Traveling to London with kids? Here's an insider guide for what to do and where to go, tested by us and proven to be kid-friendly and cool.
Kinesis Pilates Studio
Until recently I had never been inside a Pilates studio, I certainly didn’t know the difference between Pilates and Gyrotonics, and I would never have thought (even after my mom’s raves) that I would like it!
But oh contrare! With three lessons under my belt, consider me the newest Pilates fanatic. I have soreness in muscles I didn’t even know existed, and I’m loving it. I feel totally energized.
Pilates is especially great for mums and mums-to-be, as it is proven to strengthen your core (including pelvic floor muscles), increase flexibility, relieve back pain, improve your posture, and tone your body. What more could you ask for? It’s also an enjoyable work-out. (more…)
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Natural Mat | Kew Gardens | Hope for your feet… |
Natural Mat
Natural Mat is a small boutique tucked away on a quiet street in Notting Hill which sells the most beautiful nursery furniture, bed linens and natural mattresses. The famous mattresses are handmade in Devon and are 100% natural and non allergenic, breathable, naturally fire-retardant, and totally biodegradable! You can read the many advantages of their mattresses here. They come in all different shapes and sizes and can be custom built to fit any size requirements you may have. I definitely recommend stopping into Natural Mat if you’re expecting a baby, or if you want to spruce up your nursery. (more…)
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Petit Aimé | Hearts will Melt… | Gracelands Café |
Ottolenghi
Ottolenghi is a restaurant/café here in London that is famous for its eye-catching window displays of scrumptious treats as well as for their take-away food and coffee. I used to live around the corner from their Notting Hill branch, and it was such a luxury: fresh muffins and scones in the morning, great sandwiches for lunch, and the most delicious take-away food for dinner! My husband actually joked that our dinners were more often made by our friend, “Otto” than by anyone else!
Ottolenghi is also our ‘go-to’ place for party food and canapés. Their catering menu is impressive, and they’re always extremely organized and helpful; they’re happy to give suggestions, and everything comes with ‘how-to’ instructions for sauces and spices. Whether it’s a baby shower, grown-up party, or even a sophisticated kids’ party, the food will surely impress your guests!
Ottolenghi has four locations across London; the biggest one (and best for dining) is on Upper Street in Islington.
And if you’re like me, and can’t get enough of Ottolenghi, you’ll be happy to know that they’ve just released their first cookbook
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Kew Gardens | Carluccio’s | Kidsen |
Caramel Baby
Caramel Baby & Child is a lovely kids’ clothing brand that started with one small shop in South Kensington but has expanded now to 4 shops across London, a concession in Selfridges and a shop in Harrods. There is also now a shop in Japan, and one in Florence. It is, without a doubt, my most favorite English clothing brand. The clothes are beautiful without trying too hard — they aren’t too fancy or flashy, and they use such lovely colours and fabrics. They also have a fun selection of little toys and accessories, including the most darling shoes. The shops are beautiful and well worth a visit, especially the Sloane Square shop and the Notting Hill shop. (more…)
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Hope for your feet… | Carluccio’s | Rossopomodoro Pizza |
