Calling people in Berkshire/Oxfordshire - Help!

[JoshandJamie]

Tomorrow I have a friend from South Africa coming to visit. She was supposed to be coming to visit me at my house, but as our house was flooded and is currently a complete building site, that's not an option. I now need to come up with a place that I can take her to, taking the following into consideration:

a) I imagine she'd like to see something slightly touristy - not just go to some town centre to the shops
b) I will have my two young children with me (aged 2 and 3.5)
c) It's supposed to be raining.

I live just north of newbury and was planning on picking her up from either Reading or Didcot stations and then taking her somewhere. But I don't know where! I was thinking Blenheim might be ok but not sure how kid friendly it will be. I thought we could mosey around Henley where I used to live but there's not much to see or do particularly if it's raining.

Thoughts? Ideas? Inspiration? Help please!

I'm thinking for you.
Sounds like you must be Hermitage/Chievely way?

windsor? its a bit further away but nice and touristy close to london too. only half an hour down the m4 from newbury junction.

or oxford, staright down the a34 again about half an hour to 3/4 hour form the newbury junction on the m4. again touristy lots to do, plenty of hotels for all budgets.

yes - one village north of chieveley.

I did think about Windsor but am not familiar with train stations etc to tell her how to get there or where to pick her up/parking etc - and worry it will just be mega crowded.

Also thought about Oxford but again (despite it being on my doorstep) have only been twice and am not sure what to do once we're there. I can't see my kids getting excited about traipsing around looking at buildings or going to museums.

Which is why Blenheim sort of sprang to mind as it at least has grounds that they can charge about in. Just wondered if there was something similar worth seeing.

That's a difficult one, particularly with two children. Mine are similar age and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't put up with 'traditional' touristy things.
It's really unfortunate that it's going to be raining.
Is she just up for the day?
What about doing something easy like Milletts Farm?

Do you know Quakers?

MrsD - haven't heard of either Millets or Quakers. Millets looks as though it's predominantly outside though.

Speccy and Lubyluby - how would my friend get from London to Windsor by train - do the trains go from PAddington? And is the station easy to find? Any suggestions on where to park in windsor?

Am going to go to a bit of googling to see if I'm brave enough.

Well Highclere would be easier than Blenheim to get to.

Fabulous indoor play centre in Witney called JUMP. Big squashy sofas so you can do grown up coffee and chat, and kids can run round like loons. 10 mins away is Burford, which is beautiful, river runs through car park so take some bread and feed ducks. Nice old fashioned sweet shop on high street or cake shop called Huffkins for tea. On road out of Burford is Burford Garden company, which is good for lunch with kids and has some fab stuff, not just garden. Also about 2 miles away is the Cotswold Wildlife Park in case the weather improves a bit.

If she can get to Oxford station, it is only about 20 mins in the car to Witney.

to get to windsor the onyl way i know how is to get a train form london to slough and then change to windsor, but sure there must be a direct one from london.

i only know that way as thast the way you go form reading to windsor.

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Here is Cogges Manor Farm

Thanks for that pruners, I didn't know about that one

Windsor is a good idea but the M4 is horrible, I know I do it for work. A trek for small people in the car.

I am now leaning towards Cogges Manor Farm after the lovely recommendations - but the directions on how to find them are fairly rubbish on the website. Anyone who has been there - can you give me a rough idea - is it signposted?

Think I'll take her to that first, then if we get bored we can go over to Burford which sounds delightful. This would be good for me too as I've never been to these places. I know it's not exactly seeing the big sites for my friend, but she has london friends for that and as a mum of three, am sure she will understand the need to do something kid friendly.

I think Didcot Railway Centre is steaming on Wednesdays over the summer, if that's of any interest.

Living Rainforest? Indoors and local and chance of a cake if you're not too late.

Blenheim's a right slog to drive to, I find. It's quite expensive, and pushchairs aren't allowed in the house.

We went to Millets Farm a couple of weeks ago and had a fab time, if Cogges Manor Farm is better then I shall have to go and investigate!

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