The Family Day Out Thread

The Family Day Out Thread

Author
Discussion

blondemoment

712 posts

253 months

Wednesday 12th August 2009
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20th - 23rd August, Bournemouth Air Show
http://www.bournemouthair.co.uk/

Tip: Take a South West Train on Saturday or Sunday (£10 adults, £5 kids) to Bournemouth
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/News/_mi...


richardxjr

7,561 posts

209 months

Thursday 13th August 2009
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Free airshow also at Eastbourne, from now until Sunday

http://www.eastbourneairshow.co.uk/


bigdods

7,172 posts

226 months

Friday 14th August 2009
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HMS Victory. I spent 8 hours there with the boys (ages 8 and 11) a few weeks back, there is SO much to see ! And things you would normally be charged extra for like the climbing wall and simulators in the 'Action Stations!' area are included in the price.


aveyheks

4,330 posts

208 months

Saturday 9th January 2010
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I do National Trust tours of the Avebury landscape should anyone want one. Details here from time to time http://twitter.com/Avebury_News

LuS1fer

41,086 posts

244 months

Wednesday 24th March 2010
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I liked Alton Towers. Good range of rides but we went out of season and it wasn't too busy.

I thought Legoland was rubbish with not half enough to do for a 3-4 year old.

Drayton Manor is average and not half as good as Alton Towers.

I quite like Chessington but one year we went and had a good day as it was quiet for some reason. The second time we went, it was bloody manic with 2 hour queues for the rides. Good park but way too busy. They really need to restrict entry numbers or it's pointless.

In South wales, try Margam Park by Port Talbot. Huge imposing house (sadly gutted by fire in the 80s and being restored very slowly), nice gardens, church, farm animals, pond and small and short steam railway. £3.50 parking, free to get in but there is a charge for the train. Not worth a long trip but we go there a lot.

RosscoPCole

3,300 posts

173 months

Sunday 16th May 2010
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Join the National Trust. We have had loads of days out with our membership. Living in Dorset we regularly take the little one to Corfe Castle (she thinks its a real princess castle)to explore the ruins and watch the steam trains, Kingston Lacy for a great run around the gardens, Studland beach for dune exploring and Brownsea Island for boat trip adventures. The car park sticker is worth the membership fee alone.

aveyheks

4,330 posts

208 months

Wednesday 16th June 2010
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RosscoPCole said:
Join the National Trust. The car park sticker is worth the membership fee alone.
yes

Melman Giraffe

Original Poster:

6,759 posts

217 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2010
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GreatGranny

9,097 posts

225 months

Friday 25th June 2010
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Living in Sheffield I can't recomment Chatsworth enough. If you are local ish become a Friend of Chatsworth, pay your £100 ish for a year and go around the whole place free. Fantastic gardens with enough for the kids to do as well, farmyard with the best children's playground I have been to, the house is worth the £100 alone with major work done over the winter and extra rooms opened up and finally just walk around the grounds, along the River Derwent ending with an ice cream which are expensive but huge. Take a picnic as the food is expensive, there's plenty of room in the gardens.

andy400

10,296 posts

230 months

Thursday 1st July 2010
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Wellington Country Park near Reading. Big park, cheap to get in, not very crowded (probably because there's loads of space), several adventure playgrounds, lake, miniature railway (the only 'extra' at £1 per adult ride 50p child), bouncy castle, vintage tractors for climbing on, big sandpit with mini-digger thingies, water toys, shop, cafe and various weekend events during the summer months.

Silver940

3,961 posts

226 months

Thursday 1st July 2010
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Pabl0 said:
One that my guests appear to like/recommend http://www.dorset-heavy-horse-centre.co.uk/
Damn, less than 10 miles from me and we have never been, one to add to the list!

RosscoPCole

3,300 posts

173 months

Thursday 1st July 2010
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Silver940 said:
Pabl0 said:
One that my guests appear to like/recommend http://www.dorset-heavy-horse-centre.co.uk/
Damn, less than 10 miles from me and we have never been, one to add to the list!
Sounds great but £6.75 for kids over 2 years old! Seems a bit steep for toddlers.

RosscoPCole

3,300 posts

173 months

Monday 9th August 2010
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Took the family to Hurst Castle today. Was great. The little one loved that we had to get a small water taxi to get to the castle. There is also a lighthouse and great quiet beaches. Also the views to the Isle of Wight are great as it is only about 1/4 of a mile away.
http://www.hurstcastle.co.uk/

Silver940

3,961 posts

226 months

Wednesday 11th August 2010
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Did go to Legoland yesterday, unfortunatley due to an error on my part we ended up paying full 135 quid for 2 adults and 2 kids ( And they chege 2 quid to park!). It isn't worth half that. very disappointing. I can get tickets thorugh work for 82 for a family but I would have come away feeling the same. Very overrated as a theme park. Fortunatley it pissed it down in the afternoon so the queues shortened otherwise we wouldn't have bothered with quite a few rides.

really milking it and living of the Lego name IMO

Wish we had gone to Paultons again, half the price and a better park.

MrV

2,748 posts

227 months

Saturday 14th August 2010
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Silver940 said:
Did go to Legoland yesterday, unfortunatley due to an error on my part we ended up paying full 135 quid for 2 adults and 2 kids ( And they chege 2 quid to park!). It isn't worth half that. very disappointing. I can get tickets thorugh work for 82 for a family but I would have come away feeling the same. Very overrated as a theme park. Fortunatley it pissed it down in the afternoon so the queues shortened otherwise we wouldn't have bothered with quite a few rides.

really milking it and living of the Lego name IMO

Wish we had gone to Paultons again, half the price and a better park.
Did our first trip to Paultons this week and can not praise it enough although I would say it is aimed at the under 12's ride wise so if you have older teens it might not entertain them as much.

davido140

9,614 posts

225 months

Saturday 14th August 2010
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andy400 said:
Wellington Country Park near Reading. Big park, cheap to get in, not very crowded (probably because there's loads of space), several adventure playgrounds, lake, miniature railway (the only 'extra' at £1 per adult ride 50p child), bouncy castle, vintage tractors for climbing on, big sandpit with mini-digger thingies, water toys, shop, cafe and various weekend events during the summer months.
I really like WCP and I go with the family once or twice a year, cant help thinking it's a bit over-priced though... £8-9 for an adult IIRC

Then again, anywhere with "crazy" golf is a winner in my book!

We've decided to spent a few days "geo-caching", apparently it's really good fun, getting an app for my phone and trying it next week.

Lemmonie

6,314 posts

254 months

Tuesday 24th August 2010
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Just got back fromj Godstone Farm in, wait for it..Godstone!

Costs about £5 per child and £4 per adult. It was fabulous. Sandpits, HUGE adventure playgroud with a toboggan ride, zipwires, more sandpits, toddler areas and plenty of grass and picnic benches. Also had animals (although i think you were able to get in pens with them but has changed since the ecoli thingy) My kids got to have a go on a spinning wheel.

They had a large indoor softplay area with seperate large todler area. Excellent cafe and tearooms (Tea only £1)

Small animal handling with supervised staff in charge. A Tractor ride, nature trails, mazes and a caft hut (free)

All in all a very reasonable day out and a massive hit with my 2 and 4 year old.

PS Take a picnic lots of areas including plenty of sheltered ones too. No need to take toys for sandpits there are plenty there.

Penny-lope

13,645 posts

192 months

Wednesday 1st September 2010
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Not sure where to stick this, but here will do at the mo


Odeon are doing a 40% off voucher at the mo

http://www.odeon.co.uk/miscellaneous/40percentoff....

Lordbenny

8,575 posts

218 months

Sunday 12th September 2010
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Lemmonie said:
Just got back fromj Godstone Farm in, wait for it..Godstone!

Costs about £5 per child and £4 per adult. It was fabulous. Sandpits, HUGE adventure playgroud with a toboggan ride, zipwires, more sandpits, toddler areas and plenty of grass and picnic benches. Also had animals (although i think you were able to get in pens with them but has changed since the ecoli thingy) My kids got to have a go on a spinning wheel.

They had a large indoor softplay area with seperate large todler area. Excellent cafe and tearooms (Tea only £1)

Small animal handling with supervised staff in charge. A Tractor ride, nature trails, mazes and a caft hut (free)

All in all a very reasonable day out and a massive hit with my 2 and 4 year old.

PS Take a picnic lots of areas including plenty of sheltered ones too. No need to take toys for sandpits there are plenty there.
Make sure you wash your hands after handling ANYTHING!

Failing that take your sprogs to Brooklands Museum and Mercedes Benz World (Its free!) in weybridge, Surrey. wink

Puggit

48,355 posts

247 months

Sunday 17th April 2011
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Moors Valley Park near Ringwood Hants.

It's free... You only pay to park, which is £8 per day top rate. Large open park, some grass, 2 good playgrounds and a large expense of pine-forest with little play grounds dotted about.

There is a miniature train which is extra - £3 per adult, £2 per child, but it's the best mini-train I've been on...

Today was packed - but there's so much space that it doesn't impact on your trip.

Only criticisms are the COMPLETE lack of bins and lack of toilet facilities in the woods. As they aim to attract younger children this is a problem. When Pugette jnr had to go behind a pile of wood to lay a log, there was ample evidence she was not the first!