Mothers Day Ideas In London

M@
By M@ Last edited 180 months ago
Mothers Day Ideas In London

motherandchild.jpg
Image by DICKSDAILY in the Londonist Flickr pool.

Four days and counting. Have you bought the card yet? Got anything special lined up? Or are you one of those grumpians who refuse on principle to celebrate a day 'invented by card companies'? Here are a few Mothering Sunday ideas for your favourite maternal parent.

Florimania at Hampton Court

Mums love flowers. Except for evil mums, or ones with severe allergies to pollen. For all other types of mum, the annual Florimania at Hampton Court Palace is a sure-fire winner. The Tudor State Apartments will be decked out with a riot of flowers throughout the weekend, courtesy of the oh-so-nearly-amusingly acronymed National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies. Entry is included in the standard entrance fee to the palace. Runs 20-23 March.

Chocolate workshop

If your mum prefers putting things in her mouth to looking at things with her eyes, then we'd recommend a My Chocolate workshop. She'll learn how to craft all kinds of cocoa-based sweetmeats, and will also take home a bottle of champagne. Better yet, the skills she'll pick up are totally transferable to Easter situations. A much better gift, we think you will agree, than the year you got her a Terry's Chocolate Orange. Courses are £65 and run on Sundays throughout the year if this one is too full.

Hang out with all the boys

Take your mum along to G-A-Y, Old Compton Street, on Saturday evening and she'll get in free...without queuing. Plus, she'll receive a red rose, glass of champagne and the chance to win £1000 in the club's Mother of the Year competition. Bargain.

Afternoon Tea, somewhere posh, like

Always a winner. Taking a mum out for tea makes her feel all sophisticated and gives her a chance to wear that posh frock last seen at Aunty Glad's silver wedding anniversary. Any of the upmarket hotels are worth a try, although you may have to accept a less than orthodox time slot if you've left it this late. Our favourite's the Park Lane Hotel, where a string quartet and ball room dancing will enhance your frivolous beverage expenditure. Top tip: if you or mummy are veggie, make sure you tell 'em in advance. They're a bit uppity about impromptu deviations from the norm. Tea, and all its accoutrements, is £49 per head at the Park Lane, and available in voucher form if your preferred time is not available.

Get some art

If you didn't manage to pick her a masterpiece from the Affordable Art Fair, why not take your mum to view some genuine greats at the National Gallery. The venue are conducting a free tour around the theme of mothers at 1pm Sunday from the Sainsbury Wing information desk.

Last Updated 18 March 2009