19Sep/12

Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Oxford

September 19, 2012free, museum, Oxfordshire, teens, young childrenKidsDaysOutReviews

During our epic trip around the UK over Easter, we spent a day with my Dad in Oxford. Having lived in and around Oxford for most of my life, I love going back with my children to visit.

 

It was a rainy Tuesday afternoon when we arrived and my Dad suggested a visit to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and the Pitt Rivers Museum next door which are about ten minutes from his house. He thought our son would love to see the dinosaurs in the Natural History section. Even though we had been to the Natural History Museum the day before, the boy was very excited about another trip to a museum.

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18Sep/12

Amelia Trust Farm, Barry, Glamorgan

September 18, 2012Farm, free, Glamorgan, teenagers, toddlers, young childrenKidsDaysOutReviews

The Amelia Trust Farm is a small charity which employs 12 members of staff. For a charity employing so few, it does achieve so much, and is reliant on volunteers. The Trust does not receive core funding and the benefits of donations are clear. the charity supports the vulnerable and disadvantaged, and nothing rings more true than the statement “Growing up is different for everyone”. Continue reading →

12Sep/12

The Blue Pool, Wareham, Dorset

September 12, 2012Dorset, entrance fee, park, teenagers, toddlers, young childrenKidsDaysOutReviews

 We had a day out at the Blue Pool this week. A couple of miles outside Wareham in Dorset, the Blue Pool is a beautiful place for a family day out.

We started our visit with a cafe pitstop for coffee and cake to fuel our walk. We ate in the cafes sunroom with a gorgeous view overlooking the Pool itself, and I shared a very tasty scone with Syd while Max polished off a huge chocolate muffin. 

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08Sep/12

Park Rose Bird of Prey and Animal Centre, Carnaby, East Yorkshire

September 8, 2012entrance fee, teenagers, teens, Yorkshire East, young children, Zoo and animalsKidsDaysOutReviews

UPDATE – This review has been superseded by this one on Bridlington Birds of Prey and Animal Park.

Park Rose Bird of Prey and Animal Centre is part of the Park Rose village just south of Bridlington in East Yorkshire.

 

The centre is quite small and basically is a collection of animals and birds around a central display field, and an indoor sand-pit play area.

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06Sep/12

Highdown Hill and Highdown Gardens, near Worthing, West Sussex

September 6, 2012free, park, Sussex West, toddlers, young childrenKidsDaysOutReviews

Highdown Hill is a large hill on the South Downs, lying just to the north of Worthing in West Sussex. On the summit are the remains of an ancient hill fort, as well as the tomb of a local miller, who used the sails of his windmill to signal to smugglers.

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05Sep/12

Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, Glamorgan

September 5, 2012GlamorganKidsDaysOutReviews

Cardiff Bay has improved so much due to the investment it’s received, I remember as a teenager the start of the investment programme, when I left Wales I think they had started ‘knocking it down’, and on trips home over the thirteen years I was away it was the most amazing transformation. Admittedly, those years saw me appreciating Cardiff Bay for the emergence of its bars and restaurants.

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03Sep/12

The Treasure House, Beverley, East Yorkshire

September 3, 2012free, museum, teenagers, toddlers, Yorkshire East, young childrenBeverley, East Yorkshire, museumKidsDaysOutReviews

The Treasure House in Beverley is a council-run building which incorporates lots of things, including the main public library. 

 

Our favourite bit to visit is the museum and art galleries, which are on the first floor. It is a great way to pass an hour, especially on rainy days. 

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02Sep/12

Natureland Seal Sanctuary, Skegness, Lincolnshire

September 2, 2012entrance fee, Lincolnshire, teenagers, toddlers, young children, Zoo and animalsKidsDaysOutReviews

Natureland Seal Sanctuary in Skegness is somewhere I remember visiting as a child on one of our many Skegness holidays. We took our children there last year, and it’s as popular as ever.

 

First of all there are numerous seals and sealions. Most are ones that have been found washed up on the shores of Lincolnshire or have been sent from other seal sanctuaries in the UK. There are scheduled feeding times throughout the day where you can hear a talk about the seals and get to see them catch fish to eat. There is also a separate penguin pool. 

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01Sep/12

Finlaystone Country Estate, Langbank, Renfrewshire

September 1, 2012entrance fee, park, Renfrewshire, toddlers, young childrenKidsDaysOutReviews

 Finlaystone Country Estate is a definite gem of a place to spend a day outdoors. If you travel by car, it’s conveniently located just off the M8 between Greenock and Glasgow. The estate offers woodland walks, an adventure playground, a cafe, walled gardens, a shop and on many weekend days, also activities.

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28Aug/12

Brighton Toy and Model Museum, Brighton, East Sussex

August 28, 2012entrance fee, museum, Sussex East, teenagers, toddlers, young childrenKidsDaysOutReviews

Brighton Toy and Model Museum http://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/ is tucked away under the arches of Brighton Station. You can visit Arch One for free, where there is a shop, local information point and also a range of exhibits. It costs £4 for an adult ticket to the rest of the museum, children are £3 and children under 4 are free. Although it’s not a large museum in terms of floorspace, there is a huge amount crammed in, covering the walls and the ceilings.  Continue reading →