City guides

London

The big city with kids

As this is our kid’s edition, I have been looking into a few places that aren’t as well known as some kids destinations in London but definitely offer lots of fun and interest.

One of these is the V&A’s Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green (pictured above) which houses an impressive collection of children’s toys, games, clothing, furniture and other exciting artefacts relating to little ones through history. I went to the museum with my four year old to while a way a Sunday morning. First we came across “Doll Face”, an eye-catching exhibition of photographs by portrait and still-life photographer Craig Deane depicting dolls from the extensive collection owned by the museum. (The exhibition ended 27th March but you can see the whole series of images at www.craigdeane.co.uk, they are really incredible images and slightly creepy but my boy was fascinated by them). (more…)

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Children’s stores, London

Shopping recommendations

London has some great shops for kids, here are my favourite boutiques and shops for clothes, toys and furniture. (Pictured above: Their Nibs).

Caramel Baby & Child This exquisite shop is growing, there are branches in Brompton Road, Pavilion Road (Sloane Square) and Ledbury Road (Notting Hill). The store prides itself on very individual items, and paired down everyday clothing with a touch of luxury. www.caramel-shop.co.uk

Green Baby, Notting Hill My babies may have grown up a bit but they spent their early years in cotton baby grows and pyjamas from this cute environmentally sound store. www.grenbaby.com

Igloo, King’s Road The ‘it’ boutique for kids in the King’s Road. A branch can also be found in Islington. Expect to find brands such as Ikks, Petit Bateau, Mookie, even Hunter Wellies.  www.iglookids.co.uk

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Jigsaw Junior, 190 Westbourne Grove I have a very fond memory of this store in Notting Hill as this is where I took my bridesmaid Lucia to choose her outfit for my wedding….back in 2002. The shop is as wonderful today, with particular emphasis on fashions for girls, and the all important party dress or frock as my grandmother would have called them. www.jigsawonline.com/collections/1001284/junior

Habitat Home ideas and accessories for kids such as baskets for practical, fun storage to encourage tidying up. Also love the kid’s bedding and wooden toys here. www.habitat.co.uk

Marie Chantal Beautiful upmarket classics for children. Luxurious therefore pricey, but there are lots of lovely accessories and it’s a great place to look for outfits for special occasions. www.mariechantal.com

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Where to eat

There are lots of places in London that are used to kids, and lots that prefer you not to venture in with noisy under 7s! I have been testing the waters a little more now my kids are getting a bit older and more used to eating out in different types of restaurants. I regularly choose to eat in Spanish places in London. One of my favourites is Tapas Brindisa in Borough Market. The Brindisa shop is just a few steps away, and this is where I stock up on Arbequina Extra Virgin olive oil and chorizo and may be some delicious Ortiz tuna. Tapas Brindisa is a reliable choice for fresh, authentic Spanish tapas, using ingredients sourced from the Brindisa storecupboard and UK producers including some of the Borough Market food specialists. When I visited last week with my 4 year old, we chose a large selection of hams, which included Serrano, Recebo and Carved Iberico de Bellota, my favourite. We also tried the traditional tortilla. A fine looking vanilla ice cream was served up for pudding and my little companion was delighted. Had we wanted to be a bit more adventurous there were lots more enticing hot dishes I would have liked to have tried including pork belly and quince and prawns al ajillo. I will be making a trip back soon, probably with the whole family. Brindisa currently has 4 restaurants in London including Casa Brindisa, South Kensington, pictured above, and the very centrally located Tierra Brindisa in Broadwick Street. www.brindisa.com

 

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Arlington Avenue, Islington, London

An elegant place to stay in the city

The UK is well loved for its bed and breakfast accommodation. My experience of this type of place to stay has been really lovely, but I would normally only expect to find a superb b&b in the countryside. As I am always being asked where the good b&bs are in London I decided to identify one that I would choose to stay in, and this is it! Tucked away in the residential area of Islington, this is a handsome house with a stunning antique filled interior. It’s a perfect stopover for a night or two and the location is far enough away from central London to give you an experience of London life, with plenty of interesting shops and boutiques and places to eat within walking distance….and it’s easy to travel to and from by public transport (tube and bus) should you want to visit sites and museums in the centre. Lovely garden, should you visit in Spring/Summer. Book ahead as there are just two rooms…for more pictures and prices, visit www.arlingtonavenue.co.uk

Christie’s Auction, South Kensington, London

Kinross House, Scotland and Property from the London Residence of Mrs. Winston Spencer Churchill

Furniture, paintings, portrait miniatures, silver, dishes and other household treasures from two historical properties – Kinross House in Scotland and the London residence of Mrs. Winston Spencer Churchill, goes ‘under the hammer’ in  London on 30th March.  Sir William Bruce, the great classical architect built Kinross House, and the London townhouse where the Churchill’s lived was designed by George Basevi, John Soane’s famous pupil. Mrs. Churchill’s husband was Randolph Churchill, the only son of Sir Winston Churchill, and Randolph’s wife was the glamorous Pamela Harriman. There are hundreds of beautiful, useful objects to enhance one’s home, each with the authenticity of a magnificent heritage.

This auction is an opportunity to capture an historical item, so save the date for this special sale – you could place a winning bid! Wednesday 30 March 2011 at 10.30 am. Christie’s South Kensington 85, Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3LD www.christies.com JG

Photos: Christie’s Images 2011. Top: Portrait Miniature Lot. 91 from Kinross House; above, Lot. 190, pair of Louis XV Style Beech Bergeres From the London Residence of Mrs. Winston Spencer Churchill.