Soft Play in Streatham at Toddlers' World

Streatham, like West Norwood, has a fairly new leisure centre so not only do locals of Streatham have a new pool (review coming soon!) but they have a new gym and the opportunity to have a new Toddlers' World! How exciting! Soft play spaces for preschool children are always welcome so to see if this one was any good I took my two year old daughter to test it out.

The soft play is located in one part of the leisure centre's main hall. Buggies are parked outside the hall and there are lockers for people's belongings. Toilets are close by though if I remember correctly, there is only one baby change!!! Upon entering the hall, shoes, coats and bags are placed by the wall if you haven't left them locked up.

The space is filled with soft shapes for babies and young toddlers to climb and jump on. My daughter had a clamber on these objects trying to avoid the babies and their mums who were sitting around the space creating an obstacle course.  I had to keep a close eye on my daughter's interactions with the little ones as she doesn't always understand that she needs to be careful around babies.

There is also a big bouncy castle with a slide which clearly works best with older kids. One side is for bouncing which is an easy win with kids (and mums). The other part of this inflatable is a slide. To access the top of the slide the children have to climb up a dark and quite steep tunnel which has no room for a parent's helping hand. Young toddlers regularly attempted to climb the stairs. They would then get scared and stuck, and their mums would have to go in to coax them out.  Often you would see a great big grown-up bottom sticking out of the entrance to the tunnel steps, head inside trying to persuade the nervous child to come back down.

In some cases, the kid would get out of the tunnel at the top and then decide they didn't want to go down the slide. On a normal slide, mum or dad can lean in and help their child down but this isn't so easy to do on this strange bouncy slide thing. So yes, I found myself going up the bouncy tunnel steps to persuade my daughter to slide down with me.

This slide and tunnel really works better with the four to five year old children. Those who were around had no problems, often walking over -  yes over - the small kids who were crying because they were half way up a dark tunnel, not sure how to get down and they couldn't see their parent.

To sum up, everything is still sparkly and new, there are soft shapes for the very little and a big bouncy thing for the big but I'm not sure it serves the 2-3 year old children very well. It also feels overcrowded which means I'm uncomfortable with letting my child really run around.

For me, the most eventful moment was when my two year old managed to bang her head. A big egg bump started to appear and I asked the guy in charge if he had a first aid kit with a cold compress. He didn't so he went up to reception to ask. They told me to put some water on a tissue and hold it to her head. This is a leisure centre with an ice skating rink! No-one was very sure about first aid for a small child!! I really wasn't impressed with that but hope it was a one off.

I'd love to hear other's experiences of the space. Did it work better for you and your family?

Streatham Ice and  Leisure Centre Information

Streatham Ice and  Leisure Centre is located at 390 Streatham High Road  London, SW16 6HX

It costs £2.85 a session.

The centre can be contacted on 020 8677 5758.

The opening times of the Toddlers' World are:

Monday       10:00 to 12:00pm  
Tuesday       10:00 to 12:00pm
Thursday     10:00 to 12:00pm
Friday           10:00 to 12:00pm

.................................................................................

Want to know more about soft play facilities in the Lambeth area and beyond? Read the following:

• our review of soft play at Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre
• our review of soft play at Brixton Recreation Centre
• our review of soft play at Bertie and Boo Adventure Island

Soft Play in Crystal Palace at Toddlers' World

I'm back! Well, not quite however I thought I'd let you know about my latest outing.

Baby Boo-boo's nursery is shut for part of Easter so it's been a chance for us to get out of the house. I decided that to avoid the mayhem of the Brixton Rec's soft play with big kids bouncing through the baby ball pit, I'd go check out another toddler's world for the under 5 yr olds. Having visited the one in Clapham, I expected more of the same - lots of plush new equipment and a gaggle of small children and parents enjoying it.

So we headed to the Crystal Palace National Sports centre with a new plan hatched about how we would get from the bus stop to the place avoiding the steps unlike our last sorry attempt. We caught the number 3 bus and got off the second to last stop. However as soon as we got off, I realised we would have to do serious back tracking to find a gentle slope down to the sports centre.

Sod this, I decided and we took the steps - bump, bump, bump and then some more... and some more! At least it was all down hill. We finally got to our location and entered the wonderful sports centre - I do love the architecture. We bought a ticket - £4.75 for the baby to play - and headed through the centre to the back.

An area was cordoned off using a large inflatable barrier and inside was a sparse collection of toys for the little uns to play with. It was quite different from the abundance of the very new toys at Clapham!  Some things seemed too old for the baby Boo-boo (who is one and walking), other things were for younger babies (sensory mats) or better for structured play (musical instruments). Many of the one o'clock clubs I've been to have better set ups than this and are free!

It wasn't a bad space and with a little bit of investment into a few new pieces it could feel like it was worth the entrance fee. For me it was a chance to let the baby run, walk and crawl around without too much to worry about so at the end of the day it fulfilled it's role.

If the centre wants a better attendance, than it should get a few new bits of equipment and make it look fun!!

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Information

Crystal Palace National Sports Centre is located at Ledrington Road  London, SE19 2BB.

Non-membership kids pay £4.75 a session.

The centre can be contacted on  020 8778 0131

The opening times of the Toddlers' World are:

Monday       10:00 to 12:00pm  
Tuesday       1:00 to 3:00pm
Thursday     10:00 to 12:00pm

.................................................................................

Want to know more about soft play facilities in the Lambeth area and beyond? Read the following:

• our review of soft play at Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre
• our review of soft play at Brixton Recreation Centre
• our review of soft play at Bertie and Boo Adventure Island

Lambeth's New Real Nappies Scheme (and other nappy information!)

For expectant mums, one thing many take into consideration is whether to go for disposable nappies or reuseables. It's a tough question and only one you can answer.

However, if you are looking for advice and tips on what to get, then head to the Real Nappies for London Website which will answer all your questions on this matter.

Closer to home, head to Lambeth Council webpage and read about the Lambeth Real Nappies Scheme. There is an opportunity to talk to advisers and you can pick up a trial pack of three reuseable nappies. You will need to have proof of address and photo ID. Get in touch with them to find out more.

And for those who struggle with reuseables or don't feel it's the right thing for them, then check out this service which suggests it can recycle nappies! Is this the future? It would be interesting to see energy use and cost for all schemes.

Whatever you're choice, let's hope for a more environmentally friendly future which is easy on the planet, easy on the finances and easy on the parents.

"Sort my nappy out mummy!"

Parent Bloggers & Websites Part 1: Places to take the kids

In my conversations to local parents, I get the impression that the Little Lambeth is a really helpful blog so I thought I'd let you know about some of other blogs which I find useful when it comes to looking for places to take children.

SE19 Kids lets you know what's on in the Crystal Palace area. Great for families in the south of the borough.

For parents in Streatham, check out Tooting Baby's diary of what's on in the area. Also includes a list of baby friendly eateries and local places to go for a day out.

Looking for reviews of things to do in London, then check out London with a toddler, lots of entertaining stories about visits to different places in London. Also includes an ace googlemap so that it's easy to find the places that the author has visited.

And finally, check out Clapham mums which covers the Clapham, to Clapham Junction area. It lists local activities and events and if you sign  up, you can get a card offering great local deals.

So there you go, a few more helpful hints. Let me know if you can think of anyone else to add to this list!

Lambeth - What's on for the family - November 17th-18th 2012

We are now heading into the Christmas Season. Mid-November marks the point where we might have to actually start thinking about turkey, Christmas crackers and presents for the family. But lets put that off for the moment. So what can we do this weekend?

SATURDAY (17th November)

First up, a parents and buggy event - yes it's a free guided walk (called the CoolTan Arts' Largactyl Shuffle). Their walk is designed to encourage mental and physical wellbeing, through art, exercise, humour and history. This month''s theme is William Blake. The walk starts at 12pm at the Tate Modern and the walk leaders will be wearing high-viz vests. Contact them on the day 07985 658443 if you can't find them.

If you get up to the Tate modern earlier, you can always pop into their Under Fives Zone - a chance for the really little kids to explore art. Saturday opening for the Tate is 10am to 10pm.

Boo-boo becomes an art piece at the Tate!

To get to the Tate Modern on bus, the 45 which passes through Brixton stops at Blackfriars Bridge Road. Alternatively, there is always the tube to Southwark.

Whilst on my preambulations, I was handed a leaflet for the Young Socialists Autumn Fayre. Asides, from bric-a-brac, tombola and raffles, it includes the essentials for kids - a bouncy castle and face painting! The event is at Lambeth College, Brixton Centre at 56 Brixton Hill, SW2 1QS and starts at 12pm!

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.

Looking for nearly new kids items and christmas crafts? Then visit the Table Sale held  at St Margaret's Church, Barcombe Avenue, SW2 between 2.30-4.30pm. Organised by local Mums to sell their great quality stuff to other local parents. Let the kids root around for some new toys at bargain prices!

Buses to Streatham Hill include 159, 133, 137, 109, 118 and 59.

Fancy a self led Saturday stroll? Then we recommend you check out the Capital Ring Walk - A route going through the greenery of London. Section 4 is a pleasant walk between Crystal Palace and Streatham. Check out the website to download a map and directions which include facts about the area.

The buses 3, 417, 249, 432 and 322 take you into the Crystal Palace area. The walk starts at Crystal Palace Train Station.


SUNDAY  (18th November)

If the sun is shining, take an opportunity to learn a bit about the plants on Brockwell Park and have a bit of a forage. The Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses are running a Family Foraging Walk from 2pm at the greenhouses. There is a suggested donation of £2.50 per child. Contact Beth on 07427 685714.

Brockwell park  can be reached by bus route 2, 3, 68, 37 and 196 as well as the overground at Herne Hill.

Happy to go a little further afield, then pop up to the London Eye to visit the Christmas Market which will be on from this weekend to Christmas Eve. Opening times are 10am to 10pm. This German style market has over 80 chalets selling gifts and food with two designed especially with children in mind. There will be a free choir performance at 1:30pm and 7:00pm to put you in the Christmas Spirit,

To get to the London Eye, catch the 159, 77 and 12 or take the tube to Waterloo.

And finally, want to travel even further? Than head to the Victoria and Albert (V &A) Museum. As the days get colder, this is a day out with lots to see and do and it's indoors!. The V & A offers  family packs for children to help navigate and enjoy the collections, including a pack for the under-fives. Pick these up at the main entrance.

The V& A museum is located in South Kensington which can be reached by the underground or bus 345.

Have a wonderful weekend! May it be full of smiles!

Lambeth - What's on for the family - November 3rd-4th 2012

Wow! Hasn't the year gone fast! November is here and Christmas just around the corner. Let see what the weekend has to offer.

SATURDAY (3rd November)

For those with kids under five, there's a fantastic day of art (called Tiny Tate) at the Tate Britain between 10am to 3pm. Hop on the buses 2, 185, 36, 436 and 88 or catch the tube to Pimlico.

Want a bit more art and happy to travel further? Then head to the Barbican to see Random International's Rain Room - an art installation where you control the rain! It is open between 11am - 8pm  and queues are big. So maybe one for a weekday visit!

Also visit the Lumacoustics' YrWall in the foyer  - a digital canvas which allows you to keep painting - fun for young and old!

And if you're up that way, check out the Museum of London for an event called Stories Retold which looks at how a story can go from a story to a book and back again. This is aimed at the over fives and is on at the following times: 1-1.30pm, 2-2.30pm & 3-3.30pm. The event is repeated on Sunday.

To get to the Barbican and the Museum of London, catch the 133 to Liverpool Street and catch the 153 or 100. Or take the tube to Barbican Station (which has lifts!)

If you want to keep it local, pop to the Imperial War Museum and make a poppy to put in their poppy field. This activity is on from 11am to 5pm in the Atrium til the 11th November. The 3, 344, 59 and 159 buses pass the museum.


And a quick reminder that this weekend is the last chance to take a tour around Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. More information here.

SUNDAY (4th November)

Head up to West Norwood for this month's Feast. Shop at the different markets and let the kids run off some steam at the front of St Luke's Church. The event runs from 10am to 4pm.

West Norwood Feast seen from St Luke's steps.

To get to West Norwood, you can catch buses 2, 68, 315 432 and 322.  The area is also served by the overground at West Norwood Station.

For those with babies in buggies, first Sundays of the month are the West Norwood Cemetary tours. Learn about the famous people buried here. Meet at 11am at the Cemetary gates. Donations welcome.

Learning about the history of West Norwood Cemetery.

Alternatively head out on the P4 bus to Forest Hill and take a visit to the Horniman Museum for a World of Stories at the Hands On Base. This starts at 11am and lasts for 45 minutes.

So lots of possibilities! Enjoy them! Happy weekend!

Taking Baby for a Swim Part 4: Latchmere Leisure Centre

So far our adventures into swimming have been fairly drama free however this visit came with a scenario I had expected at some point but so soon?

Let me begin at the beginning. We decided to visit the pool at the Latchmere Leisure Centre in Battersea. I'd read some good reviews and had been there a couple of times as a child. We got to the centre, got tickets and hired a padlock for the locker. We were pleased to see that in the shared changing area, they had several family sized cubicles with baby change facilities though many had a notice which read that they should be used by school groups during the hours of 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday which is peak Mummy and baby time!

Anyway, we got changed for the swim and noticed we had walked out onto a rather empty pool with a few people standing around. Yes folks, There was a poo in the pool and not just an ordinary poo but a scattered one! Yikes! poo!

The life guards were all scratching their heads and eventually told swimmers that it would take at least 20 minutes to sort out. So me, a few other mums, a couple of school groups and various others headed back to the changing room to get into our dry clothes. This is where the wearing the swimsuit option under your clothes fails!

I was not too sure about what to do once dressed; should we go home or should we wait? We headed up to the cafe for some lunch and waited til the pool clear. It definitely took more than half an hour for some poor guy to swim up and down with a net and goggles poo-hunting. I suppose it's preparation for if his partner has a water birth.

So, undressed again, a sprinkle in the shower and off into the pool. The teaching pool was busy with school groups. From what I can see it steps down into the water and also has a little slide for the kids. The main pool slopes down like a beach so you just walk into the water. The space also has a water slide. There is a step in the water which is great to sit in whilst holding a baby. Boo-boo really got into it and enjoyed jumping up and down.

After a splash around, we went back to change. We didn't shower as some were being replaced and it felt quite cold on the edge of the pool so got us dry and changed. Getting better at doing this.... honest.

Overall, facilities were good. Changing rooms smelt a bit but weren't dirty and seem regularly attended. Pool was family friendly. And it was only £3.70 for the pair of us - cheapest so far!

Latchmere Leisure Centre Information

The Latchemere Leisure Centre is located on Burns Road Battersea SW11 5AD.

It cost £4.55 for an adult swim and £2.80 for a junior swim (age5-16). For parent and baby under five between Monday and Friday - 9am to 5pm during term time it costs £3.70.  Telephone for further information on: 0207 207 8004

You need to bring your own padlock for the locker or you can hire on.

The pool timetable is located here, The teaching pool doesn't seem to have a timetable and was full of school groups however the larger pool is baby and toddler friendly.

Wave machine operates hourly Mondays-Fridays 16.00-19.00 and weekends 9.00-18.00.

It's always worth phoning the pool to check it's open or that there hasn't been a change to the timetable.

.....................................................................

Want to know more about swimming with babies in the Lambeth area and beyond? Read the following:

• our review of Camberwell Leisure Centre
• our review of Brixton Recreation Centre 
• our review of Clapham Leisure Centre
• our review of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre

Lambeth - What's on for the family - October 27th-28th 2012

Earlier this week I was thinking that I didn't have much to write about; everywhere is all half term, half term and Halloween with not much cheap or free stuff earmarked for the weekend and then, ker-plunk!, it all landed down. Lots to do and see, so here goes!

SATURDAY (27th October)

Let start local and the visit the lovely Brockwell Park Greenhouses which will be participating in the Big Draw this week. So on Saturday, pop up there, taking buses 3, 37, 68, 196 or 322 to Brockwell Park, march up the hill and have a go at drawing the plants and structures. This years theme is 'In Lines' and artworks will go up along the brand new vertical fencing. This takes place between 10:30am and 12:30.pm. Donations welcome.

And later on, for the cost of £5 a child, there is play dough session including tips of how to make your own using vegetable dyes and incorporating natural materials! Booking essential. Phone 07427 685714. The session takes place between 2pm to 4pm.

If you want more of a spectacle than Brixton Bolt should be more your cup of tea. This is the chance to see who is Brixton's fastest man, woman and child! All future Olympian sprinters get to it! The first race takes place on Popes Road at 11am. The market on Station road will be supporting this little venture! Come out and watch the action! Buses through Brixton include P4, P5, 188, 196, 59, 159, 3, 133, 333, 45, 345, and 37.

If you are happy to travel further afield hop on the 133 or 35 up to London Bridge and visit the Old Operating Theatre and museum at 9a St Thomas Street, SE1. This Saturday, it's open for free. Surgical demonstrations will take place on the hour, every hour. I'm not sure this is a buggy friendly space so might be worth giving them a ring on tel: 0207 188 2679. Also worth booking your visit as I expect lots of people will be popping in to see it!

An alternative trip out of Lambeth could take you to Somerset House located on the 59 bus route. Between 2pm and 4pm in the West Wing, there will be a chance to cut and paste things. Make a scary mask or a witches hat or a wand. All welcome to join in the gluey fun!

SUNDAY (28th October)

 

Back to staying local, pop over to Myatts Fields Park for a Halloween Event. Between 2pm and 4pm, there will be African drumming, a children's fancy dress event and spooky cakes at the Little Cat Cafe. Fancy dress prizes are awarded for the best costume: 5 and under; 12 and under; and anyone else; judging  is from 3pm to 3.20pm.

Shock at mummy's cake eating habits at the Little Cat Cafe

Myatts Fields Park is located on Cormont Road( SE5 9RA). Buses 36, 185 and 436 to Camberwell New Road, Buses 3, 59, 159  and 133 along the Brixton road. It's a ten minute walk from there.

Another local Halloween event is at the Brixton Windmill in Windmill Gardens. It's another opportunity to turn the children into scary monsters with a fancy dress procession at 3pm. There will be tales of a haunted mill, pumpkin carving and spooky games. The event is £2 per child. Sounds like lots of fun and action! To get there, travel up the hill on buses 159, 109, 133, 45 and 333.

And finally pop along to the Tate Modern for a family event in the Tanks. From 11pm til 5pm, visitors of all ages are encouraged to "explore moving image through interventions, projections and the live creation of 16mm film works with moving image collective, no.w.here, artist Anna Lucas and live publishing collective CATALOG". Sounds curious! Whose going?!  Local blog A baby on board has recently written a post on her visit to the Tate - check it out here!

To get to Bankside for the Tate Moden you can catch the bus 45 which passes through Brixton and  stops at Blackfriars Bridge Road. Alternatively, there is always the tube to Southwark.
 
So peoples, have a lovely weekend. Fingers crossed for good weather!

Soft Play at Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre

The baby is now big enough to want to crawl everywhere and anywhere and make decisions that everything is to be pressed or open or sucked. She is into everything! So soft play is a good place for her to go. We have visited the one in the Brixton Recreation Centre so thought we'd check out another local option, Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre located in Southwark.

The centre's soft play area is a shiny, new, two tiered affair with ball pits, soft shapes, tunnels and slides; this is spread across a room overlooking the swimming pool. There is lots of room along the side for parents to sit and plenty of space to park the buggies. They also have a bloke overseeing the proceedings. He explained how it worked (the take your shoes off bit and where parents can't go) and kept an eye on what was going on. There is a ladies and gents toilet in the area but I didn't check if they had any kind of baby change facility in these toilets. It certainly didn't indicate that you could change a baby in those toilets. Maybe the centre's designers didn't think a baby would be hanging out in the soft play section.

We enjoyed our visit to Peckham although there was some limitation to what we could do.  Boo-boo is crawling but not much else. We had a go on a rocking horse, played around with the soft shapes, chased some balls and had a play on a slide. All good and at £2 for an hour, pretty good for a baby whose only going to have a limited interest in the space. For bigger children, they might want to stay longer so it might be easier to take them somewhere where they can run around till you need to go or they are tired .

It was a pretty uneventful visit though the man on guard did tell off a grandma for taking a photo of her kid in the play area. At least we know he is doing his job!

Peckham Pulse Soft Play is £2 for a 50 minute session. Sessions are available from 9:30am to 6:00pm.

 It is located at Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre, 10 Melon Road, Peckham, SE15 5QN. You can travel there by buses 36, 436 and 345 

For any other information, the telephone number is 08448 933 888. Good luck with getting through to anyone!
...........................................................................................................

Want to know more about soft play facilities in the Lambeth area and beyond? Read the following:

• our review of soft play at Bertie and Boo Adventure Island
• our review of soft play at Brixton Recreation Centre
• our review of soft play at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
• our review of soft play at Clapham Leisure Centre

Lambeth - What's on for the family - October 20th-21st 2012

Right, it really has got cold. I'm still searching for some kind of mitten option for the Boo-boo whilst spending my spare time in TK Maxx trying on winter coats!

Boo-boo gets to try on hats!

 Forecast for the weekend so far - Saturday is cloudy, Sunday is cloudy!!

So lets see what's on offer in the local area!

SATURDAY (20th October)

It's harvest time and places are celebrating by holding harvest events and apple days. Ruskin Park will be holding a tree planting day on the site of the Old Bowling Green. From 11am to 3pm, there will be a chance to hear live music from Dulwich Ukelele Club, plus face painting, arts and crafts and Apple Day activities to keep the little ones entertained!

Ruskin Park is located at Denmark Hill, SE5 8E. Buses in the area are 35, 42, 45, 68, 345 and 468.

Looking for more harvest time festivities? Then in the late afternoon, head to Landor Road to the Edible Bus Stop between 5pm to 7pm to celebrate their harvest festival. They ask that you bring food to share and good vibes! Landor Road is on the 322 bus route.

For something completely different, head to Cathedral Square for the RNIB Literary Wonderland. Based on Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland, it is a multi-sensory experiences set  in five magical realms, including the Mad Hatter's Story Corner and The Forest of Talking Mushrooms.

The event is from the 18th to the 20th October, 9 to 6pm at Cathedral Square, Hibernia Wharf, London Bridge, London SE1 9DA. Buses 133 and 35 head up that way.

SUNDAY (21st October)

The harvest festivals and apple days continue into Sunday! Hop on the 133 or 35 and head up to Borough Market (by London Bridge) to celebrate the apple harvest. From 12pm to 4pm learn from the market traders about the different types of apples and have a taste of the various flavours.

Loving the celebration of apples?  Then pop along the way from Borough market to the Globe Theatre where there is an Autumn harvest celebration called October Plenty which mixes ancient seasonal customs and theatre with contemporary festivity. There is a Corn Queen and a Berry Man (Autumn's Green Man) who will be part of a play performed outside the globe. There is an apple orchard created for children to decorate the trees and listen to stories. Events start at 12pm.

Want to do a bit more learning? Then Morley College (located on 61 Westminster Bridge Road in Waterloo on the 59 bus route) has a day of Family fun learning. From 11am to 4pm families can decorate cupcakes, make fruit kebabs, listen to storytelling, learn circus skills, pot a plant and many other things. Plenty to do here!

To enrol on the workshop you need to get there from 10:30am to register for the things you'd like to attend. A donation of £1 is suggested. For information, telephone 020 7450 1929.

And down the road from the college, head to Funharmonics at the Southbank Centre for some more educational fun! Between 10am to 2:30pm in the foyers at the Royal Festival Hall, have go at playing a musical instrument or join the family Orchestra workshops. The Clore Ballroom at Royal Festival Hall will be hosting a free ceilidh  at 1pm. Travel here on the 59!

So that's lots of apples and learning fun to be had! Drop us a line if there are any events in your area you would like listed! Have a good weekend!

Family Learning Festival 2012 in Lambeth - Events for under fives!

Over the next few weeks the London boroughs are having family learning festivals so I have rounded up (copied and paste) some local events for under fives in Lambeth and surrounding boroughs. Addresses of venues are at the bottom of this post!

EVENTS

“You can’t catch me I’m the Gingerbread Man!”

Decorate your own gingerbread man with storytelling, singing, puppets and fun!

Thurs 1st November 2012, 1.30-3pm

Battersea Park One O’clock Centre

Jactito Puppet Theatre

Geoffrey the Lonely Giraffe is thrown out of Giraffe Land because he has a short neck. He tries to fit in with the other creatures he meets by turning himself into a tortoise, a rabbit and a bird, but his disguises don’t work... at last Georgina the Giraffe resolves the problem in a totally unexpected way.

24 October, 10.30am

Streatham Library

Storytelling with Margaret Bateson-Hill

Master storyteller Margaret Bateson-Hill tells stories from around the world.

29 October, 2.30pm

Old West Norwood Library

31 October, 10.30am

South Lambeth Library

2 November, 10.30am

Minet Library

Yoga Stories


Have fun learning, yoga, making animal poses and stretches.

5th November 1:45pm 

Thomas Calton Centre

Toby and the Sausages - puppet theatre

When Toby is left in charge of Mrs Chippolata’s sausages with strict instructions not to eat them before tea time things start to go badly wrong - An interactive puppet show or families with children under five.

26 October, 10.30am

Minet Library

2 November, 10.30am

Clapham Library

9 November, 10.30am

Carnegie Library

Storytelling with Sandra Agard

Come along and join in with and listen to stories by the ever popular Sandra Agard.

19 October, 10.30am

Waterloo Library

Bollywood Punch and Judy

Upbeat and funny, Professor Patel’s Punch and Judy Show is a wonderful combination
of the traditional and modern with a dash of Bollywood panache for all the family.

30 October, 10.30am

Brixton Library

VENUES



Thomas Calton Centre
Alpha Street, London, SE15 4NX
Tel:(0)20 7639 4875

Buses: 37,  36, 345 


Battersea Park One O’clock Centre
Near Adventure Playground
SW11 4PY
Tel: 020 8871 7541

Bus: 345 (Get off before Battersea bridge and walk down Parkgate Road)

Brixton Library, 
Brixton Oval,
SW2 1JQ
Tel: 020 7926 1056

Buses: 3, 35, 37, 133, 159,109, 45,345 and 59

Clapham Library
Mary Seacole Centre
91 Clapham High Street
SW4 7DB 
Tel: 020 7926 0717 

Buses:  88, 35, 37, 155 and 322 

Streatham Library
63 Streatham High Road 
SW16 1PN  
Tel: 020 7926 6768

Buses: 50, 57, 60, 109, 118, 133, 159, 201, 249, 250, 255, 315, 319, 333. 

Carnegie Library
188 Herne Hill Road
SE24 0AG  
Tel: 020 7926 6050

Bus: P4

Old West Norwood library
14 - 16 Knights Hill
SE27 0H 
Tel: 020 7926 8092

Buses:  2, 68, 196, 315, 322, 432, 468, X68

Minet Library 
52 Knatchbull Road
SE5 9QY 
Tel: 020 7926 6073 

Buses: 159, 3, 133 and 59

Waterloo Library 
114-118 Lower Marsh
SE1 7AE 
Tel: 020 7926 8750 

Buses: 159 and 59

South Lambeth Library
180 South Lambeth Road 
SW8 1QP  
Tel: 020 7926 0705

Buses: 2 and 88