As Assistant Editor of Glamour Magazine, (one of the country’s best-selling glossies), and a founder of the fabulous website Wear & Where, Natasha Poliszczuk is one busy Mama. But when she does get precious time off with her husband and daughter, Claudia, she makes every minute count. She recently took a few minutes out to share her favourite local places, far-flung dream destinations and can’t-live-without products both for home and holidays.

What is your favourite way to spend a day in London?

Sunshine? Then we’ll stay local in our West London neighbourhood and head to the café at Chiswick House for breakfast al fresco (one of our favourite things), which is conveniently situated right next to the playground. Then we love a potter around Petersham Nurseries (so beautiful, so much inspiration for my teeny tiny London garden, plenty for little people to explore) – plus the teahouse serves wonderful homemade cakes (or the restaurant is fabulous if you’re in the mood for splashing out). Richmond Park is directly opposite, and a play there is always welcome – or we’ll head along the river to Ham House or Kew Gardens – the treetop walk is always a winner and it has a terrific indoor play area should the weather suddenly turn.

CHISWICK HOUSE

Rain? Claudia loves the Natural History Museum (especially the animal kingdom – you can, she says, ‘talk to the elephants on the phone’); the play areas in the Science Museum; and the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden where you can drive trains and hop on retro tubes and steam train carriages. (Tip: your £15 ticket is an annual pass valid from entry for one year, so hold onto it!)

What is your favourite boutique for children’s clothing?

Funnily enough, I’m more likely to seek out boutiques when on holiday – I tend to do most of my boutique shopping online (I’m a huge fan of Alex&Alexa, for instance), but Elias and Grace in Primrose Hill has a lovely, curated selection of labels for little people.

ALICE A PARIS & ELIAS AND GRACE

What is your favourite children’s label for clothes you would take on holiday?

I can’t possibly pick just one! Dresses from Zara Kids; stripes from Petit Bateau; Liberty print tops from Alice a Paris; anything else from Gap Kids. Claudia and I both love the sweet, retro feel of Jools Oliver’s Little Bird collection for Mothercare – so I always stock up on sandals (just like the ones I had when I was little!) and pretty sundresses.

 ZARA KIDS AND JOOLS OLIVER’S A LITTLE BIRD FOR MOTHERCARE

GAP KIDS

What are your must-have travel essentials?

For little ones, Claudia’s very own pull-along bag – Little Life ladybird – which she adores and into which I can pack snacks, wipes, a change of clothes, books, tiny surprises (new colouring pencils and a little drawing pad; stickers etc); Aden & Anais muslins (indispensible). When we have an even littler one again (eek), I’ll add a Baby Bjorn and super-sweet changing folding changing mat from Zara Home Kids to that list, plus a Koo-di pop-up travel cot from Mothercare – great for throwing in a suitcase and means baby can have a nap by the pool!

For mama (aka me!):

A scarf (I love Becksondergaard), which is cosy and can double up as an impromptu blanket / evening cover up. Books (too many – I am ever-optimistic).

BECKSONDERGAARD

A clutch for the evening: I’m loving Accessorize’s boho vibe at the moment, or one of my lovely Anya numbers: the sparkly Valorie or small loose pocket in navy. Flats: French Sole ballet pumps; Boden pointed metallic flats; and hush sandals.

FRENCH SOLE

J Crew Vintage Cotton V neck tees – the BEST .

A travel candle – so wherever I’m going smells like home: I adore everything by Neom Organics and Diptyque.

REN MOROCCAN ROSE OTTO CREME FRAICHE

Beauty-wise, I’m pretty low-maintenance on holiday (which is bliss). I always use at least SPF30 on my face (50 if it’s very hot) and am currently loving Avene (good for sensitive skin); and slather on a super-rich moisturizer: Ren’s Morroccan Rose Otto and Kiehl’s Crème de Corps (look out for mini bottles). My absolute beauty essential is blusher: W&W’s fabulous new beauty editor Rachel Fiddes has recommended Stila’s Convertile Colour in Petunia, which is next on my to-try list.

And your wish list of where to go when you’ve had your next baby if money were no object?

Please fairy godmother, send us somewhere completely relaxing, beautiful and easy (no epic flights, thank you) – oh, and could we stay in a suite (or preferably a villa…) with a separate room for the small people? I’ve heard wonderful things about Daios Cove; Borgo Egnazia; and the Martinhal. I’d also love a high-spec villa in Ibiza or Corsica, if that could be arranged?

Sian Gwilliam launched the fantastic website Creative Bus Stop to share her passion for the incredible free (and cheap) cultural, creative and educational activities that are available in London and around the UK. Herewith, she gives kodomo.com her top ten things to do in and around the British capital this summer.

1. See a West End show for Free at Kids Theatre Week, London.

These include half price and free tickets for kids’ theatre shows this August (mainly in the West End). One child goes free for every adult ticket bought. There are loads of behind-the-scenes events including workshops with the crew, back stage tours and singing workshops, and all are absolutely free. Booking started on June 17th at 10am.

2. Get Arty and create your masterpiece at Tate Modern & Tate Britain.

From Thursdays through to Sundays throughout the summer holidays experience the Tate through a Sonic Trail created by Sound Artists. Visit the “Families Welcome” spaces to pick up your trail kit. (This recommended for children aged 7 and up). From the 24th of July at Tate Modern, The Family Gallery brings Matisse’s cut-outs to life through specially commissioned sound, animation and sculptural work. You can also talk part in Colour Walk, an activity that explores the tones of colour that Matisse used in his work.

If you’re nearer to the Tate St Ives and Barbara Hepworth Museum then take the “I Spy Challenge” and use picture clues to spy artworks on display. Prizes are available if children complete the challenge.

3. Wear your crown or take your sword and visit one of many stunning National Trust properties across the country.

Visit any of the endless National Trust houses, castles or majestic gardens. For 5000 acres of unspoiled Chiltern countryside, try the Ashridge Estate in Berkhamstead, Bucks. There you can choose to explore any number of trails and woodland walks. There are lots of specially organised family events, too. If you feel like a taste of France without the journey, try Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury in Bucks. It is a 19th century chateau built by Baron Rothschild, which houses an impressive personal art collection and has a lovely restaurant, shop and gardens – a little slice of fairytale life for all your Princes and Princesses.

4. Head to The BBC Proms to sing-a-long with CBeebies.

Book one of the many BBC Proms family events this summer. The Proms bring together acclaimed artists and great music at London’s Royal Albert Hall in Kensington. There are both ticketed and free events and there is even the dedicated CBeebies Prom on Sunday 27^th of July at 11am. (Please see their website for the full schedule and all booking information).

5. Head to The Imperial War Museum. 

Celebrate the 2014 centenary of World War 1 by paying a visit to the Imperial War Museum, which reopens on the 19^th of July after a much-anticipated transformative building project. The museum will now feature a huge new atrium that will house iconic objects from across their collections, and there will also be a moving, brand new First World War Gallery space to view. The First World War Centenary Partnership will last for four years from 2014 – 2018, and this huge project, which is led by the Imperial War Museums will be running a wide range of events across the UK.

6. Feel the vibe at one of the many Family Friendly Festivals across the UK this Summer.

Festivalkidz have lots of advice and tips for first timers. They have an A to Z directory of the many festivals on offer, and posts on how to survive at festivals, what to pack for the potential wet weather, the range of food available, baby changing facilities, the size of each festival, and more. I recommend that if your little ones are under 4 years of age that you first try out a day pass and then embark on the full camping experience (complete with noise) when you feel ready.

7. Head out for a good countryside walk.

There are endless stunning walks around our beautiful countryside. There is little better medicine than leaving your car behind, turning off the phone, and packing your bag with treats for a glorious walk across the Chilterns, the Lake District, or even Hampstead Heath in North London. The National Trust have a guide to 10 best family walks around the UK or, if you’re ‘with buggy’ you should check out the Walks With Buggies blog, that offers tested walks across the UK. Walking Britain is a fantastic free resource for walkers covering the nation.

8. Grab your tin opener, firelighters, and arnica gel and take the kids camping at the bottom of the garden.

A great way to spend a day with the kids is to book in a whole 24 hours when you all live in your tent as a family. Each of you can take one bag full of whatever you need (apart from a picnic basket from the kitchen fairies), and cuddle up together, telling each other stories, drawing pictures (no iPads allowed), and playing cards. If Dad likes to ‘be prepared’ he can have a read of the Camping with Kids “Love the Outdoors” website, which has the best camping checklist and scavenger hunt ideas. For those that get the bug, you could order the Cool Camping Guide book to plan your next trip away (not forgetting your duvet and hand sanitizer, of course).

9. Don’t be put off by rain.

The team from The Wild Weather Book have lots of ideas on how to keep yourselves entertained during the rain, wind and even snow-filled days. These range from making wind flags and flying creatures, playing stuck in the mud, creating a wormery, making a water run, and catching raindrops. What could be more fun than that?

10. Pick your own fruit bowl and, better still, make your own fruit lollies.

One of the best days out that we ever had, which has never been forgotten by my girls, was picking our own fruit at our local farm. Although there weren’t many blackberries or raspberries left, and I was hoodwinked into buying the most expensive local honey ever, my girls and I enjoyed the fresh air, hunting down healthy runner beans, and the excitement of eating the very freshest strawberries. You can find your nearest pick your own farm in the UK on this website.

THE HEDONIST’S GUIDES are the quintessential travel guides for those wanting nothing but the finest in eating, clubbing, sleeping, drinking, shopping and spa-ing the world over. They have taken some time out of their busy travels to give us their top places to dine out with tots in New York.

Going on a holiday to New York without experiencing the bevy of culinary destinations on offer can feel like an incomplete trip. But with kids in tow, suddenly eating out can become a tricky equation. Between wrangling buggies, securing high chairs, praying for good behavior and seeking out kid-friendly menus, it can all seem like a little too much effort.

Luckily, a number of top restaurants in cosmopolitan New York are well prepared for guests of all ages. This is a city where whole families dine out together and parents expose their young ones to New York’s culinary wonders at an early age. Whether you’re seeking a high-end eatery or a neighbourhood café, you are after trendy Brooklyn fare or a decadent afternoon tea, these six restaurants pride themselves on their exceptional family-friendly service as much as their menus.

Smorgasburg

In the last 20 years, Brooklyn has gone from being a borough that was avoided by most travellers to one of New York’s most talked about hotspots. Families who are eager to take a trip out of Manhattan have a slew of dining destinations on offer – and we mean destinations. Both a main event and a giant eatery rolled into one, Smorgasburg is located right on the waterfront in trendy Williamsburg on Saturdays, and at Brooklyn Bridge Park on Sundays. Regarded as one of the city’s top foodie spots, its casual, open-plan format means kids can select whatever their heart desires from dozens of stands – from brisket and Chinese bao to ice cream and doughnuts.

Brooklyn Farmacy

Another Brooklyn family-favourite is located in nearby Cobble Hill: Brooklyn Farmacy, a cute boite modeled on an old-fashioned soda fountain. Here, kids have the chance to nibble on pretzel sticks at the counter while their orders are being prepared. When they do arrive tableside – whether it’s melting grilled cheese sandwiches or frothy egg creams – they’re sure to be pretty pleased.

Fornino

No trip to New York would be complete without sampling the city’s famous pizza – and we don’t mean the $1 slice shops that abound across the city. For a taste of authentic, traditional New York pizza, made with fresh ingredients and more than a touch of Italian inspiration, families should head to Fornino. Its Brooklyn Bridge Park location – a huge space, outfitted on the inside with picnic benches – is particularly family-friendly, while add-your-own-toppings allow everyone to customize their perfect pizza. Its location right on the park also means kids can let loose after their meal.

Hill Country

Another venue offering large open spaces and a friendly ambiance is Hill Country. Those in the know value the eatery as Manhattan’s barbeque Mecca; named after the region in Texas that’s famed for its BBQ tradition, you can bet that the food here is worth writing home about. The original location on West 26^th Street is a buzzing and popular option, and the volume means kids’ voices won’t bother fellow diners. In addition to the brisket and chicken, a number of sides – from mac and cheese to cornbread – are perfect for children.

Balthazar

Of course, travelling families after something a little more upscale also have a number of dining options at their fingertips. One that we love is the resolutely family-friendly Balthazar, a great option for those after a well-made Martini and steak frites but also impressively equipped to host kids. Buggies can be checked, crayon kits provided, and kids are even treated to bread from the bakery next door. Those in need of an early dinner can also stop by in the late afternoon, where dishes like the Balthazar Burger and macaroni au gratin will suit young palates nicely.

Alice’s Tea Cup

And to cap off your family holiday in New York? Make sure you save an afternoon for Alice’s Tea Cup. Grown-ups will appreciate the phenomenal, colossal scones on offer, as well as an extensive menu of teas, but there’s no doubt that this venue is first and foremost targeted toward children. Between its whimsical, fairy tale-inspired décor, huge range of sweet treats, and the tradition of sprinkling kids with glittering ‘fairy dust’ upon arrival, this one’s a stellar bet for families.

For more family-friendly New York ideas click here.

Paris… the epitome of romance, of glamour, of fashion. Not exactly the first place you might associate with a toddler-friendly weekend away.

But after a trip with my own 19-month-old, I discovered that the French capital is actually a great place to holiday with kids.

Even after half a dozen pre-baby visits exploring the city, I got a completely new look at Paris – including an unexpectedly soft side to Parisians when confronted by a baby. Here are my top five spots to visit with a toddler.

The supercharged park

Carousels, crepes, farm animals, a puppet theatre and a playground – even the entry to the Jardin d’acclimatation is child heaven. We took the ‘petit train’, complete with buggy trailer, from Porte Maillot metro into the garden itself and, while my daughter was too young for most of the rides, there was still masses to entertain her.

The landmark

Looming over the skyline, the Eiffel Tower is the one landmark everyone associates with Paris. And while I knew she wouldn’t care about heading to the top yet – certainly not enough to bother pre-booking timed tickets – we couldn’t miss it out altogether. Armed with her Babar book featuring the tower, we walked to the Trocadero for the best real-life views across the river, then watched the fountains in the gardens below.

The mini zoo

Tucked away in the Jardin des Plantes, the Menagerie is another toddler-sized treasure. Small enough for short attention spans, she was so fascinated by the inhabitants of the monkey house that only the thought of brightly coloured parrots, flamingos, kangaroos and red pandas would tempt her away.

The accessible art

With all its fantastic museums and some great child-friendly activities and exhibitions, you needn’t pay a single entry fee to see some of the city’s most accessible art. In the square behind the Centre Pompidou – itself a great stop for slightly older kids – are the Stravinsky fountains, with bright bold sculptures. Adults can appreciate the designs based on the composer’s works; toddlers will love the primary colours and quirky shapes, as well as the water splashing around them.

The other waterfront

A walk along the Seine is one of Paris’ big pleasures, but head a little further out of the centre and you’ll find somewhere most tourists miss. The Canal St Martin is known as one of the city’s trendy areas, but it’s also home to a lot of families. So as you wander the waterfront with a buggy, you’ll not only feel like you’re experiencing real Parisian life, you could spot anything from a game of petanque to a tightrope walker on the way.