Live near Richmond? Places to go, shops and restaurants to visit.

[Willow2]

Ok - let me make this clear that this is not a press request as such. Firstly, I don't want to interview anyone about their toddler's tantrums/dreadful birth/affair with the milk man.
Secondly, this is about helping out other parents in and around the Richmond area.
So here goes. I'm putting together a parenting section for Eden, a free mag that goes out in the Richmond borough. I want to include loads of suggestions of where to take kids, reviews of courses and facilities (both free and fee paying), tips on family friendly restaurants, good toy and clothes shops plus advice and information on how to survive life with kids.
Obviously, I've got my own favourites - all of which I've found out about through word of mouth. So, if you want to sing the praises of anything "kids" related that's happening in Richmond or the surrounding boroughs then mail me at [email protected]. Equally, if there's a topic that you'd like information on, let me know and I'll see what can be done.

Hope this doesn't overstep the press rules - but this is a free magazine and I just want to make it a good source of information.

canyon is one of the most baby friendly restaurants we've been to. great location too. but expensive!

Batters - a free ad for Mumsnet? Me? Going out of my way to sing its praises? In a publication?
Somehow, I think it might just slip in there.....

Forgot to add Batters that it's a general interest magazine and is distributed door to door, so not quite the same as Families. My bit is just one of many different sections. It's very different to the sort of publications I've worked for in the past (for a start they cost money and had millions of readers) but think it should be fun doing it, plus I'll get to find out everything there is to know about surviving parenthood in the area!

Also forgot to add thank you for all those suggestions. Had forgotten about Marble Hill House and Ham House. Aren't the new playgrounds in the park a great improvement - and miles better than anything the council's provided?

Batters - do you go to Horton Park Farm of Bockets Farm? Brilliant day out and only 20/30 minutes drive.

Meant to say Horton Park Farm OR Bockets - am on warp factor five from planet plot at present.

Where are you then - or don't you want to say?

batters - guess what, I don't live in Richmond either.... just close by.

Can I add Don Fernando's tapas restaurant near Richmond Station as a child-friendly place to eat (certainly for lunch, it gets very busy in the evenings but that's fine for older ones). It's run by a Spanish family who welcome babies and children and the food is delicious and reasonably priced.
In my not-at-all posh bit of sw London there's a cafe/restaurant in South Street, Isleworth called Greedies which welcomes children, has highchairs and coluring books and does the best Sunday lunch I've ever tasted in a restaurant for about £8. You need to book for Sunday lunch.
I often take my boys (2 and 4) to Osterley Park. There's no playground but you can feed the ducks, play football and have tea in the National Trust tea rooms. Apart from that I go to Richmond all the time...!

Ta v much Fionn