Now that we’re living in West Hampstead we’re struggling not to eat out all the time and try all the new places!

One restaurant we find ourselves drawn to repeatedly–because it’s scrummy and because it’s not breaking our budget–is J. It’s not fancy but I love love love the pizzas and they have a two for one offer on mains (pizza, pasta, etc) in the evenings that makes it a great value. Last Friday we shared a bottle of wine, two filling pizzas and a tiramisu and it came to £34 before tip–not too bad.

My one suggestion is no matter how much you think you like spicy pizza, think twice before ordering J’s version of the American Hot (I can’t remember the name). They are generous with the Bird’s Eye Chilies and you may find yourself, like I did, in tears!

J’s doesn’t have a website and a quick google search tells me there is at least one other location in Primrose Hill. The West Hampstead one is at 218 West End Lane. Here are some other reviews.

On Sunday at 12:00 celebrate Thomas the Tank Engine’s 65th and Hamleys 250th anniversary by helping make the longest ever Thomas train out of cake!

Everyone who attends the event at Hamleys Regent Street is asked to bake and bring a carriage and add it to the train. Children that take part will receive a Thomas the Tank goody for being Really Useful and will get to meet Fat Controller. Watch a video here to find out how to make your carriage, hosted by Jane Asher!

There will be loads of other free activities as well, including storytelling, screenings, workshops to make a Fat Controller and more, which continue throughout March.

There are two really fun, free kids events on this Sunday in London.

First, up the Pump House Gallery’s Dress to Excess Costume Making Workshop! The workshop is inspired by the Pump House’s current exhibition by Alex Pollard and Claire Stephenson. Kids can take along old and tired clothes to embellish and customise, or create theatrical and over the top outfits from scratch using bizarre materials.

The workshop will take place from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. and are for children aged 3 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

To book a place on a workshop email:  pumphouse@wandsworth.gov.uk including the name and date of the workshop you are booking for, your full name, and names and ages of the children attending.

Also worth checking out on Sunday is the Heroes and Heroines Family Day at Sutton House. From 12:30 to 4:00 p.m, children can try on a suit of armour and learn about the historical heroes of Sutton House through art activities and games.

The Junior League of London’s annual London Spree campaign kicks off 4th March!

With a £30 donation to the Junior League you’ll receive a London Spree card that gives you 20% off at more than 50 participating shops, restaurants and spas through 28th March. Donations benefit the Junior League’s community programmes across London.

For a list of participating vendors by category, click here or see them on a map here.

Click to purchase or read on for more details!

How does it work?

Simple. Contribute just £30.00 to the Junior League of London, and receive a London Spree card which entitles you to 20% off all purchases with our participating retail partners and service providers from 4-28 March 2010. Not only can you feel good about saving money, but you can also feel good knowing that you are helping to support the Junior League and its charitable work.

Who Benefits?

Cardholders save 20% on a range of fabulous products and services while hundreds of people in the London community will reap the rewards of the Junior League’s volunteer programmes. And let’s not forget that spending can be good for our local economy.

- One card could fund the cost of an after-school tutoring session for some of London’s most at-risk students

-Two cards could fund a Christmas hamper filled with gifts and necessities for a needy London family

-Ten cards could provide a new book for every student in a primary school where a majority of the students speak English as an additional language

How do I get a London Spree Card?

Purchase your London Spree Card online through the Junior League’s eStore.

The Maslenitsa Russian Festival looks like a great bet for free fun with the little ones on Sunday!

‘Maslenitsa’ is a Russian folk celebration that takes place just before Lent – rather like a week-long version of Britain’s Shrove Tuesday.

According to Time Out London, this traditional Russian pre-Lenten festival highlights Russian arts with a programme featuring ethno-folk group Pelageya, the Terem quartet playing traditional instruments such as the domra and balalaika, and folk dancing.

The children’s programme on the Scoop stage will feature puppet theatre pieces by the Moscow Marionette Theatre, a presentation of Maslenitsa traditions with audience interaction, performances of traditional songs by children’s groups, competitions and games.

In keeping with tradition, there will be tasty Maslenitsa specialty foods on sale – including the quintessentially Russian ‘blini’ (pancakes).

The event takes place 1–6pm on Sunday in Potters Fields Park SE1 2AA (between Tower Bridge and City Hall), London.

From 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House is hosting its free family workshops and this week the theme is Watercolour Wonderlands.

Kids ages 6-12 can discover the delights of watercolour painting and create a wall hanging or scroll inspired by work in the Courtauld Gallery.

To take part, collect your free ticket at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the event from the information desk in the Seamen’s Hall. Spaces are limited, so tickets are allocated on a first come first served basis. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

On Saturday, head to Somerset House from 11-1 or 2-4:30 to make snowflakes and icicle mobiles.

In the free holiday workshop, children of all ages can create a glittering vision of wintry cool to hang up at home using frosty, icy patterns and stained glass effects!

Also on Saturday, visit the Roman Road Market for some Christmas shopping. There will also be free ice skating on the temporary rink on Usher Road (off Roman Road).

Santa will be out and about roaming ‘the Roman’ handing out gifts to children under 11 years old ‘whether they’ve been naughty or nice’.

And you can warm up with a free hot drink and nibbling on a mince pie whilst listening to local choirs performing cheerful carols or the brass band at Gladstone Place.

On Sunday, check out Christmas on the Canal at the grand opening of City Road Basin in Islington.

Festive activities include Christmas markets, boat trips, Santa’s Grotto on board the Angel boat, Carol singing, a snow machine, mulled wine and mince pies and a giant tree Christmas lights switch-on.

Saturday, head to Contemporary Applied Arts for Make It: Magical, before it ends next week.

The free workshops for kids age 6-12 are based on the gallery’s Christmas exhibition, ‘Mystery, Magic and Merriment’. You’ll have a variety of materials available to make a special gift, keepsake or seasonal decoration or create beautiful cards, with technical guidance from gallery staff.

Saturday’s workshop is from 10.30 – 12.30pm. For this one I’m told you MUST book ahead. To do so call 020 7436 2344 or email clare@caa.org.uk or harriet@caa.org.uk.

On Sunday, head to the National Portrait Gallery for Christmas Past, where you’ll get to explore how families celebrated Christmas in the past and make a traditional tree decoration inspired by the collection.

This event starts at 2:00 p.m. and is recommended for kids 5+. Free tickets are required and available on the day one hour before the event starts from the Information Desk in the Main Hall.  The session will last approximately 90 minutes.  Places are limited to 20 per session, maximum 4 tickets per adult.

There are heaps of free Christmas events on this weekend. Click here for a list of the best Time Out has to offer and read on for my picks.

On Saturday, make Christmas cards!

Either head to the Foundling Museum’s Family Fun Day to make Victorian style, decoupage Christmas cards (1-4pm) or take part in Trombonist Miguel Santos’ musical explorations of the museum (10am-11.30am & 11.30am-1pm).

Or visit the Strang Print Room at UCL to create original cards inspired by the Slade collection of greeting cards by artists such as Paula Rego and Richard Hamilton (2-5pm).

On Sunday, check out the Dulwich Park Christmas Market (9:30am-3pm). There’ll be face painting, a magician, carol singing, mulled wine, food and craft stalls.

Both the Cologne Christmas Market on the South Bank and the Oxford Street Christmas Market across from Selfridges kick off this weekend. The Cologne Christmas Market is a real German market with hand-crafted gifts and German delicacies. It is also home to Santa’s Secret Village.

On Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. you can also visit the Illustration Cupboard Winter Exhibition, an annual celebration of the very best book, film and graphic novel artwork by contemporary illustrators from around the world. This year, in honour of the new movie Where the Wild Things Are, there will be a special focus on the work of Maurice Sendak. The exhibition will feature a selection of the now much sought-after sets of signed original lithographs which Sendak produced with his publishers Harper and Row in 1971 and a number of other rare autographed prints.

And on Saturday at Covent Garden Market from11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the North Hall, Olivia Armstrong will enchant with magical Christmas storytelling. Armstrong has previously been heard in London’s Horniman Museum, the British Museum and The Museum of London.