August is bursting with things to do, and the team has rounded up the very best.
From Tuscan getaways and out-of-this-world space adventures to the perfect SPF for sunny days out, and a little back to school prep, there’s something for every age – tots to teens and beyond.
Sheena Bhattessa, Founder
STAY We are heading off to a glorious villa escape in Tuscany. A beautiful Tuscan manor with a heated pool, tennis courts, plenty of woodland to run around in, and a day trip to Florence will make for a very happy escape for all the littles joining (9 in total!). BOOK My littlest (the 1 year old) is not quite ready to sit down for plays, so we are very excited for a morning (or two) at Frameless with the comeback of The Colour Monster Goes To School. Its always such an incredible multi sensory journey for kids, and now they can colour their own Colour Monster, before seeing their creation appear on the gallery walls. USE SPF on my kids, daily, and Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 is my regular go-to. VISIT Hamley’s for their season of summer events from Bluey takeovers to a Martinelia Glow Make up event. GET HELP FROM Hannah Gaboardi, trichologist and hair health expert, who is helping me get my hair back to pre-baby strength, volume and gloss. Its never really bounced back and I’m following a programme with a suggested haircare plan (supplements, treatments and diet plan included) to give it back its healthiness.
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Ella Alexander, Fashion Features Director
DO As is family tradition, we’re taking our three-year-old to his third Notting Hill Carnival on Family Day on Sunday 30th, so he can see the Children’s Parade and absorb the music, costumes and joyful atmosphere. I’ll be writing about how to do Carnival with kids later this month, so stay tuned. VISIT House of Dreamers is on our summer to-do list, a 16-room immersive exhibition that promises interactive installations, magical photo spots, cloud swings, fairytale-style spaces and ball pits. Afterwards, I want to introduce Lenny and his cousin to the London Cable Car, which travels across The Thames from the Royal Docks to Greenwich Peninsula. The views are amazing and, as a family activity, it’s cheaper than most at £7 a trip. Children under five go free. EAT Julia Donaldson’s character Zog is a much-loved favourite in our home, and so I’m looking forward to treating Lenny to afternoon tea dedicated to literature’s most amenable dragon at The Rubens at the Palace. The hotel is partnering with Cadogan Hall – a 15-minute walk from the property – and its Zog stage show this month too, a perfect afternoon for little ones. GO If you’re looking for a child-friendly day out not far from London, Folkestone unveils its renovated Lower Leas Coastal Park on 4 August, a huge play area that sits amid the cliffs overlooking the beach. Having grown up near this Kent seaside town, I have such a soft spot for it and will definitely be taking my son to the refurnished playpark. Head to the nearby Mermaid Cafe, where I used to work as a student, for a coffee and ice cream afterwards.
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Laura Normanton, Citizen Enfants Contributor
SEE Im looking forward to seeing The Wind In The Willows in the theatre at Kew Gardens and while we are there I’ll check out the fabulous Henry Moore exhibition, one of my favourite sculptors, whose work is dotted throughout the grounds. STAY As I write this we are on our way to Verdura resort, a Rocco Forte hotel in Sicily. This hotel appealed to me when I was doing some research as it caters well to our family with three young children. There is a very generous sized pool, private beach, kids club, plenty of family activities such as horse riding and tennis lessons and family friendly restaurants alongside a thermal spa. Later this summer I’d love to check into a UK hotel such as Maften Hall in Northumberland and I’m super keen to try the family resets at Yeotown in Devon or Madeira. I love doing wholesome activities with the kids, being outside and enjoying some coastal walks. WEAR I can’t resist matching with my daughter in one of my favourite brands Doen and their Henri tops. I’m starting to think about back to school and this new mini RODINI violas puffer caught my eye. I also love candy beads for their super cute bracelets and these personalised keychains would look great on a school bag. DO We are doing tennis lessons for the kids with Little Foxes and Playball which is always a hit. It’s a great way of giving them exercise and a chance for them to meet some new faces.
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Siobhan Grogan, Citizen Enfants Contributor
DO We all loved the exhilarating Thames Rockets speed boat ride when we tried it last year so are keen to have another go and bring friends next time. The guides are informative but hilarious and there’s no better way of seeing London in the sunshine. BUY Both my kids and I have very fair skin that burns in no time so I’m always on the hunt for a long-lasting sunscreen that doesn’t feel sticky. P20 Kids SPF 50+ is by far the best I’ve tried, absorbs in no time and protects for up to ten hours so is my new holiday suitcase essential. SHOP I never travel with my kids (or husband!) without packing a Tide to Go pen to blitz inevitable stains on clothes while we’re away, rather than waiting to deal with them once we’re home when they’re much harder to remove. Honestly, it’s a game-changer. EAT My whole house is obsessed with Tim Tam biscuits so I’ll make sure there’s a stash in the cupboard to get the kids through summer snack cravings. The white ones are our new favourites. GO It’s not easy to convince my teenage son to have a day out with me during his summer holidays but he’s desperate to return to Sandbox VR in London’s Covent Garden. Last time, we had great fun together battling soldiers and spacecraft in the world of ‘Rebel Moon – The Descent’; next he wants to try the ‘Squid Games’ experience, both of which are suitable for over 8’s. Don’t miss the robot bartender mixing up mocktails too! STAY We loved our stay at the chic four-bedroom house Mabyn in Cornwall’s Watergate Bay so much last year, I’m booking it again this summer. There’s a surf school, a wide sandy beach and a shipping container serving delicious pizzas just a stroll away, plus a gate to access the coast path for clifftop walks.
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Erica Corsano, US Contributor
DO We normally escape to Europe in August, but with Florida schools now starting earlier, we’re staying local and embracing the quieter season with a luxurious, family-friendly culinary road trip through South Florida. STAY Travelling with my almost four-year-old means I’m always looking for hotels that blend luxury with family-friendly touches. We’ll be checking into The Breakers Palm Beach to experience the beautiful new Beach Club, escaping to Four Seasons Hotel Fort Lauderdale for lunch at Evelyn’s, a spa afternoon, and the adorable Mini & Me manicure and pedicure. We’ll also stop at The Boca Raton to experience the beautifully refreshed Cloister and Beach Club before ending at Acqualina Resort & Residences, where my babygirl can enjoy the complimentary AcquaMarine Camp while I steal a little downtime. DINE I’m obsessed with Malka in West Palm Beach. Founded by celebrity chef Eyal Shani, it’s warm, welcoming, wonderfully family-friendly and serves some of the freshest, most exciting food I’ve had in South Florida. I don’t say this lightly—it was the best meal I’ve had in the area to date. VISIT Animals are having a major moment in our house, so Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is at the top of our list. We’ll arrive early to beat the Florida heat, explore the rescued native wildlife and Discovery Center, and enjoy one of South Florida’s best family days out. SHOP August is one of my favourite times to make the most of the summer sales, and HIVE Collective & HIVE for Kids never disappoints. I’m eyeing this Bonpoint Liberty-print swimsuit for baby (because in Florida, there’s no such thing as too many swimsuits) and these adorable children’s rain boots to see us through the inevitable summer showers. GET The ESSENTIALS! Between the Florida heat, constant caffeine and keeping up with a toddler, my skin needs all the help it can get. I’m obsessed with Miami-based Répêchage. Their Laminaria Seaweed Serum layered under the Hydro-Complex Cream is my late-summer skincare duo.
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Lucy Scovell, Citizen Enfants Contributor
SEE I recently took my daughter to see The Gruffalo Live on Stage, Tall Stories’ musical adaptation of the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldon and Axel Scheffler which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The stage set, cast (especially sparkly, slinky, high-spirited snake), and silly songs were all fab, and kept us both transfixed from beginning to end. Yes, really, my two-year-old didn’t move for 50 minutes straight! You’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of laughs for the adults, too. BUY Bathtime has become a morning, noon and night ritual since the heatwave took hold of London, so thank goodness for Smoosh, the new baby skin care brand designed to protect, nourish and soothe delicate baby skin. The range of products is developed in the UK, clinically tested and vegan, each with bespoke formulations, no unnecessary ingredients, no added fragrance, and in pretty pink packaging that both my baby and toddler want to squish, squeeze and smoosh in the bath. Win win. GO The recently reopened Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration is hosting free family-friendly drop-in sessions throughout the summer. They are designed to help support families get creative whether that be illustrating in the studio or getting down and dirty in the garden. Stop by Deeneys cafe for a seriously good toastie and Allpress coffee on the way out. COOL DOWN at Parliament Hill Lido. Nothing keeps the littles ones happier in this heat than a splash about in cool water. In addition to the main pool, there’s a smaller shallow one that’s great for babies and toddlers. Tickets are reasonably priced but do sell out quickly. BOOK I’m looking forward to taking my kids to the new Luna Loves London immersive exhibition (Age guide: 0-8, but best suited to under 5s) at the Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford. Hop aboard the big red bus to the library, community garden, dance studio and art gallery where kids can get stuck into arts and crafts. We’re big fans of the books so we’re excited. ENJOY Regent’s Park Music Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with a free programme of live music — including jazz, brass, steel and concert bands — every Saturday and Sunday until mid September. Pack up the kids — and a picnic — for the perfect afternoon in the sun.
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Frankie Graddon, Citizen Enfants Contributor
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Anjana Gosai, Citizen Enfants Contributor
STAY My husband and I just got back from a much-needed long weekend at Santo Mine Oia Suites in Santorini and I cannot recommend it enough. It’s located close to the famous viewpoints, but manages to feel secluded at the same time. The service is slick, every suite has a private hot tub or pool and the 360-degree views across the island are stunning. SEE My boys are really excited to check out the Science Museum’s new Smithsonian Starstruck experience, which is a VR walk through the cosmos where you get to witness solar flares, watch stars erupt and come face-to-face with a black hole. EAT If you’re looking for a family-friendly spot in Covent Garden, Balthazar has launched a new Le Petit Joyeux children’s menu featuring macaroni cheese, soft-serve ice cream, colouring cards and a teddy bear to take home. It’s ideal for my youngest, and gives me the perfect reason to finally take my foodie teen too. VISIT We went to the launch of our local Everyman in the Garden at The Grove (until 6th September) and can’t wait to spend more warm evenings watching movies alfresco. Alongside kid-friendly hits like Paddington in Peru and Wonka, they have also added pre-film live opera performances for A Star is Born (20 August) and Wicked (30 August). BUY I took six flights in July, and the RoC Hydra+ Hyaluronic Stick was my in-flight saviour. The cooling, hyaluronic acid packed roll-on kept my skin super hydrated without me having to touch my face mid-flight. PACK I’m also loving Oshun Electrolytes to prevent dehydration and help with that frazzled feeling you get after a long-haul flight. I’ve been adding it to my boys’ water bottles too.
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