toy exhibition at the Czech Centre is great but TINY and predictably you can’t touch anything (but none of it is behind glass 😬) so we killed the remaining two hours at the Diana Memorial Playground. Wouldn’t massively recommend either display with little ones, although some of the toys in the Mini Wonders exhibition are for sale and SO BEAUTIFUL. I’m buying myself a wooden Pegasus for my birthday. . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #ldf18 #londondesignfestival
WEEKLY ROUNDUP: LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL 2018 SPECIAL (NB all of these events/installations are on every day at least until Sunday. • Monday 17th: @vamuseum plays host to two LDF installations this year. ‘Multiply’ takes the form of a giant 3D maze in the Sackler Courtyard, while in the Creative Studio the abstract ‘Dazzle’ draws inspiration from the First World War, when ships’ surfaces were covered in experimental camouflage. • Tuesday 18th: Head down to Little Venice for a flick through the ‘Paddington Central Flip Book Garden’. Taking the form of a life-size pop-up book, this colourful installation ‘flips’ throughout the day to reveal different atmospheres. • Wednesday 19th: Part of North Greenwich’s Central Park Design Walk, Studio Weave’s ‘33’ is an accessible three-storey decorative folly that mixes historical architectural styles in an abstract way. • Thursday 20th: Joining Trafalgar Square’s famous four lions, @esdevlin ‘s ‘Please Feed the Lions’ will take the form of a fifth, fluorescent lion that will “roar” poetry made up of words chosen by the public by way of LEDs embedded inside its mouth. • Friday 21st: Finsbury Avenue Square is the setting for @kellenbergerwhite ‘s ‘Alphabet’ installation. Visitors are encouraged to explore, interact, move and make words with the work, which consists of 26 bespoke colourful alphabet chairs. • Saturday 22nd: Hosted by the @czechcentrelondon , ‘Mini Wonders: Czech Toys Past and Present’ will include construction sets by Merkur, a balance bike by Re Pello, inflatable toys by Fatra and magnetic wooden puzzles by Detoa. • Sunday 23rd: Taking over the entirety of @somersethouse and coinciding with LDF, the Emotional States-themed 2018 London Design Biennale will explore big questions and ideas about sustainability, migration, pollution, energy, cities and social equality. . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #ldf18 #londondesignfestival
New on the blog today, our review of Forest Hill’s soft-play centre with a difference, @abcstudiosoftplay . It might be miniature but its entire basement is a ball pit and it’s right next door to @smallprintbooks , which is a pretty dreamy combo if you ask Babu. Link up here 👆🏻 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #softplay #foresthill #se23 #se23mums
Big wet pink gravel pit. Dunno what I was expecting, but that’s what was there. . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #ecclestonyards #belgravia #victoria
Brio train sets, dressing-up corners, an indoor garden, a sandwich-making station, reading nooks and a market stall, and that’s before you even set foot in the dedicated Mudlarks kids’ gallery. @museumoflondon Docklands has sprouted so many brilliant new interactives since we last visited it’s almost too many - we were there all day and still only managed to see half of it because there’s SO MUCH for kids to stop and do, which is really a lovely problem to have. This museum is seriously underrated for a free resource that gives so much, even if there was only one purple boat in the water-play area 🙄 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #museumoflondondocklands #docklands #canarywharf #eastlondon
I love this cafe. They’ve been through so much recently and yet they’re always there with smiles on their faces, serving the best rice balls, Matcha blondies and black sesame lattes I’ve ever tasted. Plus their new play kitchen is goals (genuinely, my actual kitchen is nowhere near this nice). . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #toconoco #haggerston #dalston #eastlondon #kingslandbasin
On the blog today, the amazing new Art Adventurers workshop with @hollydabbs at @dulwichgallery - a very special class for older toddlers that offers the perfect follow-on from the gallery’s established Mini Masterpieces sessions for babies. Review up here 👆🏻 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #dulwich #dulwichpicturegallery #artadventurers
Baby gym used to be our low-key, can’t-be-arsed, just-gonna-lie-down-on-this-crash-mat-and-die activity, but since Babu blossomed into an amateur acrobat and I her reluctant trainer it’s become one of our more intense morning pastimes. We’ve just become Better Gym members and although we generally go to Talacre in Kentish Town, Better has gyms all over London and many of them do these baby gym/toddlers’ world-type sessions (and you don’t need to be a member). Brilliant for those days where you want to knacker them out to the point where they’re a hideous, screaming nightmare by bedtime 👍 . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #kentishtown #nw5 #babygym
We’ve been pretty adventurous this week and I’m feeling a bit broken so we’re keeping it local with some low-key activities today. Here’s Babu in the beautiful @smallprintbooks during our trip to Forest Hill on Monday. Smallprint sells an amazing selection of gorgeously illustrated contemporary kids’ books, as well as hosting a variety of classes in its chill-out space, including baby ballet, @nimbletots and @lucysparkleshq . Owners Jenny and Joe are awesome and the shop is also right next door to @abcstudiosoftplay so you can combine activities for a lovely, chilled afternoon. . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #foresthill #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #shopindependent #shoplocal #shopsmall
Ok everyone needs to stop what they’re doing and get down to Hendon because it’s where it’s AT. Ok maybe not Hendon itself but the @rafmuseum is incredible - I mean would you look at this amazing RAF-themed playground?! Hands down the best playground I’ve ever seen. The museum is massive and jam-packed with toddler-friendly interactives (and planes, obviously), and the Little Swifts class we went to this morning was so lovely and had Babu completely mesmerised. Full review coming soon (just to add to the already pretty lengthy list 😬). . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #rafmuseum
Today we’re swapping SE for NW and heading to sexy Hendon for a day at the @rafmuseum . I was hoping to put a new review up on the blog this morning but I’m so knackered from all the gallivanting my brain has turned to mashed potato and I can barely remember the words to the bedtime book we’ve read 917 times, let alone remember what happened six days ago and cobble together anything vaguely resembling a comprehensible account of it. Anyway, here’s a pretty wall ❤️ . . . . . . . . . . #bablands #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #foresthill #davidshillinglaw

For Tiny Londoners & Their Adults

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