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Original poster

Bad family days - Windsor Castle

8 replies

NatalieW74 · 08/03/2011 13:51

Has anyone ever heard a really bad family day out? We had a nightmare at Windsor Castle a few years ago- the place was very unchildfriendly (had to carry pushchair up two flights of stairs and was then told that either had to take sleeping toddler out of pushchair or get out of state rooms!). One staff member was really rude too.

Has put me and family off going there for life!

Has anyone else ever had similar?

OP posts:

scrappydappydoo · 08/03/2011 14:07

We went to windsor castle yesterday (inset day) and agree the stairs are a pain - we weren't allowed to take pushchair into state apartments had to leave it in the cloakroom but that wasn't a problem for us. I sincerely hope its not difficult for wheelchair users. However, we found the staff incredibly polite, friendly and helpful. One made a real fuss of my 5 year old specially showing her where the Queen sits in the chapel and letting her climb up to have a look. So swings and roundabouts really.

goldenticket · 08/03/2011 14:10

Would you really expect lifts in a castle?

Wouldn't you just leave it a few years and go when they could walk?

FindingStuffToChuckOut · 08/03/2011 14:12

We had a great day out at Windsor Castle last autumn. I'm used to carrying buggy up & down stairs so it wasn't at all an issue. Understand it would have been difficult with a sleeping toddler though as you can only park up the buggy in the cloakroom, not take it though the State Rooms. Like scrappy we found the staff were really great with out then nearly 3 year old .

Bramshott · 08/03/2011 14:15

Oh we love Windsor Castle and go quite often ! My DDs are older though - 3 and 8, and we don't use a buggy.

Jacinda · 08/03/2011 14:35

I have visited many castles with baby in a sling. Some places have even carriers for hire. Other solution would be to have footmen to carry buggies around. Might be expensive though.

Katisha · 08/03/2011 14:38

Call me a miserable old bat, but I rather prefer places not be be given over to child friendliness.

As said earllier - take them to this sort of place when they are older. Or else appreciate that they haven't been designed for toddlers.

TheDogsBollocks · 08/03/2011 14:41

what is wrong with taking child out of buggy and carrying him/her. It would not have been a problem for me.

Bunbaker · 25/03/2011 21:20

I'm sort of with Katisha on this. Castles and other old buildings are not theme parks. They can't change the interiors without compromising their antiquity. The reason we visit old buildings is so that we can see how people lived long ago.

Last summer DD and I went to Chillingham Castle. It is privately owned and isn't subject to the same health and safety regulations that a National Trust or English Heritage property is. It all added to the charm of the place. Although I'm glad that MIL wasn't with us as she would have struggled with the stairs and the uneven floors.

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