anyone live in Watford who could answer a few questions for me?

[Tommy]

am thinking about asking my SIL if we could stay at her house for a holiday while she goes off to sunnier climes.

What is there to do within about an hour's drive from there that could entertain three boys - 7,6 and 2?

We really want to go to the Roald Dahl museum and Cadbury World (I know it is a bit far from there but nearer than where we live!)

What else could we do so I can convince DH that is might be a viable option?

TIA

Roald Dahl Museum great

Whipsnade Zoo

walking on the Dunstable Downs and up Ivinghoe Beacon - lovely countryside in Chilterns, lots of lovely parks and pubs to eat at

Lovely country houses like Waddesdon - really nice gardens to go round

Aldenham Country Park

easy trip into London to go to galleries/museums/Hyde Park

Cadbury World far - like 2 and a half hours.

Warwick Castle only an hour and fifteen away - fantastic for boys - lots of archery/medieaval knights stuff

thanks Laurie. Warwick castle looks fab - right up my boys' street.

Is Cadbury World really 2 and a half hours? That's about what it s from here (Southampton) - I just assumed that Watfor being a bit further up the country, it wouldn't be such a trawl (geography was never my strong point... )

Willows Farm is a great day out. Got a indoor soft play centre within too.

Gambado- soft play, again! (near cinema)

Harlequinn shopping centre

Easy commute into London for days out eg science museum

Casiobury Park (central) has a outdoor pool, play cafe and mini train.

New swimming pool in centre

The Grove

Ooh and Wadeston Manor is a goodie (45mins drive)

Odds Farm boys will love

Watford is on the met line so you can get into london EASILY...for all those well documented attractions.

Closer to home.

Cassiobury Park is right near Watford met tube station and has a lovely paddling pool area...all fenced in,three diff pools,loads of benches,never crowded in the mornings.

I love it there and always always weather permitting arrive early paddle and relax in teh morning sun then scarper to teh sahdy cafe up the hill for picnic or lunch from the cafe.

its a huge park so good for bike riding,and there is also access to the canal.We manage to spend whole days there(though even my frinds pull faces when i say we have done it!)

also,Bekonscott model village is in beaconsfield?

great - thanks for all these! DH thinks going on hliday to Watford is a bit of an odd idea but I think it would work.

Now to convince SIL to lend us her lovely tidy house.....

Freebies - Nat History museum at Tring (lots of stuffed beasties), Aldenham park (farm, play areas, ducks, 100 acre wood), Cassiobury park (paddling pools, 'wild' area, huge open space), St Albans park (best paddling pools ever)

Paying trips - Willows farm (adventure play, soft play, farm stuff, mini fairground), Swimming pool at Hemel (but can't remember its name), Whipsnade zoo, really easy trips into London.