To refuse to go on days out in the UK anymore ?

[Heswall]

I have spent half the day mumsnetting from my phone because we have been bored rigid on a "day out" at a local national trust event.
The egg hunt clues were crap or missing, I ended up offering lunch at Frankie and Benny's if we could get the hell out of there and warm up.
I am sick of having to buy tons of layers of warm clothing that get taken off and then lost - if anyone finds an age 11-12 Joules Aire bodywarmer can I have it back please ? - I am sick of paying £60 in petrol and entrance fees for an hours entertainment at best.
For the price of Alton Towers I can fly two people to Spain, I feel I have done every farm, theme park, old house in the half of the country I live in.
AIBU to stay shove the staycation and save up for warm sunny weather and pastures new instead ?

Do you know what I find really difficult, and I realise it's more of a reflection on me than anything else, is thinking of things to do. We have had so many of the "What shall we do/where shall we go" conversations that have ended up with us not being able to decide on anywhere that I've lost count.

With a large family, all with different interests, it's so hard to please everyone, although admittedly, the older ones usually go off and do their own thing these days. It's still tricky though to find something doable as dh has mobility problems - not enough to be wheelchair bound, but enough to not be able to walk very far.

I actually feel really guilty reading this thread and hearing about all these lovely things you all do. The weather isn't so much a deterrent for me as the abovementioned factors, plus I hate crowds, queues, traffic jams etc.

Over the years we have done the London musuems thing, but to be honest, I found them more of an endurance test than anything else with the crowds. As someone said upthread, when/how can you avoid crowds if you work and your dc are school age?

I love days out in the UK. But you do have to choose carefully as some can be a bit grim.

BarryStar dont live in London and you can avoid crowds easily . I live close to both the south downs and new forest national parks. So it's easy to get to somewhere nice and quiet.

Started reading this thread and ended up skimming but I agree with people who mentioned Warwick castle. We went over 10 years ago and it was a beautiful castle with a dungeon, 'haunted tower' (seemed to just contain a four-poster but had suitable spooky atmosphere) and various blokes riding round dressed up as knights, all included in entrance price. You got a good sense of the history of the place and we really enjoyed it so went back last summer so kids could enjoy also. What a disappointment, they've totally lost the character of the place under a mish-mash of commercialised tat. We won't be going back again.

However, I'd like to mention one place that we thought was well worth the visit and that was the motor museum at Beaulieu. There was plenty to do, both indoors and out, even for people who are not that obsessed with cars and you could use the tickets again within the week, which was ideal for us camping in the New Forest. We found we easily filled the two days without repeating ourselves or having to pay for 'extra' rides so it worked out as good value. And you can take your dog! I'm pretty sure they didn't charge extra for parking and if you arrive by cycle they actually knock about 20% off your entry price. All in all we were impressed, which is pretty rare for theme park type places, usually we just come out exhausted and feeling ripped off!

I love days out in the UK. But you do have to choose carefully as some can be a bit grim.

Avoid Public Holidays like the plague for anything mainstream.

Oh the thinking of stuff is terrible.

Maybe keep a list on the fridge of possible ideas. Then when the 'where shall we go' starts, pick off the list, chuck it at the squabbling group and say 'choose any of the bottom 3.'

When I started my own thread (I think it's on the general travel board) one idea was to put all ideas on a spinner and each day somebody spins it to see what to do!

First rule is never, ever to leave one's house on a bank holiday weekend
Second rule is never, ever to go anywhere with wax works or out of work actors pretending to be Anne Boleyn/Samuel Pepys or similar- just too embarrassing
Third rule is never, ever to go to an organised family event
Fourth rule is that all NT catering is over-priced and dreadful

There are lots of wonderful places which have been ruined by being turned into "attractions" as an excuse for increasing the entrance fee. Latest shock was that Blenheim palace is now full of ghastly animatronics with heaving bosoms etc.. quite a giggle actually.

I much preferred the NT before it dumbed down; but it's still fundamentally a fabulous organisation

OP YABU. I've spent the last 2 weeks on 'staycation' and had soem brilliant days out, if you look online for discount vouchers (usually you will find a BOGOF voucher somewhere!) you can save a lot of cash on entry fees.

These past two weeks we've been to Lego Land, the zoo, a community farm, Sutton House museum, Hampstead Heath for the day, a local fairground, the park, a cupcake making session in the shopping centre. It's been fab!

YABU - there are loads of free days out in the UK - no need to go in to anymore details on those as other posters already have.

BUT - if you were disappointed by Easter Egg trails with rubbish clues that cost £s to enter then why not think about giving geocaching a try? Free treasure hunting (after the initial outlay of a GPS but they are quite inexpensive these days) and many 1000s to choose from - the number growing all the time. If yu get the DCs interested in that then you will never be at a loss for a days entertainment

Beamish is a fabulous place to go for a day out. There's so much to do and see and it's great for children and adults, so nobody needs to be bored!

"First rule is never, ever to leave one's house on a bank holiday weekend
Second rule is never, ever to go anywhere with wax works or out of work actors pretending to be Anne Boleyn/Samuel Pepys or similar- just too embarrassing
Third rule is never, ever to go to an organised family event
Fourth rule is that all NT catering is over-priced and dreadful"

Wise words.

Grockle avoidance, that's the key. Think about where the Great British Public will want to go, and avoid!

The organised days out we have enjoyed with all the different ages of our dds are Country/County shows. Usually about £15 per family inc. parking and a whole day or two of arenas with dogs, horses, daredevil stunts etc. Lots of foodie tents, 2ndhand bookstalls, wide open spaces for picnics, beer tents, coconut shies etc, Best vegetable/flower arrangement/furry animal marquees. Oh the list is endless. Looking forward to the Essex and Hertfordshire ones, must look out for dates!

Packing a sodding picnic is tedious for mum, or very exciting for DD2 who takes a packed lunch to school.

And as for self catering "holidays" in hired cottages, no dishwasher and your expected to spend your last morning cleaning.

Sorry hotel or travel lodge every time.

Forget £15 for a family to a Country Show. Just looked at 2012 prices and cheapest £25 and mostly £30!!! Thieving bastards

I need to second Beamish - fabulous day out loved by all!

And even better, it's an annual ticket so you pay once and it's valid for 12 months. Same price as a one visit family ticket so a bargain.

We've managed to hit rainy days on the 2 occasions we've been but raincoats on and we've been just fine. And a visit to the old sweet shop on the main street cheers us all up

LeeCoakley, see if you can make it to the Lambeth Country Show, in South London - it has free entry. they have the usual sheep shearing, horticultural displays, and vegetable carving, alongside African dancing and ska bands.

Ooh, country show sounds fab

I'd really love to go to an airshow too, but we don't live near any now (previously lived near Biggin Hill)

Yabu. I think "days out" in the uk are for people who are totally lacking in imagination and have more money than sense.

Charlotte - that looks fab! I have marked the dates on the calendar for this year. Thanks

I loathe 'living' museums and would rather gouge out my own eyes with a rusty spoon than spend a day at Beamish.

DH and DD enjoy it though.

I am totally lacking in imagination and have more money than sense

?Only boring people get bored.?

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