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.
Bobo Kids
Whether you’re starting from scratch with your baby’s nursery, or you just want to spruce up your kids’ bedroom or playroom with a few new accessories, Bobo Kids is the place. This darling little shop in London’s Chelsea Green neighborhood stocks an eclectic mix of modern, vintage and designer products for kids and babies. Think contemporary European furniture, original art, wall stickers and vintage posters, beautiful bed linens and cushions, etc. Or how about the less obvious… a floor-to-ceiling canvas of a London phone booth, beautiful Petit Pan hanging fish lanterns, vintage kid’s desks and chairs, lovely wallpapers, etc. It is truly an inspiring collection of interior design pieces.
They also have a small (but tasteful) selection of children’s clothes, shoes and toys. And, if it’s all too much to choose from, they offer an interior design service which will help you meet any design project or challenge. Makes me want to start from scratch all over again… (more…)
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Caramel Baby | Battersea Park | French bread in London |
Kidsen
I sometimes joke that I must have been Scandinavian in a previous life. I just feel so at home whenever I visit the northern countries and I love the simplicity, the practicality, and the design of their products.
So, when I heard about the new Scandinavian kid’s store in Kensal Rise, I knew I would love it. Kidsen is London’s first Scandinavian children’s store, founded by ex MTV producer and resident Swede, Corina Papadopoulou, who hand-picks the products with a very clever eye for design. Kidsen stocks exclusive brands including Brio, Klippan, CelaVi, Elodie Details, Our Childrens Gorilla, En Gry & Sif, Holly, Norlie, Plastisock and Mini a ture. You can literally buy anything from nappies, to buggies, to cots (a cool, bright yellow cot from Brio!), to cool toys and clothes. A delightful smorgasbord of Scandinavian style! (more…)
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Gracelands Café | Caramel Baby | Brora |
Kenwood House
Kenwood House is located at the top of London’s Hampstead Heath park and is one of my favorite places to go for brunch on a weekend. Not only does Kenwood House boast sumptuous interiors and important paintings by many great artists (Rembrandt, Turner, Vermeer, etc.), it also has an impressive café/restaurant with one of the best ‘English Breakfasts’ in London. They also make, in my opinion, the best hot chocolate in the city — it’s worth the walk up there just for a sip!
In nice weather you can sit outside at one of the many picnic tables set in their beautiful garden and enjoy some of the best views of London. They also have plenty of highchairs and changing tables in the bathrooms, and kids can run freely around the garden area, or join the queue of other children waiting to buy an ice cream from the café!
Hampstead Heath is truly worth a visit if you’re in town, and a walk finishing at Kenwood House will be the icing on the cake of the whole experience!
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Huggle — A shop, café and playspace in one! | Hampstead Heath | Tricycle Theatre |
Coram’s Fields
One of the best things about raising kids in London is the abundant green space and spacious playgrounds. Unlike the many small, paved playground lots you find in most cities, the playgrounds and parks in London are often set inside a beautiful grassy surrounding, removed from the ‘hustle and bustle’ of busy London.
Coram’s Fields is exactly this kind of place. This unique 7-acre park located in the heart of central London, close to the British Museum, is home to grassy lawns (perfect for a picnic), sandpits, a few different playgrounds, a paddling pool (opened in the summer time), a kid-friendly café, and even a little city farm (sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, etc.)! The gated lot provides a safe place for children to run freely and play; adults without children are not allowed to enter.
An entire city block devoted just to kids. Now this is why I love London…
ALSO IN THE AREA:
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| Princess Diana Memorial Playground | Villandry | Inn the Park! |
