Chessington and Legoland binned - any recommendations for days out?

[CrispieCake]

We've recently had shit days out at both Chessington and Legoland. Just dreadful from start to finish. I have a fairly hyperactive 7yo and the expectation that young children will queue quietly for hours for rides that last a couple of minutes max is just unbelievable. DC is a bit of a wuss too so a couple of times we waited in line and then he decided when we got to the front that he didn't want to do the ride. So we paid a fortune to... queue. I would rather have a wisdom tooth extracted than spend another minute in places like this.

We're not badly off, but like many other families feeling the pinch a bit. We're not doing an abroad holiday this year, just a few days seaside break and day trips. I can't afford to spend £150+ for my DC to have a shit time and to come home feeling stressed and mugged.

Any recommendations for days out? Any places that you'd blacklist/put in the bin? Useful to know the ages of your DC too.

Based south-east but happy to travel/camp.

I'll start.

Bin
Legoland
Chessington
Thorpe Park

Recommend
Hobbledown
Bocketts Farm
Roarr! (Norfolk)

It was a while ago but we had a great time with 3 children at the Southampton docks, where the Historic ships are. We used the park and ride and it dropped us right outside. Warwick castle was quite good but is busy.

I feel like you do about theme parks but my top tip, if you must, is to go when it's raining. When the forecast has been really awful. Wear full waterproofs and have a great day never queuing for anything.

Our best days out with DC were always a walk and a picnic, especially if streams feature. They don't necessarily want to go, but always enjoyed it once out.

Another vote for Dover Castle - great experience.

Brooklands motor/airplane museum is good.
Battersea Park Zoo
British Wildlife Centre

Diggerland - good fun

Leeds castle (in Kent) - also can get annual ticket, has good play area,

Whipsnade zoo

Bedgebury pinetum - take or hire bikes

We could probably stretch to the "fast passes" etc but it's become a point of principle for me.

Families poorer than us save for these expensive days out for their DC and then they're absolutely shit. Just not acceptable.

Agreed.

Steam train ride? Both of these were easy happy days out for mine when they were younger - check the websites for family friendly activities https://watercressline.co.uk/ or https://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/

Also the Transport museum in london is good https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on

Wingham Wildlife Park
Howletts
Diggerland

Cotswolds farm park was good. They've got play areas as well as the farm bits. The food looked really good and reasonably priced compared to other attractions (looking at you, Woburn Safari Park!) but I didn't try it because we brought a picnic. I went in school holidays and although the car park was busy, it didn't seem full when you were walking around. The only busy section was where you sit down to hold a chick but they handled that well.

Wyvernwood was great and so was bewilderwood.

if you’re near Norfolk broads you could hire a boat and go out on it, my kids loved that.

Piggybacking on the thread but anyone got any recommendations for days out East Midlands? DC aged 6 and 2.

If you’re happy to camp, I can recommend Woodlands Park in Devon, it’s next to a small theme park/farm style park with a huge indoor soft play and outdoor parks. You get free entrance into the park with your camping. You’re not far from Dartmouth and also beaches. We’ve had a few lovely holidays there and we tended to self cater and then do things like go to the beach etc. so not a very expensive holiday.

If your heading to Norfolk for Roar (which I've heard is amazing) check out Bewilderwood.

Outdoor adventure. My little one isn't the bravest in parks ect but she absolutely loved it.

We also have Wyvern wood is Essex which is smaller but still nice

In a day's out distance from us in SE London:

Eltham Palace
Penshurst Place - great adventure playground
Drusillas
Blackberry Farm
Knockhatch Adventure Park
Leeds Castle (pay for entrance and you can go as many times as you like in the next year)

One of my favourite days out was a trip to the Greenwich planetarium and then a boat trip on the Thames.

Also Hever castle is great especially if you pick one of the days they are running events such as jousting or falconry displays https://www.hevercastle.co.uk/whats-on/

My lot used to LOVE Whitley Court gardens. The cafe there is a bit pants so take a picnic.

Visit Witley Court and Gardens | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)

Oh and Bowood house has a pretty good park. And the best cheese cake I’ve ever eaten.

Guildford Spectrum swimming pool, especially if you book one of the first slots of the day so it's not too busy.

I second Littlehampton - can buy an unlimited rides wristband just for the kids
Also second Godstone Farm

Apparently the Army Museum at Sloane Square is good but not been yet.

So many good suggestions here. We're within easy reach of London so going to add most of the London ones to the list and combine a couple of them with a boat ride.

I think we'll do Paultons Park in the summer as our £££ theme park option as that seems to have been popular. Might try to camp in New Forest for a few days.

Any places to avoid?

Knockhatch is cheap and cheerful and good for younger kids are there are lots of animals, playparks, free rides, indoor playhouses, outdoor massive play castle slides, bouncy cushion thing.
All free once you're in except the go-karts (for older kids anyway).

Bewl water has a good, big playpark too - just pay for parking

Bedgebury - about 8 excellent adventure playparks in the woodland - just pay for parking

Knockhatch has had a few mentions so going on the list. DC is a young 7 - still happy to mess around in a sandpit for a bit.

Like the idea of Portsmouth too - we could get the train there and take a few sticker books.

HMS Belfast is £25 for an adult ticket and TOL is £35. Not theme park prices but still bloody expensive.