What shall DD (4) and DS (2) do this summer -- Kingston, Twickenham, Richmond areas

[Eleusis]

We'll be getting a new nanny just before they break up for summer and was thinking I should probably arrange some activities or new nanny will go go stir crazy in my house with two little mischeif makers.

I was thinking about The Little Gym in Hampton Hill. Ay one been? Is it good?

Or maybe swimming at Hampton Open Air Pool? I hear it's nice, but I haven't ever been.

What are other people people in the Twickenham/Richmond/Kingston area doing with little ones this summer?

bump

I have taken mine to Landmarks art centre in Teddington, they usually have activities on in the summer holidays.

My dd's also love the Butterfly house at Syon Park in Isleworth.

Oh yes, Landmark arts centre is a good idea.

Have you been to the Hampton Pool?

There's an arty week (drama, art etc) at St Matthias Church in Richmond every summer. Sorry, can't remember the name but can dig it out for you if interested.

They also do a kids club thing at Duke Street Church in Richmond. Quite churchy.

Just remembered it's called The Richmond Arts Festival.

Oh, that sounds nice... I'm off to google.

Hi ds2 currently goes to the Little Gym and loves it. Ds1 used to go too but stopped paying attention when he was about 4 so it wasn't worth us paying. I think it depends on the other kids in the group, and on how good the teacher is at keeping them in check. I like it because the equipment is all proper stuff, just scaled down for kids, the teachers all have very sporty backgrounds so they know what they are talking about, and there is a good curriculum. I haven't ever tried any of their special summer things as our local leisure centres have cheaper playschemes.

Kingston council arrange special stuff over the summer in the parks (Richmond and Bushy Park) - like drama or make and take activities. If you call the Kingston Childrens Information Service in June or July they should be able to send you a list of what's going on.

I am a nanny in the Kingston area and find that there is just so much going on the summer holidays are never long enough. Richmond and other local authoritys also run suff as well and publish booklets. There is always stuff going on in the Royal parks nearer the time the details are posted on the web site. Kingston run a thing called thunbs its Thursday in the afternoons bascialy loads of free stuff going around the town centre from crafts to shows differant themes each week. Libary runs loads of stuff in addition to their under fives stories and for a huge age range of children. They even run a summer themed reading scheme the children choose so many books over the summer then are rewarded with stickers and a medal at the end you can use do it with the younger children using shared and picture books. Then of course there is the usual stuff farms soft play box hill a trip on the river even jumping on a train down to Winsdor for a pininc can be fun. They have a brillant pool crazy golf the castle a small childrens collection of rides all of which are only 50p each.