Central London

Sometimes I forget just how close we are to Central London. We lucked out finding this area back in 2007... short commute time to Victoria, yet removed enough from the hustle and bustle to feel like a tranquil place.

Yesterday we decided to meet up with B's brother and children in Hyde Park. There's a great playground we'd heard of - the Princess Diana Memorial one - with a gigantic pirate ship and other play structures inspired by Peter Pan and Neverland. So we met up, the journey in not being too bad (mainline train one stop, Tube in to Bayswater) and spent a few hours in the sun with the kids.

E really enjoyed himself. C did too. Although she was too young to really appreciate all the little nooks and crannies of the playground, she was still able to hug totem poles...

...and toddle around the wigwams.


The tunnel, however, did not yield to her force of will, and she would not stoop to crawl through it, so they were at an impasse for a little while, until she wandered somewhere else.


Meanwhile, E enjoyed chasing (and being chased by) his cousin. S is younger than E by about 18 months but is starting to be able to keep up/engage more and E loves having company at playgrounds. He was none too happy when they had to leave, but all the cool extras at the playground soon cheered him up. There was a pirate telescope at the top of a little hill... actually a kaleidoscope... that he liked quite a bit.

Checking out the treasure chest....

Walking the plank...

Sitting on a chair on the "sensory trail" which was a winding stone path incorporating things like instruments and other neat little features.

Like this wooden xylophone-type thing.

And this deceptively spinny thing.

Also, a chiming trampoline!



C fell asleep in the stroller, so while B and E played and explored, I sat and enjoyed the sun (and wished I'd brought my notebook and pen... I am behind on my word count and really want to get this first draft finished!)

It was a good day. The playground got so full the attendants (yes, attendants, at a playground! Very posh!) had to introduce a 20-out, 20-in crowd control at the gates. Being so close to Mayfair we saw some diverse children - several were out playing in miniature tweed jackets, etc. E fell asleep leaning against me on the train ride back, he was so exhausted.

Bayswater station. Probably I might catch flack from some official for posting this... but you know what? I don't care. I thought the juxtaposition of light and dark was gorgeous. Wouldn't mind waiting for trains in that station.