Posts filed under 'London'
Can’t believe how excited and proud we are. It was a full-term, healthy pregnancy, and after a long but painless delivery we have finally given birth to four wonderful, beautiful city guides!!!
Their names are Amsterdam, London, Milan and Paris and even though they are still tiny, all the features are present. So with a lot of love and nurture from their mummies, they will soon grow up to become big, complete travel guides!
No kidding. Visiting cities with kids in tow doesn’t mean you have to spend your days in the swimming pool of the hotel (if it even has one) feeling guilty about disturbing the other hotel guests who, without a doubt, are hoping to spend their first romantic weekend-away-from-kids in 15 years.
Or… ending up in the local Rainforest Café or McDonald’s restaurant because you’re hungry and frustrated and all those fancy-looking local restaurants didn’t look very kid-friendly.
No way. From now on, just check out the Babyccino city guides with inside information of all the cool places we like to visit in our cities, carefully selected and tested and proven to be kid or parent friendly! Discover the coolest kid-friendly restaurants, the cutest kiddie shops, the best parks and playgrounds, the most interesting museums, the best local products and more!
Of course, this is a work in progress so we will keep updating them — and we would love to hear back from you with feedback and tips!
Enjoy!
Love, the Babyccino girls
(Phew – time for a beer now!)
Esther in Amsterdam
February 19th, 2009
Has it ever happened to you that you find a clothing label, love the entire collection, and feel as if the designer must have had your personal style in mind when the pieces were created? You know… where you just love everything the designer does, and if you could you would buy it all? (This has really only happened to me once before; I’m normally not such a slave to one particular designer.)
But… it has happened again, and I’m completely head-over-heels in love with a brand called ‘Koka Mama’, a super stylish, wonderful maternity line! (Seriously, since when do you ever really love a maternity piece, let alone the entire collection?!!)
I have about a hundred good things to say about Koka Mama, but probably what I love most about the collection is that while it was very much designed for pregnancy, the clothes are stylish and simple enough to wear even if you’re not pregnant. (Who doesn’t need a great white blouse which fits over the bump, but still looks good when the bump is gone?) The clothes are comfortable, easy to wear, flattering… and not even exorbitantly priced.
If you’re pregnant and feeling like you need a bit of a boost to your wardrobe, need the perfect pregnancy leggings, beautiful dresses, stylish tops, etc…. look no further.
The only hitch is that there isn’t an on-line retailer yet, but the new collection just arrived at Elias & Grace here in London. I promise you, it’s worth the visit…
-Courtney
Courtney in London
February 17th, 2009
Twenty years ago London had a reputation for having bad food (let’s be honest, ‘bangers and mash’ are not the most innovative of foods). Now however, thanks to an influx of new British chefs, even traditional English food can be tasty. But, what truly makes London’s food so interesting in my opinion, is the growing number of international restaurants in this city. You can now find some of the world’s best French, Italian, Spanish, Indian, Middle Eastern and Chinese restaurants across London. (My only complaint is the lack of good Mexican restaurants!) Seriously, if you’re craving it chances are you can find it!
Belgo is one such restaurant… where you can walk from the rainy streets of London straight into a Belgian world of traditional (and tasty) mussels, frites and hundreds of Belgium’s best beers.
There’s nothing really fancy about it, but the food is good and the atmosphere is authentic. And what’s more? It’s extremely kid-friendly with loads of highchairs and a kid’s menu which includes a mini pot of mussels and an activity kit. And, want the best news? Kids eat completely free!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
January 13th, 2009
I have a new addiction and it is the food from my new favourite Cookbook: Leon.
Lets wind back a few years when we were all living in London. I was working in Soho and deploring the fact that it was almost impossible to get good take-away food. Try as I might, I never managed to get up in time to prepare sandwiches to take in with me. So my options were greasy spoons and sandwich chains that put so much mayonnaise into their sandwiches that it was had to figure out what else was in the sandwich.
Then, one fine day, Leon opened: fresh salads, soups, wraps… all I ever could have dreamed of was suddenly available just around the corner from me! I never went anywhere else…
Finally my favourite take-away has published a cookbook and I am loving making my own take-away food (The family is loving it too, by the way)!
- Emilie
Emilie in Paris
December 28th, 2008
Cookie Magazine’s Going Places blog is featuring a week of last-minute getaway ideas, perfect for the holiday time. All their ideas are for easy-to-plan and relatively affordable holidays with kids.
The four of us have written about a quick, last-minute getaway from each of our cities. Check it out here, and also make sure to check out their other ideas… like, how about a sunny trip to Mauritius?!! Oh, how I’m craving some sunshine…
-Courtney
Courtney in London
December 10th, 2008
Although it’s certainly not as big of a deal here in London compared to the U.S., it’s a big deal in our house, so we’ll be celebrating today. We’ll head to the fancy neighborhoods of Kensington where you can find some of London’s best trick-or-treating streets. My two boys will be dressed up (the younger one as a lion, and the older one as a shark!), and I’m sure we’ll indulge in loads of sweets! Hooray! I hope you have a Happy Halloween, wherever you are…
-Courtney
P.S. I made these cupcakes this morning from my new Cupcakes! book, and they are soooo tasty! We’re already off to a sugary start!
Courtney in London
October 31st, 2008
Nearly 20 years ago, long before the huge wave of organic foods began to arrive at our local foodshops, HRH The Prince of Wales believed we needed to think about the long-term future of our environment and our rural communities. It was this thought that launched the idea of Duchy Originals, and in 1992 the company began with its first product, the oaten biscuit.
Duchy Originals is now a rather booming company with more than 200 quintessentially British food products. It also has made and given over £6 million to The Prince’s Charity Foundation in support of local farmers and with the intention of tackling climate change.
Aside from the interesting history (and the fact that its founded by a Prince!!), Duchy Originals food products are delicious and unique. In fact, I’ve never bought a Duchy product that didn’t impress!
While Duchy is probably most famous for the biscuits, including the original oaten biscuit and the highland shortbread biscuits, there are other products which are simply unparalleled in taste… like the range of jams and marmalades, the delicious soups, and the tasty desserts.
Really, you can’t go wrong! This is definitely a must ‘buy and try’ if you’re visiting London.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
October 25th, 2008
The ZSL London Zoo is not the largest zoo I’ve ever seen, nor does it have a very impressive range of large animals (no elephants or rhinos, etc.). But, for a zoo in the middle of such a dense city like London, the zoo does exactly as it should: it places emphasis on the smaller creatures in this world, like bugs of all sorts, butterflies, fish, reptiles and amphibians, and birds of the jungle. All of these different exhibits, each in their own separate building, are located indoors, which means even on a rainy day you can still enjoy a long day at the zoo!
In fact, I have to say that I think my kids actually prefer these indoor exhibits. My son, with a particular fondness of sea creatures, could spend hours inside the small but extensive aquarium. He also really loves the reptiles and amphibians, with loads of large snakes, lizards, turtles and frogs. And if you arrive in the later part of the afternoon, as we usually do, you may even get to see these animals at feeding time, which is great fun! (We once spent a good 20 minutes watching a lizard chase around all the crickets in his cage!)
The butterfly exhibit, located inside a large, inflated caterpillar, contains hundreds of different free-flying butterflies and moths which flutter around you, and will impress even your youngest children. It is always a hit with my boys.
And lastly, the bug exhibit (which isn’t exactly my most favorite), showcases all sorts of different bugs. Upon entry, you’ll find a large ant farm, with hundreds of crawling ants walking along their terrain. If you’re like me, it will give you the creeps, but if your kids are like mine, they’ll stand there in awe watching the different ants carrying pieces of leaves from one point to the next. Pretty fascinating.
The London Zoo is one of our favorite activities in London, both on a sunny day and on a rainy one. Which usually works out well considering the typical London day: scattered clouds, periods of rain with sunny spells!!!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
October 24th, 2008
I know I’ve already written about Elias and Grace — the kid’s clothing shop in Primrose Hill, but it’s definitely one of my favorite kids’ shops in London, and certainly worth mentioning again.
Elias and Grace stocks a variety of great brands, including Belgian designers like Maan, Quincy, Max & Lola, and Simple Kids, and French brands like Petite Bateau and Bonton. There’s also a good selection of Italian and Dutch brands, which is what makes this shop so great — it really represents the best of European children’s clothes.
They don’t have an enormous selection of shoes, but the ones they sell are always beautiful. And, being in rainy London, they are naturally well stocked with a wide range of Aigle wellies in a variety of colors!
There’s a kid’s play area in the back to keep your kids entertained while you shop, and if you get the chance to wander downstairs… you’ll be drawn to the fabulous range of designer maternity wear (which deserves its own separate post entirely)!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
October 23rd, 2008
We lived in London for nearly two years before we discovered the Hampstead Heath, which is a huge shame as it is one of London’s finest gems, and is, in my opinion, the most liberating outdoor activity in London. The fact that you can feel so far removed from the ‘hustle and bustle’ of London and yet be smack in the middle of it is a treat which is unusual for such a big city.
Hampstead Heath is London’s largest historic parkland, and arguably the most beautiful. Unlike the more manicured and planned Royal Parks of London, the Heath is wild in nature, offering 3.2 sq km of roaming meadows, fishing and swimming ponds, dark and lush woodlands, hiking and biking trails, and some of London’s best playgrounds.
It is here where you can fly a kite from the top of ‘kite hill’ and enjoy incredible views of central London. You can also make a visit to Kenwood House and see the famous paintings and library, or have a bite to eat at the café. And lastly, a trip to Hampstead Heath would not be complete without letting your kids enjoy the famous and newly-renovated Parliament Hill Playground.
As a local here in London, I couldn’t imagine life without regular trips to the Heath. It’s really no wonder the Wallpaper* City Guide for London lists Hampstead Heath as an activity you should definitely experience if you only had 24 hours in London!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
October 22nd, 2008
Tucked in a corner of the historic Chelsea Green off the King’s Road, and on a charming street amidst other lovely shops, is a small but perfectly stocked toy shop called Traditional Toys. Here you can find the very best brands of wooden toys, designer dolls, stuffed bears, dress-up clothes, and other specialty European toys.
Traditional Toys is my favorite toy shop in London. This is where I go whenever I need a birthday gift because I know it will be unique, special and well-made — something that will last forever. It is here where I buy all the Schleich animals (even the big ones like whales and dinosaurs), Fagus vehicles, wooden trains, and Plan Toys pieces, etc. I even bought a bug catcher kit there which was a huge hit this past summer!
Another bonus about this toy shop is that it’s a block away from one of my favorite little parks/playgrounds in SW London, St. Luke’s Park. So you can take a break from all the nearby shopping and let the kids run loose!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
October 21st, 2008
With more than 10 different locations across central London, Carluccio’s is a good ‘go-to’ restaurant for decent Italian food, friendly service and great accommodations for kids!
While Carluccio’s is not the most original choice of restaurant, it is kid-friendly without being obnoxious, and comfortable without losing its charm. It’s a great family dinner spot where you can share a bottle of wine with your husband, while your kids stay entertained! (The happier the kids, the happier the adults!)
The kid’s menu, which includes breadsticks, entreé, a drink, and ice cream for dessert, comes as an activity set with cute wooden coloring pencils, a color-your-own puzzle kit, and other fun games. It’s super cute, and my kids LOVE it!
There are plenty of high-chairs in every restaurant, and they have baby-changing stations in the bathrooms.
They also have good Italian take-away food and serve a good cappuccino!
Click here for their Menu (including children’s menu).
-Courtney
Courtney in London
October 20th, 2008
Before I had kids, I used to keep my nails in pretty good shape with regular manicures and pedicures, and I was also pretty good at keeping up-to-date on my bikini waxing and hair appointments. This was, of course, not difficult given my flexible schedule. I didn’t mind sitting in a salon, having my nails done, reading the latest gossip magazine, etc. But after having kids things changed dramatically. There was no longer a flexible schedule or time to squeeze in such appointments, and sitting in a salon with your crying baby is certainly not enjoyable! (I remember, not long after my first baby was born, wondering if I was ever going to look well groomed again!)
Thankfully, this transition happens to the best of us mums. And thankfully one such London mum, who got tired of not being able to make her beauty appointments, decided to create a business that would bring beauty to the home. Her company, Return to Glory, offers almost every treatment you can imagine, all in the comfort of your own home (while the baby is napping, or out with a sitter, etc.)!
It’s simple: Just visit the website, choose the service you need, and then enter your address and preferred time. You can even choose which specialist you would like. It’s that easy!
Imagine… you can even have your hair blow-dried for a special event, you can have yoga lessons in your living room, and you can even arrange for a couples massage! Now that is really a ‘return to glory’…
-Courtney
P.S. The service is, at the moment, only available in the U.K.
Courtney in London
October 10th, 2008
Take the train from central London to Richmond Station and follow the high street through town toward the river. Turn left and walk along the river past the cafés and kayak sheds. Cross the pasture filled with buttercups and cowpies, and venture toward Petersham Nurseries. Set within this lovely garden center is a restaurant that will impress on many levels with delicious food and beautiful decor.
Award-winning head chef, Skye Gyngell, uses the highest quality ingredients in respect of the season, and with support of small farmers and producers across England. The food is amazing, and don’t even get me started about the desserts…
Petersham Nurseries Restaurant is one of my favorite restaurants in London. It’s a beautiful setting (a garden – it doesn’t get prettier than that!), and it just has a very special feeling to it. It’s also the experience of heading to Richmond for the day, which is a lovely little village.
The only downside is that it is not just my favorite restaurant, it’s apparently quite THE place to go. The restaurant suggests you book one month to the day in advance, and they don’t take reservations more than one month before so you really have to plan ahead.
But I promise – it’s worth it!
-Courtney
Courtney in London
September 26th, 2008
Check us out out on Cookie Magazine’s cool travel blog Going Places! Courtney wrote a very nice article about five things to do with kids when it rains in London (which HARDLY ever happens of course)!!
xxx Esther
Esther in Amsterdam
September 23rd, 2008
When I was pregnant in London I was addicted to Innocent smoothies. My favourite was the yogurt and vanilla one, and I could not start the day without picking one up before getting on the tube. Interestingly the company was based in the area I was living in, so I would often see the cute Innocent mobile scooting past.
Last year I was sitting in a café in Paris and suddenly saw a familiar site – the innocent scooter! My favourite smoothies had arrived in my favourite city! Now my daughter is addicted to them. They are super easy to drink, and the packets are easy to recycle, so reasonably environmentally friendly, which is more than one can say for most packaged kids’ drinks.
The design addict in me loves the packaging, which is really cute and cleverly designed. For example, the list of ingredients on the back of the pack has illustrations of the fruit in the drink so that even my two-year-old understands what she is drinking.
Happy drinking!
- Emilie
Emilie in Paris
September 8th, 2008
My husband took our little family to this restaurant on Mother’s Day this year. It was a lovely (but cold) day, and was a perfect setting for a Mother’s Day brunch. Inn the Park is, as the name implies, in the middle of the lovely St. James’s Park, overlooking ‘duck lake’.
A couple weeks ago, with the warm summertime weather we were having, we went back for dinner on their terrace, and I was reminded of how much I love this restaurant. The tear-drop shape of the building was designed to fit into the ‘gently undulating landscape’ of London’s oldest royal park. You can’t see it from the road, and so it feels like a little treasure once you’re there. And surprisingly, this sleek restaurant is also extremely kid-friendly.
Inn the Park is a contemporary British restaurant serving both traditional and modern British recipes. In summertime the terrace transforms to a champagne and cocktail bar. It’s stylish and sexy in the evenings. Hard to believe that during the day (or early evenings) it caters toward families and children, with a great kid’s menu, loads of high chairs, friendly staff, etc. You can also save your extra bread for the ducks after your meal. My kids LOVE the promise of a walk along the lake if they behave and eat their food! 
It makes for a perfect lunch break if you’re site-seeing in the area: Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Trafalgar Square are all close by. The taxi drop-off point is by the ICA on The Mall, and there’s pay-and-display parking on Waterloo Place (across The Mall and up the steps).
-Courtney
Courtney in London
August 26th, 2008
It is a marvel of a museum, a truly beautiful building with extraordinary exhibits. The Natural History Museum here in London first opened its doors in 1881, and his home to some of the most fascinating and rare objects (like the heaviest woolly mammoth tusks ever found and a skeleton of an extinct sea cow)! It is definitely one of my favorite museums in London, especially for kids.
I brought both my boys to the museum last week, and I nearly had tears in my eyes watching my 3-year-old squeal with delight. When he saw that giant life-size model of the blue whale and the other sea creatures he could barely speak. He experienced that same sensation later on when we visited the dinosaurs, but for a different reason: that roaring animatronic T-rex terrified him so much, he was left speechless. But yet he sat there staring in amazement, and didn’t want to leave. So much fun for a little person.
There’s a large mammal exhibit, a ‘blue zone’ of under water life, a ‘green zone’ about the earth’s ecology, a ‘red zone’ about volcanoes and earthquakes, a dinosaur exhibit, and many more galleries.
Like most museums in London, all the galleries are free to enter, except temporary exhibits. The website is very helpful, and even includes a parents’ survivial guide for tips on taking children.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
August 17th, 2008
If you’re visiting London, you’ll probably want to make a booking for afternoon tea to be assured a true English experience. If you’re coming to London with your kids, you should plan on having tea at the Orangery Restaurant in the beautiful Kensington Gardens (as opposed to the Ritz, for example)!
The Orangery, located literally smack in the center of the park, is directly opposite Kensington Palace, and right next to one of London’s most famous playgrounds: the Princess Diana Memorial Playground (known to London mums as the ‘pirate ship’). The location is ideal for an afternoon outing, and their ‘kids’ version’ of afternoon tea allows you to bring them along without feeling out of place.
The Orangery is beautiful and bright on the inside, and if the weather is nice you can sit outside and overlook the perfectly manicured gardens and palace. The lunch menu is great, and the cakes are even better (the orange cake is the best I’ve ever had). They have a kids’ menu, loads of highchairs, and as I’ve mentioned, will also create a kid’s version of their afternoon tea.
You can’t make a reservation, so you can just pop in when you’re hungry, before or after your kids have had a play in the playground. I’ve never had to wait long to be seated there — in fact, I always feel like it’s a secret little find, especially on a sunny day.
-Courtney
Courtney in London
August 15th, 2008
For my son’s birthday party last month I walked to my local party store and hastily grabbed a bunch of little plastic toys and party favors, grabbed a bunch of paper bags, and threw them all together to make 20 different party bags. I’m sure they were a hit with all the kids… but certainly not good for the environment (or for their health, for that matter)!
Next time I am definitely heading to Eco — a shop in Chiswick, London that specializes in everything earth friendly and energy efficient. The shop is the first of its kind to offer domestic solutions for making your home completely green, including eco floor coverings, fabrics, paints and furnishings. They also have a small section devoted to kids’ toys and accessories for healthy, eco-friendly party bags!
First, you choose the party bags themselves, ranging from recycled paper bags to beautiful vintage fabric bags. Then you choose the filling: wooden toys painted in vegetable dies, little books, colored pencils, stamps, little potted plants, and a good range of Remarkable toys (pictured) made from recycled car tires and plastic objects!
Prices start at £2.50 for filled bags, but go up with each additional toy.
They also have the cutest collection of recycled party invitations. I mean so cute, you’d want them regardless of their environmental benefits!
Next time you’re planning a party, you should definitely pay a visit to Eco. You may even find a bit of inspiration for ‘greening’ up other areas of your life….
-Courtney
Courtney in London
August 8th, 2008
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