On Sunday, 18th January 2026, the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children (LTCFC) hosted its 52nd annual Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at the iconic Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane.
This cherished tradition welcomed over 670 children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), along with their carers, for a spectacular afternoon of laughter and heartwarming entertainment.
The Great Room was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour, with over 70 tables festooned with balloons and a festive grotto overflowing with toys donated by leading brands.
Every child left with a party bag and a special gift, including our much-loved LTCFC “Louie” sensory soft toy taxi.
The beaming faces of the children as they headed home clutching their new treasures truly said it all.
DJ Adam kicked the festivities off with Animal Fu and Action Amanda, who brought her signature dance moves and high-octane energy to the stage.
They were joined by the brilliant NextGen Ri humanoid robot ‘Destiny’ and robot dogs ‘Wheelie and Bertie’, who had the entire room singing and dancing from the outset.
A standout highlight of the afternoon was the arrival of the Band of the Welsh Guards.
Escorted by two Stormtroopers and performing the iconic Star Wars theme, the band filled the room with a perfect blend of regal tradition and galactic fun.
We extend a massive thank you to Gett for providing 12 taxis to transport the band safely to and from the venue.
leading toy brands Spinmaster, Mattel, Tomy, Jumbo Play, Just Play Products, Hasbro, Golden Bear, Character Group, and Goliath (organised by Alan Munn) for donating all of the toys in our grotto
And also to Daisy Bea photographer, medical assistance from LMS, Ears plc radios, Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, and Westminster police cadets, Big Yellow Storage, Tsampika Stavrianou and her Grosvenor House staff,
The entertainment remained non-stop, featuring:
- DJ Adam from Henderson Perry Entertainment
- Dance 21 – an inspiring Down syndrome dance troupe whose passion always steals the show
- Crystals Cheerleaders, bringing spirited routines from Crystal Palace Football Club
- Shivani and Ray ‘Elton’ Johnson for their vocal performances
- Roaming magic and characters, featuring magicians Norman Gee and Andy Clockhouse, the UK Garrison 501st Legion (Star Wars, Deadpool, and a very cheeky Jawa!), and the Furry Tail Folk
- Festive treats including face painting, popcorn, and candy floss supplied by Vanilla Moon Weddings
Special thanks go to the London’s Pearly Kings & Queens Society, Soho Fire Station White Watch, and the team at Starman Productions for their AV and spotlight wizardry.
We are also incredibly grateful to Wenzels for feeding all of the adults, Global Marketing Group (GMG) for the thousands of glowsticks that lit up the dancefloor, and Kudos for providing the stunning backdrop screens for the third consecutive year.
Support and funding came from Westminster Council, Ink Recruitment, DCL Insurance, and Ultimate Promotion Company Ltd.
This event is a labour of love, built on decades of dedication from our committee and London’s taxi drivers.
As one attending family put it:
“It’s a special memory that cannot be put into words; you just have to be there to understand how incredible it is.”
To every volunteer, donor, and driver: thank you for helping us create more years of joy and magic.
To donate to the London Taxi Drivers’ Charity for Children click the Donate button below or alternatively text TAXI £5, £10 or £20 to 70085 texts cost the chosen donation amount plus one standard network rate message.
Brightening childhood, one journey at a time. Your donation helps us take special needs and disadvantaged children on unforgettable days out—fun, friendship, and fresh air, all by London’s volunteer taxi drivers. Hop in and help us keep the smiles rolling.
Photo Credit: Daisy Bea
