Help! My children are driving me crazy…and I live in De Beauvoir

 Jane Ross-Macdonald and Emma Garth

 There are loads of great things going on for pre-school and primary age children in our area. Some are free; others are quite pricey – particularly if you have to fork out for parking. Most are walkable from here if you are fit and don’t have too many children in tow. We have tried to focus on local activities rather than trying to present a guide to everything families can do in London. The following is therefore by no means exhaustive (although it may be exhausting!) - it represents a purely personal selection put together by two de Beauvoir parents who between them have tried all these activities.

 If readers would like to add their own comments, additions or recommendations for a future guide, to be available via the DBA website, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please email us on info@debeauvoir.org.uk.

 Playgroups

Beavers: (Rose Lipman Community Centre N1) 020 7275 7085 Takes children from age 2-3 1/2 for a 2 hour morning session (afternoons also available). Wonderful. Sign your baby up at birth.

Comet Drop-In: (Halcomb St N1) 020 7290 0936 various sessions for toddlers throughout the week, including free baby massage. Funded by Surestart.

St Peter’s Church (Colebrook Row/Duncan Terrace) has a drop-in on Tuesday and Thursday mornings

 Private nurseries with provision for under 5s. Some provide childcare from a few months

The Children’s House: (Elmore St N1) 020 7354 2113

Rosemary Works: (off Southgate Rd N1) 0207 739 3950

Hopes and Dreams (City Road N1): 020 833 9388

The Grove Nursery (Shepperton Road N1) 7226 4037

Floral Place (Northampton Grove N1): 7354 9945

 State nurseries

The Comet: 020 7290 0936. Very popular – but admission is dependent on your location. Sign your child up at age 2 and have a tour any Friday morning at 9.30.

 Activity-based toddlers clubs

The following have various sessions throughout the week in N1

Gymboree (Business Design Centre): 020 7288 6657

Tumbletots: 020 8959 4621

Crechendo: 020 8675 6611

Bizzy Bodies: (St James Hall) our favourite, run by Karen on 07939 574747

 Soft Play Centres

Pirates Playhouse at Sobell Centre (Hornsey Rd N7) 020 7609 2166

Kidzmania (Powell Road E8) 0208 533 5556

Zoomaround (Milton Grove N16) 020 7254 2220

Highbury Roundhouse (Ronalds Road, N7): 020 7359 5916 - softplay sessions, also toy library, parent & toddler groups

Queensbridge Centre (Holly St, E8) 020 7923 7773. Soft play, bouncy castle (More details here)

 One and Two O’Clock Clubs

Barnard Park

Highbury Fields

 Music Groups

Tick Tock: 020 7359 9495. Essential! Held at various times and locations in Islington. Babes in arms free with older sibling.

Rucksack Music: (Islington/Stoke Newington) 020 8806 9335

Sumics (Florence St): 020 7359 3733. from age 2 ¼

 Story-telling

Essex Road Library, Thursdays at 10.30am 020 7527 7860

 Ballet

Islington Ballet School (Florence St): 01992 813572

Gwenda Grayson School (St James’ Hall, Packington St): 0207 288 1370

Central School of Ballet (Herbal Hill, Clerkenwell) 020 7837 6332

 Drama/Dance

Hot Tin Roof and Dance Round at Highbury Roundhouse:

Stagecoach (Saturday mornings at William Tyndale School and Friday evenings at Betty Layward School): 01932 254333

 Tennis Coaching

Islington Tennis Centre (Market Road) 020 7700 1370

 Football

Coerver Coaching, Queensbridge Centre: 020 7923 7773

 Gym

Britannia Leisure Centre (Hyde Road N1): 020 7729 4485 or Lara Everall 07931 703884

 Swimming

Aquababies (London-wide, from birth): 020 7345 5235

Britannia Leisure Centre: 020 7729 4485

Ironmonger Row Baths 020 7253 4011

Highbury Pool 020 7222 4186

 Riding

Lee Valley Riding Centre: 020 8556 2629

 Skating

Lee Valley Ice Centre: 020 8533 3154

Sobell Centre: 020 7609 2166

 Museums

Geffrye Museum (Kingsland Road E8). Craft workshops at weekends and half terms

Docklands Museum (Canary Wharf tube): 0870 444 3857

Hackney Museum (Reading Lane): 020 8356 3500

Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood (Cambridge Heath Road): 020 8980 2415. Soft play and activities

Fire Station (Kingsland Rd) – not a museum of course, but they do have open days.

 Shows

Little Angel Puppet Theatre (Danbury St N1) 020 7833 9388

Hackney Empire: 020 8985 2424

Rio Cinema (Kingsland Road) – has showings for parents with babies

Barbican Film Club (Barbican Centre) Saturday film club showing recent and classic kids’ films at reasonable prices. 020 7638 8891