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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

377 replies

Heswall · 08/04/2012 16:39

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 ?

OP posts:
ValentineBombshell · 11/04/2012 20:23

Can I recommend the cresswell walks and trails in north nottinghamshire, just south of Worksop/across form Chesterfield incorporating a tour of cresswell crag, donning hard hats and getting a guided tour into the caves - dcs need to be 5 and over, afair.

marriedinwhite · 11/04/2012 20:42

We took ours to Eurodisney when they were 6 and 10. It was about £550 all in for two days - we drove. It was fabulous and DH and I were dreading it. I think I'd save the pennies until your dc is old enought to remember it though. We though the package we had was very good value for what we got. Lunch and dinner on top.

OrmIrian · 11/04/2012 20:48

It's bloody April. What do you expect? We've had some lovely days but they aren't all that warm atm so I wouldn't dream of organising a 'day' out - we'd go out for a few hours only.

BTW what sort of days out do you get in Spain?

Louboo2245 · 11/04/2012 20:49

I've got to say generally, I don't do 'days out' but my sister forced me to do the National Mining Museum Yesterday and we had a blast, with picnic and bags and buggies in tow.
1 nine year old, 3 seven year olds, 1 three year old and 1 two year old and four adults the entire day cost us 8 quid for the easter egg hunt and there was something for everyone!
I think I may have been converted, we're off the amourys tomorrow :)

Pitmountainpony · 11/04/2012 21:11

Thanks married white. That did cross my mind but he is free till he is 3 .
No doubt if we stay in the us we will return when he is older. It is only an hour down the road so no hotel bills but the point is I thought 35 quid each adult per day was a lot but this thread is making it look like a bargain!

marriedinwhite · 11/04/2012 22:07

A UK theme park is £39 for an adult per day, although we have lots of two for one offers.

elvisaintdead · 11/04/2012 22:29

Sorry Heswall, would have replied but we have been out all day having a picnic in the forest in the rain. The kids managed to "pretend" to enjoy themselves all day except when it was time to leave when they all "pretended" to be grumpy and sad that it was hometime. Wink

I think when you live in a country where the weather is unpredictable you either learn to work round it or spend all year looking forward to 2 weeks abroad in the sun...the former works for me and my family but each to their own.

Original poster
Heswall · 11/04/2012 22:33

Glad to hear to Elvis, I guess it's also down to expectation if you don't know any better then the rain wouldn't bother you as much I guess.

OP posts:
Original poster
Heswall · 11/04/2012 22:34

Hear it, iPhones gone strange

OP posts:
elvisaintdead · 11/04/2012 22:40

hahahahahahahahaha Heswall, I think most people (me included) have ventured beyond the UK's shores. I pity you, if you really feel that badly about a bit of wet weather I would urge you to emigrate asap Grin

Original poster
Heswall · 11/04/2012 22:57

I don't need your pity but a cash donation towards the airfare would be well received, I'll pm you the PayPal address.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 11/04/2012 23:04

What on earth did parents "bored" by days out and unpredictable weather do before internet enabled phones? There are plenty of cheapish days out you can have: just wrap up for heaven's sake. No wonder some children get bored so quickly if their parents need so much entertaining.

And as for "abroad" having more to offer and nicer weather - it pissed down and blew a gale in Rome on Easter Saturday.

Original poster
Heswall · 11/04/2012 23:15

To be fair pre DC's DH and I found it fairly easy to entertain ourselves and free of charge too, I think that's what led to the DC's though.

OP posts:
OneLittleBabyTerror · 12/04/2012 08:39

Elvis I think british generally are very down on their own country. Like the rain. People like Heswall whine about how much it rains here. And at the same time, I get so many brits telling me how they dream of emigrating to New Zealand. (I'm from Auckland). It rains so so much more in Auckland, and most of the country tbh. I just looked up precipitation of Auckland vs Edinburgh. (On the stereotype that Scotland is always raining). There isn't a single month that's not more wet in Auckland than Edinburgh! And you know what, we kiwis are very proud of our weather, and think of it as sunny and warm most of the year. It's all in the attitude.

JenWhite · 12/04/2012 13:16

LittleMissGreen - which two NT properties are you talking about? We went to Trerice for the first time this Easter holiday and I have to say it shattered every illusion I had about NT people - we had such a good welcome and day out trying on armour (they do costumes too apparently). We joined the NT before leaving and got our entrance fee back and are going to Glendurgan soon to explore the maze.

I don't know how long the NT has upped is game with families but this was not how I remembered them from my own childhood!

Would just be interested to know what other NT properties are particularly family friendly.

GrimmaTheNome · 13/04/2012 11:15

Glendurgan's maze is the only one I've ever actually enjoyed.

today's picture of the day on Bing reminded me of this thread (note - you'll only get the one I mean today, Fri 13th April)

minimathsmouse · 13/04/2012 16:19

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes we will look into visiting the Royal Armouries, the boys would probably love that, thank you. We live about 1.5hrs away from Portsmouth. We have never used our tent before so we thought we would try a short range camping mission first Grin

Just as Heswall has a cloud in tow I think I must have a giant umbrella. Went to Sheffield park NT yesterday, rained on the way there and rained on the way home. However we had two hours of sunshine while we walked around. Nothing as strange as British weather.

mankyscotslass · 13/04/2012 16:39

Just back from a walk along the canals and a look at the lock flights at Marple - the kids loves it and we spent ages watching the narrowboats go through the system - we had snacks and drinks with us, so it only cost us the train fare.

Well worth a trip out, even though it did try to rain.

NiceHamione · 13/04/2012 18:22

Emigrating is perhaps a little drastic but maybe Hewall you should think about moving . You sound so unhappy and negative , I couldn't bear to live like that.

Taffeta · 13/04/2012 18:27

Just back from a day at the Science Museum. Used DH's Travelcard for me and the DC got train tickets for £1 each. Oyster fare for me to South Ken.

And......it wasn't busy!!!!!

I think its much better to go there during a holiday rather than half term, as half term is so short, more people there iyswim. Last time I went, last Feb half term there was a 45 min queue for Launchpad. No queue, no crowds this time.

Original poster
Heswall · 13/04/2012 18:47

Gosh Nice Hamione did you mean that to sound as rude as it does ?

Do you just search my posts and then post the opposing view ?
I couldn't bear to be as twatish as that.

OP posts:
NiceHamione · 13/04/2012 18:51

No I was not trying to be rude at all, we lived somewhere we didn't like and we were unhappy and quite negative . We struggled to plan days out, struggled to find somewhere to eat out, etc ...

As I said we could not go on living like that so we moved and we are now much happier people .

NiceHamione · 13/04/2012 18:52

But if giving advice makes me a twat, I am sorry.

ScoopThePoop · 13/04/2012 19:14

Here's my contribution to the discussion - trying to detract from the "getting personal" posts.

I think places that used to be cheap and cheerful have changed into themed attractions in order to get more punters in and keep the businesses going.
They become bigger (not necessarily better) to justify the entrance price.

It makes them less attractive in my eyes, as they appear impersonal and expensive.
I know it's a massive generalistion, but there are a few places round where we are that we hardly visit anymore, due to the above reasons.

Mind you, with two growing daughters, your average farm attraction just isn't cool!
They are now into outdoor pursuits stuff. They went off rock climbing and abseiling all day today. £20 each, 9am-5pm.
The local Primary school is charging £30 for all day care......

GrimmaTheNome · 13/04/2012 19:36

Scoop - there's truth in what you say. And when they're big enough, 'real' activities can be much better and not necessarily expensive. We hardly did any 'days out' last summer - because every saturday, come wind or shine but mostly rain, DD was up on a pennine reservoir learning sailing in the morning (£3) and windsurfing in the afternoon (£5), cheap food, convivial company.