What to do Swimming London Fields Lido offer swimming lessons and they’ve started offering stages 3-8 swimming classes again. Go to www.betterlessons.org.uk for details and booking. Plus of course, there's Mile End Leisure Centre, York Hall in Bethnal Green and the gorgeous Aquatics Centre at the QE2 Olympic Park. Farms At city farms in Stepney, Spitalfields and Mudchute) you can introduce your kids to the pongs and pleasures of real farm animals. Stepney City Farm has a great café, as well as a farmers’ market every Saturday from 10am-3pm. www.stepneycityfarm.org, www.hackneycityfarm. co.uk, www.spitalfieldscityfarm.org, www. mudchute.org Children’s Centres There are many, including Wentworth on Cassland Road (www.wentworth.hackney.sch. uk), Gainsborough on Berkshire Road (www. gainsborough.hackney.sch.uk/childrens-centre), and Morningside on Chatham Place (www. morningside.hackney.sch.uk/childrens-centre). Meath Gardens Children's Centre, 1 Smart Street, E2; Mile End Leisure Centre, The One O'Clock Club (Victoria Park near the boating lake); Overland Children's Centre, 60 Parnell Road, E3. Tennis Junior tennis at Victoria Park. Book at www. towerhamletstennis.org.uk Hackney City Tennis Clubs organise various tennis classes in Hackney, including in London Fields, Haggerston park and Hackney Downs. www.hackneytennis.co.uk Baby yoga From 6 weeks to one year. Baby-focused class using a mix of massage, classical yoga postures, stretches and balances adapted exactly to their stage of growth. Accompanied by well-known 14 LOVEEAST
songs and rhymes to make the exercises fun and interactive. Fridays,The Royal Inn on the Park, Lauriston Road E9.10.45am-11.45am. £6.50 per class. Karen: first-touchmassage@hotmail.co.uk or call 07902 227669. Art Artist Katherine Tulloh runs an art club for children. Classes take place after school in term time only. Sessions for 5-7-year- olds on Wednesdays 4pm-5pm, and for 8-11-year-olds, on Mondays, 4pm-5.30pm. Call Katherine on 07909 961 877 or email her at katherine@ herechickychicky.com Singing Angel Voices, tunes for toddlers. Tuesdays, 9.45am-11am in term-time at St. Michael’s and All Angels in London Fields (Landsdown Drive). No charge, but donations welcome. If interested, contact Connie on 07830 349362. Theatre Hackney Children’s Theatre is Hackney’s newest theatre space for young audiences. Situated in 700-year-old St John at Hackney church, the theatre hosts monthly performances for kids and their families. They also run a great programme of afterschool dance classes, break dance, street dance contemporary and creative dance. Check out www.facebook.com/ hackneychildrenstheatre Capoeira Brazilian martial art. Wednesdays, 5pm-6pm (5-11-year-olds). New Kingshold Community Centre, 49 Ainsworth Road, E9. Acting Try Hackney Forge on a Wednesday morning. Cbeebies actress Samantha Seager runs acting classes for little tots. Try a free taster class. www.actingbugs.co.uk