Do you know England really well? Can you help me plan our trip to Legoland?

[crutchlow35]

We are travelling from Perth to Windsor for Legoland.

Quite a distance so we want an overnight on the way down and one coming back (at least). We have a week off work so 9 days including the weekends.

DH really wants to do alton towers but reviews tell me there isn't much to do for 5 year olds so looks like we are missing that out but if it were you, where would you stop? Could do 2 nights if it was somewhere worthwhile for the three of us?

Legoland can be covered in 2 days I think so we will see some of Windsor also so may be 4 nights there but open to suggestions if you have any!

Drayton Manor might be a better option for a 5yr old , you could also perhaps take in Ironbridge. Windsor itself may not be overly exciting apart from the castle for a young child, so maybe a river trip or take train into London.

Lego land fine for a five year old ime though be warned, it us a bit crap generally. Massive queues and quite grimy everywhere.

We found a deal which was 2 days' park entry (only needed one though) plus hotel stay - macdonald Windsor, really good hotel right opposite the castle. All in, for for of us under £200. Including breakfast, usually 23 quid each.

River trip good call, or train into kew gardens?

Thanks. Yes,I have heard a few negatives about LLW but DS really does want to go so we are packing up the car and driving. Is rather do disney but that has poor reviews too and before I know it iam looking at flights to Florida!

Alton towers has cbeebies land opening. What's not to love?!

Can't imagine doing Legoland for 2 days myself. Torture. You will be sick of it. London is so much more exciting. It's real life. Mine loved London at 5.

Legoland is great!

We went yesterday and it was fine. Def do a day in Windsor too as there are lovely parks, ducks to feed, good restaurants and the castle.

I'm very impressed at that bargainous price, I looked recently at staying two nights in the legoland hotel and for 4 in one room it was £800!

Warwick Castle is a lovely day out for the whole family. Could that work on the way down or up? Chessington is also a good day out for a five year old so that may be worth investigating. Are you planning on seeing some of the sights in London?

We (without DS) have done London loads and loads and I don't think there is much I would like to see again except Fortnum and Mason food hall!

Will look at those suggestions. I had a real exciting moment when I realised how close we would be to Highclere castle but alas it is closed!

I think 1 day is plenty at legoland! For him and you!

I would do:
Legoland one day
Hampton court palace ( you can do boat trip there from Richmond)
Windsor castle
Kew garden

Richmond would be a good place to stay actually as tube or train ride into London and quick drive to legoland ( about hour)

Thorpe Park is really close to LEGOLAND, and Chessington not very much further away. I'd recommend Chessington over Thorpe Park if your children are young. Thorpe Park is (IMO) more suited to older children, a bit like Alton Towers. Warwick Castle is lovely, but about an hour's drive from LEGOLAND.

Depends if you're driving or using public transport, really.

Driving I think unless I can get really good train tickets. Thanks all.

I would suggest The Forbidden Corner in N Yorks for a visit on the way down- it's probably about half way on your Perth - London journey, and about 25 mins from A1M. It's a garden with hidden passages, follies and exiting bits and pieces and was always on our visit list when kids were younger. It 's near Middleham, which has a good castle for exploring.

Until you mentioned driving I was imaging you travelling from Perth, Australia! Thought that was a bit far just for Legoland!

Two days is perfect for Legoland. There is loads for a 5 year old to do that isn't rides. There's a brilliant splash play area (take swimming costume for DS and towel), a fabulous playground - both in Duplo Valley - puppet shows, and soon to be opening new pirate play area. We always spends loads of time just playing there.

Not sure why people think it's grubby - always been clean when we've been.

It's a big Lego advert, of course, but we have loads of Lego anyway and love it.

Thomas land is at Drayton manor
Shugborough hall, Stafford is gorgeous. Victorian farm, manor house and gardens, shop and restaurant. Wimpy on Milford common and walk onto cannock Chase
God I would do that instead of another theme park

When we've driven from the Midlands to Scotland (Edinburgh area) we have always stopped off in the Lake District, which is lovely - perhaps not interesting for a 5 year old but there are lots of woods and walks to tire him out and it's nice for the grown ups.

Would it be worth flying to London?

Warwick Castle is good but depends how easily scared your 5yo is - took DS when he was 4.5 and he was terrified of most of the inside bits - not even scary, just the whole thing of dressed up waxworks and general "old" feel I think - they have herb smells and some are in semi-darkness to get the full feel. He was even scared of the cheesy medieval music they pump through the bushes these days The falconry he liked though, and I think he'd have liked the archery if it hadn't been so cold. And he liked going up the tower - but that's a one way system, you can't back out halfway if it gets too scary.

It's probably similar to various things all over the country, but in the same sort of area there's Hatton Country World, which is a farm park with farm animals you can feed, guinea pigs you can cuddle, rabbits I think you can stroke them but not cuddle them, several good play areas, a maize maze if you go at the right time, tractor/pony rides, various other things like a pretend cow to milk (!) and if it's still there they used to have a gold hunting thing as well where you sift the sand in the river and look for fool's gold. And there's a brilliant sweet shop.

Or Sea Life Centre in Birmingham is good, and you've got the covered market which has some fantastic food really cheaply. If you go by rail Birmingham can be a good place to stop.

Try this for train tickets. www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets#app

Knebworth is great if the weather is good. There's a park full of dinosaurs (pretend, but real size) and a brill adventure playground, nice grounds.

There's Whipsnade zoo also not that far out of London on the way back and some nice B & B's round that area.

There's a great farm/ play place called Willows Farm: here

These are all close to London on the way home.

Disneyland Paris? Hundred times better than Legoland. Cheapest way to do it is to book hotel seperately through Expedia (using topcashback), then if you stay longer than 3 days buy annual season tickets. We've just got back from there.

We do the journey by car regularly from the central belt.

Legoland is great if you go when the Scottish schools are off and England isn't - there will be minimal, if any, queues.

Personally I would do the journey in one go- we lift sleeping DC in pj's at 5.30am, have snacks at ready in car, stop for brekki and change at 9ish and are in the Reading area for lunch. Works well for us. Go via M74 and M6 toll.

Think about getting a holiday house near Windsor - you can do Legoland and also day trips to London via Slough or Maidenhead - parking near the station is easy about £5 a day. Henley makes a nice day trip and take the scooter for a good roam round Windsor great park. Central Windsor great for eats and nice and compact.

We've done this a few time with Dc of similar age and it has been a good holiday and a good way to sample Lobdin cheaply as you are self catering ( got a supermarket delivery on first day).

Glow stick did you buy/think you needed to buy the q bot thingys? Thinking of going in first couple of weeks of July, think English schools still in then.

Only been in Scottish October and mid May hols and literally walked onto most rides. I would imagine early July would be okay too - will only be Scots, N ireland and preschoolers. Double check though it is not a local inset day!

Thanks, good thinking!