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Hoop is a free app designed to help families discover local activities, aimed specifically at parents with children aged 0-11. Available on iOS and Android, Hoop lists over 50,000 family-friendly events and activities monthly, from comedy classes and art workshops to coding classes and family raves—about 20% of which are entirely free.
With robust search features, Hoop allows users to find events tailored to their needs, from nearby options to those suited for specific age ranges. It’s perfect for families planning day trips or weekend activities close to home.
Founded 18 months ago by a group of dads who wanted a quick and easy way to locate local children’s activities, Hoop recently expanded from London to nationwide use. Today, it has more than 600,000 UK family users and was named one of Apple’s top 10 apps of 2016.
Mama editor talks with Hoop’s founder about the app’s journey and how it benefits parents.
Being a good parent can be exhausting, especially with young children. Like many parents, I often searched online for new activities for my daughters, only to end up repeating the same events. This frustration led a group of us to create Hoop—an app listing everything from baby groups to creative workshops. Now, Hoop features over 60,000 activities across the UK every month, and a fifth are free. We knew Hoop was a hit when other parents started sharing it widely. Today, it serves over 600,000 families.
Our daughters Maya, 4, who loves art, and Marnie, 2, who loves music, enjoy exploring London’s family-friendly museums and galleries. The Geffrye Museum, Royal Academy, and National Portrait Gallery host great free weekend activities for kids. Marnie and I also enjoy Mrs. H’s Sing-along Band at Exmouth Market, whose songs stick with you even after the show.
Hoop’s mission is to help families find exciting activities, and we try to live by that as well. We’ve attended everything from baby raves to toddler-friendly opera. As they grow older, I can’t wait for them to try parkour, skateboarding, museum sleepovers, and kids’ comedy clubs. It’s amazing to watch children discover interests that can last a lifetime.
Family activities benefit parents, too. Parenting is rewarding but can be tough and isolating. Getting out, meeting other parents, and sharing experiences can make a big difference, especially for those with young kids. A growing trend we’ve seen is “bring your own baby” events like comedy shows and lectures, where entertainment is geared towards adults but welcomes children.
Today’s parents seek a diverse range of activities to broaden their children’s experiences from a young age, and Hoop helps them find these. The energy and creativity of those organizing these events are inspiring.
One standout event was Bowie’s Baby Ballroom, featuring prizes for costumes and activities like rocket-making (inspired by Major Tom) and a Ziggy Stardust makeup class.
We’re aware that many parenting resources target moms, so we aimed for Hoop to appeal to dads, too.
Hoop opens up new possibilities for families, making every week an opportunity for fresh adventures.
