Lambeth - What's on for the family - November 10th-11th 2012

Well, Christmas is well on the way. Halloween and Bonfire night have been and gone! So what's on for families this weekend?

SATURDAY (10th November) 

For parents with babies in buggies, this Saturday is the  monthly Brixton Market Heritage Walk led by the Brixton Society. Learn about the amazing history of the area. The tour starts at 2:30pm - meet at the corner of Beehive Place and Brixton Station Road. It cost £3 each and includes a free booklet.

Ready for a walk around Brixton

Buses through Brixton include P4, P5, 188, 196, 59, 159, 3, 133, 333, 45, 345, and 37. Alternatively you can catch the tube or the overground into the area.

If you have older kids and you can spare a few quid, then join your children up to the Kids Club at the Ritzy or Clapham picture house. Membership is £4. Films are on at 10:30 am in Brixton and 11:45am in Clapham. Kids and accompanying adult's entry is £1 each.

Travel through Brixton already mentioned. Buses through Clapham include the 35, 37, 322, 88, 155 and 345. Clapham Common is the nearest Tube station to the cinema.

If your little one is too young for these film clubs, then pop to your local library and check out the children’s movies on DVD. It’s £1 a film to rent for 3 days. And to make it more of a cinematic experience, cook up some popcorn and serve a juice drink with a straw!!

Happy to travel outside of the area? This Saturday, see the amazing Lord Mayor's Show, a three mile long procession through the City of London. The event starts at 11am and carries on to 2pm.

Suggestions for getting there are Thameslink trains from Herne Hill to get off at Blackfriars or  Farringdon. Or catch the tube to Bank.

Want something to exercise the brain cells? Then head out to the Festival of Geology.  Activities include handling extraordinary rocks, minerals and fossils, having a go at gem panning and casting a fossil. Events run between 10:30am to 4:30pm at UCL Main (Wilkins) Building, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT. The 59 bus will take you into the area.

 SUNDAY (11th November)

Looking for something on Sunday, then head to the Cartoon Museum to learn about 75 years of the Dandy comic. It costs £5.50 for adults but children go free. Catch the 59 bus up to Holborn to visit the museum on 35 Little Russell St, London WC1A 2HH. Sunday opening is noon to 5:30pm.

Want something to do closer to home? Then can I suggest a pleasant walk in Brockwell Park with a visit to the Community Greenhouses (open 12pm-4pm). Follow that with a slice of cake and a  hot drink at the cafe on the top of the hill or head to the Florence for a plate of chips (and a pint for mum and dad).

And whilst in Herne Hill, take a look at their Sunday Market 10am to 4 pm - foods and crafts. Buses into the area include 3, 196, 322, 68 and 37.

Ongoing events local to Lambeth  are the Charles Dickens Exhibition at the Cuming Museum or the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre in East Dulwich . More details in this October post!

Boo-boo was disappointed that there were no flashing lights.

 Head out, have fun and may your weekend be happy and good! 

Bea's Baby Bop at the Florence Pub in Herne Hill

The other Friday, I decided to take Boo-boo to try out Bea's Baby Bop at the Florence Pub in Herne Hill. At 6 months, she is so much more aware of her surroundings so I thought she would appreciate some songs, music and dancing. Bea runs two session at the Florence on a Friday and we arrived for the 11 o'clock class. For those who haven't been to the Florence Pub,  it is really geared up for people with children so has a kids menu and a large play room at the back which is an ideal setting for a small class.

There were about ten little ones, mostly under a year old, who had bought along a parent or carer. The class opened with a song saying hello to all of the babies. I found it lovely that Bea sang hello to each of the children individually by name. In fact I like this song so much that when I finally remembered the tune, I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I am now singing hello to all the objects in the house!

After the opening song, it was mixture of singing, doing songs with actions, rattling instruments and dancing. It finished with a goodbye song to everyone and to each individual child.

The session lasted an hour and was very entertaining. I enjoyed meeting other mums. Boo-boo enjoyed noming all of the instrument.

Classes are held at the following times at the Florence Pub:

Wednesday 11am
Friday 10am -11 am
Friday 11am -12am

They are suitable for children from 6 months to 3 years.

The address of the Florence pub is 131-133 Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0NG

Buses to the Florence are the 3, 196, 322, 37 and 68.

Please contact Bea on beasbabybop@gmail.com or http://www.facebook.com/beasbabybop for more information.