Days out - recommended by mumsnet members

[Marina]

Following on from Tigermoth's suggestion about festivals, fetes etc, how about recommending your "grand days out" for families here?
We had the nicest time yesterday with our two year old son. We drove to Tenterden in Kent (easiest via M20, but a prettier route via Goudhurst from A21/A262) and rode the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway to Bodiam Castle (National Trust). The line was only extended to the castle last year with Millennium Fund money and parking is much easier in Tenterden. The railway has little stations crammed full of memorabilia and gadgets and is run by child-friendly steam fans. It travels along the Rother valley which is full of waterfowl, reed beds, BIG cows, etc. You can even have lunch, tea or a drink on board.
Tenterden has a cafe, a children's play and picnic area, baby changing facilities and a station cat. Bodiam has ruins, a moat with tame carp in it, a river and lots of spiral staircases and dank little holes to explore, plus the usual NT facilities of proper loos for everyone, picnic space, tearooms etc. There is a lovely-looking Shepherd Neame pub on the riverbanks and, although we didn't have time, there is also a river barge running between the castle and nearby Northiam (close to one of the stations). All of it could be managed with a pushchair. What did you all get up to?

Marina - I will definitely be visiting Groombridge Place on your recommendation - it sounds lovely.

Over the Easter break I took my sons aged 6 and 3 to the Imperial War Museum (nearest tube Lambeth North, one stop from Waterloo on the Bakerloo Line). I thought it would be very much a "boys' thing" and was not desperately excited about spending the day with a load of tanks and aircraft, but as it was free, I thought we could always leave and go somewhere else if we didn't like it.

Well I have to say we were pleasantly surprised and spent a very happy 3 hours there, and there wwere plenty of girls as well as boys! Apart from the aforementioned tanks and planes, there was a model of a submarine which you could go inside, and a very interesting reconstruction of a First World War trench complete with life-size "talking" figures which my younger son kept saying hello to and wondering why he didn't get a reply! There was also a "Blitz Experience" and my favourite exhibit, a reconstruction of a 1940's house complete with old-fashioned milk-bottles firmly glued to the doorstep and an air raid shelter in the garden. Going into it was like stepping back in time and many things reminded me of my grandparents' house, for example the tiny black and white tiles in the bathroom and the old-fashioned light fittings. We had to go round it several times, because we all liked it so much! It was a bit like one of those houses at the Ideal Home Exhibition, but 60 years out of date.

I would definitely recommend visiting the museum with someone who can still remember the war - I'm going to take my Mum next time. There were several knowledgeable grandparents going round with their grandchildren.

Because I live in Surrey, I find we most frequent Godstone Farm and Bockets Farm, both of which were mentioned further down the thread.

I just just checked out the site for the Enchanted Forest, sounds absolutely wonderful. Definitely ear-mark that one for a future day out.

I find that we always seem to do the same things - every year we have one day at Chessington and the following year we go to Legoland. I find if we go more often than that, the children get bored with it.

Groombridge Place sounds really good fun and I am sure my two eldest will have a great time there.

Just had a fantastic day out last weekend with ds (aged 2+) at Birdworld near Farnham in Surrey. Dh was a bit reluctant as he 'expected a few scraggy parrots' but there was LOTS to do for little ones including a mini-farm area, several play areas, picnic/cafe areas etc. Entry price also includes entry into 'Underwater World' next door, but we ran out of time and ds ran out of energy (!) so we're definitely planning a return.

If you can make it as far as Liphook, try the Hollycombe Steam Collection. Great trains you can go on, and the bestest collection of old fashioned fairground rides I've ever seen. Can't wait to go back and do the helter skelter again!!

It's just about bluebell time, so if you are thinking of visiting Groombridge, the next few weeks would be perfect. The enchanted forest looks even more magical with bluebells underfoot.

Glad you had such a fab time, Marina.

We were in Devon for Easter, but afterwards spent a very pleasant afternoon at the playground at Kensington Gardens. My toddler loves the huge ship 'moored' there.

We also went to Chatham dockyard. Lots of ships and submarines to run around on, but the star attraction for both sons has now closed for the summer: it was a ski slope with real snow, created in an empty warehouse building adjacent to the museum. During the colder months, you can have snowboarding, ski and toboggoning (sp!!)instruction there. My two were in a state of extreme anguish that we had hit on it too late - the toddler had made a bolt for the slope entrance and then curled up on the floor saying it wasn't fair. The oldest was pestering the staff to let him on uninstructed for the last hour. We will be back when it returns in the winter.

In the meantime, we are going to the John Nike Winter Sports Centre in Kent (forgotten where, Chatham? Maidstone? - must look at the leaflet). Older ds wants his birthday outing to be there so we need to visit for a trial run. Has anyone been to one of these centres (they have lots round the country.) Is it good fun for a nearly 8 year old and a 44 year old?

If anyone lives near Bracknell, Berks The Look Out is well worth a visit (Easiest route via M3). There is a huge wood with trails for walking in, a large open space for building "wigwams" (my 4 year old thinks this is brilliant), and a discovery centre. The Discovery Centre is geared towards children of 5+, but my 4 year old had a fantastic time - making balls float in the air, lifting weights making shadow pictures etc. There is also a large play area, split for smaller and older children.
It also has a cafe, but there are plenty of picnic tables available. Baby changing facilites available. Dogs are allowed in the woods.
Legoland and Windsor are also close by, and just across the road is a fantastic pool called Coral Reef, with a pirate ship, slides an outdoor area, rapids etc.

Hever Castle is surprisingly child friendly. I tend to steer clear of castles and stately homes, fearing the toddler will do expensive damage to the tapestries or fall into the moat, but Hever goes out of its way to welcome children. It is a nicely compact castle and grounds - much smaller than Leeds Castle. It's full of interest with just enough to keep everyone happy for a long afternoon.

Adults get award-winning gardens, including a lovely Italian Garden, and a very well stocked plant shop.

Children get an adventure playground, with enough equipment to suit toddlers and older children for an hour or so.

They also get not one, but two mazes. The first is your typical yew maze. Our 7 year old thoroughly enjoyed being the leader in and out of it - indeed, most adults were being lead by excited children.

The second maze is fantastic and totally unexpected. It is a water maze. By treading on large stone slabs, you may or may not set off fountains. These are meant to block your way, so you turn back and go by another route. However, on our visit, the hot sunshine meant children far preferred getting soaked. Good idea to take a change of clothes.

It is suitable IMO for older toddlers, as long as you don't mind following close behind and getting a little splattered. The stone slabs are set very close together in a shallow lake - the water is under 2 feet deep. I was amazed to see some biggish toddlers sitting and watching the fun from a distance on their parent's laps. My toddler wouldn't have stood that for a minute. I carried him, running, through the fountains or followed close behind him. I did sense a few 'looks' from some of the sitting toddler parents, but equally some parents were doing as I did. Anyway, I'm rambling.

The castle tour is interesting and takes just 20 minutes. I didn't try the restaurant, but the cafe sold good food, especially the great home made cake selection - and was nicely inexpensive.

Hever castle is an easy drive if you live in SE London, like me. It is 20 minutes or so off junction 5 or 6 off the M25. Definitely worth a visit.

Tigermoth, you're bringing back the memories for me! We had family friends at Hever when I was a child. My 'uncle' was the local bobby and was also 'The Security' when the Royals came down, which they did quite often when the castle belonged to the Ascots. Prince Andrew was rude to my uncle once, not realising Prince Philip was round the other side of the Landrover. He got a right rollicking from his dad and had to apologise to my uncle. I think he was about 8 or 9 then. Gosh, we used to roam all over the countryside having a fantastic time in those days; how times have changed......

suedonim, lucky you. The countryside around there is so lovely.

Just found a fab site here wizziwiz which lists by county just about every activity you could think of.

what a great find, Jodee! Just tried it for Kent and, as you say, lots of info appeared on screen when I looked under 'attractions'. I will definitely be using it.

The only thing that was a disappointment was the 'events' info. I clicked for 'next 7 days' and then 'next 30 days'. No Kent events came up. I guess if you are running a site like this, it is really labour-intensive - you have to keep details so up to date. But IMO, it would be so useful to see info about local garden fetes, farm festivals, children's fun days, teddy bear picnics, boot sales, dog shows etc etc. I'd love to gather info like this and key it in. If only I could get paid for doing so!

A big thumbs up for "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". I took my son (he'll be 3 in July) at the weekend and he was uttlerly entranced. The sets are incredible and when the car flies it really is magical. It is v long though (2 1/2 hours) and some children did seem to find it hard going. At the end, it got a universal standing ovation.

It has also had the added bonus that the merest mention of the word "child catcher" sends him scurrying to tidy up with a never-before-seen energy!.

Tigermoth, yes, that was a disappointment. Wouldn't it be great to have all the local one-off events under one umbrella.

It's the Victorian Extravaganza in Llanddudno this weekend 4/5 May. Lovely traditional seaside town, pier, Punch & Judy, Alice in Wonderland Museum, locals dress in Victorian costumes and 'stroll'along the great prom - a good M&S for a quick picnic - also some good shops (always helps!!)
Went last year for the day and caught all the action by coincidence, booked for the weekend this year.

This isn't recommended by me, but a friend visited Tulleys Farm nr. Crawley which has an amazing maize maze. There are numerous ones around the country but they are only around for a couple of months so if anyone wants to visit, here's the link to the site:maizemaze .

Sorry, I don't think the link works, so try www.maizemaze.com

I'd second that jodee, we have done the maizemaze at Stewarts Garden Centre near Christchurch in Dorset a few times now and dd loves it. It is the largest maze in the world at the moment, split into 3 sections the first of which takes about 20 minutes. To do the lot takes all afternoon!! (They give you flags to wave if you want someone to come and show you the way out!!) There are are a number of smaller mazes to do at the entrance also. Well worth the trip if you are in the area.

We went to The Lost Gardens of Heligan yesterday near St Austell. Just to mention that I really wouldn't bother going with young children. It costs £6 per adult and £3 for our over 5 year old. There really wasn't much if anything to interest the children (unless they are budding botanists).

If you are going, take a picnic as £2.50 for a pre-packed sandwich (no plate or serviette) is a bit steep.

We would like to go back without the kids so we could look at a more leisurely pace and reckon May would be a great time to go as there were so many rhodedendrons. R

Come on you party animals, ideas needed for a PTA school trip in the christmas holidays in East Midlands/East Anglia or even central london

London Eye or Commonwealth institute ? or are they too far and too young for it. Good luck

Went today to Christmas Tree Farm in Downe Village, Kent which is great for hands-on feeding/cuddling of farm animals, plus rabbits and avaries etc; there was a magician there plus Punch and Judy. As I seem to be useless at links today the website is www.xmastreefarm.co.uk.

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I went do Sundown Adventure park near Retford (notts) - it was great, and loads to do for the kids. Here's the link

sundown

It's will suite up to 10 year olds.

In case my link doesn't work (it seems a bit dodgy, and I spelt suit wrong - whoops)

Here's the address www.sundownadventureland.co.uk