Lambeth - What's on for the family - December 7th/8th 2013

Good afternoon or evening...or whenever you are reading this. The cold weather brought with it aches and pains, colds and bugs and so we have been rather out of action which is a shame as there have been some goodies over the last couple of weeks.

Not to worry, Christmas soon. Check out this weekend's things to do:

SATURDAY (7^th December)

It's the winter fair time of year!

The Horniman museum has their Christmas Fair this weekend  on both Saturday and Sunday. You can write Santa a letter and make a Christmas angel for a small fee. Santa's grotto is to be booked (check out the website) and the weekly chance to explore objects is also one. Visit Sunday for carol singing and storytelling. And for those looking for pressies, the market will be there!

It runs from 10:30 to 4:30. Catch the P4 from Brixton to the museum.

More christmas fun at the  Crystal Palace Food Market, on Hayes Lane. Head there to hear carols at 12 and from 12 - 3pm, the people from Untapped will be around for ceramic Christmas tree decoration painting.

The buses 3, 417, 249, 432 and 322 take you into the Crystal Palace area.

 Don't want a fair? Then pop into the Minet Libary for some under-fives storytime and play at 11am and for over-fives, there is crafts at  2:30pm. The library is located on 52 Knatchbull Rd, London SE5 9QY. 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. Give them a ring to make sure it is still on: 020 7926 6073.

SATURDAY (8^th December)

Head to Vauxhall City Farm. this weekend for their Christmas Open Day. There will be family activities and crafts, living nativity stable as well as all the animals to chat at. It’s open from 11am to 4pm. 

To get there catch a 2, 88 or 196. The area is also served by the overground and underground.

And finally, there is the Winter Fair at Brockwell Park from 11am to 3pm. Great for present shopping and the chance to meet santa (he has got a very busy weekend)!

This event is located in Brockwell Hall (the cafe at the top of the 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.

So enjoy your weekend and say hello to santa from me! 

Lambeth - What's on for the family - November 16th/17th 2013

Another weekend of things to do coming your way! So let’s take a look  

SATURDAY (16^th November)

Pop up to Crystal Palace Food Market, on Hayes Lane, for some action storytelling from 11:30 to 12pm. This costs £1 per child. After that, stick around for some free crafting fun with books! The people from Untapped will be around from 12-3pm and the weather is looking good for Saturday!

The buses 3, 417, 249, 432 and 322 take you into the Crystal Palace area. 

Whilst the weather is nice and the autumnal landscape is beautiful, then take the family for a walk. We recommend you check out the Capital Ring Walk. 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 walk starts at Crystal Palace Train Station.

And staying in Crystal Palace, take the little ones to the Crystal Palace Park Farm, located on Ledrington Road, SE19 2BS. Open from 12 -4pm on Saturday and Sunday, get the kids to practice their animal noises!

If Crystal Palace is too far away, check out Vauxhall City Farm. Little ones love talking to the animals. It’s open on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 to 4pm. 

To get there catch a 2, 88 or 196. The area is also served by the overground and underground.

As mentioned before, it’s a lot harder to find free or cheap things for the little ones to do as the weather gets colder.

  

SUNDAY (17^th November)

For those who like old vehicles and kids who like buses, visit  Merton Bus garage which is celebrating 100 years!  On this open day, there will a chance to have a look at some heritage buses and ride on one.

The event runs from 10.30am to 4.30pm at Merton bus depot, High Street, London, SW19 1DN and the 57 bus will take you from Streatham to the event.

Take a visit to the Tate Britain and check out Liminal  - a family event every weekend between 11 til 3pm. Go to the information desk for details. Website says it "invites families into a physical, material and social experience of sculpture through touch, interaction and collaboration"

 A number 2 or 88 bus ride across the river takes you to view some art. 

Another regular indoor event is the National Gallery's Sunday Magic Carpet Storytelling. 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.  

Have a good one!

Remember, Remember the 5th of November

It's that time of year when autumn has truly taken hold: dark mornings and darker evenings; the beautiful blue of a sky with the Sun sitting ever lower. The russet and golden tones dominate the trees; leaves litter the streets; scarves are pulled from the depths of the wardrobe to shield us against that autumnal chill; and when I catch a glimpse of the Houses of Parliament I think "what if?"

Now whilst I'm not sure how I feel about burning Fawke's effigy on a bonfire, I do think it gives us a reason to stop, think about and admire the stunning architecture that surrounds us here in London. I for one am thankful that the plot was foiled. 

With this in mind, I've been having a little look to see where you can catch some fireworks this year and boy have you been spoilt. With offerings from Vauxhall and Crystal Palace, to name just a couple, there is plenty of choice (and if you fancy braving the cold, you can definitely catch more than one display).

In what seems to be a controversial decision, Lambeth Council has organised this years event to take place in Brockwell Park once again. Despite some concerns over transport links (or lack of) it's set to be a good-un. This years theme is 'The Four Seasons'; different zones will be located on the park to represent Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and to top it off, the display itself has been created by the team behind the London Olympics fireworks!

Part of a two-week Fire Festival, Vauxhall Pleasure Garden will have a full evenings entertainment. Beginning with the lighting of the bonfire, you can expect gymnasts, artists and parkour dancers to provide an insight into the origins of fire. 

Hopping out of Lambeth, Battersea Park's popular display has a 'Shrieks and Skulls' themed night - what with it being so close to Halloween and all. Unlike other events organised by their respective Council, this is going to cost you and the sooner you book your tickets the better (£6.50 until 27th October and then the price increases). Under 10s go for free, but be aware that they still need a ticket!

Southwark Park's night kicks off at 5pm and throughout the evening you can expect to see fire and light performances as well as enjoy the family fun fair. Southwark, like Lambeth, have been able to host another Bonfire Night that is free - a good choice if you are saving those pennies for Christmas!

Perhaps the most family-friendly of all the offerings however, is Crystal Palace Park. With not one, but two displays, you may feel happier about having your little one out after dark. Whilst the main display is set to music and is full of the loudest fireworks you could imagine, the children's display will be using those that are quieter and more colourful. 

You can see all the events below, with as much detail as is humanly possible! So take a look and let us know which event takes your fancy. Perhaps you've heard of another event that pips these? Don't be shy, sharing is caring and we'd love to hear what you're thinking of doing or not doing as the case may be!

It's also important to remember that safety is paramount on Bonfire Night. Keeping you safe are the good people @BonfireSafety; a beautifully designed, as well as informative, document has been filled with some little known facts, with some handy 'dos & don'ts' to keep you safe. Be sure to check it out here.

**If you are interested in going a little further afield then take a look at the spreadsheet created by IanVisits, he has gone the extra mile and collated all the information for you**

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Battersea Park

DATE: Saturday 2nd November

GATES: 18.00

BONFIRE: 19.30

DISPLAY: 20.00

PRICE: £6.50 until Sunday 27th Oct // £8 from Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November // £10 Saturday 2nd November before 6pm (buy tickets online), Children under 10 years go free, but still need a ticket.

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Brockwell Park

Dulwich Road

London

SE24 0NG

DATE: Tuesday 5th November

GATES: 17.00

PRICE: Absolutely free

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Crystal Palace Park

Thicket Road

London

SE20 8DT

DATE: Tuesday 5th November

GATES: 18.00

CHILDREN'S DISPLAY: 19.00

MAIN DISPLAY: 20.30

PRICE: £6 Adults // £4 Children (3-10yrs) // Children under 3 years go free.

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Southwark Park

Gomm Road

SE16

DATE: Tuesday 5th November

GATES: 17.00

DISPLAY: 19.00

CLOSE: 20.30

PRICE: Absolutely free!

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Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

SE11 5HY

DATE: Friday 1st November

GATES: 18.30

BONFIRE: 19.00

STORY: 19.00

DISPLAY: 20.00

PRICE: Absolutely free!

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Little Lambeth Meetup : Monday December 10th 2012 and Friday January 25th 2013

Hey all!

Want to meet other local parents? Then come and eat cake and drink coffee with us at the Teahouse Theatre in Vauxhall! (Chosen especially because it very kiddy friendly!)

Dates:

Monday 10th December 2012 - 11am
Friday 25th January 2013 -11am

The Tea House Theatre is located at:

139 Vauxhall Walk
Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens
Vauxhall
SE11 5HL

To get there catch a 2, 88 or 196. The area is also served by the overground and underground.

Other things to do in the area, include visit Vauxhall City Farm, pop over to the Tate Britain and browse more cake at the Vauxhall Park Cafe.

Lambeth Children Centre Events for 15th & 16th August 2012

Got a message yesterday about a Family Summer Fair TOMORROW (Wednesday 15th August 2012) at St Stephen's Children Centre, located in the  Stockwell /Vauxhall Area off South Lambeth Road.  The address is Dorset Road, SW8.

Catch a bus - number 2 from Brixton or 88 from Clapham.  The event starts at 11am and ends at 2pm. There will be a free BBQ, bouncy castle, and childrens' activities -jewellery and cake making, face painting and ice cream decorating. There will be a live DJ and talent show. Bring cash to spend at the stalls.

Sounds like a lot of fun!! Hope the weather stays good

And THURSDAY (16 August 2012) sees the Effra Children Centre hold a fundraising event at Brockwell Park One O'clock Club from 10:30am to 2pm. The number 2 bus from Brixton will take you past the nearest entrance to Brockwell Park and the One O'clock club

 Entry is £1 a family. The money raised will help support families who have no access to public funds.

Things to do include a bouncy castle, face painting , craft table and cake stall!

So there you go, two days of bouncy castles and face paints!! (Do you reckon the adults have a go after the children have left?!?)

Ruby Rhymes rocks!

Last Tuesday we checked out Ruby Rhymes.

From the minute Ruby starts her Tingaling welcome song you can't help smiling and swaying and my friend's little one danced about for the whole session. The group was big when we went which could be overwhelming for little ones but this just highlights how fun and popular this group is.

The Brixton sessions are £5 per family and £3 for unwaged families. and at 10.30am on Tuesdays so they do coincide with Brixton library storytime but the best things are the space, funky catchy tunes and Ruby's enthusiasm. I was also impressed how she remembered so many of the kids' names too. I'll be reviewing Ruby's CD soon which I'm sure we'll be bopping along to as soon as we press play!

There are many Ruby Rhymes sessions across Lambeth.  They all start at 10.30am and last 50 minutes, including an organic juice and rice cake/biccy break.

No enrolment, just turn up and join in!

Monday: Herne Hill United Church, corner of RedPost Hill and Herne Hill, SE24

Tuesday: Trinity Congregational Church, St Matthews Road, Brixton SW2 Small church situated halfway along St Matthews Road, directly opposite Tenants hall. Entrance is on left side of church.

Wednesday: Clapham Youth Centre, 61 Lyham Road, Brixton SW2 5DH (corner of Mauleverer Rd)

Thursdays: Streatham Friends Meeting House,11 Redlands Way, Roupell Estate. Brixton Hill, SW2 3LU.  

Friday: The Brix at St Matthews, St Matthew's Church, Brixton hill, SW2 1JF.

Email: rubyrhymes@gmail.com for further information.