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Original poster

DS1 is a bit sad about new baby - suggestions for day out to cheer him up please!

46 replies

PrincessPeaHead · 21/05/2006 13:44

Ds1 is 5.5 and is 2nd of 4. I think he has been more affected by the birth of DD2 than I thought - we probably focussed a bit too much on how DS2 (2.5) was feeling and assumed DS1 would be fine. Anyway, half term is coming up, and DH and I thought we would leave the two little ones for the day and take the two big ones on an adventure, to have a bit of undistracted attention and fun. We live in N Wilts near the M4 and are happy to go almost anywhere - beach in N Wales? Legoland? Cadburyworld? We'd like something that involves a bit of running around, but also something interesting and "grown up", ie that a 5 yo would enjoy but a 2 yo wouldn't. Visit a castle? Alnwick? (Although that might be more than a day trip from us). Go-carting? I'd really appreciate any suggestions you have - the more off the wall the better. Thanks!

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 21/05/2006 13:49

That sounds like a nice idea, peahead. I'd go to the beach, if the weather was nice.

Surfermum · 21/05/2006 13:50

Longleat? Tintagel?

SaintGeorge · 21/05/2006 13:58

Have a look at \link{http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/?search_word=&terms=all&inTitles=on&catId%5B1%5D%5B%5D=00200601e&catId%5B2%5D%5B%5D=002002002&catId%5B3%5D%5B%5D=&show=nav.8645&contentType=conProperty&submit=Search\English Heritage}. Lots of places and often special events during holidays.

That link goes to a Wiltshire & South West search, but you can play around with it and search further.

moondog · 21/05/2006 14:03

WellI will always endorse North Wales!
Miles of beaches to run on as well as go kart racing,high wire flying through air stuff,castles,walking,biking,the works.

Where would you stay?
Hotel?
Can thoroughly recommend Portmeirion which is a completely magic mini kingdom in itself with one of the best beaches out.
I'll do a link.....

cupcakes · 21/05/2006 14:06

I think just spending time with you without the baby will be the best treat for him. I once took ds on a train ride to Ipswich (of all places!) for lunch at Pizza Express and he loved it so much he now looks forward to it every summer holiday. It's not much but being on our own together is the special part.

Original poster
PrincessPeaHead · 21/05/2006 14:07

oh, lots on english heritage. kenilworth? where can we go that will allow us to do castle, interesting small town (for lunch) and sea or beach all in the same day? South Wales/Herefordshire? North Wales too far for the day I t hink Moondog.

OP posts:
moondog · 21/05/2006 14:07

\link{http:www.portmeirion-village.com/en/index.php\Portmeirion website}

moondog · 21/05/2006 14:08

Oh sorry,it's a daytrip!
(You did say North Wales though lol!)

Original poster
PrincessPeaHead · 21/05/2006 14:09

I'm sure you are right cupcakes but it is so rare to have DH around on a day when the nanny can take the two little ones that we thought we'd go for a really long and exciting day out somewhere. I took him into Marlborough to buy World Cup stickers in Woolies this morning and he thought that was pretty exciting!

OP posts:
Original poster
PrincessPeaHead · 21/05/2006 14:09

duh. I meant south wales. sorry, clearly don't know which way is up at the moment Grin

OP posts:
moondog · 21/05/2006 14:10

Got it wrong!
Here if anyone else interested

\link{http://www.portmeirion-village.com/en/index.php\Portmeirion}

WideWebWitch · 21/05/2006 14:12

There's a South Wales castle site iirc, will see if I can find it. And it's quite exciting crossing the Severn if you're 5. Caerhays is only a v short way once you're over the bridge, not wildly exciting but it is a castle! Will see if I can find the site we used, hang on. It sounds like a lovely idea. What about Bowood House or is that too near and familiar?

WideWebWitch · 21/05/2006 14:12

\link{http://www.castlewales.com/home.html\here you go, castles of Wales!}

cupcakes · 21/05/2006 14:14
Grin

If you can make it to Legoland I'd go there - possibly a bit of a headache for you and your dh but ds will LOVE it. We're taking ds for his 6th birthday treat - he wanted a surprise birthday outing (he's obsessed with the secret one on Charlie and Lola) and I know Lwgoland is his no 1 destination.

moondog · 21/05/2006 14:15

That's a nice site www.
I used to live overlooking the sea and Caernarfon castle until 22 mths ago.
It was lovely....

cat64 · 21/05/2006 14:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

peachyClair · 21/05/2006 14:57

How about the Somerset Steam railway to Minehead, you could even throw in a trip to butlins if you can stomach it? If not then it's still lovely with a picnic. it's near taunton, there's alsoa railway near here (South Wales), and isn't there one in the Forest of Dean?

Noahs Ark farm park just outside bristol is nice too, we took our Rainbows there, they liked it and were a similar age. Also Animal Farm near Brean- we were members (we lived in Somorset until we moved here you see) and they have a fabulous play barn for that age group.

peachyClair · 21/05/2006 15:02

Hang on- just remembered something.....

kids got a mailer throughs chool, Caldicot castle has lots of stuff on at the moment, including a medieval tournament 17th and 18th June. Or if you can wait a few weeks there's the fab Caerleon Roman festival where they have all the Gladiators fighting in the amphitheatre... we take a picnic and have a lovely day, my older two are 5 and 6.
Its the military spectacular, www.museumwales.ac.uk

Finally (flicking through mag) Chepstow Racecourse has a family day bamnk hol Monday, adults pay £14 each, kids are free and there's activities laid on- huge slides, that sort of thing. www.chaepstow-racecourse.co.uk

Finally, if you would venture this side of the bridge, St Fagans is a lovely day out- an open air museum- and best of all, tis free. About an hour from bridge, at a guess?

Original poster
PrincessPeaHead · 21/05/2006 19:19

some brilliant ideas, thank you so much. love the castles of wales website, and caldicot castle looks good too. legoland is legoland though, always popular. Bowood on our doorstep and we get in free so a great place but not sufficiently exciting I'm afraid!
I wonder if the weather is going to be OK or not, never much fun doing stuff in the driving rain.
I'll have a muse and let you know the plan! Any more ideas anyone?

OP posts:
compo · 21/05/2006 19:23

Longleat is great because you actually drive safari style through where the animlas are. Only thing is when it's busy it is a bit like sitting in a traffic jam but with monkeys on the roof!!

BettySpaghetti · 21/05/2006 19:27

Eastnor Castle on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire borders has a medieval/re-enactment weekend over the Bank Holiday - \link{http://www.eastnorcastle.com/special_castle_events/eastnor_collections_arms_armour.htm\here}.

Its a lovely castle. You've also got a few towns nearby for lunch etc

Original poster
PrincessPeaHead · 21/05/2006 19:32

ok new idea - portsmouth? could go to the aquarium, look at some big ships, have lunch somewhere? has anyone been recently? what do you think?

OP posts:
Original poster
PrincessPeaHead · 21/05/2006 19:33

longleat is great, went there last year. eastnor looks lovely - trouble is all these things are on the bank holiday and I have people staying until Mon pm so would have to have our big day on tuesday and/or wednesday

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cod · 21/05/2006 19:35

portsmouth is ok but not boyish enough i wonder
railway museum in swindon?
or to london may be pph
trainride
sceince museuam ect

cod · 21/05/2006 19:35

moorsvalley is a lng ride form you i think but is great

cheddar?