Posts filed under 'London'
Following on from Emilie’s recent post about places in Paris to find chic clothes at less-than-chic prices I thought I’d let you know about some of my favourite spots on a typical London High Street. Now most Mums in London will know of these national treasures but if you are visiting London they are worth checking out.
I’m a huge fan of Swedish kids clothes shop P.OP (Polarn O Pyret) which sells playful and colourful kids clothes and a small selection of maternity wear. Think lots of stripes and lots of colour. They have 4 shops in and around London (Brent Cross, Westfield, House of Fraser (Oxford Street) and Kingston) but a further 10 or so stores around the rest of the UK.
Next up: Zara Home (no, not Zara Kids): A very small selection but I love their quilts and blankets for kids and they always have a tiny rail with really sweet sleep-wear/snuggly-wear. I have had some great finds there.
I find so many good kids birthday presents from Paperchase particularly these children’s writing sets, which are so sweetly designed. They often do melamine plates and trays and sets of fun snackpots, which are perfect for kids’ dinner time and eating on the go.
Long before having children I had a bit of a Muji-addiction. I always find something there — it certainly indulges my stationery habit. It is also a great place to head for souvenirs as they do these sweet little bags of miniature wooden cities and London transport (black cabs, red buses) in a bag (but I’ve only seen these in-store not on-line). What some may not know about Muji though is that they are great for (what I like to call) ‘fat-tops’ — cleverly designed tops that fall over your bump during pregnancy or, as in my case, my post-baby chocolate-bump. Note there is usually more of a selection in store then online.
On this subject I do love Comptoir des Cotonniers – very flattering clothes! Quite a bit pricier then Gap but really very lovely (also have a tiny ‘girls’ collection from age 6 — I’m seriously wishing the years away so my daughter is old enough for it, cute! cute!) Feel a bit of a cheat with this one though as it’s originally a Parisian brand.
A great stop for well-designed toys and kid’s furnishings is Habitat. Their wooden London Bus is a long-running classic but I also love some of their newer toys like the Tito (pictured here). They also do fab bits and pieces for a kids room — we recently got a bright red wagon for storing toys in, which we love.
Last but not least, if you happen to be passing The White Company (or The Little White Company) then it’s always worth popping in. I particularly like their pyjamas but they also do cashmere baby cardies and classic toys and nursery decoration.
All that shopping might make you hungry and on a London High Street you are never far away from a Carluccio’s (Italian), Wagamama’s (Japanese) or Giraffe (International) — which are all well set-up for kids. If sushi is your thing, then I adore Itsu, but it’s not so buggy /high-chair friendly. For a sandwich-on-the-go … you can’t beat Pret-a-Manger (who now do cute kids bags).
Enjoy. Mo. x
Mo in London
February 24th, 2010
Weekends are always for adventures and when we stumbled from our cosy little burrow last summer into Battersea Park we hit upon treasure. The Park is situated just south of the river between the Albert and the Chelsea Bridge. We drove and parked up at one of the many car-parks around the park. We got all of our paraphernalia out of the car: buggy, 2 children, nappy-bag … (you know the drill) and hoped that the trip was worthwhile. We were aiming for the children’s zoo that we had heard about, but before even getting there we saw a boy driving around the park lanes in a cross between a bike and a go-kart. Then we saw 5 or 6 more children come flashing past in similar vehicles — there was no way that coincidence could have situated 6 recumbent bike owners on this one park path? It turns out Battersea Park is one of only two parks in London (Dulwich being the other) where London Recumbents hires bikes, trikes, tandems and various other bike-like contraptions (hiring starts at Easter and goes through until the end of Summer). It looks like so much fun, and in fact Time Out called it “the best family biking this side of Amsterdam” — it must be good, hey Esther?
We carried on our journey to the zoo which was a perfect-sized animal treat for pre-schoolers. Donkeys, Otters, Chickens, Pigs, Meerkats and Monkeys to name but a few — all really close up and the zoo is small enough to be a distracting hour or so without it being overwhelming.
During the Summer months the park also has a boating lake and a land-train that can be picked up from outside the Adventure Playground. A really fun family day out.
-Mo.x
Mo in London
February 15th, 2010
I used to keep a picture in the front of my diary of an old-fashioned sweet shop. You know the kind: shelves stacked with glass jars brimming with brightly-coloured sweets. The Juliette Binoche in me always quite fancied being a ‘purveyor of splendid confectionery’. However these days there would be little point in me following this dream as Hope & Greenwood do it so perfectly.
They have stores in Dulwich & Covent Garden (which would be perfect if you happen to be taking a trip to Benjamin Pollocks as per my last post), but they are also sold in some pretty lovely other places: Liberty, Selfridges, Fortum & Mason (to name but a few) and of course you can buy them online from their site. I find the Miss Hope’s Jolly Mixture a very exciting treat and the Sugar free Gummy Bears a good one to ensure the children don’t bounce off the ceiling with too much sugar!
-Mo. x
Mo in London
January 25th, 2010
I grew up in a little farming village about 100 miles north of London and only made very rare trips to the ‘big smoke’ as a child. I remember one very special trip when my Godmother (literally one of the coolest people on the planet) brought me down for a WHOLE weekend in London for my 9th birthday. We saw a show and explored the city and I vividly remember stumbling across the most magical old-fashioned toyshop, which specialised in Toy Theatres.
Recently I had a reason to re-find that store, and the magic hasn’t left the place! Benjamin Pollocks is a delightfully old fashioned place (originally established in the 1880s) in the Covent Garden Piazza. I must warn you — it isn’t buggy friendly as you have to climb a narrow staircase to reach it and the shop is small and crammed to the rafters with toys, but worth the trip indeed.
The toy theatres are beautiful gifts for slightly older children (I think my kids may be more interested in ripping and chewing their cardboard constructions!) but they also have a good selection of other ‘oldy-worldy’ toys and games. I ended up getting Hopla for my 3-year-old and these darling counting flashcards for my daughter.
If Covent Garden is too much of a trip, they do also conveniently sell some of their wares through their website.
-Mo. x
Mo in London
January 22nd, 2010
Did you know that there are at least 10 sheep for every one person living in New Zealand!?! There are more sheep here than in any other country, except Australia. And apparently the New Zealand merino wool (all from the south island) is some of the best in the world — it’s extra soft and breathable, making it a good choice year round because it keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer months.
NUI Organics is a New Zealand-based company selling a beautiful range of organic wool baby clothes — so soft and so cozy. I love the cardigan with extra big hoody (pictured) and the simple wool dress with big wooden button. I just really love the natural colors and simple shapes of the whole range.
You can find the NUI Organics range at Elias & Grace in London (some pieces currently on sale!), or you can order online.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
January 13th, 2010
Richmond Park is the largest royal park in London, covering 2,500 acres of land and has been a Royal Park since Edward I (1272 – 1307). There are around 650 deer that roam free and stand elegantly among the ferns, blending in to the landscape, which is why it is sometimes known as ‘The Deer Park’. We’re very lucky, as we live a stone’s throw away from the park and go almost daily. So I have some favourite places to mention…
We often park up at Pembroke Lodge* (a lovely canteen/tea-room which used to be the residence of our Prime Minister, Lord John Russell in 1847), and from there walk north to King Henry VIII’s mound, where on a clear day you can see 12 miles to St. Paul’s Cathedral! Or we head east across the road to the ponds. *Note: Pembroke Lodge tends to bring out freshly made (warm!) scones at around 3pm daily, served with cream and jam. There is nothing nicer than a sweet-treat after a bout of fresh air, I find.
On the other side of the park we love the Isabella Plantation which blooms with majestical (excuse the flamboyant language but if you’ve seen it you’ll understand) rhododendrons in May and is full of secret lakes and coves (perfect for treasure hunting and exploring). There is so much space and things to climb up and over that my son just can’t get enough of it.
Of course any big park is going to have a big playground and Richmond Park’s playground just so happens to be a hop, skip and jump from Petersham Nurseries, which as Courtney mentioned is a fantastic restaurant. You can drop in to the cafe for a slab of cake and a cuppa without booking, which makes for the perfect treat after a long spell on the swings (my love of cake may become a bit of a feature in my posts).
If visiting the Park for the first time then the Royal Parks website has some great tips for planning where to go and what to see and do.
Mo. x
Mo in London
January 11th, 2010
I must admit I’ve never been the biggest fan of children’s jewellery… but having seen Arabelle’s beautiful children’s collection, I’m afraid I have to eat my own words! The jewellery is so sweet and so tastefully done, all handcrafted in 18ct yellow gold (or silver if you prefer). The collection is inspired by traditional childhood toys and associations. (The bracelet pictured was inspired by a traditional abacus counting game with five beads — four pearls and one gold — which slide along a gold bar.)
What really wins me over about her jewellery is that all the pieces are adjustable in length (with different clasps incorporated into the pieces). So they really are a keepsake which can be worn forever. It makes a great gift for a special occasion (baptisms, Bar Mitzvahs, birthdays, etc.).
And the exciting news: Arabelle is very generously giving away a Ricochet bracelet (pictured) worth £190 to one lucky reader! Just leave a comment below by January 20th, and we’ll pick one winner at random!
Good luck!
P.S. You can find the Arabelle children’s collection at Dragons of Walton Street in London.
P.P.S. Congrats to Siobhan from Germany who won our last give-away: the fabric wall stickers by I Love Mae.
This give-away is now closed. Congrats to the winner, Naomi (and her daughter Roo).
Courtney in London
January 5th, 2010
I am so in love with all the lovely ornaments by Maileg this year! They could not be any cuter. Last year I picked up some of the little soldiers, which I loved because they look so British, and this year I discovered the darling birds and mushrooms!
They’re the perfect ornaments for a house full of kids because they won’t break if they fall off the tree — plus they just look so playful and fun.
Maileg is a young Danish company which also makes lovely toys and decorative objects. You can find Maileg pieces in London at Elias & Grace and Petit Aimé, or buy online at Nordinary.
Merry Christmas!
xoxo Courtney
Courtney in London
December 23rd, 2009
Hello! It’s so nice to meet you and get this chance to chat to you all. I’ve been enjoying my daily dose of Babyccino ever since Courtney told me about it nearly 2 years ago – it has been a fabulous companion to my own personal experiences of having children and has increased my spending online about three-fold (these girls just find some really great things!). So when Courtney asked me to step into her London shoes whilst she is away I was so excited. Followed by a slight sense of dread… you see Courtney’s shoes are not easy to fill — both literally (she’s a petite one) and metaphorically speaking — but I will do my best. As Courtney mentioned I’m south of the river here in London, so let’s see what we can find to play with down here!
-Mo
Mo in London
November 29th, 2009
Next month my family and I are going to take an extended holiday to the sunny southern hemisphere. I’ll be away for exactly 100 days, swapping the entire winter season for another summer. I could not be more excited! (More about my trip later.) But we thought it would be a good idea to bring in a fellow Londoner to ‘hold down the fort’ while I’m away, to become the voice from London for the next few months.
You will have heard me mention my friend Mo numerous times on Babyccino. I wrote about her cute birthday party ideas and goodybag gifts. I’ve also raved about some of the cute little gifts she’s given us. Mo is, without a doubt, the most inspiring mum I know. She is crafty and clever, she’s fun and stylish, and she is the only person I know who is as obsessed with children’s books as I am! I have loved every suggestion she’s ever given me, and I know you will love her ideas just as much.
She’s an English girl married to a German, she’s a mother of two, and she lives in an old mill house in South London, so she’ll offer a new perspective on this enormous city. Welcome Mo!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
November 29th, 2009
I just popped into Muji this week, and I have to say just how great all their Christmas items are! I was so impressed with all the cute little wooden toys, holiday decorations, gift-wrapping items, cards, stamps, etc.
I filled an entire cart full of little gifts (including the items pictured), and I bought one of their wooden christmas tree decoration pieces too!
As it goes with Muji, everything is pretty reasonably priced… perfect for little stocking stuffers or nice gifts for your kids’ friends. I definitely recommend paying a visit.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
November 19th, 2009
It’s mid November already! Where did time go? Suddenly the holidays don’t seem very far away, and I’m already thinking about snow… Last year it snowed almost every day of our Christmas holiday in the states, and when we returned to London it snowed some more! This year we’ll be prepared. I’ve discovered the most amazing line of outdoor clothing. Ver de Terre is a Danish brand which makes everything from snow suits to mittens to babywear, all in really nice colors and fabrics.
I have the double face fleece body suit for my baby, and it’s not only cozy, it’s really well designed. With two zippers running down the front, it makes it really easy to get your baby all bundled. And both the legs and the arms can fold back to cuff your baby’s hands and feet to protect them from the cold.
You can find some Ver de Terre pieces from Kidsen here in London, or contact Ver de Terre for retailers near you.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
November 16th, 2009
It’s funny the things your kids notice. I recently tried out the new Tantrum range of hair products, and instantly my boys pointed out the ‘yummy’ smell of the bubbles! (I was more attracted to the ‘paraben and allergen-free’ qualities, but of course kids know nothing about that!)
Tantrum is a children’s hair salon here in London specially designed to make the hair-cutting experience a good one, both for you and for your child. As well as their King’s Road location, they have just set up a boutique in Hamleys, taking hairdressing to a whole new level.
The new range of hair products includes a shampoo, conditioner and a detangle spray which, according to a friend who has a daughter with super curly hair, actually works! (Emilie, you should check this out!)
-Courtney
Courtney in London
November 13th, 2009
Our party on Friday night was a hit, and we just wanted to say a quick thanks to all the people who came out, despite the rain. It was so lovely to meet our UK readers, sponsors, designers and friends. A big thank you to Elias&Grace for hosting (and for the generous discount!), and also to Milk Magazine for all the glossy magazines. It was a great collaboration and a fun party (see photos below)! We really must do it again!
Courtney in London
November 9th, 2009
We’re having a party and we would love for you to come!! The five of us are meeting in London for the weekend and we thought it would be the perfect excuse to throw a party, meet and mingle with our readers, drink champagne, eat fancy canapés… and shop! We’re teaming up with the cool children’s boutique, Elias&Grace, and the uber hip Milk Magazine for a fun get-together. Enjoy a 20% discount at Elias&Grace for the evening, and pick up the latest copy of Milk.
So, if you live in London (or you need an excuse to travel here) we would love for you to join us! Please meet us at Elias&Grace in Primrose Hill on Friday, November 6th from 7-9:30pm. Click here for official invitation.
We’re so excited to meet/see you all!
xoxo, The girls at Babyccino
P.S. Please RSVP (just so we know how much champagne to buy!)
Courtney in London
October 23rd, 2009
Although it’s a bit off the beaten path, it’s worth a trip to London’s Stoke Newington neighborhood if, for nothing else, a visit to the lovely children’s boutique Olive Loves Alfie.
This small but charming shop is chock full of children’s toys, clothes and accessories. Not your normal mass-market toys, but the sort of things that will inspire you to spruce up your children’s toy basket or run home and redecorate the nursery. It’s the perfect place to find a unique birthday gift, a piece of art to cover a bare wall, or even vintage chairs, globes and toys for your home.
You’ll find Djeco toys, Katvig clothes, Rice accessories, and the list goes on. And there’s something about the way it’s all displayed that makes you really notice the attention to detail and the heartfelt selection. A really lovely neighborhood shop that makes you wish you lived in the neighborhood…
-Courtney
Courtney in London
August 18th, 2009
The sales have started, yippee!! And there are loads of great deals to snatch up.
I’ve never been great about shopping the sales, but now that I have two growing boys and a baby girl to shop for, I have some buying to do! Plus, I’ve learned from Esther how to take advantage of the sales… (waiting, plotting, planning, convincing your husband that it was such a good deal you really ‘had’ to buy it, etc.)!
My favorite ‘deal’ of the season? The sale at Elias & Grace with up to 50% off! And what’s more — Babyccino readers will get an additional 15% off the sale price! Now that’s more like a steal than a deal!
Either enter the code BS09 on the website at check-out or present the code in the store. (Offer is good for one week, until next Monday July 6th.)
Happy sale shopping!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
June 29th, 2009
I bought the sweetest little hooded towels for my boys when they were babies, and they worked perfectly for swaddling them up and drying them after bath time. However, the problem I find with most hooded bath towels is that they’re often very small and very thin, so they don’t last long (in size and in quality)! Both my boys have had to graduate on to normal adult-sized towels.
I wish I would have known about the hooded towels from The Nursery Window. The towels are large (even big enough for big kids!), and nice and thick. Plus, they’re as cute as can be with their signature bunny print in either pink or blue. I received a pink one as a gift for my baby girl, and we love it!
The Nursery Window is a cute little shop here in London which specializes in baby bedding, furniture, blankets and bedroom accessories. We bought our moses basket from them, and I couldn’t resist their darling little bedding sets with their beautiful traditional prints. All their products are made here in the UK, and they pride themselves on fine quality and timeless pieces. And they’re now available on-line!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
June 16th, 2009
Taking young kids to the cinema can be risky business. No matter how great the film is, it will probably end up being too long to keep your kids’ attention, they’ll likely spill the popcorn, talk too much and too loudly, and need several trips to the toilet. (Can you tell I’ve learned the hard way?)
Last weekend, however, we risked it all and took the boys to see the Under the Sea 3D film at London’s BFI IMAX theatre, and it was a huge, huge hit!
You put the funny glasses on (which my kids loved), take a seat in front of the UK’s largest cinema screen (taller than 5 double decker buses!), and spend roughly 45 minutes feeling like you’re swimming under the sea, literally face-to-face with exotic sea creatures! My kids thought it was the coolest thing they’ve ever seen!
The IMAX films are short, they’re 3D, and they’re educational. Perfect for kids! I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before now…
-Courtney
Courtney in London
March 30th, 2009
I’ve never really been one to use wallpaper in my house, possibly because the options are endless and it is too difficult to choose, but also because I just like the look of a simple wall lined with cute paintings and prints.
But there is something about Lizzie Allen’s beautiful hand-screen-printed wallpapers that have really caught my attention. I especially love this ‘red buses and black cabs’ design from her ‘London Collection’. I love the 1950s style ‘routemaster’ buses and black cabs. And how cool is this life-size London telephone box? Or the city gents design? Really, really cool…
I love the idea of lining a small accent wall with one of these iconic London scenes, or as I spotted in Bobo Kids last week, sticking a square of wallpaper onto a canvas and hanging that on a wall.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
March 12th, 2009
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