.jpg)
The Luvaville Blog
The Luvaville.com Blog is ALL about travel and lifestyle for urban parents. Here, we wish to share with you some of our travel experiences as well as tips and various recommendations on fashion, great design, trendy and practical products that go along with life as parents.
Caramel Baby & Child Party Time
When you are in London, it's a must to swing by one of the Caramel baby & Child shops. If you happen to be in London this coming Saturday 25th of May, you are invited to view the party collection at Selfridges. It's no secret that we are huge fans of Caramel and even if London is not on the destination list, their webshop is just a click away!
Want your own ad ?
Click here >>
Click here >>
The Lindt Big Egg Hunt in London
March 26th, 2013 · Admin
· Fun & Culture, London
If you are in London during the Easter holidays, you shouldn't miss out on the Lindt Easter Egg Hunt in Covent Garden. This is the second time, that the golden Lindt bunny is taken over London and at the same time supporting Action for Children. This year, the Big Egg Hunt is on tour in 10 different cities in the UK. 101 eggs have been decorated by leading artists and will go on auktion to raise funds for Action for Children. So if you are in London, please join the fun and support the good case at the same time. See the program here and download the map of Covent Garden. There will be many activities: egg hunting, Moshi Monsters activities and meeting Peppa Pig. So get ready for some chocolate hunting!!!
Discover London with the Kids
February 24th, 2013 · Anne
· Accommodations, London
London seems to be laid out for a parent with a stroller in one hand and a toddler in the other one, offering good spaces in streets, in shops, in restaurants and in supermarkets. The true marvel of London is its beautiful parks which most of them have very entertaining playgrounds and wonderful zoos. Many restaurants are offering fresh and healthy food together with special amenities for children and families, so it's always easy to find a place to eat. Furthermore, parents as well as kids can enjoy a vibrant cultural life combined with great shopping in London. Find more addresses in our full guide here, where you can search for specific facilities and areas according to your family's needs! London has it all and despite what many people thing very child-friendly!
At the moment, you get a 25 Euros discount when booking an apartment with Waytostay, using the code Luvaville.
Image by Joseph Plotz
Where to sleep
Stay in this 1 bedroom apartment with Waytostay in the heart of the fashionable area of Kensington and Chelsea. Here you are close to all the great museums in London, the best shopping and some of the fantastic sights that London has to offer.
The Avni Standard apartment has 57 sqm and includes a living room with a fold-out bed, a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom. This way, you can comfortably fit the entire family and still have the comfort of eating in during the nights and taking it slow during the mornings. When you visit London, you walk around most the day and the central location of your apartment is vital. You have here Hyde Park with many playgrounds a stroll away and the amazing Natural History Museum just around the corner.
Things to do in London
Who says that culture can not be combined with kids? The Tate Modern Museum is an interesting museum both for adults and kids. Just the building and the location in itself is an attraction. It has many interesting exhibitions for the whole family. With a lovely riverside setting and very child friendly atmosphere, Café 2 at the Tate Modern Museum on level 2, is ideal for a meal or a snack with the family after a visit to the Tate Modern collection. High chairs are available and staff provide crayons and activity packs.
Tate Modern Museum, Bankside SE1 9TG, www.tate.org.uk/modern
A trip to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens is a must when you are in London with kids. Inspired by the stories of Peter Pan, this magical playground has a huge wooden pirate ship as its centrepiece. Open all year and adjacent to the Playground, the Broadwalk Café is the perfect spot for a nice family lunch. It serves great flatbread pizza, salads, children’s menus, cakes and other sweet treats. There are also toilets and baby changing facilities.
The London Eye has become an icon for the city and children will be thrilled with a ride. Have a walk along the River Thamsen to the London Eye. You can park the stroller and will enjoy a splendid view all over London if the weather is good.
London Eye, Riverside Bldg, County Hall Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7PB
Children love animals and a trip to the zoo is always a success. The London Zoo is situated in the Regents Park and you will find everything you need for spending a whole day surrounded by animals.
ZSL, NW1 4RY London, www.zsl.org
Jump on one the red tourist buses and get a feel of the city and how big it is. Kids will love riding the bus, especially if they sit on the top deck. The buses will take you from A-C and is a great way to get a lot of sightseeing done without having over tired children. Get a glimpse of the Tower of London, Buckingham Palaces and St. Pauls Cathedral. With some of the buses you can get on and off whenever you like to visit an attraction. An easy way getting around. If you bring your stroller, you will have to fold it in the bus. www.theoriginaltour.com
Eat
Enjoy an evening meal at the restaurant founded by Bill Wyman, Rolling Stones bass player. This Kensington restaurant has something for every tastes: burgers, steaks, fajitas, salads and more. A kids’ menu is available with main course, dessert and soft drinks.
Sticky Fingers, 1a Phillimore Gardens, Kensington, London W8 7QG
Try something very British, a “High Tea” at the Liberty café. Kids will enjoy the small cucumber and egg sandwishes, scones with lemon curd and the tea of course. Remember to admire the Liberty of London building from the outside as well as the inside. The incredible wooden ce
ilings and impressive stairways. Liberty of London is furthermore the place to go if you wish to bring home the famous Liberty fabrics. Liberty of London has just recently launched a new children’s department.
Liberty of London, Regent Street, London W1B 5AH, www.liberty.co.uk
Get the feel of a real British Pub and enjoy a traditional meal at the Porters restaurant situated at the charming Covent Garden. The restaurant has children’s menus and a big selection of beers.
Porters, 17 Henrietta St, WC2E 8 London, www.porters.co.uk
Carluccio’s is a very child-friendly Italian café and restaurant chain situated all around London. The food is fresh and delicious and they have a play area for children. The branch located on the renowned Garrick Street, near the Covent Garden Piazza has a stunning flagship store featuring a bar and café over two floors.
Carluccio’s, Garrick St, WC2E 9 London, www.carluccios.com
If you would like a fancy restaurant visit while you are in London and still child-friendly, this is the place to go. The beautiful garden with pink flamingos and the roof terrace garden with a splendid view over London. Weekend brunch is popular for families with a children's entertainer performing magic.
Babylone Roof Garden, 99 Kensington High St, W8 4 Kensington
Shop
I would say that the children’s floor in Harrods as well as the food market are something that would impress even the little ones. The candy section in the food hall is probably the biggest in the world and very impressive! Harrods also have a family café called The Three House Family Café, situated by the children’s department.
Harrods, 135 Brompton Rd, SW3 1 Kensington, www.harrods.co.uk
Toy paradise is situated on Regent Street. Here you have 7 floors filed with toys and everything that children desire. There are always lots of activities and happenings going on in the store, so is a lot of great fun even if you are just looking around.
Hamleys, Regent Street/ Heddon St, W1B 4 London. www.hamleys.com
If you are fans of the charismatic cartoon hero Tin Tin, a visit to the cute shop in Covent Garden is a must. here, you will find all the books and many merchandise products with Tin Tin and his friends.
The TinTin Shop, Floral St, WC2E 9 London, www.thetintinshop.uk.com
Elegant and British children’s fashion when it’s best can be found at the Caramel Baby & Child. The Bristish brand has shops in town and can be found in departments store as well. The style is classic with a twist, always made in high quality fabrics. A must see!
Caramelbaby&child, 291 Brompton Road, South Kensignton, London SW3 2DY
Extra Tips
Boots is a big chain where you always can fin diapers, baby food, medecin, nursing products and healthy snacks. You will find Boots everywhere in London and they are often open till late.
Starbucks is the world famous coffee chain, serving really good coffee and lighter meals such as sandwishes and salads. The best thing about Starbucks in London, you will fin them on almost any street corner and most of the cafés have diaper changing facilities.
Marks & Spencer is a mix between a kind of supermarket and departments store, just mostly selling their own products. This is the place to go, if you need some easy and healthy take away food. They also have a great selection of basic baby and children’s clothing and accessories.
Musicals
If you are in London with a bit older kids, who can stay awake during the evening.....you need to get the family tickets for one of the world famous musicals. Book from home or find a ticket office on Picadilly Square. www.londontickets.uk.com
During the month of February, we focus on spring breaks and apartment rental in collaboration with Waytostay to give you and your family the best city break experiences.
Sara recommends the Somerset House
Sara Helena Kangas is our Friday guestblogger here on Luvaville.com and an experienced family traveller. She is also the author of two brilliant guide books for children and their parents to cities such as Berlin & London under the "Ella Bellas eventyr". Sara also writes a blog (only in Danish) with lots of tips and tricks for other cities. Hopefully, her guide books will soon be translated into English at some point until then all you none Danish people outthere can follow her here with us!. Read our review of her first book with Elle Bella in Berlin here.
Once again it is possible to experience the wonderful fountain in the courtyard of the London Somerset House. For the last two months it has been closed due to the ice rink (It was possible to use it up to last Sunday December 6th). But now the 55 waterjets is back in function – and it’s quite impressive to see it ...
Somerset House is located close to the river Themsen, which is cutting its way through the capital of England. The building (neoclassical architecture) from 1796 contains a lot of different exhibitions that get changed along the year. Thanks to that discovering modern art and nice design is an easy thing. And if you go through the main building, you can enjoy a cup of coffee, a sandwich or another dish with a stunning view over the river Themsen, at the River Terrace. But then again ... going to the café requires that you are able to drag the kids away from the funny fountain with the almost dancing water ... A really great experience!
Guestblogger Sara Helena Kangas
We are happy to introduce you to Sara Kangas as a guestblogger here on Luvaville.com. Sara will be blogging here with us on Fridays, so stay tuned. Her first blogpost is naturally about her new guide book coming out in the serie of the little girl Ella Bella and her family adventures. Read our review of her first book with Elle Bella in Berlin here.
On monday, December 3rd, is the big release of the second book of the adventures of Ella Bella and her family. Ella Bella is a 5 year-old girl who is the main character in a new series of guidebooks. The main goal of Ella Bella's adventures is to experience new cultures as a family but explained in a way that kids can understand. In the first book, which was released in June 2012, Ella Bella goes on adventures with her big brother and their parents in Berlin. Right now the books are only available in Danish under the title "Ella Bellas eventyr", but hopefully an English version of the books is not too far away!
This time Ella Bella travels to the wonderful capital of England, London. The city has an incredible number of cultural sights and must-see museums – not to mention the parks, the cafés and the nice, colorful markets. Follow the stories of Ella Bella and her family here on the Luvaville-site, as they discover the culture in a wide range of big European cities such as Paris, Barcelona, Oslo – and of course Berlin and London.
London Tips from Bianca Little Scandinavian
November 26th, 2012 · Anne
· Interviews, London
Bianca Wessel is the famous blogger about Scandinavian lifestyle for kids: Little Scandinavian and for adults: Go Scandinavian. Bianca comes from Norway but lives in London with her husband Børre and their two daughters Beatrice age 11 and Amélie age 7. Bianca is here inviting you to get a little peak of her life, everyday life in London with kids, favorite places and nice travel adventures.
1. What do you like best about living in London with children?
The best part of living in London is the opportunity to see and do so many things. In many ways we feel, as london is such a cosmopolitan city, that it's like we live in the centre where everything is happening, everything from fascinating historical events, cultural events within art, film, music, food and design to just experiencing new innovation. But above most it's all the different people living here that truly makes the city. If I only could use one word describing London its diverse, and it's the diversity we as a family love the most about our city.
2. What is it like a typical day in London with your family?
Family breakfast, school run (yes everyone runs to school as there seems to be less time in London compared to elsewhere), work, schoolr un again, family dinner and then heading out to see friends, take the children to a variety of activities or explore our city.
3. What is your favorite area in the city and why?
Favourite area is Shoreditch, not only because of the diversity and the fact that it's the most trendy place in London with regards to fashion and design, but also because it's a part of the city where ugly and run down becomes beautiful and attractive!
4. Where do you like to go for lunch or dinner with your daughters?
If I take my girls for lunch we would go to Pizza East for the best pizza in London.
Restaurant Madsen we love for the most delicious open Sandwiches (Danish style) and we would go to the Duke of Hamilton in Hampstead for a unpretentious, traditional Sunday roast.
I'm very excited about a new place opening up in Soho early November, Mash Steakhouse, and can't wait to take the family there. Apparently they do the best Danish steak and they serve Bollinger by the glass.
5. What kind of public transport do you use getting around in the city with your family?
I love the tube, it will take you anywhere within minutes! And it's great for one of my favourite hobbies; people watching!
6. Your favorite shops for yourself and for your daughters?
In London at the moment it's Charli, Wild Swans, Matches, Liberty and Selfridges for me.
For the girls I love NotSoBig shop, a tiny but well stocked independent shop near me. Other great shops are Kidsen, Petit Bateau, Igloo Kids and Cissy Wears. But I must admit I do most of the girls shopping online.
7. The best play ground or cultural activity in the city?
The best playground, for both adults and children, are probably along the Southbank and inside Tate Modern. My girls can't stop playing in the the entrance hall of Tate Modern, rolling down and running up again! But there's also established, fun and adventurous playgrounds throughout the city, the best ones being the Diana Memorial Playground next to the Kensington Palace, There's a hidden gem of an adventure trail near Goodge Street and the Pollocks Toy Museum and our local playground in Primrose Hill is fun!
8. When you are travelling on family city breaks or vacation, what's most important when selecting the destination for your family?We usually go to discover something new or to meet friends or family. Holiday to us is breaking out of the routine and do be together as a family. To create family memories that will last.
9. Can you recommend a city to discover with children and why parents should take the kids along?We love Italy and have fallen especially in love with a small city in Piedemont called Alba. It's in the heart of the wineregion, with Barolo, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco etc only a 5-10 minutes drive away. We usually stay in a B&B on the hillside above the city. It's a fantastic family run hotel with a great breakfast, including lovely italian coffee, and for the children probably more importantly a swimming pool. They also have a vineyard and the family are inviting all guest along to join in on the harvest. Alba as a city is great for shopping, lots of restaurants, everything from reasonable pizza and focaccia houses to fine dining, and just sinking in that relaxed Italian atmosphere. Oh -and the market on Sundays is a must visit for arguably the best fruit and vegetables in the region!
The reason why I recommend Alba is because it's so unbelievably child friendly. Children are not only welcome but you'll experience even better service and you'll get to know people when you bring your tot along!
10. What's your next travel destination with children?
We'll be going to Barcelona for a weekend, to enjoy some tapas, some shopping and to see a few art exhibitions. We are very much looking forward to it!
20% Off on Caramel Baby & Child
During the next 4 days you can get 20% off on all collections at Caramel Baby & Child, one of my favorite British fashion brands. So pass by the stores in London see addresses here, here and here or click by the online store and find the kid's party wear for the Christmas holidays, toys or something really beautiful for the home from the new interior collection!
Disney Pop Up Shop Harrods
In Harrods, you can the next few months find a Disney Pop Up store with all the amazing Disney characters that children love. On the 4th floor, you find the children's department with clothes and toys. Enter the magic universe, the kids will love it and the parents and grand-parents will certainly find ideas for this year's Christmas presents. You also find a little family restaurant The Three House just by if you and the kids need a refill. Do remember to check out the Christmas window decorations also with the Disney theme or read about it here!
Harrods, 135 Brompton Rd, SW3 1 Kensington
Christmas at Harrods with Disney
If we were going to London, I know that my daughter would love to get a look at the beautifully decorated Harrods. Like every year, the famous department store, creates the most amazing Christmas window decorations and this year with the opening of a Disney Pop Up Shop on 4th floor - the theme will make every child and little girl sparkle. All the famous Disney princesses decorate the windows in the most beautiful designer dresses and scenary. Sleeping Beauty, Jasmin, Pocahontas, Papunzel, Belle, Ariel, Mulan and Snow white - they are all there... so if you are travelling to London, make sure to pass by, kids as well as parents will be fashinated by the decorations. The decorations were reveiled at the Christmas parade last week.
Harrods, 135 Brompton Rd, SW3 1 Kensington - www.harrods.com
All images from Harrods Facebook page
Halloween at Hoxton Hotel London
October 26th, 2012 · Anne
· Accommodations, Food, London
Come and try gourmet cupcakes, cuptails, cake pops and much more at Molly Bakes pop-up Halloween cake shop this Saturday and Sunday from 10am - 5pm at The Hoxton Hotel in Lodon! Get ready for some scary treats! See more on www.hoxtonhotels.com!
- 1 of 6
- ››
