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Lego House in Denmark | Review

Lego House

Kensington Mums reviews

Kensington Mums had the amazing opportunity to visit LEGO House in Billund, Denmark. It was truly a memorable delightful adventure and one that we highly recommend to all the Lego fans. It is as they say the “Home of the Brick” and a base for LEGO fans worldwide. Because LEGO is a language that the whole world understands!

LEGO House, located in the centre of Billund, is a 12,000 square meter house filled with 25 million LEGO bricks where every single visitor can allow their imagination to build whatever they can imagine.

Upon arrival, all visitors to LEGO House will receive a magic bracelet that contains a chip which allows to store pictures and videos from all you have experienced during your visit. Best of all, is that once you are back from LEGO House you can access all your digital memories. This is simply genius and a real souvenir from LEGO House!

LEGO House is built from 21 staggered blocks that resemble LEGO bricks. There are 13 available roof terraces with children’s play areas. LEGO House has Experience Zones – consisting of two exhibition areas and four play areas. The zones have four different colours each symbolising a particular aspect of play and learning. As soon as you enter you will be amazed by the Tree of Creativity, one of the biggest models in the world. It is 15.68 meters high and has been built from more than 6.3 million LEGO bricks.

Lego House

What to do at the Lego House

In the Yellow Zone, visitors can build fish and release their own creations into the digital aquarium.

Lego HouseThe Red Zone has a huge waterfall built from 1,968,753 LEGO bricks. Here visitors can go wild and build anything they can imagine and wish. I can tell you there are some creations that are simply incredible. So, either you are feeling creative or you may also try to imitate someone else’s creation.

The Blue Zone is where you can program your own robot to perform a conscious planet mission: plant seeds and grow flowers so you can help save the bees. Therefore, enabling the bees to create honey. This is a fantastic way to educate little minds and make them conscious about our planet. Explaining the importance of the bees’ existence and also what we need to do to ensure we preserve the whole ecosystem. We really enjoyed this workshop very much. It is very well designed as each participant is able to operate and control a robot that needs to get fuel (water) and then digs a hole in the ground and plants some seeds. Then you are able to see how the flowers bloom and how with your help you made the bees able to get pollen and so create their honeycombs.

Lego HouseAt The Green Zone, visitors can record their own stop-motion movies. I can’t recommend this enough – we were able to select a couple of props and use some of the LEGO accessories and characters to create our very own movie! Which my son was over the moon about. It is such a great experience and clearly became a great memory that he will cherish for years to come. You are able to download your short movie and what is best; is that just as a movie creator/director your names will appear in the movie credits.

Where to eat at the Lego House

LEGO House has a couple of eateries for you to refuel and get more energy to continue your LEGO creations. You may also bring your own food and enjoy it on one of their many outside terraces, which is lovely if the weather is nice, or you could also have lunch in their indoor lunch area. They also have Brickaccino, a cafe serving prepared snacks, desserts and sandwiches plus hot and cold drinks.

But, I can’t recommend more that your visit to LEGO House should definitely include a meal at their MINI CHEF Experience. It is just a magical and fun experience both for little ones and older ones too!

You need to make a reservation in advance as they do tend to be solidly booked. We saw a family being sent away as they didn’t have any availability and the family didn’t have a reservation. So, do book in advance via their website.

Lego HouseAs soon as we checked in, the host escorted us to our table where we were greeted by our server, who took the time to explain the whole concept. You get a menu and a little bag containing some LEGO blocks inside. Each LEGO brick represents an item on the menu. You will need to construct your own meal by placing the corresponding LEGO brick on a tray that you will then slide into a panel.

You will then be able to look at the screen on the table where a video will show what you selected from the menu. You will be able to see how little LEGO chefs start cooking your meal and in 15 min or less, you will be informed via the screen that your meal is ready to be collected from the conveyor belts where some dancing robots are ready to slide your own LEGO brick containing your delicious lunch!

The meal is based on a healthy well- balanced menu where you select one protein, a carbohydrate and a choice of veggies. Adults may select 4 dishes on the menu and children can select 3 plus a special LEGO brick to get a surprise. There are no desserts.

The price is really reasonable for the whole experience. The adults’ menu is KK 209 c. £24 and the children’s is KK 125 c. £15. The food was very tasty and the whole experience was fabulous so we highly recommend not to miss it.

We surely want you to be aware that you are able to enjoy eating at the MINI CHEF restaurant without having to get tickets for LEGO House. This being said you might want to take advantage and explore LEGO House on one day and then come another day and just eat at the MINI CHEF restaurant.

We stayed way past closing time and still missed some areas to discover. Luckily enough, for my son, the LEGO shop remains open way past the closing time of LEGO House and so we got almost like one whole hour creating our own personalised LEGO figures and buying almost the whole shop! So we suggest being prepared to come in as early as possible or dedicate at least 2 days as it is a real unique LEGO experience and a must-go when in Billund.


Read more of our reviews here.

Fatherhood by William McGranaghan

William McGranaghan

1. Please introduce yourself: Name, what you do & how many children you have.

William McGranaghan and I have a son Sam. I am the Founder of Dads House.

2. How do you manage to juggle work and life balance as a father?

I had my son Sam when I was 25, 1 year later when Sam was 13 months I became a full-time single dad. It was very difficult due to the lack of flexibility in the workplace and a lack of understanding when a man becomes a full-time carer.

Holland Park became our 2nd home along with spaghetti bolognese as our stable diet…

3. What makes you, as a dad, happy

As a dad we just want to see our children happy and content and looking forward to the day ahead.

4. What is your favourite & least favourite thing about parenthood

One of my favourite things was listening to Sam laugh and have serious discussions with his friends as he got a little bit older, mostly about the PlayStation and Nintendo…

5. If you were a cartoon character, who would you be

Scooby Doo

6. What advice would you give a first-time dad

Enjoy the moment and embrace it, as it’s magical.

7. I am a dad and…

I am happy.

William McGranaghan

Read more inspiring interviews as part of our online fatherhood exhibition and get in touch to share your story with us. We would love to hear from you…

Motherhood by Julia Bannister

Julia Bannister

1. Please introduce yourself: Name, what you do & how many children you have.

My name is Julia Bannister and I have 3 sons. I own and run Finns; a deli, catering company and gift shop on Chelsea Green which I started before the children were born.

2. How do you manage to juggle work and life balance as a mother?

When the children were small I had a full-time nanny. I used to advertise in Yorkshire as that was where we spent weekends and it meant that she could come in the car with us and have the weekend at home. I never advertised for sole charge nannies and looked to have someone who I worked alongside but was able to leave on her own when I went to work. I was lucky to own my own business and it never took precedence over the children’s needs. I enjoyed taking them to and from school and going to work in between.

3. What top tips would you give to any working mum? 

I would say try to play with your children even if it is only for 20 mins before tea, tell jokes, not to be too cross if they interrupt and make them feel more important than your work.

4. What do you love most about London? 

Do you have a favourite spot with your children?  I love the parks in London and the National History Museum.  My favourite park is Richmond Park where they could climb trees and have a pub lunch on the river.

5. How do you define quality ‘me-time’? 

I love doing crosswords with vodka and tonic when the kids are safely in bed and dream of recipes for my new cookbook.

6. What is your favourite & least favourite thing about parenthood?

My favourite thing about parenthood is the trust ones children have in you pre-12.  My least favourite thing was homework. Invariably I would do it for them to end the pain for us all! We never had any tutors and I didn’t put them under pressure with work ever and they all got into their first-choice schools, so I think they can get overcooked.

7. Tell us something people don’t know about you.

I used to take tours of Americans around Rome and St Petersburg.

8. Given we are all about embracing Motherhood, what advice would you give a first-time Mum?

Try to be as relaxed as possible, and spend time playing reading and singing to them in bed. Don’t panic if they don’t do everything at the same pace as others, they all get there in the end.

9. I’m a Mum and…

a Chelsea food and gift shop owner. The latter is much easier to do well!!!

Julia Bannister

10. Finally, please let us know what you love most about Kensington Mums

I love the mix of ages and stages of the readership and the huge variety of content which is helpful, informative and encouraging.

Read more inspiring interviews as part of our online motherhood exhibition and get in touch to share your story with us. We would love to hear from you…

Top Public Fountains in West London

Top Public Fountains in West London

There’s nothing quite like sticking your feet in cold water to chase away that intense feeling of heat we’ve been experiencing in London over the last few days. If you’re out and about in West London, we’ve picked some of the best public fountains to which you can take the kids for a moment of cool!

John Madejski Garden fountains, V&A Museum

This Italianate courtyard is at the heart of London’s V&A Museum. The elegant oval pool, fringed with shallow steps and delicate water jets is its central feature.

Edmond J Safra Fountain Court, Somerset House

Located just a few short steps from the bustling activity of the Strand, in the heart of London, the Edmond J Safra Fountain Court is centred around the iconic fountains and surrounded on all sides by glorious 18th century architecture. 

Diana Memorial Fountain, Hyde Park

Located in Kensington Gardens near the ever-popular Diana Playground, the fountain takes the form of a shallow stone ring of trickling water that’s perfect for paddling. 

Duke of York Square Fountains

Throughout Duke of York Square, clusters of jets are inlaid into the paving, just below ground-level.

Ravenscourt Park Paddling Pool

Ravenscourt Park features a paddling pool and kids’ beach in the summer.

Top Public Fountains in West London

Kew Gardens Children’s Garden

In the Water Garden, one can explore the stream and water feature with stepping stones inspired by the giant waterlily. Children can clamber over large natural stone boulders, planted with horsetails, ferns and giant rhubarb whilst learning about the vital role of the water cycle. 

Fountain Park Way Fountains, Westfield 

The Fountains can be found just outside the Westfield by the Wood Lane Underground entrance.

Merchant Square Fountains, Paddington Basin

Completed in 2013 as part of the Paddington Basin redevelopment project, the Water Maze has revitalised Merchant Square. The combination of old and new with the contrast of the canal and the water feature allows both elements to shine.

Trafalgar Square Fountains

The fountains in Trafalgar Square in London include elaborate sculptures with mermaid statues, mermen, tritons and dolphins, created by William McMillan.

Top Public Fountains in West London


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What to Do in June in London

Fathers Day Celebration at Cloud Twelve Club | Competition

On Fathers day, Cloud Twelve are planning a jet off into the Ibiza sun where your adventure begins! Fathers prepare your taste buds as your little ones will get a chance to craft for you a tasty mocktail and prepare you a tasty culinary treat, along with a special Best Dad frame that your little one will create to show their appreciation.The little ones will then dive into our immersive boat party in search for the best dad treasure.Expect beach volleyball, mini golf, and a chance for parents to relax at the beach spa cabana where one of specialist spa therapists will give mini massages.Cloud Twelve has planned an exciting day in The Kids Club! You can enter to win tickets on 18th June to immerse in arts & crafts as well as show off dance moves with the Pacha playlist paper disco.Find your inner artist while creating a heartfelt artwork frame for the superhero in your life. There will also be portrait drawings available for all dads. Get active with the beach volleyball competition, mini golf tournament, simply relax in the beach spa cabana or show off your dance moves at our paper disco!Event Day: Sunday 18th JuneEvent Times:  11am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm and 4pm to 6pm (3 sessions throughout the day)

Tickets On Sale

Winning Prize

Win 2 tickets on Sunday 18th June from 2-4pm. Tickets include 2 adults and 2 children.
How to enter
      • To be in with a chance to WIN this competition simply:
      • Fill in the Rafflecopter widget below to verify your entries
      • Please read full terms & conditions below

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Tickets: Complimentary for members, £40 for guests of members (ticket includes one adult per child).

Terms and Conditions

  1. All entries MUST BE subscribed with www.kensingtonmums.co.uk
  2. This prize draw is open to UK residents aged 18 years or over.
  3. Only one entry per person
  4. The prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative
  5. Participants must follow competition widget entries.
  6. Kensington Mums will contact the prize winner via email. If the winner does not reply, Kensington Mums will select another winner.
  7. Competition open 12th June 2023 until 16th June 2023
  8. By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
  9. Ticket will be sent to the winner via e-mail and only valid on 18th June from  2-4pm.

Father’s Day Guide 2023

Father's Day Guide 2023

Our Father’s Day Guide 2023 is out! You’ve come to the right place if you are looking for a wonderful gift for the special dad in your life!

The Ultimate Car Accessory Gift

Father's Day Guide 2023

This beautifully British, handcrafted Charabanc car fragrance ‘Superleggera’ diffuser is top of the luxury list for Father’s Day ideas. The super light, super sleek stainless steel diffuser and magnetic clip attach to the air vent adding a touch of class to any motorcar.

Choose from five fragrance ceramics that take you on journeys from the Pennines of Britain to the flower-filled meadows of Italy, from the sense-swooning spice road to the hills above Hong Kong. A truly unique and original present that will make your Father’s Day.

Please use code FATHERSDAY for complimentary shipping and sign up to the newsletter for 10% off your first purchase.

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Dive into Father’s Day with Galago Joe’s Sustainable Swim shorts

Father's Day Guide 2023

This Father’s Day, give the gift of memorable moments and shared adventures with Galago Joe’s exclusive collection of matching father and son swim shorts. Dive into the summer spirit with their Seahorse and Turtle marine life prints, designed to capture the essence of family fun, while also contributing to a cause close to our hearts.

Made from 100% recycled materials, each pair helps to reduce environmental impact and protect our oceans. With their vibrant designs inspired by the wonders of marine life, you’ll be making a fashion statement while championing sustainability.

Not only do these swim shorts exude style and comfort but they also give back, with 10% of profits from every sale being donated to Local Ocean Conservation. By choosing these swim shorts, you’re actively supporting efforts to protect and preserve our precious ocean ecosystems, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

Available in three designs and colours, and made with lightweight, quick-drying recycled fabric there’s a pair of swim shorts for every dad & son. Shop the Galago Joe Marine Life Collection today and give the gift of style, sustainability, and social impact, whilst joining the movement towards a greener future!

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A Special Father’s Day Caricature Gift

Father's Day Guide 2023

Have a professional cartoonist draw a quirky and fun caricature of your loved one

for father’s day. This is perfect as something memorable, and unforgettable to give any father.

Drawn and painted from photos, the artist can post your picture to you once completed.

Contact the artist via email for more details.

Find out more


Hydro-Herb Kits from FourStore, London

Father's Day Guide 2023

Does your Dad like to cook? Garden? Or perhaps make a mean mojito? Then FourStore, London have the perfect gift for him… A Hydro-Herb Kit!

With the demand for outdoor space at a premium, the kitchen windowsill becomes a perfect spot to grow-your-own herbs.  Providing flavoursome herbs  all year round, without the need for electricity or soil, the kits utilise hydroponic science to allow you to grow your own favourite family flavours.

Mint for that classic Mojito? Basil for a pesto or in a marinade for a salad? Coriander for adding a slightly tart lemon taste to a curry? Dill for an aromatic flavouring for your fish dishes?

FourStore have twelve varieties of herbs available to cater for all types of cooking – Basil, Coriander, Curly Parsley, Dill, Flat Parsley, Mint, Oregano, Rocket, Rosemary, Sweet Marjoram, Thyme and Tarragon.

Responsibly handmade in Suffolk, the kits use recycled, recyclable or biodegradable elements throughout including recycled bottles and capillary matting, coir tabs and cork.  The kits contain enough organic hydroponic fluid for you to be able to grow your herbs for approximately two years, and the certified organic nutrient solution is suitable for vegan diets.

£25 each

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Rotary Regent Chronograph Watch

Father's Day Guide 2023

This Regent watch is crafted with a multi-facetted brushed stainless steel 40mm case and tapered h-link bracelet. The watch showcases a blue sunray dial that features its chronograph function, luminous applied hour markers and a date window. Water resistant to 100m, this Regent is powered by a highly accurate quartz chronograph movement.

Made with scratch-resistant sapphire glass, perfect for everyday use.

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Qwickhose – The hose connector that won’t pop off!

Father's Day Guide 2023

If you’re looking for a unique and practical Father’s Day gift, Qwickhose is perfect! Designed for gardeners of all levels, Qwickhose is an innovative hose connector that makes watering plants and cleaning outdoor spaces a breeze.

The Starter Set features its award-winning patented design that allows you to quickly and easily connect your hose and attachments without the need for any special tools or equipment. Simply open the Wing-Lock connector, slide on the hose, clamp down and secure with the nut. It’s toothless but not as useless!

One of the standout features of Qwickhose is its durability. Made from extra-robust, UV-stabilised, premium-grade plastics, it’s designed to last longer than typical models and is built to withstand even the toughest outdoor conditions.

Overall, Qwickhose is a fantastic Father’s Day gift for any gardening enthusiast or home improvement junkie. Its ease of use, durability, and versatility make it a smart investment that will provide years of reliable service.

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Tach luggage

Father's Day Guide 2023

TACH Luggage has its very own innovative connectable family suitcase set, called TACH V3, which is a travel game changer for families and frequent fliers.

With up to three connecting cases, smart storage, an electronic charger and a premium feel, it defines a new way of travelling with families or for jet setters, enabling them to travel with increased ease and style.

What authentically sets TACH Luggage apart is its ability to connect multiple pieces of luggage, into one solid rolling unit. Gone are the days when you need two hands to manoeuvre your luggage. Aside from its interconnecting capability, TACH Luggage is also equipped with incredible functions, such as adjustable pull straps, strong spinner wheels, a bottle-holder and many TSA (Transportation Security Administration) locks.

Thanks to TACH’s innovative design, passengers do not need a trolley or leave multiple suitcases unattended and can effortlessly move it all with just one hand, and no stress.

This is a good family suitcase set, which is good value and an absolute steal at £345 for three suitcases. It comes in 5 different colours: merlot, sky blue, midnight blue, grey and purple.

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Join the Givenchy Gentleman Society

Father's Day Guide 2023

Crafted with exceptional raw materials, Gentleman Society is emblematic of Givenchy’s unique savoir-faire. Aromatic top notes of fresh Sage combine with the floral notes of Wild Narcissus absolute, harvested in the heart of France.

This blossoming effusion contrasts with the mysterious intensity of a Vetiver quartet harvested in Madagascar, Uruguay and Haiti. The warmth of Vanilla melts with Sandalwood and Cedarwood essences to create the addictive base of this sophisticated men’s aftershave, leaving a memorable trail behind. A long-wearing, deep and multifaceted Eau de Parfum.

Inspired by the couture designs of the House, Gentleman Society revisits the iconic bottle of Givenchy men’s fragrances for an edgy yet refined new signature. Like a crest, a reinterpreted 4G monogram in gleaming silver metal emblazons the black lacquered finish.

This logo is reminiscent of the emblematic 4G Love Lock signature from Givenchy Couture, embodying the unifying spirit of the fragrance. The bottle is made from 15% post-consumer recycled glass.

Always redefining elegance, Gentleman Society gathers a new community built around a multi-faceted and resolutely forward-thinking understanding of masculinity. Gentleman Society. Not a place, a state of mind. Come and join us.

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Where science meets sex!

Father's Day Guide 2023

Founded by Clinical Nutritionist, Jessica Sepel, JSHealth Vitamins is one of Australia’s most trusted and loved brands and provides unique supplements, based on ingredients backed by scientific evidence, in order to help people feel their best.

Low libido was a very common complaint Jess was hearing from her community, along with hair loss, therefore she thought she could create a product that could combine and address these two big issues in one with the market’s first Hair + Libido vitamin.

Two new ingredients which contribute to sexual function have been added to JSHealth’s original best-selling Hair + Energy formula to take this vitamin to a whole new level for results both inside and outside the bedroom…

This innovative formula contains Tribulus and Ginkgo for healthy sexual function, Zinc which contributes to normal fertility and reproduction, and finally, Iodine from their exclusive JSHealth Kelp™ contributes to hair health and growth for luscious locks.

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Shop the Perfect Father’s Day Gift from Craghoppers!

Father's Day Guide 2023

Mens Tripp Hooded Jacket | Dark Aegean Blue £90.00

Craghoppers is Britain’s leading authority in outdoor and adventure travel clothing with a long-standing history of kitting out British expeditions from the Peak District to the heights of Everest.

Craghoppers have since made it their life’s work to travel the world for inspiration to design the most sustainable innovative outdoor gear for every adventure and environment and every Father this Father’s Day. Shop this perfect Men’s Softshell Jacket.

Offering more protection than their fleeces but still lightweight and windproof, Craghoppers range of Men’s Softshell jackets is truly the perfect mid-layer for your Dad’s daily activities.

Whether he is out on a morning hike, exploring the world or out walking to your local supermarket, the softshell jackets are appropriate for all environments.

The Tripp’s AquaDry Membrane construction incorporates EcoShield PFC-free DWR for windproof, waterproof protection and a honeycomb microfleece back for warmth. Complete with adjustable grown-on adjustable hood, zipped pockets and drawcord hem adjusters.

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Celebrate your Hero this Father’s Day with a gift from Threadbare

Father's Day Guide 2023

Celebrate all the Dads and father figures in your life this Father’s Day with Threadbare. Originating in Manchester, Threadbare are a British fashion brand, creating effortless, easy fashion that’s designed for forever wear. Threadbare bring everyday style for the modern man to the table, whilst also delivering womenswear and kidswear pieces that are perfect for all the family. Devoted to becoming earth-positive too, this family-run fashion retailer offers the latest styles at affordable prices making them a reliable option for updating your wardrobe.

This Father’s Day treat your hero to something special from Threadbare: clothing in exceptional quality and packed with style. Sure to be loved by every hero, Threadbare’s collection of staples cover everything from cosy cotton pyjamas to must-have, practical trousers and lightweight linen shirts, and most notably their Threadbare Luxe collection – tailoring and elevated separates, perfect for workwear and upcoming occasions.

Dads make us believe anything is possible and are our guiding lights, so let’s dote on our role models this Father’s Day by treating them to summer classics and elevated essentials that’ll make them feel appreciated. Threadbare’s easy-like-Sunday-morning loungewear and tailored separates make great gifts for him, while classic polo shirts and everyday staples always make the perfect present. Here’s to our heroes!

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Fatherhood by Han-Son Lee

Han-Son Lee
  1. Please introduce yourself: Name, what you do & how many children you have.

Hi, I’m Han-Son Lee, I run DaddiLife – the UK’s largest content platform for dads, and I am a proud dad to a wonderful 8-year-old.

  1. How do you manage to juggle work and life balance as a father?

It’s an ever-evolving juggle! I try and dedicate as much ‘work’ time while my son is at school as I know that once pick-up time comes around there’s not much of a chance to do much truly focused work before bedtime. And I’d much rather spend good quality time with him when he’s back from school.

I co-parent my child with his mum, and we’re fortunate to have a good co-parenting relationship so it works all-round in that some days I can have a full work-day, whereas other days need to be more flexible.

  1. What makes you, as a dad, happy?

As cheesy as it sounds, becoming a father changed my outlook a great deal. So seeing my child grow and develop, and become more curious by the day is a genuine pleasure. I really enjoy our outings, our little walk and talks, and our mealtimes together. We’re both big foodies!

I also enjoy connecting with other people and parents and making our own little positive change in the world.

  1. What is your favourite & least favourite thing about parenthood?

Favourite – the smiles, the laughs, the knowing that you’re responsible for another human, and the little unexpected adventures.

Least – that I am constantly in parrot mode in seemingly have to repeat things about 5 times sometimes – here’s looking at you Bedtime routine.

  1. If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?

Batman. Inventor (of new dad content) by day, and (Trying to be) Superhero Dad by night.

  1. Tell us something mummy doesn’t know, something that happened during a ‘dad on duty’ moment.

I recently got well and truly conned into buying my son some very expensive trainers. Mummy knows and was shocked at how easy it was to con me!

  1. I’m a dad and…

Han-Son Lee

  1. What advice would you give a first-time dad?

There’s no such thing as perfect parenthood. But in an age where our children are growing up in new ways with many new challenges ahead that we simply didn’t have when we grew up, it’s important that dads stay ahead of the curve, and be as truly present as possible in ways that create real thriving family.

  1. What does fatherhood represent to you?

Modern-day fatherhood is about challenging conventions. Particularly those that would consider dads to simply be ‘secondary’ parents. More and more modern-day dads are equal parents and actively involved in day-to-day parenting. But for me, there’s not enough of a focus on the dad-specific challenges that men go through, as well as looking at important topics for our children’s future. So for me, fatherhood is just as much about instilling a growth mindset in our children for their futures, as well as the day-to-day present too.

  1. Share a top tip with your fellow dads.

One area that still lags behind for dads is at work. There are still a lot of cultural conventions that keep dads’ progress at work stagnant, and if there’s one thing I’d say to dads who are struggling with progressing something around their parenting at work, it’s to really bring their dad identity to life. Be purposeful around being a dad at work, and don’t hide it away. You’ll be amazed at the type of progress if can make.

Read more inspiring interviews as part of our online fatherhood exhibition and get in touch to share your story with us. We would love to hear from you…

Empowering your Motherhood Journey | Event

empowering mothers

Join us for our last event before the summer on 23rd June from 10am-12pm at Cloud Twelve Club in the heart of Notting Hill Gate.

Empowering your motherhood journey is about recognising and embracing your strength, finding your voice, and nurturing your well-being as a mother. Kensington Mums is your community, its your village where you can surround yourself with a supportive community of fellow mothers. A strong support network provides a safe space to share experiences, seek advice, and celebrate the joys and challenges of motherhood together.

On the day, we will be joined by Marina O’Connor who is a mental health practitioner, advocate and entrepreneur. The morning will be spend to take time for yourself, engage in activities that bring you joy and recharge your energy. We will also be working on understand and discussing your individual motherhood journeys. We will embrace imperfections and remember that there is no such thing as a perfect mother, but only a real one.

Become the parent you want to be by healing your own story!

Limited places available, Tickets £16 per person + eventbrite includes access to the kids club, one coffee and pastry included per person.

buy tickets

About our guest speaker

Marina O’Connor is a mental health practitioner, advocate and entrepreneur. She has a psychotherapy practice focusing on transgenerational trauma and a corporate mental health business for working parents. In her psychotherapy practice Marina works with transgenerational trauma and supports parents in exploring what do they want to pass on to their children by healing their own story. She is passionate about helping parents to heal their own story and choose what they want to pass on to their children. Marina has two children and spends her time between London and Cascais, Portugal. To find out more about Marina and her practice, please check her website

About Cloud Twelve

Cloud Twelve is a one-of-a-kind wellness and lifestyle club in the heart of Notting Hill, extending over three floors with an interactive play and learn zone for families with children, indulgent spa, luxury salon, nutritionally focused brasserie and a holistic wellness clinic – all under one roof for you to enjoy. The Kids Club hosts a unique open-ended play and learn area specifically designed for optimal child development. Suitable for children aged 0 to 7 years, our custom-made tools help your child build relationships and develop communication skills using critical and creative thinking, while physically challenging themselves in our magical forest-themed play zone.

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Featured Photo by Marília Castelli on Unsplash

How can you use the Summer to prepare for the 11+?

11+

This is sponsored content with Enjoy Education.

If you’re a parent of a child sitting the 11+ or Pre-test next academic year, you’re not alone in wondering how you can find the right balance this Summer between preparation and relaxation.

At Enjoy Education, we’ve worked with hundreds of families preparing for school entrance exams. Take a look at Kate Shand’s advice for using the Summer to best prepare for the 11+:

Arrange the right support

Every child is different and will need a different approach to covering new content or staying on top of their learning. Making sure you’re focusing on the right areas means you can avoid wasting time, so your child has more opportunity to enjoy the Summer months.

For some children, focused learning with a tutor on a specific area for an hour a day, e.g. non-verbal reasoning, will be the best solution, while for others, regular practice papers will be what they need to be prepared ahead of the Autumn term.

If you’re not quite sure what your child needs, we highly recommend sitting an Academic Assessment ahead of the Summer. Led by an experienced teacher, our Assessments are a great way to understand your child’s academic strengths and areas for improvement, so you can build an informed and effective 11+ strategy for Summer and beyond.

Encourage wide reading

Schools love to meet interesting, passionate students who can bring something to the school above and beyond pure academics.

The best way to prepare for interview is to help your child keep learning and building knowledge and interests over the holidays. Keep them reading widely, or if they’re not a big reader, learning can happen via podcasts or short form writing in children’s news sources such as The Week Junior.

Reading is also the most effective way to build vocabulary naturally, which is an important part of the English assessments in both the 11+ and Pre-test.

11+

Get stuck into passion projects

Another great way to prepare for interview is to take on passion projects. This could be building on something your child is already interested in or trying something completely new. From sewing a dress to building a rocket or presenting a research project to the family on the environment, these projects are fantastic to demonstrate your child’s unique interests and skills at interview.

Students can take these on with a parent, in a group of friends or with a specialist tutor. At Enjoy, we have an incredibly talented range of tutors who are on hand to help students make their passion projects a reality this Summer – get in touch for support creating a bespoke passion project for your family!

Keep learning going on holiday

If you’re travelling over most of the Summer, that doesn’t mean your child can’t keep learning while enjoying their holiday. This can either be led by parents, e.g. sitting down to go through exercises for an hour each morning, or by tutors you are working with.

We’re working with lots of families this Summer to bring learning to life with residential tutors joining them at home or on their travels around the world, both online and in person. Travelling tutors can be a good way to keep the focus on preparing for exams, while also using travels to inspire learning and cultural understanding in the places you’re visiting.

For parents staying in London, we work with some fantastic specialists who can bring the wonderful museums and galleries at our fingertips to life with guided tours and learning opportunities.

11+

Find the right balance

The most important thing to remember is to keep the right balance. You don’t want to undo the progress they’ve made by having too much time off, but you also don’t want children to overdo it before exams even begin.

Our advice: discover what your child needs to focus on and how they can best reach their goals, and build this into regular, manageable chunks of learning throughout the Summer. While it’s important to have one or two full weeks off, regular practice and engagement with tricky areas for an hour or two each morning will give your child the ability to hit the new term running.

Most importantly, make sure they do have plenty of down time and fun to balance out preparation. The 11+ and Pre-test is a marathon, not a sprint; slow and steady wins the race!

If you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to support you. Our team works closely with 11+ and Pre-test families each year to build bespoke timetables and help them plan their Summer for maximum impact.

We’re here to help you make the most of your Summer. Get in touch with our specialist entrance exams team for advice and resources, either by email or by phone +44 (0)20 7352 8800.

This is sponsored content with Enjoy Education.

What to Do in June in London

What to do in June

The sun is out, the sky is blue (well… occasionally) but we’re ready to enjoy London in the Summer! We have put together a list of things to this month that you and the children might enjoy. Have a wonderful June!

Learning through Play

The Exhibition Road Festival will be taking place on the 17th-18th June. This will be a weekend of free events for all ages celebrating how awe and wonder can inspire science and the arts. Incorporating extracting DNA from a strawberry; an atomic silent disco; a family stage where they will have music and storytelling and Future Food Live where chefs will be whipping us future-focussed dishes.   

What to do in June

And if that hasn’t quenched your thirst for knowledge, the National Archives are hosting a fun, free design exhibition called Spirit of Invention. Step into a world of creativity from past to present – see original Victorian designs that capture the glorious imagination of Victorian Britain alongside designs from modern makers. Try on a Victorian ventilating top hat, make a call on an early telephone and be inspired to become an inventor yourself.

And at the Tate Modern a new exhibition opens on 13th June until 28th January entitled Capturing the Moment. The exhibition will explore how the brush and the lens have been used to capture moments in time.

Audience Participation

There are so many exciting shows coming up this summer. Here’s our pick of the best for the very little to the much larger. The Luna Cinema is taking up residence at Wimbledon Park (22-24 June) and Wandsworth Park (28-30 June) showing The Devil Wears Prada; Top Gun: Maverick; Moulin Rouge; The Banshees of Inisherin; Romeo & Juliet and Dirty Dancing. As the films are on fairly late the programme probably isn’t ideal for the smallest people however, The Garden Cinema, in Holborn is a fabulous independent cinema with a very varied and unique screening schedule – only showing the shows that they believe are worth seeing; that you’d be happy to see more than once. The children’s programme for June includes Wall-E; Ratatouille; The Sword in the Stone; and the original, Danny DeVito version of Matilda! For the full programme visit their website.

On stage, June shows include Hey Duggee Live which is showing from 1st-4th June at the Rose Theatre in Kingston-Upon-Thames and Pigs Might Fly at the New Wimbledon Theatre. Pigs Might Fly is Based on the book by best-selling author Michael Morpurgo, is suitable for those aged 3-11 and will run on the 3rd and 4th June.

For those interested in music, the Holland Park Opera runs for three months of the year and will be performing Rigoletto at the beginning of June and Hansel and Gretel at the end of the month. Meanwhile, on 23rd June, All Thing Orchestral will be on in Hyde Park, presented by Myleene Klass and featuring a special appearance from Alfie Boe.

What to do in June

We would also recommend taking in one of the following shows this June! Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a jukebox musical with a book based on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge! directed by Baz Luhrmann. Cinderella at the Royal Albert Hall performed by the English National Ballet, featuring over 90 dancers, a live orchestra, magnificent sets and transformational projections. Finally, Mrs Doubtfire, based on the 1993 film, has come to the West End and it’s so much fun!

Summer Dining

If you and your kids are feeling a bit ‘foodie’ this summer, we have a couple of suggestions of ways to satisfy that hunger. The London Restaurant Festival is a city-wide celebration of the London restaurant scene and has been for the last 14 years. It was established to celebrate and reflect the phenomenally vibrant London restaurant scene through exclusive experiences that inspire people to visit as many restaurants as possible throughout. Have a look at the website to see the programme of unmissable events and exclusive menus.

What to do in June

And the Taste of London food festival will return to Regent’s Park from the 14th to 18th June, bringing together 36 of the City’s best restaurants allowing you to eat your way around a world full of flavours and deliciousness. 

You may also be interested in joining one of our events. Find out more about our upcoming events here.

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