Short break in ... Didcot

[oldbanger]

I am going on a last minute short break next weekend with my daughter. All she has asked for was that we find somewhere with a pool with slide and beach (though she had initially asked for Spain/Canary Islands! ) .. I wanted midlands/home counties to keep travel times down, so Didcot fits the bill with it's Wave pool with flumes and beach area and I've located a local hotel with pool also (she loves swimming).

I've noticed there also a steam train place nearby - is it any good and if worth a visit how long do we need to allow for this? Didcot Wave has sessions at set times so any other activities would need to be scheduled to fit around these. Are there any other attractions or amenities there, e.g. kids playgrounds etc?

Are there any decent places to eat? After the hotel bill (thankfully with breakfast), there's not much left in the budget so inexpensive is good - even supermarket cafes would be great.

Edited by oldbanger on Sunday 15th February 12:43

[Nickyboy]

Didcot Wave is st. I'd personally drive to Swindon to the Oasis or Bracknell to Coral Reef.

The Railway Ctr is quite good, a lot of metal in there and depending on weekend a ride down the mainline. Tis expensive though, i live across the line from it and love the smell of a boiler in the summer. Next weekend is actually steam day so expect it to be a bit busy but a lot of the engines will be lit and under power if not actually running down the line. http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/events/steam...

What hotel are you staying at? Don't know of one around here with a pool

There is a Prezzo & a place called Wildwood Kitchen a short walk from the station which aren't too bad price wise otherwise a Hungry Horse on the Ladygrove estate opposite the Railway center. If you want pub food there is a few within 10 mins drive

Edited by Nickyboy on Sunday 15th February 13:55

[oldbanger]

The Milton Hill House Hotel supposedly has a pool. All booked now so too late to worry really.

We have visited coventry a few times and my 8 year old thinks Coventry city centre pool with it's rusty water slide and lazy river is great, so hopefully Didcot Wave will be a step or two up from that.

I did look at the Bracknell one but it's futher away from home. If we do this again, that would probably be a good bet though, particularly as I've been requested to go to Legoland at some point. (It's not open that I can see right now)

Thanks for the recs for food.

If it's a steam day at Didcot will it be worth a full day, do you think?

[C Lee Farquar]

Coventry & Didcot?

I hope she's forgiven you before it's time to pick your care home

[Nickyboy]

oldbanger said:

The Milton Hill House Hotel supposedly has a pool. All booked now so too late to worry really.

We have visited coventry a few times and my 8 year old thinks Coventry city centre pool with it's rusty water slide and lazy river is great, so hopefully Didcot Wave will be a step or two up from that.

I did look at the Bracknell one but it's futher away from home. If we do this again, that would probably be a good bet though, particularly as I've been requested to go to Legoland at some point. (It's not open that I can see right now)

Thanks for the recs for food.

If it's a steam day at Didcot will it be worth a full day, do you think?

Didn't think of Milton Hill actually, very nice hotel although not stayed myself.

A steam day is certainly worthy of more than a couple of hours.

Didcot Wave has a slide and waves but that's about it, i guess it's enough for an 8 year old.

[Welshbeef]

C Lee Farquar said:

Coventry & Didcot?

I hope she's forgiven you before it's time to pick your care home

Lol so true.

This thread is a wind up - no one in their right mind would go on a "vacation" to fking Didcot.


Or you could elect to take yer misses to an 18-30's in the dump that is Costa Brava

[oldbanger]

Hey don't knock Coventry ... it has a half decent (free) motor museum for a start!

As for Didcot, yes it's completely random - I had been intending to go to Oxford but the kid wanted a pool with slide and waves etc and there doesn't appear to be one in Oxford itself. It'd be no worse than going to Bracknell or Guildford for a short break

Besides, having grown up in Kent, I quite like the idea of holidaying next to a power station.

[C Lee Farquar]

I tried a day out in Coventry, as you say the motor museum is good, but I thought the rest was awful.

There are about 3 old houses left, the canal infrastructure is run down, lots of concrete.

Have you considered Corby for your next holiday?

[Welshbeef]

C Lee Farquar said:

I tried a day out in Coventry, as you say the motor museum is good, but I thought the rest was awful.

There are about 3 old houses left, the canal infrastructure is run down, lots of concrete.

Have you considered Corby for your next holiday?

I'd recommend Port Talbot

[oldbanger]

Welshbeef said:

I'd recommend Port Talbot

Does it have a pool?

I have a relative who used to regularly travel from Northern Finland to stay in Port Talbot, but that was for work admittedly

Corby has quite a busy distribution hub. So that's lorry spotting covered if she ever takes it up as a hobby.

... And why do these places have hotels if people don't visit them? Hmm?

[oldbanger]

As a quick follow up, we did the short break last weekend. The hotel was good, particularly the kitchenette and lounge area with free tea, coffee and fruit. Hotel pool was of a reasonable standard.

Didcot Wave was pretty yucky though, even though we went first thing. Didn't look like it has a regular cleaning programme. My daughter enjoyed the wave machine though.

All in all we spent 5 hours in the 2 pools in total, so didn't manage the railway centre as we were too knackered. We ate at the hotel (good) and at Didcot Wave (poor) so didn't get to try any of the food recs, though they were very appreciated. Thanks