It's a kind of magic: Mystical Fairies
Ideas for children’s parties in London
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Portrait Rob Greig
Posted: Thu Aug 21 2008 -
You can go mad in both senses of the phrase trying to organise a simple children’s party these days, so here’s a selection of our favourite venues and activities to provide entertainment for the kids
Party planner: Essentials | Birthday | Kids' | Work | Wedding | Hen | Stag
Venues
Children’s Party Bus
On-board events, such as games, magic or a disco, are tailored to the age group (from fours to nines). The bus parks outside for two hours and price includes catering. Capacity 24 children. Hire charge from £350.
Children's Party Bus (07836 605032/www.childrenspartybus.co.uk).
Clown Town
A three-level, multi-activity frame featuring slides, ball ponds and rope climbs, which is heaven for kids. Cost £8.95 per child.
Clown Town, Unit 3, Coppetts Centre, North Circular Rd, N12 0QS (020 8361 6600). New Southgate rail.
Finchley Lido Leisure Centre
There is a pleasing grassy terrace; indoors, swimmers can plough up and down the main pool or enjoy the leisure pool’s wave machine and picture windows. The leisure pool can be hired between 4.30pm and 6.30pm at weekends. Capacity 30. Hire charge £129 per hour.
Finchley Lido Leisure Centre, Great North Leisure Park, Chaplin Square, N12 0GL (020 8343 9830/www.gll.org). East Finchley tube.
See our guide to London's best pools and lidos
Mystical Fairies
Whether you use the magical basement kingdom or have the fairies come to your home, Mystical provides parties for the sprite-obsessed.
It’s not all pink dresses and wings; there are also pirate and wizard parties. Young girls in their fairy phase love the whimsy; for older ones there are high-school musical and disco options. Hire charge from £375 for two hours.
Mystical Fairies, 12 Flask Walk, NW3 1HE (020 7431 1888/www.mysticalfairies.co.uk). Hampstead tube. Feature continuesAdvertisementDelta Force
Children have to be over 11 to don their fatigues and participate in the fun. They get 150 paintballs to fire between 9.15am and 4pm, plus a pizza lunch – all for £17.50 per head. The sites at Billericay and Upminster in Essex are both within walking distance of train and tube stations. £17.50 per person (minimum 40).
Delta Force, Aveley Rd, Upminster, RM14 2TW (0844 477 5050/www.paintballgames.co.uk). Upminster tube/rail.
Cups 'n' horsies: Kentish Town City Farm Kentish Town City Farm
There’s livestock, a pond full of frogs and a brand new space they rent out for children’s parties. There’s also a kitchen to prepare food. It costs £50 (plus £50 returnable deposit).
Kentish Town City Farm, 1 Cressfield Close, off Grafton Rd, NW5 4BN (020 7916 5421/www.ktcityfarm.org.uk). Kentish Town tube.
V&A Museum of Childhood
As well as the displays of toys, there’s a colourful party space downstairs. Extras include menus from their café, crafts activities and a story trail around the museum. Capacity 25. Hire charge £100.
V&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 9PA (020 8983 5200/www.vam.ac.uk/moc). Bethnal Green tube/rail.
Gambado
Colourful climbing frames and slides are present and correct, but Gambado goes the extra mile with dodgems and a carousel. Max capacity 30. Hire charge £18.50-£26 per child.
Gambado, 7 Station Court, Townsmead Rd, SW6 2PY (020 7384 1635/www.gambado.com). Fulham Broadway tube, then 391 bus.
Goody bags
Happy Green Earth
HGH’s eco-friendly bags start at 20p, and gifts at 35p.
(0845 388 0931/www.happygreen earth.com)
Frog in the Field
The excellent website makes party bag purchasing a total doddle.
(0845 170 2010/www.froginthefield.co.uk)
Little Cherry
Fill bags with eco-friendly toys such as skipping ropes (£4.49).
(01753 857 003/www.littlecherry.co.uk)
Ethical Party Bags
Recycled, fairly traded bags available empty or pre-filled.
(07948 343 653/www.ethicalpartybags.com)
Kids’ parties at home
Blueberry Playsongs
www.blueberry.clara.co.uk
Cookie Crumbles cooking workshop
www.cookiecrumbles.net
Fimmaking course
www.youngfilmacademy.co.uk
Mad science
www.madscience.org/east
League One Sports Academy
www.leagueone.co.ukParty planner: Essentials | Birthday | Kids' | Work | Wedding | Hen | Stag
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42 comments
If you are looking for a children's entertainer for kids of any age I would strongly recommend The Party Belles. They entertain anywhere in London and will run the party from start to finish in your home or venue. Very professional company and excellent entertainers.
hi my little girl will be 6 in may and wants a fun fair theme birthday party ideas i live in london ???
We used Go-Crazy for our 10 year olds party - Spy names, spy clothes (they all got very exited), metal detecting, polygraphs the lot. And a spy card at the end :) The kids LOVED it. Nobody has done it before.
5-12 years old kids should be having more serious parties. What about secret agents theme party at home or nearby children cafe? Go-crazy.co.uk offers an original Spy Birthday party where kids look for bugs and even try a polygraph (lie detector). Party lasts 2 hours. Certificates of participation are issued to each participant of a party.
We have the perfect space for kiddie's parties on the King's Road, Chelsea. The World's End is a uniquely playful venue housing 3 different themes: the nautical Summerhouse, ideal for a pirate party; the cinema styled Scene, great for a popcorn filled day; and the Cellar room, perfect for a movie. All rooms are adaptable to your child's every wish!
I teach Flamenco workshops for parties for ages 6-70 in and around London - www.flamencoparty.co.uk
We plan crafty parties for children here at The Create Place in Bethnal Green. We can teach children from 7+ how to sew or knit, we will even let them design their own t-shirts. If your children are slightly too young for this we can hire you the space with all the arts and crafts equipment and goodies you could need. Read what people say about us here. http://www.thecreateplace.co.uk/?p=211
We recently had a Paper Hat arts and craft party for our 6yr old daughter it was fanastic and really good value for money. It was a ballet theme so all the gilrs made clay ballet dancers. The artist came with all the materials, set it up, decorated our front room and brought party bags with paints so the kids could paint their dancers when they were dry. It was magical, and she kept them completly entertained the whole time.
www.paperhat-parties.com
We had a bowling party at All Star Lanes for my son's 10th birthday. The food was delicious, and all the kids loved it.
Hi there, I want to have a small party for my daughter's first birthday but not sure where.I thought of a restaurant and inviting friends with their families. Does anybody recommend a restaurant somewhere in East London if possible? Many thanks for your help
There is a party company called Pretty Pollies that run Cosmetics making and Chocolate Making for children. Each guest makes 3 products from scratch, they then wrap them and take them home as their party bag. The parties are really different and the children love them. Worth a look.. Their website is www.prettypollies.com
Could anybody give me ideas on a girls 10th birthday party . Something completely different and that I don't have to do anything for.( mums aren't cool apparently!!) Preferably in London so we can travel by limousine.
Just had the best party for my 8 year old son and his friends at All Star Lanes!
They had private bowling, Nintendo Wii, Karaoke and party food.
Try Gymboree - it has to be at their premises, but it was fab!!
try Jose from Jasmine's magic parties - he was fantastic at my daughter's last year