MY LITTLE LONDON

Ugo loves going for family meals in nearby Richmond

Ugo’s currently covering the Six Nations rugby tournament for BT Sport

Hampton Court Palace is full of memories – and fl at grounds for scooter riding Three-year-old Phoenix can’t wait for her newborn sister Ruby to be grownup enough to play with!

The family love returning to Sardinia each summer

Daughter Phoenix knows that a day out with daddy means that ice cream is on the menu

Ugo and Lucy got married in 2016

Soft-play centres are a favourite for family days

UGO MONYE My Little London THE FORMER ENGLAND RUGBY PLAYER AND SPORTS PRESENTER TAKES US THROUGH HIS FAVOURITE FAMILY SPOTS IN THE CAPITAL

Ugo grew up in Islington, North London, but has lived in Twickenham for 20 years

Where’s home for you? I was born and raised in Islington, but I’ve been living in Twickenham for the past 20 years. My wife Lucy and I love it here, as there’s a lot of families about, brilliant schools, lovely local shops, and kid-friendly places to eat out. We also have Richmond just up the road, which is similar in that respect, and Bushey Park, where you’ll nd loads of deer roaming about. €e river is nearby, too, and we love spending afternoons down there feeding the ducks.

What are your favourite days out in London as a family? Phoenix is a big fan of soft-play centres, and Snakes and Ladders in Syon Park, Purple Dragon in Chelsea and Kidabulous in Sunbury-on-€ames are our favourites. I love taking her – mainly because I’m a big kid myself and get as much out of it as she does. I think she actually prefers going on days out with me rather than her mum, but only because I always end up buying her ice cream and sweets!

Sport is obviously a big part of your life. Is Phoenix showing signs of being an athlete? We’re slowly introducing her to sport bit by bit, and so far she’s jumped at the chance to try everything. She’s quite athletic and goes to Rugby Tots, which has taught her a lot of key skills like teamwork and following instructions. Lucy also took her to a gymnastics class a little while ago, and even though she was the youngest child there, she absolutely loved it.

with her is just so special, and with Lucy a bit out of action concentrating on the new baby, it’s been great to spend more time with her.

spots in and around the capital? Hampton Court Palace is brilliant, particularly during the summer months. It’s really ‹at, which means Phoenix can ride around on her scooter, and they have all sorts of activities going on year-round. I actually proposed to Lucy in the rose gardens, so it’s a really special place for us. We tried to take Phoenix to London Zoo as well, but she was more interested in the pigeons than the lions!

Where are your favourite places to eat as a family? Phoenix loves Pizza Express, so we go there quite a lot. She always orders the dough balls, and she even knows all the waiters by name! Meals out there are simple and relaxed, and even though I’m a big foodie, while she’s young we’d prefer to go to places where we can easily mix in with other families. Leon in Richmond is brilliant, too, as they have a little play area that’s tucked away at the back.

You’ve just become a dad for the second time. How has fatherhood been for you so far? It’s been amazing, and I couldn’t be happier that I have two little girls. Ruby is still only a few weeks old, but Phoenix, who’s now three, has such a big character. She loves singing, dancing, princess dresses, and Frozen, and she’s quite the performer! €e bond I have

How has Phoenix adjusted to having a baby sister? She’s really excited. Lucy and I bought her a baby doll a few months back to help her understand that we were having another baby, which worked really well – she gave it baths and took it to bed every night, and every night she’d kiss the bump and sing a lullaby. €at said, I think she assumed my wife was giving birth to a toddler, who would be a ready-made playmate for her! So, she’s having to be quite patient and wait for Ruby to grow up a bit.

Any summer holidays planned? We’re thinking about going to either New York or France, and I imagine we’ll also travel back to Forte Village in Sardinia, where we’ve been on holiday for the past three or four years. In my opinion, it’s one of the best places in the world for families to go – there’s a huge programme of family activities for the whole day, and loads of sports, dance clubs, cricket and rugby. €ere’s also a brilliant beach and kids’ pools, and all the restaurants have great children’s menus.

Anything in the pipeline for the next few months? I’m currently covering the Six Nations on BT Sport, which has been keeping me busy, and I’ve been quite fortunate as I’ve been based in London for the majority of it. It’s a fantastic time of year and hugely exciting for me. In the summer, I’ll also be ‹ying to Tokyo to cover the Olympics, which I’m really looking forward to. L