Buongiorno Cafe, Twickenham

We’re lucky to have a lot of good cafes in Twickenham but we’re always drawn to the Italian ones. The family have frequented Corto Italian Deli for years and it’s a favourite but a few months ago I decided to give the newer Buongiorno cafe, which is much nearer my house, a try. It’s nice […]

Read More

Where to Eat with Kids: Franco Manca, Kingston upon Thames

Going to nearby Kingston upon Thames with grandsons Freddie (7½) and Ben (4¾) has become a regular holiday time ritual and makes a lovely outing for me with the boys. A major attraction is Bentalls toy department, which is one of the best I know, and they always come with a little money from Mummy […]

Read More

Where to Eat with Kids: Hache Riverside Social, Kingston upon Thames

It’s half term week, so a promise to take the boys to Kingston upon Thames – more specifically Bentalls – in the next holiday time was fulfilled. Bentalls has a brilliant toy department, which is its chief attraction to the boys, including the best collection of Schleich animal figurines that I know of (short of […]

Read More

Lunch with the Grandsons at Masaniello

Freddie and I were talking about Masaniello last week and Livio’s pizzas. Livio, co-owner and head chef of Masaniello, hails from Naples and thus knows a good deal about making an excellent pizza. We haven’t been for a long time, said Freddie. No, we haven’t, I said, so we’ll go soon, next time you’re on […]

Read More

Where to Eat with Kids: Honest Burgers, South Kensington

Freddie and I went on another expedition this morning. This time to South Kensington, home of London’s biggest and most popular museums (the Victoria & Albert, Natural History, and Science museums) and thus in peak holiday time, a very busy place. Hence we set off early and managed to arrive at 10.00am just as doors […]

Read More

Where to Eat with Kids: Comptoir Libanais, Kingston-upon-Thames

Freddie (4) and I had gone on an expedition to Kingston in search of a hippopotamus. Despite being set on the Thames and therefore near water, it was of course highly unlikely – if not impossible – that we would encounter a live member of the species there. But Freddie, who is gradually making a […]

Read More

Where to Eat with Kids: Byron, Richmond

My 4-year-old grandson Freddie and I went to visit my friend Liz this afternoon to see her 4-month-old puppy, Ziggy. It was our 3rd time seeing the little King Charles Spaniel and he always seems so pleased to see Freddie, I’m sure even puppies recognise human equivalents – i.e. other ‘children’. I decided to pick […]

Read More

Where to Eat with Kids: Corto Italian Deli, Twickenham

Corto Italian Deli in Church Street, Twickenham is a favourite family haunt and I’ve written about it a few times on the blog – it’s fabulous for morning coffee, lunch, family celebrations, and to buy the best quality Italian foods you’ll find anywhere. We go there a lot but it’s taken me a while to get […]

Read More

A Day in Windsor

Windsor is very easy to get to. Trains run every half an hour from Waterloo in central London to Windsor & Eton Riverside and I can get on the train at Twickenham, from where it’s just a 30-minute journey. When you arrive at the Windsor station and come out of the exit, Windsor Castle is […]

Read More

Where to Eat with Kids: Masaniello, Twickenham

It was a very spontaneous thing. I was at my son’s, playing with 3-year-old Freddie in the garden, and just before midday Jonathan said, Let’s go to Masaniello for lunch. Thus we gathered bits together for a 3-year-old and 9-month-old and bundled everything and everyone into the car and headed into central Twickenham. Masaniello is […]

Read More