Lambeth - What's on for the family - November 9th/10th 2013

Those leaves have nearly fallen off the trees. My view over Croydon is starting to appear as the trees in front of my house shed their summer coat. Winter nights are coming in fast and the time for hats and gloves is rapidly approaching.

So, on with the weekend!

SATURDAY (9^th November)

 It's the time of year where everything is moving indoors. However the big outdoor event this weekend is the Lord Mayor Show! Always good fun to watch. It starts at 11am from Mansion House near Bank and features buses, coaches, tractors, vintage cars, fire engines, the list goes on! 

If you still have energy. there are a free hour long walking tour of the city It starts at 3pm from no.1 Poultry which is near Mansion House and Bank underground station

 For those in the deep south of London - hop on a train to London bridge and get a bus from there. Those north of the borough, climb aboard a bus; the 133 will take you through Bank.

Staying in the city, St Pauls Cathedral is open for free today. This is a chance to view one of London's architectural gems without paying an arm and a leg. If you do want to visit the gallery, that costs £5/£3.

From Bank, you can catch a 76, 23 and 11

And after all that, don't forget the fireworks between Waterloo and Blackfriars at 5pm. If that doesn't make the children sleep well, than I don't know what will!

For those happy to visit the West End, Christmas has arrived at Covent Garden. Take the kids to pet a reindeer. Visiting hours are 12 to 4pm. 

Catch the number 3 bus or 159 to get to Trafalgar Square and catch an 11, 23 or 15 down the Strand to reach Covent Garden.

SUNDAY (10^th October)

As the outside world gets unfriendly, now is a good time to check out your local swimming pool.  We have a range of reviews on this site. 

• our review of Latchmere Leisure Centre
• our review of Brixton Recreation Centre 
• our review of Clapham Leisure Centre
• our review of Camberwell Leisure Centre 
• our review of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre 
• our review of Peckham Pulse Healthy Living Centre  

 Go and see for yourself what suits your family needs.
  
If you do fancy a good bus ride or train journey then you'll find the National Gallery's Sunday Magic Carpet Storytelling  is still running. Suitable for under fives, it runs at 10:30am and repeats at 11:30 am;

The National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN. Hop on the number 3 bus or 159 to get there. 

So that's a fairly quiet round up! Enjoy your weekend!

Lambeth - What's on for the family - January 26th-27th 2013

Well, the snow was wonderful last weekend and a great excuse to run around outside making snowmen and throwing snowballs.

Will there be more snow for another weekend of fun or is it back to finding other things to do?

SATURDAY (26th January)

If it's not too cold, then head out to the Horniman museum in Forest Hill on the P4 from Brixton, for their Big Garden Birdwatch. Starting at 11am, there are lots of free activities including story telling for under fives and Garden bird bingo - suitable for all the family.

Happy to embrace the cold, then this weekend is Walk London's Winter Wanders Weekend, a chance to go on a free guided walk. Great for parents with buggy babies or older children happy to walk. Check out the website and pick a walk. Many are local to Lambeth

SUNDAY (27th January)

Have lots of energy to Junior Dig the Park at Brockwell Park in Herne Hill? Well, this weekend lend a hand creating loggeries and insect habitats . Meet at 10.30am at the Community Greenhouses.

They are located not far from the cafe on the top of the hill in Brockwell Park. Buses to the main park entrance at Herne Hill include  3, 196, 322, 68 and 37. You can also catch the overground to Herne Hill.

Head out of the area to the Museum of London for "Enter a Victorian Photograph" - a chance to create fictional Victorian characters, dress up as them and enter a photograph using the technology of blue screen. This is on at 12:30, 2 and 3:30 and it's free!

The museum is in the Barbican which can be reached by tube or bus (133 and 35) to Liverpool Street and a ten minute walk.

And finally I've mentioned it the last couple of weeks, so here's a reminder that the National Gallery has Sunday story time for under fives and art for older children. Boo-boo went with her dad last week and had a great time.

Boo-boo likes the painting!

Enjoy the weekend!

Lambeth - What's on for the family - January 12th-13th 2013

Taking a glance at the weekend weather, it looks like it's going to be a cold one.So I've had a look for indoor adventures to be had!

SATURDAY (12th January)

Went my dad was a kid back in the 1940s in America, a Saturday morning would be spent at the cinema, so in the tradition of parents and grandparents, why not take the kids to the pictures? I've mentioned in a previous post that the Clapham Picture House and Ritzy Cinema have kids club. The Odeon in Streatham has a Saturday and Sunday kid's screening. This weekend they are showing the Lomax at 11am. Prices range from £1 to £4 per child and adults go free.

The Streatham Odeon is located at 47-49 Streatham High Street, SW16. To get there, catch buses 133, 59, 109, 118, 333, 255 and 319.

Those with babies in buggies and happy to brave the cold, there is a January full of free walks run by Footprints of London. There are a few to choose from at the weekend. Click through and book yourself on one!

Looking for a bit more culture, then head to central London and visit the Wallace collection who are holding a family event called A Day in the Seventeenth Century. This includes meeting a 17th century Dutch merchant, making a delft tile or participating in an interactive music workshop.

The Wallace Collection is located at Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1U 3BN, which is off Wigmore Street behind Selfridges. Catch buses 2, 137 or 159.

SUNDAY (13th January)

One of my favourite London Museums is the British Museum. There are so many things to look at from all over the world. This Sunday, children over 7 can get involved in a Manga Comic Workshop.

The British Museum is located at Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG. Hop on the 59 bus to get there.

Another great central London outing is a trip to the National Gallery. They are also doing regular Sunday events for the family. Under fives have the Magic Carpet Storytelling at 10:30am and 11:30 am; and five to eleven year old children have a hands-on art workshop running at 11am to 1pm and 2am to 4pm.

The National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN. Hop on the number 3 bus or 159 to get there.

And for anyone who is prepared to travel further afield than my normal suggestions, we have the London Ice Sculpting Festival in Canary Wharf. Many different things to do and see, running all through the weekend!

I would recommend the tube for this one. Head out on the Jubilee line or pretend to drive the train by travelling on the Docklands Light railway!

Boo-boo wrapped up for her travels!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Ten things to do during the Christmas holidays 2012

Well, I'm sure the kids are still playing with their new toys  (and packaging) but if they are getting restless, here are a few suggestions:

1. Take a walk along the River Thames! The weather isn't as cold as it has been - Start at Lambeth Bridge (bus 3 will take you there) and finish at Blackfriars Bridge. (Bus 45 will take you home)

2. Get a little bit cultured! Visit the British Museum which is located at  Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG. The number 59 bus will take you there. For those kids over 7, there is a chance to make your own secret code. For those with buggy babies or older children, take a free tour.

3. Have a swim at one of Lambeth's pools. Visit the Brixton Rec or Clapham Leisure Centre.

Swimming is hard work!

 4. Now is the time to see the Christmas lights! See them before the 5th of January!

5. Hop on the 118 bus through Streatham and Mitcham to visit Morden Park Hall! Free guided history tours at the weekend.

6. View some art! Head out to the Tate Modern! Catch the 59 or 45 bus.

Boo-boo becomes an art instillation!

7. Learn a bit of local history with a trip to the Museum of London. Visit Mr Scrooge and tell him of your Christmas complains. To get there catch 133 to Liverpool Street and walk there or catch the underground to Barbican.

8.  The animals need to be fed even over the Christmas holiday! So go take a gander at the creatures  of Vauxhall City Farm. To get to Vauxhall, catch the 88, 36 , 2 or 196 bus.

9. Jump around at Soft Play! There's lots of choice- Bertie and Boo Adventure Island in Balham, Brixton Recreation Centre's massive structure and Peckham Pulse.

10.  Hop up to the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill on the P4 bus to check out their collections including the aquarium.

Have fun!

Lambeth - What's on for the family - September 8th -9th 2012

It's looking like September is the month to enjoy many fun filled weekends. There is lots of free entertainment for the children and the parents, and plenty of things to choose from. Not forgetting the excitement of the Paralympics and all it brings.

And on that note, I'll mention that the 8th is the the last day to take a stroll around the Olympic Mascots  which I mentioned in a previous blog post. We have spotted a few as we have visited the city and have entered the corgi competition to win lots of little model mascots.

Suitably unimpressed baby!

Another event finishing this week is the wonderful carousel at West Norwood Cemetery.  Visiting information is here and the last day to view is Sunday. We popped in last week and got to learn a bit about it. It is located in the Greek chapel which does have steps up to it so is rather buggy unfriendly ( but not awful!). The images on the carousel are all about the magnificent seven cemeteries - seven large burial grounds built in the early Victorian period. There is a man on hand who will tell you the stories. Plus you get to crank the handle of the carousel which makes it turn and changes the illumination which is projected onto the wall!

Boo-boo was delighted with the examples of Neo-Classical architecture.

SATURDAY 8th September

This weekend sees the Friends of Kennington Park mark their tenth anniversary by holding a  fun day  for the family. There will be live music, children's entertainment and nature trail safaris. If you haven't been to this park, they have a lovely cafe! Check  it out! Buses passing near Kennington Park are 185, 36, 133, 159, 59, 3, and 155.

Travel a bit further down the road and we have the fabulous Thames Festival. Yes, lots and lots of different ways to be entertained.  A couple of South Bank things to see is the weekend lineup at Watch this space at the National Theatre. Acrobatics, Circus entertainment. and theatrics are to be had in this area from 1pm to 6:30. There will be juggling, sword swallowing, acrobatics, and hula hooping all performing over the space of the afternoon. So pull up a pew, bring some snacks for the family and prepared to be entertained. A timetable of events can be found here. And this is all repeated again on Sunday!

Another treat at the South Bank is free performances of a play call the Garden, described as gravity defying outdoor theatre. The main player perform on swaying poles which were featured in the opening ceremony of the Paralymics. I saw this play the other year and was very taken by the movements and the stories. Do go and watch. There are performance at 1pm and 6 pm on the Riverside Terrace on both Saturday and Sunday. The best buses to the Southbank is the good old 59, or the 159 and walk along from the London Eye.

If you fancy getting involved with the creativity instead of just watching, the National Theatre runs The Pop-Up Workshop located up a set of stairs to the left of the Theatre Square. You can design a set, make a sock puppet or create a costume. It is free but you do need to book (Tel: 020 7452 3388 for more information) and it's suitable for kids age 6 and upwards! There are workshops on Saturday and Sunday from 1 til 5pm.


SUNDAY 9th September

Lets take a short break away from the South Bank to see what else is happening on the Sunday.

Today sees the Bandstand Marathon - live music performances between 1pm to 5pm.
on bandstands and other outdoor performance spaces across the UK. Lambeth has two spaces involved.

From 11am to 2pm, there will be bands playing outside the Herne Hill Train Station. This is also part of the Herne Hill Music Festival and marks the official opening of the Herne Hill Sunday market. Buses passing through Herne Hill are the 3, 196, 322, 37 and 201.

Clapham Common Bandstand also has a couple of bands playing. Some details here. Buses stopping by the common are 35, 37, 88, 322, 155 and the 345.

If you aren't quite in the mood for live music, then you can always learn a little bit of local history by coming on the free Brixton Mural Walk led by the London Mural Preservation Society. Now admittedly I'm a bit biased because I will be leading the walk. However, it's quite doable with a buggy or with older children. My daughter has been on the walk 4 time (twice in the womb and twice in her pushchair) and she is just 6 months! Meet at Stockwell Tube Station at 11am. Buses going near the tube station are 2, 196, 88,155 and 345.

And finally back to the South Bank for the Thames Festival Night Carnival. Perhaps a little late for the little ones but alright for slightly older children. It's a visually delightful illuminated evening spectacle of dancers, drummers and lantern-carriers. The parade starts at 7:15pm with performances starting at the beginning of Blackfriars bridge. The procession goes over the bridge and along Victoria Embankment. Probably best to catch a bus (No. 59) or tube it to the south bank and then a quick walk to Blackfriars Bridge.

So whatever you do this weekend, have a good one!