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 ?

We have agreed on a day in London as part of our Staycation. The main purpose being to visit the Sherlock Holmes museum.

I agree it's worth trying to find all the lesser known, smaller places. My third date with DH - 9 years ago now :) - was to the Freud museum!

Anything owned by Merlin is expensive, I liked Warwick castle but last went in 2004 what could they have done to it ?

Dynamic Earth is way worse than the Sea Life Centre.

How does one build an attraction for children with no toilets in the middle and no seats during any of the 'mini-shows'. And, no, having 2 lifts does not make you 'accessible' for people with disabilities. It just means you can get into the building. Not at all helpful if you have a child with urinary continence issues or hearing sensitivity or afraid of any part of the poorly designed building.

I really want to go to a science centre or 'science park'

Any near West Sussex?

there are some real gems out there, and some utter rip-offs as well.

i don't really "get" taking the DC to NT properties - they're not interested in the houses for more than 10minutes, and the food is uniformly awful (special mention to Tatton Park here). it's all very well saying bring sandwiches, but if you're out in the cold all day it's so much nicer to have somewhere to warm up at lunch. we usually find a nice child friendly pub near a beauty spot instead.

the National Park visitor centres are often great - little cafes, play areas and easy access walks with no charge. we went to the one in the Lake District today, and the one on the N.York moors is fab.

one of our best recent finds was the Museum of Lancashire Life, which is very hand-on. DC were there happily for about 3 hours, compared with 30mins at the Imperial War Museum North.

I went to Warwick Castle last year and we just climbed up and down the ramparts and turrets, walked around and played hide and seek and (accidentally) nicked a cup of tea from the chaotic cafe. It was ace.

Then we watched a falcon show and stuff. We ignored all the 3D dragon shite and Princess Dress Up nonsense (you pay extra) and had our own fun.

For lunch, we nipped into Warwick and went to J D Wetherspoons. Cheap as chips.

Fuzzpig there's one at Winchester, called Intech, depending where you are in W. Sussex that might not be too far

emilly

intresting you sya not accessible .I found it really good access wise as im in a wheelchair and ds has sn found plenty of places so ds could sit down .

And the staff were good at any of the shows about getting us in

Though do agree is a pita toilets are at start of the endc

Fuzzpig - there is also the observatory science centre in Hailsham, East Sussex
www.the-observatory.org/

The National Trust is all crap for DCs, unless the weather is amazing and you are just going to run round the gardens, and then it's only as good as a local park, where you will probably feel less fear that your DCs will run over and ruin an expensive flower bed.

Plan better, and when the weather is as crap as it was today, don't plan on 'outdoorsy' activities...

I went to Sherwood Pines Forest Park today, long walk in the woods a picnic and hours of fun with DD's making a den out of tree branches and playing on the climbing equipment dotted around the park, total cost about £10, bliss.

BBQ, re your point earlier, what things do you enjoy doing with the kids, besides what you name implies?!

Warm foreign climes aren't an option for us - adult passports expired years ago and have never got ones for dses. Would cost us a kidney or two to pay for a full set. So we have lots of very cheap days out within 40 mile radius of home.

Had a brilliant wildlife survey/egg hunt on Long Mynd yesterday, for the grand total of £2 per entry. So, £6 for eggs, about a tenner for diesel at the absolute most, picnic cost about a fiver and parking free as one of our party was an NT member so had the car sticker.

Flying to Spain wouldn't be the end of the costs, would it? You'd still have to pay for food, accommodation, entertainment/theme park type place, unless you all like sitting round doing nothing. In which case, why do you need a day out anyway?

LeQ

Natural History is best for the kids IMO, but the Science Museum is a close second. The earthquake zone and the escalator ride into a giant globe (both SM) were big hits with my two (also the 18th century medical instruments...I have budding serial killers strange kids)

I love the natural history it is a great day out

We went to Warwick castle last week; it is expensive but I thought they did things pretty well. DD enjoyed the Dragon tower thing but I thought it naff; she didn't want to go into the dungeon so that saved a bit. She's too old for the 'princess' crap The 'falcon' show was sodding great big eagles which I've never seen flown anywhere else ,the swordfighting and trebuchet are good. Something about climbing the spiral staircases while freezing knackered my legs though!

We also went to Ragley Hall - can't remember price, but apart from the usual house and gardens it has the best kids playground. There's really big stuff meant for over 12s (why do so many playgrounds not cater for young teens?)as well as loads of smaller equipment, and the multi-level maze.

(we were spending 3 nights in Stratford - the main events were the Tempest and Comedy of Errors. Having one 13yr old we get to do proper culture nowadays as well as having a playground connisseur )

Then en route back north Ironbridge - the year family pass is ~£65 but includes 10 sites which you can visit as many times as you want in a year and they punch it so that if you haven't done them all within the year you can do the ones you missed any time later - that's more generous than most.

On the way down, RAF museum - couple of quid to park and its FREE and really good. The interactive stuff is well designed and all actually works.

Someone mentioned Martin Mere - that's near us, and granny used to live near Slimbridge so we have WWT membership. Brilliant, we always enjoy it. There's kids stuff (good playground, craft, usually something like pond dipping) but proper wildlife too out on the meres. The canoe trail is quite fun too esp if you make the kids paddle

DD went to the Museum of Lancashire Life with school a few years ago and was underwhelmed - I'd heard they'd improved it, sounds like we should give it a go

Thanks for the links! :)

LeQueen - NHM is still fantastic, as is Science Museum. Both very child friendly (British museum is lovely but, IMO, not so great for young children). Main advice would be: don't rely on getting food there as it is very overpriced, and also don't worry about 'seeing everything' - there is so much there it's impossible unless you zoom round.

I think Warwick Castle is fabulous too. It is expensive but it keeps us happily occupied for the whole day so I think it's worth it. Also, you can often get 2 for 1 vouchers. I know the AA used to do them.

LeQueen the Natural History and Science Museum can barely be chosen between. From your posts I think you would also love the V&A. Book yourselves into the Premier Inn in Putney (about £100 for all of you) and 20 mins from South Ken on the tube. From all you have ever posted I think you and your girls would enjoy a museum a day plus a jaunt into Harvey Nicks and Fortnums. You could wave at us over the river

Here are some of the ways of getting 2for1 for Warwick Castle:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/cheap-theme-parks/warwick-castle-vouchers

Loving all the links and info on promotions/tips etc