In The Know: Cool Things For Parents & Kids

A stalwart on the British high street, Monsoon is less talked about for its childrenswear. The new-season drop blends weekday practicality with weekend charm – think cord pinafores in jewel tones, quilted jackets lined with pretty florals, and blouses edged in scalloped collars. Smocking and embroidery nod to heritage styles, while the cuts are fresh enough to layer over leggings or over chunky knits come autumn. 

Visit Monsoon.co.uk

For a high-energy summer outing or rainy-day weekend plan, Twist Museum delivers curiosity and colour in equal measure. Interactive exhibits, playful installations and immersive storytelling will appeal to kids and adults alike. Bright, airy and cleverly designed, it’s the ideal spot to let little explorers roam free and ignite their imaginations. Promising high-energy, thought-provoking fun, it’s the kind of place children will want to talk about all the way home.

Visit TwistMuseum.com

Former denim designer Erin spent more than two decades perfecting cut, colour and detail for names including Victoria Beckham, Alexa Chung and Paul Smith. Now, she’s applying the same precision to Classette, a brand of hair accessories that slip neatly within uniform rules yet sparkle with personality. There are glossy shooting stars, miniature hearts and soft clouds, each in palettes of deep navy, pillar-box red or forest green. A quick, clever way to brighten school mornings and let kids feel like themselves.

Visit Classette.co.uk 

London’s most immersive art space returns with a fresh series of Tots Classes. Created with childcare innovators Peace + Riot, these 20-minute sessions at the Marble Arch venue are led by West End performers and blend storytelling, live music and sensory play on an extraordinary scale. Floor-to-ceiling projections transform the galleries into enchanted forests and whimsical worlds, with bubbles, props and sing-alongs. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers can explore freely, enjoying a rare mix of culture and play that you’ll love too.

Visit Frameless.com

Tucked away in 15 acres of manicured gardens, the Royal Berkshire hotel has created a family package that feels indulgent for adults and exciting for children. The Jacques Play & Stay experience blends heritage outdoor games – think croquet and giant chess – with child-focused activities run by CocoRio, plus a dedicated Jacques playroom. Families can spend mornings exploring Windsor Great Park or tackling Go Ape, then return for relaxed suppers and sprawling family suites. The package also includes breakfast, a welcome snack box for little ones, unlimited soft drinks and a Jaques Nine Pin Quoits set to take home – a clever way to extend the holiday spirit into your own garden.

Visit Exclusive.co.uk

Some baby gear is destined to be tucked away the second guests arrive – and then there are pieces you’ll want to keep on show like Elodie Details’ Grace highchair. The Swedish brand has long championed the idea that children’s kit should blend into grown-up interiors, and this highchair does exactly that. The design grows with your child – starting life as a supportive weaning seat with a removable tray, before morphing into a junior chair that slides neatly up to the family table. An adjustable footrest and multiple height settings make it as comfortable for a two-year-old with crayons as it is for a five-year-old eating breakfast.

Visit ElodieDetails.com

For keeping kids active and confident in the water this summer, these four-day Holiday Swim Crash Courses are ideal. With just four children per 30-minute class, every swimmer gets personal attention – perfect for learning essential water-safety skills and improving swimming techniques fast. As a special summertime treat, your child can also bring a friend along. Suitable for Stages 1-3, there are also free 15-minute assessments for children aged three and up to ensure they enter the right level. The crash course costs £80 per child for four days.

Visit JessesHouse.co.uk

Just an hour from London, Cowdray’s annual Mazie Maze has returned with a Wild West twist, transforming acres of golden maize into a cowboy’s playground. Once you’ve navigated the pathways, cut sunflowers from the pick-your-own patch or gather wildflowers for the kitchen table. The season is peppered with events – free daytime film screenings for children in the Marquee, Friday evening ‘Sip and Snip’ sessions with acoustic music and prosecco for parents, and, new this year, a Harvest Hoe Down complete with live music and food stalls. The August film weekend is already a local highlight – Rocketman and Barbie are showing this bank holiday.

Visit Cowdray.co.uk

Safe sleep can feel like a guessing game, especially when the weather changes, which is why ergoPouch has created the Drift Home. This no-wifi, high-definition monitor offers real-time dressing recommendations based on your baby’s room temperature and humidity, removing the trial-and-error from nighttime layering. The closed-loop system means no internet connection for increased safety, while the five-inch LED screen, two-way audio, night-light and built-in sound machine make it a complete sleep station. Parents can even set feeding and nappy-change reminders for those hazy newborn nights.

Visit ErgoPouch.co.uk

Belgium-based Zoofamily makes child-sized adventure gear perfect for summer exploring. Now in the UK, the hand-sized walkie-talkies have the perfect range for park hide-and-seek, while its animal-themed binoculars give a surprisingly clear view for spotting squirrels or garden birds. The child-friendly digital camera is also a must for young explorers. The kit turns even the smallest green space into a nature trail, encouraging curiosity and outdoor play wherever this summer takes you. 

Visit TheZooFamily.co.uk

The gates of Jurassic World are now open at NEON Battersea Power Station. This large-scale, multi-sensory adventure brings the blockbuster films to life across two floors. From walking beneath a towering brachiosaurus to coming face to face with Blue the velociraptor, little explorers can meet baby dinosaurs, dig into fossil discoveries and learn about prehistoric life while feeling fully part of the action. This is the first of many shows at NEON – the capital’s first purpose-built family entertainment and cultural venue. 

Visit JurassicWorldExperience.com

At 300 metres, The Monster is the world’s largest inflatable obstacle course. It’s also the perfect spot for little ones to let off steam. With more than 40 challenges – including an 18-metre mega slide – it’s high-energy fun for anyone over six. Quiet morning sessions cater to younger children or those who prefer a calmer pace, while adults-only evenings feature DJs, themed nights, cocktails and late-night street food. 

Visit TheMonsterUK.com