Local mum takes over Little City as pop-up play sessions return to St Albans

Families and carers of preschoolers and toddlers will be excited to discover that Little City, the award-winning children’s role-play experience, is now under new management, with new sessions starting at the end of the week. 

The pretend play franchise, known for bringing much-loved pop-up play sessions to communities across St Albans, has been taken over by local mum Carly Hicks, who wants to build on its reputation for fun and creative learning.

Carly’s takeover brings fresh energy and ambitious plans to the Little City franchise, which offers a safe, imaginative space where little ones can explore, learn and play.

Carly says, “I’m so excited to be getting ready to launch my own sessions, and it’s a real pinch-me moment. The joy of Little City is that it can be set up anywhere, which means I’ll be able to travel around the county so local families can come along and indulge their imaginations.”

Carly’s journey to Little City is an unexpected one. After working as a veterinary nurse for the past 16 years, she decided it was time to change careers so she could spend more time with her family while her children were young.  As a mum to three girls, aged 2, 4 and 10, Carly has seen first-hand how popular the Little City sessions can be. In fact, it was a visit to a half-term Little City session earlier this year which put the thought of taking over the branch into her head. 

She says, “I instantly knew it was something I could be really passionate about because Little City combines creativity, learning and fun, and it fits perfectly around family life. I’m so excited to get to know local families, and I’ll definitely be helping the kids play with the pretend veterinary toys!”

Vicki Fletcher, founder of Little City UK, adds, “We are delighted to welcome Carly to the Little City family. Her passion for imaginative play, combined with her understanding of family life, makes her a brilliant fit for the brand. We know she will create warm, welcoming sessions that children and parents alike will love.”

As part of her vision for the business, Carly will expand the Little City sessions beyond St Albans to include Harpenden, Hemel, Luton, Radlett, and Shenley.

This will make the experience accessible to even more local families. She also wants to connect with local children's entertainers, childminders, and early years specialists to help families prepare their children for the transition to school.

Carly specifically wants to work with local schools, building on Little City UK’s ever-growing schools’ programme. 

“This is really exciting because so much of the pretend play is about learning the world around you. The national curriculum is ideal for school visits because we can use play scenarios to demonstrate everything from history lessons, such as the Great Fire of London, to learning a new language. There’s so much potential, and I can’t wait to get started.” 

For updates, session dates and booking information, families are encouraged to follow Little City St Albans on social media or visit www.littlecityuk.com