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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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New favourite place to escape London without actually escaping London: Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery in EALING, of all places. The house, which was radically rebuilt and, for a time, lived in by Sir John Soane, is absurdly beautiful both inside and out, while the adjoining contemporary art gallery is currently hosting an amazing exhibition of previously-unseen (in Britain) Anish Kapoor sculptures. We had the best day exploring the house, which had a little kids' corner in almost every room; dancing around in front of colourful convex mirrors in the gallery; and chilling in the stunning Walpole Park afterwards. It's a mission for most of us (pretty sure no one who follows me lives in West London) but it's such a lush day out I reckon it's worth the schlep. . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #thingstodowithkids #londonparents #londonforkids #anishkapoor #pitzhangermanor #ealing #sculpture
Messy play, all day (we stayed nearly four hours 🤓). Can't wait for Messy Play in the Park season with @afinemessuk in Waterlow and Whittington parks 🌳 . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #thingstodowithkids #londonparents #londonforkids #archway #afinemess #messyplay
This 👆 is the sort of thing I'm talking about when I use #coolthingsfortinylondoners - local indie brands selling beautifully designed kids' products, genuinely exciting craft workshops both kids and parents will enjoy, and amazing freebies you won't find at your average family event (check out @fayes_painting - SO COOL). Why not head down to do some shopping and take part in a pinata-making (today) or skate-deck design (tomorrow) workshop with @hollidaystclair - both bookable via the @oldspitalfieldsmarket website. . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #thingstodowithkids #londonparents #londonforkids #oldspitalfieldsmarket #spitalfields #shoreditch #eastlondon #fameast
Amazing little family festival happening down at @oldspitalfieldsmarket this week. The FAM EAST Family Social combines a pop-up market featuring 30 exciting indie kids' brands including faves @young.double @smallprintbooks and @annualstore with super-cool creative workshops (we did puppet-making with Young Double today ♥️), plus free face-painting from @fayes_painting , glitter tattooing from @eco.glitter.fun , craft tables, soft play and even a free Market Mini Disco from 4pm. Get yourself down there tomorrow or Wednesday from 10am or forever hold your peace. . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #londonparents #londonforkids #oldspitalfieldsmarket #spitalfields #shoreditch #eastlondon #fameast
Silly ice cream is my favourite lazy-parenting tool. Promising silly ice cream guarantees (in theory) a delightful Babu who wouldn't dream of doing anything to sacrifice her soft serve, and lots of sugary crap for me because she's weird and never wants the extras. @milktraincafe is right behind @ltmuseum and set up like the inside of a super-chic train station with ticket-office tills and train-carriage booths - perfect if you fancy an on-theme end to a day out LTM (and a sugar-high toddler who crashes spectacularly the minute you get home 🍦). . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #londonparents #londonforkids #milktrain #icecream #coventgarden
It's not every day you meet Captain Bluebeard, learn to sing opera, conduct a string quartet and star as a mermaid in a stop-motion animation, but today Babu did all four and lots more at the @royaloperahouse Staggering Seafarers-themed Family Sunday, and it was absolutely magical. On the way there we were all "Oh God, does it really last FOUR HOURS?" but there was so much to do the time just flew and we still didn't manage to get round everything we wanted to. Definitely one of our favourite family days out to date - so well-organised and with a massive variety of activities to occupy the kids, from interactive dance and quirky crafts to stage fighting (just watching, obv) and a make-up masterclass, all spread across a really beautiful venue. Family Sundays run once a month (click the link in my bio for info on future ROH family events) and are aimed at families with children aged 3-10. Thanks to the Royal Opera House for our tickets, invitation and goody bag. Full review coming soon! . . . . . . . . . . #gift #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #londonparents #londonforkids #royaloperahouse #coventgarden
"Circus Dreams Families takes place in the same setting as most of my nightmares: a school gym. Thankfully though it’s missing the tyrannical gym teacher telling you than no one in your class can go for lunch until you’ve performed a forward roll in front of them, or that you’ll have to fish someone else’s rancid old polo shirt out of lost property because you forgot your own." - Review of @circus.dreams Families Sunday session now on the blog. Link in bio 👆 . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #londonparents #londonforkids #circusdreams #circusskills #circus #stokenewington #n16
Have you seen Beasts of London at @museumoflondon yet? It's recommended for ages 7+ due to some of its rather grim subject matter, but I think as long as you don't linger too long on the ins and outs of rat baiting with your under-5 you'll be fine. Great for parents of school-age kids who also have toddlers to drag along as it's basically a bunch of theatre sets with digital projections and audio, so the little ones can explore the little rooms and spot all the different animals while the older ones enjoy an interactive history lesson. It's on until January and tickets cost from £20 for a family of four. . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #londonparents #londonforkids #museumoflondon #beastsoflondon #londonmuseums
Back at @tate Britain today for a free drop-in session. It's called Pick Up & Play and it's on every day at 2.30 until the 21st. There was only Babu and two older girls today but it was cute, albeit quite short so definitely have something else planned for before/after - could combine with Van Gogh, Horseferry/Causton Street playgrounds, Newport Street Gallery, Lollard Adventure Playground, Vauxhall City Farm... the possibilities are basically endless. The session is more of an artistic experiment than a structured workshop, so be prepared to get creative. Btw has anyone been to see the Van Gogh yet? I read that there isn't actually much Van Gogh in it but quite fancy it anyway. 📷 from last weekend's Under 5s Explore the Gallery workshop. . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #londonparents #londonforkids #tatebritain #artwithkids #artinlondon #pimlico
🚩 . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #somersethouse #nowplaythis #londonparents #londonforkids
Had a right larf at @somersethouse exploring their Now Play This exhibition today. This annual festival of experimental game design is fully interactive and brilliantly surreal, with a surprising amount to keep little paws occupied, from zine making and a velcro vest game to an immersive forest world and wrong-word karaoke. It's free for under-5s and - I think - totally worth the £8-per-adult ticket price, although there's a whole bunch of free stuff dotted around the site too, including an interactive face-making sculpture, a giant wobble garden and a security-barrier labyrinth. You've got until Sunday to check it out 🎮 . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #somersethouse #nowplaythis
The Let's Play! festival is back at King's Cross for the duration of the two-week Easter break. Head down there any day between now and the 22nd to ride the Easter Express from Coal Drops Yard to Canopy Market, colour Lewis Cubitt Square by numbers with chalk and get crafty in the Let's Play space, or save your trip for Easter weekend when there'll also be a petting zoo, an Easter egg hunt, workshops and loads more (link in bio). Shout out to the lovely @theamazingartcart who were there today with a bunny-crown-making activity. I've been wanting to catch them for aaages and they didn't disappoint with their beautiful rainbow cart! 🌈 . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #coaldropsyard #kingscrossnc1 #kingscross #letsplay #letsplayeaster #amazingartcart #n1c
Big Trace looking how I feel this morning. In fact this might as well be hour-by-hour documentary evidence of my night 😑 Could really do with a relaxing solo stroll around a gallery today but obviously that's not happening so instead I'm idly browsing lists of all the exhibitions that are on in London this year while Babu watches Frozen (new obsession like six years later, although she wasn't born until three years after it came out so I'll let her off) and the baby sleeps (she's tired from being up all night, poor thing 😑). My must-sees (which I probably won't actually see) are Martin Parr at @nationalportraitgallery (until May), Stanley Kubrick at @designmuseum (from later this month), Oliver Jeffers at @lazinc (until May), Joan Cornella at @public.gallery (until May), Summer Exhibition at @royalacademyarts (from June), BP Portrait at @nationalportraitgallery (from June), the @serpentineuk pavilion (from June), Olafur Eliasson at @tate (from July), Anthony Gormley at @royalacademyarts (from September) and Tim Walker at @vamuseum (from September). What exhibitions are you looking forward to this year? . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #traceyemin #afortnightoftears #bermondsey #rockthatmuseumkid #artinlondon #artwithkids #thingstodowithkids
The new Mary Quant exhibition at @vamuseum is INCREDIBLE - and I'm not just saying that because my Mum and Dad make an appearance, although that made it especially magical. It's fully confirmed my suspicion that I was born in the wrong decade (totally wanna go back in time and go shopping, and I'm absolutely LIVID that Mum didn't hold onto her MQ stuff). Seriously though, if you love fashion then you really need see this. Way better than the Dior, I think. It's on now until February and my clothes-fiend three year old was all over it 👗 . . . . . . . . . . #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #vandamuseum #maryquant #wewantquant
Leisurely (read painfully slow 😑) ambles across the Heath to Kenwood are what Sundays were made for, but did you know the house also hosts under-5s sessions every Friday morning at 10? You can also take part in an Easter Adventure Quest on Friday 19th: crack the clues to find the dragon egg as you and your family follow the trail through the grounds. Those who manage to hunt it down will be rewarded with a chocolatey treat 🐉🥚🍫 (full Easter best of coming very soon). . . . . . . . . . . #londonwithkids #thingstodoinlondon #londonblogger #coolthingsfortinylondoners #kenwoodhouse #hampstead #hampsteadheath #nw3
We had a lovely time building towers, tunnels and teepees out of giant cards at Under 5s Explore the Gallery with artist @abigailhunthuntabigail at @tate today. This session seems to be permanently fully booked despite there now being two each month instead of one, but it sounds like they might be revising the booking system so that there are a few drop-in places each time 😀 We'll be returning to the gallery later in the week for Pick up & Play, a pop-up family workshop that runs every day from 2.30pm throughout the Easter holiday. We saw this going on in one of the galleries today and it looked really fun. Anyone else planning on going? . . . . . . . . . . #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #tatebritain
Babu inhabiting not-very-toddler-friendly cafes/fondling sugar-coma-inducing cakes, because where's the fun in being a sensible mother? . . . . . . . . . . #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #palmvaults
Proper lol dance class in Clapton today. Basically only went because the poster looked cool and it's near Palm Vaults but it's total genius and the teacher (bloke in red) is my hero. Going to make Romp & Roll (that's what it's called btw) and pink hot chocolate Fridays a thing. Full review coming soon ☺️ . . . . . . . . . . #coolthingsfortinylondoners #thingstodowithkids #toddlersofinstagram #toddlerlife #mummyblogger #parentblogger #londonblogger #londonmum #blogger #londonparents #londonmums #parentingtheshitoutoflife #london #londonmum #letthembelittle #londonunderground #visitlondon #babylondon #hackney #clapton #e5

For Tiny Londoners & Their Adults

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