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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Somewhere to meet in London with babies

14 replies

babyOcho · 30/10/2008 14:21

Myself and 3 other friends want to meet up in London with our babies. They (the babies) are all under 12months old, and rather than to hang out in a coffee shop, is there anywhere else we can go? Or can we hire a clean flat or hotel room for a few hours so our babies can crawl around or whatever? Any suggestions?

We all live in different parts, so driving to each others house isn't an option (someone will always need to be in the car for 2 hours).

OP posts:

UmMwahahahaaaaa · 30/10/2008 17:01

Tate Modern is big and open.

IlanaK · 30/10/2008 17:06

The Science Museum has a "garden" downstairs which is an under 5's area with things to explore and do. They can crawl on the mats etc, but it is often busy during the day with school groups.

What about a soft play type place? You would have to pay, but it would be safe for the little ones to crawl about.

Or, how about Harrods? I know it sounds crazy, but their toy department is huge and there are different rooms. The floors are relatively clean for a shop and there are wonderful large stuffed animals in one room as well as preschcool toys to try in another room. You could combine it with a coffee in one of their many cafes.

Or what about a park? If you can pick a dry day (even if cold) and go to one of the playgrounds in a royal park. Regent's park playgrounds all have big sandpits where they can crawl around. Most have cafes near where you can get a hot drink.

superjump · 30/10/2008 17:19

If you want to give yourselves a treat, there are a couple of fairly exclusive drop-in places in London where mummies can congregrate & watch babies play, then pop them in the creche while they get a massage etc - sounds divine to me but sadly the name of one of these joints currently escapes me! maybe someone else will come along & remember

peasoup · 30/10/2008 23:52

Upstairs in the food hall at the enormous Wholefood Supermarket on High Street Kensington is great for babies. VERY spacious. There's an area with armchairs etc with a big window overlooking the high street. They have hi chairs. Lots of nice food.

lisad123 · 30/10/2008 23:55

Isnt there a childrens cafe in LOndon?

peasoup · 30/10/2008 23:55

Or how about one of the many One O'Clock Clubs in London. Open about 1 till 3:30. The one on Wandsworth Common has a sensory room for babies with mats, a water bed(!), light and bubble show. Also Battersea Park has a good one too.
I think Maggie and Rose is a posh Mum and Baby club in Chelsea.
Cupcake is a posh Mum and Baby Spa I think

fivetoone · 31/10/2008 00:07

that place on the corner at newington green. it's a children's cafe. Ideal, you can have a drink and food while they crawl round.

elkiedee · 31/10/2008 00:16

I'm assuming if you live in different parts you want somewhere relatively central.

The zoo?

A central London swimming pool, at a time of day suitable for mums and babies? I don't know it but for example Camden has the Oasis Sports Centre near Holborn/Covent Garden.

I'd suggest a city farm but probably the same drawback as houses, that someone would have too far to travel.

At a warmer time of year there's a park, Coram's Fields, where you can only go if you have a child with you. ds took me, dp and his grandfather a few months ago. There's a sandpit, playground, animals to look at.

Whatever you choose, even if you don't just want to go to a coffee shop, it's probably a good idea to think about somewhere with a baby friendly place to eat, with lots of highchairs if they're more than 6 months old.

swampster · 31/10/2008 00:21

The South Bank in general and Festival Hall in particular.

elkiedee · 31/10/2008 00:22

I have to say I didn't find That Place on the Corner that great a place to take my ds at 6 months, and again, it's a bit of a journey for people who don't live in the nearby parts of Hackney/Islington/Haringey, specially as it's more than a mile from the nearest tubes. I did a baby massage course there which was good, but the woman running the place made me feel really uncomfortable when my ds brought up a little bit of his milk on the floor. When it got busy, babies couldn't have safely crawled around the floor.

elkiedee · 31/10/2008 00:22

Original poster

babyOcho · 01/11/2008 13:07

Thanks, got some great ideas.

The babies range from - 10 months, 7 months, 1 month and one due in December! We are all literally in 4 different corners or the M25.

I wonder if there is a market for a baby venue in central London

OP posts:

Bubbaluv · 01/11/2008 13:24

You could do a google search for Mother Toddler groups and go along to one of those. I know there's a huge one in Notting Hill, but can't remember what days it is on.

Bubbaluv · 01/11/2008 13:26

There are hotel rooms you can hire by the hour, but wouldn't take a baby to one!! But, lots of hotels have meeting rooms you could hire for a few hours. Worth considering?

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