day out in surrey, kent or essex

[moogalicious]

Hi there, just wondered if anyone knew of anywhere to visit in Surrey, Kent or Essex. I am taking my 3 dc's and nephew - ages range from 2-8.

I'm really after something between Worthing and North London so no one has too long a journey.

Something cheap!

Something outdoors with a playpark and maybe animals - a bit like Tilgate Park in Crawley if anyone knows it.

TIA

My parents took DC here and they all (including Mum & Dad) loved it.

Hop Farm

Not what I'd call cheap, but good value as they got there when it opened and had to be chucked out at closing! As with most of these places, best to take your own food/drinks as much as possible

Not quite in Essex, but close:

www.pwpark.com/

Cheap if you use Tesco vouchers.

Many thanks!

Hop farm a bit out of my price range, although looks fab.

Paradise Park - I'm from that neck of the woods originally! Brings back memories but again, a bit too much money for me.

We only need to kill a few hours really - lunch and then the afternoon, so maybe not a farm or zoo. Perhaps a nature walk or woods? Anyone?

Ah. The Essex Wildlife Trust site at Langodn in lovely

here

It's the site of the old plotland houses (used by Londoners during the war) which has been allowed to return to nature. There are 3 waymarked walks, I think the shortest is only c 1.2km and takes in the one remaining plotland cottage which is now a small museum. Not always open, need to ring in advance, but the garden is interesting even when the house is closed and you can peer through the windows, which might be better with little ones!

At the visitor centre there's a wildlife garden and you can get a hot choclate. Perhaps not it's best time of year, but a lovely way to spend a couple of hours.

Oo, that looks good - thanks!