I need a great day out within a 45 min drive from Coggeshall this coming Thursday, any ideas?

[eenybeeny]

And nothing too expensive as we are broke. And something we will all enjoy. A good family day out. Something that Alex will get really excited about!

Zoos? Colchester or Linton? DS wore himself out on Sunday at Colchester zoo - though he did say "moo" at everything!

The beach if it is nice? Frinton is lovely but there is more to do at Clacton / Walton. Mersea is also very nice.

Um, hope someone else comes along soon to help as I have now gone blank!

Have you been to Tropical Wings? (www.tropicalwings.co.uk) We had a lovely day there (my girls are aged 7 and 2 1/2). Lots to do, its £6.75 per adult and £4.25 aged 2 and over.

HTH
Miranda

Would second Mersea beach, quite stony but my girls love making sand castles and collecting shells. Plus where we go (near Sea View caravan park) there is a nice little park too. Plus of course the little cafe for a bite to eat but a picnic is always fab too

Miranda

Hey hun,

Totally agree with any of the above - the Zoo is such a fab day out - I bought a Gold card so that I could take Ava frequently without it costing a fortune!

Under 3's are free!

Walton is lovely, the pier is fab - they have a soft play area on the pier called Pirate Petes which is also lovely. There is also a really lovely park outside the swmimming pool there & it's a really fab park!

Clacton pier/arcades are good fun too - Ava loves having a bag of 2p's for the 2p machines ;)

Frinton beach is lovely too!

Marsh Farm park is another possability - think it's about £4.50 to get in but not 100% sure!

Kymberly

XxXx

Just had a leaflet posted through my door about Braintree Council. They talk about the Discovery Centre at Gt Notley (A131). There is car parking fee of £2, but you can then use the trail and adventure play area. Take a pic nic and some other toys and things, maybe a kite and you'll have great fun.

Marsh Farm is great and much cheaper than the zoo.

thanks all for your lovely suggestions!! I was searching on line as I was posting this for something to do and found Easton Farm Park in Suffolk. And I have fallen IN LOVE with the idea of going there. Its pricey - I am actually going to sell a first edition book I have to pay for it (or two) - You may or may not know I am self employed now and studying to be a childminder so until I get up and running sometime around November our finances are very tight.

Anyway look at this link - all these activities are included -

EGG collecting for the children
horse and cart rides
tractor rides
hug a bunny
train rides
PIG races!!!

And many many many more!!! I am literally all in a quiver waiting til next week when we can go!!! And I so want to tell DH all about it but I cant because its a surprise for his birthday!

Right so I have to get EBAYing.

(By the way all your suggestions are great and I will be doing them all at one point or another! Thanks!)

Looks fab hun!!

I don't think the entrance price is to bad - it's £14 per adult for the zoo & this looks just as good

Hope you have a fab day out!!

XxXx

I know on one Saturday a month you can get into Easton Farm Park for free, its when the farmers market is on

Miranda

Just looked its the fourth Saturday of every month.

Miranda

Which is this Saturday !

Miranda

I would love to go this saturday but we are doing a table sale out front of my house and then a friends in teh afternoon - ironically the table sale is to raise money for the day out at Easton Farm!

It's not pricey at Easton if you take your own food - cost us £20 for the four of us!

Food is a rip off but they are ok for people to take their own food.

Your DS will have a lovely day - it is DS's fave place to go.

I took ds to Jimmy's Farm in Ipswich yesterday. It was great. It was only about a 20 min drive from my end of Colchester.

Nature trails, playground, cafe, farm shop, animals, etc.

Very kid- friendly.

3.50 for adults
2.50 for kids (but ds was free)
10.00 family ticket

www.jimmysfarm.com

thanks for the link lotuseener!

twinkie thanks for the reassurance!! I am sold on Easton for this particular outing. AND I am emailing you tonight I keep meaning to!

twinkie I can only find your work email address and I know you were possibly taking voluntary redundance so dont want to email you there just in case. Can you email me at senatorvass at gmail dot com?