Family breaks/trips in the UK
Discussion
Probably not going to manage a foreign holiday this year due to having to be UK based on call (can still take annual leave but need to be in the UK due to business needs).
Having just seen the Watatunga Wildlife Reserve, im probably going to book that with an overnight stay. Im glad the oether poster mentioned it because i didnt know it existed!
Any other wonderful short breaks, day trips or similar that are available? Probably going to do a few days in London and check the London Eye, Madam Tusauds and the like as the kids have never done that.
Theres 6 weeks of summer holidays so looking to do something once a week.
(kids are 15, 12 & 10)
Having just seen the Watatunga Wildlife Reserve, im probably going to book that with an overnight stay. Im glad the oether poster mentioned it because i didnt know it existed!
Any other wonderful short breaks, day trips or similar that are available? Probably going to do a few days in London and check the London Eye, Madam Tusauds and the like as the kids have never done that.
Theres 6 weeks of summer holidays so looking to do something once a week.
(kids are 15, 12 & 10)
Day boat hire on the Norfolk Broads - although if mobile signal is a requirement then maybe not. A lovely day out, nice pubs and things for food, and generally a lovely quiet relaxing day out, and anyone can drive the boat while you sit back with a beer. Can be a long journey to get there though.
Watatunga was me! 
Just to note as you have 3 kids and presumably a partner that you will need to book the 6 seater buggy which is slightly more expensive as you have an unused seat. But saying that there were loads of couples booking a 4 seater buggy and having 2 unused seats.
It's an amazing reserve created around a lake from a massive old quarry site and it looks like you are in Africa! The guides are so enthusiastic and engaging that you will have a brilliant time. Just be aware that they yak so much that you will run over the allotted end time, just in case you need to be somewhere afterwards.
Just to note as you have 3 kids and presumably a partner that you will need to book the 6 seater buggy which is slightly more expensive as you have an unused seat. But saying that there were loads of couples booking a 4 seater buggy and having 2 unused seats.It's an amazing reserve created around a lake from a massive old quarry site and it looks like you are in Africa! The guides are so enthusiastic and engaging that you will have a brilliant time. Just be aware that they yak so much that you will run over the allotted end time, just in case you need to be somewhere afterwards.
Consigliere said:
Any other wonderful short breaks, day trips or similar that are available? Probably going to do a few days in London and check the London Eye, Madam Tusauds and the like as the kids have never done that.
Theres 6 weeks of summer holidays so looking to do something once a week.
(kids are 15, 12 & 10)
If you are planning on the London Eye and Tussauds then check out the cost of an annual Merlin Pass. It will be a big initial cost, but you get entry to both as well as most of their theme parks for the rest of the year - Alton Towers/Chessington/Thorpe Park/Legoland/Sea Lifes.Theres 6 weeks of summer holidays so looking to do something once a week.
(kids are 15, 12 & 10)
Some of my friends have Merlin passes and they might go to Thorpe Park, find it horrendously busy and decamp to Chessington at no extra cost. Getting a Merlin Pass might depend on where you live.
You could also join up National Trust/English Heritage as family membership as your kids go free.
We sometimes join places for a year - we did this last year with Eden Project - as we went on separate occasions with the Vikingettes. Normally visit 2 or 3 times and you get your money back.
One of the many attractions of Merlin passes of annual memberships is that you don't feel compelled to rush and see everything and you can pop back in if you have a spare afternoon.
Edited by vikingaero on Wednesday 15th July 13:58
vikingaero said:
Watatunga was me! Just to note as you have 3 kids and presumably a partner that you will need to book the 6 seater buggy which is slightly more expensive as you have an unused seat. But saying that there were loads of couples booking a 4 seater buggy and having 2 unused seats.
It's an amazing reserve created around a lake from a massive old quarry site and it looks like you are in Africa! The guides are so enthusiastic and engaging that you will have a brilliant time. Just be aware that they yak so much that you will run over the allotted end time, just in case you need to be somewhere afterwards.
Just looking at dates, hoping to do the twilight one! Just to note as you have 3 kids and presumably a partner that you will need to book the 6 seater buggy which is slightly more expensive as you have an unused seat. But saying that there were loads of couples booking a 4 seater buggy and having 2 unused seats.It's an amazing reserve created around a lake from a massive old quarry site and it looks like you are in Africa! The guides are so enthusiastic and engaging that you will have a brilliant time. Just be aware that they yak so much that you will run over the allotted end time, just in case you need to be somewhere afterwards.
vikingaero said:
Consigliere said:
Any other wonderful short breaks, day trips or similar that are available? Probably going to do a few days in London and check the London Eye, Madam Tusauds and the like as the kids have never done that.
Theres 6 weeks of summer holidays so looking to do something once a week.
(kids are 15, 12 & 10)
If you are planning on the London Eye and Tussauds then check out the cost of an annual Merlin Pass. It will be a big initial cost, but you get entry to both as well as most of their theme parks for the rest of the year - Alton Towers/Chessington/Thorpe Park/Legoland/Sea Lifes.Theres 6 weeks of summer holidays so looking to do something once a week.
(kids are 15, 12 & 10)
Some of my friends have Merlin passes and they might go to Thorpe Park, find it horrendously busy and decamp to Chessington at no extra cost. Getting a Merlin Pass might depend on where you live.
You could also join up National Trust/English Heritage as family membership as your kids go free.
We sometimes join places for a year - we did this last year with Eden Project - as we went on separate occasions with the Vikingettes. Normally visit 2 or 3 times and you get your money back.
One of the many attractions of Merlin passes of annual memberships is that you don't feel compelled to rush and see everything and you can pop back in if you have a spare afternoon.
Edited by vikingaero on Wednesday 15th July 13:58
Went with some friends and our respective offspring to Paradise Wildlife Park somewhere just off the A10 north of London.
Superb place. Very much a big cat speciality place and part of global breeding programs for the most endangered species.
White Lions, white Tigers, Snow Leopards as well as some more mainstream stuff.
From memory the price was reasonable, not massively busy and very educational.
Do not confuse it with Paradise Park in Newhaven which is a crappy garden centre with some fibreglass dinosaurs littered about the place.
Superb place. Very much a big cat speciality place and part of global breeding programs for the most endangered species.
White Lions, white Tigers, Snow Leopards as well as some more mainstream stuff.
From memory the price was reasonable, not massively busy and very educational.
Do not confuse it with Paradise Park in Newhaven which is a crappy garden centre with some fibreglass dinosaurs littered about the place.
Every day a journey said:
Went with some friends and our respective offspring to Paradise Wildlife Park somewhere just off the A10 north of London.
Superb place. Very much a big cat speciality place and part of global breeding programs for the most endangered species.
White Lions, white Tigers, Snow Leopards as well as some more mainstream stuff.
From memory the price was reasonable, not massively busy and very educational.
Do not confuse it with Paradise Park in Newhaven which is a crappy garden centre with some fibreglass dinosaurs littered about the place.
I have driven past the signs for this place for decades, the location had me putting it down as a makeshift vanity project lol. Superb place. Very much a big cat speciality place and part of global breeding programs for the most endangered species.
White Lions, white Tigers, Snow Leopards as well as some more mainstream stuff.
From memory the price was reasonable, not massively busy and very educational.
Do not confuse it with Paradise Park in Newhaven which is a crappy garden centre with some fibreglass dinosaurs littered about the place.
Going to visit with the other half now.
Really enjoyed Lord Baths place with no kids, name escapes me, thought it was a great spontaneous trip.
Got in car Friday night with no plans other than to head west, no bookings made, ended up in a pub hotel somewhere near, thought why not, enjoyed it.
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