Three Do South Bank

 

Is there anything more beautiful than London in the sunshine?

Yes there is – London in the sunshine when your children are behaving like little angels!

I used to be a bit scared of bringing my beasties into town. I never quite got the hang of using the pram on the tube’s network of escalators and relying on black cabs got to be quite expensive. So I saved the journeys into London for the times when I was working or flying solo, thinking it’d be altogether a more enjoyable experience.

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But now Hux is 3 and doesn’t really need a buggy we’re about to become way more adventurous, London-wise. Starting with last Friday when we caught the train into town for a day in the sunshine.  By the time we got there I was mum number one because not only had we been on AN OMG TRAIN but then we also got to go on an OMG UNDERGROUND TRAIN. All I can say is kids, wait til you’re commuting on the 6.48 from Milton Keynes to Old St every day and we’ll see who excited about all these trains.

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Once we arrive in town we shot down on the Northern line to Waterloo to South Bank: one of my favourite areas of London that had previously been unexplored en famille. We’d been invited to the new Shrek’s Adventure experience next to the London Eye (more of which tomorrow) and were all really excited for a bit of magic. But first… lunch!

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One of my favourite things to do with my two is eat out. Scrap that – one of my favourite things to do in life is eat out, and I naturally do this a lot with children as they are so often with me. Today was no exception and I was desperate to take a trip to Wahaca – the kids had never been and I wasn’t sure what their offering for smalls would be like but I’m a big believer in introducing the children to adult dishes if there’s no menu geared towards them.

Wahaca Southbank kids menu

I didn’t need to worry, the children’s menu was spectacular with a build-your-own taco option and drink available for £5 – great value. Elfie had a great time painstakingly building her steak taco whereas Hux took more of a deconstructed attitude to his fish version and ate it piece by piece.

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Meanwhile I feasted on chicken taquitos, steak tacos and grilled corn. HAPPY MUMMY. I love Wahaca.

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We topped off our dinner with frozen yoghurts in the sunshine on the top deck of the Snog bus overlooking the Thames. It was kind of heavenly.

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As we strolled towards Shrek for our 2.30pm booking there were all sorts of exciting things to see – starting with Jeppe Hein’s appearing rooms fountain. We had no towels or spare clothes with us but it was so tempting there was nothing for it but to strip down to our pants (them not me, I’d just washed my hair) and get stuck in. It was a bit chilly for Hux who bit a swift retreat but Elfie dove in and out of the jets for absolutely ages. After we dried off in the sunshine (London, you beauty) we wandered through the street entertainers laughing and marvelling at the fun and the downright weirdness of some of them.

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The strolling the sunshine, the relaxation and laughter… it really made me reflect on where we are right now as a band of three. I didn’t feel stressed out that I had to deal with two children alone, I didn’t feel conspicuous as a single parent in a sea of families with 2.4 children, I just thought we’ve got this. We, not I, because it’s a group effort, all of this. Though these two have never known any difference they must still get The Feels over having parents living split lives in households so far away from one another.  But they don’t act out or get upset, they just understand this is our way and they potter along being amazing.

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I am so proud of them. And I can’t wait to spend many more days with these special souls in the sunshine, in the cold, in the rain (because that’s more probable, let’s be honest). South Bank in the summer is grand and with my two it is even grander.

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12 Comments

  1. ha! We were hanging out on the South Bank last week and playing around in that same art installation, my boy loved it!

    Posted 8.25.15 Reply
    • alice wrote:

      We were there on Friday, it was such a beautifully lovely warm day for it! We’ll definitely be back (errr… if it ever stops raining ;) )

      Posted 8.25.15 Reply
  2. This is the second time I’ve heard Wahaca mentioned recently. We’ll have to check it out some time. You can’t beat a day out in the sunshine. Hoping to take mine on a London trip soon.

    Posted 8.26.15 Reply
    • alice wrote:

      Oh yes – do! It’s sooo good. I think one’s just opened in Bristol? x

      Posted 8.26.15 Reply
  3. I LOVE London with the kids. Seriously love it. It’s the one thing that makes me sad to think about (maybe one day) moving out of London. We went through a tricky (and long!) period where Arlo was scared to stand on the escalator. Which pretty much ruled out most of the underground with just two hands plus a buggy and one heavy four year old that needed carrying – we did a lot of walking or meandering bus routes – but since he’s got the hang of it, our London travels are pretty effortless once more.

    Posted 8.26.15 Reply
    • alice wrote:

      Oh the stress now we can navigate the escalators is amazing! Saw you were at the transport museum today – how did the boys enjoy it? It’s my favourite museum!

      Posted 8.26.15 Reply
  4. Ems wrote:

    Even though i live 20mins on the train away from waterloo, i never really think about taking olivia there, i always just fear the crowds and lets face it, potential meltdowns too but these pics remind me how cool it is and also how child friendlynit can be (in the sun!) Looks like you all had a brill time, love the fountain pics :) x

    Posted 8.26.15 Reply
    • alice wrote:

      heheh yes, it probably would have been a different story in the pouring rain ;) x

      Posted 8.27.15 Reply
  5. It looks like you had a really fun day. Those water pictures are fab. I am looking forward to being able to ditch the pram on trips to London :) x

    Posted 8.26.15 Reply
  6. Kathryn wrote:

    That food looks great and it’s good to see your cuties chowing down and trying new things (mine can be picky). It’s so lovely when you can finally take your kids out to do stuff you all enjoy isn’t it? x

    Posted 8.28.15 Reply
  7. Fritha wrote:

    love all the colours! and Elfie and Hux are looking like they are the same age lately! I remember when Hux was just born, madness! Wahaca just opened in Bristol but I’ve yet to go, I really really need to don’t i? x

    Posted 9.2.15 Reply
  8. Honest mum wrote:

    You guys are all too gorgeous, love that you didn’t run in the fountains because you’d just washed your hair hahaha. This has made me seriously miss London with my kids as I’m there a lot but rarely with them, and that food looked delicious! x

    Posted 9.3.15 Reply