Our London: Tamara & Sophia Ecclestone

Home is…

Kensington.

Last play you saw together?

The Gruffalo at The Lyric Theatre. It was great because it was only 55 minutes and interactive. Plus Sophia didn’t get scared of the Gruffalo, which I thought she might.

First thing you do when you arrive back in London?

Go and play in Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens and take the dogs for a walk. We have three: Buddha, a bulldog; Lady, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and Duke, a Chihuahua.

Favourite children’s clothing brand?

Sophia usually wears jeans and T-shirts from Gap — she gets dirty running around and playing. But for her first birthday she wore a sleeveless silk pink Dior dress, which was really beautiful.

Favourite play-date location?

In Battersea Park there’s a cute little zoo (cockerel, right) with a playground. Or we might go to Hounslow Urban Farm, just near Heathrow — she goes on the pony rides there. If it’s raining, we go to Gambado, which is a soft play area in Chelsea.

Most memorable experience?

We saw Santa at Harrods at Christmas, which was special. My parents used to take me and my sister when we were little — we’ve still got the photographs.

Best party venue?

We had Sophia’s first birthday party at home: we hired a petting zoo with Shetland ponies, piglets and bunnies. They were outside so there was no mess!

Best learning activity?

Sophia loves her Monkey Music class on a Thursday. It’s in a church hall near Gloucester Road. You stand in a circle and sing and they do dancing. If I sing a song from the class, she knows all the hand actions — it’s so cute.

Favourite storybooks?

That’s Not My Princess — all the pages have different textures, which she loves to touch.

Favourite TV shows to watch together?

Peppa Pig and In the Night Garden (below) are great. We took her to see the In the Night Garden show live in Richmond and she loved it. It’s the singing!

Best place for a family meal?

Pizza Express is great and there’s a Disney Café at Harrods (above), which is really child-friendly. They give the children Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears to wear. We also love Benihana on King’s Road because they cook the food in front of you.

Best place for a grown-ups’ date night?

On our sofa watching a movie while Sophia sleeps. I’ve never left her with anyone overnight. She’s only small for a while, so we want to spend time with her.

Favourite shops?

JoJo Maman Bébé for travelling — I get all Sophia’s mosquito repellent and armbands there. And Trotters and Igloo on King’s Road for shoes (Pom d’Api, above) — she just loves shoes. She grabs pairs and goes, ‘Shoe! Shoe!’