Central London children's picnic - Sat Sept 11th

[binkie]

As discussed at today's Cityslickers lunch, we thought it might be nice to organise an all-mners-welcome picnic, with partners & especially with kids, somewhere central, to start off the new school year. Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens was our first idea (Diana Memorial Playground being the obvious draw), but could also consider Regent's Park perhaps?

So, who's interested? Imagine we'd all bring picnic for our own, plus something to share - say enough for another 6 people.

If it's a goer, any ideas about how to deal with risk of rain? I think, though not sure, that the Diana park doesn't have a function room. Anyone know different, or of somewhere parky & central that does? Paddington Rec?

I would love to come.

Regents Park has the advantage that we could decamp to the zoo if raining

I'd like to come toogreat idea. Have spent a lot of time at Paddington Rec, but don't think there's a "function room" or even anything similar. And it's just not the most aesthetically pleasing park either. . Countess, what did you mean by decamping to the zoo in case of rainisn't it rather outdoorsy there?

We'd love to come for something like this. Love the Diana playground but there is nowhere to shelter if it is raining. Battersea Park has a biggish cafe by the lake, and also the Pump Room/Art Gallery is available to hire but it's probably £££ as it does weddings. The park also has a big one o clock club next to the swings - do they let people use them at weekends? If Battersea would not be too far for people, I could look into it.

Recently met mums for a similar meet in St James Park, which was delightful and less chocker than Princess Diana, but no indoor emergency venue as far as I know...great idea Binkie!

A fat me and DD will come for sure - prefer Hyde Park to Regents park but can get tube to anywhere I suppose - ooohhhh will have to bring buggy as won;t be abe to carry everything and not sure about getting tube with buggy - am getting worried now!!

Kayleigh I will make you and Janstar a Pavlova for thanks for my lovely surprise today.

(Thanks for the bits for Max and DD mum XXX!!)

yes but I bet it has lots of function room things for kids parties etc (the zoo)

I would love to come with ds and dp.Good excuse to stay over in London for the night aswell!

I'm up for it.

Yes, please. Regent's park or Hyde Park is nice and central. Don't know Paddington Rec. but sure I can get there.

Otherwise how about Coram's Fields, near Russell Square? Brilliant playground, with sand etc., lots of undercover space and they have (or at least they used to have) a little farmy bit with goats and so forth.

Wow look at this sadly too expensive I fear but you do get a lot!

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Little Boy Blu and I would be up for it too.

Coram's Fields is a good idea - and unaccompanied adults aren't allowed in, are they?

I'm defintely up for it. Can't help with venues though but will have a think.

Twinkie, ooh a pavlova sounds good Did you mention that you baked a good cheesecake too ?

quick bump for evening people

I think where we are going so far depends on how firm a date it should be. So:

(a) if it is something that we all really want to do, whatever the weather, we need a place with an indoor emergency space ... and that is definitely Coram's Fields (thank you clever Frogs), have looked into it and although Russell Sq is a slightly less easily accessible bit of London there are great advantages: the indoor space is £25 to hire, there are kitchens which you can use, loads to do and so on; OR

(b) if spontaneity (hah with small children!!) - let's say, rather, lack of pressure to commit - would be more fun, and we wouldn't mind it not happening if bad weather (and perhaps also if ease of access is key), we should aim for a fair-weather-dependent meetup on those lawns just south of the Diana park in Kensington Gardens.

Who'd vote for which? Personally, and really not because I live right beside it, I think I'd go for (b), but could (as I'm a pushover) easily be persuaded into (a).

Over to you.

I know I've never joined in on a 'cityslickers' lunch but I'd love to join in with this meet-up if it's somewhere I can get to / weather's ok etc. My only problem is that I might not be able to make it til 2ish so would probably miss the picnic lunch part.

I'd definitely vote for Coram's Fields. There's loads to do there and indoor shelter areas. It's also very close to Holborn tube if that's an easier line for people to get to? And really just down the road from Euston station too.

Minimoomin and I would love to come. Coram's Fields would be really good. Count us in.

Count me, DH, DS1 and 2 and DD in too

I've not been to either place so I'm pretty easy about where to go, but the indoor shelter bit sounds good, especially after todays 'summer weather'

count us in! good idea. Don't know what to suggest about the weather. If we decide on a venue without cover, then at least we can all log in on here to discuss what we're doing if it looks like rain nearer the time - wonderful to have 'talk' for occasions like this.

Vote for Coram's Fields, not just because it's near us, honest!

It's within walking distance of Kings Cross, St Pancras and Euston stations, as well as Holborn Tube. And the no. 7 bus from West London goes straight to Russell Square.

I'd prefer Hyde Park/ Kensington Gardens. Not that interested in the Diana memorial though - quite funny that it's already flooded as it looks just like a drain.
Can we weather watch and decide venue nearer the time.

With balance falling on side of Coram's Fields (sorry Sponge) I spoke to CF this morning - glad I did as already for that Saturday there's only one of the halls left, formally bookable from 12.30, but we can get in from 12 when a dance class finishes. Called the Band Room: we can have it till 6, it seats 150 (!, but that's in rows - think we'd set up lots of spaced-around tables - furniture is provided), there's kitchen with cooker & fridge. I have booked it.

Hire cost is about £32 but they don't charge a cancellation fee, so if enthusiasm peters we can simply cancel.

So: it's on. Whole aim (as far as I'm concerned) is that it sort of run itself, with absolute minimum of admin or people being told what to do when. But I have lots of ideas: watch this space.

Sounds like most people here have seen Coram Fields and Diana Memorial Playground, but for those who haven't maybe worth listing the pros and cons of both?

1. Kensington Gardens/Diana Memorial Playground pros: very park-y feeling, lots of grass, huge open space, with the very popular Diana playground that kids all LOVE. Cons: VERY busy on weekends. (My friend's then 3-yr-old ds got lost in the playground, but was found 10 mins later after all the playground workers and parents helped in a search for him. I, too, have nearly lost my ds on a couple of occasions. It might be hard to talk to other mumsnetters and keep track of the kids, IYSWIM.) But definitely the more picnick-y and aesthetically pleasing options of the 2.

2. Coram Fields=much smaller. Pros: has a small zoo, a decent playground and doesn't get nearly as busy. Also includes a back-up plan for rain. Cons: not as lush and outdoorsy as Kensington Gardens. I don't recall lots of green; feels more like an urban space.

I'm stuck on the fence. Kensington Gardens is quite near to where I live but i find the weekend chaos of Princess Diana Park overwhelming; Coram Fields I rather like for its offbeat public space qualities, but it's much farther from us and the playgrounds not as special. BUT there are live animals. I'll let others decide.

If anyone thinks my descriptions are inaccurate please feel free to correct me. Diana playground might be less busy then I remember it, for example. I haven't been there in a while.

Oops, Binkie, posts crossed.

expk, so glad you didn't come down firmly re Kensington Gardens! You're right, Diana park does get overwhelmingly busy on w/e afternoons - I'd overlooked that - and adding to that the no. of people already showing interest here it just might have been impossible. I've persuaded myself too that having "our" space at CF will be an advantage in itself as a place to escape from crowds (if there are any).

I'm interested in coming with ds and don't mind either of the venues - never been to Coram Fields but it sounds like it is easy enough to get to.