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Hampstead
Ballet School: Ballet classes for kids 3+ as well as adults at various venues in NW3. Particularly recommended
by one mother. For more info, call Ana on 0207 794 8107 or 0776458 7851 or balletballet@hotmail.com. Solomons
School of Performing Arts: 25 Pond Street Street "The Armory" Ballet, jaz, tap from age 3. www.solomonsschoolofperformingarts.com 07780550161 amisolomons@aol.co.uk. Classes start in September.
Swiss Cottage School of Dance: Ballet classes for ages 2 and up at the Swiss Cottage Community Centre
on Saturdays. Call Angelina 01932 350 444 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- Birthdays: Football:
League One Summer Holiday Football/Sports Courses: (0208 446 0891 or www.leagueone.co.uk) Held at South Hampstead High School at Maresfield Gardens, NW3.
Little Kickers: (www.littlekickers.co.uk) Little Kickers classes enable pre-school children to develop theor co-ordination, balance and agility through football.
At the Swiss Cottage Community Centre on Tuesdays 2:45pm - 3:30pm Junior Kickers ages 2 - 3 1/2, Tuesdays
3:35pm - 4:20pm Mighty Kickers ages 3 1/2 to 5th birthday. At the Swiss Cottage Community Centre on Thursdays
3.15pm - 4:00pm Junior Kickers ages 2 - 3 1/2, Thursdays 4:10pm - 4:55pm Mighty Kickers ages 3 1/2
to 5th birthday. At the Quakers Meeting House in Hampstead on Fridays 2:15pm - 3:00pm Junior Kickers ages
2 - 3 1/2, Fridays 3:15pm - 4:00pm Junior Kickers ages 2 - 3 1/2, Fridays 4:10pm
- 4.55pm Mighty Kickers ages 3 1/2 to 5th birthday. Please phone Julia or Nikki on 0208 201
1084 for details and how to enrol as advance booking is necessary.
Sports Galore (www.sportsgalore.co.uk) 01285 656098.
Talacre Community Sports Centre: Dalby Street 0207 9748765 (www.camden.gov.uk/sport). A variety of football classes during the week and on Saturdays from age 3 and up.
French:
Jolie Ronde: small classes, role play, songs and conversation for 3-11 year-olds taught by local
nursery teacher - recommended by one mother as being gentle and fun. Call Vivien Chappell on 0207 435 7812 or 07817 181686
for location times etc...
German: TBA
Gyms (with childcare):
Esporta:
(0207 644 2424) O2 centre on the Finchley Rd. Health club with all mod cons plus swimming pool, creche and childrens' activities. C11, 268 go near or past.
Springhealth Leisure: (0207 483 6800). Creche available
from six weeks on. Everyone agrees the ladies at the creche are wonderful. I kept my membership up for years purely
to dump the kids for a couple of hours, take a shower and read the paper over a cup of coffee.
Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre (Adelade Rd 0207 974 2012) Creche available and
quite reasonably priced. C11, 46 stop close by.
Gymnastics:
The Armoury: 25 Pond Street, nw3 2PN (0207 431 2263) Opposite the Royal Free Hospital. Fitness
club that also has gymnastics for 3-4, 5-6 and 7 to 12 year-olds on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Baby session on Thursdays
10:30-11:30 and toddler session 11:30- 12:30 but it's not a drop-in. The 168, C11 and 46 go past. (Added Sept. 19)
Gymboree: (O2 Centre, Finchley Rd. 0207 794 8719) Art, music
and movement classes for children and parents from birth to 5.
Talacre Community Sports Centre: Dalby Street, NW5 0207 9748765
(www.camden.gov.uk/sport). Gymnastics classes, which start at age 3, are so wonderful that parents (including me, dear reader) queued
for hours in the dark, cold winter to get a spot. (NB My son refuses to go now.) There is also a wildly popular 9:30
am and 10:30 am "baby gym" program, where the child/ren attend with parent/carer, parituclarly good if you have two kids to
look after. Four-year olds even like it. Get there in plenty of time as it sells out quickly.
Toddlers World: Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre (Adelade Rd 0207 974
2012) Drop-in gym sessions from walking age to 5. Inflatables, rockers and soft-play equipment. Monday, Wednesday 10:15
to 11, 11 to 11:45. Sunday 9:15 to 10 and 10:45 to 11:30.
Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre (Adelade Rd 0207 974 2012) Gymnastics program.
At the moment, they're planning on Tuesday only sessions for 3-4 year-olds 1:15-2 pm. 2 to 2:45 pm and 2:45 to 3:30 pm but
may start a Thursday session if it proves to be popular.
Haircuts:
Bianca at Daniel Adams (209 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4QG, 0207 794 4034) She did a lovely job on my wiggly
3 year-old and was very cheerful to boot. £15 without tip during the week and £26 on Saturday. The staff at Identity (0207 722 8003 England's Lane) are good with little ones and actually use
scissors to cut hair as opposed to a razor, which is what you tend to get if you go to a barber. With tip about £15.
Recommended by one mother with 4 children, Tracy will cut children's and babies' hair in the
comfort of your own home! Call 07973504552. Under 4s, £13 and 4+ £15.
Holiday Programs: The following
tend to have half-term and holiday clubs. ALSO SEE SUMMER 2008 SECTION
Homeopathic medicines, services:
Belsize Health: (16 England's Lane NW3 4TG, 0207 483 2345).
Children's homeopathic drop-in clinic from 4pm to 5pm: 15-minute consultation for 10 pounds.
House of Mistry in South End Green (close to the Starbucks) also
has everything you could possibly want in this category.
Nicky Lee RS Hom, PG Dip Nutrition Homoeopath and Nutritionist for pregnant women, newborns,
infants and children. breast-feeding problems, colic, reflux, teething and recurrent infections. www.nickylee-homoeopath.co.uk or 020 7794 7753. Recommended by a local parent.
HORSES: Kentish Town Farm:
1 Cressfield Close, NW5 4BN. 0207 916 5421. Horse-back rides on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm -- a pound
buys you two trips around the track. About a 20 minute walk from Belsize Park Tube station (C11 drops you not far off)
and it's a bit tricky to find so consult a map before setting off.
Indoor activities: The following list includes drop-in
indoor facilities:
Libraries: For a full list, see www.camden.gov.uk/libraries. The following are NW3 libraries.
Belsize Library: Antrim Rd. NW3 4XN. Open Tuesday, Wednesday and
Saturday.
Heath Library: Keats Grove NW3 2RR.
Swiss Cottage Central Library: Avenue Rd, NW3 3HA. Open Monday-Saturday.
Massage (baby):
Belsize Health: (16 England's Lane NW3 4TG, 0207 483 2345). Belsize
Health offers many different types of therapies, for children and adults, as well as a range of organic baby products.
Massage classes available on a group or individual basis.
Hampstead Group Practice: 77 Fleet Rd. Baby massage class run by Lisa,
a health visitor. Call Lisa on 0207 530 4637 for information.
Music: also see "singing"
Gymboree: (O2 Centre 0207 794 8719) Art, music and movement classes
for children and parents from birth to 5.
Culture Kids: (www.culture-kids.com) Mia Holman
Telephone: 020 8540 4203. Music, singing, dance and lots and lots of toys/instruments from all over the world. Small classes held at the Pizza Express on Heath Street Tuesday and Wednesday. Particularly good if you have a baby and a toddler/preschooler. Caroline's Singalong "Minibeat": A very, very popular Belsize Park
institution, Caroline entertains babies and pre-schoolers alike with her guitar-accompanied singalongs. Caroline holds court
for 45 minutes at the annex next to St. Dominic's Church on Malden Rd. on Thurdays (9:30, 10:30 and 11:30) and at the Royal
Free Recreation Centre on Fridays at the same times. Pay as you go. See www.greenmeansgo.co.uk for information about Neal and Caroline's childrens' music CDs.
Monkey Music run classes from age 3 months to 4 years in Primrose Hill,
Belsize Park, Hampstead Village, West Hampstead, Queens Park, Notting Hill, Holland Park and Kensington Church Street. For further information and to book your free trial session please contact Helen Beach on 020 8451 7626. Songsters with Neal: Fleet Community Centre on Fleet Rd. Guitar-accompanied
old favorites. (Tuesday Wednesday morning sessions 9:30 am and 11 am). See www.greenmeansgo.co.uk for information about Neal and Caroline's childrens' music CDs. Pay as you go.
Belsize Bunnies, the One o'clock club and the Hampstead Community
Centre (see "Playgroups") all hold pay-as-you-go or free sing-alongs at different times.
Organic children's products:
Blue Daisy (South End Green -- next to Starbucks, 0207 681 4144) Brand-new high-end shop that specializes
in rather useful stuff like all-in-one bathing suits, backpacks, wooden toys, organic baby products crayons etc... Good for
new baby presents and for difficult-to-find items. C11, 46, 24, 168, 268 -- all go through South End Green.www.blue-daisy.com
Pomona: (179 Haverstock Hill, opposite Belsize Park tube,
0207 916 2676.) Organic baby food, soaps, sunblock etc.
Belsize Health: (16 England's Lane NW3 4TG, 0207
483 2345). Belsize Health offers many different types of therapists, for children and adults, as well as a range of organic
baby products.
House of Mistry (South End Green): Organic and homeopathic medicines
and products.
Parks and playgrounds:
Antrim Gardens: Opposite Belsize Library on Antrim Rd. A lovely little
local park with a two swings and a climbing frame. It's of no interest to the over-five crowd so it's perfect for the
little ones. A very good place to meet local mothers/nannies with babies and toddlers. Unstaffed and no toilets but the library
opposite (not open every day) will let you use theirs if you look sufficiently desperate. NB: very, very hot
when the sun shines.
Golders Hill Park: North End Rd. This lovely park
is on the edge of Hampstead and Golders Green and while it is possible to walk from Belsize Park/Hampstead, the 268 bus lands
you at the front gates. The park has a little zoo, duck ponds, a well-maintained playground/sandpit and very nice cafe. Probably
my favorite.
The Heath: there are two large enclosed areas for children: Parliament
Hill, which is close to the running track, and one near the Heath parking lot at the corner of Willow road and Devonshire
Hill.
Primrose Hill Playground: (Opens at 10 am and closing time depends on the
month. There are toilets and it's staffed.) Lots of swings, climbing frames, merry-go-rounds and slides, which means lots
and lots of older children. It can get pretty manic on weekends and after school but it's well worth visiting
in the morning.
Pilates (also see Exercise or
gyms) Mums
With Tots (www.mumswithtots.co.uk) offers Pilates classes at the Swiss Cottage Community Centre (£10 per session, paid in advance.)
The class is taught by Biba Singh, a pilates foundation teacher. Mondays at 10-11am. Call 07943 953850. Crèche provided.
Playgroups: By playgroup, I mean drop-in centres,
where parents and carers stay with their children and make use of the toys and facilites. Pay as you go. There are many more
in Primrose Hill and Kentish Town (see Surestart).
Pools: also see "Swimming"
Archway Pool: (www.aquaterra.org 0207 281 4105) Public, pay-as-you-go. Both the tube and the C11 stops right in front of this wave pool with bubbles
and slides. Very cold water on occasion.
Esporta: (0207
644 2424) O2 centre on the Finchley Rd. Private health club with all mod cons plus swimming pool, creche and childrens' activities. C11, 268 go near or past.
Marriott Hotel : (0207 722 7711) Both adults and children
need to take out a membership to use the pool.
Paddling
Pool and Lido: The free paddling pool next to the playground in Parliament Hill (in the Heath) is a God-send
on hot summer days and the planned shady areas are a welcome addition. It's about a foot-and-a half at its deepest and slopes
down gradually. Do not assume you will be alone. The outdoor pool (Lido) is near the running track.
Swiss Cottage Pool
(Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, Adelaide Road, 0207 974 2012 (Leisure Centre) also try 0207 974 5440 for
Swim Club www.camdenswisscottage.co.uk ). Brand-new facilites make this a very popular choice. At the moment, the warm (and fairly shallow) teaching pool is
open to the public Mon.- Fri. 3:30 to 4:30. Better ring before going as teaching pool distressingly is broken quite often. Main
pool is very cold and unless your children can swim laps to keep warm, they'll probably not last long before they want to
come out!
Swiss Cottage Fountains: (Behind the Leisure Centre) Water jets and sloping
cement fountain provide some relief from summer heat but it's often not working. Call the parks and open spaces
(Camden) department to find out: 0207 974 1693.
REFLUX:
Nicky Lee RS Hom, PG Dip Nutrition Homoeopath and Nutritionist for
pregnant women, newborns, infants and children. breast-feeding problems, colic, reflux, teething and recurrent infections.
www.nickylee-homoeopath.co.uk or 020 7794 7753. Recommended by a local parent.
Russian: Russian playgroup from age 1-5
Olga (karpeko@googlemail.com).
Meets on Friday at 10:15.
Schools: The complete list of primary schools, preschools,
nurseries and nursery schools can be found at www.camden.gov.uk (look under the "education" then "schools" section.) The Camden Information Under 5s booklet (phone 0207 974 1679 for a copy) also
contains information about nurseries. See www.ofsted.gov.uk for reports on the various nurseries and preschools.
Singing: also see "Music"
Rhyme Time at Camden Libraries: Free singing and rhymes organized
by the librarians. Good for under-twos and when it's raining. Belsize Library (Tuesday 11am-12), Swiss Cottage Central Library
(Friday 10:30-11:30). See "Libraries" for address. Also see "Term-time Day Planner."
Sing and Sign: (www.singandsign.co.uk) fun, educational baby signing music groups. For more information or to book your free trial class,
contact Vesna on 020 7639 8038 or vesnaguzina@singandsign.co.uk. Ages 7-24months.
Ski: If you have an under-5, i have one word for you:
DON'T. Five is about the earliest you want to start them unless he/she has an older sibling. Tears, tantrums and
worse await the over-eager parent unless you have a particularly sturdy child. If you want to ski and are looking for full-time
childcare, avoid the chains and go for small family-run hotels that are not staffed by very young (poorly paid, possibly hung-over)
teenagers. I can personally recommend Hotel Alphubel in Saas Fee, Switzerland www.hotelalphubel.ch. Look at www.mumsnet.com for other suggestions on family ski places. Feel free to email me with your favorites.
STORY TELLING:
Belsize Library (Antrim Rd): New story session 11-11:30 on Wednesdays.
Daunt Books (South End Green) has nice little reading nooks with childrens' books. Story
Hour on Thursdays at 4pm.
Waterstones (68-69 Hampstead High Street Nw3 1QP, 0207 794 1098) Story time on
Tuesdays 4-4:30 up to age 5-6. Four books and a little song and dance at the end. Swimming (see also "Pools"):
Aquababies: (www.aquababies-co.uk) Held at the Marriot in Swiss Cottage (128 King Henry's Way, NW3 3ST),
swimming class for parents and babies on Tuesdays. Can start from about 6 weeks but most around 3 months. 01273 833101.
C11 goes past.
Aquatots at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre 0207
974 2012, Adelaide Rd: Registration starts on July 28 for this new swimming class on Mondays. For babies and children 0-4.
C11 goes past, 46 and 268 not very far.
Camden Swiss Cottage Swimming Club (Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, Adelaide
Road, 0207 974 2012 also try 0207 482 2834 www.camdenswisscottage.co.uk ). Brand-new facilites so already pretty booked up. Non-parent attended swimming lessons from age 4.
Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre Baby Swim, Adelaide Road, 0207 974 2012 Baby
swimming class from September, details TBA
Marriott Hotel : 0207 722 7711-- Adelaide Rd., Swiss Cottage) Both
adults and children need to take out a membership to use the pool for regular use. I am told that you can pay £10 pp
to use the pool but sometimes that's not possible so you may want to call in advance. Rules change so let me know if pay-as-you
go is no longer an option.
UCS Active (www.ucsactive.org.uk) Frognal, NW3 6XH 0207 433 2121 On the University College School campus. Lessons and kids' splash time for
members.
Travel:
Tots Too: www.totstoo.com : The director of this travel service, which specializes in spa resorts with facilities for babies and children, is a local
mother. . You'll get a 5% discount if you mention this website. If anyone uses Tots Too, I'd be curious to hear about it.
Taxis (with built-in car seats):
Addison Lee: 0207387 8888. They have people carriers available with built-in car seats
for over ones, but you must tell them your requirements when booking. Very good for airport runs.
Capital Radio Cars 0207 813 8888. A Primrose Hill minicab company, Capital Radio will provide an under-one
car seat for a whopping £15 on top of their usual fare. Might still be less expensive than a black taxi for airport runs.
If anyone knows of other taxi companies with seats for under ones, please let me know.
Tennis:
Globe Tennis Club: 190 Haverstock Hill, NW3 2AL (next door to
Belsize Park Tube Station.) www.londontennisacademy.com .Very popular half-hour to hour-long classes for 3 1/2 to 5 year-olds. Call Gaddo Guidotti on 07837 720736 or gaddo9@hotmail.com. Has a summer camp, details TBA.
Tennis at Talacre Sports Centre: New classes on Friday afternoons
for 3s and older. Dalby Street NW5 0207 9748765. Term-time.
Taekwondo:
Hwarang Academy holds classes at the Swiss Cottage Community Centre on Winchester Rd. See www.taekwondo-London-2012.com or call Daniel 079410 81009 or 0845 157 1168 or for details. Martial arts from age 5. Has summer
camp.
Taekwan-Do: Martial arts from age 5 Juniors Tuesday 5-6 Studio 2 at the Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre. Call 07949
612 706 or tkd@writeme.com or http://welcome.to/taekwondo.
Trampoline: at Talacre Community Sports Centre:
Dalby Street, NW5 0207 9748765 (www.camden.gov.uk/sport). Drop-in Thursday 4-5pm from age 5. Usually term-time only.
Yoga (Mum, baby and Kids):
Belsize Health: (16 England's Lane NW3 4TG, 0207 483 2345). Belsize
Health offers many different types of therapists, for children and adults, including individual yoga classes where you
can bring baby.
Triyoga: www.triyoga.co.uk 0207 483 3344) 6 Erskine Rd. NW3 3AJ. One of the best in Europe, from what I hear. Various pregnancy and new mum yoga classes
as well as a kids class from 4+.
YogaBugs: www.yogabugs.com, classes for 3 to 5 and 5 to 7 year-olds at Swiss Cottage Community Centre, 19 Winchester Road, NW3 3NP. Tuesdays
from 4pm. To book a place please call Eva 077 47 01 64 69.
Yoga at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre Adelaide Road, 0207 974 2012: drop-in
classes for 2 1/2 year-olds to 4 on Fridays at 11 and for 5-7 year-olds at 4:15 on Fridays. Classes with run throughout
the summer. If anyone has an opinion on this let me know.
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