Real Days Out

This February half-term get up close with the creatures of the Oceanarium

Alan — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:31:49 +0000

Close Encounters Week is going to be held at the Oceanarium during half term and it is a week full of opportunities for children as well as adults to enjoy interactive fun with some incredible creatures.

The week is running from the 11th to 19 February and children who come to the Oceanarium in this time of going to be able to touch a huge number of creatures from the sea. These include starfish, shrimp and the remarkable friendly bearded dragon.

With so much on offer it makes the 2012 discounted family tickets even better value, with family of three to family of six tickets offered at a great reduced rate. For more information call 01202 311993 or visit www.oceanarium.co.uk

Opening Times:
Open daily from 10am and closing time is 6pm during the half term break, with last admission an hour before.

Grasmere stunning jewel of the lakes

Alan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:46:47 +0000

Located in the Lake District, Grasmere is one of the smaller lakes in the area and can be found just south of the village of the same name. It is perhaps most famous for being the home of William Wordsworth, the famous poet, who described this part of England as one of the most beautiful places in the world. This part of the Lake District is a wonderful place for enjoying the scenery and taking a boat out onto Lake Grasmere is one of the best ways to enjoy this.

The second largest body of water in the Lake District is Ullswater which stretches for 7 miles. Many people regard this lake is the most beautiful of all the lakes in the National Park and this is probably because of the stunning mountains that surround it. The lake is very popular with walkers as it provides fantastic views and it is also enjoyed by people who like to sail. Cruises are available on the lake so people can enjoy all that it has to offer.

At 10 miles long, Lake Windermere is the largest in all of the Lake District. It is a popular destination for locals as well as tourists and there are steamboats which enable visitors to enjoy some beautiful countryside without the noise associated with a diesel engine. Rowing boats are also often seen on the lake and it is possible to rent one if you want to power your exploration yourself.

There are so many lakes in the Lake District that you might struggle to choose one that you want to visit. Whichever lake you go to you will find a destination with beautiful scenery and a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere. As well as tourists, many photographers head to the area to capture its stunning beauty.

Snowdrop nature trails at Hoveton Hall, Norfolk offer Winter woodland walks

Alan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:17:43 +0000

Sneak previews of Hoveton Hall Gardens are available on the 12^th and 19^th of February, when visitors will be led on guided woodland walks by Harry Buxton. These walks have been called Winter Woodland Walks and the ticket price also includes refreshments. Harry Buxton’s family own Hoveton Hall, and he has said that the gardens are home to some on the UK’s rarest and lesser known plants, alongside a vast range of familiar and much loved varieties.

He went onto say that the back end of winter was a special time in the gardens as they had masses of wild snowdrops in the woods, and a collection of very unusual species on the spider garden that visitors may not be very familiar with. Mr Buxton added that visitors would also enjoy a lot of wildlife, and in particular, woodland birds including tree creepers, buzzards, jays, sparrow hawks and nuthatchers.

The Woodland Walks are also a sneak preview for visitors, since the Gardens don’t officially open until April 1st. On both days the Estate is open from 10.30am until 3pm (last entry at 2pm). Visitors will be able to ramble and explore the extensive gardens for themselves, perhaps taking in a visit to Hoveton’s recently restored 18th century ice well.

There are also guided tours, which take place at 12pm and 1pm. These are led by Harry Buxton, who will show visitors some of the estate’s more secret byways, looking out for rare plants and wildlife. He likes to pepper his talks with snippets of Buxton family history – so expect insights and indiscretions to help keep you warm!

Admission prices are £8 for adults and £4 for children aged 5 to 16. Family tickets are available. The price includes the guided tour (optional) and refreshments: hot soup, a sausage roll and a choice of mulled wine, tea, coffee or fruit juice. Dogs on leads are welcome and waterproof boots are strongly recommended.

Hoveton Hall Gardens is one of Norfolk’s best kept secrets. It offers a rare mixture of experiences for gardeners, walkers and families – on the one hand there are the woodlands, the water garden, with its natural tunnels, bridges, nooks and crannies, and the park. On the other are the walled garden, with its unique spider gate, the kitchen garden and the early 19th century Glass House – one of only three in the country.

For more information visit http://hovetonhallgarden.co.uk

English Heritage in the West Midlands February Events

Alan — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:15:28 +0000

Fri 3rd February

Witley Court

Winter Interest Walk – Wildlife and Habitats

Learn about the various ways we manage the grounds at Witley Court to benefit the wildlife.

Tickets: £20.00

CS – 0870 333 1181

For more information, please visit: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/witley

11th – 19th February

Goodrich Castle

Half Term Family Fun Trail

Calling all junior investigators! Can you help us crack clues and solve a mystery to earn your prize?

Tickets: £6.00

No booking required

For more information, please visit: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/goodrich

11th – 19th February

Kenilworth Castle

Half Term Family Fun Trail

Calling all junior investigators! Can you help us crack clues and solve a mystery to earn your prize?

Tickets: £8.00

No booking required

For more information, please visit: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/kenilworth

11th – 19th February

Stokesay Castle

Half Term Family Fun Trail

Calling all junior investigators! Can you help us crack clues and solve a mystery to earn your prize?

Tickets: £6.00

No booking required

For more information, please visit: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/stokesaycastle

11th – 19th February

Wenlock Priory

Half Term Family Fun Trail

Calling all junior investigators! Can you help us crack clues and solve a mystery to earn your prize?

Tickets: £4.00

No booking required

For more information, please visit: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/wenlockpriory

Fri 17th February

Kenilworth Castle

Valentines Ghost Tour

Join us for a special Valentines eerie evening tour around the castle and gatehouse. Kenilworth Castle is one of England’s most romantic ruined castles, but not all lovers who lived here had a happy existence. Learn about their lives and deaths. (Over 16s only). 8.00pm.

Tickets: £20.00

CS – 0870 333 1181

For more information, please visit: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/kenilworth

Fri 24th February

Witley Court

Photowalk at Witley

For those who are serious about photography, explore the glorious grounds of Witley Court and have fun with your SLR or bridge camera, capturing some of the beauty of the grounds and the stunning architecture. Guiding you round will be Architect and Landscape Photographer, Nick Meers, who will be on hand to help you to gain the best from your camera and improve your pictures. Review your pictures with the opportunity to ask any questions you may have as well as pick up useful hints and tips about using your camera along the way! Includes lunch.

Tickets: £70.00

CS – 0870 333 1181

For more information, please visit: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/witley

Tue 28th February

Wroxeter RC

Author Debates – The Eagle of the XIIth

English Heritage has teamed up with the Historical Writers Association this winter to offer our visitors a unique opportunity to ‘meet the author’ in a series of special events hosted at a range of our properties across the country. Whether you are interested in a particular subject, period of history or author there is an event for everyone, and for those of you who fancy yourselves as a budding historical writer we will also be running a variety of practical workshops that are sure to inspire. Please check the website for further details.

Tickets: £30.00

CS – 0870 333 1181

For more information, please visit: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/wroxeter

Essex the most beautiful coastline and countryside in Britain

Alan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:48:16 +0000

Some of the most beautiful coastline and countryside in Britain can be found in Essex. You will also find relaxing, as well as exciting, activities for the whole family in this part of the country and you are sure to enjoy a day out that won’t be dull.

Rambling is a very popular activity in Essex and some of the easiest UK rambling routes are here. You can simply enjoy the local surroundings or take a camera to snap some excellent photographs. If you are looking for a way to get fresh air and just relax in the countryside and this is a great place to come walking.

The coastline in Essex has many inlets and there is a great deal of marshland which is very characteristic of the region. One of the most famous walks along the coast is the Essex Way which is over 80 miles long. The path is very well pointed out and there are arrows all along it guiding people from the start to the endpoint.

Walking is not the only popular activity in Essex and there are plenty of opportunities for people who enjoy biking. Exploring on two wheels can be a great experience in this part of the country and Epping Forest is a particularly well-suited biking area for people of all abilities.

There are many cycle routes through beautiful villages with quiet roads. If you are more interested in mountain biking then there are plenty of off-road cycle tracks which are well maintained and mapped by the National Cycle Network.

If you are thinking about taking a road trip then Essex can be a great place to drive around. There are many historical sites to explore as well as educational experiences that can be great for children. Essex can be a great place to find entertainment for your children during the long summer holidays.

Flamingoland one of the UKs best theme parks

Alan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:14:46 +0000

North Yorkshire is known as a great place for families, and the following list is just a brief overview of the many attractions.

Located in Malton, Flamingoland is one of the top theme parks in the UK featuring over a hundred different attractions and rides as well as the largest private zoo in the country. In fact, the theme park is so popular that it can boast well over one million visitors per year. Plus, you can easily stay both on the park or nearby since there are plenty of holiday homes available to hire.

Another local attraction that can be a lot of fun to explore in in Knaresborough; Mother Shipton’s Cave and Petrifying Well. The wall itself dates back to 1630 and is the oldest visitor’s attraction in the UK. Here you will find a wide array of items petrified including shoes, hats, and teddies.

You can also see the Wishing Well and the famous Mother Shipton cave. Those who want to explore the area a bit more will also stumble across woodland walks, boat hire and an adventure playground.

Over in Bridlington you will find the John Bull World of Rock where you can find John Bull Rock being produced straight off the factory lines as well as plenty of other sweet confectionery goods. If you want you can even get your own hands a bit sticky and create a lollipop or rock candy. Of course, for those who love the treat more than the experience you can also buy all kinds of sweets straight from the factory gift shop.

Those that love the water will want to consider a holiday trip to Whitby which is a lovely seaside resort that offers fun for families and couples alike. The resort area offers jet boat tours, boat trip tours through the bay, the opportunity to visit the Whitby Museum, and of course the chance to try out what some people consider the best fish and chips on earth.

For more maritime fun head over to the Scarborough Sea Life and Marine Sanctuary where you will find plenty of marine life and the chance to see dolphins, fish, and more up close and personal. Plus, nearby is Scarborough Castle which is a treat in itself.

Poppit Sands Cardigan Bay

Alan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:23:45 +0000

If most people were to imagine what taking a break in the UK is like, images of old and shabby resorts will probably come to mind. This mental image of days out in the UK is not quite accurate and if you take a trip to Poppit Sands and you will quickly realise that your mental image of the UK resorts is very out of date.

The beach is located near the Teifi estuary and is the place where the river becomes the spectacular Cardigan Bay. Here you will find a beautiful stretch of sand which has sand dunes behind it. This combination of dunes and the long beach makes it one of the most beautiful sights in all of Wales.

It is a very popular location and many local people enjoy spending their time here. Despite its popularity the beach is very large so never really feels overcrowded and there is plenty of space for any beach activities that you might be interested in pursuing. You will find many people playing Frisbee and other sports on the beach as well as many people just relaxing and enjoying the sun.

The beach is spectacularly clean and you will really struggle to find any rubbish whatsoever. The pollution level in the sea has also been rated as very low and it is an ideal location to go swimming. Visitors should be aware that there are sometimes very strong currents in the area but fortunately most of these have clear warning signs and there are always lifeguards on duty.

The sea here is particularly well-suited to younger children as there is a large amount of shallow water before it gets deeper. Body boarders and surfers also find good waves in the area so you will see plenty of people enjoying these water-based sports. For people who don’t find surfing extreme enough you will also find kite surfers and boarders along the beach and on the waves.

Even if extreme sports is something you don’t enjoy many people will find themselves fascinated by the people doing the sports and it can simply be enjoyable to sit on the beach and watch them having fun.

Some people would rather watch animals, and there is plenty of wildlife in the area. Those with children will enjoy looking at the crustaceans in the various rock pools and if you are lucky you will be able to see bottlenose dolphins swimming in the Bay. If you are very keen on seeing dolphins it is best to head to the top of the nearby cliffs where you are more likely to see them than if you are standing on the beach.

There is a wide selection of accommodation in the surrounding area and the town of Cardigan is very popular with tourists so there are plenty of rooms. There is accommodation to suit every budget and taste; hotels, holiday cottages, as well as several Bed & Breakfasts. Whenever you come to this beautiful part of Wales for you are sure to have a wonderful holiday.

Musicals for the family for a half term theatre break

admin — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:47:13 +0000

So we had only just gotten over Christmas when what should loom into view but half term. So what to treat the little darlings to? London’s West End is quite rich in shows for the whole family this year but don’t get me wrong, I am not talking about taking the little ones… besides why would you spend over £60 on something they are probably going to cry through, or vomit through, or ask stupid questions through.

So what better excuse is there to escape for a valentines theatre break?

I know that little Tommy is different – he’s a special little guy – but is it really worth the risk?

I was at Matilda last weekend (probably the best family show in London at the moment) and sure enough, the first half was peppered with young children balling their eyes out before consigning an unlucky parent to enjoying their £60+ tickets from the theatre foyer! Because make no mistake – you will be asked to leave.

So this list is not only a list of great shows to take the kids to, but also a list of shows and their recommended age limit (lower not upper!): because a family show is meant for a whole family and not just for little children. Think about it: a show couldn’t survive in the West End if it was aimed at four year olds – their pocket money will just not stretch to it!

So here goes:

The Lion King- minimum age 6 years old and there are some that would argue older! It’s a long show and quite sophisticated.
Billy Elliot – the producers recommend a minimum age of 8 years old but many agents suggest 12 years old – some of the language is quite ripe!
Legally Blonde – Min age: 7 Again a good family show, but maybe not for the little ones who may not get the subject matter,
Matilda The Musical – min age: 6 (but my 6 year old would be v. scared by excellent Miss T). This show will be around for several years so don’t worry about not going yet if you can’t make up your mind.
The Wizard of Oz – min age: 5. Probably the most child friendly of the family shows but again can be scary and is quite long.
Wicked – 8 years old and up. A great show for the older kids – especially the girls, just leave the youngsters at home.
Blood Brothers – minimum age: 12 years old. Again a proper show and great for older kids – especially for the boys.

Lastly, if you don’t fancy trekking down to London – check out Oliver! in Manchester where you can treat your 5 year old monsters to an excellent show over half term.

http://bookings.theatrebreaks.co.uk/theatre/show/252/oliver_manchester/2-tickets/14-Feb-2012

Markeaton Park East Midlands

Alan — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:41:47 +0000

When you have children, filling up the summer holidays can be quite a challenge and while it is a great opportunity to spend lots of time your kids, it can also be a time of empty days when you’re wondering what on earth you are going to do with them. One of the best attractions that you can take your child to in the East Midlands is Markeaton Park.

This is a park that is particular popular with younger children and it boasts a wide range of outdoor activities and is conveniently located within the city of Derby. The park is spectacularly beautiful from the moment you arrive and the walk from the car park to the main part is even enjoyable. You will walk over a bridge that spans a lake filled with ducks and once you’re inside the park you will find plenty of excellent attractions to appeal to children.

There is a mini kart track, donkey rides, crazy golf and bouncy castles on offer. Tickets are dispensed from a central kiosk in the park and these can then be used on the various attractions. If you are coming in the height of the summer then this kiosk will sometimes have extensive queues so it can be a good idea to buy all the tickets you will need in one go.

At the other end of the park will find play areas with all of the classic activities such as slides, swings and roundabouts. There is a special area for children aged under eight and there are picnic tables nearby. Most parents enjoy this as it provides them an opportunity to sit down and relax while they can still keep a close eye on the children in the playground.

These picnic benches also provide a great place for you to enjoy a more leisurely lunch while your children go to play. There is another play area for older children including activities that should appeal to them more, such as a climbing frame.

Taking a picnic to enjoy in the park on a summers day can be one of the highlights, especially for an adult who is tired from taking their children around all of the activities. If you don’t bring a picnic there is also the option of eating in the Orangery Cafe which has a wide selection of snacks including such things as chips and pasties. There are also refreshing drinks and ice cream that are perfect if you are visiting on a hot day.

There is a small lake inside the park that can be an ideal location to allow your children to feed the ducks. There is a paddling pool for the children to play in which provides the perfect opportunity to cool off. As well as the centrally located Cafe, there are plenty of kiosks around the park selling ice cream which is very popular in the hotter months. The park is free to enter and the cost of car parking is very low, at less than £3 for 8 hours

Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live 2012 dates announced

Alan — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:14:46 +0000

Great Yorkshire Show and Countryside Live 2012 dates announced

This years Great Yorkshire Show is set to be bigger and better than ever, with everything from Wensleydale Cheeses to Ukrainian Cossacks and even fabulous fashion on the agenda. Not to mention there being 1000′s of the finest animals in the country on display. The premier agricultural show inEnglandwill be taking place on the edge of the spa town ofHarrogate, at the showground, from 10-12 July 2012.

Over 130,000 visitors are expected to flock through the gates during the 3 day show, all looking to experience an informative and entertaining time and see all aspects of farming and country life. This event is also a showcase for the agricultural industry, as well as providing a great day out for all the family.

This will be the 154^th time the Great Yorkshire Show has been held, and amongst the highlights is the debut of the Ukranian Cossacks, who will give a display on each day of the show.

Around the showground visitors will also be able to enjoy:

Food Hall with the region’s best food & drink
Fashion shows with national and regional designers
Cookery theatre
Garden Show
Top class show jumping and superb equine classes
International sheep shearing competitions & the English National Championships
Demonstrations of country skills – including dry stone walling, fly fishing, pole climbing, gundog training
Hundreds of stands for plenty of shopping!

…. and more than 5,000 ofBritain’s best cattle, sheep and pigs competing for the coveted championship awards.

The Great Yorkshire Show is organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

Tickets are available from Thursday 1 March 2012 until Wednesday 4 July either on line – go towww.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk or call 01423 541222.

Parking is free and extensive.

Tickets bought in advance Tickets bought on the gate

Adult: £20 Adult £23

Concession: £19 Concession: £22

Children: £9 Children: £11

Family: £52 Family: £60

Countryside Live, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October 2012

The 10th Countryside Live event will take place on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October 2012 at the Great Yorkshire Showground,Harrogate. The event will include competitive livestock and equine, pigeon and poultry classes, dog agility, a horticultural show, and cookery theatre and dozens of stands for pre Christmas shopping. The hugely popular show jumping talent competition, which made its debut in 2010, will again feature and will be hosted by the equine supremos, Graham and Tina Fletcher. Countryside Live 2011 attracted more than 10,000 visitors.