Baby and toddler fun at Cha Char Chimps Bicester

Cha Char Chimps Bicester - interactive blanket

If you’re looking for something fun and interactive to do with your little one look no further than Cha Char Chimps Bicester!

This family-friendly musical show offers an entertaining session of singing, play and so much more.

Cha Char Chimps Bicester - wiggly worms

The best baby and toddler class in Bicester

Cha Char Chimps is my favourite baby and toddler class in Bicester. It offers a pay-as-you-go system that’s not only flexible but super affordable.

Prices start from £4. This includes entry for your little one and yourself.

Once inside, you’ll participate in a series of interactive songs with a host of included props to ensure they come to life.

These sessions focus on developing the following:

  • Language skills
  • Co-ordination
  • Co-operation
  • Confidence
  • Concentration
  • Sharing and socialising

Each week, you’ll see your little one grow and develop in these action-packed sessions. My son, Theo, even sat independently for the first time during a session. Proud mum moment.

After each session, you also get a slice of the best tiffin I’ve ever eaten. It’s a win-win.

Cha Char Chimps Bicester - playtime

What makes Cha Char Chimps Bicester so special?

We’ve been to the Kingsmere Community Centre sessions since Theo was nine weeks old and there’s one thing that makes them so special, Katie!

Katie is the ‘Entertainer’ and hosts the classes. She’s bursting with energy, makes everyone feel so welcome and all the children adore her.

It’s just wonderful to watch them build confidence and interact. Katie works her way around the hall and makes each individual child feel so important.

Christmas special baby class

What sessions do Cha Char Chimps Bicester run?

There are two different classes depending on age which are offered in three locations in Bicester. These include Kingsmere, Heyford and Arncott.

Sessions are in the morning and last between 30 minutes and an hour and a half, depending on the group age.

You can choose to join the baby session, recommended for up to 12 months. There’s also a toddler and older session, recommended for ages 1–5.

Alternatively, Arncott offers an all-ages session for ages 0–4.

Kingsmere Community Centre – Monday

  • Toddler and older session – 10–10:45 am
  • Baby session – 11–11:30 am

Heyford Park Community Centre – Wednesday

  • Toddler and older session – 10–11:30 am
  • Baby session – 11:15–11:30 am

Arncott Village Hall – Thursday

  • All ages session (ages 0–4) – 10–11 am

Occasionally, Cha Char Chimps will run special seasonal sessions and also offer exclusive children’s parties.

You can book their pay-as-you-go classes on the Cha Char Chimps Bicester website.

Have you been to Cha Char Chimps yet?

Stephanie xox

Looking for more things to do in Oxfordshire?

Halloween special baby class

Discovering Small Worlds at The Story Museum, Oxford ?

Small Worlds at The Story Museum allows young children under five and their parents the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of Oxford for an hour.

This 60-minute structured storytelling and play session welcomes visitors to its magical patchwork world.

Inside Small Worlds, you’ll be greeted with a kind smile and introduction, an engaging song, and the featured traditional tale.

What can we expect?

Afterward, you can burn off some energy and explore five unique story zones at your leisure.

These beautifully themed areas allow you to:

  • Go on a bear hunt
  • Crawl into Traction Man’s under-sink world
  • Unwind in the soft glow of the Night Safe
  • Take a ride on the Story Bus
  • Get lost in stories in Winnie and Wilbur’s miniature theatre

There’s a thematic craft activity alongside a wealth of stories for you to read together and loads of interactive play opportunities.

Before it’s time to go, you gather around once more on the giant patchwork bed for a final story and goodbye song.

Is The Story Museum worth a visit?

It is indeed worth a visit and an amazing family day out! The gallery is designed for pre-school children and the storytelling is enchanting, engaging and interactive.

The free-play element of the session is invaluable for younger children and the gallery offers a vibrant and secure environment to explore.

The Story Museum is a truly immersive experience and one of the best things to do in Oxford with a baby or toddler!

There are numerous timed sessions throughout the day and tickets are £5. Under 1’s receive a complimentary ticket.

Book tickets for The Story Museum on their website.

Have you been to The Story Museum yet?

Stephanie xox

Discover other UK family days out

How to spend a day in the Cotswolds ?

Looking to spend a day in the Cotswolds? We visited places in our home county Oxfordshire before heading onto some of the best Cotswolds towns and villages in Gloucestershire with our seven-month-old son, Theo, in tow.

Wrapped up snug on a chilly November day, here’s where we visited on our day out in the Cotswolds:

St Oswald’s Church, Widford

Our first stop was St Oswald’s Church. Slightly off the beaten track, St Oswald’s Church is a beautiful minuscule English Gothic church nestled amongst lush countryside in the Windrush Valley.

The church’s main construction is said to be from the 13th century but it also has 11th-century remnants. To our surprise, the church was open and you can wander inside and see its wonderful interior.

Nearby, you can find the outlined remains of the deserted medieval village of Widford in crop marks.

Burford, West Oxfordshire

Next, we visited the town of Burford, often referred to as ‘the gateway to the Cotswolds.’ It’s a charming place with a rich history of wool production.

Visitors can see its beautiful church, medieval bridge, the Tolsey Museum, and thriving town centre.

Church of St John the Baptist, Burford

The impressive St John the Baptist Church was the first thing to catch our eye as we arrived in Burford. This Grade I listed church has gone through many restorations, with building starting in the 12th century.

Inside, you can view memorials of Burford’s great families, a 100AD carving said to depict the Celtic goddess, Epona, the tomb of Sir Lawrence and Lady Tanfield, and a memorial tablet of Burford mason, Christopher Kempster.

Burford town centre

Along a hill sloping toward the River Windrush, Burford’s High Street is booming with quaint old stone cottages, independent clothing, gift, and antique shops, as well as numerous old pubs and places to eat.

Bibury, Gloucestershire

Our next stop, the picturesque village of Bibury. Famed for its quaint Cotswold stone houses, Arlington Row, Rack Isle, The Church of St Mary’s, Bibury Trout Farm, and Arlington Mill.

Arlington Row

Arlington Row is a beautiful row of weavers’ cottages of honey-coloured Cotswold stone on one side of the River Coln. It is one of the Cotswolds and England’s most photographed sights.

You may have even seen Arlington Row featured in films such as Stardust and Bridget Jones’s Diary!

Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire

On to, Bourton-on-the-Water, dubbed ‘the Venice of the Cotswolds.’ Bourton-on-the-Water is a charming village, centered around the tranquil River Windrush, crossable by five stone arch bridges.

Bourton-on-the-Water offers a wealth of things to do. From tea rooms, shops, and restaurants, to attractions such as The Model Village, Birdland, Dragonfly Maze, and the Cotswold Motoring Museum.

The Model Village

The Model Village in Bourton-on-the-Water is a must-see. It’s the only Grade II listed model village in the country.

It offers A one-ninth scale model of Bourton-on-the-Water in intricate Cotswold-stone, allowing you to navigate it in its entirety.

There’s a lot of fun to be had pointing out the storefronts and buildings you may have seen earlier in the day, as well as wandering the city like a giant. Interestingly, there’s even a model village within the model!

Entry to The Model Village in Bourton-on-the-Water is £4.50 for an adult ticket.

Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire

Our next stop, Lower Slaughter. Lower Slaughter is a peaceful place, built upon both banks of the River Eye.

There are a few places to visit, including The Old Mill Museum and the Grade II listed 13th Century Church of St. Mary the Virgin.

The Old Mill

The Old Mill in Lower Slaughter offers a museum, gift shop, riverside tea room, and riverside cafe terrace.

Visitors can learn about the history of the mill and bread making and see the inner workings of its machinery.

Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire

Finally, Stow-on-the-Wold, a bustling and charming market town. It offers a lively Market Square, brimming with independent shops, delicious tea rooms, and fine British pubs, alongside a beautiful church.

As it was getting late in the day, we grabbed some pastries to go from Huffkins before heading to St Edward’s Church.

St Edward’s Church

St Edward’s Church is famed for its mythical tree-framed doorway, dominated by two ancient yew trees.

The door is said by locals to be the inspiration for Tolkein’s Doors of Durin, who was supposedly inspired during his many visits to the Cotswolds.

What’s your favourite place in the Cotswolds?

Stephanie xox

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