Half Term (2 June - 5 June 2010) Events and places to visit in West Surrey / North Hampshire / East Berkshire?

[nannynick]

Trying to plan Half Term week. I care for a 2 year old and a 5 year old.

Anyone know of any events, places to go in the West Surrey / North Hampshire / East Berkshire area which may be suitable? Say within around 20 miles of Virginia Water.

I have heard about a new Adventure Golf course in Maidenhead... does anyone know any details about it such as cost and opening hours?

I start this type of message thread almost every school holiday... so I'm not looking for the obvious things (Legoland, Lookout, Alice Holt, Windsor Great Park).

Some ideas so far of places to go:

Riverhill Gardens (Sevenoaks - so a bit far but looks close to motorway).

Kids club at Cinema

Maidenhead Adventure Golf (if I can find out the cost)

Frimley Lodge Park Pitch & Putt (again, any ideas of cost?)

Sculpture Park

Watercress Line Steam Railway (cost is higher than budget, though I get free travel which will help.)

Ideally cost wise I'm looking for things that will cost £10 or less for 1 adult, 2 children (aged 5 and 2).

I also hope to find my tent (must be in the loft somewhere) so we could do Camping in the Garden.

5 year old has started doing Golf at school... not sure how good he is. So looking at Pitch & Putt / Crazy Golf type things. Are there any in Weybridge area?

Jurassic Encounter is in New Malden... cost quite high though - £20 at the look of it.

We went to Runnymeade Pleasure Ground at the weekend and it was fab for the kiddies. Lovely park on the Thames, lots of shady trees to sit under and picnic. There's a small free kiddies paddling pool (take bathers and towels). Also a free playpark with reasonable kit, a cafe and a very small amusement park (bouncy castle, carousel, go-karts, obviously for a fee). Lots of car-parking (there is a charge).
We spent most of the time lounging under a tree watching the boats chugging up and down the river

How about Pool in the Park in Woking - lots of things to do there.

Or how about Guildford Lido?

Nick, there is a Top golf in Addlestone but I have no idea from what age it is suitable. My boys are older and have been a few times with dh, I also think it probably won't fit into your budget. What about a day spent between Brooklands Museum (almost £10 for adults but your children would be free), Mercedes Benz World and the playground just down the road from it by the Tesco roundabout?

Oh yes, haven't been to Runnymeade Pleasure Ground for some time.
Could walk from Airborne Forces Memorial... the children like walking... though do have that road to cross to get the pleasure grounds.

The playground at Woking is quite good, plus the walk along the river. Have also walked into Woking town centre from that location. Think car parking was free for first 4 hours.

Lido's may be worth looking at... though expect the boys would prefer swimming indoors at our usual venue - they seem to prefer a quieter pool.

Thanks for the ideas... much appreciated. Helps to remind me of places. Such as have now remembered there is a small ferry which goes across the Thames near Shepperton Lock.

Thanks annh, did look at Top Golf, cheaper than Jurassic but I think that it may be not as fun as Jurassic - 2 year old likes Dinosaurs so they would probably keep him entertained, along with throwing the ball on occasion. Cost way over budget though... Top Golf is closer to budget.

Tried Mercedes Benz World last year and they were not that interested... Brooklands Museum is worth consideration - is there much they can sit/go in?

Not sure if this is within your travelling distance but we went here and really enjoyed it.

They have all usual animals (ponies, sheep, rabbits, cows, goats, chickens etc and some reindeer), bouncy castle, lots of wendy houses, slides sand pits etc. And a simple golf putting course. They do tractor trailer rides as well.

It looks a bit run down in some ways although I liked that, but perhaps if you're used to legoland etc it would seem very amateur. Would suggest taking your own food though.

DD is not quite 2 and she loved it, but I don't know about 5 yo (yet) so not sure if it would be too simple for them.

Nick, have to admit my boys haven't been to Brooklands in years and my nanny at the time took them there. However, my brother visited recently and took his 4 and 2 yr olds and they spent hours there! Am sure there was lots to look at and sit in and he did say that there was a large soft play area in the cafe which they had to themselves as it was a weekday. Same probably won't apply next week however! Yes, Mercedes Benz World is not the most interesting place for that age group but if you only go to the playground nearby it does have the advantage of being free and having a nice coffee shop and toilets!. Mercenary, me? Ooooh no!

Looking at that animal farm reminds me that we went to the RSPCA sanctuary at Milbrook in Chobham last weekend to investigate getting a rabbit and I was surprised at how large it was and how many animals were there. They had dogs, rabbits and some guinea pigs/hamsters. There were also some miniature ponies on the way in which you could walk back to from the car park. It's certainly not worth a trip on its own but if you were in the area for some reason, probably worth a side trip.

Here is the adventure golf at Maidenhead. I've not been but have driven past it. Looks very small and I think the one down by the river in Maidenhead is probably better (better location - not right next to a busy dual carriageway). Cafe and play area there too and you can walk down to Boulters Lock to see the boats and over to the island to see the birds.

Cliveden NT has a Seed Trail on 2nd June. It also has a new play area with animals carved out of wood.

Beckonscot is nice at that age.

Nick do you know about the kids film club at the old firestation in windsor, its on saturdays all year round though i think the venue does holiday activities too

I took kids there to see Ponyo, nice atmosphere for little ones, and free for advantage card (RBWM residents) holders, unfortunately i now work saturdays so miss it

Might be out of your area but country park is nice (though was better before they charged for swimmming/paddling pool

"the advantage of being free and having a nice coffee shop and toilets" - oh you know me too well - I love that kind of place. Savill Garden for example - nice coffee, good playground, nice walks and free parking if you know where to park (their own carpark is free for first 90mins, though there are other places which are free for longer if you can get a space).

I've wondered about the RSPCA place and Battersea (old windsor)... wonder if they do tours for a donation?

Talking of Farms... reminded me about Hounslow Urban Farm (Note: not nice coffee on my last visit there, horrible vending machine). MillarsArk also has an open afternoon on Thursday next week.

Agree with Mollie that a really nice day can be had with little ones at boulter lock and on ray mill island, just take LOTS of bread for the ducks

I find families magazine does a fairly good events round up

Didn't know that FireStation did a film club. I've been there once for an evening comedy show. Alas can't see any dates for weekdays.

Wellington Country Park is another possibility... though looks like admission would be £13. Do they still have Dinosaurs there?

I've not been to Boulters Lock for years, so may well investigate that one. Tell me more about crossing over to the Island to see the birds - I've never done that.

I think i will be taking my kids to windsor for a day out to:

play in refurb park behind high street (and if weathers good run about in sprinklers)

watch changing of the guard (daily now for summer)

visit castle (again free for RBWM residents) which is runnning some kind of portrait event

MY kids liked the new play area at Cliveden, but is quite small so poss not worth it if you dont have existing NT membership

Immediately next to lock is a bridge (in fact mey be above lock) which leads to hotel/restaurant just follow it round and you are on Ray Mill Island it is a bit tucked away

There is an avairy and some guniea pigs and rabbits too plus small cafe and toilets plus millions of ducks

Word of warning though it is a small island straight onto Thames so it may be worth at least packing reins/wriststraps for little one as they do tend to get excited by the ducks and swans

My NT membership has lapsed... have RHS, so sometimes get into NT places for free (will have to check the book to see if Cliveden is on the list for June).
Alas not a RBWM resident... I fall under SurreyHeath.

What's new in the play park (Bachelors Acre) have they made the playground bigger?

Talking of Windsor, if a non-RBWM resident... where is best to park? I usually go in one of the carparks by Home Park... is that still the best for long term parking?

There are two car parks near Boulters Lock - the one with the crazy golf place and cafe and one further along past Boulter Lock. To get to the island you simply walk over Boulters Lock and past the restaurant. There is a cafe on the island too. Lots of geese poo though the last time I went!

Parking in Windsor - cheapest long term is the one by Home Park.

WWW.rbcyouth.co.uk
They run a free play afternoon at a local park.All you have to do is fill out a form and start playing.
It does say 5years plus but they are fine with younger ones.
you must stay with child under 8.

8th June - 22nd July 2010 Free choice play sessions, children may choose from a variety of equipment such as sports, games, messy play, circus skills, art and craft and fire pit cooking! 3.30pm - 5.30pm

Tuesdays:The Green, St Jude's Road, Englefield Green, TW20 0YX

Thursday:Victory Park, Chertsey Road, Addlestone, KT15 2EN. (no toilets at this site)

So far we have been to:

Watercressline Steam Railway

Boulters Lock, Ray Meade Island and did the crazygolf.

Riverhill Gardens - children loved this place, spent a good 4.5 hours there.

Not sure what to do today though.

Will check out rbcyouth. Firepit cooking sounds fun.

This play area in Windsor has just has a complete refurb.