Posted: 2010-07-13 10:09:17

Last Tuesday I went to the O2 just like the parents of 5,000 other school children. Our kids had been rehearsing really hard for months and it was finally the night that we got to see the performance.

Called “Licence to thrill” the production was based on James Bond – there were a cast of actors from TheatreTrain and voice overs were provided by a collection of TV presenters and soap opera stars including Blue Peter’s Andy Akinwolere, Loui Batley from Hollyoaks, finalists from Over the Rainbo

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Posted: 2010-06-21 08:51:35

So your kids loved “Brittania High”? And “You’ve got to dance?” Then they are probably Adam Garcia fans. Me, I remember him as a fresh faced actor in “Coyote Ugly” starring opposite the lead – with a soft Australian accent seeming so out of place in an otherwise wholly American “dreams can come true” fantasy. My daughter is smitten with Adam. She is also a tap dancing fanatic. And that is why I bought tickets to see “Tap Dogs” at the Novello Theatre in Aldwych.

The “story” is based on a forem

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Posted: 2010-04-22 09:51:24

My 12 year old has been to many circuses – and numerous upmarket versions (eg Afrika! Afrika!, Cirque Du Soleil and even The Dome’s impressive air display) but for the five year old who joined us yesterday it was a new experience.

There’s something quietly exciting about traipsing across a grass field and entering a huge tent that simply can’t be compared with other productions. The Russian staff – all dressed in black suits with black shirts and bright red bow ties – were exceptionally polit

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Posted: 2010-04-12 08:14:57

Last week my 12 year old daughter surprised me by choosing to see Blindside (OK if you understand American football and like saccharine storylines) instead of How to train your dragon. Therefore, I evoked “Mummy rule” when we selected a movie to see yesterday with another 12 year old girl and a 5 year old boy.

3D specs are usually a challenge with small people but not on this occasion. There were plenty of ads and trailers (Street Dance, Toy Story 3, Shrek – Final Chapter etc) using 3D to ful

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Posted: 2010-03-29 10:17:20

Having failed to get into the BFI Imax to see this film on the big screen and in 3D (it was constantly fully booked) I made do with a trip to Richmond Odeon theatre – fuelled by some of the marvellous chocolate cake served at the Nando’s restaurant next door. Mind you, even a zillion calories wasn’t enough to keep me warm in what must be the country’s coldest cinema – it was freezing!

Trailers for forth coming 3D efforts looked good – I particularly liked that in the “How to train your dragon

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Posted: 2010-03-14 18:25:27

Whilst chatting to a single dad the other day I was extolling the virtues of London for stressed and short-of-cash parents with youngsters to amuse. He challenged me to set out a programme of activities for kids that don’t cost much for the imminent Easter holidays – so here goes…

Museums

OK. We all know about South Kensington and the fabulous dinosaurs in The Natural History Museum and all those engines, trains and space ships in The Science Museum. But don’t forget the earthquake simulat

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Posted: 2010-02-20 16:17:51

This was the first Jodi Picoult novel that my daughter read so she really wanted to see the film as soon as it came out (which was yesterday). I was a bit concerned bearing in mind the subject matter – the rape and murder of a 14 year old girl – but the film is classified as a 12A so I assumed it would be OK.

The storyline might be hard to follow if you haven’t read the book. Susie is 14 and about to go on her first date but on her way home one evening is tempted to check out the underground

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Posted: 2010-02-20 15:36:53

I must start by stating that I am a huge Queen fan – having seen them perform one of the earliest versions of “Bohemian Rhapsody” at what was then called the Hammersmith Odeon. So I was delighted that my daughter asked to go to see “We will rock you” as a half term treat. The tickets were expensive (£40 each) so I was really hoping that it would be a good experience.

The show starts with “Radio Ga Ga” and an impressive dance routine with excellent background graphics – reminiscent of Pink Flo

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Posted: 2010-02-20 15:31:55

Half term rain prompted us to visit The British Museum which had been on our list for a while because we wanted to see the “Warriors of the Plains” exhibition which runs until April. With Native American ancestors (albeit from the East Coast rather than the plains in the West) we were keen to learn a little more – especially as we had recently watched the rather sad film “Bury my heart at wounded knee”.

Anyway, after a short walk from Holborn tube station (and appallingly poor signs) we reach

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Posted: 2009-12-09 23:16:20

There’s nothing quite like a pantomime to ignite the Christmas spirit so I took my 12 year old along to Richmond Theatre to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

A number of jolly Christmas tunes – from George Michael to Bing Crosby – played while we took our seats, the numerous kids waved their light sabres and the title screen sparkled with the glorious jewelled words “Once upon a time”. As soon as the orchestra started we were clapping along so everyone was clearly up for some energetic (an

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Posted: 2009-11-30 16:23:31

Knowing I had to amuse a four year old on Saturday I was pleased with myself for booking tickets to visit the London Aquarium in advance to avoid the queues (adult £14.40 and child £10.58).

But as we walked across the grass near County Hall I heard a little voice pipe up “It’s the wheel! Are we going on it?” Clearly I hadn’t quite got the measure of this four year old. I warned him that the queue would be horrible but he had to see – and it was a very long queue so we wandered on down to the

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Posted: 2009-11-23 10:09:37

On Saturday evening it was pouring down with rain and cold and windy. But I had promised the kids that we would be going to the park in the dark and I had to follow through.

Whilst many of you with kids might know of the Snakes and Ladders indoor adventure playground and remember the former Butterfly House and Reptile MiniZoo, less will be familiar with the beautiful grounds there and the stunning Conservatory in this little pool of tranquillity just a few miles out of West London at Islewort

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Posted: 2009-11-16 11:32:42

If your 12 year old daughter came home from school all excited about science you’d be pleased wouldn’t you? And you’d encourage her to go along to the science lectures that she is happily describing. As I was until I realised I had effectively talked her into it which meant that I had committed myself to spending six dark, cold Thursday evenings accompanying her to them.

So. Last Thursday I paid my £30 (this is for the whole six lectures, kids go free) and arrived at 7pm in at a modern amphit

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Posted: 2009-11-09 09:27:22

To celebrate Bonfire Night I took my kids – plus a few others - to two public fireworks displays this year.

On Thursday we went along – for the first time – to a display in Isleworth at Thornbury Playing Fields in Isleworth. The poster said that it was “the only public display in the London Borough of Hounslow” which suggested that it had some formal backing. There was a kid’s display at 7pm and a main display at 8pm. As a result of work commitments it wasn’t possible to get to the earlier di

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Posted: 2009-08-17 14:52:11

Make sure you get hold of one of the many “buy one get one free” offers as the entrance costs are high - £35 for an adult, £21 for kids. Then you are encouraged to buy “Fast Track” tickets, which, at £4 per person a ride, can quickly add up. It was absolutely packed yesterday - how do all these people afford such days out? Maybe they have one of the annual passes – which at £150 for a Merlin card (giving free entrance to numerous attractions such as Chessington, Sea Life etc) may be sensible if

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Posted: 2009-08-17 14:19:08

Finding something in Central London that amuses a mixed group of kids ranging from four to fifteen years old is a bit of a tall order – but the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden seemed to do the trick. There is a special promotion which allows kids in free and with adult ticket prices at £10 it’s good bad value for money. There is also currently a special free exhibition (although you need to collect timed entry tickets from the Information Centre) called “Street Smart” – where you can pl

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Posted: 2009-08-10 11:07:47

Ok, so today it’s sunny. But what about when it rains? How about booking the kids into a cooking class under the watchful eye of a French family man Michelin chef while you enjoy a coffee or glass of wine in the adjoining comfortable café in laid-back Fulham.

Having had a seriously good time experiencing the delights of a rather social Saturday night cooking session preparing such favourite delights as thai green chicken curry, tiramisu and portabello mushrooms I noticed that The Kitchen in F

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Posted: 2009-08-07 12:35:06

The 4 year old I borrowed for the day was fascinated by the Underground ride to get to Greenwich and the waterfalls as you walk up to the Dome. He also spent a fair amount of time watching numerous kids splash about in the fountains gushing out of the pavement areas – well, it was one of those rare warm days. He was absorbed by all the crowds milling around and enjoyed passing through the security screen. Then we struggled to walk along Entertainment Avenue where all the restaurants were doing a

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Posted: 2009-08-07 11:57:02

Since it opened in March, I had been meaning to go along and have a look at the BME and yesterday I got my chance. On entry you are given a smart ticket, which the introductory talk explains you use to activate the interactive displays and activities and then allows you to “replay” them on-line when you get home. Neat.

I passed through a hall in which some youngsters were learning the fine art of DJing and MCing in a club-like environment. Some relatively small folk were rather wrapped up in

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Posted: 2009-08-03 13:23:45

As my kids are a bit older now, I had to borrow a four year old to experience the delights again of this fabulous theme park – and I am so happy to report that it has grown and developed well since my last visit several years ago. It is an absolute must for those with younger kids.

My companion reported solemnly when we took our seats on the train that he had never been to Legoland before – although his brothers and sisters had been. He was quietly excited – not knowing quite what to expect.

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