families nw london nov/dec 2015

Families Magazine – North West London Issue 104 Nov/Dec 2015

Issue 104 Nov/Dec 2015www.FamiliesNWLondon.co.uk

North West LondonIncluding North Middlesex, South Hertfordshire and North West Hillingdon(Queensbury, Kingsbury, Colindale, West Hendon, Edgware, Stanmore, Wembley,Harrow, Northolt, Northwood, Ruislip, Harefield, Bushey, Watford, Rickmansworth andall areas in-between!)

FREE

PLUS Competitions, Local Events, and much more inside!

Sat 28 Nov - Sun 10 Jan11am to 9pm

The Paradewww.watfordbigevents.co.uk

includingWhere’s Santa,

Ice Skating, Panto and

Seasonal Shows! We have this season

all wrapped up!

Seasonal Celebrations!

2 NORTHWEST (LONDON) Nov/Dec 2015

NORTHWEST (LONDON) Nov/Dec 2015 3

Families North West London MagazineEditors:Heather Waddington and Janine MerglerP.O Box 2378, Watford WD18 1RFT: 01923 237 004E: [email protected]

CONTACT US:

Welcome to theNovember/December issue!

IN THIS ISSUE:

UPCOMING ISSUES:

www.facebook.com/FamiliesNWLondon

@FamiliesNW

Circulation 30,000+ copies everyissue. Published seven times a year.For families from birth to twelve.

January/February 2016: Nurseries and ChildcareDeadline 25th November 2015Send in your news, stories and advertising bookings to the details left.

4 Families News6 Education News10 What is a ‘Toddler’ portion size? 14 Getting Ready for the

Holiday Season! 16 Seasonal Gift Guide24 Panto’s and Seasonal Shows

Where’s Santa – Grottos and EventsIce Skating Rinks 2015

Creating Confident Children

Scan your QR codeto take you straight to themost current localinformation!www.FamiliesNWLondon.co.uk

Trending articles on the FNWL website:

Cover Credit –Watford Borough

Council


NEWS

Local schools launch new websitesThree local NW London schools have launched new websites to furtherenhance their ability to interact with current and prospective parents. St.Nicholas Prep & Nursery, Buxlow Prep & Nursery, and St. Christopher’sPrep, all part of ILG (Inspired Learning Group), saw their new sites go liveat the start of the 2015/2016 Academic year and the response has beenvery positive.“Parents and Staff are very happy so far with the first-hand experience ofthe well designed, responsive site,” suggests Mr Edward Cooper, HeadTeacher at St Nicholas Prep School.The new site feature interactive content, galleries, blogs, prospectus,parent portal, and dynamic calendar content as well as other featurestailored to the specific needs of each school. In addition, Parents – existing and prospective – can access from theschool sites their most recent ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate)Report and up-to-date, comprehensive school policies. The aim of thesites is to provide parents with key information and to form the initialentry-point to the schools.Check out the new sites from the group websitewww.inspiredlearninggroup.co.uk/

NewCentreOpeningsDue to popular demandLittle Big Leaders haveopened 2 new centres tocope with the requestsfor places – one atRickmansworth School on a Saturday and a second at The Arena –Bushey Academy on a Sunday. Both of these are in addition to theirever popular Reading, Writing, Maths and English course run at theusual Saturday classes at the London AcademyTutoring Centre. Experts in the field of supporting children undertaking the 4+,5+,7+and 11+ assessments, Little Big leaders also provide competitions forstudents during the term time to give them an extra push academicallywhile developing their competitive spirit. Little Big Leaders are now taking bookings for the 7+ and 11+ Winter School and Spring Term 0208 312 3100 www.littlebigleaders.com

FREE TOYS for Your Local Toy Library Bizzy Bitz is a relatively new construction toy system. To celebrate thelaunch of their new instruction sheets, Bizzy Bitz will be donating

hundreds of boxes each containing 350 Bizzy Bitzbuilding blocks to toy libraries around the

country. If you are a mum who borrows toysfrom your local toy library and would likeyour child to experience playing with Bizzy

Bitz, simply ask your toy library organiser toemail [email protected]. Bizzy Bitz will then

send out a free box their building blocks.

Find out more at www.bizzy-bitz.com

Families Distributor Needed!Reliable individual with own transport needed to drop Families NW LondonMagazine at locations across Watford, Bushey and surrounding areas once

each issue. Would suit Mum or Dad with school-age children. Get in touch to find out more! [email protected]

This familiar site on the Abbots Langley High Street now welcomesSimmons Bakeries, Smiths Coffee Co. and £10 pottery painting &

crafting for the Under 5’s during the week 9am till 3pm. The perfectcombination to please the whole family! Children can take away their

items on the day with pottery taking 5 days to fire.

Open 7 days a week 8.30am till 6pm. Sunday’s 10am till 4pm and late night Thursday .. Bookings welcome for Hen Nights

and Parties.

Join the team for some relaxing fun for the whole family, and takethe stress out of your day… www.crafttub.co.uk; 01923 270 546

New look Craft Tub… + Café!

The Great Barn at HeadstoneManor, Harrow re-opens inNovember 2015 After an eight month programme of extensive restoration andrefurbishment costing nearly £1 million,refurbished impressive structure stands ona heritage site among a cluster of historicbuildings, including Headstone Manor,which boasts its own water-filled moat.The Great Barn will serve as a uniquevenue for community events, functionsand weddings as part of a programme ofregeneration for the museum, supportedby the Heritage Lottery Fund and HarrowCouncil which will see all of the buildingsbrought into self-supporting use . Nowlicenced for civil ceremonies, the firstwedding at the Great Barn takes place on 7th November. http://harrowmuseum.org.uk/the-collection/restoration-works/

Peter Rabbit™ AdventurePlayground plans unveiledWillows Activity Farm in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, hasunveiled the construction plans for its new Peter Rabbitthemed play area, due to open in April 2016 and coincideswith the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter,author of the original books.

It will have ten activities themed around the world-famousand much-loved Peter Rabbit characters, including the MrsTiggy-Winkle Kitchen, a Jeremy Fisher Musical Pond andBenjamin Bunny Treetop Adventure.

For more information visitwww.willowsactivityfarm.com or follow @Willows_Farm

Did you knowthat the averagewaiting time fora doctor appointment is 7-10 days?Not any more! Be one of the first families to get a doctor to your door within 60 mins. GPDQ is anew app which may mean you’ll never need to wait for a doctor appointmentever again. At the touch of a button can request a fully qualified doctor to arriveat a location of your choice. Ahead of its launch later this year, the team is lookingfor families to respond to a survey designed to set the right price for the service,in exchange for becoming a VIP user. If you’re interested, simply complete thesurvey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GPDQPatientSep15 and a member ofthe team will be in touch to explain what discounts and VIP access is available.www.GPDQ.co.uk

NEWS



Education News

Shortage of Teachers Training CouldLead to A “Crisis” A Head Teacher has warned that a shortage of teachers and a risingnumber of pupils will create “a perfect storm” for English schools.

Allan Foulds of Cheltenham Bournside School has said at the ConservativeParty conference that the schools system is near breaking point.

Mr. Foulds is president of the Association of School and College Leaders,which says that there are too few teachers currently going through trainingto be able to meet the numbers needed. A fall in the birth rate back in thelate 1990s led to fewer 21 year olds becoming graduates now and this isnow being felt in the lack of graduates available and choosing to go intoteaching. At the same time, the number of pupils is increasing, with thenumbers of school children under 16 set to rise to a peak of 7.85 million by2020.

Mr Foulds said: "There is a real danger that a system, which is already undersevere strain, will reach breaking point and that schools will be forced to dropmore courses and increase class sizes further.

"This situation puts in jeopardy the huge progress that has been made byschools and undermines the drive to further raise standards."

www.gov.uk/government/news/national-teacher-recruitment-drive-gets-underway

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan hassaid that schools should take“reasonable steps” to provide childcarefor the whole length of the workingday during term time and the schoolholidays too. As part of this move, parents are to begiven the right to request that theirchildren’s schools put this carestructure into place. However, thefunding for this has not been agreed.Head teachers have said that this ideawould have to be looked at “extremelycarefully to ensure it is not just apopular gimmick.”Russell Hobby, general secretary of theNational Association of Head Teachers,has responded to say that while givingcare for children while parents areworking is a good idea, there are

several reasons to be wary of theGovernment’s promise. Budget cutsand recruitment issues are just two ofthe reasons why schools might not beable to provide care from early in theday until after parents finish work. "Extending provision beyond 38weeks, providing care outside of termtime, can also prove very difficult forschools because of staffing and a lackof private provision,” said Mr Hobby. He continued: "Parents can ask but thegovernment must guarantee that aschool's decision is respected.Otherwise, it is merely going toprovoke conflict between schools andtheir communities and wouldundermine the decision-making ofhead.www.politicshome.com

Education Secretary Calls forSchools To Provide Childcare

Continued on page 8...

Education News



New Head Teachers appointed atthree NW London Schools

The Bananagrams Challenge is back – and even bigger!

St. Nicholas Preparatory School and Nursery in Kingsbury, North-WestLondon invited Mr. E.M. Cooper to take on the headship of the school atthe start of this academic year.“Having held headship and other leadership roles in both small and largeschools in the UK and overseas I can testify that no one school is ever thesame; every school’s uniqueness stems from its history and the make-up ofits community. St. Nicholas is characterised by its ‘family feel’ and itsaspirations to be the best prep and nursery school in the area,” states Mr.Cooper."Founded in 1937, St. Nicholas School has developed over the years anumber of traditions and practices that form part of the school’s ethos: abelief in hard work and determination, academia, and respect for others. “Our aim is to develop in our young learners innovation and forwardthinking, which in combination with the teaching of more traditionalvalues, will inspire the confident, adaptable and ethical leaders our everchanging world needs," adds Mr. Cooper.Visits are warmly welcomed; please contact the school to makearrangements 020 8205 7153.Buxlow Preparatory School and Nursery in Wembley is a highlysuccessful academic preparatory school and nursery for children from 2 to11 years of age and is amember of ‘The InspiredLearning Group’ (ILG), a smallbut growing company ofschools and nurseries inLondon. The Head of Buxlow, Mrs TinaLeach, appointed in August2015 hails from New Zealandand, for the past nine years,she has enjoyed living andworking in London. WhilstMrs Leach’s headship hasbeen mostly in very largeschools she is delighted with

the nature of the unique Buxlowsetting. Mrs Leach says ‘It is therelationships at the heart of thisschool which underpins both theachievements of the girls andboys and the vitality of ourschool spirit. Present and pastpupils, staff, parents, ourProprietor Mr A. Mehta, and theInspired Learning GroupDirectors, are connectedthrough the strands that makeus "the Buxlow family". This affectionate namecaptures our spirit, our concern for each other and the pride we share inour school and in our achievements. It is the spirit of Buxlow that makesthe tangible difference." Mrs Leach invites all who may wish to experience the School in Action tocall the School Office and make an appointment for a Private Tour. 020 89043 615St Christopher’s Preparatory School in Wembley Park is delighted tohave welcomed their new Head, Mr Paul Musetti, who took up postimmediately after the recent half term. Mr Musetti has experience ofteaching in both the state and independent sectors and he has also spenttime teaching overseas. He studied history at Oxford University beforequalifying as a teacher at the Institute of Education and also gained aDistinction in a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at BuckinghamUniversity. His most recent post was as Deputy Head at Hendon PrepSchool. Mr Musetti is passionate about the pursuit of academic standards andinspirational teaching and learning – all of which are core values at StChristopher’s. In particular, St Christopher's was rated by the 2013 ISIinspection team as excellent in both developing the attainment andlearning of students and in its provision of pastoral care. Mr Musetti adds,“Our aim is to build on this excellence. Parents are invited to contact us on0208 092 5069 to arrange a visit. Come and see the school in action!”www.inspiredlearninggroup.co.uk

- UK primary school children aged 7-11 invited to ‘Go Wild With Words’ - Free-to-enter tournament aims to boost spelling in line with new

CurriculumAfter a hugely successful first year, The Bananagrams Challenge is backand bigger than ever! Open to twice as many schools in 2016, TheChallenge is a nationwide search for the UK’s Top Banana – the onlyofficial UK Bananagrams tournament for schools.Aiming to attract 1000 competing schools, the free-to-enter Challengewill see around 30,000 children aged 7-11 years old (from school years 3,4, 5 and 6) ‘Go Wild With Words’ as they play a series of Bananagramsgames with classmates. Through a simple process of elimination, eachschool finds its champion, or ‘Best of the Bunch’ who then competes in arange of online word-based games – built around the Key Stage 2spelling lists – for one of 12 places at the Grand Final in London, in April2016. The eventual winner will be crowned Top Banana 2016 and will

win £1000 for their school,while all finalists receive aBananagrams Goodie Bagcrammed full of fun.As part of its mission to getchildren playing with words,Bananagrams has launchedthe Challenge to help boostvocabulary and spelling skillsin classrooms and after-school clubsacross the country. Each school to register receives a FREE BananagramsChallenge Welcome Pack worth over £40 – this provides the teacher witheverything they need to run their school’s Challenge, including twoBananagrams games.For further information and to register your school before 30th Nov go to www.Bananagramschallenge.co.uk

Mr. Em Cooper

Education News...Continued from page 6

Confidence is just as importantin life – if not more so - than abrace of A grades or endless extra-curricular skills. It’s vital toemotional wellbeing and somethingmost of us hope our children willdevelop. But how can we instil this feeling in ourchildren, particularly if it doesn’t comenaturally to them? Accept your child’s starting pointNot all children – or adults - are confident by nature(wouldn’t life be boring if we were all the same?) andwhilst we can encourage self-belief, transforming a shy or

anxious child into a ‘life and soul of the party’ type, isprobably an unrealistic aim.

Try to avoid making comments to your child such as howyou wish they were more confident, or less shy because, ineffect, you’re saying you don’t value them as they are - areal confidence crusher.

Accept your child’s personality and ‘starting point’; it mightbe different to yours, their sibling’s, friends’ or classmates’and that’s absolutely fine.

Don’t force them into situationsthey aren’t comfortable withIn most scenarios, one of the worst things you can do for ayoung child who’s unsure is to push them in at the deepend with something when they aren’t ready. They need totrust you when taking on new experiences and doing thisdamages that trust.


Parenting

CreatingConfidentchildrenBy Liat Hughes-Joshi

Parenting

Take small steps to encourageconfidenceFind opportunities to stretch just a bit beyond what yourson or daughter is comfortable with at a time. So that couldbe going to their friend’s house with them initially, then youjust staying for a little while at the start, then next time, theymight be happy to go alone.

Work out what their fear isOften a child will have niggling worries holding them backin a specific situation. So perhaps “If I put my hand up inclass, I might get the answer wrong and the other childrenwill laugh at me”. Pin down their concern – althoughpreschool children might struggle to articulate their fear.

Address their concern and provide plenty of reassurancethat they will be okay, that what others think doesn’t reallymatter and that you’re there for them.

Talk about similar situations you experienced as a child,when you were afraid of something, and how it worked outfor you.

Keep praise specialThese days, there’s a tendency to be super-positive andheap on the ‘fabulous, you’re the best child ever!’ commentsevery other second – sometimes it feels like we should bepraising our kids simply for breathing. But if you tell themeverything they do is wonderful all the time, positivity losespower. Keep praise for when it’s truly warranted and focuson effort rather than just results. This way, when they do dosomething amazing, your comments will have more impact.

Find their forte and allow it toflourishIf your child doesn’t do so well in academic work, or theusual extra-curricular activities at school, this can maketheir self-esteem fragile. Seek opportunities for them to tryother, more unusual activities out of school and highlightpositive personality traits such as being especially kind or agood organiser.

Step back sometimes and let them‘have a go’ – land that helicopter! Helicopter parenting – hovering over your child, stepping into resolve the slightest issue or preventing them fromfailing – is a barrier to building confidence. Children need tofind their own solutions, attempt things their waysometimes and take sensible risks. Sure, you can guide andadvise but try not to jump in and take over too quickly.

Whether it’s allowing your three-year-old to choose herown outfit or your ten-year-old to walk to the post boxalone, letting go is a crucial confidence builder.

Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting journalist and theauthor of four books including 'New Old-fashioned

Parenting' and 'How to Unplug Your Child' (bothpublished by Summersdale) and ‘Raising Children:

The Primary Years’ (Pearson).



Parenting

Knowing theright portion sizefor your toddlerjust got easier!Evidence-based Portion Sizes for childrenaged 1-4 years available to supporthealthy growth and development

With growing evidence of the impact of increasingportion sizes on the amounts of food that adults andchildren consume, simple and practical advice on

portion sizes could be key in curbing the obesity crisis. TheInfant & Toddler Forum (ITF) has revamped its onlineresource to create a user-friendly, visual guide on how muchfood to offer young children. The guide is now accessible onall devices including mobile, tablet, and desktop computer.

The UK is facing a health crisis related to poor diet. Almost one inten children starting school are obese, amounting to over 60,000children in 2013-2014.

Visits Welcome by Appointment

Parenting

The Infant & Toddler Forum brings together an independent, multi-disciplinary team of experts and practitioners from paediatrics,

neonatology, health visiting, dietetics, child psychology, midwifery andobstetrics to share new ideas and to debate the latest thinking in infant

and toddler nutrition. Best practice guidance on food and feeding forall young families is paramount for children's health and wellbeing

now and in the future. For ten years the Forum and its partners have strived to raise

awareness and promote positive change in the field of toddlernutrition and feeding behaviour, with all guidance being in alignment

with DH increased emphasis on early years intervention.

One predictor of how much young children eat is how muchis put on their plates. We also know that in the UK, adultportion sizes have increased dramatically within the lasttwenty years. A toddler’s energy needs are significantly lower than that ofan adult so they require smaller meals. There is often anxietyamong parents about what and how much to feed theirchild. Practical advice that can help parents and carers offeryoung children appropriate amounts may help in our fightagainst childhood obesity.

Judy More, Paediatric Dietitian and Member of the ITF said:““How much toddlers eat varies widely from day to day andmeal to meal, so parents and carers shouldn’t worry if somedays their toddler eats less than on other days. Our adviceprovides portion size ranges rather than specific amounts, toaddress the fluctuating appetites of growing children andhelps to achieve the correct nutritional balance and caloriesneeded for healthy growth and development. These rangesare easy to use and include the foods parents and carersusually offer toddlers. The portion sizes guide offers acombination of foods across the five food groups with adviceon healthy limits for high-fat or high-sugar foods.”

The new online portion size guide can befound here:http://bit.ly/1MjR43A



Getting Ready For the

Holiday Season!

Getting Ready For the

Holiday Season!

Seasonal Celebrations

Whether you are getting ready for visitors, getting ready to go away, or getting ready to spend a peaceful time at home with yournearest and dearest, there is always plenty to do in the weeks running up the many seasonalcelebrations this time of year! To help you keep on track, we’ve put together a simple CHECK LIST for youand some ideas for new traditions and helpful hints along the way! Happy Holidays everyone!

6 weeks to goWrite your gift list - don't forget to set yourself a budget earlyon too.Write your card list - now is also a good time to check thatyou've got the right addresses. If not, start getting them.Think about your Christmas tree theme including yourtable setting and decorations too - especially important ifyou're hosting the big day.Organise care for your pet/s if you're going on holidays.

5 weeks to goPut together a food list - don't forget, if ordering platters,Christmas cakes etc, some supermarkets and shops require youto put your order in many weeks in advance.Start shopping early - Think about shopping both instore andonline. Don't forget about wrapping paper and gift tags.Post any international cards / presents - after all, now is oneof the busiest times for postal outlets, so you want to makesure your cards and presents will reach your loved ones in time.

4 weeks to goIt's time to set up the Christmas tree - take a look at ourguide to 'Decorating your Christmas Tree’ www.bit.ly/1LBBtZAfor a picture perfect tree.Book any hair or beauty appointments - it's the party seasonafter all and you'll want to be looking your best!Stock up on the non-perishable goods - now is the perfecttime to buy chips, lollies, sauces, drinks and any other non-perishable goods for the big day.

3 weeks to goPost (airmail) cards and any presents headed to thecontinent or further afield (unless you were very organisedand met the surface mail deadline at the end of September!)to ensure that they'll reach the destination in time. Get the kids

involved with our 'printable Christmas Cards –www.bit.ly/1LBBCvZ 'Finalise Christmas decorations around the house - youmight like to decorate outside too.Start wrapping and continue to wrap presents as you buythem.

2 weeks to goClean the house and get everyone to help you - don't forgetabout the fridge and oven.Get a couple of 'emergency gifts' ready - it's great to have afew emergency gifts ready for those unexpected visitors. Greatemergency gift ideas include chocolates, a bottle of wine orbath and beauty products.

1 week to goCharge cameras - make sure batteries are charged for thoseKodak moments!Put together your food preparation schedule - plan aheadand write down a food preparation schedule, along with theingredients that you'll need.Start shopping for food and pick-up any pre-orders - you'llprobably want to leave fresh food and fruit until the day beforeto ensure that it's at its best! Don't forget about ice either.Start baking - things that you can freeze can be baked aheadof time to save the rush at the end.Make sure you've got fresh milk and cookies ready forSanta, plus carrots for the reindeer!Get spare batteries for toys to avoid disappointment on the big day.Finally, enjoy yourself! Be sure to relax and have a wonderfulholiday with your nearest and dearest.

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Seasonal Celebrations

Get Gift Giving Organised>>Wisher App – take theguessing out of giving!www.wisher.comRediscover the childlike excitement of making aChristmas list! Snap, scan, upload or browse forthe things you wish for, whatever, whenever orwherever they are. No more traipsing round the shops - wishes aregeotagged, so Wisher lets you know when yourfriends' wishes are nearbyFree, fun, and simple app available on iOS andAndroid(Oh, and don't worry - we haven't forgotten thateveryone loves a surprise! Once someone'sbought you a gift and ticked it off, others will seethat they shouldn't buy it for you, but you won't see that.

Enjoy a new Christmas Story >>A Boy Called Christmas by international-bestseller Matt Haigis the true story of Father Christmas (RRP £12.99)Of course before everybody started calling himSanta Claus (the pixies started it, themischievous things), Nikolas was just anordinary boy. An ordinary boy living in themiddle of nowhere, or the middle of Finland,doing nothing with magic except believing in it. But life was going to change for Nikolas, in wayshe could never have imagined. Good things. Bad things. Impossible things… Richly brought to life with enchantingillustrations by Chris Mould, A Boy CalledChristmas recalls the pluck, warmth and wit ofDanny the Champion of the World and themagical beauty of The Snowman.

Ready Your House for the Massesand Mess>>Extra guests at Christmas coupled with copiousamounts of alcohol inevitably leads to a queue for theloo. But now you can have an extra WC for just £29.99with this Toilet Tree Tent - new from British outdoorleisure manufacturer, OLPRO(www.olproshop.com),Standing 2 metres tall and made from polyester,this pop-up tent erects in minutes and features afir tree design and with just a touch of creativity, itturns into a Christmas tree! It's so discrete no-one willever know it conceals an extra loo. Alternatively, it canbe used for storage to hide all that Christmas clutter.

Capture the Memories>>In the twilight hoursafter the Christmasmeal, ask yourassembled family andguests to take fiveminutes to write in TheChristmas Yearbook(www.2littleboys.co.ukRRP £24.99); from theexcited youngster toyour visiting relativesand elderly loved ones.Year on year, watch yourchildren's (and yourown) aspirations for theforthcoming yearchange, check out momentous events from previous years and even lookback on when your daughter finally beat you at chess. Beautifullypackaged to withstand the years. It's put away each January 6 with theChristmas decorations and becomes a delightful rediscovery each year asthe festivities begin. A simple yet perfect way to record your family's lifefor future generations.

Start a New Tradition>>The Elf on The Shelf: AChristmas Traditionis a magical story that explains howSanta’s scout elves help him manage hisnaughty or nice lists. Each illustrated,hardback book comes as part of a box setthat also includes one of Santa’s scoutelves, whose job is to watch

during the day and report toSanta every night. When a family adopts a scoutelf and gives it a name, the scoutelf receives its Christmas magic and can flyto the North Pole each night to tell Santa Claus

about all of the day’s adventures. Each morning the scout elfreturns to its family and perches in a different place to watch the

festive fun, creating a unique family moment. Children love torace around the house and see where their scout elf haslanded. Launching in the UK from official scout elf adoption

centres, including www.babyrepublic.co.uk., John Lewis and selectspecialty retailers RRP £27.95


Families NW LondonMagazine


Gift IDEAS

Looking for someinspiration for gifts for those special people in

your life? We’ve had a lookat some truly exciting things

over the past few monthsand wanted to share with

you some of our favourites!

Support Local Charities!From cards, to sponsorship, to straight forwarddonations (in the recipient’sname), supporting local,national and internationalcharities can be a greatchoice – especially forthat ‘difficult to buy for’person on your list… thegift that gives twice!

One such example that we loved was Brain TumourResearch’s Limited Edition brooches – a perfect stockingfiller! Celebrated Milliners, Rachel Trevor Morgan andVivien Sheriff, are among those who have collaborated withthe charity to produce these gorgeous brooches to help raisefunds for Brain Tumour Research’s annual ‘Wear A Hat Day’. The broochescan be viewed on the charity’s website and the suggested donation is £10per brooch. You need to be quick as only 500 of each design have beenproduced. Go to www.braintumourresearch.org or call 01296 733011.

Take to thesky!A great toy for children andadults alike, we found thisto be fun for the wholefamily and a greatinspiration to get usrunning around in thefresh air!

Arcade (powered by Kitwww.yourkit.co.uk) has introduced a new range ofaffordable drones. The Arcade Orbit NANO Drone is the smallest and mostaffordable in the range. The wind resistant six gyro stabilisers givemaximum stability, so the lucky owner of this fun toy can practise flips,rolls, and tricks. The operational range is up to 80 metres, so you can fly ithigh in the sky! Perfect for big kids as well as small ones. RRP: £39.99 (Adultsupervision recommended at the start).

A work of artthat encouragesimagination andhands on fun!This book is truly beautiful and awonderful gift for that storytellerin your family. Creative, visuallystunning, and interactive. Whatmore could you want in a gift?

The Sleeping Beauty Theatre by master paper-crafters Su Blackwell andCorina Fletcher. Ideal for children aged 6+, brings the tale of SleepingBeauty to life in stunning three dimensional detail. The book's cover opensto reveal a beautifully designed pop-up stage, with moveable scenery,props and characters. A script is provided so that children can stage theirvery own production of Sleeping Beauty, however, the sheer variety ofprops and characters enclosed within this marvellous book ensure that italso encourages creative, non-prescriptive play. £19.95www.ThamesandHudson.com

Make your Child the Star of their veryownPersonalisedStory BookIt would seem you canpersonalise mostanything these days,and what childwouldn’t want a storywhere they feature atthe main character!Labels4Kids.comprovides story books

with Disney Frozen Fever, Disney Princesses and many more. Personalisethem with your child’s name and perhaps those of their best friends orcousins and let them be part of an epic story! These adventure books arecustom made and take up to 2-3 weeks for delivery so get planning! £11.99www.labels4kids.com/fam2

Video games – on and off screen!If interactive video games are your child’spassion this season, there are some exciting

new choices!A firm favourite with ourteam is the new LEGODimensions gameslaunched a few weeksback. The thought and

detail put into everyelement of every stage is

truly amazing, making progresseasy enough for the younger players, while

providing unending challenges across the 14 universes for those trulyskilled gamers in your life. Our young testers could go on about it forhours, but take our word for it; you won’t hear ‘I’m bored’ after this one isopened for a LONG time! We found it on Amazon starting from £69 for theWiiU starter pack but prices may vary.Developed by TT Games and published by Warner Bros. InteractiveEntertainment, LEGO Dimensions is now available for PlayStation®4 andPlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, andNintendo’s Wii U™ system www.lego.com/en-gb/dimensions

Skylanders® fans can bring theironline enjoyment offline and enjoyone of two new Skylanders®boardgames from Tactic Games.Using a Pop-O-Matic die, pilot yourpawns around the board in theexciting chasinggame of skill andluck, Skylanders® Kimble (SSP£15.99). Suitable for ages 5+, or forthe older fan, work together withyour friends to collect as many diceas you can for the battle against evilKaos in Skylanders® Action Game(SSP £29.99). Suitable for ages 8+,

the Action Game features a large,impressive game board, versatile and interesting

mini-challenges, plus a co-op element for winning teamwork.Copyright: © 2015 Activision Publishing, Inc.SKYLANDERS is a trademark ofActivision Publishing, Inc.;

Gift your time - Share a day out!Wrap up a copy of Explore! AKid's Guide to IWM London thenmake a date to take your youngadventurer on a journey ofdiscovery at the Imperial WarMuseum! Explore! A Kid’s Guideto IWM London helps childrendiscover some of the museum’smost fascinating objectsthrough a series of Fun Facts,drawing activities anddiscussion starters. Kids candiscover everything fromTirpitz the pig who survived the

sinking of a German warship, to an intricate model house of the familyhome of John Allpress who was only 10 years old when the Second WorldWar began. For adults, the guidebook also offers tips to help families starttalking about the difficult subject of war, either during the visit or byfinding an opportunity to discuss later at home. Content is particularlysuitable for 7-11 year olds, but a wide age range will enjoy many of theactivities. £4.00 www.iwmshop.org.uk

Give the gift of Music!Who doesn’t like a bit of nostalgia? Dust off those oldLP’s in the loft and share your love of music, how YOUlistened to it with a modern-come-retro record player!.

Through all the wonders of modern technology, Crosley havecrafted the Revolution Turntable - the first ever battery poweredturntable that can easily be taken with youwherever you go. Designed to be highlyportable as well as stylish, the CrosleyRevolution Turntable has two speeds,and has a USB input for simple transfer offiles. Available to buy from Amazon UK RRP £69.99

Give something to DO, or trysomething NEW!More and more, people are opting for‘experience’ gifts rather than tangiblegoods as the ‘memorable ‘gift thisseason. From ‘keeper for a day’ at alocal zoo, to car racing (check outMercedes Benz World –www.mercedes-benzworld.co.uk –children under 17yrs can go on adriving experience as long as they are1.5m tall), there are plenty of things tochoose from!One idea we particularly liked was tofeed a passion or introduce a newexperience by giving that specialsomeone a place at a local club or classas suggested by Jigsaw PerformingArts School. Jigsaw providesPerforming Arts classes for 3-18 yearolds – a great way to build confidence,learn new skills and make lots of new friends. And they are offering ourlovely readers a special promotion to boot - If you book a place and pay infull before Christmas then you will also be given a free T-Shirt (Worth £10)that you can wrap up along with the voucher. {Call 020 8447 4530 andquote “FAMILIES GIFT” to book a place at your nearest Jigsaw School}.www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk

No matter your budget, no matter the occasion, we hope youfind that special something for your special someone to make

this gift-giving season one to remember!



Competitions

WIN a Family* Ticket to THE TIGER WHOCAME TO TEA at the Lyric Theatre!The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could itpossibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big furry, stripy tiger!The tea-guzzling Tiger pounces back into the West End in this truly magical Olivier Awardnominated production of THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA, opening at the Lyric TheatreShaftesbury Avenue on WEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2015 and running throughoutChristmas to SUNDAY 10 JANUARY 2016.Adapted and directed by DAVID WOOD OBE, Judith Kerr’s ferociously popular tale, THETIGER WHO CAME TO TEA is a grrreat musical play and if you’ve never had a Tiger arrivefor tea before, then this loveable production is the perfect way to show the whole familyhow to behave the next time one rings the doorbell. LYRIC THEATRE, SHAFTESBURY AVENUE - BOOK NOW 0330 333 4812 Watch the trailer at: www.thetigerwhocametotealive.com - www.nimaxtheatres.comTo celebrate The Tiger’s return, Families magazine has one family ticket (admits4) to give away. To win just answer the following question – WHAT DOES THETIGER DRINK ALL OF FROM THE TAP? To enter visit www.FamiliesNWLondon.co.uk/Competitions and click on thelink. Competition closes midnight 20th November 2015!T&C – Prize is *4 tickets to see a selected performance of The Tiger Who Came to Tea at the Lyric Theatre ShaftesburyAvenue between 25 November- 20 December only. Tickets are non-transferable and hold no cash value.

JigsawPerforming

Arts celebratesits 20th

anniversarywith a

Scholarshipcompetition!

To celebrate, they are offering a FREE scholarship place ateach of their Watford and Harrow schools for the Springterm 2016! Classes take place on Saturday mornings forstudents aged between 3 – 18 years that wish to learn new skills, build theirconfidence and make lots of new friends. The one term scholarship will run from Saturday 16thJanuary until Saturday 20th March. Each scholarship place isworth £150 for 3-6 years and £280 for 7-18 years. To be entered into their prize draw please email yourname, address, telephone number and your child’sname and age to [email protected]. Please quoteFAMILIES North West SCHOLARSHIP in the subject box. Competition closes midnight 14th December 2015!

READYTEDDYGO…

Get ‘teddy’ to enter our competition to win a family day out at Willows Activity Farm’s SantaSpectacular event!This year, children visiting Willows between the 25th November and 24th December will be ableto create a teddy of their ‘bear-y’ own to take home.A ‘bear-y’ merry festive outing is guaranteed: families can visit the spectacular Grotto to meetSanta himself, who gives every child a golden key to his Toy Shop. Boys and girls can choose anytoy of their choice from the packed shelves to take home!After meeting Santa and making their bear, families should ‘paws’ to enjoy the Festive WoodRide and see real life reindeer.Make sure you have time to skate on the synthetic ice rink, enjoy the Nativity story withfarmyard animals and a fun reindeer hunt to complete for your free box of magic reindeer dust.For you chance to win a family day pass (*admits four) to Willows visitwww.FamiliesNWLondon.co.uk/Competitions and click on the link. Competition closes midnight 30th November 2015!

Win a Family* Day out at Willows This Season!

Robert Workman

There comes a day in every child’s life wherethey have to spread their wings and flyaway. University, joining the French

Foreign Legion, whatever – all is possible whenyou reach the right age. This year, Midi-Me didjust that. No, this was not some Dougie Howsermoment where she was admitted to UCL atthirteen years old to study medicine. I mean sheactually flew away from me to another country.On an aeroplane. Alone.

After we got divorced, Midi-Me’s dad moved toVancouver and didn’t visit for lots of years. When hedid start returning a couple of years ago, it was justfor one short visit per year of one or two weeks,because he now had a life and wife in Canada.Midi-Me and I actually managed very, extremelywell as a two-member family (as regular readersover the past 9 years will know!) and her dad keptin touch regularly via birthday cards, phone, skypeand latterly face time. Naturally however, despiteall that, the separation has been quite theemotional trial for her (and therefore me).

Last year, having somehow miraculously ended upwith my own fiancé, we planned a trip thatinvolved taking Midi-Me to Vancouver to see herextended paternals. We had dinner with her Dadand Stepmum in a lovely Thai restaurant (wherewe bizarrely met a waiter from Hatch End!) beforegoing off and doing our own thing for two weeks,and then returned to pick her up and bring herback to London.

In the springtime of this year, Midi-Me’s dad came to visit andwhisked her off to Centre Parcs and they had a jolly oldweekend together, riding on segways and eating steak forbreakfast. Of course, no matter how long the visit was, itcouldn’t possibly be long enough. By the summer, she wantedand needed more but I wasn’t able to play FEDEX mum, with athirteen-year old human package. And as much as I wanted toease her emotional inquietude, there was NO WAY I was goingto send her on an aeroplane by herself.

It was my grown-up nephew who explained to me that it wasthe uncertainty that was the worst thing for a kid. Not just the“will I see my absent parent ever again” but “when?” And that’swhen I realized that my being too scared to let her get on aplane alone was really doing her no favours at all. I knew shewas perfectly sensible and trustworthy. I knew that BA takevery good care of their charges. And I knew at that momentthat although my preventing her from flying solo was mebeing a good, protective mum, actually it was not in herultimate interest. For thirteen years I had made zillions of split-second single-parent decisions. This constant mental,emotional and physical cost/ benefit analysis had been honedover the years resulting in an automatic cognitive algorithmwhich I relied upon to help me with daily conundrums. From,at three years old: should I let her partake of fruit shoot(OCCASIONALLY but only in order not to be the odd one out at

parties – never of own volition). To: should I watch this 15 WillFerrel film Stepbrothers with her (ABSOLUTELY NOT …but wedid anyway last week). Alighting on: should I let my babyscramble alone onto a large piece of metal thousands of feetin the air, flying over sea and land at great speeds with nothingexcept incomprehensible science holding it up?

The automatic cognitive algorithm was right about the WillFerrel film but wrong about the aeroplane. So I explained toher that this was not a holiday but that she was going to stay ather other home for around three weeks. This pre-empted theboredom I knew she would feel from sitting in her dad’sfurniture shop with him for days on end. But hey, she’s beenbored with me, it was important to experience boredom withher dad too. She always wanted to know what my childhoodwas like and now she would gain insight, because I spent muchof it being bored to death in my dad’s shop too.

I haven’t completely lost faith in my automatic cognitivealgorithm. I will need it when Midi-Me decides wants to jointhe Foreign Legion.

Midi-Me spreads her wings and flies away

More on flying solo atmynotesfromtheedge.blogspot.com andfacebook.com/angelinamelwani and twitter@appleina.



Local Clubs and Classes Directory

CLASSES FOR GROWN-UPSAdult Art Classes in Stanmore (HA7) Drawing, painting and mixedmedia art classes for adults. Weekday morning studiosessions in a relaxed, supportive environment. � 020 8954 2897 or 07500 006 099 � [email protected]

Eggless Cake Delights (HA) offer eggless baking, cakedecorating and dessert classes for kids & adults in Harrow.Classes are held in small groups in hands on and Demoformat, during weekdays, weekends and during term holidaysin a friendly environment.� 07737 847405 or [email protected]. � www.egglesscakedelights.com

The Veggie Kitchen (HA7) Pure vegetarian cookery courses inStanmore. Specialising in Indian cuisines, as well as Thai,Chinese and many more, students will learn to cook nutritiousand delicious vegetarian meals in a friendly and homelyenvironment. Offer group and one-to-one hands on courses. � 0208 204 1906 � www.veggiekitchen.co.uk

Yogabellies Aquabellies (various) Beautiful water based yogaclasses for women throughout their lives. The sessionsincorporate traditional yoga asanas (postures) adapted forwater, water relaxations and positive life building experiencesfor women, mothers and mothers to be. There is AquaBellies -Aquanatal yoga for pregnancy, AquaMamas, post natal andAquaBelles aqua yoga classes suitable for all women.. � 07840 904887 � [email protected]/members/anjli

First AidMCS Training (HA1, HA5) Paediatric First Aid Course. Acceptedfor full and voluntary Ofsted Registration. Certificate valid for 3yrs. � Margaret 07814 191 395 � [email protected]

LANGUAGES AND CHILD DEVELOPMENTBaby Lab (WC1E) Have fun for free with your baby makingdiscoveries about brain development at the Centre for Brain & Cognitive Development. Birkbeck College, Malet St,London. Travel expenses refunded. � 020 7631 6258 � www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk

Gujarati Masti Maja classes by Sansaar (HA5) Fun and interactiveGujarati music, song and dance classes for 3 to 6 year olds inNorth London, to help your child speak Gujarati confidently.Saturday morning at 9am and 10am at St Lawrence Church inEastcote, Pinner. � www.sansaar.org

Portuguese for Children (NW6) Every Saturday, from 10am to12pm, the International Gospel Church on Belsize Road willbe open for children from 4 to 12 years of Brazilian-Englishparents to enrol. Lessons will include how to read and writeand Brazilian culture, including music. Lessons run fromSeptember and February 2016 and are free. � [email protected]

Sign LanguageSing and Sign (Various) Fun classes combining the benefits ofbaby signing with music to develop language, memory andattention skills. Babies 6-30 months. Bushey, Rickmansworth,Stanmore and Harrow: � www.singandsign.com

TinyTalk (Ruislip, Ickenham & Rickmansworth) Baby Signingand Toddler Talking, Newborn to 4 years old. One hourclasses of signing and singing with instruments and sensoryequipment which is based on a theme each week, as well astime for socialising, while babies learn to develop their socialskills and play with toys. Classes term time only - TescoCommunity Room in Watford on a Monday, St Giles Hall inIckenham on Thursdays and Methodist church in Ruislip onFridays. � 07879 604967 or 01895 313150 � www.tinytalk.co.uk/ruislip

ACTIVITY CENTRESAspire National Training Centre, Kidz Zone activities (HA7) Widerange of activities available from 6mths to 12yrs.Wood Lane, Stanmore, HA7 4AP � 020 8954 5759 � [email protected].

Gambado Watford (WD25) Giant play-frame, dodgems, climbingwall, and parties. � 01923 892140 � www.gambado.com

JAMtots (HA4) An Interactive daytime activity centre for parentswith babies and toddlers. All pay as you go with a variety ofsessions that include Parent & Toddler Groups, Musical Tots,Gym Tots and one off events plus special visits from Jimmythe JAMtots Bear. � 01895 624755 � thewindmillstudio.com

Rumble Tumble Harrow (HA1) Harrowʼs only indoor supervisedsoft play childrenʼs play group. Why not take advantage of theDrop & Shop facility and have a stress free shop, or book aspecial event in the Party Room available for all occasions.You can even relax and have a snack in the restaurant whileyour little ones are playing. � 0208 427 8847 � [email protected] www.rumble-tumble.com

The Windmill Studio Centre (HA4) An exciting activity centre thathas just about everything to offer for all ages from babies toadults. � 01895 624755 � www.thewindmillstudio.com

MUSIC & MOVEMENTBeat Building (HA1&HA2)Run inspiring and creative music classes for children usingAfrican drums and funky hand held percussion from aroundthe world - lots of great songs and games get the imaginationglowing and introduce the concepts of beats and rhythmicpatterns and also encourage sharing, taking turns andlistening. As well as being a great approach to learning aboutmusic and rhythm, beat Building is also brilliant for: enhancingcoordination; fine and gross motor skills; focus andconcentration; language and social skills; building confidence.Beat Building is also lots of FUN and a great way to releaseenergy in a positive way! � 07721 623 171 � [email protected] www.beatbuilding.co.uk

Little Notes (HA1) Music Teachersʼ Awards for ExcellenceFinalist 2014. Pre-school music classes run exclusively byprofessional musicians. Real music, real instruments, reallyfun! Classes for children from 0 to 5 years in Harrow &Northwood. Please see website for more details and to booka Free Taster Session. � 020 8426 4114 � [email protected] www.littlenotes.org

Mini Maniacs (Various) Multi award nominated classes that arefilled with music, dance and exploration – plus plenty ofexcitement. Focusing on a range of engaging activities, theclasses take you up tempo then down tempo, leaving parentand child feeling like theyʼve been on a tummy tickling rollercoaster! � Contact [email protected] or visit www.mini-maniacs.com

Monkey Music (Various) Award-winning Monkey Musicintroduces babies and young children to music in a way theyunderstand and enjoy - and is brilliant fun for children andadults too! The unique four-stage curriculum ensures thatclasses are a “good fit” for pre-schoolers. Voted as “BestNational Toddler Development Activity” and “Best NationalPre-school Development Activity.” Age guides are as follows:RockʼnʼRoll from 3m, Heigh Ho from 1yr, Jiggety Jig from 2rs,Ding Dong 3- 5yrs. Classes are open 6 days a week, atvenues in Hillingdon, Eastcote, Northwood and Harrow.� 01895 674587 � www.monkeymusic.com

SPORTS AND EXERCISECapoeira Academy UK (HA) Classes in Stanmore providingoutstanding and fun classes for children aged 4+years. Aunique blend of martial arts, dance, acrobatics and music;capoeira develops skills for life with inspiring and nurturingteachers. � 07841 342874 � [email protected]

Enjoy-a-Ball classes (Various) Sports coaching for 3-9 yr olds ina fun, positive and non-competitive environment. Ten ballsports for the perfect introduction to sport. Physi-ball classes -Ball skills and core skills for toddlers aged 18mths to 3 yrs.Classes run in Mill HIll, Finchley, Golders Green and MuswellHill. Call 08452 26 26 94 to book a trial session. Enjoy-a-Ballparties are for super-active 3 - 9 year olds. They are full ofhigh energy games loved by boys and girls alike! � 08452 26 26 94 � [email protected]

Field End Flyers Saturday Morning Community Cycle Club (HA5)Every Saturday in Term Time at Field End Road for all childrenaged 5 – 11 years. Join the friendly team of British CyclingCoaches at 9.45am, and learn fun skills, race on the amazingfully enclosed Cycle Track, make new friends (for bothchildren and parents) and enjoy a whole morning of fun till12.30 - (refreshment break half way through). All you need isyour own bike, helmet, gloves and water bottle and a showerproof jacket. � For further info contact Traceyat [email protected]

Little Kickers (Various) Enabling children aged 18mths up totheir 7th birthday to develop their coordination, balance andagility through football activity classes Mill Hill, Swiss Cottage,Hampstead, Golders Green, Muswell Hill, Friern Barnet � 020 8201 1084 � [email protected]. Ruislip,Northwood/Oxhey, Pinner, Harrow (HA2), Harrow on the Hill

and Watford � 0208 123 9346 � [email protected] or Harrow(HA3) Bushey and North Wembley � 0208 422 0676 � [email protected]

Modern Combat Martial Arts - MCMA (HA1/HA5/UB5) ChildrenʼsMixed Martial Arts & Self Defence from 5yrs - 14yrs old.Ladies Only Boxing & Kick Boxing from 15yrs old. Mixed AdultClasses from 16yrs. � www.fightingcombatfitness.co.ukwww.moderncombatmartialarts.com � 07818 416 671

NJ Taekwondo Academy (UB5, HA1) Olympic/WRF styleTaekwondo with a BTCB and WTF affiliated club. Classes in Northolt and Harrow. � 0208 795 5249 or 0742 810 5017 � www.njtkd.co.uk.

Rugbytots - the UKʼs first rugby based play programme for 2-7year olds. Focusing on developing your childʼs motor skills andconfidence with fun-filled programmes aimed at improvinggeneral ball skills, balance, agility and coordination. Currentlyclasses in Watford, Rickmansworth, Bushey and Stanmore. � For more information contact [email protected]

SportsKids Academy (WD3 & HA3) Multi-sports Activities forchildren. All students are taught in small groups of similar ageand ability. Mini academy ages 4-6 years (an hour and a half)Main Academy 6-16 years (3 hours). (Previously known asSportsCoach.) Held at JFS The Mall Kenton andRickmansworth Masonic School Rickmansworth � 01923 255099 � [email protected]

White Crane Karate School (HA8) Karate classes for ages 4 yearsand above held in Edgware, East Finchley, Finchley Central ,Stanmore and Harrow Weald. Adult classes in Barnet. � Sheena 0787 550 1674 � [email protected]

Massage & YogaPositiv-Life Fitness (various) Specialise in Small group Personaltraining Pregnancy Pilates, Mum & Baby Yoga & PostnatalPilates & Baby Massage, for those in & near Eastcote Ruislip,Pinner, Northwood & Uxbridge. [email protected] � 07974 062 973 � www.positivlifefitness.com www.facebook.com/positivlifefitness Twitter @PositivLifeFit

YogaBugs (various) A magical, fun and interactive story-styleadventures for children where they learn yoga techniques.Yoga improves flexibility, posture and concentration and alsohelps in relaxation. These fun and engaging classes aredesigned for children from walking to 12 years of age. � 08458 997168. � [email protected]

YogaBellies (HA) YogaBelliesKidz are a fantastical yoga journeyfor babies and children up to 16 years old. COMING SOONYogaBellies Mum and Baby yoga: Monday mornings NEW: YogaBellies Little Angels pre-school yoga (18 months to 4 years): Saturday mornings, BusheyNEW: YogaBelliesKidz family yoga (children 4-12 years): Sunday mornings, BusheyNEW: YogaBelles Mum and Daughter (13-16 years): Saturday, Bushey� [email protected];www.yogabellies.co.uk/members/anjli

SwimmimgAqua Style (WD23/HA6) teaches children, babies and adults toswim without aids in small groups, or One to One. Goodfacilities and plenty of parking. They run Intensive ʻFastTrackʼ Courses during School Holidays and weekly ʻTermTimeʼ courses. � 07925 954144 � www.aquaswim.org

Aqua Vie (WD23, WD5) Small classes based on the AlexanderTechnique. Babies from 6 weeks. � 07525 657 987 � [email protected] www.aqua-vie.com

Aweswim (various) Aweswim offers courses for people of allages and abilities, ranging from parent and baby groupsthrough to adults. � 01923 537070 � www.aweswim.co.uk

Push & Glide Swimming School (WD18, WD23, HA6) Push &Glide Swimming School provide extremely high standards ofswimming instruction, they pride themselves on their friendly,dynamic teaching environment. They provide fully qualifiedinstructors who are committed to maintaining and improvingan excellent quality of teaching along with low ratio swimminglessons in a safe environment for children aged 3.5 yearsplus. All abilities are catered for, from gaining water confidencethrough to competition training, following the ASA progressivescheme awards.. � 07749 554405 � www.pushandglide.co.uk

Local Clubs and Classes Directory

Splashtime Swim School (various) Swimming lessons, Holidayclubs and After school club held at Quainton Hall School.Swimming lessons also held at Merchant Taylors School andUxendon Manor Primary School. � Splashtime Swim School � 079031 26486 Childrenʼs Activities 07794 078452

THEATRE AND PERFORMING ARTSBeverley School of Performing Arts (HA8) After school & Saturdayclasses in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Street, Singing & Dramafor boys and girls aged 3-18years. ISTD and LAMDAexaminations to advanced level. � 07974 750 224 � www.beverleydance.co.uk.

JAM2000 Performing Arts & Agency (HA4) Truly like no other, withclasses available from 2.5 years – adults, male and femaleplus an incredibly busy agency that is always looking for newrecruits! � 01895 624755 �www.jam2000.co.uk

Jigsaw Performing Arts Schools (Various) run weekend dance,drama and singing classes for children aged 3 - 18 years.Children are divided into age appropriate groups and worktowards shows and presentations. Jigsaw focuses on havingfun and building confidence through engaging performing artsactivities. Two week trial available. � 020 8447 4530 � www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk

Perform Drama (Various) Together with a team of experiencedtheatre professionals, the children will combine live originalmusic, inspirational dance and quick witted improvisation andcolourful costumes into a performance at the end of the term.Perform sessions are specially designed to encouragecreativity, confidence and communication skills as well asbeing a kaleidoscope of fun! � 0845 400 1275 � www.perform.org.uk

Sharpe Academy of Theatre Arts (HA1, HA4, HA7, WD3)Performance based theatre school with venues based inHarrow, Rickmansworth, Ruislip and Stanmore where childrenaged 3-21 attend weekly classes in preparation for full scaleMusical Theatre productions. � 01923 437693 � www.SharpeAcademy.co.uk

Stagecoach (Various) Training in three disciplines or drama,dance and singing. Great for building confidence, making newfriends and beginning to hone talent and enthusiasm forperforming, or being coaxed out of their shell by having fun! � Harrow 020 3504 0100 Harrow on the Hill & Sudbury Hill 01923 248 294 Stanmore & Harrow Weald 020 3504 2154 Watford 01727 768 738, Queenʼs Park 020 7723 5861 Northwood 01442 263 599 � www.stagecoach.co.uk

Wordworks Studio (HA5) Individual and group classes inSpeech, Drama and Communication Skills for children aged 3-18yrs. � [email protected]

DanceFutunity UK Academy of Sport and Dance (UB8) Purpose builtfacility in Uxbridge City Centre. Futunity UK offer classes forchildren ages 2 all the way through to adults. Hip Hop, StreetDance, Gymnastics, Free Running, Breakdancing, Ballet(RAD), Tap (ISTD), Contemporary, Cheerleading, PoleFitness, and Childrenʼs Parties. Classes range from beginnersto advanced/competitive levels. Futunity UK also have threefully equipped studios available for hire, at very competitiverates. Futunity UK also supply dance (all genres) andgymnastics teachers into schools to run after/before schoolextra curricular sessions, and PE and PPA cover lessons. � 01895 251224 � [email protected]

Karan’s Bollywood Masterclass (Various) Exciting, Energetic andpopular dance classes that teach a fusion of Bollywood,Bhangra, Hip-Hop and Kathak. Open to Toddlers, Children &Adults, you will learn from professional teachers and all dancelevels welcome. � 020 8423 9543 or 07944 457 984 � www.kspark.co.uk

Lorna Clark School of Dance (Various) Established for over 40years, training students from 3-18 yrs - Ballet, Tap, Modern,Classical Greek and National. Royal Academy of DanceExaminations are taken in Ballet from Primary to AdvancedLevel and ISTD exams in all other Genre to the samestandard. All classes held in South Harrow/Eastcote. Book a free No Obligation Lesson with this advert. � 0208 8662105 or 01923 285380.� www.lornaclarkschoolofdance.co.uk

The Van Niekerk Academy of Dance (HA7) Ballet classes todevelop poise, technique and expression through dance, forboys and girls aged 3-16 years with Royal Academy of Danceexaminations � 020 8950 2457 � www.vanniekerkacademyofdance.co.uk

ARTS AND CRAFTSArt Classes for Kids (and Adults) in Stanmore (HA7) Drawing,painting and mixed media art classes for children and adults.On-going, small groups Monday–Thursday afternoons andSaturday mornings in Term Time for children from Year 1 up.Weekday morning studio sessions for adults in a relaxed,supportive environment. � 020 8954 2897 or 07500 006 099 � [email protected]

Art and Craft Club (HA5) Term time, Mon 4.30-5.30, Sat 10-11am or 11-12pm at Harrow Arts Centre. New activitiesintroduced every term; drawing, painting, printmaking, collage,sewing, fabric printing and much more! For 5-11yr olds.Materials provided. Qualified teachers. � 07946 055 422 � [email protected]

Messmakers! (HA5) A gentle and fun introduction to creativearts for the very young and their families, with lots and lots ofmess and none of the tidying up! Exploring different materialsand textures each week. Ages under 5, come dressed formess! � 0208 416 8989 � www.harrowarts.com/family

Mini Picassos (NW10) Offer exciting after school art courses forchildren aged 4-13 years. Toddler Picassos - weekdays at10am & Tues 2.45-3.45pm: Painting, water play, collage, playdough and songs. Ages 15 mnths–3 years. Adults evening Lifedrawing classes. Get creative with a Mini Picassos ArtyBirthday Party for children aged 2-10 years and SummerHoliday workshops too! � 07903 638 817 � www.minipicassos.co.uk [email protected]

The Veggie Kitchen (HA7) offers pure vegetarian cookerycourses in Stanmore. Specialising in Indian cuisines, as wellas Thai, Chinese and many more, students will learn to cooknutritious and delicious vegetarian meals in a friendly andhomely environment. Offer group and one-to-one hands oncourses. � 0208 204 1906 � www.veggiekitchen.co.uk

AFTER SCHOOL CLUB / EDUCATIONSUPPORTBrownies and Guides (Various) Rainbow, Brownie and GuideUnits exist across the area which provide fun activities for girlsaged from 5 onwards. � www.girlguiding.org.uk/interested or � Peggy Brand on 020 8205 7597 to find out more

Click IT! Computer lessons for Children (HA2) Fun, excitingand educational weekly computer lessons for children aged 2-5. Classes held at nursery schools all over North WestLondon. Have fun learning with technology: mouse andkeyboard skills and devices including graphic tablets,trackpads and digital microscopes. Every lesson is designedto complement the EYFS curriculum. Free trials available. � 020 8434 7111 � [email protected]

Elisa’s Tutorial School (HA8) Experienced private tutor inEdgware. Programmes for children from 2.5-16 yrs. If yourchild needs a little extra help, in English maths verbal andnon-verbal 4+ 7+ and 11+ preparing for entrance exams oryou just want to give them every advantage, Elisa can help.99% success rate. � 020 8958 1192 or 07956 868119 � www.childrensstories.net

Excel Academy Tuition Centre (HA3) Run special GCSE/IGCSEexam preparation classes and ensure A/A* in the exams.Teaching is by well qualified, experienced and professionalstaff, who carry out regular assessments with one-to-onesessions. � 020 3602 9407 or 07850 477563 � [email protected] www.excelacademy.org.uk

Explore Learning centres provide maths and English tuition to 5-14 year olds of all abilities. Visit their website to find yournearest centre or call to book a free trial class! � www.explorelearning.co.uk.

First Class Learning (Various) Structured yet flexible programme,designed for children studying the UK National Curriculum.Tailored to a childʼs learning needs & style. Find out moreabout this structured approach to learning, by contacting oneof your local Centre managers. � www.firstclasslearning.co.uk

Fleet Tutors (Various) Private home tutoring for Maths andEnglish; 37 yearsʼ experience. � 020 8580 3911 � www.fleet-tutors.co.uk

Hatch End 11+ (various) Provide courses to fully preparechildren for the 11+ and Independent School Examinations forYr 4 and Yr 5 students. . Lessons are carefully constructed tofully meet the requirements for the exams.

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning, Maths, Mental Arithmetic,Creative Writing, Grammar and Comprehension. Small classsizes mean the studentsʼ progress is closely monitored and anopen dialogue between teacher, parent and pupil gives eachstudent the best chance for achieving their potential. � www.hatchend11plus.co.uk

Holidaytime After school club is part of Activetime ChildrenʼsActivities limited (HA1) Pickʼs up from four local schoolʼs at theend of the school day, then take the children back to the clubfor a snack and the daily activity. They are open Monday- Friday 3pm-6pm � Nicole 07794078452 � [email protected] www.activetime.co.uk

Integratedbrain - Improve Co-ordination for learning! (UB5)Activities to help those with poor co-ordination, dyspraxia,dyslexia or fine motor difficulties. Small groups of 4/5 childrenworking to develop better all-round motor integration. � Usha Patel 07766 837 616� [email protected] www.integratedbrain.co.uk

Jaderberg Krais Educational Consultancy and Tutoring (various)Tutoring, Assessments, Consultancy for children 5-18yrs. 7+, 11+, GCSE, A Levels, SEN, EFL. � 020 3488 0754 � www.jaderbergkrais.co.uk

Knowledge Above Standard (HA7) Maths, English, Verbal andnon-verbal reasoning, 7+, 11+ 13+ exam preparation. � 07985 588 085 � www.knowledgeabovestandard.co.uk

Leaders are Readers (HA5 & N21) Leaders are Readers offerspecialist experience and accelerated learning in their awardwinning Saturday School, and also run popular Summer andWinter Schools during holidays. 2 hours spent per subject,including English, Maths, Learning to Read and Verbal andNon-Verbal Reasoning. All programmes are for ages 3.5 to 11and the success rate is 90% for helping pupils prepare to sitentrance exams, including 4+, 5+, 7+ and 11+. Childcarevouchers accepted. � 01992 651 300 � www.leadersarereaders.co.uk

Little Big Leaders Ltd (HA7) Supplementary School for studentsaged three and a half to 11 years undertaking Reading, Mathsand English. � 020 8213 3100 or 07949 925374� www.LittleBigLeaders.com;

Magikats (HA1) Innovative programmes, written to support theNational Curriculum from ages 3 – 16, Sat at Gayton Library,Harrow. Individual programmes and support for individualchildren, promotes confidence, skills and a love of learning. � 02084 275663 � www.magikats.com

Math’scool Award-winning Maths Tuition plus out-of-lessonhomework support. � 0844 840 8400 � www.mathscool.com

The Northwood Speech and Language Therapy Practice (HA6) An independent service covering a range of childrenʼscommunication difficulties. � 01923 824 074 � www.northwoodpractice.co.uk

Number Works ‘n’ Words (Eastcote) After school Maths andEnglish tuition classes which target identified needs toimprove achievement levels. They set goals for your child,monitor progress and provide regular progress reports. Caterfor all levels from Reception to Year 11. � www.numberworksnwords.co.uk

The Play Shelter After School Club at Malorees Infant & JuniorSchools (NW6) - 3.30pm to 6pm term time. Play Schemesavailable October 2015. � 0207 407 6744 for more information. � [email protected] www.theplayshelter.co.uk

Raviv Practice London (UB5) Catch up reading course forchildren on the SEN register. Reading courses are flexible withhome based learning (via computer) monitored daily. � Usha Patel on 07766 837 616 � [email protected] (registered therapist)

School of Academic and Behavioural Interventions (ABI) (various)support children with autism and related conditions onbehaviour and academic management strategies. We workwith children from the age of 2-19yrs. For more information � Tawa on 07985 290 316 � www.schoolofabi.com

Stanmore TutorStanmore Tutor prepares students thoroughly for the topselective schools ensuring that they reach their maximumpotential for that all important place. � 020 3538 2437

Susan Daughtrey Education (SDE) SW Herts courses are basedon more than 25 years experience preparing students for 11+tests. All courses have been personally written by SusanDaughtrey M.Ed, author of the market leading verbalreasoning Technique and Practice series. Every year since1987, over 90 per cent. of the students on the courses haveachieved success. � 020 7683 0734 � www.sdeuk.org/swherts



Where’s Santa?Father Christmas is once again using some of his Christmas magic to make himself available for visits with your

good girls and boys at a number of events and venues throughout the upcoming holiday season! And don’t worry, if a personal visit isn’t your thing, you can still get a special request off to him via the NSPCC

website and, with a small donation, receive a lovely letter back from the big man himself! www.nspcc.org.uk/santa

HA postcodesHarrow Masonic Centre (HA3) Head along to Winter Wonderland andjoin in the fun on Sat 28th & Sun 30th Nov . Lots of exciting activitiesfrom a special ice rink, a funfair, Santa's grotto, food stalls and otherseasonal stalls. On Sat 28th Nov & Sun 30th Nov.www.mgff.co.ukPinner High Street (HA) Thu 26th Nov sees Pinner PantomimeEvening with fireworks. Santa will be in his Grotto, as well as Music andDance, face painting, children's rides, charity stalls and much more.www.pinnerlocal.co.ukSquires Garden Centre Stanmore (HA7) Go and meet Santa in hisfree grotto every Saturday and Sunday, between the 28th Nov – 20thDec! The Grotto will be open between 10.30am-4pm every Saturdayand 10.30am- 3.30pm every Sunday! Children may visit the grotto freeof charge and receive a present. Santa will not be in his grottobetween 1-2pm, as he is feeding his reindeer. There will be an optionaldonation which will go to the centre’s local charity.www.squiresgardencentres.co.ukSt Anselm's Parish Church (HA5) Head over to visit Father Christmason Sat 28th Nov. Pick up a bargain from one of the bring & buy stalls,win a prize or two on the tombola and raffle, as well as Crafts, Cakes,Music, Toys, Refreshments and more. 11am-2pm.www.stanselmshatchend.blogspot.comSt Martin's Church Martinmas Fayre (HA4) Go along to thewonderful Martinmas Fayre at St Martins Church Ruislip on Sat 14thNov, where there will be Santa's grotto, Cakes, Gift stalls, Games, Cafe,Music, Face Painting and much much more.www.stmartins-ruislip.orgWest House Pinner (HA) Santa’s Grotto in the Upstairs Gallery at WestHouse on Saturday 12th December from 11am – 4pm.www.westhousepinner.com

NW postcodesBrent Cross Shopping Centre (NW4) Details TBC, but Santa will yetagain be making an appearance in his Grotto at Brent Cross. Keep aneye on their website for further information.www.brentcross.co.ukZSL London Zoo (NW1) Be greeted by cheeky elves before beingtaken to visit Santa in his fairy-tale grotto. Children’s faces will light upas they meet Father Christmas, share their Christmas wishes and

receive a Christmas gift. Thenthe whole family can pose for afestive photo opportunity, maketasty treats for the animals inthe “Keeper’s Little HelperWorkshop” and get a sneakpeek at Santa’s trusted herd ofreindeers as they chill out at theZoo in preparation for theirChristmas eve duties.www.zsl.org

UB postcodesHarlington Locomotive Society (UB3) The last run of the year is theMince Pie Run on Sun 13th Dec! Head along to the High Street inHarlington to meet Santa, take a ride on the miniature railway andenjoy a mince pie or two!www.harlingtonlocomotivesociety.org.ukHoly Cross Church (UB6) Santa will be in his Grotto at the ChristmasCraft Market in Greenford on Sat 5th Dec. From 11am-4pm there willbe homemade craft stalls, a home produce stall, refreshments servedall day and a Grand Raffle.www.greenfordmagna.infoIntu Uxbridge (UB8) 22nd Nov sees the Town Christmas parade andlight switch on – including Santa and roaming acts. Then throughoutDecember there will be a Roaming Santa and 2 elves every weekendfrom 28th Nov, a Snowman ball pit from 29th Nov until 29th Dec,Christmas activities for children, free giveaways such as candy canesbeing handed out, and free T-Shirt Printing on 18th and 19th Dec.www.intu.co.uk/uxbridge

WD postcodesBushey Rose Garden (WD23) Father Christmas will be in the summerhouse at Bushey Rose Gardens on Sun 13th Dec between 12-3pm forsome festive celebrations.www.facebook.com/busheyrosegardenColnbrook School (WD19) Enjoy fabulous festive fun at ColnbrookSchool in South Oxhey on 28 Nov from 11am – 2pm. There will beSanta's grotto, arts and crafts, hot food, refreshments and more!Admission £1 adults, children free.020 8428 1281 www.colnbrook.herts.sch.uk

London Zoo ZSL ©

Winter Wonderland

Intu Watford (WD17) This year's Grotto will open on Thur 12th Novwith a 'Build a Snowman' theme. Bookings can be made online or atthe Grotto. The opening coincides with the Christmas light switch onand there will be free family activities from 4pm.www.intu.co.uk/watfordNascot Wood School Christmas Fayre (WD17) A warm welcome andan afternoon of family fun awaits you at the Nascot Wood Schools'Association's Christmas Fair. There will be a range of stalls for you tobuy Christmas gifts, games for the children, bottle and chocolatetombolas and not forgetting a trip to see Father Christmas in [email protected] www.nascotwoodjm.herts.sch.uk/National Animal Welfare Trust (WD25) Santa will be in his Grotto atthe Christmas Fair on Sun 6 Dec, from 11.30am. There will also be lotsof stalls including gifts, books, bric - a - brac and pet accessories. Havea go on the Hook a Christmas Duck or stock up on bargains to makeyour Christmas extra special - there will be Christmas cards and gifts tofill those stockings. Refreshments available including hot food andhomemade mince pies. Free parking at the Mercure Hotel.www.nawt.org.ukWatford Rural Parish Council (WD19) The annual Christmas Fun-Daywill take place on Saturday 5th December from 11am-3pm at StAndrew's Parade in South Oxhey, with all proceeds going to WatfordHospital Premature Baby Unit. There will be the usual attractions onthe day, as well as Father Christmas in his grotto - all presents are FREEfor the under 10's - and a raffle for a fantastic Christmas Hamper!! www.watfordrural-pc.org.uk/Around London and Further AfieldBuckinghamshire Railway Centre (HP22) See Santa and get a gift!Trains depart at 10.25 & 11.15am, 12.10, 1.05, 2.20, 3.15 and 4.05pm onSat 19th & Sun 20th Dec. www.bucksrailcentre.orgHatfield House (AL9) This year's Frost Fair will take place over 4 days,from Thu 26 – Sun 29 Nov. go along to meet Father Christmas andenjoy some festive entertainment. There will be over 200 exhibitorswith exciting new and innovative ideas for gifts, a Fine Food Fair totempt your palate, Stable Yard retailers and the Coach HouseRestaurant. www.hatfield-house.co.ukHyde Park (W2) Winter Wonderland will be back this November foranother Christmas extravaganza. From 20th Nov to 3rd Jan, Hyde Parkwill be transformed into a dazzling spectacle of winter magic, filledwith festive activities,and is free to enter! Tickets are needed for IceSkating, The Magical Ice Kingdom, Zippos Circus, The Giant Wheel andBar Ice. www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.comKew Gardens (TW9) From Wed 25 Nov – Sat 02 Jan, Christmas at Kewwill once again combine a breathtaking winter landscape with a new,glittering mile long trail, creating a magical after dark experience.Visitors can walk through playful ribbons of light, count the Christmastrees festooned with seasonal cheer, and listen to the Choir of theHolly Bushes as they twinkle in time to festive music. The youngermembers of the family can catch a glimpse of Santa and his elvesputting the finishing touches to their Christmas preparations and aVictorian Carousel and family rides, can be found at the White PeaksCafe. Keep warm under the stars with a mulled wine, spiced cider, orhot chocolate, as well as roasted chestnuts, toasted marshmallows,and other sumptuous traditional Christmas fare.www.kew.org/christmasKnebworth House (SG3) Visit the Knebworth Christmas Fair from Fri13th – Sun 15th Nov, where you can sample and buy from the widerange of arts, craft and gift stalls. Food and drink stands include wine,festive foods as well as chocolates and other confectionery. Take thechildren to visit Father Christmas in his Grotto – child entry priceincludes a visit to Santa and a present. There will also be theopportunity for Sunday Lunch with Santa. Give your family an earlyChristmas treat with a fantastic lunch at Knebworth Barns, completewith a visit from Santa and a gift for every child, on 6th, 13th and 20thDec. www.knebworthhouse.comLauderdale House (N6) On 12th & 13th Dec, Santa will be flying in fora weekend meeting and treating the children of North London! Due tothe current refurbishment, Santa will setup his grotto at the HighgateDental Practice (Highgate High St, N6 5JT) with the help of the localTooth Fairies. Go and meet him, find out about the reindeer … and, ofcourse, leave with a present! Advance booking advisable.www.lauderdalehouse.co.ukLee Valley Boat Centre (EN10) A Santa Cruise on 19th & 20th Decincluding mulled wine & mince pies for the adults and a visit with apresent from Santa for the children. www.riverleecruises.co.uk

Legoland (SL4) This winter you and your family are invited to unwrapa magical day out at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort ChristmasBricktacular! Experience the Park as you have never seen it before, withtwinkling lights, snow dusted pine trees and exciting seasonalfestivities….all with a sprinkling of special LEGO® delights. Ride theBricksmas Express and discover a charming Christmas land with anenchanting Elves workshop for you to take part in card making ,andMrs Christmas’ kitchen is also open for your little ones to enjoy a sweettreat! Follow the sound of sleigh bells to the Christmas Kingdomwhere Father Christmas and his cheeky elves are waiting to meet youin a festive cabin, where your children will receive a special LEGO gift!www.legoland.co.ukMuseum of London and Museum of London Docklands (EC2Y)Meet Santa in his secret grotto in festive 19th century Sailortown atthe Museum of London Docklands or in the festive 19th centuryVictorian Walk at the Museum of London on 5th, 6th & 12th-23rd Dec.Tell him your Christmas wishes and receive a special gift.www.museumoflondon.orgPaultons Theme Park & Peppa Pig World (SO51) The magic ofChristmas is set to arrive early at Paultons Park in Hampshire, as thefamily theme park will be will be transformed into a sparklingwonderland of twinkling illuminations, seasonal music and giantChristmas trees. From Sat 14 Nov to Wed 23 Dec, parents are invited totreat their kids to a visit to Santa’s Christmas Wonderland and to meetSanta and his singing reindeer, Rudolph and Donner. Along the way,children will see the elves, working hard in the Santa Claus Toy Factoryand Peppa Pig and George in their winter scarves, hats and coats.www.paultonspark.co.uk

Royal Albert Hall (SW7) From Mon 7 – Thu 24 Dec, Meet FatherChristmas at the Hall. Enjoy a truly festive experience that reachesback in time to the era that created Christmas as we know it. Journeythrough the Hall on an exclusive children’s tour of our beautifulbuilding, take part in a workshop making cards and decorations, andmeet Father Christmas in his grotto filled with gifts.www.royalalberthall.comSanta to your Door (Various) A visit from Santa on Christmas Eve,Christmas Day, or any other time. He will deliver your presents andchat to your children about their favourite things. He may even sing afew festive songs before he says goodbye having nibbled a mince pie,or two. Call the Santa hotline on 0208 959 1045 or [email protected] The Enchanted Christmas House (N1) This Christmas from 28th Novto 24th Dec, join Mrs Claus on a truly memorable adventure. The Elveswill take you and your children on an exciting tour around the Houseto meet Santa's magical friends... Take part in an array of differentChristmas activities that will keep the family busy for hours.www.enchantedhouse.netWillows Farm (AL4) From 25th Nov - 24th Dec visit Santa in his grottoand receive a golden key to his toy shop to choose any gift. Join inwith the nativity story, hop on the festive wood ride and make time towrite a letter to Santa in the Elves House and receive a free reply. WithWillows Magical Ice Rink (synthetic ice), festive funfair rides, indoorplay and reindeer hunt with prize all included in the entrance pricesit’s a fantastic family day out. www.willowsactivityfarm.com

Paultons Park

Willows Farm



What’s On – Children’s TheatreCompiled by Anna BlackshawWe aim to be as accurate as possible, but these listings are compiledseveral weeks beforehand and may be subject to change. Please checkwith the venue before setting out.

Artsdepot5 Nether Street, North Finchley, N12020 8369 5454 www.artsdepot.co.uk

Wed 2 – Sun 6 Dec – Hetty FeatherRoll up and join Hetty on her escape from the Foundling Hospital.Tremble as she faces Matron Stinking Bottomly; Thrill as she discoversthe squirrel house and Tanglefields Travelling Circus; Gasp as sheendures a night locked in the attic; Quake as she braves the scarystreets of Victorian London and Cheer as she overcomes all in hersearch to find her real mother and a true family of her own.From best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson, Hetty Feather is a terrificadventure story with original music, circus skills and a huge heart – theperfect treat for the whole family.Ages 7+

Tue 8 Dec – Sun 3 Jan – Room on the BroomTall Stories’ magical, musical stage adaptation of the picture book byJulia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler flies back into town! The witch and hercat are flying happily along on their broomstick when a stormy windblows the witch’s hat, bow and wand away into the night. A helpfuldog, bird and frog find the witch’s lost things and all hop on the broomfor a ride. But this broomstick’s not meant for five and – CRACK! - itsnaps in two! When a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poorwitch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone? Songs,laughs and lots of fun for children aged 3 and up (and their grown-ups).

Tue 15 Dec – Sun 3 Jan – Land of LightsA truly magical experience designed especially for young children. Asplendidly-coloured hot air balloon floats over a miniature landscape.But where have all the little people gone? Perhaps the tiny balloonistcan tell us... The little people need your help to find the lights that onceilluminated their land. Head along for a wonderful adventure as youjourney to the magical, twinkly Land of Lights. Discover differentworlds; explore sights, sounds, smells and textures as the story unfoldsaround you. Ages 3-5 years

Cadogan Hall5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 020 7730 4500 www.cadoganhall.com

Fri 4 – Sat 5 Dec – Mr Popper's PenguinsPainter and decorator by day, Mr Popper spends his time dreaming ofAntarctic adventures. He is astounded when one day a packing cratearrives on his doorstep, out of which waddles a penguin! With songs,puppets and a family of performing penguins, this delightful musicaladaptation of Richard and Florence Atwater’s popular book (also madeinto a Hollywood film starring Jim Carrey) is brought to you by theproducers of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and We’re Going on a BearHunt. 55 Minutes of family fun for ages 3 plus.

ChickenshedChase Side Southgate N14.020 8292 9222 www.chickenshed.org.uk

Wed 25 Nov – Sat 9 Jan – The Twelve Days of ChristmasFour brave children flee their mean step-family to follow a mysteriousPartridge on a quest for five gold rings. Aided and abetted by ThreeFrench Hens, they encounter a dazzling array of larger than lifecharacters including a gaggle of paranoid Geese and some particularlypompous Lords, and are pursued by Four Calling Birds who are also insearch of the rings. Featuring Chickenshed’s famously large andamazingly diverse cast, and chock-full of fun, music and dance, TheTwelve Days of Christmas is one of their most popular and imaginativeChristmas shows ever. Ages 5+

Compass TheatreGlebe Avenue, Ickenham UB1001895 673 0200 www.compasstheatre.co.uk

Wed 18 – Sat 21 Nov – ScroogeTaking place at Winston Churchill Theatre is Charles Dickens' classic taleof the miser Ebenezer Scrooge who is made to face up to his life byvisits from Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present andFuture. Excellent pre-Christmas entertainment for all the family.

Thu 10 Dec – Sun 3 Jan – Snow WhiteCompass Theatre is proud to present the fifth pantomime to bepresented in partnership with DkproDuktions. Expect a fun andexciting show, packed with great songs, laughs and specially createdanimated scenery.

What’s On – Children’s Theatre

Harrow Arts CentreHatch End HA50208 416 8989 www.harrowarts.com

Sun 29 Nov – Once Upon a SnowflakeLiza has gone missing, and no-one knows where she can be. Onething's for certain: those mysterious Winter Sprites have something todo with it. Appearing every winter, these tiny elf-like creatures can befound hiding in pockets, shoes and sock drawers, watching everythingand hearing everyone. Follow Liza into a colourful whirlwind of storiesand adventure, led by a tiny Sprite with a fascination for snowflakes,where things may never be the same again. A magical world of shadowpuppetry, storytelling and enchanting songs for everyone aged 3 andover.

Thu 17 – Mon 21 Dec – CinderellaPoor Cinderella lives a horrible life, cooking and cleaning all day for herugly sisters...but wait, here's an invitation to the Prince's Grand Ball!Find out what Cinders does next in this magical pantomime, broughtto life by talented local people. Featuring live music and plenty ofparticipation, this exciting adventure will entertain children and adultsalike!

The London ColiseumSt Martin's Lane, London WC2N020 7845 9300 www.eno.org

Wed 16 Dec - Sun 10 Jan – The NutcrackerOn a sparkling Christmas Eve in a frost-dusted Edwardian London,Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker doll discover a magical world,where she battles with the Mouse King and meets a handsomestranger. As the air grows colder, Clara and her valiant Nutcracker takea hot air balloon ride across London to the glistening Land of Snowwhere her adventure really begins. Over 100 dancers and musiciansbring Nutcracker to life with exquisite dancing, beautiful sets andTchaikovsky’s glorious score played live. This magical Christmas balletfor all the family is an unforgettable Christmas treat.

Lyric TheatreShaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES0844 482 9674 www.nimaxtheatres.com

Wed 25 Nov – Sun 10 Jan – The Tiger Who Came to TeaHold on to your biscuit tin, The Tiger Who Came to Tea is roaring backinto the West End for a smashing Christmas season! Join Sophie andthe tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed withoodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos! A stunning stageadaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem....expect to besurprised!

The Radlett Centre1 Aldenham Avenue, Radlett, WD701923 859291 www.radlettcentre.co.uk

Sat 5 – Wed 30 Dec – Snow WhiteA sparkling traditional pantomime with stunning costumes, hilariouscomedy, fabulous live music, and loads of audience participation.Follow Snow White's adventure in the enchanted forest, as she escapesthe Wicked Queen, helped by seven little people with big hearts. Joinin the fun, songs and laughter of this extremely popular fairy story withall your favourite pantomime characters ....and a magic mirror!!

Vaudeville Theatre404 Strand, London WC2R0844 482 9675 www.nimaxtheatres.com/vaudeville-theatre

Wed 15 Dec - Sun 3 Jan - The GruffaloEveryone’s favourite furry monster, roars back into the West End, bypopular demand, this Christmas in Tall Stories’ smash hit production ofThe Gruffalo. Based on the much loved picture book by JuliaDonaldson and Axel Scheffler, the most fearsome creature that neverwas takes to the stage in this enchanting production with the perfectcombination of songs, laughter, physical theatre and just the rightamount of scary fun! Set to a wonderfully catchy score with originalmusic and lyrics, The Gruffalo continues to entertain audiences theworld over and is a must see family show for lovers of the timelessstory and everyone looking for a smashing day out!


Continued on page 26…


WatersmeetHigh St, Rickmansworth WD301923 711 063 www.watersmeet.co.uk

Wed 18 – Sat 21 Nov – Scrooge! The MusicalScrooge is a musical stage adaptation of the classic CharlesDickens short story ‘A Christmas Carol’. Ebenezer Scrooge is themost mean-spirited miser in all of Victorian London, but onChristmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his ex-partner JacobMarley, who warns him of three apparitions who are coming toteach him the error of his ways. From the pen of renownedwriter/musician Leslie Bricusse and featuring the toe-tappingOscar nominated Song “Thank You Very Much”, Scrooge is a must-see seasonal treat for all the family.

Fri 4 – Thu 31 Dec – CinderellaGlass slippers and a spell that breaks at midnight means it’s timeto charm audiences with the classic rags to riches fairytale of thedowntrodden girl forced to serve her jealous step sisters. With bestbuddy Buttons and the magic of a Fairy Godmother on hand,Cinderella’s certain to escape the misery of her dastardly divasisters and find true love in the arms of a dashing Prince…it’s justthe journey getting there may be a little rocky and raucous beforeromancing reigns supreme!

Watford Palace TheatreClarendon Road, Watford WD1701923 225 671 www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Fri 4 Dec – Sat 2 Jan – Dick WhittingtonWatford Palace Theatre's five star family pantomime is back withthe ultimate rags to riches tale of a young man and his cat on anexciting quest for fame and fortune. With everything you loveabout the Watford Palace Theatre pantomime including livemusicians onstage, stunning sets and costumes, plenty ofaudience participation, and song, dance and slapstick performedstraight from the heart by a talented company of new talent andPalace favourites this is the perfect festive treat for all the family.

Watford ColosseumRickmansworth Road Watford WD170845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Fri 27 Nov – Thu 24 Dec – Santa Claus and TheMagical Christmas JourneyIt’s Christmas Eve, and Santa Claus is delivering presents to all thegood boys and girls around the world. Hiding in the back are twonaughty elves Charlie and Kara who have snuck on-board for theride…!mAll is well until just as Santa Claus flies high aboveWatford Colosseum, the Sat Nav goes haywire and breaks leavinghim stranded! With the clock ticking and morning fastapproaching it’s down to Charlie, Kara and Muffin the bear tocome up with a clever plan to save Christmas. This new magicaladventure filled with songs, nursery rhymes and stories promisesto be the Christmas treat you won’t want to miss. As an addedChristmas treat, all of the good boys and girls in the audience willmeet Santa after the show and receive a special present of theirown. Ages 2+

What’s On – Children’s Theatre

...Continued from page 25

To promote your local event, coffee morning, nearly new sale, parenting courses or community group in the next What’s On listing (January February 2016) send your entry by 25th November 2015.

Email [email protected]

Listings in this section are FREE for most non-commercial ventures. Please check details of the events before setting off in case anything has changed since time of printing

November9 Nov – 14 Dec - Anger Management forParents & Teens Together (HA1) This 6 weekcourse run at Hope Harrow, will look atimproving both Parents' and Teen'sunderstanding of anger and share tips andstrategies on how to enhance relationships.The majority of the course is run with Parentsand Teens in separate rooms, joining thegroups at times to work together. The aim ofthe course is to help with managing difficultbehaviours and emotions, through a betterunderstanding of anger, helping to create ahappy, cooperative, cohesive homeenvironment. www.hopeharrow.org.ukThurs 12 Nov - intu Watford Christmas LightSwitch On (WD17) Head along to intuWatford for the Christmas light switch on andan evening of festive fun! Activities includevisits from Watford FC players, the cast of theWatford Palace panto Dick Whittington, andof course the big man himself, as well asperformances by Watford AcademyPerforming Arts and Pauline Quirke Acad-emy. The main show starts at 6pm andthe lights will then be switched on at 7pmalong with a fireworks display to round offthe night. Free parking from 4pm!www.intu.co.uk/watfordFri 13 Nov – Philharmonia At The Movies:Screen Heroes (WD17) Acclaimed composerand conductor Carl Davis leads thePhilharmonia Orchestra for a night of musicfrom the movies. The performance celebratessome of the screen’s most famous heroesincluding Indiana Jones, Superman, Marvel’sThe Avengers and Sherlock.www.watfordcolosseum.co.ukSat 14 Nov - Christmas Fayre (HA6)Children's Activities, Crafts, Games & Toys,Bric-a-Brac, Tombola and Raffle, Home MadePreserves Cakes & Chocolates and Jewellery.10am-1pm at Northwood Methodist Church.www.northwoodmethodistchurch.org/Sat 14 Nov - Lots for Tots Table Top Sale(WD23) An indoor table top sale at Queen'sSchool in Bushey, for people that want to selltheir second hand baby, toddler andchildren's items, and those that want to buythem. Typical things for sale are: toys andbooks, baby equipment, bike seats, car seats,stair gates, clothes and more. Parking is freeand directly outside the building, and thereare also bus stops outside the school. 10am-12pm. 07745 [email protected] 14 Nov - Diwali: The Festival of Light(SE10) Celebrate Diwali with a day of funactivities for the whole family at the NationalMaritime Museum. Discover more about howtrade by sea brought people, ideas, andculture from all over the world to Britain.11am-4pm www.rmg.co.uk

Sat 14 Nov - Lighting up the DarknessFamily Festival (WC2N) Celebrating Diwaliand the different forms of light found in theNational Gallery's paintings. Activities includemaking Rangoli patterns inspired by Turner,making huge lanterns and a pilgrim puppetto bring light to the Gallery, traditional Indianmusic and dance performances, and amusical magic carpets session for under 5s.www.nationalgallery.org.ukSat 14 – Sun 15 Nov - Cracking Codes (SE1)Can you decipher secret messages? Go andjoin in this family activity at HMS Belfast;intercept messages, map hazards on a seachart and even make up your own secretcode. 11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfastSat 14 – Sun 15 Nov – The IndependentSchools Show (SW11) Go along to BatterseaEvolution and meet the big names of Britisheducation. As the UK’s largest school openday, the Independent Schools Show annuallywelcomes 200 of the leading schools toBattersea Park. Join in at this informative anddynamic event to meet key admissionsteams; speak with heads; enquire about entryrequirements at all stages and explorescholarships and bursaries.www.schoolsshow.co.ukSun 15 Nov - St Albans Christmas LightsSwitch On (AL3) Join Tinkerbell & Peter Panat this street festival guaranteed to kickstartyour holiday season! Live music &entertainment; food & gift stalls; seasonalrefreshments; fun fair & Santa's Grotto, alltaking place on St Peter's Street from 12-6pm.www.enjoystalbans.comSun 15 Nov – Jazz for Toddlers/Family JazzAll-Stars (N12) Enjoy music and moves in ajazz groove in this workshop at Artsdepot for2-5 year olds with clarinettist Arun Ghosh,alongside Taiko drummer and percussionistNao Masuda. Proving you are never tooyoung to be a jazzer, with ideas to take awayand try at home. Then later on join an all-starline up featuring the fabulous vocals of JulietKelly and some of the UK’s finest jazzmusicians in a fun-filled family concert, asthey lead you through the songs of jazzsingers past and present – plus a few jazzedup versions of your favourite pop hits. Perfectfor all ages - from toddlers to grannies - takethe whole clan and enjoy an energetic, musicpacked show like no other!www.artsdepot.co.ukWed 18 Nov – Autism Surgeries (UB3) Themonthly surgeries provide an opportunity tospeak with a Family Support Worker, find outthe latest news at Hillingdon Autistic Care &Support (HACS), borrow/ return library books,collect or return membership and bookingforms and to meet other parents/carers. TheAutism Surgeries are open to all parents and

carers who are affected by autism and areheld at Dudley Place in Hayes. If attending asurgery please inform Emma on telephoneno 0208 606 6780 or [email protected].

Sat 21 Nov - Countdown To Christmas -Watford 4 Watford Family Fun Day (WD17)Head along to Watford Colosseum between12 & 4pm for a mince pie and a host of wintertreats at the annual Watford4Watford FamilyFun Day! Events include Gymnastics display,Face painting, Arts & crafts, Story-telling,‘Frozen’ room (with character photoopportunity), Cupcakes & gifts. Plusperformances from the Dan Tien PerformingArts School and Herts Inclusive Theatre. Allmoney raised will be split between 2 fantasticlocal charities. www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

Sat 21 Nov - Christmas Craft Fair (WD25)Held at Parmiter's School, this fair is a verypopular event for those looking for a bargainor gifts for Christmas, with 90 stallholdersselling a wide range of crafts and festivegoods. There will be refreshments availablethroughout the day, both hot and cold food,plus festive mulled wine and mince pies.11am-4pm www.parmiters.herts.sch.uk

Sat 21 Nov - Plague Takeover (SE10) Theplague bells are ringing, there are crosses onevery door and everywhere there is talk of‘Black Death’. What are the causes and curesof this vile disease? Go to the NationalMaritime Museum for a day of plague-themed events and activities not to besniffed at. 11am-3pm www.rmg.co.uk

Sat 21 – Sun 22 Nov - Art and Craft WinterSale (HA3) An art and craft winter sale will beheld by Harrow Open Studios artists at TheStables, West Drive from 11am – 5pm.Affordable gifts will be available from anumber of artists, including potter ZalinaDewan, jewellery from Morag vanGeyzel,wood craft from Gordon Cookson, paintingsand cards from Jenny Oliver, and ChristineSpring. All welcome to share some wintercheer and complimentary refreshments andmulled wine. www.harrowopenstudios.com

What’s On listings for all the familyCompiled by Anna Blackshaw

Harrow Open Studio


Continued on page 28…


What’s OnThu 26 Nov – Sun 20 Dec - Christmas Market(AL1) Up to 60 traditional wooden chaletsoutside the Cathedral & in the Vintry Gardenat St Albans. www.enjoystalbans.comFri 27 Nov - Rickmansworth StarlightEvening 2015 (WD3) Head toRickmansworth High Street from 6-9pm tocelebrate the start of the festive season!There will be a Starlight Parade, Festive Stalls,a Festive Fairground, Little Fox Market andmuch more! www.rickmansworthtown.co.ukSat 28 Nov - Hospice to Hospice Walk (HA3)Join Councillor James Bond and friends as hewalks 8 miles from St Luke's Hospice inKenton to Michael Sobell Hospice inNorthwood. The walk will bring togethereveryone who has a connection with one orboth of the hospices who would like to walkfor a lost loved one, or simply to supportboth charities. Registration is free butparticipants are asked to raise sponsorship. www.michaelsobellhospice.co.ukSat 28 Nov - Lots for Tots Table Top Sale(WD3) An indoor table top sale for peoplethat want to sell their second hand baby,toddler and children's items, and those thatwant to buy them. Typical things for saleare:good quality toys and books, high chairs,walkers, bike seats, car seats, stair gates,clothes and much more. Parking is free anddirectly outside Rickmansworth School.10am-12pm. www.lotsfortotssale.co.ukSat 28 Nov – Mum2Mum Market (HA2) Havea big declutter of all those baby and kids bitsyou no longer need on the run up toChristmas! The next award winningMum2mum Market in Harrow is onNovember 28th at the Beacon Centre from 1-3pm. Recycle all your little ones outgrownitems back into cash and help other mums inthe Harrow community with your bargains!Making parenting more affordable for all.Selling is fast, easy and rewarding and youkeep 100% of your takings.www.mum2mummarket.co.ukSun 29 Nov – Compass Christmas 2015(UB10) The perfect event to get you in to thefestive mood, a traditional ChristmasConcert. Featuring songs, readings andsketches with performances from many ofthe local musicians and singers in theCompass community.www.hillingdontheatres.ukSun 29 Nov - Winter Fair (WD7) Stalls & funat the Radlett [email protected] 29 Nov - Victorian Christmas Fair (AL9)Change new coins for old pennies to spendaround the fair at Mill Green Mill & Museum.Victorian street sellers & food, children'sactivities, festive story telling & Santa'sGrotto. www.welhat.gov.uk

DecemberThroughout December – Shrek'sAdventure! London (SE1) Everyone is onShrek’s ‘nice’ list as Christmas comes to FarFar Away. With over 20 live actors and 10separate shows, Shrek’s Adventure! Londonis the perfect family alternative to aChristmas Panto. There will be laughs andjokes for all and even a chance to take astarring role in the action. During the visitthere is also a jaw-dropping ride on Donkey’s4D bus, and at the end of the adventureguests will be welcomed back to London byShrek himself, dressed for the occasion in hisfestive best. www.shreksadventure.comTue 1 – Wed 23 Dec - Santa Scramble Trail(NW9) Locate your way around the RAFMuseum in search of Secret Santas thisChristmas! www.rafmuseum.org.ukFri 4 Dec – Christmas Fair (WD7) Stalls andfestive fun at St John's CofE Infant & NurserySchool in Radlett.www.stjohnsradlett.herts.sch.ukFri 4 Dec - Silent Disco (SE10) Time Out'slegendary silent disco is sailing down theriver to Greenwich once again. Get ready toclimb aboard the good ship Cutty Sark for anose around the world-famous attractionbefore donning a pair of headphones anddancing the night away. 8.30pm to midnight.www.timeout.comSat 5 Dec - NCT Harrow Nearly New Sale(HA3) Nearly New Sales help parents to savemoney by picking up bargains, help otherparents make money by selling good qualitybaby and kids items they no longer need andencourage re-use. There is parking in theroads around the venue and there will be anattended buggy park outside. Every year thefunds raised at the sale keep the localsupport groups and activities running andmake a contribution to thenational NCT charity. 2-3.30pmat Kenton Evangelical Church.www.nct.org.ukSat 5 Dec – Orienteering(WD19) An excitingintroduction to orienteering atBig Wood organised byThames Valley OrienteeringClub, ideal for all ages &abilities. There will be severalcourses, for newcomers andfamilies as well as thosewanting a longer run/walk. Thechallenge is to visit a series ofcheckpoints as quickly as youcan, using your map to chooseyour route between them.Turn up between 10am and11.30am and start a course anytime up until midday.www.facebook.com/tvoclubSat 5 Dec - Sine NomineSingers Autumn Concert(HA5) Go and enjoy somewonderful music in the run-upto Christmas at St Lawrence'sChurch. The programmeincludes Haydn's St NicholasMass and Advent Carols. 7-9.30pmwww.sinenomine.org.uk

Sat 5 Dec - Christmas Fair (WD4) Stalls &festive fun at Kings Langley SecondarySchool. www.kingslangley.herts.sch.ukSat 5 – Sun 6 Dec - Christmas in the RAF(NW9) Head along for a very special weekendwith the Curatorial Team at the RAF Museum,where you will get access to items from thearchive that tell the story what it was like tospend Christmas in the RAF during the FirstWorld War. 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pmwww.rafmuseum.org.uk

Sat 5 & Sun 6 Dec - Cutty Sark Christmas(SE10) Inspired by the cargoes that CuttySark carried around the world, go along andmake your own beautiful Christmasdecoration to celebrate the festive season.11.30am-1.30pm & 2-4pm. www.rmg.co.ukSun 6 Dec - Ashridge Christmas Fair (HP4)Lots of stalls, including local produce atAshridge Estate from 10am to 4pm.www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridgeThu 10 – Thu 24 Dec - Christmas TreeFestival 2015 (HA6) Get your Christmasseason off to a magical, twinkling start with avisit to the annual Christmas Tree Festival atNorthwood Methodist Church. The GrandOpening and switching on of the lights willbe on 10th Dec, and the Festival will run from12th-24th Dec, 10am-12pm & 5.30-7.30pm.www.northwoodmethodistchurch.org/christmas-tree-times

Cutty Sark © National Maritime Museum, London

Cutty Sark © National Maritime Museum, LondonCutty Sark © National Maritime Museum, London

...Continued from page 27

Fri 11- Fri 18 Dec - The Baddies Christmas Sleepover! (SE1) Thelegendary sleepovers are back for Christmas at the UnicornTheatre - watch the show, meet the actors and take part in awhole host of activities before you bunk down on the set for thenight (as usual, no grown-ups allowed). Tickets include dinner,performance, workshop and breakfast and the sleepovers are forages 8-12. 020 7645 0560 www.unicorntheatre.com

Sat 12 Dec - Festive Coffee Morning (HA6) Head along toMichael Sobell House for live entertainment, a variety of giftstalls, tombola, home made seasonal favourites, a children'sreading corner and Red Cross massages. Free entry and freeparking. 10am-2pm. www.michaelsobellhospice.co.uk

Sat 12 Dec - Family Carol Concert (AL1) Christmas music &readings performed by the St Albans Bach Choir and organist at3pm at St Albans Cathedral. Pre-concert entertainment forchildren from 2.15pm. www.stalbanscathedral.org

Tue 15 Dec – Carols & Candles Service (E14) Enjoy the festiveand community spirit at the Carols & Candles Service, a specialservice for those working in and around Canary Wharf and theirfamilies. Carols will be led by the combined choirs from CanaryWharf tenants as well as members of the Canary WharfCommunity Choir. All proceeds from this year’s service go tosupport a local Tower Hamlets charity Streets of Growth, and theinternational charity Article 25. At 5.30 & 7.30pm, free butbooking is required. www.canarywharf.com

Sat 19 – Sun 20 Dec - Cribfest 2015 (WD3) For the first everCribfest, All Saints Church in Croxley Green will be filled withtraditional, contemporary, exquisitely designed and home madecribs. www.croxleygreenallsaints.org

Mon 21 – Wed 23 & Mon 28 – Thu 31 Dec - Smelly Christmas(SE10) Pinch your nose and learn about smelly London at theNational Maritime Museum. Find out how holiday decorationskept the season fresh before people took regular baths. 11.30am-1pm & 1.30-4pm. www.rmg.co.uk

Mon 21 – Thu 31 Dec - A Wartime Christmas (SE1) Get crafty,help decorate the Imperial War Museum's Christmas wreath, andlearn about how people celebrated Christmas on the HomeFront. Have a go at making your own charm for the wreath,inspired by the lucky numbers, coins and love hearts thatfeatured in lucky charms and tokens given as presents during theFirst World War. www.iwm.org.uk

Sun 27 Dec - Christmas Walk (HP4) At Ashridge Estate from10.30am-2pm. Mulled wine and mince pies afterwards. Bookingis essential. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate

Mon 28 Dec - Hawk Talk (SE10) Join bird of prey specialist, GaryRailton, and Norman, the hawk, on the main deck of Cutty Sarkand find out how he helps look after the ship and her rigging.www.rmg.co.uk

Mon 28 – Wed 30 Dec - Holiday Workshop-Ringing Bell Towers(WC2N) Investigate the architecture painted in Canaletto'sStonemason's Yard at The National Gallery, and construct a modelbell tower, complete with ringing bells. 11am and 2pm for allages. www.npg.org.uk/

Mon 28 – Thu 31 Dec - Go Wassailing! (SE10) The word 'wassail'comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase 'waes hael', which means'good health', and was also originally a drink made from mulledale. Join in this special event at the National Maritime Museumand discover Britain's fascinating history with the fruits andspices used in this traditional Christmas drink. www.rmg.co.uk

Tue 29 – Thu 31 Dec - Sparkling Silver, Glittering Gold (EC2R)Discover the Bank of England Museum's collection of glitteringsilver objects and the allure of the gold on display, and then getcreative and decorate a gold bar money box to take home.There's a chocolate gold coin for every child. 10am-4pmwww.bankofengland.co.uk/museum

Sat 9 – Sat 16 Jan – Dick Whittington (HA6) The Arrow Playerspresent their 2016 pantomime Dick Whittington at St Edmund'sHall in Northwood Hills. www.arrowplayers.org.uk



Dates TBC – Hillingdon Ice Rink (UB8) The ice rink outside the CivicCentre, Uxbridge will be back this year during the Christmas period. Thecouncil is pleased to reveal that prices to take a turn on the ice have beenfrozen for a fifth time. Whether you're looking for something fun to do withfriends or family, children and adults alike will have a fun, festiveexperience on the ice rink. www.hillingdon.gov.ukSun 6 Dec – Sun 10 Jan/16 – JW3 Ice Rink (NW3) Go and skate on NorthWest London’s winter ice rink, in the Piazza at JW3. Whether you’re acomplete newbie or you know your Double Lutz from your Triple Salchow,it’s a wonderful day out with family, friends or a special someone. As wellas the skating area, Zest café is open to all visitors (including non-skaters),so go and warm up with a full range of tasty food and refreshments.Specific dates, times and prices will be announced soon. Stay tuned!www.jw3.org.ukFri 20 Nov – Sun 3 Jan - Ice at the Tower (EC3N) Put on your ear muffs,gloves and skates, grab a steadying hand (if needed!) and have somefestive fun on the ice in glorious historic surroundings. The outdoor ice rinkat The Tower of London offers spectacular views. The Ice Bar & Caféprovides a welcome place to warm up after your skate, serving a selectionof winter drinks and festive snacks.www.toweroflondonicerink.comThu 29 Oct – Sun 3 Jan – Natural History Museum Ice Rink (SW7) Setagainst the backdrop of Hintze Hall, the Ice Rink is one of the most magicalplaces to be this winter. Experience the thrill of skating surrounded by fairylights nestled in frost-covered trees, with the smell of mulled wine andtoasted marshmallows in the air. Whether you can dance on ice like Torvilland Dean, or your skating moves are more akin to Bambi, a visit to theMuseum’s Ice Rink is a must this festive season. Soak up the atmospherefrom the new Café Bar and balcony which has a bird's-eye view of the rinkand is open daily until the Ice Rink closes. www.nhm.ac.ukSat 31 Oct – Sat 27 Feb – Ice Rink Canary Wharf (E14) Located in theheart of Canary Wharf, the ice rink feature's London's only skate path,guiding skaters along a glittering trail of fairy-lit trees beneath CanaryWharf's soaring towers. For those less stable on the ice, the venue has alarge heated outdoor viewing terrace from which to admire the icy action.www.icerinkcanarywharf.co.ukSat 7 Nov – Sun 17 Jan – Royal Pavilion Ice Rink (BN1) The mostbeautiful rink in the South East, Brighton’s Royal Pavilion Ice Rink isstunning, twinkly, romantic, and child-friendly... all topped off withbeautiful food in the rinkside bar and restaurant.www.royalpavilionicerink.co.ukWed 18 Nov – Sun 10 Jan – Somerset House (WC2R) Skate at SomersetHouse with Fortnum & Mason and enjoy memorable winter experienceson and off the ice. By day, skate in the splendour of the stunning SomersetHouse courtyard, or head along after dark, when the rink hosts some of thebest international clubs and festivals at exclusive Club Nights. Everyonecan brush up their skills at Skate School and young children can take theirfirst steps on the ice with Polar Cub Club. www.somersethouse.org.ukMon 16 Nov – Thu 25 Feb – Broadgate Ice Rink (EC2A) Skate in the heartof the City of London at Broadgate’s magical ice rink this winter. Perfect forskaters of all levels and ages, you can skate from morning to night, 10am-10pm. Just a two-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station and BroadgateCircle, London’s longest running outdoor rink is surrounded by shops, barsand restaurants and just a stone’s throw away from Spitalfields Market.www.broadgate.co.uk/ice

Wed 18 Nov – Sun 3 Jan – Westfield London (W12) Skate into the FestiveSeason at Europe’s Largest Shopping Destination. The approach of winterheralds the return of WestfieldLondon’s coolest indoor ice rink.Located in the magnificentAtrium event space, the 500square-metre ice rink boasts animpressive festive backdrop andafter dark, sumptuous lightingand live music, makes late nightskating a special experience forfriends and family. For over sixweeks, the ice rink, made of realice, will host exciting themedsessions and the best value iceskating tickets around.www.uk.westfield.com/london

Fri 20 Nov – Sun 3 Jan – IceRink at Wembley Park (HA9)Enjoy spectacular ice skatingnext to the iconic WembleyStadium and London DesignerOutlet. The outdoor sparklingice rink is open to everyone, and there will alsobe traditional family fairground rides offering something for everyone! AnAlpine Cabin bar will be open every day serving mulled wine, and otherseasonal alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks which you can enjoy in a warmundercover marquee. www.iceskatingatwembleypark.co.uk

Fri 20 Nov – Sun 3 Jan – Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland (W2)Experience the essence of Winter Wonderland as you don your skates andglide around the spectacular, glittering ice rink. Set around the Victorianbandstand and illuminated with over 100,000 lights, the Ice Rink provides abeautiful setting for ice skating. www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Fri 20 Nov – Sun 3 Jan – Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink (KT8) Put onyour ear muffs, gloves and skates, grab a steadying hand (if needed!) andhave some festive fun on the ice in glorious Tudor surroundings. Theoutdoor ice rink at Hampton Court Palace offers spectacular views of thered brick Tudor front of King Henry VIII’s magnificent palace, on the banksof the historic river Thames. Book an evening session to see the stunningpalace lit up after dark while you skate under the evening stars!www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace

Sat 28 Nov – Sun 10 Jan - The BIG Skate (WD17) Crack open the mulledwine and heat up those mince pies - Watford's Big Skate is back (with realice...brrr) to fill you with festive cheer. This time the rink is bigger and willbe adorned with a host of twinkling lights and trees. You can even sip on ahot drink and chow down on a sweet treat while watching the glidingskaters from the wooden ski lodge. While you're waiting to skate why notspend some time at the German Christmas market which will be takingover the town centre. www.watfordbigevents.co.uk

Wed 25 Nov – Wed 24 Dec – Willow's Farm Village Festive Farm Fun(AL4) As part of their Santa Spectacular Grotto and Festive Farm Fun,Willow's Farm will have a Magical Ice Rink (with synthetic ice). Great fun forthe whole family! www.willowsactivityfarm.com

Ice Rinks 2015Winter Wonderland

Watford Big Skate

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