For people who like Bekonskot, how about this for a rainy weekend?

[JanH]

Pendon Indoor Model Village and Railways, Long Wittenham, nr Abingdon

Every Sat & Sun 2pm-5.30pm, plus Bank Hols etc, and no space for pushchairs inside so slings/backpacks would be better, but it looks so nice!

ooh thanks Janh that's really close to us and i don't think i'd even heard of it!

It looks great for little ones, doesn't it, cf?

There is a museum for (full-size!) old-fashioned buses at Long Hanborough, is that anywhere near you? (Oxon seems like a fab county for Stuff!)

Yes, but sadly I also haven't taken ds yet, but get a frisson whenever I see the 'Bus Museum' sign

thanks, you have inspired me to get on with going to some of these things

slight problem that dh always says 'do you want to go to the bus museum' to which ds will often say No, being 3

and then dh will turn to me and say 'he doesn't want to go to the bus museum' and only on rare occasions have I burst out 'he's 3 he doesn't know what he wants' in manner of Victorian Mum

Well if DS will take you (leave DH at home) on Mother's Day, you will get in free

We went to Pendon years ago - and it looks as though they have set up various new scenes since then. Basically there is a model railway scene that is in the middle of a large room, protected by perspex/glass and you can view it from all sides - by walking around. Children in pushchairs wouldn't be able to see anything and the pushchairs would clog up the walkways so be prepared to carry babies and toddlers. It will occupy the DHs all afternoon!

Oh, it sounds like the York Model Railway which I have been to - that's all waist-height and behind windows - it's dark inside with the scenes lit up, like an aquarium, is Pendon like that too or daylight?

Oh, have looked at those pics now and only some of it is dark (we went about 10 years ago so I don't remember too well!)