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South East trip - help me before I lose my mind!

12 replies

ThisMustBeMyDream · 02/07/2021 17:46

I'm desperately looking for some inspiration! We are staying in Crawley at the end of July for 6 days. Family of 2 adults, 8 year old (who has asd/adhd), 6 year old and 4 year old. We really need some good suggestions for family activities that will suit the ages of all 3 children! So far we have a day at Chessington, we won't do Legoland as we've really not enjoyed any previous visits there. We have discounted Drusillas as similar to Chessington. Couldn't get tickets to Harry Potter studios as fully booked 😔.
We are thinking of doing 2 of the days in Central London, but have discounted the Natural History Museum (youngest will be bored, older 2 have been and weren't overly impressed), Shrek (youngest hates people dressed up as characters!), London Eye (can't be sure all will be okay with heights, so risky to book!), the bus tours as they seem really expensive for a family of 5! We've come up with Kensington Gardens for the children's park, perhaps a clipper ride on the Thames, there's a children's story place which looks good, and we will probably do a quick visit to the gates of Buckingham Palace, and maybe houses of Parliament. Also considering Battersea children's zoo.
I quite like the look of both the transport and science museums, but wasn't sure whether the youngest will be interested (if it was a museum of all things pink and glitter, she'd be there in a shot! But she shows no interest in this kind of thing yet!). Kidzania is faaaaar too expensive, so not going there although it does look amazing!
So, please, can anyone inspire me! Budget is around £100 per day, may stretch it a bit if worth it! I'm finding this so much more difficult this year (we have done this on other years, but with one less child which made it somewhat easier to plan and finance!). Help before me and the other half lose our minds!

OP posts:
TakeMeToYourLiar · 02/07/2021 17:48

I live locally and have similar age nieces and nephews

Top pick would be fishers farm

Also good are:
Godstone farm
Hobbledown

In burgess hill there is an inflatable park if weather is poor

nutellamagnet · 02/07/2021 17:49

Have you looked at anything closer to Crawley? Like Fishers Farm?

My kids would hate to constantly be on that train up and down from London.

TakeMeToYourLiar · 02/07/2021 17:50

Transport museum is excellent. My son adored it

Could combine with a trip to the royal
Opera house shop for your sparkly obsessed little one

IMO kids love a trip to Hamleys but need to be set a budget

There's also Coram Fields for an excellent play ground

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Kentuki · 02/07/2021 17:57

I would definitely head in Brighton for a day, walk around the lanes, also there are lots of museums there so bound to one you fancy.

Littlehampton/Worthing beach day?
Arundel castle?

London wise we had a lovely day recently just wandering around south bank. We went to the aquarium, then just pootled around watching the skaters, bought some prints from the big tables, had lunch, walked across the river to Covent Garden and kids watched the street performers for about an hour and half whilst we had wine. And they had ice cream. If we’d wanted to extend it even more we could have then had dinner and perhaps seen a show. My kids are 9-4 so similar ages.

LIZS · 02/07/2021 17:58

Brighton, Bluebell steam train line, Ashdown Forest(for Winnie the Pooh walks), Tilgate park. Harry Potter is a pita from there anyway.

Clymene · 02/07/2021 17:59

You can get the river boat down the Thames to Greenwich and walk through the tunnel under the Thames and get the DLR back. Might be too much walking for little legs?

If you catch it from Westminster, you can do the HoP too. I wouldn't bother with Buck house tbh. It's not much to look at from the outside and it's a lot of walking from the nearest bus stop.

Coram Fields is a good shout - there are animals as well as a huge playground, lots of trees and paddling/waters fountains.

whatwouldsueheckdo · 02/07/2021 17:59

How about a trip to Brighton? Loads there to do as much or little as you like, and it’s not too far away.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 02/07/2021 18:00

Hever Castle isn’t a million miles away, quite good for children.

geogteach · 02/07/2021 18:01

In Crawley you have Tilgate Park which has a little zoo and go ape as well as playgrounds and the lake to walk around. K2 leisure centre for a swim. South water country park you can paddle and there is an adventure playground and dinosaurs. I would also go
To the coast Brighton or Worthing aren't too far. Ashdown forest for Winnie the Pooh related walk. In London just a walk along the South Bank and round Borough market has lots to see. Could try a trip to Hever Castle not cheap but kids enjoy the water maze.

Rattysparklebum · 02/07/2021 18:11

How about Knockhatch?
knockhatch.com/

shash1982 · 02/07/2021 18:20

My two loved Drusillas at that age! It's more of a hands on experience than Chessington with a massive outdoor play park & a small splash park & ride area.

Not sure if it's doable but Groombridge place with the enchanted forest is lovely on a sunny day.
In London maybe a walk around the sights like trafalgar square, Buckingham Palace, south Bank and hop on and off the tube.

MrsKipling16 · 02/07/2021 19:46

Fishers Farm

Jumpin

Swimming

Climbing

Go Ape

Tailgate Park and Nature Centre

Brighton beach?

FWIW, I think Drusilla’s would be perfect for that age - nothing like Chessington! Main attraction is the animals, but there’s also a splash park, and the rides that are there are definitely for younger kids - tea cups, Hello Kitty cars on a track, etc.

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