Families West London issue 80

ISSUE 80: July/August 2012

www.familieswest.co.uk

FREE

Cove

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e: ©

Ant

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Rob

ling Get ready, get Get ready, get

set, and go…set, and go…here comesSummer 2012

Families West • PO Box 32231 • London W5 1JR • Tel: 020 8930 4707 • Fax: 0208 930 7704 • E-mail: [email protected]

2 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 2012

3July/August 2012 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

News & Views 3-5

Education 6-7

Parenting 8-9

Summer Activities:

Take the family challenge 10-12

FREE Summer Activities 14-18

Summer Workshops 18-19

What's On in West London 20-26

Classifieds 27

Contents

www.FamiliesWest.co.uk

Families West is designed by Natalie Schmidt of www.matobodesign.com and printed by Ridgeway Press, 12 Campbell Court, Bramley, Tadley, Hampshire RG26 5EG. Tel 01252 885837. Copyright Families West Magazine 2012. Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at owner’s risk and while every care is taken, neither Families nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. Families West is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license. We take every care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers nor the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

News & Views

It's finally here! The summer of 2012 in

London promises to be action-packed; with

such a myriad of experiences that you need

to really plan not only what you are going to

do, but how you are going to fit it all in. Our

pages this issue are full of activities that

families can take part in and what we couldn't

fit in, has been put on our website

www.familieswest.co.uk

Like many families, we applied for the tickets

and were unsucessful; so we will be heading

out to Hyde Park Live Site so we can feel the

atmostphere with the crowds. This is

something that your kids will be talking about

when they are grown-ups so give them

something to say!

Towards the end of the summer of course,

we need to be thinking about back to school.

Our website will be full of useful hints and

tips for setting down some important routines

to make the next school year flow more

smoothly for everyone. Until then, have a

great summer break.

Cover picture credited to

© Anthony Robling

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Ealing volunteer scoop NCT Stars AwardMary Peters, a volunteer for the NCT Ealing Branch has been

rewarded for her dedication working with local families and

named a regional winner in the NCT Stars Awards. The annual

awards are presented by the UK’s largest charity for parents to recognise and celebrate

the efforts of its volunteers who give their time and skills to supporting mums and

dads in their communities. Mary runs a regular Bumps and Babies group as well as

being a breastfeeding peer supporter. In addition to her core role, she always helps out

at the Nearly New Sales and volunteers for other ad hoc tasks if she can. “She often

goes beyond her role, is a champion of all volunteers and a helpful team member. When new

members request information or introductions, she will often contact them the same day

offering her time and home for coffee and a catch-up. Mary makes a huge difference to

parents by providing timely and friendly access to information and support, and she makes a

massive difference to NCT by promoting the organisation and its goals whilst being a friendly

and professional key first point of contact for many.”

If you want to join Bumps and Babies, sessions take place on Tuesdays from 1.30 -

3.30pm at St Mary's Church Hall (Polygon), St Mary's Road, Ealing W5 5RH. Limited

parking is available. Bring a blanket and a toy for your baby. This is open to members

and non-members of the NCT. There is a suggested donation of £1.50

Help increase your child’s reading age this summerFast ForWord® is a programme designed to increase your child's reading and learning

ability used by the Raviv Practice. They say that on average children working with the

practice leave with a 1-2 years increase in reading age in a matter of 3-4 months

(working 50 minutes per day). It is a computer based programme used by children age

6 to 14+ and works on helping to improve memory, attention, processing speed and

sequencing skills. This will then translate to better decoding, phonemic awareness,

spelling, understanding syntax, reading fluency, improving grammar, and reading

comprehension. The programme is based on over 35 years research and is used in

over 40 countries. Parents are invited to a free demonstration and children can do

their work at home or even on holiday (internet access needed).

For more information call Usha Patel on 07766 837 616

or e: [email protected]

Perform opens new schools in West London London based Perform Drama, Dance and Singing Workshops started a class in January

2000 with 3 children. They now have 4000 children attending their workshops across

London and have chosen to expand more in to West London with new venues opening

in Baron’s Court, Chiswick and Brook Green in September 2012. Perform uses a mix

of drama, dance and singing in their classes and keep the numbers small in each lesson

so that children can get lots of individual attention.

The classes are suitable for 4-8 and 8-12 year old children

and their focus is entirely on The 4 C’s. Confidence,

Communication, Co-ordination and Concentration.

The new classes will be in

• Brook Green on Saturdays at 9.30 and 11.15 at the

Masbro Children's Centre, 87 Masbro Road, London,

W14 0LR

• Baron’s Court on Thursdays at 4pm at St Andrew's

Church Hall, 10 St Andrew's Road, Barons Court,

London, W14 9SX. They will also run a Perform Plus

class for 8-12 years olds at St Andrew’s Church on

Thursdays at 5pm.

• Chiswick A class will be opening in Chiswick on

Mondays at 4pm or 5pm at St Michael’s Hall, Elmwood

Rd, W4 3DY in addition to the 4pm and 5pm class at

Chiswick Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace, W4 4JN.

For more information 0845 400 4000

e: [email protected] www.perform.org.uk

l i hild’ di hi


New

s &

Vie

ws

Have you noticed how good it feels to walk barefoot on the

earth? Recent research has shown that our immune system

functions best when our body has an adequate supply of

electrons. Electrons are easily and naturally obtained by

walking barefoot on the earth, a process known as earthing.

These electrons have antioxidant effects that protect your

body from inflammation and its many well-documented health

consequences. Today we often wear rubber or plastic-soled

shoes which disconnect us from this energy and, of course,

we no longer sleep on the ground. This disconnection from

the Earth creates abnormal physiology and contributes to

inflammation, pain, fatigue, stress and poor sleep. By

reconnecting to the earth, these symptoms can be relieved

and even eliminated. There is no research indicating that

earthing will protect a person from exposure to cell phones

signals, microwave radiation, or radio frequencies, but

research does confirm that it reduces significantly induced

body voltages generated by simple exposure to common

household plugged-in electrical items (even if the appliance is

off), internal wiring, and underground electrical devices. So

next time you open the back door, let the children walk

barefoot, as they have done throughout history, what about

sitting, working, even sleeping grounded indoors?

Get your children (and yourself too) to walk barefoot this summer

Let the Sunshine in A recent survey in the UK

showed that more than half

of adults in the UK did not

have enough vitamin D. In the

winter and spring about 1 in

6 people has a severe

deficiency and about 9 in 10 adults in the UK of South Asian

origin. The symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are unclear and the

problem can often be missed until it reaches severe levels, at

which point it results in a condition known as rickets. What is

also coming to light is the impact of insufficient Vitamin D goes

far beyond the problem of soft bones. New research is revealing

the importance of vitamin D in protecting against many health

problems, and insufficient levels of vitamin D is now being closely

associated with asthma in children, depression (recent research

by the University of Bristol), and two senior paediatric

pathologists have discovered a vitamin D deficiency in a significant

number of SIDS cases. We are all capable of producing vitamin D

with proper exposure to sunlight. However, most sunscreens

filter out UVB light which inhibits vitamin D production. During

the summer, just 15 minutes in the sun without sunscreen in the

early morning and late afternoon is enough for most light-skinned

individuals to create an ample supply of vitamin D, and for skin

with more pigment (melanin) up to 40 minutes. Sunscreens

remain essential during the sun’s peak hours for you and your

children, but maybe use just what you need.

New party themes available with Amanda’s Action ClubAmanda's Action Club have designed two brand new party formats to give older boys and girls

(aged 5-12 years old) unforgettable entertainment on their big day. These are:

• Amanda's Action Club Dance Parties, for boys and girls who want to take dancing to the next level. They

have 5 top breakdancing specialists in their crew (2 of whom are performing in the Olympic ceremonies!).

They'll perform and give the children a break-dancing workshop where they'll learn a dance routine to

show off to their parents at the end.

• Amanda's Action Club 'Strike A Pose' Parties are for young girls you want to feel like young ladies. These 2-hour parties are

hosted by beauticians who give the girls fancy nails and make-up sessions. There's also music, karaoke and dancing, followed by a

red-carpet catwalk show where girls choose their favourite outfits, to wow to their parents as a big finale.

Find out more at www.amandasactionclub.co.uk

Useful websites – To read more

on Vitamin D deficiency, go to:

• www.wddty.com

• www.webmd.boots.com

• www.womentowomen.com

• www.patient.co.uk

To read more on earthing, go to:

• www.earthinginstitute.net

• www.naturalnews.com

• www.kindredcommunity.com


Parental leave plans: where do they leave you?The Queen announced in May that her Government would

propose measures “to make parental leave more flexible so both

parents may share parenting responsibility and balance work and

family commitments”. It was a grand announcement but little

information was provided on how such measures would work in

practice and what difference it would actually make to parents.

Parental leave is currently made up of several components:

maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave. Maternity leave

can be taken up to 52 weeks, paternity leave 2 weeks, adoption

leave 52 weeks and parental leave up to 13 weeks, 26 if you have

two children. The right to pay during that time differs according

to each category. Under all four types, you are entitled to

benefit from the same contractual rights, benefits and obligations

whilst you are on leave. The only difference being that for

parental leave and for part of your maternity and adoption leave

you will not be paid.

So what are the proposed changes and how will it affect us? According to the EU Parental Rights Directive, adopted in March

2010, the UK Government had to increase parental leave from

three to four months by March 2012. Despite this deadline, it was

recently announced that this great extension of rights will be

delayed until March 2013. In practice this makes very little

difference as a very high proportion of employees do not exercise

their rights to take existing parental leave because it is unpaid.

News & ViewsIn addition, the Government wishes to reduce the default

length of maternity leave from 26 to 18 weeks, with the

remaining entitlement of up to 38 weeks able to be shared

between both partners as they see fit. There would be nothing

to stop parents taking their leave simultaneously, while parents

could also request to take their leave in any number of blocks

of any duration – although employers can refuse this. As great

in theory as this proposal may be with the best of intentions in

mind, it is unlikely to ever work. A recent survey concluded

that only 17% of mothers thought their partner would be

willing and able to take some of the shared leave in addition to

their statutory two weeks’ paternity leave. Most (41%) thought

they would not be able to afford it as a couple, while 14% said

their partner would not want to and 28% said that it would not

be practical.

What either measures do not tackle, and what was not

mentioned in the Queen’s Speech, was how to implement real

practical flexible working for parents to fit around their children

and their childcare. Parents do not want increased leave or

shared leave; they want a career that works with their children.

This may not need a great announcement but it would make a

great change.

Sarah-Jane Butler, Parental Choice Limited, the one stop

source for all your childcare needs. www.parentalchoice.co.uk –

Helping you make the right choices for you and your family.

Yourspace was delighted when Elijah,

aged 10 of W4, won a place in the Families

West competition, on Yourspace Project, part

of their series of holiday courses for children

held in Ealing W5. Elijah said, “Yourspace Project

was fantastic fun... I loved it and couldn’t wait to

go in every single day to work with all the other

kids and teachers. I even made a new best friend!”

If your rising star would like to come

to Yourspace over the summer

(13th-17th August 2012) then check

out www.yourspacedrama.com.

Swashbuckler wins his space


Education

Helping children with reading with online literacy resources

Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress are interactive

reading and writing activities that focus on the core reading

curriculum of phonics and sight words using skills and strategies

essential for reading success, supporting what children learn at

school. The program has 120 literacy lessons that take a child

from foundation stage through to the end of Key stage 1. In

addition to the lessons there is Reading Eggs World which caters

for children who already know the basics of reading but who

still have much to learn about reading, writing, spelling, and

comprehension. Children are able to choose their own

adventure from a wide range of activities including creative

writing, practicing sight words, vocabulary and comprehension

skills. The Reading Eggspress program contains a library with

over 1000 e-books, and lessons in comprehension, spelling,

vocabulary and grammar. Both the Reading Eggs and Reading

Eggspress programs have a comprehensive reporting system that

tracks progress so that students and their parents can clearly

see each child’s achievements.

Using promotional code UKS24LDW you can trial the

programs for free for an extended period of 5 weeks.

Go to www.readingeggs.co.uk, register your email address

and once your account has been set up you can enter

the code on your parent dashboard.

St Augustine’s Priory welcomes a new HeadteacherSt Augustine’s Priory is

pleased to announce the

appointment of Mrs Sarah

Raffray as Headteacher

from September 2012.

Sarah Raffray comes to

them from a Catholic

Independent Day and Boarding School in Dorset. Sarah cites her

key achievements while Deputy Head there as producing the

roadmap for school improvement, and Sarah has been at the

heart of strategic planning and development.

Sarah is deeply committed to the education of girls and delights

in the richness found in girls’ schools. She sees them as vibrant,

joyful places where learning is treasured and where girls can be

intellectually ambitious. The Catholic vision for education is also

central to Sarah’s work and she is excited about leading St

Augustine’s into a new stage of its development. Sarah brings an

enthusiasm for what is best about what is new and innovative,

along with a desire to celebrate the fine heritage of the school.

The School is looking forward to welcoming her.


Education

8 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR July/August 20128 Families West PO Box 32231 London W5 1JR

ParentingHow do we respond to failure?Perhaps education systems and modern methods of

parenting don’t equip our children well for responding to

failure positively. Across the world education systems with

their interest in standardising and measuring have put much

emphasis on tests, results, scores and achievements with the

result that sometimes there has been not enough attention

paid to the process of learning, creating happy, creative and

thoughtful problem solvers. So much attention has been paid

to achievements that to fail is no longer an option.

Anything wrong with Positive parenting? Parents have praised their children for doing well. The focus

remains on results rather than on creative thinking or new

tactics tried. This creates a lot of pressure for kids – they

know that winning is what counts and it makes it hard for

them to fail. This creates a culture of risk adversity in

academics, sport and the arts and pits children against each

other rather than encouraging collaboration – who dares to

fail or even to take another path if it is so important to win

and there is a set way to do it?

Parents can influence matters considerably by:▼ what we pay attention to and how we talk about

success and failure. If we pay attention only to

achievements children learn results-based success is all

that counts. When they do not achieve the result hoped

for are our children not worthwhile? When your

daughter comes home from a netball match don’t let

your first question be ‘did you win?’, but ‘Did you enjoy the

game? Did you play your best? Were you able to set up some

goals? How did the team play together?’

▼ Giving meaningful and descriptive praise for

effort, strategies, attitudes and small

improvements, rather than results, to develop a

growth mindset in children. “You kept on trying with these

sums even though you didn’t find it easy. That’s persevering.

Your efforts have paid off – five out of six are correct.”

▼ Looking behind children’s behaviour and

acknowledging their emotions to help them

manage their feelings. Children who develop

emotional intelligence are more resilient and pick

themselves up again after set backs.

▼ Encouraging independence, especially in thinking,

to build self trust. Invite and listen to kids’ ideas.

“I know we did too much for our youngest son around his A

levels because we felt it was so important that he get the

grades he needed for the next step in his education, his

passport to successful adult life. But when he feels his parents

are there to catch him he doesn’t put so much effort in

himself. When we do too much of his thinking/planning/

organising he doesn’t do it himself.” Mother of 18 year old.

▼ Modelling how to handle failure well.

o When you get something wrong don’t beat yourself

up about it but acknowledge the mistake and why it

was a mistake.

o Take steps to remedy it – make amends.

o Articulate what you are learning, show that you

are not diminished by your failures but can profit

from them.

Coping with Failure

By Melissa Hood

It is a certainty that we all experience failure from time to time and therefore need to be able to cope with it. There are (at least) two ways of responding to failure: one is to be beaten down by it and to feel hopeless and discouraged and perhaps give up; the other is to accept that this time things didn’t go so well and determine to keep trying until you do better and hopefully learn something from the experience. Edison found many ways not to invent the light bulb before he discovered the way that worked. “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work…”


▼ Responding encouragingly to

their mistakes around school

work or music practice or sport

as follows:

o Find something positive to

comment on first. Make sure

you’re acknowledging good

qualities or behavioural traits

such as commitment and

creativity as well as being able

to spell well or do fractions or

dribble a ball well or play a

piece fluently.

o Then ask them to find

something to improve, routinely.

It is a difficult task for parents but we

need to allow our children to have an

unpressured childhood not just for the

sake of their present happiness but

also to create a future generation of

people who can think and are willing

to embrace new ideas.

www.theparentpractice.com

Are you collecting contraband on top of the fridge? What do you do with the kid’s contraband? You know... the game you confiscate when they fight over it or the toy they wallop their brother with. Or the mobile phone they are texting on after bedtime...Some parents have an overflowing mound of toys on top of the fridge,

others hide them. Perhaps you are like me with older children who can

reach above the fridge better than I can and so resort to hiding things about

the house... and losing them.

Contraband can become a source of contention with older children – whose

possessions are they? When they accuse you of ‘stealing’ the CD they raised the

money to pay for themselves – whose is it?

To manage contraband effectively;✔ It must be removed calmly!! Shouting & waving it in their face doesn’t enhance

the message – as a minimum it makes you look slightly mad or worst, it’s scary.

Either way they probably won’t be thinking about their misdemeanour and how

to behave better next time.

✔ Avoid breaking it in the process – particularly electronic equipment. Slamming down a

PS3 may end up with wrangling about who gets it mended and again MAJOR DISTRACTION!

(apart from the fact it will probably be you taking it for repair). Don’t leave electronics in

boot of car on a freezing night either – it may fuse it entirely (been there, done that)

✔ Be clear about what the unacceptable behaviour was and ideally state what

better behaviour you would like to see next time (briefly!)

✔ Only keep it for the shortest period possible. No more effective removing for

a month than 3 days as leads to resentment instead for getting the message. Besides

if hidden, if you are like me you will almost certainly have to spend ages looking an

idiot rummaging in the back of cupboards and behind furniture searching for it.

✔ Don’t allow them to whinge or browbeat you into returning it earlier.

There are plenty of opportunities for them to learn negotiation and debating

skills, just not this one.

✔ Return it with grace after time is up – no long lecture. If you must say anything –

remind them of the positive behaviour you are expecting.

If however the top of your fridge is piled high and you are hunting for capacity for

contraband elsewhere, perhaps it’s time to take a step back and consider a different

approach. Maybe taking away toys as a consequence isn’t working and you are having

to escalate to have an impact. Or perhaps you are keeping things too long. ‘Neutralising’

a toy during an argument until they agree to try a reasonable way to play together with

it does not need it put away for weeks.

More importantly it might be a nudge to go back to basics. Are you looking hard enough for

things to praise? Are you spending special time with your child and joining them in activities

and games they like to play... just enjoying spending time together. This is often enough in

itself to reduce conflict... so that toys remain toys instead of becoming contraband.

Dr Clare Bailey & Dr Debbie Marsden from Parenting Matters will be running a series of

evening Interactive Parenting Seminars in Chiswick in the autumn. They also run parenting

courses, individual consultations held by phone or face-to-face and presentations in schools.

To find out more call 01494 677575 or go to www.parentingmatters.co.uk.

Example: “This morning when we were getting ready

for school I yelled at you guys. We were in

such a hurry and I didn’t think you were

being very helpful. It’s not a good idea for me

to yell at you as it doesn’t make you feel

good,… or me, and it doesn’t make things go

any faster. I’m sorry. I thought about it

afterwards when I was calm and realised that

it was because we were in a hurry and I

didn’t want to be late that I shouted.

Tomorrow I am going to make sure we get

started earlier and I’m going to see what I

can do tonight so that there’s less to do in

the morning. I think I learnt something today.”

Say that you saw it featured

in Families West Magazine


Summer 2012 is going to be all about active fun (it is the Olympics, after all) and getting out and about in the UK (which is, for all of us cash-strapped families, a lot cheaper than going abroad). So what are the best activities to enjoy en famille? Joanna Moorhead investigates

Swing through the forestSwing through the forest

A tree-top adventure makes for an adrenalin-charged day out with the

children – and while you’re up there, you get some brilliant views as well!

Personally, I’ve never been so happy to be back on solid ground as when I got

down from the terrifying heights of the forest course I tried out with my

kids... but on the upside, at least I did make it down, and relying on them to

help me through the most white-knuckle parts of the course went a long way

in terms of family bonding!

The nearest Go Ape! Centres to West London are at Trent Park in Enfield or

Black Park Country Park in Buckinghamshire. (both within an hour’s driving

distance from most West London postcodes.) The over-10s Go Ape! course

takes children (and their parents) through an hour long network of looping

obstacles five metres above the forest floor, including the spider’s web, log

balance and jungle crossing, before finishing on a tree-to-tree zipwire. (Until

recently Go Ape! has been restricted to over-10s, but there’s now a new

course at two of the company’s 27 centres nationwide – Thetford near

Brandon, and Moors Valley Country Park near Bournemouth designed for

children as young as four, although they also need to be at least a metre tall.)

Prices: Go Ape! costs £30 for adults, £20 for 10-17 year olds.

The new junior course costs £15 for any age.

For more information see www.goape.co.uk

11

Climb the rocksRock-climbing is apparently one of the

fastest-growing sports in Britain, and

giving it a try makes for a great family

day out. Like all the best family

challenges it’s about supporting one

another, learning new skills,

encouraging people when they need it,

and celebrating new-found abilities and

courage! Family climbing courses

abound and most are for complete

beginners and take children from about

eight (although some specialise in

working with younger children). Look

for a course where you have a

dedicated instructor: you’ll learn

(amongst other things) how to belay

(ie hold the ropes safely) and how to

make the most of the rock’s features

for your hands and feet. If you’re

looking for a family challenge in a rainy

period, think about climbing walls.

We have the Westway Sports Centre

in W10 where you can hire an

instructor for a family session.

www.westwaysportscentre.org.uk/

climbing

Ride the tracksFor a family with people who can’t get

around very easily – elderly

grandparents, for example, or other

people with special needs – you can’t

beat a trip on a steam railway. Most of

these railways, preserved from

Victorian times, are in areas of

breathtaking natural beauty – The

glorious Oxfordshire countryside

whisks by if you take the Chinnor and

Risborough Railway, for example. (and

on 15 July, grandparents go half price.)

For more information go to

www.chinnorrailway.co.uk or see

www.steamrailwaylines.co.uk for the

lines across the UK

Take the family challenge©

Go A

pe!

Summer Activities

22

33

Say that you saw it featured

in Families West Magazine


Go mountainbiking

Like a lot of city families we have a houseful of bikes, but we

tend not to do anything more adventurous than go to

friends’ houses or the local shops on them. Mountain biking

is a whole different experience from a short trip down the

road: we went to try it on the South Downs, where the

gentle (and not-so-gentle) inclines make for great off-road

cycling adventures. You don’t, of course, have to use an

instructor to get to grips of mountain biking: but if you’re

taking kids with you, and you want to get a real thrill out of

your day (plus you won’t need to get the bikes there,

because the instructor will provide them) then I recommend

a course. Our teacher, Richard, gave us lots of confidence to

try out manoeuvres we’d never otherwise have tried (cycling

over logs, for example – and yes, it’s a lot scarier than it

looks when you’re in the saddle!). He also revealed the

number one rule of mountain biking, which is never look

down. You have to look straight ahead, focusing on the

furthest point of the trail, because if you look down you’ll

change your centre of gravity and fall off. We loved our day

learning to mountain bike: the children (who need to be

over about seven) were a lot better than the parents, but

even the parents managed things they’d never have believed

they could do!

Expect to pay around £40 per person for mountain biking

tuition, including bike hire.

For more information on the Surrey Hills tours see

www.allbikedup.com; for details of courses near you see

www.abc-of-mountainbiking.com

Take an underground walkThere’s something strangely thrilling about taking a walk

through a cave, into the very inside of the earth – the

atmosphere is quite different from anywhere else you’ll

ever go, and the memories of what you see and

experience stay with you for a long time. And, of course,

every child needs to understand the difference between

those stalactites and stalagmites. Some of the best caves

in the country are at Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, the

White Scar Cave at Ingleton in Yorkshire, where you can

take an 80-minute tour through some of the country’s

most awesome subterranean rock formations, and

Wookey Hole near Wells in Somerset, home (apparently)

to the Witch of Wookey. Closer to home, try

Chislehurst Caves in Kent. Not suitable, though, for a

buggy or a wheelchair.

Tickets from around £15 for adults, £10 for children,

depending on how extensive the caves are and how

much else there is to do at the attraction.

For more information on the caves mentioned here see

www.whitescarcave.co.uk; www.cheddargorge.co.uk;

www.wookey.co.uk; www.chislehurst-caves.co.uk

Fly a kiteEvery family has a kite or three, usually given as birthday or

Christmas presents and with fiendishly difficult-looking

instructions. We sometimes thought about taking our

children to fly them, but something always held us back –

usually doubts about how to do it, and whether the area we

were planning to kite-fly in was actually big enough. But a

lesson from Kevin Baker of Southern Breeze, a kite-flying

operation based at Baiter Park on Poole harbour, set us

straight: Kevin showed us how to make sure we were in a

suitable kite-flying area (you need to use your thumb to

check the height of the surrounding obstacles, to make sure

they’re far enough away), and you need to give the kite a

forceful yank to get it into the sky. More adventurous

families can progress to kite-buggying and kite-boarding, in

which you use the power of an airborne kite to propel

yourself along on a vehicle on the ground.

Kite-flying tuition costs around £50 for a half-day’s

family tuition.

For more information on Kevin Baker see www.sbkites.

co.uk. For information on powerkiting lessons near West

London see www.kitevibe.com

Summer Activities44

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Get into metal detection

There’s something almost absurdly

exciting about setting off with a metal

detector and seeing what you’re going

to turn up – even though it will, in all

probability, be complete rubbish.

Because there’s always that chance of

finding treasure – or even, and this is

almost as good, remnants of the way

other people lived, in another age. To

use a metal detector effectively, you

need to use a sweeping motion – and

it’s best to go somewhere with plenty

of space, perhaps where other

interesting finds have been made.

Children are just thrilled with the idea

of a machine that goes bleep the whole

time, and which might lead to some

discovery. Another big plus is that this

is an adventure anyone can enjoy –

great for families with small kids in

buggies or anyone in a wheelchair

(though you need to chose your

terrain wisely). Remember it is an

offence to search the Thames

foreshore without an appropriate.

permit. There are different types of

permit available. For more information,

call Ken Jackleman on 01474 562339

For more information see

www.ncmd.co.uk

Find a geocacheGeocaching is one of those things that sounds totally perplexing to anyone who’s

never tried it, but is a huge hit with almost everyone who has. The idea is to find

some ‘treasure’ – treasure that’s hidden in a box, and is findable using a hand-held

satnav system (any will do). The treasure in question usually consists of a plastic

box like a lunchbox with a whole host of miscellaneous bits and pieces in it –

things like small toys, CDs, pens, anything. The rule is that when you find your

treasure you’re allowed to take one thing out, and you must put one thing in –

and sign the log book of course. The treasure is hidden everywhere and

anywhere – in cities, in the countryside, even underwater.

For more information see www.geocaching.com

Go canoeingGo canoeing

Canoeing centres up and down the

country offer equipment hire and

instruction for families who want to

dip their toes in the water. Your

instructor will help you learn how to

paddle, how to turn and how to

negotiate rapids – and he or she will

also ensure that you’re canoeing in a

suitable place, and in suitable weather,

for the age of your children (which is

crucial, because accidents can happen

quickly in canoes). What’s especially

lovely about canoeing is that, as well

as the skills to learn, you can also

have a day out that’s close to wildlife

– look out for fish, water birds and

dragonflies. If you’re lucky you might

even spot an otter or a water vole.

Hiring a canoe and instructor costs

around £150 for half a day.

Canoe centres in London: ■ Chiswick Pier Canoe Club,

W4 2UG

www.chiswickcanoeclub.co.uk

■ Ealing Canoe Club, UB6 7PQ

www.ealingcanoeclub.org.uk

■ Edge, Progressive Paddling,

W4 3NG

www.edgepaddling.com

■ The Sharks, UB6 7NP

e: [email protected]

■ Y Paddle Canoe Club,

WC1B 3NQ

www.ypaddle.org.uk

Summer Activities 77

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Say that you saw it mentioned in Families West Magazine

For more information see

www.canoe-england.org.uk/

go-canoeing


Ealing and Uxbridge0203 092 1313 or [email protected]

Chiswick and Hammersmith07792503571 or [email protected]

www.littlekickers.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

www.twisters.org.uk

Gym Gym andand Dance

From Toddlers to Teenagers: Gymnastics, Ballet, Dance Drama,

Drama, Street Jazz/Tap, Boys Street Dance and Art.

For Adults: Stretch Workout and Body Blitz.

TWISTERS classes are stimulating and fun.

We are well known for our patience and understanding.

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We welcome children

of all abilities

For more information call:Hermione on 0208 933 9997or Louise on 0208 840 4452

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Twisters Ealing St. John’s Church, Mattock

Lane, Ealing, W13 9LA

Twisters Acton & Chiswick September 2012 You will fi nd us at: Acton Baptist

Church, Church Road, Acton, London W3 8PP

OPEN DAYFREE GYM PLAY SESSIONFRIDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER

9.15-12.15

Summer Activities

If you are looking for ideas for Summer Activities in West London, then a great place to start is our Directory and our What's On section on www.familieswest.co.uk

We have a comprehensive listings of ideas of things to do to keep the whole family entertained.


Cooking Parties!•• Fun, cooking parties

•• For boys and girls aged 5-16 years•• Cooking classes

Give your child the best party ever!

whisking, baking, giggling, rolling, making, laughing, turning, licking, joking

A great way to learn while having fun!

Call for details:

0208 876 9912email: [email protected]

www.cookiecrumbles.co.uk

At homeWhether the sun is shining brightly or it is bucketing down with rain, if you want to enjoy your own home for a period of time over the summer holidays here is our list of free and fun things to do at home!

1) Using a bucket of water and big (wallpaper) brushes get little ones to paint

the garden fence, wall or patio. Simple and mess-free, but great fun. Or get the

paints outside and try hand/foot/finger painting on the largest paper you can

find – try the back of unused old wallpaper. Then get out the sprinkler hose to

clean everyone off!

2) Set up a treasure hunt with clues around the house.

3) Water fight in the back garden with two teams – one guarding a base,

and the others trying to get to the base and steal (their mission plans)

4) Games day – challenge the kids to get through at least 10 board games, ping

pong sessions etc. in the day

5) Have a movie afternoon with popcorn and a good dvd

6) Camp out, pitch a tent in the garden, fill the paddling pool and sand pit, light

the BBQ and make some fruity cocktails. Then pretend you’re in an exotic

location and laugh at all the poor travellers stuck in airports or on motorways.

7) An outdoor blackboard will encourage all sorts of games and creativity. All

you need is a piece of board, ideally marine plywood, cut to the size you

require, and some blackboard paint, available from DIY or hardware stores.

Once painted, the board can be fixed to your house wall, fence or shed. Keep

chalks in a waterproof box, ready for drawing, writing, treasure hunt maps,

instructions, scoring

8) Rainy day activity? A small amount of screen time is useful for children and

we know they love working and playing on the computer. The Reading Eggs

and Reading Eggspress programs are all about bringing out the best in each

child using unique worlds of interactive reading and writing activities. Using

promotional code UKS24LNW you can trial the programs for free for an

extended period of 5 weeks. Simply visit www.readingeggs.co.uk, register

your email address and once your account has been set up you can enter the

code on your parent dashboard.

9) How about winning some free stuff? Enter our competitions on page

www.familieswest.co.uk for your opportunity to win a load of free stuff to

keep your summer free, free, free! We’ve got treasure hunts, theatre tickets,

baby equipment and more.

FREEFREE Summer Activities Summer Activities

Inspired by the National Trust we at Families Magazine have taken up the challenge to find at least 50 free things for you to do with your children this summer! So whether you’re looking for days out, music, museums, markets, clubs or classes to attend or at-home fun, we’ll prove you really can get something for nothing.

Summer Activities


LibrariesFor when the weather is wet and/or nasty, here’s what you can do indoors for free at a local library.

Story Lab is the 2012 national Summer Reading

Challenge™ coordinated by The Reading Agency and is run

in 97% of UK public libraries. With 780,000 children aged

4-11 taking part, the Summer Reading Challenge is the

biggest national reading initiative. It runs in libraries

throughout the summer holidays, with incentives, activities

and events designed to create a real buzz around children's

reading. The challenge is simple – to read six or more library

books over the summer. Just head to your local library at

the beginning of the summer holidays where staff will enrol

your children – it's completely free of charge – and every

child will receive a membership card or pack.

www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk or

www.facebook.com/SummerReadingChallengeUK

Summer Activities

Making space for ‘at home fun’ CAN be fun in itself! Juliet Landau-Pope is a certified coach and member of the Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers. Here she shares some top tips:

1. Be Positive Rather than harping on about tidiness, emphasise the

desire to provide more space to play. Put on some

music and talk about making room to dance. Help

children to visualise direct and immediate benefits.

2. Be Purposeful Help children part from things that they no longer use

by finding meaningful ways to donate. Show respect for

their belongings – don’t talk about ‘chucking out’ or

‘getting rid’ of their toys. Choose a specific charity to

support through donations or by doing a car boot sale.

3. Find Places Clutter often piles up because of indecision – you may

not have decided where to put dressing-up clothes, for

example. Ask the children to help you allocate a

storage space. Then sort things and encourage them to

be selective.

4. Be Particular It’s easy to become distracted so be systematic, and

focus on one task at a time. Take everything off one

shelf, for example and agree not to play with anything

else in the room until you’ve sorted out the books

into piles of what to keep and what to give away. Take

it step-by-step and remind the children of your

particular goals.

5. Aim for Progress rather than Perfect

It can take time to sort and to decide what to reduce,

reuse, recycle, donate or discard. Be realistic about

what you can achieve in each session. Rather than

aiming for perfection, make an effort to notice – and

celebrate – the progress you’re making.

Juliet Landau-Pope offers free consultations. Tel: 078178 33319. Website: www.jlpcoach.com

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Free days outStep Outside Guides: the little books that give you a big day out!

Step Outside Guides are a new

series of beautifully illustrated little

books which offer themed days out

by foot and by bus, discovering

fascinating places and wonderful

surprises in the capital. Everything you

encounter will be free-to-see, so you

don’t need to spend a penny! Just

pack up your picnic, your guide, and off you go.

The days are great for every age, and the books are

specially designed so that children, from about nine years

old can hold the book and take the lead. The maps are

bold and easy to follow and the explanations are simple

and clear. There are things to spot and questions to

consider all through the book, and rest-your-Legs pages

with puzzles and activities for weary moments.

Each book features an animal character, brought to life

by delightful illustrations. The animal lives on the route,

and acts as your escort, highlighting his Top Treasures

along the way. Good picnic spots are noted, free toilets

are marked and accessibility details for buggies and

wheelchairs are included.

The London Treasure Trail and Down by the Thames are

available from www.stepoutsideguides.com and

selected museum shops and book shops at £5 each.

FFSt

pa kck up your piicni

Decluttering Decluttering the playspacethe playspace

As you progress through the

summer of free stuff or when it

is over remember to visit the

National Trust’s interactive website

for kids with the list of the 50

things kids should do before they

are 11 ¾. Kids can log in and tick

off the things as they do them.

www.50things.org.uk/

July/August 2012


Ride a bike

Go Sky Rides are free, community

bike rides, giving you a chance to get

out and explore your local area.

They’re led by a British Cycling-trained

ride leader so you’re in safe hands,

even if you’re a bit rusty. There are

rides at four different levels from

traffic-free rides in parks and on bike

paths, to more challenging rides taking

your cycling a bit further. For example

on 22 Jul at 10am there is a Park to

Park ride starting at the car park in

Holland Park for adults and children

aged 11+ Other rides allow for much

younger children to ride or bike

trailers. www.goskyride.com

Sustrans offer a free information pack

to discover great places to cycle near

you as well as a cycling with children

booklet. They also have an online

mapping program to find out where to

walk and cycle from your home. Just

tap in your postcode and it shows you

local walking and cycling routes as well

as bus stops, train stations and

connections to local destinations such

as shops, schools and sports facilities.

www.sustrans.org.uk

Walks & Bike RidesEnjoy the great outdoors either locally or further afield...

Take a Walk

The Ramblers is leading plenty of

short, family friendly walks this

summer that everyone is welcome to

join for free.

Visit www.ramblers.org.uk/

walksfinder or for information on

getting children and families walking

locally try www.ramblers.org.uk/

info/paths/region/london/

londonwest.htm.

The walks by the river and the canal

look especially good. You may find

www.walkswithbuggies.com/Greater-

London a better bet if you have a tiny

one in tow.

Many West London councils have

walks that have been mapped out for

different levels of fitness and ability.

They range from short 20 minute

walks around parks to a long trek that

may traverse several boroughs.

National Trails are long distance

routes for walking, cycling and horse

riding through the finest landscapes in

England and Wales. Altogether, in

England and Wales, there are about

2,500 miles (4,000km) of National Trail.

They have all been created by linking

existing local footpaths, bridleways and

minor roads and by developing new

ones where there were gaps. They pass

through some of the most stunning

and diverse landscapes in Britain.

There is something to suit everyone,

from short walks to a 630 mile

adventure. www.nationaltrail.co.uk

There are lots more things to do in the 'What's On' section of our website.

Go to www.familieswest.co.uk

MarketsEven without cash to splash, there’s a special pleasure in checking out some of the most famous markets in the world – or perhaps just a local one? Enjoy the atmosphere, the entertainers and take a leisurely stroll just enjoying the ambiance!

Borough Market (SE1) Perfect for

the family, every Thursday sees a

Demonstration Kitchen between 12 –

2pm in the Jubilee Market. These

sessions are free and showcase some

of the produce available in the market

with their resident chef, Hayley

Edwards cooking up dishes inspired by

seasonal produce. Hayley is on hand to

give advice, tips and tricks for the

Kitchen in these informal and hands on

sessions. Borough Market will be

opening for summer 2012 everyday

throughout the Olympic and

Paralympic period – Sunday to Friday

10am – 5pm and Saturdays 8am – 5pm.

www.boroughmarket.org.uk

Top tips for fun family walking: Make it an adventure: Don’t suggest ‘going for a walk’, make it an outing

or adventure to somewhere like a park, a playground, woods or a pond; treat

them to a picnic or take something to eat and drink along the way.

Take it nice and slow: Be prepared to go at their pace, stopping to play and

look at things on the way, and to cut the walk short if they get tired. With

regular walking children will build up their fitness just as an adult does but

keep walks short until you know about their abilities.

Go prepared: Make sure they have comfortable clothes and shoes, and

extra layers in case of rain or cold weather.

Safety First: Remember hats and sun cream, and take something for bites

and stings.

Let them bring a friend, team up with another family, or join a led walk

that’s suitable for families.

Get Creative: You could plan fun activities and games like a treasure hunt or

I-Spy; look out for animals, birds, trees, people, buildings, colours, or collect

tree seeds, leaves, shells, and small stones. Take photographs along the way

they can put in a walker’s diary; get them involved in planning and running the

walks, perhaps plotting the route on a map and map reading during the walk.

Walk with a dog if you have one.

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Brick Lane Market (E1)

The best day to visit Brick Lane market

is on Sundays, though the shops and

restaurants are open every day.

On Sundays the streets are lined with

people hawking their second-hand

wares. There are also street

performers to enhance the vibrant,

lively atmosphere.

Columbia Road Flower Market

(E2) On Sunday the street is

transformed into oasis of foliage and

flowers. Everything from bedding plants

to 10 foot banana trees are up for

grabs. The air is intense with the scent

of flowers and the chant of the barrow

boys "Everthin' a fiver"? A lot of the

flower sellers grow their own plants

or import flowers from around the

world. A beautiful day out that can

cost nothing!

Portobello Road Market (W10)

is one of the most famous street

markets in the world. It is a popular

destination for Londoners and tourists

alike. Portobello Road goes straight

through the heart of Notting Hill, the

trendy area of London made famous

by the film. Portobello Market takes up

most of what is actually more properly

called Portobello Road, it stretches for

around two miles, although on a

crowded Saturday afternoon it takes

quite a while to walk from end to end.

Spitalfields (E1) London's oldest

market, Spitalfields is now open every

day except Monday and Saturday.

Resplendent under a Fosters &

Partners-designed glass canopy, the

market and shops offer cutting edge

fashion and interiors, original artworks

and as well as food. Spitalfields also

offers regular free events, including

lunchtime concerts, festivals, tango

classes, fashion shows and much more.

Cabbages and Frocks Market

in the cobbled yard of St Marylebone

Parish Church, sells vintage clothing

and delicious food. Open every

Saturday from 11am-5pm, marvel at

the food specialities on sale. The

market supports new designers and

cottage industries. There is retro and

vintage clothing, homewares, cute

childrens clothes, hand blown glass

and jewellery by individual designers.

www.cabbagesandfrocks.co.uk

Sum

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Parks & GardensLocally we are lucky to have a plethora of enticing green spaces with lush grass, perfumed flowers, acres of room in which to wander and most with children’s playgrounds. Visiting is FREE! Look them up on www.familiesonline.co.uk/LOCATIONS/London-West/Directory/Parks-in-West-London and try somewhere new!

A little further afield, here are a couple of suggestions for little ones...Aldenham Country Park (WD6) covers 175 acres of woodland, and boasts a

range of nature trails for visitors to enjoy. It’s also home to ‘100 Aker Wood’, a

recreation of all the features found in the Winnie the Pooh adventures. Children

love the boating lake, and the rare breeds’ farm, which is home to a variety of

animals such as chicks, geese, ducks, goats, guinea fowl, turkeys, lambs, cattle,

sheep, and poultry. You can enjoy outdoor fitness, woodland experiences, mixed

farming, pony rides, nature walks and more! www.aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk

Hampstead Heath (NW3) is one of London’s most popular open spaces.

An island of beautiful countryside, the magic of Hampstead Heath lies not only in

its rich wildlife and extensive sports and recreational opportunities, but also in its

proximity and accessibility to millions of people. There is a zoo, an athletics track,

an education centre, extensive children's facilities, three swimming ponds and a

Lido. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

The Welsh Harp or Brent Reservoir (NW9) is 170 hectares of open water,

marshes, and grassland. It is an attractive recreational centre, and inhabits a range

of wildlife. There are two bird hides on the site, a range of nature trails, and a

large space of open water. There are vast amounts of wildlife to see, which makes

a lovely afternoon out. www.brent.gov.uk/pks.nsf/pages/LBB-89

Free park resources: While you are outside visiting parks, fields or other

natural spaces you could be part of a fun wildflower survey. Plantlife's Bee Scene

survey is free and is an easy way for children to learn about wildflowers in their

local area and whether that area is good for bees. By 'planting' the findings on

the Wild About Plants website, they will help create a virtual meadow of good

wildflower sites across the country. A series of free guides and resources are

downloadable free from: www.wildaboutplants.org.uk/beescene

London’s Royal Parks Brompton Cemetery (SW10)

covers 16.5 hectares and is one of the

finest cemeteries in the country. In an

area with few green spaces or outdoor

recreational facilities, the cemetery

offers an oasis in all seasons, with paths

for walkers and cyclists, and hours of

diversion for historians, genealogists,

naturalists and connoisseurs of

memorial art and sculpture.

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Bushy Park (TW11) – Lying north of Hampton Court

Palace, the history of the park is inextricably linked to

the palace, yet it has always had its own distinct rural

character. The famous Arethusa 'Diana' Fountain forms

the centrepiece to the equally famous Chestnut Avenue.

Facilities in Bushy Park include a children's playground

and toilets for disabled people are available.

Green Park (SW1) is a peaceful park surrounded by

Constitution Hill, Piccadilly and the Broad Walk where

you could fly a kite or climb a tree!

Hyde Park (W2) has a wide range of facilities. There

are cafes and restaurants offering everything from ice

creams and sandwiches to three course meals. There is a

children's playground and the Lookout, a former police

observation point which is now an education centre

where children learn about nature and wildlife.

Kensington Gardens (W2) with the free Serpentine

Gallery, two play-grounds and children's entertainment

(thrice daily for six weeks during school summer

holidays), bandstand recitals in the summer months, this

park is a must! It also boasts a huge wooden pirate ship

as the centrepiece of the Diana, Princess of Wales'

Memorial Playground. Kids love to play, explore, dash

about, and let their imaginations soar in this magical

space. There is a sensory trail, tee-pees, a beach around

the pirate ship and various toys and play sculptures; all

set against a lush backdrop of trees and plants. There's

plenty of seating so the grownups can relax too.

Regents Park (NW3) has an open air theatre (end of

May to early September), bandstands (which hold a

variety of lunchtime and evening concerts), puppet shows

and London Zoo.

Richmond Park (TW10) has a wide range of facilities

on offer, including a playground at Petersham Gate and

educational facilities for those with special needs at

Holly Lodge.

St James’s Park (SW1) is the oldest Royal Park in

London and is surrounded by three palaces. Facilities in

the park include a children's playground (with toilets) and

deck chairs (April-September). There is pelican feeding at

2.30pm each day.

Greenwich Park (SE10) is home to The Old Royal

Observatory, the Observatory Planetarium (by

appointment), a bandstand (Sunday concerts during

summer), a children's playground and entertainment such

as puppet shows and workshops.

For more details about ‘What’s On’ in our Royal

Parks visit www.royalparks.org.uk

Hyde Park © Indusfoto

A BIT OF EVERYTHING…. DAY CAMPS

TWISTERS 23-27 Jul TWISTERS SUMMER SCHOOL for children aged 3+

(majority of children will be age 3-5). Sessions include Gym/Dance Drama/Art

and Music. Art materials and refreshments provided. Sessions 10.30am-1pm. £90

for the week. £20 per session. Siblings deduct 10% for 2 days or more.

020 8933 9997 or 020 8840 4452 www.twisters.org.uk

PICCOLO PLAYCENTRE 23 July-31 Aug For ages 3-11, 8.45am-5.45pm at

Hogarth Youth Centre, W4 2JR 07525 773 659 [email protected]

SCIENCE

MOTHER NATURE SCIENCE 23 July-24 Aug SUMMER SCIENCE CAMP For

ages 5-12, 9am-3.30pm in Ealing, Harrow, Hampstead, Northwood, Brent and other

locations in North and Northwest London. Hands-on activities exploring scientific

schemes and topics. Experiments to make and take home. Two programmes to

choose from- “Science Olympics” and “Science Academy. Themes include-Balancing

Acrobat Toys, Submarine Divers, Lava Lamps, Momentum Marble Runs, Friction

Sprinters, Powerful Explosive Energy Shows, Slime, Dry Ice, Creating Crystals,

Balloon Hovercrafts, Sun-printing, Kaleidoscopes, Diffraction Glasses, and Water

Rocket Launching. 020 8863 8832, e:[email protected] www.mnature.co.uk.

Group discounts available.

HOLLAND PARK ECOLOGY CENTRE 23 July-5 Sept Environmental themed,

outdoor and creative activities for ages 5-12. Booking essential on

020 7938 8166 e:[email protected] www.rbkc.gov.uk/ecology

DRAMA AND MUSIC

PERFORM THREE DAY WORKSHOP of drama, dance and singing for ages 4-8.

The theme this summer is The Wizard of Oz using original live music, dance

and improvisation. On the final day, family and friends are all invited to a

mini-performance.

Venues:

30 Jul – 3 Aug and 20 – 24 August: in NOTTING HILL at St Peter’s Hall: 2.30 –

4.30pm.

23 – 2 July: in CHISWICK at the St Michael’s Hall: 2.30 – 4.30pm.

30 July – 3 Aug and 20 – 24 August: in EALING at the St Barnabus Millennium

Hall: 10am – 12noon

6 – 10 Aug: in KEW at the Kew Community Centre: 2.30 – 4.30pm.

Book on 0845 400 4000, e: [email protected] www.perform.org.uk

STAGECOACH KENSINGTON AND CHISWICK 23-26 July SUMMER

WORKSHOP for ages 6-18 at Addison Primary School, Addison Gardens, London,

W14. An exciting and fun packed four days of singing, dance and drama! You do

not have to be a Stagecoach student and no previous experience is necessary –

just lots of enthusiasm and energy. For more information, call Sara Catlin

Brown on 020 8398 8106 www.stagecoach.co.uk/kensington

STAGECOACH KEW 30 July-3 Aug REPUNZEL AND HER MAGIC HAIR

For ages 5-12. 020 8487 1456 www.stagecoach.co.uk/kew

LYRIC HAMMERSMITH All the sessions listed below are free and suitable for

ages 11-19. 020 8741 6864 www.lyric.co.uk

6-10 Aug MAKING THE BAND Get a unique insight into the music industry

in a 5-day bootcamp for singers, songwriters, musicians, producers and

dancers.

20-24 Aug PLAY IN A WEEK Create a full scale whodunnit play in 5 days

– an opportunity for performers, costume or set designers.

28-31 Aug CARNIVAL WEEK Costume and lantern making workshops,

and carnival song and dance sessions.

YOURSPACE 13-17 Aug YOURSPACE HOLIDAY COURSES in drama for

children and teenagers in Ealing W5. Yourspace (12-18 yrs), Yourspace too

(6-11 yrs) and Yourspace tots (3-5 yrs) www.yourspacedrama.com

e:[email protected] or call Faith Hegerty (director) on

07580 474638

RICHMOND THEATRE

13-17 Aug CREATIVE SUMMER SCHOOL 10am – 4pm daily for ages

12 – 16. Work with professional theatre practitioners to create your own

site-specific play.

13-17 Aug PERFORMANCE SUMMER SCHOOL 9.30am – 4pm daily, for ages

8-11. Learn a variety of theatre skills, from song and dance to design, take part

in a backstage tour and perform on stage.

MONSTER CAT THEATRE 20 -22 Aug DRAMA WORKSHOP for ages 5-12 in

Ealing. 020 8567 5276


NEED EXTRA INCOME?TEAM LEADERS NEEDED£500–£2000+ per month, work from home.

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Are you what we’re looking for?Call Alison or Ian

01923 232242

Facepainting fun!Facepainting fun!Little Mugs Face PaintingProfessional face painter for any event

www.facebook.com/ littlemugsfacepainting

07946640669

Summer ActivitiesDANCE

THE KENSINGTON BALLET SCHOOL 6-10 Aug

SUMMER SCHOOL in Kensington for children aged

3 - 5 years. 9am-12 noon. Venue: Christchurch, Victoria

Road, London W8 5RQ www.kensingtonballet.com

DIDDIDANCE Diddi Dance are running their funky

pre-school DANCE CLASSES for boys and girls

aged between 18 months and 4 years throughout

the summer. Classes are held in, Willesden Green,

Ealing, Kensal Rise, Queens Park, Northfields, West

Kensington and Notting Hill. Contact Gina to book

your free trial e:[email protected]

07426 009 179 www.diddidance.com

ART

CORNER 9 23 July onwards SUMMER ART CAMP

for children 5+ Different art & craft projects to

develop creativity and art skills. 10am-12noon Mon-

Fri www.corner9.com 07763 472516

FIMO CLAY Various dates in July and Sept

CLAY WORKSHOPS for age 6+ in Acton.

020 8992 3767 www.funwithfimoclay.co.uk

KITE STUDIOS 16-31 July ART WORKSHOPS

which include painting, printmaking, construction and

clay. 10.00-11.30 am for ages 4-8 and 12-4 pm for

ages 8yrs + Venue: 2b Bassein Park Rd, W129RY

020 8576 6278 [email protected]

GYMNASTICS

THE LITTLE GYM WANDSWORTH, FULHAM,

HAMPTON AND TEDDINGTON 23 Jul-2 Sept

SUMMER CAMP Three-hour OFSTED approved

camps for ages 3-6 and 6-12 with games, crafts and

gymnastics all based around a fun weekly theme. The

older children will be able to focus on advancing

their gymnastic skills. www.thelittlegym.co.uk

WANDSWORTH & FULHAM 020 8874 6567

e:[email protected]

HAMPTON & TEDDINGTON 020 8977 0099

e:[email protected]

THE LITTLE GYM WESTFIELD 23 Jul-1 Sept

SUMMER CAMP Themed two-hour and three-hour

Camps for ages 3-8 years. Non-competitive and

supervised by a high ratio of trained instructors.

020 8735 0817 e:[email protected]

THE LITTLE GYM CHISWICK 23 Jul-31 Aug 6

weeks of OFSTED registered SUMMER CAMPS for

ages 3-8 and a weekly programme of gymnastics classes

for ages 4mths – 12 yrs. Olympic themed half-day

camps, flexible booking for members and non-members.

SPORTS

SPORT ACADEMIES 9 Jul-17 Aug Fun, safe, active

and inspirational SCHOOL HOLIDAY SPORT

CAMPS for 3-14yrs. Ofsted registered. Professional,

CRB cleared coaches. 10% sibling discount. Separate

camps for different ages

- TINY TOTS SPORT ACADEMIES –

multi-sport camp for 3-5s

- SPORT ACADEMIES – multi-sport camp for 6-14s

Venues:

CHISWICK at King's House Sports Ground,

Riverside Drive W4 2SH

HAMPSTEAD at UCS Active, Frognal NW3 6XH

HARROW at Harrow School, Garlands Lane,

Harrow on the Hill HA1 3EA

RICHMOND at King's House School Junior

Department, 61 King's Road TW10 6EG

www.sportacademies.com or call 0844 335 8217.

FIT FOR SPORT 23 July-31 Aug OFSTED

Registered KIDS CAMPS. Activities include many

sports, games, arts and crafts and healthy lifestyle

education. For ages 3-12, standard, extended and

half-day options available. 0845 456 3233* *Reduced

rate number www.fitforsport.co.uk

Dates and Venues:

23 Jul-31 Aug at Belmont Primary School,

Chiswick W4 5UL, Brentham Club Ealing W5

1NP, Kensington Leisure Centre, W11 4PQ and

Trailfinders Ealing W13 0DD,

2 Jul-31 Aug at Paddington Imperial College

W2 1LF

LITTLE KICKERS Football skills for children aged

18 months to 7 years in Ealing and Uxbridge.

Classes take place through the summer holidays.


www.littlekickers.co.uk

MI SPORTS 30 July-17 Aug MULTI-SPORTS

SESSIONS from 10am-3pm

www.mi-sport.co/ealing or 07894 540257

COOKERY

COOKIE CRUMBLES For ages 5-12 at

58 Pembroke Rd, London W8 6NX 020 8876 9912

www.cookiecrumbles.co.uk

24 July and 14 Aug AMERICAN CUPCAKES

AND MILKSHAKES 2-5pm. Recipes will include

red velvet, Oreo cookies and Malteser cupcakes

followed by some delicious milkshakes. 5-12 yrs.

27 July OLYMPIC FUN IN THE SUN 2-5pm.

Delicious smoothies, followed by energy muffins

and chocolate medals. 5-12 yrs.

3 Aug LITTLE ITALY 10am-12 noon, Focaccia,

Beef Meatballs in Tomato Sauce and ice cream

sundae. 4-8yrs.

3 Aug BIG ITALY 2-6pm, Lasagne, ravioli,

biscotti and of course some delicious semi-

freddo ice cream. 9-16 yrs.

6 Aug AFTERNOON TEA 2-5pm, Scones, iced

fancies, tea biscuits and more. 6-11yrs.

9/10 Aug TEENAGE SURVIVAL WORKSHOP

10.30am-4pm, Basic cookery skills for ages 13-17.

17 Aug LITTLE CHINESE BANQUET

10-12.30pm 4-8 years and 2-6pm 9-15 yrs.

Stir-fried noodles, dim sum, sweet and sour

chicken and more.

21 Aug LITTLE /BIG DINNER MENU Cook

and eat a 3-course meal.10am-12.3opm for

4-8yrs and 2-6pm for 9-15 yrs.

28 Aug TRULY MADLY PASTA 2-6pm, Hands-

on pasta making as well as sauces and some

delicious puddings. 5-12yrs.

30 Aug NEW YORK DINER 10am–12.30pm for

4-8 yrs and 2-6pm for 9-15 yrs. Homemade chips,

burgers, New York cheese cake, gooey brownies,

cinnamon swirls and tortilla crisps. 4-8 yrs.

PREPARATION FOR 11+

FLEET TUTORS 13-31 Aug If your child is sitting an

entrance test for a grammar or independent school,

you may need to think about using the summer

holidays to get a head start on preparing for the test.

Recent results show that over 80% of students

exceed their predicted scores in public exams when a

reputable tuition provider is commissioned. Mylene

Curtis, Managing Director of ‘Fleet Tutors’, says

“parental feedback following our intensive, small group

‘11+ Examination Preparation Courses’ is overwhelmingly

positive, with parents reporting excellent results and many

students receiving offers from their first choice schools.”

Typically, 11+ exam preparation courses are designed

for small groups of 10 and 11 year olds – with a

maximum class size of 5 or 6 learners. Fleet Tutors

not only uses past examination papers but has also

developed its own comprehensive learning materials

to support their targeted revision programmes. “We

should have approached Fleet Tutors earlier! The sessions

were helpful and my son has increased confidence for the

exam having attended your revision course.” (Parent,

Chessington, Surrey) Courses take place in Chiswick.

Call 020 8580 3911 or 0845 644 5452 or

e:[email protected]


What's On

RHS HAMPTON COURT PALACE FLOWER

SHOW 3 - 8 Jul An idyllic setting for a day of

home-grown fun. Enough ideas, plants and

gardening products to tempt gardeners of all

ages. Tickets £14.50-£32.50) from www.rhs.org.uk

0844 338 7505

ACTON CARNIVAL 7 Jul 12-7pm, at Acton

Park. Entry £2, children under 12 free. A vibrant

grassroots community festival with music, dance,

performance, exhibits and food. The carnival

procession leaves at 12pm travelling from

Woodlands Park on Crown Street, down the

High Street to the festival site in Acton Park.

TABERNACLE SCHOOL FETE 7 Jul at

Avondale Park, London W11. 12-4pm, bouncy

castle, stalls, International food, bric -a brac, face

Painting, nails.

KENSINGTON NCT MUMS NIGHT OUT

10 Jul 8pm, at The Queen’s Head Pub, 13 Brook

Green, W6 7BL – a chance to unwind, chat

and make some new friends. Reservation

has been made under “Miranda Thwaites”;

confirm attendance on the NCT Kensington

Facebook Page.

TODDLER OLYMPICS 11 Jul, 10am-12pm at

Kensington Gardens. Olympic-inspired fun with

Local early-years sports specialists, Active Planet.

They will be running three, 30-minute sessions

of organised games for children, (suitable for

children 18 months +).Plus a face-painter, singing,

medals handed out. Bring along a rug and picnic

lunch. Free but registration essential on

www.nctkensingtonolympics.eventbrite.com

BBC PROMS 13 Jul-8 Sept Classical music

festival at the Royal Albert Hall. Plenty of

concerts for families including the Wallace and

Grommit Prom on 29 Jul. See the full list on

www.bbc.co.uk/proms/whats-on/2012/

categories/for-families

PORTOBELLO ROAD ARTS DAY 14 Jul 1-4pm,

A fun afternoon of street theatre and arts for all

the family in Portobello Road, W10. Free.

THE SANDPIT 15 Jul 2.30-6pm in Holland Park.

Explore an afternoon of games and playful activity

designed by a range of game designers, theatre-

makers and technologists. For ages 10-18.

FESTIVAL OF SACRED ART AND MUSIC

19-22 Jul, at St Barnabas Church, Pitshanger

Lane, W5. Artists from London will exhibit work

on the theme of Sacred Art, (any visual media

intended to inspire, enlighten or praise spiritual

values of any faith.) Events include a Champagne

Reception with live jazz, a ‘Come and Sing’

daytime rehearsal and evening performance of

Handel’s Messiah which will be open to all

singers and an afternoon ‘mini Glyndebourne’

picnic with champagne. Details on

www.barnabites.org/artsfestival

BIG DANCE BUS - EALING 11 Jul 3-7pm at

Haven Green, Ealing. This quirky double-decker

Routemaster is a pop-up rave with music,

compere and DJ. Suitable for all the family, free.

BT RIVER OF MUSIC 21 and 22 Jul The two-day

celebration will feature free concerts along the

banks of the river Thames, starring musical talent

from Olympic countries around the world. “A

World of Music in London”- Six stages will host

music from the world's major continents:

• Asia in Battersea Park

• Africa in London Pleasure Gardens

• Europe in Trafalgar Square and Somerset

House

• The Americas at the Tower of London

• Oceania at the Old Royal Naval College

Greenwich

OLYMPIC TORCH PROCESSION AND TEA

PARTY 26 Jul 2.30-6pm at Music House for

Children, Shepherds Bush. Tea party to celebrate

the Olympic torch going past the venue. Also

stalls, flag making, sing-along and Olympic sports

and games. £3 adult, £1 children includes tea

and cakes. Book on 020 8932 2652.

www.musichouseforchildren.co.uk

WAKE UP THE NATION! 27 Jul. At 8am people

all across the UK will ring bells for three minutes

to perform artist Martin Creed’s Work No. 1197.

Hand bells, door bells, bicycle bells, church bells,

school bells, last orders bells, dinner bells…

where there is a bell, there can be someone to

ring it! To find out how to take part, visit

www.allthebells.com

NCT CHISWICK AND HAMMERSMITH NEW

MUMS MEET 8 Aug 2pm, in Starbucks 376

Chiswick High Road, London, W4 5TF.

Contact: [email protected]

NCT CHEEKY MONKEYS TEA PARY

17 Aug 12 noon in Holland Park, Ilchester Place,

Kensington, W8. Play games, eat cake and meet

other parents. Lots of entertainment, food stalls,

goody bags and prizes to be won in the tombola.

All the money raised will go towards helping

NCT to reach more parents from all

backgrounds. Contact Miranda Thwaites

e:[email protected] 0844 243 0007

02 LONDON MELA 19 Aug in Gunnersbury

Park, W3, Free entry. A festival inspired by South

Asian culture. Entertainment includes classical

and new music, as well as street arts, dance,

visual arts, a giant funfair, comedy, and food stalls

offering cuisine from around the world. In 2012

the O2 London Mela celebrates its 10th birthday

and the Olympics coming to London. Festival

highlights include music from the Philharmonia

Orchestra and a 300-person parade with giant

floats and amazing costumes.

www.londonmela.org

PARTY ON THE PIER 19 Aug Family fun day on

and off the river at Chiswick Pier starting at

11.30am. Free boat trips every 45 minutes, canoe

taster sessions, stalls, BBQ, refreshments, and

music. Also Amanda’s Action Club sessions, face

painting, ice cream and bouncy castle.

www.chiswickpier.org.uk

NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 26 and 27 Aug

Europe’s biggest street festival. Details on

www.thenottinghillcarnival.com

BOOK SWAP & STORYTELLING IN THE

PARK 29 Aug 10am-12noon in Kensington

Gardens. Join NCT Kensington & Chelsea for

some reading fun in the park. Bring along a

children’s book that you’re willing to swap

(in good condition). Also Storytelling session.

Bring a rug and picnic. Free, suitable for

parents with children aged 1+

www.nctkensingtonbooks.eventbrite.co.uk.

There are lots more things to do in the 'What's On' section of our website. Go to www.familieswest.co.uk

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To advertise in Families West please email [email protected] or phone 020 8930 4707When you contact us, please say that you saw our advert in Families West!

For children aged from 2 to 5 years. The nursery follows the Montessori method. We also offer, French, Ballet, Music, IT, Art and Drama.

Full and part time sessions are available. Qualifi ed and experienced teachers maintain a high standard of learning and care.

* Excellent academic record* Caring and nurturing environment

* Happy, considerate and confi dent children

Tel no: 0208 579 2304 Mobile no: 07956 228 959Email: [email protected]

Website: www.stmatthewsmontessori.com

Group of International nursery schoolsW2 Lancaster Gate • Bayswater

• Notting Hill Gate

SW7 Queen’s Gate

SW1 Knightsbridge

All schools have native

language teachers, excellent

facilities and lovely outside

playground/garden

For a brochure please call

Marie-Laurence Edmonstone

020 7259 21 51

[email protected]

Bilingual education since 1996

The Kensington Gardens

Nursery School

Bilingual Nursery School

French/English

• For children from 1 to 5 years old

• Morning and afternoon sessions

• Full time sessions

• Summer school in July and August

The Spanish Nursery School

Bilingual Nursery School

Spanish/English

• For children from 1 to 5 years old

• Morning and afternoon sessions

• Full time sessions

• Summer school in July and August


The London 2012 Games: a summer spectacular After years of effort, dedication and anticipation, it’s nearly here! The London 2012 Games marks a defining moment for athletes of Team GB and Paralympics GB – a chance to show the world what they can do on home soil.

London 2012 will be remembered for years to

come. There are all kinds of activities for the

family to enjoy together. Whether you continue

to follow the Olympic Flame, catch the action

at a host of venues, or watch the action on big

screens across the UK, there is a lot to do and

see this summer.

London 2012 for free If you were not lucky enough to get Olympic

or Paralympic tickets, you can still see some of

the world’s top athletes in action this summer.

Some of the best open-air action is free to

enjoy without tickets. Events like the marathon

and road races offer the chance to see world-

class athletes in peak performances against the

magnificent backdrop of the London skyline.

London 2012 on the big screen If you can’t make it to any of the regional

venues, why not head to your local live site. BT

London Live Hyde Park, one of the eight Royal

Parks, will deliver unparalleled viewing of the

Olympic Games via a series of big screens,

including the largest one in the UK. The live

BBC coverage will include London 2012 medal

events, with cultural entertainment and live

music also on offer. It will be free to access

between 28 July and 11 August. (The Opening

Ceremony Celebration Concert on July 27 and

the Closing Ceremony Celebration Concert on

August 12 will be ticketed.) There are three

options for visiting -

• Walk in on the day from 11am.

• Get a guaranteed entry ticket – up to four

tickets per person will be available to be

booked, in advance, for entry into BT

London Live Hyde Park, before 2pm, on a

specified day. There is no limit to the

number of days you can guarantee your

entry for. These tickets will not be

available for the Opening and Closing

Ceremony Celebration Concerts. Lots of

activities will be on at the park including

tennis, lacrosse, football, volleyball and

basketball organised by Sport England.

There will be 4 giant screens to watch all

the Olympic action as well as live music

acts and refreshments.

• The Opening and Closing Ceremony

Celebration Concerts at Hyde Park on

July 27 and August 12 will be ticketed.

Tickets will be available via www.

btlondonlive.com

Visit www.london2012.com/join-in for more details.

What's On

London 2012 Festival The London 2012 Festival is the biggest festival the UK has ever seen and features 12,000 events and performances at over 900 venues featuring artists from across the world coming together in celebration of the Games. The Festival started in June and runs through to the 9th September when the Paralympic Games end and the Games are handed over to Rio.

The Festival is all about getting involved – so why

not bring the kids along. There are many events you

can attend that are family friendly and in every

corner of the UK. Visit www. London2012.com/

festival for a full list of events you can enjoy.

London 2012 Join In Celebrate the Games at home with friends, family

and neighbours; here are some hints and tips to

make your event memorable:

Free events in London Road cycling: 28 July – 1 August The Road Cycling starts at The Mall and ends at

Hampton Court Palace.

Triathlon: 4 – 7 August The gruelling triathlon schedule includes swimming,

cycling and running – all taking place in Hyde Park.

The Marathon: 12 August The Olympic Marathon has around 80 athletic

competitors and will pass landmarks such as the

Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of

Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.

The Paralympic Torch Relay The London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay will begin in London on Friday 24 August with the lighting

of England’s Flame. The UK’s other three capital cities – Greater Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh will

then light a flame on each of the following days, at special Flame lighting events. Once a Flame has

been lit, it will visit local community groups and key locations in and around the city.

Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony Each Flame will then be taken to Stoke Mandeville, home of the Paralympic Movement where the

four flames will be combined at a Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony on 28 August to create the

London 2012 Paralympic Flame. There will then be a 24-hour Torch Relay from Stoke Mandeville.

Torchbearers working in teams of five will carry the Paralympic Flame to the Olympic Stadium to

light the Cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Key dates 27 July

The Opening Ceremony

28 July The Olympic Games begin

12 August The Closing Ceremony

24 – 29 August The Paralympic Torch Relay

29 AugustThe Paralympic Games begin

Opening Night in The world will be watching the UK as the Opening

Ceremonies announce the start of London 2012.

Get in on the action and host your own VIP

screening for friends, family and neighbours.

Super Saturday On Saturday 4 August a massive 25 gold medals

will be awarded at the London 2012 Olympic

Games. What better way to celebrate the gold rush

than getting your whole community fired up with a

sizzling BBQ?

Whatever you do this summer, make sure you celebrate the greatest sporting event in the world and enjoy a summer like no other.

© Antoine Douaihy


What's On

Days out HOLLAND PARK ECOLOGY CENTRE

020 7938 8186 www.rbkc.gov.uk/ecology

7 July BIRD AND NATURE WALK IN

HOLLAND PARK A guided nature walk around

Holland Park. 9am, meet at Lord Holland’s statue

www.thefriendsofhollandpark.org 020 7602 0304

7 July SUMMER WILDLIFE AREA OPEN DAY

Explore the normally closed wildlife area and

discover its fauna and flora. 2-6pm.

23 Jul-5 Sept SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Environmental themed, outdoor and creative

activities for children.

26 July WILDLIFE AREA OPEN EVENING

6-8pm, Discover the plants and animals of the

wildlife area and do a bit of pond-dipping. Suitable

for all ages, Free, drop-in event.

31 Aug BAT WALK FOR KIDS Discover the

dark, fascinating and secret world of bats by

searching for them with bat detectors. 7.30-9pm,

for ages 5-10. Booking essential on


WWT WETLAND CENTRE

Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT.

020 8409 4400 www.wwt.org.uk

Daily 9.30am - 5pm £4.95/ £8.95, under 4s free,

family £25. A spectacular 105 acre wetland

landscape of lagoons, lakes and ponds which

offers a safe haven for hundreds of wild bird

species, dragonflies, bats and amphibians.

REGULAR EVENTS: FEED THE BIRDS with a

warden at 3pm everyday, walk with a warden

weekends at 12noon, GUIDE IN THE HIDE

every Mon, Tues, Thurs and Sat 11am-1pm and

PUSHBABIES 9.30-10.30am Tues and Thurs. £6

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN

Until 15 Jul Make butterfly feeders, natural

picture frames and go pond dipping.

19 and 26 Jul and 2, 9, 23 and 30 Aug BIG BAT

WALK for children aged 8+ Learn about bats

and see them in the reserve. (bat detectors

provided) Times vary with sunset. £10. Book

ahead on 020 8409 4400

21 and 22 Jul TRADITIONAL CRAFTS

WEEKEND 11am-4pm, See skilled professional

demonstrate their skills at making felt, stained

glass, jewellery, ceramics, mosaics, spinning,

weaving, knitting and much more using the raw

materials provided by the wetlands. Children can

have a go at some activities.

21 Jul-12 Aug WETLAND OLYMPICS Encounter

some more record breaking wetland animals,

weave Olympic rings and go pond dipping.

2 Aug FAMILY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

10am-3pm. Talk and practical photography session

for ages 8-16. £40 per parent and child.

10 and 17 Aug NIGHT SAFARI For children aged

7+, an exciting evening in the wild exploring

animals and the elements. Make a fire, listen to

stories, do pond dipping at twilight and go on a

bat walk. £20 per child. Booking is essential: call

020 8409 4400.

13 Aug – 2 Sept BE A WETLAND WARDEN

Join the junior wetland warden team for the day,

help build animal refuges and carry out mini

wildlife surveys.

ODDS FARM PARK

Wooburn Common Road, Wooburn Common,

High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 0LX

01628 520188 www.oddsfarm.co.uk

Open every day 10am-5.30pm, £9.50 adults, £8.50

children, under 2’s free. Children can get up close

to whole range of rare breed farm animals as well

as play in the heated barn with haybales to climb,

a soft play park, indoor sandpit and games area.

Jul and Aug OLYMPIC SUMMER AT ODDS

FARM PARK Extra activities include Sheep racing

with a specially built mini race track with jumps

and bends, eager sheep and miniature jockeys. Also,

a Maize Maze, Tractor and Trailer Rides, Go Karts

and furry friends in the large Undercover Animal

Barns. Plus, within the Giant Indoor Playbarn,

you’ll find a massive adventure play area including

4 lane Astra Slide, 2 large drop slides, a netted area

with zig-zag chicanes and tunnels, and a swinging

rope. Plus special Toddler and Under 5’s areas.

BATTERSEA PARK CHILDREN’S ZOO

Battersea Park, Chelsea Bridge Gate, London SW11

020 7924 5826 www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk

10am-4.30pm. Adult £7.95 children (2-15) £6.50

family £26. Children must be accompanied by an

adult. Usual entrance fee applies for activities.

OSTERLEY PARK

Jersey Road, Isleworth, Middlesex

020 8232 5050 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Opening hours: Gardens are open every day from

8am-6pm; house and café are open Weds to Sun

12.30-4.30pm. Cost: £3.80 per adult, £1.90 per

child for gardens. £8.70 per adult, £4.35 per child,

£21.75 family for entry to Osterley House.

A spectacular mansion surrounded by gardens,

park and farmland makes this an ideal place to

come with the family. Lovely place to walk

followed by a cup of tea and a cake in the café.

Every Thurs in the school holidays OSTERLEY

CRAFT CART 1-4pm. Trails and simple craft

activities for families. Drop-in

Thurs from 26 July-30 Aug 50 THINGS TO DO

BEFORE YOU'RE 11 ¾. Outdoor themed

activities for families to tie in with the National

Trust '50 things to do before you're 11 ¾'

campaign – see www.50things.org.uk Drop-in, for

ages 3-12. 1-4pm.

29 Jul and 26 Aug FAMILY DISCOVERY DAY Art,

craft and storytelling activities from 1-4.30pm.

SYON HOUSE & GARDENS

London Road, Middlesex TW8 8JG

020 8758 1888 www.syonpark.co.uk

Open Wed, Thu, sun & Bank Hol 11am-5pm.

£4/£8/£10.50 family £22. Only 10 miles from

Central London. Home of The Duke of

Northumberland, full of beauty and magnificence

with its own wonderful parkland.

To 22 Jul. EXCAVATION AND COMMUNITY

DIG Training excavation which will provide two

structured five-day course, (July 9-22 inclusive)

for both beginners and the more experienced,

covering aspects of site survey, excavation and

recording. The community Dig (July 2-6) will

provide opportunities for all ages to come to the

site for short periods to have a taste of

archaeological excavation. More info:

[email protected]

9-12 Aug. CINEMA UNDER THE STARS Come

and watch your favourite film under the stars.

KENSINGTON PALACE

Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX

0844 482 7777 www.hrp.org.uk/KensingtonPalace

Until 4 Nov JUBILEE: A VIEW FROM THE

CROWD This new exhibition will explore Queen

Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee of 1897 from the

point of view of those who celebrated it and will

include a range of specially selected objects

which demonstrate the wealth of different

celebrations, from museum collections and

private landers.

7, 8 Jul THE KENSINGTON PALACE PARTY.

12noon-5pm Hosted in the grounds, take part in

Victorian country dancing, rock and roll and

Morris dancing- all classes suitable for beginners.

Performances, craft activities and storytelling will

also be taking place throughout the weekend.

Free, classes will be on a first come basis.

20 Jul FRIDAY LATES: VICTORIAN RULES!

Exclusive activities include pop-up history talks,

live music, making activities and special food and

drink deals.

TOWER OF LONDON

Tower Hill, London EC3

0844 482 7799 www.hrp.org.uk

Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-5.30pm

£10.45/£17.60/£20.90, family £55, under 5 free.

Top ten things to do with children at the Tower

of London on www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/

TowerActivitiesforfamilies

SPECIAL EVENT: Weekends in August and

Bank Holiday Monday AN AFFAIR OF

HONOUR A historical re-enactment- Swords are

drawn and pistols flare as restoration rakes settle

their differences 17th century-style. Goaded on

by King’s stunning mistress, Barbara Villiers and

under the watchful eye of famous diarist Samuel

Pepys, the duellists prepare for bloodshed.

SUMMER OPENING OF

PARLIAMENT TOURS

Houses of Parliament, Parliament Square, St Margaret

Street, Westminster, London SW1A. 0844 847 2498

29 Jul-1 Oct. TOURS take in some of the most

significant Palace areas where Parliament meets

and explain what Parliament is, how it works and

call attention to its journey from the past to the

present. £6/£10/£15 family £37

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HMS BELFAST

Moored on the Thames between London Bridge and

Tower Bridge. The Queen's Walk, London, SE1 2JH

020 7940 6300 www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast

Open 10am-6pm. £14 adults, children under 16

free. Launched in 1938 and served with

distinction in both the Second World War and

the Korean War, this is the only surviving

example of the great fleets of big gun armoured

warships built for the Royal Navy in the first half

of the twentieth century.

GUN TURRET EXPERIENCE A chance to see

what fighting at sea would have really been like.

Lights, audio, projections and movement will

recreate the experience, highlighting the hectic and

cramped conditions that would have seen twenty-six

men in this confined space at any one time.

INTERACTIVE OPERATIONS ROOM

The nerve centre and brain of the entire ship has

been updated with exciting interactives – rotating

radar screens and two large touch screen

interactive games based on the real-life Pony

Express exercise of 1961.

7-8 July POINTS ON A COMPASS Drop in

11am - 12.30pm and 2 - 4pm. Find out more

about the countries, cultures and journeys

HMS Belfast has taken whilst in service.

Free informal event suitable for all ages but only

with parental supervision.

11-19 Aug TATTOO T-SHIRTS 11am - 12.30pm

and 2 - 4pm. Design your own tattoo designs on

t-shirts and learn all about the traditions behind

original naval tattoos. Free drop-in event suitable

for all ages but only with parental supervision.

Museums and Galleries

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Cromwell Road, London SW7 020 7938 9123

Info: Mon-Fri 020 7942 5000.

Sat & Sun 020 7942 5011 www.nhm.ac.uk

Mon-Sat: 10am – 5.50pm Sun 11am-5.50pm.

Free. Home to the nation’s finest collection of

natural history specimens.

WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS:

11am-5pm. ACTIVITIES range from scientific

specimens at special handling stations around the

galleries, Explorer backpacks and natural history

specimens, ranging from a shark jaw to a

meteorite as old as the Earth. Science educators

are there to help you with your investigations.

For ages 7+

EXHIBITIONS:

To 16 Sept ANIMAL INSIDE OUT An anatomical

safari of the natural world £6/£9, family £27

To 2 Sept SCOTT’S LAST EXPEDITION

The Terra Nova expedition to Antarctica.

To 30 Sept WILD PLANET Free outdoor

exhibition featuring shots from Wildlife

Photographer of the Year.

INTERACTIVE FILM: WHO DO YOU THINK

YOU REALLY ARE Make a virtual journey back

through your evolutionary past to where extinct

creatures appear to roam around you in the studio.

Everyday at 3.30pm and weekends at 11am.

SPECIAL EVENT: 1 Jul INSECT DAY Hands-on

activities, crafts, Nature Live shows and bug hunts

in the Wildlife Garden. 12 noon-5pm.

14 and 25 Jul ANIMAL VISION FOR FAMILIES

A scientific show investigating the world only

visible to certain reptiles and invertebrates.

10.30am, 11.30am and 1.30pm. Free.

SCIENCE MUSEUM

Exhibition Road, London SW7 2DD

0870 870 4868 www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

Open 10am-6pm daily (Until 10pm from

28 Jul-5 Aug). Free

FAMILY ACTIVITIES: EVERY DAY

LAUNCHPAD SCIENCE SHOWS – free

interactive science gallery where you can launch

a rocket, turn your head into a sound box and

control a magnetic cloud. Plus science shows for

ages 8-14 years old.

IMAX AND 3D EXPERIENCES - Born to be

Wild 3D (U), Hubble 3D, Wild Ocean 3D, Deep

Sea 3D, Sea Monsters 3D, Fly me to the Moon

3D, Space Station 3D (20 Jul-20 Aug – Batman)

EXHIBITIONS: To 28 July

PALACES – a participatory artwork made from

thousands of milk teeth donated by children

around the UK. Standing two metres high, the

sculpture resembles a coral castle under water.

CODEBREAKER – ALAN TURING’S LIFE AND

LEGACY Code-breaking, computing,

mathematics, artificial intelligence and biology.

SUMMER OF SPORT – Mobility, speed, precision

and sustainability - who needs it? Athletes and

engineers. Find out how science and technology

will deliver an excellent performance at the

Games this summer and in future.

SIGNS, SYMBOLS AND SECRETS: An illustrated

guide to alchemy.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: ANTENNA LIVE

SCIENCE-Volunteer to take part in cutting-edge

experiments conducted by visiting scientists.

Suitable for visitors aged 7+.

In July and Aug – EXHIBITIONS:

• Will phones replace cash and cards? Turn your

phone in to a ‘mobile wallet’.

• How can new technology improve mobility?

Looking at how two prosthetic legs, the Genium

Bionic Prosthetic System and the running blade

improve mobility for different uses.

• Can simple design give us a sustainable future?

Aerodynamic bikes and efficient stadiums.

• Will wearable sensors advance sports training?

From 20 July, seeing how scientists at Imperial

College created small, smart sensors that give

the low-down on health and performance

without big bulky kit.

LIVE EVENTS:

14-17 Aug SUPER SPEEDY SPRINT 11am-4pm.

See what difference shoes can make to an

athlete’s performance.

28-30 Aug DRUG WARS 11am-4pm. The use of

illegal drugs and legitimate medicines in sports.

Other live events are planned. Look on the website

for further details.

A COCKROACH TOUR OF THE MUSEUM

Dress up in a cockroach costume and explore

the impact on the climate of scientific and

technological developments from the perspective

of a cockroach. Every weekend in Aug.

Book on 0870 870 4868.

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM LONDON

Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ

020 7416 5320/5321 www.iwm.org.uk

10am-6pm

EXHIBITIONS: A FAMILY IN WARTIME Life on

the home front, during the Second World War,

through the eyes of one London family. Free.

To Oct. BUILD THE TRUCE At the first

Olympic Games in 776BC an ”Olympic Truce” was

created in order to enable athletes from Greece’s

warring cities to travel and compete in safety.

Reinstated at the 1992 Games the Olympic Truce

continues to exist today. Visitors will be able to

explore the concept of truce, from challenging

notions about the inevitability of war, through to

truce as a method of conflict resolution and what

it can mean on a practical level.

FAMILY EVENTS:

21-22 Jul and 25-31 Aug BUILD THE TRUCE

11am-1pm and 2-4pm. Hear a slimy story of

slugs, snails and truce time tales and do some

related artwork. Free drop-in activities for all ages.

4-12 Aug 'MAKE DO AND MEND' QUILT 11am

- 1pm and 2 - 4.00pm Create a 'Make Do and

Mend' quilt in this communal art activity. Free

drop-in activities for all ages.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM

Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH

020 7601 5545 www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum

Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm. Free

23 Jul-31 Aug. A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Visit the exhibition “Gold and the Bank of

England” then make a gold bar-shaped money

box to take home. Enter the gold quiz

competition to win prizes. There will be a special

lunchtime presentations about gold in the

Museum cinema at 1.15pm

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What's OnBRITISH MUSEUM

Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG

020 7323 8299 www.britishmuseum.org

Free, open daily 10am-5.30p, (until 8.30 on Fridays.)

EXHIBITIONS:

Until 9 Sept. THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC

AND PARALYMPIC GAMES MEDALS The story

of the production of the medals for the London

2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, from the

mining of the metal to the creation of the

designs. See examples of both the London 2012

Olympic and Paralympic victory medals, shown

here publicly for the first time. Free

19 Jul-25 Nov. SHAKESPEARE STAGING THE

WORLD A unique insight into the emerging role

of London as a world city seen through the

innovative perspective of Shakespeare’s plays.

16-18yrs £12, adults £14, under 16 free

accompanied by paying adult.

WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN:

1, 21 Jul DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY DAY

11.30am-3.30pm, Choose from a menu of

exciting activities to do in the Centre or in the

galleries, using digital cameras, costumes and

more. For age 3+, drop-in.

7 Jul, 25 Aug PASSPORT TO THE AFTERLIFE

11.30am-3.30pm, Reality trail around the

Egyptian galleries.

17 and 24 Aug SHAKESPEARE IN THE

SUMMER 11am-4pm, Art and storytelling

workshop, all ages.

AGE 7+ WORKSHOPS: 11am and 2pm,

booking advised.

8, 14, 15 Jul and 5, 12 Aug ANIMATION

WORKSHOP Use video cameras and stop-

motion software.

18 Aug GREEN SCREEN TIME MACHINE

Use a green screen and Photoshop to create a

picture of yourself interacting with Museum

objects. (11.30am-3.30pm)

19 Aug MANGA COMICS Create your own

Japanese manga characters and comic book.

26 Aug MUSEUM REPORTER Become a

journalist for the day and follow clues around

the galleries using mobile phones.

AGE 13-18 WORKSHOPS: 11am and 2.30pm,

booking advised.

14 Jul CHIPTUNE MUSIC WORKSHOP

22 Jul FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY Run a

photoshoot using a digital SLR using vintage

clothing and handmade accessories.

29 Jul ILLUSTRATION AND PRINT Join a

professional illustrator to design your own prints,

both hand-drawn and using Adobe Illustrator and

Photoshop.

Details of all events on:

www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/family

NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM

Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HT

020 7730 0717 www.nam.ac.uk

Daily 10am-5.30pm. Free

EXHIBITION: To 31 Aug. WAR HORSE: FACT &

FICTION A new major hands-on exhibition

exploring the true history behind the hugely popular

“War Horse” novel by Michael Morpugo. Free.

NEW. JUBILEE: 60 YEARS OF THE SOVEREIGN

AND HER SOLDIERS Key exhibition items

include: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s original

Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) uniform,

Diamond Jubilee Medal, The Queen Elizabeth

Cross awarded to next of kin, a timetable of

Princess Elizabeth’s ATS activities, 1945 and also

eye-witness accounts describing The Queen’s

coronation.

ACTIONS ZONES – VICTORIAN SOLDIERS

ACTION ZONE Quizzes, games and hands-on

activities help you learn about life as a Victorian

Soldier and the part they played in the shaping of

Britain’s Empire. Free, in “Changing the World

Gallery”. KID’S ZONE Daily 10.10am-5.15pm.

This new children’s play area explores aspects of

army life from camping to clothing and includes a

dedicated soft play space for babies, plus art and

crafts, dressing-up costumes, books, interactive

toys and panels. Adm charge applies.

www.nam.ac.uk/kids

THE NATIONAL GALLERY

Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN

020 7747 2894/2885 www.nationalgallery.org.uk

FAMILY ACTIVITIES: FAMILY SUNDAYS

Free hands-on art workshops at 11am & 2pm

every Sunday.

1 and 15 Jul JUMP FOR VICTORY Discover

mythological characters, creatures and

competitions and make a trophy to present at

your very own games.

8 Jul RELAY MIX Experiment with the art of

relay drawing - Try out different speeds, materials

and shapes in collage competitions and family

drawing events.

22, 29 Jul and 5 Aug BODIES IN MOTION

Explore the body in motion at these clothed life-

drawing sessions. See www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

families for later dates.

Also MAGIC CARPET STORYTELLING For age

2-5, 11.30am–12 noon and 12.30–1pm. Fly away

on the magic carpet, which comes to land in

front of a different painting each day.

FAMILY WALK AND TALK – a themed journey

through the collection where a guide will walk,

talk and bring paintings alive! 12.30–1.30pm.

1 July (Greek Myths). More dates tba on

www.nationalgallery.org.uk/families

EXHIBITION:

11Jul-23 Sept METAMORPHOSIS: Looking at

change and transformation through inspiration

and sport.

Until 16 Sept TAKE ONE PICTURE: PRIMARY

SCHOOL CHILDREN INSPIRED BY

VERONESE A range of creative responses to

Veronese’s Family of Darius before Alexander.

SUMMER HOLIDAYS: Art Labs are new, short,

focused, and experimental art sessions showing

how to do specific tasks.

12-14 Aug 3D POUSSIN STUDIO SESSIONS

11am and 2pm for ages 5-11. Experiment with

life drawing and mini-model making in these

sessions inspired by the artist Poussin.

19-21, 26-28 Aug PARADISE FOUND + ART

LABS. For all ages, drop-in 11am-3pm. Look at

landscapes and create a meadow.

13 and 20 Aug TALK AND PLAY For ages 2-5

11.30am-1pm, Meet Madame de Seignelay and

friends: Talk, play, sing and create.

13 Aug FREE PLAY 2-3.30pm and 27 Aug

11.30am-1pm. Independent exploration of

paintings for parents and children. Drop in.

14, 21 and 28 Aug DRAWING STORIES 11.30am

-12.30pm, Tell a story through art and play.

THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE

020 7306 0055 www.npg.org.uk/events

Open every day 10am-6pm, (Thurs and Fri

until 9pm) FAMILY EVENTS:

21 Jul and 18 Aug STORYTELLING No ticket

required. Sessions last approximately 45 minutes.

For ages 3+ 10.30am and 1.30pm.

21 Jul and 18 Aug FAMILY ART WORKSHOPS

Free ticket required, available one hour before the

event starts on a first come, first served basis.

For ages 5+ Explore portraits in the Collection,

followed by an art activity. 11.30am and 2.30pm.

SUMMER HOLIDAY ART WORKSHOPS:

30 Jul – 24 Aug FAMILY DROP-IN ART

WORKSHOPS 11am-4pm, Take inspiration from

the BP Portrait Award 2012. Workshops include

animation, making 3D portraits and creating

sculptures. Also Family Trail. (Also on 2 Aug,

1-4pm with BSL interpretation.)

FAMILY AUDIO GUIDE £6 for up to five audio

players, £4 for two audio players (one adult and

one child). Explore amazing facts and stories

about people in the Collection with specially

recorded tours and interactive touch-screen

players. Suitable for ages 7–11.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION

Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U

3BN 020 7563 9500 www.wallacecollection.org

10am-5pm, free DAILY SELF-GUIDED

ACTIVITIES include a family multimedia tour,

with interactive games, free armour handling and

a selection of free gallery trails. No need to book.

EVENTS FOR FAMILIES: Booking essential on

020 7563 9527 or [email protected]

1 July/ 5 Aug THE LITTLE DRAW 1.30-4.30pm,

Free drop-in drawing workshop for all ages with

artist and illustrator Anna Saunders. Learn about

looking, drawing and interpretation.

23 July BUGS AND BUTTERFLIES

10.30am- 12.30pm or 2-4pm, £7 per child, ages

7+. Create your own creepy crawly or fancy

butterfly window sticker with inspiration from

Dutch still life paintings.

24-27 July FOUR-DAY JUNIOR SUMMER ART

SCHOOL For ages 10+

24/25 July – BE DAZZLED 10.30am-3.30pm.

Oil painting techniques. £22 per child

for each two-day workshop or £40 for

both workshops.

26/27 July GODS AND MONSTERS

SCULPTURE WORKSHOP 10.30am-3.30pm.

Create your own god or monster using wire,

mod roc and sculpt with plaster.

14/15 Aug DROP-IN ART ACTIVITIES 2-4pm,

free. Follow a trail around the galleries before

taking part in the art activity.

30/31 Aug QR CODE TREASURE HUNT 11am-

4pm, free. Use your smartphone to hunt down

QR codes hidden throughout the museum. Scan

them and answer their questions to win a prize.

PITZHANGER GALLERY AND HOUSE

Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, Ealing, London W5 5EQ

020 8567 1227

Tue-Fri & Sun 1-5pm, Sat 11am-5pm

EXHIBITION: 11 July – 2 Sept LONDON

UNFURLED An exhibition of the 27ft

drawings of the North and South bank of

the river Thames.


What's OnTHEATRES IN WEST LONDON

APOLLO THEATRE – WEST END London W1D 7ES

Bkg www.ticketmaster.co.uk or 0844 277 4321

GARRICK THEATRE 2 Charing Cross Road, London WC2 0HH

0844412 4662 www.barmybritainlive.com

LYRIC THEATRE Shaftsbury Avenue, London

0844 412 4661 www.thetigerwhocametotealive.com

PUPPET THEATRE BARGE Little Venice, Blomfield Road, London W9 2PF

020 7249 6876 www.puppetbarge.com

REGENTS PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London

NW1 4NR 0844 826 4242 www.openairtheatre.org

RICHMOND THEATRE The Green, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1QJ

0844 871 7651 www.ambassadortickets.com/richmond

RIVERSIDE STUDIOS Crisp Road, London W6 9RL

Box Office: 020 8237 1111 www.riversidestudios.co.uk

SOHO THEATRE 21 Dean Street, London, W1D 3NE

Box Office: 020 7478 0100 www.sohotheatre.com

SOUTHBANK CENTRE Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX

Ticket Office: 0844 875 0073 www.southbankcentre.co.uk

THE THREESIXTY THEATRE Kensington Gardens (by Kensington Palace)

Dial Walk, London W2 2UH. Bkg: 0844 871 7693

Info: 0844 871 7627 www.atgtickets.com

UNICORN THEATRE 147 Tooley Street London SE1 2HZ

020 7645 0560 www.unicorntheatre.com

WATERMANS 40 High Street, Brentford TW8 0DS

020 8232 1010 www.watermans.org.uk

TheatreHORRIBLE HISTORIES – BARMY BRITAIN Until 1 Sept British history is

full of barmy people who did nasty things to each other. With blood,

battles, murder and mayhem, explore stories from Roman, Tudor, Stuart,

Georgian, Victorian and WW1 periods and find out about famous

characters such as Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Guy Fawkes, Florence

Nightingale and General Earl Haig. 6yrs+ GARRICK THEATRE

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE Until 9 Sept.

This new adaptation of CS Lewis’s classic children novel by Rupert Goold

will be held in a specially designed theatre tent in Kensington Gardens, and

combines puppetry and hi-tech multimedia, projecting the magic of Narnia

with Imax-style video backdrops. The Ultimate summer experience in the

Park! THE THREESIXTY THEATRE

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Until 5 Sept

Shakespeare’s enduring story of young love featuring

the Open Air Theatre’s fusion of original music,

movement and unique setting. REGENT’S PARK

OPEN AIR THEATRE

THE TOWN MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE

1-15 Jul For ages 3+ The story tells of two cousins

who visit each other, both experiencing exciting new

sights and sounds. PUPPET THEATRE BARGE

THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA

4 Jul - 2 Sept The doorbell rings just as

Sophie and her mummy are sitting

down to tea. Who could it possibly be?

What they certainly don't expect to

see at the door is a big, stripy tiger!

Following on from the highly successful

2011 tour, the loveable tea-guzzling

tiger appears in this delightful family

show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos!

David Wood's stunning stage adaptation of Judith Kerr's picture book is fun

for youngsters everywhere, and their grownups. Ages 3+. LYRIC THEATRE

A WILD LIFE: AN AUDIENCE WITH STEVE BACKSHALL 8 Jul,

4pm & 7pm BAFTA winning adventurer Steve Backshall gives an illustrated

talk about his worldwide expeditions, his encounters with wild wonders

and the mysteries of the natural world. RICHMOND THEATRE

HAIRY MACLARY AND FRIENDS

11-15 Jul “Out of the gate and off for

a walk, went Hairy Maclary from

Donaldson’s Dairy”. Anyone with

young children will recognise these

immortal words instantly as the

opening lines of the book Hairy

Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by

Lynley Dodd. Back on stage with

many of the characters from the book, music, singing and several favourite

stories. For ages 2-8. RIVERSIDE STUDIOS

THE MAGICIAN’S DAUGHTER 14-19 Jul. Written by Michael Rosen in

association with The Royal Shakespeare Company. Part of “Festival of the

World” A wonderful blend of puppetry, live music and song for this

captivating story of the adventures of a young girl on a magical faraway

island SOUTHBANK CENTRE

THE BOY WHO FELL INTO A BOOK 18-28 Jul

A fantasy adventure, served up with typical Alan

Ayckbourn magic and lashings of imagination. A

wonderfully inventive play which emphasises the

value of reading, and the power of the imagination

to transport the reader to other worlds.

SOHO THEATRE

SLAP DASH GALAXY 22-27 Jul Part of “Festival of the World.” Two

brothers flee their home planet on a quest across the universe-an entire

shadow puppet universe, made from bits of rubbish. Some parts are a bit

scary for children under seven. SOUTHBANK CENTRE

HANDA’S SURPRISE 17-26 Aug Part of “Festival of the World” Travel to

Kenya and follow Handa as she journeys to see her best friend Akeyo, in the

next village. Physical performance, puppetry, live music, song and audience

participation. 2-5yrs. SOUTHBANK CENTRE

NICKELODEON’S DORA THE EXPLORER LIVE! SEARCH FOR THE

CITY OF LOST TOYS 28 Aug-16 Sept Dora’s fan will delight in this two act,

song and dance spectacular that invites them to think, sing and play along.

The show is designed to teach kids to explore, communicate, overcome

obstacles, solve puzzles and discover a diverse and exciting world..all while

having lots of fun! APOLLO THEATRE

ANGELINA BALLERINA – BALLET GIRLS AND

HIP HOP BOYS 30 Aug – 2 Sep, Thu-Sun eves

6.30pm, Fri – Sat mats 2.30pm. Angelina Ballerina,

in a new show full of singing and dancing.

Angelina and her friends think their dreams have

come true when Camembert Academy wins the

opportunity to dance live on the famous TV show

‘Simply Mouse Dancing’. Pre-show family

activities for children on 31 Aug and 1 Sept at

10.30am and 3.30pm. RICHMOND THEATRE

HOW WAS IT FOR YOU? 29 Aug – 1 Sept The Unicorn Young Company

present their take on the Olympics, based on interviews with Londoners of

all walks of life, from Stratford to Southwark and Tooting to Tottenham, in

spectacular dance and movement pieces that let you relive the action once

again. £15 adults, £10 under 21s. UNICORN THEATRE

THE BEE DETECTIVE 31 Aug – 2 Sept Part of “Festival of the World”

When worker bees begin to disappear Sophie will have to use all her

deductive powers to solve the case and save the hive. This fun and intriguing

honeybee murder mystery invites you to join the investigation and help the

intrepid Sophie with her enquiries 6yrs+ SOUTHBANK CENTRE

KIDS WEEK IN THE WEST END

Kids Week is the popular annual

promotion that enables children aged

16 and under to go to the theatre

for free when accompanied by a full-

paying adult, plus an additional 2

children can go for half price. To

celebrate its 15th birthday, it will run

throughout the whole of August.

Families can choose from over 35

top London shows and there will be

a selection of free activities and

events for children to take part in.

www.kidsweek.co.uk


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WIN... An Aquabeat MP3 Player with New Metanium EverydayOne Lucky winner will win a MP3 Player worth £70. Two runners up will receive a specially designed Metanium changing bag, worth £30 each.

Closing date 1st August

WIN... A Personalised Treasure Hunt from huntfunGo treasure hunting this summer with huntfun! Two personalised hunts can be won!

Closing date 7th July.

WIN... A Family Ticket to watch 'The Boy who Fell into a Book' WEDNESDAY 18TH – SUNDAY 29TH JULY at SOHO THEATRE 020 7478 0100www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/ the-boy-who-fell-into-a-book

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Families West London issue 80

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