The Bear Necessities

Are you blocking out all those Christmas ads and behaving like a little bit of a Scrooge because, let’s face it, it’s still November after all? Trying to find something to do with the kids that doesn’t involve a face-to-face meeting with Father Christmas closely followed by the bank manager? We’ve come up with a few ideas to fill those weekends with some not-so-festive fun.

First off, take a nostalgic trip back to your own childhood and re-visit Paddington Bear. In the run-up to the launch of the first Paddington movie on 28 November, The House of Illustration in Kings Cross is exhibiting ‘Paddington: Illustrated and Animated’. Exploring how different illustrators and animators have interpreted Michael Bond’s cuddly friend,it’s a must for Bear-admirers young and old.

And for those Lego® lovers of any age, The Art of the Brick in the Old Truman Brewery showcases over 1 million bricks (which sounds rather like our son’s bedroom) and over 80 pieces of art (which doesn’t). Only running in London ‘til 4 January, this is one to see soon.

But if you’re more into the sweet stuff than construction, sign up for an icing class at the Biscuiteers Boutique in Notting Hill, who are running one-hour classes at £15 per child. The kids get creative, and you both get to stuff your face. Which, all in all, should keep you satisfied until the advent calendar arrives.

PADDINGTON BEAR™ © Paddington and Company Ltd. 2014 From the Paddington Bear books by Michael Bond illustration © David McKee 2014