Just had free trial session at Gymboree - fantastic!

[Hulababy]

I have been looking for an activity class for DD (2y 8m), and Gymboree has recently opened here.

I phoned them last week and the Play session for DD's age group (Gym Explorers) was this morning, and we got a free session. Just got back and it was really really good. I was very impressed. Seemed more professional and organised than Tumble Tots (we did that when DD was younger). It was really well done - today was based on a Winter Wonderland theme - so we did lots of activities pretending it was winter - building a snowman, throwing snowballs, hibernating like a bear in the caves (tunnels), went inside an igloo (parachute), catching snow bubbles, jumping into puddles, riding a toboggan and read a winter story and sang songs.

DD adored it and got loads from it.

It isn't cheap though!!! Costs £89 for 12 45 minute classes. Art the moment there is a special offer - when you enrol for 12 Play sessions, you get 6 music sessions for free.

Gymboree (has a website by the way) does 3 sessions: Play, Music and Art. And there are different classes for different age groups.

I have signed DD up for Play , but on a Friday we will also do the 6 music sessions for free for now.

For your money we also get to use the free "Open Sessions" - which are on every day Mon-Sat, normally around lunch time here.

And they do birthday parties for memebers and non-mebers too which look good.

Was really impressed!

We went to Gymboree when we lived in Virginia, USA when DD was just 9mo (yikes - over 7 years ago!!). I thought it was fantastic and had tried a number of things in the UK, in and around Clapham/Wandsowrth before we went there. Gymboree was by far the best.

We paid $99 per term and could visit as often as we liked during the week for the sessions that were age appropriate. Not sure how it's run here vs. there but in VA, it was a permanaent thing in a shop unit type thing rather than a church hall where equipment was puto ut and put away, as it is IME with Tumble Tots.

Sue - the Gymboree we go to is in a proper place, rather than just in a church hall too. So clean, bright and warm rather than being in a drafty hall like Tumble Tots was.

Went for our first free music class today. Arrived a bit later because of awful traffic, but still had a great time. DD loved it it all, and afterwards they had the chance for 10 minutes on the play equipement before the next session started.

We also have a coffee room where you can buy coffee, tea, latte, juice, etc. and a sit down and chat. Oh, and clean toilets Very civilaised it was!

Glad you enjoyed it hula baby I think we'll definately join

Which gymboree is it Hula? Most of them are rather expensive!

We go to the Sheffield one. It isn't cheap I agree - think it works out at £7.40 a session (paid up front for 12 sessions) but we did get 6 free music sessions included too.

The ones nearest to me - which is still london so not that close! - are over £10 a session, up to about £20 a session.... scary!

I take my 3.5 year old to their Gym PLayers classes. These are the least popular due to most kids his age being at nursery so they are discounted by 25%. They are still very expensive for us - particularly as we live in central london. However, we are now on our second term and I have worked out a way to make it cost effective! We go on a friday afternoon and there is an open gym session directly before so we always go to both. This means we get double the fun for the same cost. Also, we sometimes do the open gym on a weekend too (with dh). We also make sure we have attended every class during the term (or done a make up class) so that we get the free bonus period sessions. When you do all of this, it works out much more value for money. Without the discount and all the open gyms, it would be around £15 a session which is insane. I have worked it out to be about £6 a session the way I do it. I think they are very good if you have the money - ds loves it.