5 things to do with kids in Notting Hill on a weekend

1. Catch a family-friendly movie on a Saturday morning
Notting Hill is the perfect place to go for a kids movie on a Saturday morning, with both Soho House venue Electric Cinema in Portobello Road, and Gate Picturehouse by Notting Hill Gate hosting Saturday Kids Clubs. At Electric Cinema, which features leather armchairs with footstools and side tables and sofas, Kids Club screenings start at 9.30am in the mornings on Saturdays, and tickets can be purchased by calling the box office in advance. All children need to be accompanied by an adult and tickets are £8 per person. At Gate Picturehouse, Kids Club screenings, which are exclusively for children aged 3 to 12 and parents or carers, start at 10.30am on Saturdays and tickets are £3.50 per person for non-members.

2. Decorate biscuits at Biscuiteers
In the sweet Biscuiteers icing cafe on Kensington Park Road, little ones can enjoy icing their own delicious biscuits and colour-in a paper bag and biscuit box. We sometimes go to a Biscuiteers because I think it’s a fun activity for Big Girl for an hour while I can sit down and relax with a coffee. A treat for both!

3. Explore chic kids boutiques and join an in-store event
Notting Hill is packed with cute independent shops, and there are a number of stylish children’s clothing boutiques in the area, including Caramel, ilovegorgeous and Nanos. It’s worth looking out for in-store family activities, and Caramel regularly hosts a photo studio in their Notting Hill store where children can dress up with an assortment of clothes and props. On Sunday 24 April Caramel is also hosting a special in-store workshop with The Flower Appreciation Society where children can learn to make a floral headdress with fresh flowers. Tickets are £40 for one child and one adult.

4. Run off steam at the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens, a short walk from Notting Hill, boasts the Diana Memorial Playground featuring a huge pirate ship, teepees, a sensory trail, a beach, play sculptures and more. The unique playground, designed for under 12s, attracts more than a million visitors each year, and queue management is in place on busy days.

5. Explore nature in Holland Park
Holland Park is also easily accessible from Notting Hill, featuring the beautiful Japanese Garden Kyoto Garden. There’s also a cafeteria, sports facilities, the Adventure Playground (see picture at the top) and a small Ecology Centre in the large park. The Ecology Centre, which we visited last year with Animal Jam, hosts events and activities to teach children about nature, including frogs, bats, birds and more, and it also features an edible garden.

Tags: Activities for children, Caramel Baby & Child, Cinema, Diana Memorial Playground, Ecology Centre, Electric Cinema, Family film, Fashion, Gate Picturehouse, Holland Park, ilovegorgeous, Kensington Gardens, Kids club, London, Nanos, Notting Hill, Playground