To just not be able to keep up with the cost of children's parties in London?

[milkandmarmite]

It's DS's birthday in September & I live in a v. Small flat in London.

He is pre school age but has asked to have a party and I have agreed. I didnt do one last year as I took him to the aquarium instead.

I looked into booking the local church hall and was horrified at the cost - just shy of £400 for two hours!! then there's food and party bags and goodness knows what else to think of.

The other parties we have been to people have hired entertainers & had a bouncy castles etc. All fabulous and much enjoyed but after I looked into it the additional costs mean the day would be near enough £800!!!

I mean it's ludicrous isn't it? AIBU? Is this what people in London who live in shoe boxes do or is there something I don't know about? I can't keep up with it. I'm half thinking of chancing the weather putting them all in the park

can you not ring round, we are in expensive area near London and yet most halls about tenner an hour.

another thing is to simply borrow or even buy an awning or two and set up in local park. easy peasy and free! you can put load of balloons picnic blankets and do games...

That's ridiculous. I'm in Notting Hill and booking my local play centre - with a garden and toys and sandpit and paddling pool - is £110 for three hours. Where in London are you?!

You must remember weather gets sunnier in September when the children return to school. So a party in a park seems fine to me.

The very very best party I ever did for my dd was a party at home. She had 9 friends over and we did a pamper party because that is what she wanted. The girls all came in princess dresses. The other.mums helped with the pampering bit. Painted nails, put gliter in hair, did make up etc.

All the kids loved it. Party tea and nibbles for grown ups. There might have been wine for grown ups who stayed. My mate might have stayed until 11pm helping me clean up by making sure we finished alldawine.

We lived in a two bed terrace at the time. With a tiny back yard. I did it home because we were skint and couldn't afford a big class party.

Could you do similar? As long as you are organised and have a bit of help you could do traditional party games or a treasure hunt or a themed fancy dress party.