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Christmas

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Original poster

Has anyone been to Kew Gardens at Christmas?

18 replies

iloveholidays · 02/10/2014 19:36

We're about an hours drive away, thinking of going but want to know it's worth the drive.

We have 3 DDs aged 2, 3.5 and 5.5.

Thanks.

OP posts:
PuzzleRocks · 02/10/2014 19:40

I'm only a 15 minute drive away and probably wouldn't with a 2 and 3.5 yr old but that's me. We took dds age 7 and 5 last year and they loved it. We plan to do it again this year. The trail is enchanting and I was a big kid on the old pepper pot helter-skelter.

Guitargirl · 02/10/2014 19:43

Yes, we went last year to the light trail thing. It was rubbish. The DCs were distinctly underwhelmed. We did the Syon Park one the year before but in November and that was much better.

Original poster
iloveholidays · 02/10/2014 19:45

where is syon park?

thanks for your replies.

OP posts:
trainersandaches · 02/10/2014 19:45

Take a look on last year's light festival thing on TripAdvisor - it was a total disaster.

I went between Christmas and New Year (when entry is free) and it completely bucketed down and everyone was stuck inside the hot houses (not Kew's fault but I can see why they made it free as no one would go otherwise).

Guitargirl · 02/10/2014 19:47

Syon park also west london way, not a million miles away from kew, near Brentford, they also have a snakes and ladders thing soft play just next to the park which looks good and could probably be combined in a day trip to make it more worth the journey.

Guitargirl · 02/10/2014 19:51

I have just googled, Syon park is doing the enchanted woodland again this year. The dates are from 21 November to early December. It's not a Christmas thing, no grotto or rides or anything like that but honestly a million times better than kew.

Original poster
iloveholidays · 02/10/2014 19:52

Thanks all. I'm near Winchester so just looking for a couple of trips out.

Maybe I'll look into longleat again, just over an hour in the opposite direction.

OP posts:
Original poster
iloveholidays · 02/10/2014 19:53

Thanks Guitar, I'll have a Google now too Smile

OP posts:
pickwickcrocus · 02/10/2014 20:01

I started a thread about something similar a few days ago and a couple of people mentioned that kew was pretty dire.

We love longleat at Christmas and will definitely be going this year (using our tesco vouchers again!) The decorations are always beautiful and we have such an amazing time. This year dd will be 3 so we are taking her (hopefully) on the Santa train and I think I'm as excited as she will be!

Original poster
iloveholidays · 02/10/2014 20:02

Thanks PickWick. We went to Longleat over the summer holidays and loved it so am very tempted!

OP posts:
pickwickcrocus · 02/10/2014 20:13

This is my thread, might have some more ideas:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/a2195975-Have-you-been-somewhere-really-magical-in-the-UK-at-Christmas-and-never-forgotten-it

There is also the watercress line at Alresford - I haven't been there but friends have been to the Thomas the tank engine special days and really enjoyed it. We did visit the winter wonderland at Hyde park last year which was fun but a pretty long day out for a small person (as it really gets going only when it gets dark). I think I would still go again though, dd enjoyed it, but I might wait til she's a bit older.

I really love Christmas and love planning these days out!

Original poster
iloveholidays · 02/10/2014 20:17

Thank you! I fancy Hyde Park but again think I'd rather wait a year or two.

I've just started another thread so will see if I get any response from that. Don't really want to drive much more than an hour but have 2 free days in the weekends in December so would like to plan a couple of things.

OP posts:
PepsiTwirl · 02/10/2014 20:24

Don't waste ur time.

It was pants last year

Guitargirl · 02/10/2014 20:30

It's not cheap but would you think about Lapland UK? We went last year, the DCs enjoyed.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 02/10/2014 20:35

We went last year - we were completely underwhelmed too !

DC were 11 and 14 , it was tipping down (not anyones fault but it didn't improve things)
I thought a Lit Walk would have lots of magical festive lights ,nice pathways to walk along.
Truth was , there were areas with a few lights , then muddy pathways, staff dressed up along the route talking about "Whisperers " who talk to the plants at night.

It might be nice on a clear dry night but it wasn't Festive Sad

Imperial · 02/10/2014 21:59

I definitely preferred Syon Park to Kew. Would love to know more about using Tesco vouchers for Christmas at Longleat though. Do they get you to the safari bit etc. and then you just pay extra for the ice skating/Santa train etc.?

pickwickcrocus · 03/10/2014 09:01

imperial yes you go to the tesco website and use your vouchers in exchange for longleat at Christmas tickets (not the standard longleat ones). Tesco email you a code and then you have to go to the longleat website to buy your tickets with the code. Longleat email you the tickets and you print them off.

You can go to the safari, all the stuff in the house and surrounding area (like the singing Christmas tree which is fab!) but ice skating and the Santa train are extra. The ice skating can get pretty busy so we're not doing that, but will do the Santa train this year.

We probably aren't going to do the safari actually at Christmas either, just because there is so much to see and do in the house area that we would like to stay around there.

I can't wait!

Imperial · 03/10/2014 14:16

Thank you - that's really helpful

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