Tag: trips

Family beaches

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If you’re thinking of escaping to the coast soon, Kiddie Zone has pulled together a list of favourite family friendly beaches.

West Wittering, West Sussex
This beautiful sandy beach is a firm favourite with Kiddie Zone and is a great option if you’re looking for family friendly beaches. Near to Chichester, there’s ample parking and a long stretch of untainted sand. You won’t find much here in the way of shops, restaurants and activities, but that’s part of its beauty. So, pack a picnic, bring a kite, buckets and spades and settle in for a day of beach perfection.

Swanage Beach, Dorset
A gorgeous beach that have fantastic walks in the surrounding area. You can come across to Swanage on the little chain ferry from Sandbank which the kiddies will love. The beach itself is a calm and sheltered sand and shingle beach making it perfect for families. There’s a Victorian pier where you can go crabbing and loads to keep little ones entertained as well as a great selection of places to eat and traditional fish and chip restaurants.

Just across the road from the main beach you’ll find a little amusement park which makes for a good hour or so. You can also get the quaint Swanage Railway Steam Train from Swanage 6 miles up through the Purbeck Valley and past the stunning ruins of Corfe Castle. Corfe Castle is National Trust and well worth a visit, the kiddies will love exploring the castle ruins and the views from the top are stunning.

Highcliffe & Avon Beaches and Mudeford, Dorset
A must-do for families is this lovely stretch of beach, partnered with crabbing at Mudeford. You can park up at Highcliffe Castle and walk down to the huge sand and shingle beach where there’s plenty of space and a relaxed atmosphere. There’s also a nice tea room at the castle if you fancy a little stop on the way back. Closer to Mudeford you’ll find a small car park at Avon Beach with space for 100 cars, here the beach tends to be busier and stonier but plenty of fun for the kiddies and a short stroll along the promenade takes you right into Mudeford.

Famous for its fantastic crabbing, Mudeford is a great place to spend an afternoon. There’s a shop selling buckets, spades and all the crabbing gear, plus a café and toilets. You’ll also find a great fish shop, just about as fresh as it gets.

Brighton, East Sussex
Brighton has been Londoners favourite beach escape for years, and it’s easy to see why. There’s so much to do here you’ll need more than just a day. For starters, there’s a long stretch of stony beach great for walks and no better sitting when eating fish and chips straight out of the paper.

For children, there’s plenty at the beach to keep them entertained. There’s the Brighton Aquarium, the world-famous Brighton Pier with its numerous rides and attractions, the Lanes for even the fussiest of shoppers and loads of restaurants to boot. The sea can be rough and the pebbles don’t make for the most comfortable of sunbathing, but for many this is the quintessential British beach, and one that needs to be experienced.

Bournemouth Beach, Dorset
With 7 miles of golden sand this is renowned as one of the best city beaches in the UK and has long been one of the south coast’s most popular family beach destinations, and with so much to offer it’s easy to see why. The soft sand beach and tonnes of space make it the perfect destination for families, even if it can get pretty busy in the peak of summer.

Away from the sand, Bournemouth has plenty to shout about. Last time we went we had a go on the adrenaline fuelled PierZip, the world’s first pier to shore zip wire! Also at Rock Reef there’s loads for kids to do including indoor climbing walls, indoor caving and high ropes – perfect for adventurous little ones!

Littlehampton, West Sussex
Littlehampton consists of two award-winning, sand and shingle beaches which are a great spot for families to set up camp on a summer’s day, specifically East Beach is great for kiddies. As the tide goes out the perfect sandcastle making sand will be revealed! Littlehampton is probably best known for its entertainment off the beach though and has a great child-friendly funfair, the world’s longest bench, Stage by the Sea and a miniature railway.

Fun fairy spotting guide

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If you’d love to add even more sparkle to your day, we’ve listed some really magical locations below which are perfect for spotting a fairy or two…
Trentham Gardens, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire

Keep your eyes peeled as you walk around the beautiful mile-long lake, through the woodland, maze and gardens where the Fairies at Trentham live. Each fairy is different, some are bold and will want to shake your hand, others are shy and are harder to spot high up in the trees. Can you find them all?

Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria

Best known for its collection of herbs and traditional fruit orchards, if you explore a little further you might find something straight out of a fairytale! Hidden doors, a hollow tree and a wild play area, so kids can have a real adventure. Look out for pixie houses in the roots of the trees!
Furzey Gardens, Lyndhurst, Hampshire

These magical gardens are hiding over 30 fairy doors for you to hunt out as you make your way around. You will also find a variety of tree houses, lookout towers and an adventure playground.
The Forbidden Corner, Leyburn, North Yorkshire

Winner of the White Rose Awards 2015, Forbidden Corner four acres of labyrinths, grottos, walled gardens, statues and passages are great to explore. You’re not provided with a map so you have to find your own way around, which is all part of the fun.
The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland

Throughout the year the gardens are full of life and colour, there’s also a magical giant treehouse that the kids will love exploring which is one of the largest in the world! Cross the wobbly rope bridges (suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs) to find a treetops restaurant.
The Gnome Reserve & Wildflower Garden; Bradworthy, Devon

Walk around the beautiful woodlands that over 1,000 gnomes call home. Gnome hats are loaned free of charge together with fishing rods, so you don’t embarrass the gnomes when you visit.
Jupiter Artland; Wilkieston, Edinburgh

This is a piece of breathing art; the landscape is dotted with commissioned artwork and full of things to be discovered. The children will love exploring all of the installations and the views of the surrounding landscape are simply stunning.
Trebah Garden; Falmouth, Cornwall

Trebah Garden is a beautiful fun day out for visitors of all ages. This sub-tropical paradise provides a magical Cornish village garden with exotic blooms, vibrant tunnels and there is even a secluded beach on the Helford River. There are also adventure play areas and children’s trails for the little ones to enjoy

A stress free Family day out

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We’ve come up with some top tips for making sure everything goes smoothly and everyone has a day to remember for all the right reasons!

Plan ahead
Plan your journey to avoid the stresses of getting lost on route with excitable children in tow! It also helps to pack the bag you’re taking the night before to stop the morning scramble.

Pack some spare clothes
No matter how old your children are take spare clothes with you, then they can relax and get messy or wet even if it wasn’t in the plan. Take a unisex variety so that it doesn’t matter who ends up wearing them!

Snacks to the rescue!
You can never take too many snacks! Keep separate snack boxes/ bags for each child to avoid arguments! Even better if they can pop them in their own backpack.

Money Money Money
Take loose change with you, especially £1 coins and keep it handy. Many attractions have ‘extra’ children’s activities you can do such as; feeding animals or rides and often this costs £1 or so, plus there might be parking charges.

Take wellies/walking shoes
Some places might get muddy when it has rained and no one wants to get their shoes caked in mud. Also, take plastic bags to put the wellies in after so you can keep the car clean!

Sun protection
With the weather always being changeable it is a good idea to always carry sun cream, sunglasses and sun hats.

Enjoy the great outdoors

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1. Keep clothing simple and sensible
Whilst it’s easy to throw on some jeans and a heavy hoodie to keep warm, they take much longer to dry than lightweight layers or waterproof options such as jackets and trousers if you’ve been caught out by the rain. Denim is fine if you’re keeping close the campsite, but keep waterproof options within close reach if you’re heading further afield for a hike! Taking along two pairs of shoes for walks/hikes and ones to slip on at the campsite is always a good idea too.

2. Stay close to home for your first camp
Whilst escaping to a remote location in the middle of nowhere with minimal facilities sounds idyllic, in reality being near a bathroom when nature calls and supermarket for any emergency must-haves beats all other options! Try opting for a campsite close to home for your first time camping, just in case you do happen to need to run back home if need be!

3. Plan children’s entertainment
So, what do you do once you’ve set up your tent, everything is organised and your little campers are eager to get stuck into their surroundings? Plan walking, cycling or hiking routes in advance, as well as taking a look at what attractions and events are taking place nearby, to make sure you’re getting the most out of your trip… and earning your campfire dinner on your return! Bringing along some fun and easy-to-pack things to do is a good idea to keep everyone occupied too. For example, a ball, frisbee, colouring books, or notebooks for those looking to take note of what they discover nearby!

4. Prepare for all weather
If you’re in England, you’ll probably do this anyway thanks to our ever-changing weather. Pack jumpers for when they get cold in the evening and remember the suncream. Just in case! It can be a pain to take lots of clothing but you’ll be grateful you covered all eventualities. There’s nothing worse than a cold or sunburnt child!

5. Bring lots and lots of bug spray, repellent, and essential oils
No matter how “bug-free” you are told the area is, nothing attracts those little creatures like young blood! If your little one is unfortunate enough to be bitten by something, you can rest assured knowing you have everything you need to soothe the pain and itching.

6. Easy Snacks
While tent camping most of our cooking was done over the fire or propane stove. So think about that and if you want to start it up every time one of your little angels says “I’m hungry!” Bringing pre-prepared snacks will be a great time saver and you’ll thank yourself when your kids are suddenly “starving”!

7. Take extra-long marshmallow sticks
One of the best things about camping is roasting marshmallows. No matter their age, size, or heat of the fire, your little people will want to help roast their own! Keep the risk as low as possible by taking extra long sticks with you.

8. Take a potty
This is for those of you with smaller children, but not necessarily just those who are potty training. Late night toilet runs with little ones are never fun, so save yourself the journey across the dark campsite by taking a potty with you.

9. Remember their favourite blanket/teddy/music maker
Sleeping in a new environment can be both exciting and terrifying for children, so take a bit of home comfort with you. Not only will it help settle them at night and hopefully get them to sleep easier, it may also come in handy to cheer them up if there are any little accidents while you’re away.

10. Take your patience, patience and more patience!
Kids will be kids and you can only do so much. They will be loud, they will cause chaos, and they will get themselves and their stuff dirty! Especially right after a shower and you clean something. They will be themselves times 100! Even more outspoken, excitable, and uncontrollable!

Stay close to the magic

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Here are some top 6 hotels within a short distance from the Disneyland magic!

1. Vienna House Dream Castle

Vienna House Dream Castle is the closest of the non-Disney hotels and has been designed in the style of a historic palace set in beautiful French gardens. It has a wide choice of rooms with families in mind. They also offer guests free parking and a complimentary shuttle bus to the parks.

2. Explorers Hotel

The Explorers Hotel is a brilliant option for large families as they offer interconnecting rooms that can sleep up to 10 guests. It has a huge indoor play area, on-site 6D cinema and secret lagoon swimming pool, complete with water slides and toddler area! A complimentary shuttle bus will take you to and from the parks.

3. Vienna House Magic Circus

Vienna House Magic Circus is a great value for money offering super comfortable rooms with a curtained-off kids area in the rooms with bunk beds. Also games consoles in the rooms and a fun outdoor playground to keep the kids entertained! A free shuttle bus service is also available to take you to straight to the heart of the magic at Disneyland Paris.

4. Hotel Kyriad, Magny-le-Horne

The Kyriad Hotel is a budget-friendly, family hotel with larger sized hotel rooms, most having a double bed and a set of bunk beds in each. The hotel has a video games room as well as a play area in the lobby and an onsite farm with ponies, goats and rabbits. Jump on the complimentary shuttle bus to take you straight to the Disney parks

5. Radisson Blu Hotel

The Radisson Blu is a 10 minute drive from the airport and offers guests a complimentary shuttle to and from the Disney parks. The rooms have tea and coffee making facilities and also has access to 3 beautiful 9 hole golf courses. After a day of Disney, you can swim in the indoor swimming pool or enjoy a family dinner in one of the restaurants.

6. Hotel L’Elysee

Hotel L’Elysee is just one stop away from the Disney parks by train. Bedrooms are well equipped for families with both triple and two double bed configurations. The town offers fabulous shopping and dining with the added bonus of The Vallee Village Chic Outlet Shopping.

Visit Oxford Castle

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Travel back in time to Oxford Castle. Your kids will love this family day out and hopefully they will take in all the history.

This site is packed to the brim with history; where to start?! Begin by climbing the Saxon St.George’s Tower. This is one of the oldest buildings in Oxford with 360° panoramic views around the city. Then drop right back down to the depths of a 900-year-old crypt, the only surviving remains of St. George’s Chapel. Next explore the insides of an 18th-century debtor’s tower, before winding your way through the prison d-wing. Last but not least? Scale the mound of the 11th-century motte-and-bailey castle.

Climb one of the oldest buildings in Oxford with 360° panoramic views of the city

Explore prison cells and a 900-year-old crypt

Guided tours give visitors a true-to-life look into the history of the area

This was a site of incarceration dating back to 1071 and gives a look into the lives of real people: the owners, visionaries, activists and inmates of Oxford. Tours run every 20 minutes but you’ll have plenty of time to explore the site under your own steam. Plus be sure to get some yummy lunch at the Castleyard Café.

Things to do this summer

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Here we have rounded up some fun family days out near the capital. We’ve got the best ideas for things to do with kids.

Legoland Windsor Resort
Play, watch, build and ride at this adventure theme park within the rolling Berkshire countryside. With Duplo Valley (playgrounds, gentle rides and puppet shows), Miniland model village -for the smallest visitors- Adventure Land aquarium, Imagination centre and Lego City boats, cars and ‘Fire Academy’ for juniors plus rollercoasters for the older kids, there’s something for everyone. New highlights for 2017 include Lego Ninjago The Ride – a 4D interactive ride plus a ‘training camp’ with Zane’s Temple Build and Cole’s Rock Climb.

Rides and play things high and low, for kids big and small.
London to Legoland 1 hour 5 mins by car.

Chessington World of Adventures Resort
For generations Chessington boasted a charming zoo and a few slides, but anyone visiting from the 1970s wouldn’t recognise the place now – rollercoasters swoop around the theme park, the updated and expanded zoo is complemented by a Sea Life Centre and there are several accommodation options for those making an overnight stay of it. New for 2017 is The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure taking you through the deep dark wood to come nose to snout with the mouse and his fellow furry creatures. You can stay in Gruffalo themed rooms, too.

Lions, tigers, roller coasters and the Gruffalo.
London Waterloo to Chessington South 35 mins by train then 10 mins walk.

Thorpe Park
Whereas Legoland and Chessington best suit ages from toddlers to 11-year-olds, many of the rides here are designed for teens and older children, with height restrictions and thrills to match. That said, parents with young (or short) children will find plenty to do and a handful of more laidback rides. Teenagers will love the white-knuckle rides like The Swarm and Stealth, and franchises offer some brilliant branded adventures including Angry Birds Land, a ride themed to ‘I’m a Celebrity’ with a restaurant to match (crickets, locusts, and mealworms at Bush BBQ restaurant anyone?) and the park’s newest addition Derren Brown’s Ghost Train: Rise of the Demon.

Rollercoaster thrills and ‘Celebrity’ jungle spills.
London to Thorpe Park 1 hour 10 mins by car.

Hobbledown
This former farm park has been transformed into a mystical themed adventure land. There are still animals to meet and play areas for running about (including an indoor area for rainy days), but there is also a landscape of quaint huts and abodes belonging to the curious medieval-looking Hobbledown folk who care for the animals and ‘work’ in the crystalline mine. An interactive treat with seasonal special events for children of all ages.

Farmyard fun for your little ones.
London to Horton 1 hour by car.

Garden family days out

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Kew Gardens, London

Kew Gardens is a great day out where you’ll be dazzled by colour displays of plants and flowers. Explore glasshouses, landscapes and 250 years of history at the world’s most famous garden. With ever-changing exhibits, there will always be something new to discover and lovely events to attend throughout the year.

Savill Garden, Windsor

Savill Garden is a tranquil place to discover rare plants from around the world. The 35 acres of interconnected gardens include the Hidden Gardens, the Summer Gardens, Spring Wood, Autumn Wood, Winter Beds and so on. You can download the Savill Garden map and find out other interesting activities you can do with the kids.

Furzey Gardens, Lyndhurst

These magical gardens are hiding over 30 fairy doors for you to hunt out as you make your way around. You will also find a variety of tree houses, lookout towers and an adventure playground. Plus, on the 31st of May they have a Bug Barn event for children to plant a sunflower seed and paint their own flower pot to take home!

Trentham Gardens, Stoke on Trent

Take a stroll around these award winning gardens no matter the time of year and you will find stunning flowers and plants. Children will enjoy the superb adventure playground and spotting the fairies along the fairy trail. Visit on Sunday 12th of June and you can also watch an open air theatre production of Alice in Wonderland!

The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland

Throughout the year the gardens are full of life and colour, there’s also a giant treehouse that the kids will love exploring, it’s one of the largest in the world! Plus, from the 24th of May until the 5th of September (on weekends and school holidays) you can take part in the Fairy Tale Trail – dressing up is encouraged!

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall

The Lost Gardens of Heligan cover over 200 acres. You can walk through the jungle where there are tropical trees, colourful plants and vibrant foliage creating an exotic oasis; it’s hard to believe you’re still in Cornwall!

Bowood, Wiltshire

In the gardens at Bowood you will find gorgeous flowers and landscaped parkland, if you wander around the gardens you will also find a waterfall, grottos and a hermits cave. Bowood is also home to Tractor Ted and over the bank holiday weekend this May Bowood will be hosting Tractor Ted’s Big Machines Weekend with machinery displays, tractor rides, a bouncy castle and games for kids.

Picton Castle and Gardens, Pembrokeshire

The gardens at Picton Castle are great for everyone to explore, with stunning and unusual plants, woodlands and lakes. There’s also a woodland trail to follow and an adventure playground for the kids.

Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury

This arboretum is well known for its internationally renowned tree collection. All year round you can take one of the many walks to see the stunning collection, plus the kids can enjoy the different play zones and interactive quizzes around the arboretum.

Logan Botanical Gardens, near Port Logan

These beautiful gardens are a must if you’re in the area! You can see a range of exotic and rare plants that burst into life in spring and summer creating a tropical paradise.

Family beaches to explore

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Studland Beach, Dorset

This National Trust owned beach, located a short five minute chain ferry journey from Poole Harbour, is a lovely family day out! This beautiful beach has four miles of protected golden sands and a stunning view of Old Harry Rocks and the Isle of Wight. It’s perfect for a variety of watersports and for exploring lots of exciting wildlife, including deer, insects and birds! For rumbling tums, visit the Knoll Beach cafe.

Bournemouth Beach, Dorset

This famous activity and event packed beach offers something for all of the family… even a zip wire from the pier to the stretch of seven glorious miles of sand! Hosting events such as the Bournemouth Air Festival, Arts by the Sea and more, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Head to one of the many cafes and restaurants nearby, including West Beach and Harry Ramsden’s for traditional fish and chips by the sea!

Luskentyre Beach, Scotland

Luskentyre Sands, located on the west coast of South Harris in the Outer Hebrides, is a stunning beach boasting beautiful white sands and amazing green-blue water. You’d be mistaken for thinking you’re in the tropics! Luskentyre is a dog friendly beach.

Montrose Beach, Angus

This famous beach runs north from Montrose to the mouth of the North Esk River with beautiful clean sands. With a short promenade and lots of parking available, as well as a Seafront Splash play area, this beach makes for a lovely family day out! The beach also has a shop, amusement centre and family run cafe nearby.

West Cliff, Yorkshire

This picturesque Blue Flag beach is the perfect seaside escape. With free and pay and display car parking available nearby, as well as Whitby’s train station a short walk away, this beach is easy to get to… after a stop for fish and chips in the town centre that is! West Cliff has cafes, toilets and a lost child centre, as well as a first aid post. See if you can spot the famous Whale Bone Arch!

Druridge Bay, Northumberland

This seven mile stretch of glorious sand has lots of sand dunes and rock pools to explore, as well as the 100 acre Ladyburn Lake with surrounding woodland. Pop into the nearby cafe (open on weekends and during the summer holidays) or their visitor centre for more information on the fascinating wildlife you can spot in Druridge Bay many nature reserves!

Formby Beach, Liverpool

This beautiful beaches dunes are a certified Site of Special Scientific Interest! You can even spot some prehistoric human and animal footprints and visit a red squirrel reserve… the last one of its kind in the UK! Ice creams, snacks and drinks are available from vans on site during peak periods.

Barafundle Bay, Pembroke

With crystal clear blue waters, this popular National Trust owned beach is the perfect place for a more relaxing day out. It’s your very own staycation Mediterranean escape! There’s no direct road access to the beach itself, but this allows you to take in the beautiful surroundings on a fifteen minute walk from the car park to the coastline.

Constantine Bay, Cornwall

Whilst more commonly known for being one of the most popular spots for surfing in the UK, this stunning beach has lots to offer for families! With unbeatable views of the Cornish coastline, this beach also has lots of rock pools… perfect for exploring and discovering how many beach critters you can spot! Dogs are allowed all year long.

Botany Bay, Kent

This Blue Flag beach offers amazing views of the white cliffs and impressive chalk stacks! When the tide is out, it’s perfect for fossil hunting and rock pool exploring. There are kiosks on site selling ice creams, or you can pay a visit to nearby cafes offering hot food and drinks. Dogs are not permitted on this beach from 10am to 6pm from May 1st until 30th September.

Dizzy Heights

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Up at The O2
Enjoy a family fun climb to the top of one of London’s more recent iconic landmark. This exciting 90 minute experience will take you 52 metres above ground with a stunning view of the capital city!

The View From The Shard
This is one of London’s newest and amazing landmarks where you can experience a fantastic 360 degree view of the city. See how many famous buildings your family can name! Peer through interactive telescopes and enjoy one of London’s highest gardens!

ArcelorMittal Orbit and Slide
What goes up must come down! Once you get to the top of the UK’s tallest sculpture you can enjoy a faster decline on one of the longest tunnel slides seeing some of London’s wonderful skyline en route down!

British Airways i360, Brighton
Ascend to the dizzy height of 450 ft in a vertical glass viewing pod to enjoy a wonderful 360 degree view of the beautiful south coast! On a clear day, visitors can see spectacular views of Brighton, The South Downs and even the Isle of Wight!

The Coca Cola London Eye
Any visitors to London should definitely have this attraction on their list! Take a slow 30 minute ride day or night and enjoy amazing views of the cities iconic landmarks including Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. Great for children’s entertainment and fun for all the family.

The Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
This impressive tower reaches the dizzy heights of 558ft and boasts superb panoramic views of Portsmouth, including the historic dockyard. Take the Skywalk over a large glass floor and look down only if you feel brave enough!

Corfe Castle, Dorset
Climb amongst the ruins of this 1,000 year old castle exploring its fallen walls and take in the most memorable breathtaking views of the Purbecks that stretch for miles.

Blackpool Tower London Eye, Blackpool
Take a trip to the very top of this famous tower and cross the SkyWalk, an exciting glass viewing platform for spectacular views across the Irish Sea, Liverpool and even the Lake District on a clear day.

The Emirates Air Line- Cable Car, London
Treat the family to a ride in a cable car by day or night, which crosses the River Thames giving a brilliant view of London from the air and then finishes right alongside the O2.

Jurassic Skyline, Weymouth, Dorset
Families and friends can enjoy a gentle trip on board a gondola as it rises to give the most stunning views of the historic Jurassic coast, harbour and Portland.