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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this day out unreasonable?

53 replies

thecatinthetwat · 28/09/2019 11:32

I want to take the dc out tomorrow to Windsor castle,
but DH says it's too far (about an hours drive) and too expensive
(60 quid).

Do you think an hour is too far for a day out? Is DH just being a bit grumpy here?

I just wanted to go somewhere fun and didn't think this was too far
or too expensive.

We haven't been for a proper day out since June if that makes a difference. Opinions please?

YABU = day out either too far or too expensive
YANBU = day out sounds nice

OP posts:
NicolaStart · 28/09/2019 12:50

Of course you should go for a day out if you can afford it, and an hour ‘s drive is fine.

But Windsor Castle isn’t the most exciting castle we have visited.

HeyitsPorscha · 28/09/2019 12:51

Only thing I would say is parking is very expensive around Windsor but definitely go! Windsor is lovely to mooch around. An hour is nothing for a day out

ImNotYourGranny · 28/09/2019 12:55

The distance is nothing. I drive further than that to get to the supermarket. But Windsor Castle isn't worth the price.

Original poster
thecatinthetwat · 28/09/2019 13:03

But Windsor Castle isn’t the most exciting castle we have visited.

Oh, what are some good ones @NicolaStart ?

We're in the South, but happy to hear about ones in North too as we go up North to visit family regularly.

Spend your £60 on joining the National Trust rather than propping up the Saxe-Gotha-Battenburg benefit scroungers. Then you can visit all sorts of places for free.

That's a great idea @MouthyHarpy Smile

Where is good to go with National Trust??

OP posts:
Original poster
thecatinthetwat · 28/09/2019 13:05

More than happy to hear other options for good days out..

Ideally I wanted some edu-fun - something fun and educational (hence castle) but other options would be good too!

OP posts:
BlueEyedBengal · 28/09/2019 13:09

Y a n b u sounds great and not too expensive so enjoy.

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 28/09/2019 13:10

He just doesn’t want to go Grin

Go without him.

pinkyredrose · 28/09/2019 13:11

Sounds good but the weather's meant to be shite tomorrow.

KUGA · 28/09/2019 13:26

Sounds like your dh is a tight fisted git.
We travel from Staffordshire to Brean Sands in somerset for the day a 2n half hour trip but so worth it.
Go for it and leave tight arse at home if possible.
Hope you can drive.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.

BeanBag7 · 28/09/2019 13:34

There are more interesting places to go for £60 than Windsor Castle.
Family membership for national trust is £126 or if your husband is a grumpy you can go without him for £78 year.

Chedworrh Roman Villa near Swindon was really good.

swingofthings · 28/09/2019 13:37

Does he commute to work? As someone who commuted over an hour mornings and evenings the last thing I would have wanted to do over the week-end was to drive an hour to go see a castle, even if someone else did the driving. Also is an hour assuming no traffic?

It also depends on your kids' age. Will it be a treat to them? I personally wouldn't spend £60 to visit the place, there are many stunning castles in the South much cheaper.

onalongsabbatical · 28/09/2019 13:38

Nat Trust has literally hundreds of places. Cost you more than £60 for a family for a year, but once you've got it, free entry to them all. Well worth it IMHO. Have an explore of their website, see what's nearest to you for starters. We've been members for years and give it as a gift to my DD and her husband and kids every year too and they use it a lot. (They'd tell us to stop wasting the money if they weren't using it!)

They're also much better nowadays at putting on things to keep the kids engaged.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

Original poster
thecatinthetwat · 28/09/2019 14:45

Chedworrh Roman Villa

Thanks @BeanBag7 will have a look into that!

No he doesn't commute @swingofthings -- anywhere you would recommend?

@onalongsabbatical that is a great gift! I will take a look at their website - thanks!

OP posts:
NoSauce · 28/09/2019 15:00

but DH says it's too far (about an hours drive) and too expensive

I don’t think it’s too far but without knowing your cash situation it’s hard to say whether it’s too expensive. Can you afford £60 plus petrol money and whatever you’ll end up buying ie ice cream, coffee, if you can then do it.

MouthyHarpy · 28/09/2019 15:03

Here;s the National Trust website: put in your location and see what's there.

National Trust Family membership

A family membership (2 adults) is £126 - twice the entrance to Windsor castle, but much much better value.

The other organisation which has probably more castles is English Heritage, but they don't have as many properties overall as the NT.

English Heritage membership

But with either, you're supporting places owned by the nation, not one of the wealthiest lot of scroungers on the public purse in the country.

Original poster
thecatinthetwat · 28/09/2019 15:20

@MouthyHarpy

But with either, you're supporting places owned by the nation, not one of the wealthiest lot of scroungers on the public purse in the country.

Oh, are the National Trust and English Heritage public owned? I had no idea!

I'll look at both - but English Heritage sounds brilliant!

-- Thank you!

And thanks to everyone - you've been great!

OP posts:
HiJenny35 · 28/09/2019 15:22

I wasn't that impressed by Windsor castle, lots of walking outside so if it's rain that won't be much fun. The rooms are all on a snake type situation so you are kinda stuck doing all the rooms in one go and keeping up with the flow of people. I also didn't find the amount of information that thrilling however the guides are really nice. Depends on the age of your children but I think if I only had £60 to spend on a day out once every few months I might be looking at somewhere like Colchester zoo or longleat or Audley end where there's a bit more variation.

RachelEllenR · 28/09/2019 15:23

Do you go in the M4 to get there? If so then be aware that part is closed this weekend. It's also the Windsor half marathon tomorrow so may be extra busy in Windsor.

JennyBlueWren · 28/09/2019 16:15

Where I am (rural) an hour's travel to get to a day out is reasonably common (once a month?). £60 seems a lot unless that includes travel, entry, activities and food for everyone for the whole day which isn't too bad actually when you think about what it costs to go to the cinema or get a takeaway or other similar cost trip.

Really if it's in budget and something everyone will enjoy then do it. If it's just for you offer to go on your own.

barcodescanner · 28/09/2019 16:31

My kids preferred English Heritage to National Trust. They also like going to Leeds Castle (Tickets valid for a year). An hour is nothing and we go without my husband.

Aprillygirl · 28/09/2019 16:34

An hours drive is nothing, and considering your kids didn't get a day out through the whole summer holidays $60 isn't too much to ask either. And I say that as someone who is about as far away from rich as you can get. Your DH sounds like a selfish,tight old grump.

cantfindname · 28/09/2019 17:03

I would check the weather first!! I am not a million miles from Windsor and tomorrows forecast is dreadful.

Otherwise it sounds like a lovely day and an hour isn't far.

TipseyTorvey · 28/09/2019 17:28

I actually like Windsor Castle. The dolls house is brilliant on a quieter day and there are some really interesting rooms etc. However it's best on a sunny day when you can picnic along the long mile. I don't think an hour is too far at all, unless you have small DC but I'd never take my DC to Windsor Castle anyway 😂. All my trips there were pre DC. If there are DC involved then yes, national trust is a better bet.

bridgetreilly · 28/09/2019 17:30

I think it also depends quite a lot on how old your children are. If they're too young to enjoy it, then it is quite far and quite a lot of money to waste on a potentially miserable day.

Original poster
thecatinthetwat · 28/09/2019 17:33

Do you go in the M4 to get there? If so then be aware that part is closed this weekend. It's also the Windsor half marathon tomorrow so may be extra busy in Windsor.

Sage advise @RachelEllenR

Thanks for all the weather tips too guys!

I'll hold off for now and look into some other options - esp. EH or NT.

OP posts:
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