Anywhere nice to meet, eat and run around , M25 Essex/Kent bit?

[minxthemanx]

Bluewater is exactly half way between my family & I but not much fun for the children.
Anywhere in that area ish that's a good day out?

Anyone? Is Downe House any good?

I'm not so sure about Essex but as for Kent

Chartwell nr Sevenoaks (National Trust) has lovely gardens and a good restaurant/tea room

or Leeds Castle nr Maidstone, again lovely gardens etc

or The Hop Farm Country Park nr Tonbridge, farm, restaurant play areas etc really good for young children

Groombridge Place Gardens And Enchanted Forest nr Tunbridge Wells, better for older children as there is lots of things to swing and climb

downe house is the most boring place on earth (shuddering at memories of school trips)

Agree about Downe House. Yawn.
What about...shit...can't remember the name of it. Right by Bexleyheath, just off A20...hang on...

Hall PLace! www.bexley.gov.uk/service/parks/hallplace.html

YOu could nip down to the Crazy Barn off North Cray Road from there - it's a fab soft play that does the BEST food ever.

May be too far away but Godstone farm is brilliant

Thank you for all your ideas, guess I'll give Downe House a miss!! Had thought about Chartwell - good idea.

There is not a lot for families to do in the Bexley borough. I am at present about to start up my own children's activity centre which hopefully, will be in Crayford. In this I intend to have soft play, climbing walls, arcade games and an activity hall. However, opening such things in this borough is not easy to get passed the council! If anyone regularly visits these sort of events please give me your feedback on what you think about party centre such as this opening in this area.
I also intend to open a restaurant (not too pricey) which will be good for the adults as their considerations seem to be missed out in some of these places.
Let me know if you have any suggestions which would make these places more enjoyable for the whole family.

There is a farm park at Brentwood, just off the M25/A12 turn off - just in case you fancy the Esses side of the bridge.

that is called old mcdonalds farm in case anyone wants to look it up.

scroll down the page below and you can get one child in for free

www.netmums.com/listings/PLACES//60/Farms//

I know it's a bit further round, but Hever Castle in Kent is a fab day out for children and adults alike.

Lots of space to run round, beautiful gardens, various different mazes to get lost in (if its been raining take wellies if you want to do the yew maze and a towel if you want to try the water maze which blocks off exits by squirting you).

Make sure you bring extra bread to feed the fish in the ponds as we ended up using most of our sandwiches for that!

Well worth the extra few miles you'd have to go! Oh and you can use your tesco days out vouchers there too.

Don't be put off by the 'history' stuff its a great day out even if you're not into that side of it at all. And if you are (or the kids are doing Henry VIII at school) you can dip in and out of the history as much as you like.
Also you pay separately for a ticket if you want to go into the castle (museum bit), so you can easily skip it if you don't want so much of the history part. There's lots to do without that anyhow though my son did enjoy the castle part very much at the age of 7.

www.hevercastle.co.uk/