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 ?

I remember visiting Clovelly in the 80s as a child

I remember my parents parking a mile away and walking there so we didn't have to pay the entrance/parking fee!

We have just spent the afternoon going round and round a very short track on an assortment of miniature steam trains in the freezing cold. For this privilege we have paid £18. I thought the £1.50 each to go in was reasonable enough, but once we'd got in, we discovered that it was a further £1.50 each for every single two-minute ride.

Grimma for some reason you have just reminded me of the Coakley days out on Mersea Island. Seeing how long each member of the family could stand in the howling wind and eat a doughnut before being forced back to the car to gulp for breath! We made our own entertainment in the 'good old days!'

Have booked my dcs into Alton Towers Resort and am getting the chills reading this thread!

Otoh, this is a rare outing for us, normally it'sophisticated stuff like muddying in Blakeney, shower and retreat to warm pub for food; feeding the horses at the horse and donkey sanctuary and find a nice pub; treetops walk and find a nice pub...

There are some English Heritage places we like, Dover Castle for it's er...castle but also the underground secret tunnels, but agree traipsing round a grand house looking at furniture doesn't really light my fire.

nothinggold... sounds like you live in a different country to me . We nearly always park in a layby. We don't go on 'organised trails'. Sometimes we'll be on a well-trodden path but sometimes theres nowt but sheep and skylarks.

Yes it's the "organised" things I hate.
LeeCoakley...that sounds fantastic. Good old fashioned cheap fun without a themed shop and rip off cafe.

We used to have NT membership when the dcs were small...loved Powis Castle and Chartwell, but didn't use it much for a long time. I cancelled, then last year they sent me the membership anyway.

Nice that you've the money for Joules and 60 quid days out. Plenty haven't. Book your frigging break in Spain and stop stealth boasting.

No need for the - surely you expected somebody to point that out? A Joules bodywarmer is what? £40/£50? and your kids obviously place little value on it.

I lost it, not the child.

We have just had a picnic lunch in the rain :o

Yes but Heswall you've started a thread in AIBU about how awful it is to have to go on family days out in expensive clothing.

Right back atcha!

Heswall why don't you give us a vague idea where you live (general area) and we can suggest great days out.

Do you think you are over planning your days? Rather than heading to theme parks and stately homes how about Picnics in the woods / bbq on the beach / fishing - all cheap and the kids love it.

OTOH maybe I've been missing out all these years not going to Spain. Is there lots to do for free when you get there?

He was not giving me the finger it was taken at the park I think by one of his mates. I am not that well atm today he came with me to costa for coffee and a toastie for lunch and has been here all day eating chocolate and watching old re runs of fresh prince. He is a sweet heart even with the middle finger

Ps. how many people have just visited noddys profile

Noddy...is that you in the photo?