LONDON: EAT SEE PLAY SHOP SLEEP TIPS OUT OF TOWN
SLEEP
The ACE hotel London -- fun, cool and family-friendly
The ACE hotel London is conveniently located in Shoreditch, one of London's hippest and most creative urban neighbourhoods, with all sorts of trendy galleries, restaurants and shops right on your doorstep. (Check out our guide for Shoreditch here!) The ACE hotel itself reflects the creativity of its surrounding area. The lounge is always filled with hipsters, working ...
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SEE
Encounters with the Big Cats at London Zoo - Regents Park
London Zoo in Regent's Park is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It also happens to be my kids number one favourite place to visit in London. Wandering around this familiar local haunt it's hard to believe that the doors were first opened to the public way back in 1847. At this time some of the ...
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SLEEP
Artist Residence - boutique hotel in Pimlico
Pimlico's Artist Residence is a stylish boutique hotel, conveniently situated just 5 minutes walk from Victoria Station. From this quiet stucco fronted side street you are within easy reach of some of London's most popular tourist destinations such as Hyde Park, Mayfair and The Embankment. As the name suggests the focus here is on art, ...
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SLEEP
Town Hall Hotel
This past weekend we enjoyed our very first 'staycation' -- a little weekend holiday in our own city! We stayed at the super cool Town Hall Hotel over in Bethnal Green, East London, and it was so fun to get to know this part of London and to enjoy a weekend out of our home, away from the ...
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SERVICES
Kid & Coe, a vacation rental website for families!
I am really, super excited about the recent launch of Kid & Coe, a vacation rental website featuring stylish family homes all over the world. Imagine travelling to New York, Paris, San Francisco, Copenhagen... Mexico even (!) and being able to stay in a family home, complete with child-sized beds, toys for your kids, a ...
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SLEEP
The Charlotte Street Hotel
My experience with hotels in London is quite limited, as we've never actually 'vacationed' here.  But the Charlotte Street Hotel is one hotel we've become very familiar with over the years as its located literally next door to my husband's office. It has become a go-to spot for breakfast/lunch/coffee/tea/drinks, etc., and is where many of ...
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LONDON CITY GUIDE
Vacation Rentals -- VRBO
Travel takes on a whole new meaning once you have kids. Hotels, no matter how fancy or impressive, are just not good enough unless they have all the family-friendly features like mini-bars, refrigerators, bath tubs, cots, space, etc. And if you have more than a couple kids, you might as well forget hotels altogether, unless ...
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OUT OF TOWN
Babington House
One of our favourite (and indulgent) weekend excursions from London is a trip to the English countryside hotel, Babington House. This beautiful hotel is set on 18 acres in Sommerset, England (about 2 1/2 hours outside London). It is also the home of the well-known Cowshed spa and famous range of Cowshed products. It is posh without ...
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CHECK THESE OUT

OLI&CAROL100% natural rubber toys for 100% worry free play. Perfect for bath time, teething and beyond!
Biddle and BopAn incredible range of all-weather gear, providing families with high quality gear that covers and protects
Nature's Little OnesA beautiful, eco-friendly collection of baby and toddler essentials, toys and gifts.
Pure Earth CollectionNatural, non-toxic and biodegradable baby products

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A Very Happy New Year to all of you! On our blog, exciting/sad news from @esthervandepaal ... . . @katrinacampbellphotos
6 days ago
Who can believe it’s just four days to go until Christmas Day? What a year it has been! Whilst the holidays shall undoubtedly look different for the majority of us this year, we wish you a safe, cosy and happy festive season. We will be taking a break for a few weeks, to relax, recharge, and enjoy time with our families. See you back here in 2021! @esthervandepaal #babyccinokids
1 month ago
What are your family’s favourite films to watch this time of year? Our contributor Zainab shares 12 cosy films to watch this winter this week on the blog. Some of them are here (swipe), full list via the link in our bio. @themontessoristudio #babyccinokids
1 month ago
Love adding homemade touches to your decorations or gifts? On the blog today our contributor Mari shares a three ingredient salt dough recipe that can be used to make glorious garlands and gorgeous gift tags! So beautiful! Discover via the link in our bio. @bellamartinelli #babyccinocrafts
1 month ago
“For me and for many, 2020 has been a year of ‘Slow and Simple’. Our lifestyles and livelihoods were forced to slow down, to adapt or at the very least relocate to our living rooms... And so, as the year draws to a close, I’m looking forward to celebrating a Christmas and New Year that reflects the slower and simpler direction my life has taken this year.” Our contributor Sydney shared the ways (and why) she’s slowing down this Christmas, this week on the blog. (She also shares this simple craft too). Discover through the link in our bio. @sydney.piercey #babyccinocrafts
1 month ago
With just over a week to go until Christmas Day, how are you feeling? Ready and raring to go? Or (swipe) utterly exhausted already! However you’re feeling, from gift ideas, craft ideas, cooking ideas, and alternative ways to spend this year safely at home, we have got you covered. Head to our blog for more. Link in our bio. @esthervandepaal #babyccinokids
1 month ago
Looking for simple yet fun ways to entertain your little people at home? Try this ‘Toy box treasure hunt’ shared by our contributor Sydney on the blog. Link in bio @sydney.piercey #babyccinocrafts
1 month ago
What’s your favourite drink this time of year? Our contributor Mariam shares this spiced Kinderglühwein punch, a wintery German tradition to be enjoyed by all the family. Head to the link in our bio for this delicious recipe. @_maays___ #babyccinoeats
1 month ago
Pretty paper roll snowflakes! Discover through the link in our bio how our contributor Bella made these using just paper rolls and glue! Such a beautiful craft! @bellamartinelli #babyccinocrafts
1 month ago
“Do you know The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse? It is a book for all ages — from eight to one hundred and eight. And it is a book full of hope and full of positivity. The perfect book for a gift, but also, as a treat for yourself.“ Read our contributor Lara’s review of this book by @charliemackesy via the link in our bio. @laraoflondon #babyccinoreads
1 month ago
Here’s a video of our latest ShopUp in East London (shot and edited by our lovely and talented friend Nadine Brandt). It encapsulates the ShopUp atmosphere really, really well, and it makes us so excited for the next one!
2 years ago
Check out our new book! 9 months: A month by month guide to pregnancy for the family to share. PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY HERE: UK: http://amzn.to/2n6eCT7 / US: http://amzn.to/2nVWOZo / AUS: http://bit.ly/2nDYggy
3 years ago
Our beautiful new book, '9 months: A month by month guide to pregnancy' for the family to share, is AVAILABLE NOW! You can order it here: UK: http://amzn.to/2n6eCT7 / US: http://amzn.to/2nVWOZo / AUS: http://bit.ly/2nDYggy
3 years ago
Check out the cool vibes of our Shop Up event in London in December!
3 years ago
Our 2nd live shopping event in Brooklyn was amazing! Great shopping, delicious treats, tons of kids activities and a super cool family photo booth!
4 years ago
Esther shows us her recipe for delicious mint syrup.
4 years ago
Our live shopping event in London at Chelsea Old Town Hall in 2015 was a big success and so much fun.
4 years ago
Here we show you how to harvest rhubarb from the garden, and make it into a delicious compote. If you make oatmeal at the same time, you have made a delicious and nutritious breakfast that your family will love! (Ours do!)
4 years ago
This gym bag is such a fun and easy project, also for beginners this is a nice sewing project. Esther, Emilie and the kids had so much fun going to the market choosing all the supplies. The fabrics from Little Cube are the cutest!
4 years ago
Our first live shopping event in Brooklyn was a great success. We loved seeing the best boutiques under one roof, combined with great food and fun activities...and some dancing! Hope to see everyone this year again on September 18th & 19th at 501 Union, 501 Union Street in Brooklyn.
4 years ago