Category: day out

Posted in day out, Days out, sensory

Squish Space, The Barbican

Posted on by mothercultureldn

Review below from our lovely friend Lauren, who we met at NCT and is mum to gorgeous Freya. Thanks to Lauren for agreeing to be our second guest contributor.

After Squish Space was recommended by a friend, I thought I’d give it a shot considering I was in the area. Once I’d navigated my way to the entrance around the maze that is the Barbican centre, I found it tucked in the corner. While I was expecting to be greeted with a room full of brightly coloured inflatables, and the usual soft play suspects of balls pits, giant cubes etc – there was nothing of the sort. To the adult eye it all looks a bit underwhelming, there is a fair bit of empty space: in fact it looked more like a small conference room. But the little one was absolutely delighted!

The contents basically look like the creators have raided Poundland and the Barbican’s storage room – plus added in some stuff from the boot of their car. Think exercise balls, giant cushions (some tied onto rolling boards in a type of soft skateboard fashion), piping, tonnes of brightly coloured mesh/silk/balls, and what appears to be tow rope attached to the windows (which she spent a good half an hour just pulling and laughing at). Simple ideas like wrapping loads of neon ribbon around hose pipe holders entertained babes in arms, to running toddlers.  And though I thought all the space made it look a bit empty, actually it meant the kids had lots of room to move/drag/throw whatever had caught their imagination.

While it all sounds a bit of a health and safety hazard, it is all really well put together. So much so that I’m not sure any kid actually went near the small bit of soft play equipment that is in there. And the more we played the more we discovered! The idea of Squish Space is to encourage interaction and play between children and their carers – and the good news is the Barbican have extended their work with creators India Harvey & Lisa Marie Bengtsson until Spring 2020! The space will evolve throughout its time there.

Cost ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s totally free!

Accessibility ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Although the Barbican centre is bit of a nightmare to navigate (top tip – use the silk street entrance), once you’re in there, there’s plenty of room to move around it in a slingor buggy.

Facilities ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There are baby change facilities on each floor, and a buggy park available outside of Squish Space.

Feeding friendly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There are loads of big comfy chairs and sofas to feed outside the Squish Space room, and plenty of these are tucked into darker corners if you’re a bit feeding conscious. We ate at the Barbican’s family friendly cafe, it’s very spacious with plenty of tables and highchairs, and considering we arrived at 12:30pm its was surprisingly quiet. Kids eatfree with every adult meal, however I didn’t find the choice of food on offer was very baby/toddler friendly. It’s also buffet style, so I recommend going with someone who can keep an eye on baby while you head up!

General vibe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sensory overload guaranteed to spike your little ones imagination! Very relaxed vibe, with parents and carers chatting away while the kids swap football cones.

Posted in day out, Days out, outdoors

Children’s Garden, Kew Gardens

Posted on by mothercultureldn

Our lovely friend @sciencemama has given us the review below as our first guest contributor. Please see link at the bottom to the full review on her blog, which is well worth a read.

“Can we go to the playground?” I have to admit that my heart sinks a bit when I hear this request. After three years of trying to maintain a convincingly enthusiastic “wheeeeee!” whilst pushing a swing for what feels like an eternity, I think I have hit park saturation point.

The new Children’s Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew is the perfect antidote to playground boredom. This thoughtfully designed space is the size of 40 tennis courts, and is built amongst 100+ mature trees. It’s divided into four areas based on the elements: the fantastic Water Garden with paddling pool and pumps, tunnel slides and a hut village in the Earth Garden, trampolines and hammocks are scattered across the Air Garden and the Sun Garden is perfect for picnics. For older kids there’s an ambitious log scramble leading to a 5 metre tall tower.

Top tip: enthusiastic splashers may require a swim nappy and change of clothes! Sand and water toys would add even more fun for little people.

Cost ⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s expensive. £16.50 for adults, £4.50 for kids ages 4-16 (under-4s go free). It’s best to book in advance to avoid missing out.

Accessibility ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kew Gardens is fully accessible with a buggy.

Facilities ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The White Peaks building next door has food, ice cream and basic baby change facilities.

Feeding Friendly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

No dedicated feeding area but there’s plenty of seating and quiet corners for privacy.

General vibes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a very family friendly attraction and the booking system prevents overcrowding.

The Children’s Garden at Kew

Posted in day out, museum, Picks of the week

Horniman Museum & Gardens, Forest Hill

Posted on by mothercultureldn

The Horniman has been open since the Victorian times when a Frederick John Horniman opened his house of weird and wonderful objects to visitors. The collection has since grown and now the Horniman has various collections, exhibitions, an animal walk, a butterfly house and its very own aquarium. Not to mention it’s extensive gardens, with a playground for children and an amazing view over the city.

We’ve been numerous times now and each time has been a huge hit with the tiny dictator so I wanted to outline the best bits for us in the hope it will help you when planning your trip. This breaks a little from our normal format of posts but hope it helps!

  • Aquarium (on the LG) floor is brilliant for kids and babies alike, it’s small but has plenty of amazing things for little eyes to feast on and they have little steps so that little people can stand on them and see all the activity. You have to pay separately for this if you are not a member but at £4.50 for an adult & £2.50 for kids aged 3-16 it’s worth it.
  • Butterfly Garden (located at the top of the gardens behind the animal walk) is definitely worth a visit and is yet again a feat for tiny eyes. Again you have to pay separately for this and remember to book in advance or as soon as you get to reception in the museum as there are timed entrances and it is popular. Also important to note that it has slightly different closing hours and during the winter closes at 3.30pm rather than 4.30pm. Adult entry £6 and child entry is £6.
  • Animal walk is at the top of the gardens so go past the museum itself and carry on up the pathway and you will see it diagonally to the right. This is free and a fun walk through enclosures including some gorgeous alpacas.
  • Café with highchairs and a great range of food, you can sit out or in.
  • Check in advance for what’s on on the day. We went on a Wednesday once and were immediately directed to a free storytelling session in the Hands on Base (a room where you can hold all the real objects). Wednesdays are Wonderful Wednesdays during the summer (still worth checking) and there are various free family activities on.
  • We have been to the Brick Wonders Exhibition. We loved it and visually the baby liked it, but he loved the play area more and I would say this is more for 2+ years, especially as it’s a paid for exhibition.
  • The free exhibitions are brilliant and have interactive elements so do make time for them. Don’t miss out on the infamous huge walrus taxidermy which even has its own Twitter account.
  • Horniman hold Busy Bee sessions for children under 5s which includes storytelling and singing. From 10 September that will be every Tuesday and costs £2.50. Definitely worth trying to coincide with this as much cheaper than any Hoop class we’ve found.

Hope that helps and please do tag us in any photos from your visit.

Cost ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost varies depending on what you want to visit. There’s plenty on to do for free (exhibitions, gardens, animal walk, free drop in activities) but we have put some costs in above and for both the butterfly house and aquarium maximum cost is £15 for an adult.

Accessibility ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Easy with pram or sling, and there is a buggy parking area on the LG floor of the museum.

Facilities ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
All the facilities you need are on the LG floor of the museum, there is baby changing in both male and female toilets (hurrah!) and a special designated feeding area (see below).

Feeding friendly ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Special designated feeding area if you want privacy on the LG floor but you can feed anywhere in the museum/gardens.

General vibes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As everyone told me, this is a South London gem. Brilliant fun for all the family and so family friendly.

Posted in day out, Days out, Picks of the week

MotherCulture Picks of the Week

Posted on by mothercultureldn

The Great Fete, Alexandra Palace:

On Saturday 17th August, the Great Fete takes place with the same line up for food at StrEATLife (think craft beer and yummy food trucks) but with music, cinema screenings (including Peppa Pig!), ice skating, a silent disco, a playzone for under 5’s and so much more this will be a great day out for all the family. Starts at midday until 10pm and free entry it’s definitely worth a visit. Recommended to go by public transport but there is also parking on site.

Floating Market, Paddington Central:

From tomorrow until Sunday, barges along the Grand Union Canal open up their door to local vendors and there will be stalls selling food and various handmade items (candles, bags etc). There will also be live music to serenade you as you potter around. Why not make a day of it and walk to the Wallace Collection after? Free admission to the permanent collection and there is currently a Manolo Blahnik exhibition for all you fashionistas which is also free.

Urban Makers x Old Spitalfieds Market, Spitalfields

Championing Indie creatives, Urban Makers are in Spitalfields Market this Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Have a sneak peek on Instagram @urbanmakers_uk at all the beautiful things their vendors are selling! Why not combine with one of the many restaurants in Spitalfields (can you tell we like food?!)…

Beyond Retro Garage Sale, Peckham

For any vintage lovers out there we wanted to give this a mention. It’s being held in the Bussey Building from tomorrow until Sunday with new clothes added each day. Open from 10am – 6pm. Perfect mixed with a picnic lunch in Peckham Rye Park and if you have little ones who need to thrash around, the children’s playground in Peckham Rye is ace. If you fancy lunch out too, we love Pedler, Cafe G, Petitou & Andersons which are all close by (plus baby friendly, of course!)

Posted in cafe, day out, outdoors

Hackney City Farm

Posted on by mothercultureldn

Our days are now narrated by poor impersonations of farmyard animals as we “oink, oink” and “baa, baa” to the wee man’s great amusement.  And so I was inspired to take a trip down memory lane and visit Hackney City Farm. A trip down memory lane because when I lived in east London, HCF used to be the backdrop to many a hungover gossip session – over eggs and bacon –  between me and my mates as we dissected the night before.

A near 10 years has passed since, but I’m pleased to report that the Farm still holds a special place in my heart and is, of course, great for kids big and small. Any visit has to start with a good breakfast and the food in the farm cafe is still top notch; predictably I had the sausage sandwich (I do eat other things, honest) and it did not disappoint. I was also delighted to find that they have upgraded the toilets from the tiny and always grubby outdoor loo to a new indoor WC, complete with baby changing unit.

We loved wandering round the farm too. Giant pigs, plucky hens, a rowdy cockerel, delightful donkeys and a few sheep to over enthusiastically point to and say “baa, baa” at repeatedly – what’s not to love?! The wee man loved staring at creatures he had only seen in Melissa & Doug form before and let’s be honest, what adult doesn’t love looking at an animal or two? My husband still marvels at the size of the pigs!

The farm shop is also worth a visit with delicious fruit and veg available and all packaging free – enabling you to do your grocery shopping without a guilty conscience.

All in all a lovely couple of hours, finished off with a quick mooch down Colombia Road … on the one day we decided to take the pram. Top tip? Bring the sling if you can. You can’t get very far through the glorious flower market with our monster Uppababy … though we did still enjoy browsing the shops and the man with his bike basket full of miniature dogs was a definite highlight. Only in east London, eh?!

Cost ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The farm itself is free and the restaurant prices are good – £4.95 for a sausage sandwich on granary bread. They also do children’s meals though the choice is limited

Accessibility ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The farm and cafe are both easily accessible with a pram but top tip; if you want to combine your visit with stroll down Colombia Road flower market – bring a sling

Facilities ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I mean, it’s a farm, so it’s never going to be glamorous but it does the trick.

Feeding friendly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely. This place is full of families so you’re unlikely to feel self-conscious. Grab the sofa if you can!

General vibe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A lovely afternoon out for big and little kids, alike.

Posted in day out, Days out, Picks of the week

MotherCulture Picks of the Week

Posted on by mothercultureldn

We have done a round up of our favourite things on this week. Family friendly but something we think you will enjoy too! 👏🏻

Play KX, Kings Cross & Cubitts Sessions at Coal Drops Yard Family Sunday:

Play KX @playkx is open every Friday to Sunday from 11.15am to 4.30pm, although check their Instagram account before going to check it’s on. It’s a free play session open to kids of all ages. If the weather is good they meet at Lewis Cubitt Park. Think dressing up, props etc! Why not combine it with some delicious food at Kings Cross (@dishoom is our fave) and maybe even a cheeky glass of wine @chapeldown (who by the way have great baby facilities, we’ve tried them 😉) Also if you go on Sunday, make sure to time it with the Cubitts Family Sessions at 2.30pm in @coaldropsyard. Every Sunday over the summer there is live music/entertainment and the time slot at 2.30pm is specifically for families.

Happy Place Festival, Chiswick Gardens – tickets for Sunday 4th August are still available

@fearnecotton has a brilliant podcast #HappyPlace where she talks to different people about happiness and how you can keep finding happiness and combat stress in the fast paced world we live in today. She’s now taken that one step further by organising a festival that focuses on all things that can make you happy. The line up includes talks from Bryony Gordon to Russell Brand, to exercise classes with Sweaty Betty, meditation and mindfulness workshops, craft workshops and much more. Tickets aren’t cheap (£32.50 for adults, £15 children aged 5-16, children under 5 are free) but we think it sounds like a totally unique day out and if you have a willing partner who is prepared to give you a child free pass, we think this would make a brilliant “me” day!

Disco Loco Reggae, National Theatre, River Stage:

@discoloco are holding a free concert from 1.30pm – 3.45pm on Sunday 3rd August. What can you expect? Live music, dancing, hula hoops and lots more. Why not have a walk round southbank, have some food and then have a boogie?! Please do let us know if you go to any of these events and how you find them.

Posted in cinema, day out

Luna Kids Cinema, Dulwich Park

Posted on by mothercultureldn

A solid MotherCulture ⭐️⭐️⭐️ / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

On an unusually hot day earlier this month,  Rosie and I took our boys – big and small – with picnics at the ready, to see the Dumbo remake at the Luna Kids Cinema event in Dulwich Park.

Obviously, with the boys still only being little and not equipped with the most discerning film tastes, this was less about enjoying the movie and more about the experience as a whole.

Now when we say it was hot, it was around 26 degrees and there were no obvious shady areas to sit. 

There were tents housing a “big kids bar” (£6.50 for a Prosecco – not cheap – but don’t mind if I do), a changing area (equipped with WaterWipes) and a storage area for bean bags (an additional £7, on top of the £13.50 admission) but none for families attempting to escape the heat – save for a unused pram park at the very back and a fair distance from the screen. 

Ever the masters of ingenuity, we had the idea of creating a shady area between the prams by strapping together our snoozeshades (a mum staple of both of ours). And voila, the boys had a shady area to sit in and we, well, we were left to turn to lobsters in the glorious heat. 

The security lady asked us more than once to move the prams to the side so as not to block anyone’s view. A perfectly reasonable request you might level, except we had already taken ourselves off to the side, with that very thought in mind while other families had parked themselves on view-blocking chairs, bang in front of the screen, seemingly undisturbed. With no one directly behind us anyway, she eventually let it go. 

Not that it really mattered anyway, the sun was so bright, we could barely see the screen and what with sorting lunchtime and play time for the boys, we didn’t catch much of the film. We noted though that families with older children were deeply engrossed, while we fannied about, stage left. 

Despite the lack of shade, the facilities were great. They even provided mini high chairs for babies – perfect for picnics – as well as microwaves for heating meals and milk, demonstrating impressive attention to detail. 

All in all, it was a fun afternoon (with Prosecco involved, how could it not be?) and we would definitely recommend this for families with older children (2+) but we would advise bringing all the relevant equipment to keep yourselves out of the sun if, for once, summer decides to make an appearance. 

Cost ⭐️⭐

A️ccessibility ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Facilities ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Feeding friendly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

General vibes ⭐️⭐️