Category: Picks of the week

MotherCulture has been on up and running for eight weeks and it’s got me thinking about when the wee man was the same age.

There were piles of washing everywhere, Harry Belafonte’s Banana Boat song on repeat (eight months later, it still has a weirdly calming effect on the wee man) and he seemed to be permanently attached to my boobs. 

I wasn’t venturing out much and certainly no further than my own postcode. But on one particularly blustery autumn day some NCT friends and I decided to visit Punk Me Up, a ceramics cafe on the corner of Peckham Rye Park, to get clay imprints of our babies hands and feet. 

Now, the first thing to say is that with prices starting at £60, this ain’t no cheap keepsake. When I looked at the website I must admit I thought twice about it. However, still drunk on love hormones, I decided to throw caution to the wind and go for it nonetheless. My goodness I’m glad I did.

The ladies at Punk Me Up are lovely, and had a table set up for us in the back studio of the shop (incidentally, a space where they also host a range of classes, including Monkey Music; check out their website and Instagram for more info).

There were four of us in the group, and Toni – the owner – took time to discuss with us individually the different options we could go for including paint colours, finishes etc. There are other options too; some in the group got little hand-prints on Christmas baubles (a lovely present idea for doting grandparents!) It was fun! At eight weeks, the babies were a little non-plussed as we moulded their feet and hands in to wet clay but the results were fabulous and after surviving the first – often brutal – eight weeks of motherhood, it definitely felt like a treat we all deserved.

For older kids, the main café offers a treasure trove of ceramics for creative young  minds to get busy on. Prices start at £8 for the ceramics and £3.50 for a child over £2.  I’ve been with my nine-year-old god-daughter and her big sister, who absolutely loved it; choosing their ceramics (one did a cup and saucer, the other a bowl), paint-colours and working out their designs … it was a lovely way to while away a couple of hours over coffee and cake.

Cost ⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s not the cheapest but then neither are the results, plus you get to take home one-of-a-kind ceramics made by your little creative geniuses. Worth every penny.

Accessibility ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There’s a pram-park outside so you don’t have to negotiate the steep step at the front.

Facilities ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Good baby changing facilities, high-chairs etc.

Feeding friendly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a family focussed café, making it a comfortable place to feed.

General vibes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A SE London family favourite!

We’ve noticed of late that soft play has been getting a bit of a bad rep.  Now don’t get us wrong, we aren’t so keen on the distinct smell of sweat, the loud colours, loud noise or even the abundance of mini dictators running around like maniacs either. However, our babies are just about to turn ten months and it’s been a game changer. Long gone are the days where they would sit still playing with their toys; instead we spend our days constantly trying to keep them alive. Plugs in mouths, fingers in sockets, lamps used as aids to stand, the sofa treated as if it’s Everest to climb…you name it and it’s a hazard. Soft play has therefore been our saving grace and saves our home from complete devastation.

Now we haven’t been to the huge, over-populated ones but we have found a little gem in the Apple Tree Children’s Cafe. It has a small soft play area with a ball pit and enough space that children can thrash around in but also it’s small enough that we know our little ones won’t get trampled in an adrenalin-enthused stampede. There are also mini kitchens for the children to play with, a shop, till and a reading area. Importantly, it isn’t just aimed at the kids. There’s a lovely cafe for parents to have that much needed coffee or even a cake fix if you are in need.

They have a menu tailored to kids of all ages from weaning onwards and the staff are extremely lovely and helpful.  My mini dictator demolished a weaning platter and left various bits on the floor (we love the drop the food game at the moment!) and the staff were so relaxed about it and stopped us from trying to salvage the floor ourselves.

It’s located in Herne Hill and is a three minute walk from the station (overground). It overlooks the beautiful Brockwell Park and is in the hub of Herne Hill so why not make a morning or afternoon of it?  Have a walk too in the park and there’s plenty of choice for food.  Our favourites are: Cafe Provençal, the Half Moon Pub and if you walk just 5 minutes down the road, the Lido Cafe (see previous post for details).  All are baby friendly and have changing facilities and high chairs.

We are also in love with the enchanting Tales on Moon Lane, the sweetest children’s book shop.  They do storytelling every Thursday morning at 9.30am for free during term time.  We can’t help but buy a book each time we go and this time we bought “In the swamp by the light of the moon” by Frann Preston-Gannon. At one point the book says, “My friend…your song’s unique and important like all of the rest.  Even small voices count, so let’s hear yours – only you sing your song best”.  Amen to that.

⚠️ On Saturdays Apple Tree closes at midday and does not serve food on the menu but has a small selection of food pouches, pastries and cakes. On Sundays it is closed.

Cost ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Per Play at Apple Tree Cafe is free for 0-6 months, £3 for 6-12 months and £5 for 1 years – 5 years. They also offer a ten visit pass for £42 online for 1 years – 5 years.

Accessibility ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Easy with pram or sling, all on the same floor.

Facilities ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Baby changing facilities are available in all the cafes we have mentioned and there is buggy parking at Apple Tree.

Feeding friendly ⭐⭐⭐

Easy to feed in the cafes at the tables but don’t expect a sofa/armchair!

General vibes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Apple Tree Children’s Café makes soft play bearable, we would go even so far as to say enjoyable. Herne Hill, though it only has a small hub has so much going for it: make a day of it and you won’t regret it!

In the last few weeks, Instagram seems to have been flooded with pictures of the Olafur Eliasson exhibition. That and pictures of that spotty Zara dress.  Having already been a marketing victim and bought the dress (!), it was time for a trip to the Tate Modern.

So last weekend I managed to drag my husband, the baby and my brother along too. It didn’t disappoint.  Nor did the Tate Modern itself which proved to be so baby friendly that I think I might be able to persuade my husband to go back again #winwin.

You can buy tickets when you get there but given it’s popularity, top tip #1 buy them in advance and pick a time slot that suits you and baby.  We went post morning nap and before lunch when he’s usually at his most amenable 😂. Top tip #2: go to the right part of the Tate Modern- the Blatnavik Building.   We went to Level 2 of the Boiler House, only to realise we had ventured to the wrong part of the building. By the time we finally got there, there was no queue and we went straight in. I always get a little anxious going in to an exhibition as you never know how the tiny dictator is going to behave but I immediately felt relaxed as there were lots of families with babies.  The exhibition itself was in a large space and so it’s easy to navigate with a buggy.

It was a brilliant, immersive exhibition not just for adults but for children and babies too. It was like a baby sensory class on steroids.  From moss walls, a fog room, a spiral view tunnel, rain, thunder…the exhibition invites you to experience nature and the powerful forces that govern it.  The intention is not for you to just be a spectator but for you to consider your place in the planet too, and indeed the negative role mankind are having on nature. The only part of the exhibition we avoided was the fog room, mainly because we didn’t want the babby to feel at all claustrophobic. The staff member at the entrance to this part of the exhibition was very helpful and showed us how we could navigate round it.  We did go through individually and saw lots of children happily going through it; we just didn’t want to risk it. The rest of the exhibition the baby was honestly enthralled, at one point continuously craning his neck back to look at the mirror on the ceiling.  He also loved the room of colourful shadows and was crawling along the floor whilst other children were dancing around taking in their reflections.  Top tip #3: in case of any meltdowns or any older children getting bored and wanting something more hands on, there is a brilliant interactive table at the end of the exhibit with 3D structures to play with.

We followed the exhibition with a trip to Gail’s Bakery which is located just behind the Tate Modern.  With highchairs, baby changing facilities, helpful staff and a good selection of food that can be adapted for weaning it was a big hit. All in all a brilliant family day out.

Have you been yet?  How did you find it?  Share your stories below!

Cost ⭐⭐

Expensive, unless you invest in an Art Pass – £18 per adult but £9 with an Art Pass. Children under X go free.

Accessibility ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Easy to navigate the museum with pram or sling, there’s a lift that takes you up to the exhibition floor.

Facilities ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Baby changing facilities are available and there is a cloakroom with buggy parking should you need it.

Feeding friendly ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don’t expect comfy seats but there are places to sit and feed as you go around and the cafe has highchairs (although we popped to Gail’s Bakery which was brilliant).

General vibes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Such a sensory treat for all the family, we had the best morning and we will be back for sure. Very family friendly and no air of art snobbiness about it. A huge thumbs up from us!

A.A Milne apparently lamented that, “some people talk to animals. Not many people listen though. That’s the problem”.  Well, if he wasn’t very dead, Mr. Milne would have been delighted that someone @museumoflondon has taken his words to heart, creating #beastsoflondon; an immersive experience that gives voice to London’s animal kingdom and so tells the history of the Capital from their unique perspective.

It’s a clever idea, brilliantly executed.  What wasn’t so clever – it turns out – was bringing the wee man, currently going through a mighty fussy phase, to enjoy it too. Yes, the museum had helpfully suggested that this exhibit is best suited to kids aged 7+ but I naively imagined (and for £5 with an #artpass, who could blame me) that he might enjoy it anyway.  A fox voiced by #KateMoss, what’s not to love?!  But, as my dear pal pointed out, while this would have been fantastic for bigger kids (and it really is) it is possibly stimulation overload akin to taking acid for a baby.

The museum itself, is every parents dream, regardless of the age of their kids. Another brutalist maze but brilliantly sign-posted and easily accessible whether bringing pram or sling; with lifts everywhere.  Admittedly the exhibit is aimed at young families but I was nonetheless impressed that the museum had thought through the practicalities of parenthood by providing a pram park just outside the exhibit.

Listening to Brian Blessed bellowing about the origins of the plague got us in the mood for food and with the wee man due a feed we hot-footed it to the nearest cafe – #benugo in the Sackler Hall.  Wide plastic chairs are perfectly comfortable for breastfeeding and the space is well equipped for families.  High chairs are available and the cafe offers a decent supply of sugary cakes for exhausted parents and of course, babyccinos for busy toddlers .  The restaurant upstairs offers free kids meals with every adult order too.

All in all a good afternoon out in an excellent venue.  Yes, I might have judged the exhibit itself wrongly for the age of my wee man but sometimes you need to distract yourself during these fussy phases if only to keep yourself sane.  Next time, we’ll try the more mellow permanent collections though.

Cost ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

£5 for an adult with an Art Pass. Family tickets start at £20.

Accessibility ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well sign-posted with lifts should you need them.

Facilities ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This place is very family-friendly; good changing facilities, pram-parks, babyccinos (and much-needed cake) and – restaurant where kids eating for free with every adult meal – what more could you want?

Feeding friendly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sofa never goes amiss but the chairs I fed on were comfortable and I felt perfectly happy feeding there.

General vibes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A brilliant venue and an excellent exhibition which my mate and I loved … probably better for older kids though. 

Yoga. A unique and ancient practice combining physical exercise and breathing techniques to tone the body and calm the mind. 

Enter Rosie and Holly, our crying offspring in tow, as we arrive 15 mins late (can you ever be on time for anything with a baby?) for our first taste of post-natal yoga at Yogarise at the Bussey Building, Peckham. 

Our first mistake? Going to the wrong studio. We ended up carting Holly’s pram – babe strapped in – up two flights of stairs to be told by a very kind lady that the class was in the other half of the building. Top tip no.1: go to the right Studio (2 – the entrance with the lift, obviously, though please note – it is very temperamental). Thankfully, the same very kind lady took pity on us sweating, stressed out mums and helped us cart the pram all the way to the correct studio. Crisis averted. 

When we finally arrived in the right place – more shit-show than serene – the staff were so helpful; quickly showing us where the changing rooms and toilets were and ushering us in to the class. 

With the yoga teacher (the wonderful Toni Osborne) in full flow we took up our matts, placing the babes on blankets and getting ourselves in to warrior one (or something like it). Top tip no.2: bring toys to occupy the wee ones while you attempt to tighten your pelvic floor and breathe in calm. 

I was obviously spending too much time focusing on said region and too little time on the wee man who toppled over and started howling, prompting me to scoop him up and out within about 15 mins of our already late arrival. 

I’ll be honest, I don’t think much yoga was practiced at this particular session – no sooner had I returned to the room than the wee man was in need of a feed. However I put that down to our chaotic arrival and the comedy of errors that proceeded. There were certainly other women there that seemed to be bending in to all the right positions while their babes played happily in front of them. 

And we enjoyed it, so much so that I have been attending the Monday morning class (11.30am) on a semi-regular basis ever since; managing to arrive on time, to the right studio and even managing a near full hour of blissful yoga at each session. 

A mum herself, Toni knows what you need and is happy to distract your babe should you need her to while you streeeeetch – and I ain’t one to complain about a helping hand sometimes! 

And it’s not just about the mamas. Well it mostly is, but I definitely feel like the babes gets something from it too. The wee man seems to love it; babbling away at me and the other babies in the room, playing with his toys and enjoying the weird and wonderful shapes created by the yoga practice around him – and sometimes joining in. 

Monday mornings have been transformed. An hour of gentle exercise; your mind and pelvic floor will thank you it. Ommmmmmm. 

[If like Holly you prefer to keep your yoga practice babe-free, Toni also offers private classes at her home-studio in Forest Hill. Holly booked herself in for a session and said she’d had the best night’s sleep since the tiny dictator was born – and we all need a bit more of that, eh?!] 

Yogarise in a nutshell:

Cost ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s a tenner – less than a standard class and I’m yet to find a cheaper post-natal class

Accessibility ⭐️⭐️

The Bussey is an old building and, in my experience, the lift is almost always out of order – if you can, you’d be better off bringing a sling. 

Facilities ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It a lovely relaxed studio and while there’s no baby changing table, it’s a yoga studio so they’re very relaxed about you changing the babe wherever you like! 

Feeding friendly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely! Toni even sorted the bolsters for me so that I could lean back in complete comfort. 

General vibes ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A lovely, relaxing hour for you and your babe,  if you enjoy yoga this is perfect for you. 

We recently went on a family trip to Greenwich. We both hadn’t been in years and we fancied “doing” another bit of London. Day trips aren’t as easy as they used to be, mainly because when you become a parent you instantly become a packhorse; you have five bags to carry when before you left the house with one. Ah, those were the days. Anyway, we drove there, found a central parking area (hurrah!) and off we trotted. 

First up was brunch: we were starving and now our third wheel (!) is weaning he was too. We went past the achingly cool exterior of the restaurant Greenwich Grind. We went on a Saturday and hadn’t booked so I didn’t think we had much of a chance of finding a table but low and behold they found us one, swiftly brought over a high chair and we weren’t crammed in like sardines. The food was brilliant, service equally so and it was nice to feel like we could still frequent the “trendy” places without being scrutinised for dampening the vibe. It was chaos with food all over the place- and the odd screech just for fun- but there were lots of other babies and we didn’t feel out of place. The staff weren’t at all phased either and they had brilliant baby changing facilities. 

Post brunch we went for a walk up to the Observatory and round the park which has amazing views across London and really is glorious in the sunshine. Note to the wise: keep your pram as light as possible as the quick way up is steep and was a work out in itself. 

Given we live in the UK it wasn’t long before the heavens opened and we were a little bit at a loss as to where to go. Cue the National Maritime Museum. I can’t say that I was chomping at the bit to go in but I was mainly concerned about keeping us all dry so in we went. I shouldn’t have been so quick to judge it. It’s a great museum- a big space with lots of things for little eyes to take in and super child friendly: parking spaces for buggies, a children zone, big baby changing areas. No complaints from me. One of the exhibitions even caught my eye. 

A big #MotherCulture thumbs up!

Where’s your favourite part of London to visit for a day out? Let us know in the comments below .

Cost ⭐⭐️⭐️

Brunch was reasonably priced, parking was £5 for 2 hours so not cheap but we understand that you can park on Charlton Way or Maze Hill for free at the weekends, the rest was free unless you want to enter a specific exhibition in the museum. 

Accessibility ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Easy to go with a sling or pram, just remember the quick way up to the observatory is steep but we still managed with a pram. 

Facilities ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We found the facilities at Greenwich Grind and at the Maritime Museum were brilliant, couldn’t fault them. 

Feeding friendly ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Greenwich Grind and the Maritime Museum were busy but easy to feed there and of course in the park. 

General vibes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We had a lovely day out, we managed to have a delicious brunch with our friend and have an adult conversation, then a lovely walk followed by a surprisingly nice visit to the museum. We will be back!

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

Go Islington Festival at Highbury Fields:

Saturday 27th July, free for everyone from 11am-4pm. Sports for all the family to try, plus music, food and more. There will be a Family Marquee too including sessions from Monkey Music. I used to be a North London girl and went to this before and it was a really lovely family event.

Horniman Museum & Gardens, Forest Hill:

Lots on over the summer but next Sunday 28th July they are holding a Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave from 2pm-6pm. Adults £15, children £12.50, pre-walking infants free.

They also have Brick Wonders a Lego exhibition on until October, family ticket £18 (2 adults, 2 kids). Free entry to gardens and other exhibitions, including one on the Green Turtle and on Thursdays during the summer there is free live music and DJs from 5.30pm until 9.30pm in the garden

Hackney Wicked:

From Friday 26th to Sunday 28th, Hackney Wicked is back again. Over 100 studios housing artists exhibits in the area, a makers market, cafe and with walking art tours and even workshops this is definitely worth a drop in if you can. Free but for some workshops you need to register online in advance.

Please do let us know if you go to any of these events and how you find them! Or if you have any recommendations yourself give us a comment and we will mention in an Instagram Story!