As a parent of two children under 2, I spend a lot of time at parks and play groups. Whilst these activities are great for my children, Olivia (24 months) and Oskar (7 months), I occasionally crave for something not involving sand or swings. So, in order to feed my desire for something more, earlier this summer we went to Hampton Court Palace (‘HCP’). You may not automatically think that a historic royal palace is a fitting place for two under 2s, but think again

I had a morning off this week to go to the Grace Kelly exhibition at the V&A (which, incidently, I would highly recommend if you are a fan) with my friend Clementine. Clem is a regular at the V&A with her two and a half year old and swears by the place as a great summer retreat with toddlers.

She’s got a point. The indoor café has plenty of space and some great food (half price for children). The nearby toilets are an absolute dream for baby changing: the ladies has a changing table, there is a dedicated separate baby changing cubicle and – amazingly – even the gents has a baby changing table