Clever place to go on inset day

[brainfoggg]

Hi, my DCs school is taking an inset day on a random day next spring when all other schools in the country won't be off. Where would be a good place to go to take advantage of it being quiet? Not Legoland as we went there recently. Somewhere that is usually very busy or expensive in school holidays and weekends. DCs are 5 and 8.

Alton towers?

Longleat

Paulton's Park - if they're still into Peopa Pig it's definitely worth going to on inset day.

Peppa!

One of the London attractions like London aquarium or something like the Harry Potter studio tour?

Zoo?

My 8yo loved Chessington!

Paultons park always a hit too

London - open top bus in the morning then wait til early afternoon and do natural history museum after all school trips have gone

How far into Spring. Most parks won’t be open until end of March although Chessington does.
Do a city break. Stay the night before hand and see an attraction the next day.

We were thinking city break could work as the inset day is a Friday so we could stay for a couple of nights. Which cities would be good? We are near London so somewhere a bit further afield would work.

Bath, Canterbury, Portsmouth(assuming you are South based( if Windsor on the radar)

A fair drive for you but my favourite city ever is York! Lots for children there too.

Anywhere that your dc might be interested, and normally quite busy. I agree with LIZS for location, sounds good to me.

Bath appeals. Is it good for kids?
We'd probably get the train so even York would be doable.

York is great for kids so that's where my vote goes! Just 2 hours by train from London and LNER were doing a return ticket for a family of four for £99 last time I checked.

Bath has several museums including Roman baths, abbey, boat trips, compact with green spaces and good restaurants.

How about the isle of wight? Hovercraft, dinosaurs, and a theme park that will be quieter on an inset.

Oh God don't go to Portsmouth 😆 I mean bits of it are nice but not for a city break...

@brainfoggg

York - just over 2 hours on the train from London.
Stay at the Novotel as it has a pool and is just across the road from the city walls. Then..,

Jorvik (Viking) centre, just across the road from wizard themed crazy golf at
The Shambles (inspiration for Diagonal Valley)
Wizard Walk https://www.wizardwalkofyork.comm*
York Chocolate story (lots of freebies)
River boat trip
All you can eat of any cuisine at Pandi Mami
Great views from the top of Clifford's Tower
Lots to see in the York Castle Museum

.... of course there is York minister too !

If your thinking you could stay what about a nice coastal break that usually chocker.

and a really good advantage taker would be taking a trip on the tunnel for a few nights to france

Also in York on The Shambles there is the potions cauldron shop and they do potion making workshops. I haven’t been to the family friendly daytime one but the adult cocktail version was brilliant fun!

Shrek adventure and a walk a long the river :)