Archives: Family Travel

Half-term is only a couple of weeks away, so what have you got planned?

Here is a list of some places you might want to consider (just click the link for more details):

1. Centre for Life, Newcastle

2. Knowsley Safari Park, Liverpool

3. Eureka!, Halifax

4. Techniquest, Cardiff

5. Amazing Hedge Puzzle, Symonds Yat West

6. Tales of Robin Hood, Nottingham

7. Dinosaur Adventure Park, Norwich

8. Beatrix Potter - The Tailor Of Gloucester’s House, Gloucester

9. Deep Sea World, Fife

10. Imperial War Museum, Waterloo

For those of you who are looking for ideas about where to take the kids during half-term, here is our compilation of great days out (just click the link for more details):

1. Alton Towers, Staffordshire

2. Eden Project, Cornwall

3. Legoland, Berkshire

4. Longleat, Wiltshire

5. Babbacombe Model Village, Devon

6. The Canterbury Tales, Kent

7. Jorvik the Viking City, York

8. London Dungeon, London

9. National Sea Life Centre, West Midlands

10. Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Shropshire

If you have already been to one of these attractions, do share your views and experiences.

Every couple with kids knows how difficult it is to create time for themselves. But now it is possible to have a romantic weekend away with the kids because more and more luxury hotels are becoming family friendly.

If you want to treat yourself to a special break, then you will find that one of the following places will meet your needs. (Just click the link for more details)

1.Tresanton, Cornwall

2. Driftwood, Cornwall

3. Fowey Hall, Cornwall

4. Cotswold House Hotel, Gloucestershire

5. Cowley Manor, Gloucestershire

6. Westover Hall Hotel, Hampshire

If you have made the exciting decision to take the kids to London but you are looking for a bit of extra information, you will find the following tips useful:

If you are feeling short of cash but still want a day out with the kids you might want to consider one of these free attractions:

1. Tate Modern , London
This famous Art Gallery has a huge hall and a variety of exhibitions so it is perfect for kids of all ages.

2. Sea Watch Centre, Suffolk
At this National Trust centre the kids can use high-powered telescopes to look for sea birds, porpoises, seals and if you are lucky, dolphins.

As everyone knows, Friday 31st August was the 10th Anniversary of Princess Diana’s death. Probably one of the best memorials to her is the Princess Diana Playground in Hyde Park. She loved kids and kids will love this place.

The Playground is in Kensington Gardens and a huge wooden pirate ship dominates the centre surrounded by a beach. There is also a sensory trail, teepees, and various toys and play sculptures.

Nearby you will find The Diana Playground Café. It serves fresh salads, sandwiches and drinks as well as offering a children’s menu. There are also toilets and baby changing facilities.

At this time of year, many families are returning from summer holidays and have long car journeys ahead of them. I thought it would be useful to put together a small selection of games to keep the kids amused.

1. Yes/No Game
In this game everyone takes it in turns to answer questions. The person answering must not say Yes or No. If they do, then it is the next person’s turn. Sounds easy, but can be surprisingly difficult if the questions are being asked very quickly, one after another.

The researchers who recently conducted a holiday survey for Total Greek Yoghurt have put together a list of places for a family outing this coming August Bank Holiday weekend:

A NEW DAY OUT Bewilderwood, Norfolk
ADRENALINE RUSH Dalby Forest biking trails, Yorkshire
ALFRESCO BATH The Samling, Cumbria
ANIMAL ENCOUNTER Monkey Forest, Staffordshire
BANDSTAND Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham
BEACH CAFE East Beach Café, Littlehampton
BEACH FOR KIDS Crantock, Cornwall

BOATING The Thames at Richmond
BREEZY HILLTOP Great Hetha, Northumberland
CAMP SITE Budemeadows Holiday Park, Cornwall
CLIFFTOP COTTAGE Whitby lighthouse, Yorkshire
COASTAL WALK Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim
CREAM TEA Southern Cross tearoom, Devon

The AA, the UK’s largest motoring organisation, carried out a survey of 1,300 parents to find out the best ways of avoiding family meltdown on long car journeys. What they discovered is that after one hour and forty five minutes or approximately 93 miles parents begin to reach breaking point with their children.

So, what can you do to avoid the stresses of holiday journeys? Well, there are several easy steps to take:

You have planned a trip to the Big Smoke with the kids. There are hundreds of attractions to choose from, so where do you begin? Well, you won’t go far wrong if you start with one of the favourite attractions:

* The Science Museum
* Madame Tussauds
* The London Dungeons
* The Tower of London
* The London Aquarium
* The London Eye
* The Natural History Museum
* Tate Modern
* The Museum of Childhood
* London Zoo

You can find loads of other places for kids in London, including child friendly restaurants and hotels by searching LittleLegends.