May doesn’t do things by halves. This month’s edit spans fire-breathing dragons, Cornish escapes, Egyptian archaeology and circus shows, with mama essentials and art trails woven in for good measure.
Half-term is nearly here, and whether you’re staying local or going further afield, (we have holiday essentials covered by the team too), this team list has enough inspiration to keep you going for the eco-conscious warrior kids to mini culture buffs.
Sheena Bhattessa, Founder
WEAR I adore anything La Coqueta and their new Spring/Summer collection is just about right for my very quickly growing daughter’s wardrobe. There are some very cute matching pieces for my boys too, so they will undoubtedly look like very well dressed kids on our upcoming summer travels. BOOK FUNharmonics: Stan & Mabel at the Southbank Centre. A live orchestral adventure for younger children, one of the best introductions to classical music in the city. Frankly anything there I love. VISIT When the weather is good, one of my favourite places to go is Covent Garden. There’s so much people watching, street entertainment, great food and fun to be had. They also have the Puppet Festival at St Paul’s Church Garden. Mr Punch, maypole dancing, folk music, and a brass band procession. One of London’s oldest and most charming free days out. SEE The new Kusuma Nature Play area at Horniman Museum is opening later this month (21 May), with an augmented reality nature trail to explore. Free entry, a real south London gem. TAKE I’ve started giving my 2 older kids Hiya with the multivitamin and probiotic option daily. With kids getting sick all the time and travel affecting their belly, I think they are a really helpful supplement to have.
Rachel Story, Style & Commerce Director
VISIT I’ve just got back from a holiday in the Bahamas, visiting the islands of both Harbour Island and Eleuthera. We flew into Nassau, and with a long flight followed by a tight connection, we decided to stay put there for the first couple of nights – making that part of the trip all about our little one. We plumped for Atlantis, on Paradise Island, a sprawling resort that has it all. From water parks and aquariums with sharks to every imaginable restaurant under the sun it was a magical pit-stop for a little one to soak it all in. DINE The fact Atlantis had a Nobu was also a huge hit for us – and surprisingly for our 3-year-old too! While that won’t become a regular occurrence back home, sushi rice, edamame and salmon terriyaki are all firmly on the menu. BUY I spotted a Jacquemus bucket bag that I fell in love with in the mall there and I haven’t stopped wishing it was mine since getting home. Black raffia finish with an oversized gold ring closure, it would make for the chicest beach bag. SHOP A new summer wardrobe was in order for our son and everything in Marks & Spencer is so good for little boys right now – from striped shirts to fun t-shirts and the cutest shorts. I’m also eyeing up these embroidered espadrilles as an alternative to trainers this summer. ESSENTIALS Applying sunscreen is a daily battle, but this scent-free SPF from Green People is great for sensitive skin.
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Ella Alexander, Fashion Features Director
DO I know I’m supposed to be talking about what I’m going to do this month with my son, but we did a day trip to Calais recently to see the giant mechanical dragon that walks up and down the seafront. Made of steel and carved wood, it breathes fire and smoke and even spits water. You can buy tickets to ride it, but my son was captivated just as bystander. We then had a picnic on the beautiful sandy beach there and got the boat home. A day trip well worth doing. VISIT Apparently, I’m all about giant mythical installations this month – Selfridges has opened a dinosaur-shaped slide as part of the Coach charm playground. Open until May 22nd, there’s also a photobooth perfect for capturing post-slide giggles. BUY Mango has just released its summer kids collection and it’s so sweet – I particularly love the vintage-inspired football shirts, perfect for the World Cup in June. DRINK My family come from Kent, so we’re big fans of Woolton Farm, a sprawling barn with glamping options. The barn itself is known for its cider offering, and there’s a spacious garden filled with apple trees where kids can run about while the adults enjoy the sunshine. It’s a very idyllic setup with rolling hills at the backdrop. If you’re in the area, it’s a great place to spend an afternoon.
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Rebecca Cope, Citizen Enfants Contributor
VISIT I am heading down to Cornwall this week for a girl’s trip: albeit two of the girls in question are three-year-olds. We will be staying in two glorious self-catering cottages, Bosinver, near St Austell, and SeaSpace, near Newquay. We plan on making the most of the indoor pools and proximity to the beach, not to mention an in-room spa treatment or two. EAT I’m particularly excited to be eating at a handful of cute local restaurants while we are in Cornwall, including Sam’s on the Beach (pizza) and Tallo (more pizza – did I mention we are travelling with toddlers?). SEE I’m taking my daughter to see The Tiger Who Came To Tea at the Lichfield Garrick Theatre at the end of the month. It’s the second time that we’ve seen it together and I do love a little mummy and daughter cultural date. On a totally separate note, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a grown-up must-watch, especially for anyone remotely media-adjacent. READ: My daughter is absolutely obsessed with The Story Orchestra books, which retell classic ballets and operas for children, with sound buttons to bring it to life. I’m getting her the Swan Lake one next. I’m devouring Patrick Radden Keefe’s London Falling, like pretty much everyone else I know. WATCH Season 2 of Amandaland is here and I for one cannot wait for Lucy Punch et all to be back on our screens. The first season was one of the funniest portrayals of suburban motherhood I’ve seen in a long time. TRY I’m off to the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair to enjoy the glories of the spa, sans child, for one night. I can’t wait.
Jessica Salter, Citizen Enfants Contributor
USE I’m quite strict on my family’s healthy diet, but what I hadn’t really considered was what is in our toothpaste. I’ve just started a subscription with Mighty, which is made in the UK, is good for kids’ oral microbiomes, and comes in a refillable bottle, which will please my eco-conscious pre-teen. Speaking of my pre-teen, she asked me to get her a deodorant the other week, and I bought us both a natural one from a new brand, Make Waves, which comes in cute refillable packaging, which you can get customised with your names, and different scents to choose from. BUY I try to be sustainable in my shopping habits, and really love Patrick Grant’s brand Community Clothing, especially the kids range, which are made in the UK, using 100% cotton and plastic-free, and have fun characters on them designed by an ex Marc Jacobs designer. BOOK My eldest daughter loves her Sunday clasess at The National Centre for Circus Arts, where she learns to use the trapeze, the silks, the unicycle and juggling. But they also do excellent holiday camps, too, which I’m booking now for summer. WATCH Sticking with a circus theme, I hear great things about the award winning east London company, The Revel Puck Circus: every east London fashion editor mum I know went at Christmas, and so I’ve booked in for June dates. SEE I love immersive theatre (hello Punchdrunk) so I’m excited about the upcoming Immersive Cinderella, in Regent’s Park this summer, where children don’t just watch the story — they get to be part of it. TRY The only way to get my five-year-old to let me brush her hair is to bedazzle her with new hair accessories. I was glad to find the start up Classette, which has packs of hairbands, bobbles and clips all in your school’s uniform colour, and a cute canvas bag to store them in.
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Anjana Gosai, Citizen Enfants Contributor
VISIT We’ve been to Frameless before and it’s brilliant for kids – my 10 and 17 year olds were completely immersed by the art installations beaming around them. From 21 May, the venue is hosting a limited-run experience with the National Portrait Gallery, Stories – Brought to Life, which includes huge projections through archival footage, speech excerpts and animation of Queen Elizabeth II, Malala Yousafzai and Shakespeare, among others. We can’t wait to go back. BOOK My 10 year old has been learning about Ancient Egypt at school this term, so when I heard that Egyptian archaeologist and creator of the Ramses and the Pharaohs’ Gold exhibition, Dr Zahi Hawass would be giving a talk in London on 12 May, I had to book it. He’ll be sharing stories from his latest excavations in the Valley of the Kings – how exciting. SHOP Fortnum & Mason are opening the Biscuitorium on the 14th. An entire space dedicated to biscuits sounds wonderful to me. I’m sure my kids will want to bring home the new Whoppalossus – a large chocolate-covered sharing biscuit weighing 400g. I’ve got my eye on the new Biscuits for Drinks collection, which feels perfect for entertaining. GO My son is costume planning for MCM Comic Con – it’s the ultimate day out for gaming and comic book fans. TRY With A-level mocks and the 11+ on the horizon, I’ve been supporting my kids with supplements. Hifas da Terra Dr. GB Gut and Brain contains lion’s mane and reishi mushrooms for immune and brain health, and I’ve just discovered new Chirpy The Mood One gummies. These are formulated by a pharmacist with saffron, zinc and vitamin D for mood and focus, with no added sugar too, which is rare for kids’ gummies. RELAX Half-term can’t come soon enough. I’m booking the boys in for a calming children’s head and scalp massage at the new Barn Spa at Down Hall Hotel and Estate. I swear by them myself, and after all that revision, they deserve a treat.
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Lucy Scovell, Citizen Enfants Contributor
BOOK The Affordable Art Fair returns to Hampstead Heath this month (6-10 May), bringing together the very best in contemporary art from over 100 galleries across the world. During the weekend family morning there’ll also be an art treasure hunt, face painting, a giant colouring wall, and arts and crafts at the Kid’s Creative Corner. GO Opening on the 8th May is the London branch of the Museum of Illusions, the trippy home to gravity-defying exhibits and mind-boggling immersive experiences that will delight kids and adults. BOOK War Horse is back! Nearly two decades after its debut at the National Theatre, this timeless story of love, courage and friendship, based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, is a must-see for tweens and teens. DO To celebrate the release of her new book for children, The Story of Art Without Men: An illustrated guide to amazing women artists, Katy Hessel has curated a free family trail (8+) at the National Portrait Gallery. En route you’ll come face to face with works by some of Britain’s best loved women artists including Vanessa Bell, Pauline Boty and Tracey Emin. BUY It’s my birthday this month so I’ll be treating myself to a couple of pieces from the gorgeous new summer capsule collection by Lucy Williams for With Nothing Underneath. Nothing says understated luxury quite like it.Â
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