When it comes to driving, I've done a fair bit – I know a lot of people who, even after years of driving, refuse to drive on motorways and I even used to know a lady who refused to drive around a certain roundabout, even though she'd had a driving licence for almost 30 years! That, however, is not me and I always say that if you've got a licence, you should be able to drive anywhere.
We live in the south of England, and I've done a fair bit of driving around London, I've driven to Liverpool, Cornwall, Bath, Cambridge and a few other places around the UK. The day we drove to Liverpool was bonkers; I drove up on the Friday night so that Husband, Sausage and I could go to a Saturday game at Anfield but the traffic on the M6 was absolutely HORRIFIC. A journey which should have taken four and a half hours ended up taking almost NINE…and did I mention that I was 5 and a half months pregnant with BB at the time?!
The truth is, I actually love being a driver. It allows us to live in a quiet rural location and still function in the real world, it's allowed us to go on some awesome day trips and I just enjoy the freedom it gives us a family. Chill Insurance are asking bloggers to tell people about their favourite drives, calling them 'Cultural Drives' – you know, those times when you see breathtaking scenery and iconic landmarks, taking your drives to the next level.
Here in England, I loved driving to Longleat and seeing Stonehenge on the way as it's one of my favourite UK landmarks. The mystery around what it is and how it came to be is so intriguing and I get a really powerful feeling when I'm there. Another trip which is high on my bucket list is renting a camper van and driving around Ireland as a family. I visited Dublin back in 2004 and totally fell in love with the place and I know that Ireland has some incredible scenery to offer, so it's something I must do one day.
The Cultural Drives campaign aims to highlight some of Ireland's best drives and they're all themed – music drives, food drives, art, history and families – quite honestly, it would be impossible for me to choose, so it looks like we'll have to take more than one trip to fit it all in!
Where is your favourite place to drive? Have you ever driven somewhere really exotic? Have you ever stumbled upon something totally unexpected while driving? Leave me a comment below, I'd love to hear about them.
Living where we do means that London is only about an hour away by train, which makes it really easy to get to for a day trip. However, London is so vast that it would be good to spend more than just one day at a time there. We've been a little bit London-phobic since the girls came along, not wanting to tackle the big city with changing bags and buggies, but both girls are probably big enough to need minimal luggage now and Burrito Baby has been stubbornly refusing to get in a buggy for about 18 months, so a weekend in London is definitely on the cards!
Urban Retreat Apartments offer short-stay, fully serviced apartments which would be the perfect base for a family wanting to explore London, because it would be like a home from home. You don't have to worry about being crammed into one room with a tiny bathroom like you would be in some hotels, and you've got a full kitchen to allow you to make bottles or cater for small ones.
There are SO many places that I know the girls would love; the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are firmly at the top of the list, but the National Gallery is somewhere I love as well and I think Sausage would get a huge kick out of seeing paintings by some of the world's most famous artists in real life. Visiting London doesn't have to be all about learning – I've still not been on the London Eye after all these years so that's definitely something that I feel I need to tick off of the list!
I also know for a fact that both of my kids are desperate to visit the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Harrods; if you haven't heard if it, it's basically a magical beauty salon where kids can go and be transformed into a Disney Prince or Princess. It's not cheap, but it's one of those 'once in a lifetime' experiences that I'd love them to have before they're too old for the magic to have worn off! I'm pretty sure they'd also love browsing some of the huge stores like Harrods…and definitely Hamleys!
Where would you do if you had a whole weekend to spend in London? We'd love to hear your recommendations, especially places to eat and things to see which might not make the mainstream guidebooks. Leave me a comment below!
Having fun days out with your kids is great, but you can make them even better by ensuring they are as educational as possible. Here are some suggestions!
Forest days out are great for nature based learning. This allows holistic based development, and you can take your child to a forest school or head out alone. These sessions can take place on any natural environment, and they will help your kids learn more about things like geography and science.
Why not take your kids to a a hands-on science centre? This is so much more exciting than a classroom! You can inspire a passion for science and technology at places like the Science Museum London and the National Space Centre Leicester.
The zoo is designed with families in mind. You can all see animals up close that will have everyone in awe! Make sure you set challenges such as grouping by animal type and seeing how many different animals they can find.
This is one of the most famous historical sites in the world. There are many theories about how it came to be, and some even say that magicians created it. Studies have recently shown that there were parties held here! Some people even think it was used as an astronomical calendar. It's educational, but there's not that much to do here other than look, so you might want to plan a trip to explore nearby towns afterwards. You can learn more about it from the infographic below!
Theme park season is now upon us so we've asked Liz Walsh from Topdogdays to put together a few handy tips & tricks to help you get ahead of the queues.
A number of theme parks now offer early access to select guests. This can provide you with the chance to enjoy a number of rides & attractions before the park even opens to the public. When searching for Alton Towers Tickets and Deals look out for early ride time available to some ticket holders or check out the early access perk available to hotel guests at both LEGOLAND Windsor & Chessington.
The quietest time at any theme park tends to be the first 60/90 minutes of the day. The car parks & ticket booths are generally open in advance of the park so ensure you are ready to go as the gates open for the day. Look out for any information on ride closures and head directly for an attraction where queues are likely to build throughout the day.
Parent Swap Passes allow parent/carers with young children a chance to enjoy the thrill rides without have to queue twice through the use of a priority entrance, (parent 1 will still need to use the standard queue). This free pass is now available at a number of theme parks including Drayton Manor & Thorpe Park and helps you to fit more into the day.
A fastrack ticket is a paid method to bypass the queues and is in addition to your entrance charges. There are a range of packages available but look out for single fastrack passes that are often available for just a few £'s allowing you to get a couple of more popular rides under your belt.
Plenty of theme parks now provide apps/electronic boards that offer information on real-time queues around the park. Use this information to plan your day, bypassing the worst of the queues at popular attractions.
As crowds begin to build, intersperse rides with non-queue attractions for some light relief. Most parks today have a good range of playgrounds, themed shows or even zoo & aquarium experiences away from the crowds that can offer you all a much earned break.
Like most capital cities, London has a lot of history and culture – take your kids to a museum like the Transport Museum, or the Natural History Museum, which is next door to the Science Museum and one of London's most popular attractions for children. Check out the changing of the guard, and go to the half price ticket booth in Leicester Square to splash out on some cheap theatre tickets for an incredible West End experience.
London has some of the most incredible shops in the world. Depending on how old your kids are, different things will interest them, but there will absolutely be something for everyone. Hamley's on Regent Street is the biggest toy shop in the UK, so you could give each of your children a small amount to spend in there. If you have older kids, you could spend an incredible afternoon browsing in the Selfridges beauty hall and shoe department with your teenage daughter. Alternatively, Forbidden Planet is perfect for any teenage boy who loves graphic novels and superheroes.
Finding appropriate restaurants to take your kids to is one of the ultimate challenges of having a family. Sometimes you get it horribly wrong, and get evil-eyed glares from the other diners if you dare to take your child to their favourite restaurant, even if your offspring is behaving like an absolute angel. On the contrary, there are some restaurants where the staff won't bat an eyelid if your grumpy, tired toddler starts to have a tantrum on the floor. London is full of both of these kinds of restaurants, but it's probably best to either stick to a chain that you know like Pizza Express or Zizzi's, or to check out a restaurant guide like the Gourmet Guide to find a place that suits you.
One of the top reasons that parents don't take their kids to London is the issue of safety. In a city that big, it's easy to feel a little intimidated by the prospect of staying safe. But the truth is that crime rates are down in London, so if you keep your wits about you, you should be safe, unless you're very unlucky. Keep your bag close to your side in case of any pickpockets, and make sure that you hold your kids' hands tightly when you're moving down packed streets or venturing onto the tube. Do your best not to use public transport in the rush hour – it's incredibly crowded and you might get a few glares from commuters!
Travelling, seeing some new spots and getting a feel for your surroundings are all very worthwhile pursuits. However, in this day and age it isn't always easy to get the time off to go anywhere far away and spend real time there. When time off does come it is often condensed into a few days here and there, and if you go anywhere in that time you're leaving little space for relaxation.
For this reason, day trips are becoming increasingly popular. Most of us will know that there are things to do and see in our home country that we've never actually done. Perhaps because it is close by we take it for granted. But imagine living in England and telling an American pen pal that you've never seen Buckingham Palace other than on TV. In the UK, history is all around to be seen, felt and breathed.
Even if you're not from the UK, and are just holidaying, there are still countless things that you can do and see on a whim. And it's an excellent chance to get a feel for the long and storied history of the country.
Often referred to as the Mother of Parliaments, the UK Parliament is separated into the House of Lords (upper chamber) and House of Commons. The Prime Minister sits in the House of Commons and this is where laws and bills get their first reading.
In the Lords, those same laws will often be given a further reading and be debated by more experienced heads and may then be referred back to the Commons. Located at the Palace of Westminster, Parliament is simultaneously modern and traditional.
An endless mystery to many people, Stonehenge has sat on the earth near Salisbury for milennia. Its exact date of building is not known, but is presumed to be somewhere between 3100-2000 BC. Those interested in visiting can find out more from https://www.comparestonehengetours.com.
Because of when it was built, no written records pertaining to its building exist. This has allowed it to be the subject of much historical debate. What is known is that there are hundreds of burial mounds nearby. Analysis of skeletal remains there has led to speculation that Stonehenge may have been a healing ground.
Much further north than the previous attractions, the city of York in and of itself is an historical attraction. Its streets and attractions draw on the long history of the city. This includes reminders of its Viking, Roman and medieval history. York Minster is a Gothic cathedral, one of the widest in all of Europe, and it is a dominating part of York's skyline.
From wherever you may be in the UK, there are historical locations to be found within a couple of hours' drive. Although not a huge mass of land, the UK is home to so many attractions and so much history that you can pack a lot of sight-seeing into a single day. If you've not seen much of it so far, why not look at changing that today?
When it comes down to it, I really love the UK. From the deadpan humour to the gorgeous countryside, I'm really quite grateful to live here. If I had to make a complaint though, it's that it's far too pricey! Britain is one of the most expensive countries to live in on earth, and this can make getting out a little tough. However, there are still many days out which won't break the bank. Here are a few of the best.
If you haven't heard of this day out, then I can only assume you've been living under a rock! Since Warner Bros opened the Harry Potter studios to the public, it's quickly become one of the most popular attractions in the UK. Here, your kids will go wild when they get to walk past theactual Hogwarts Express, or look around Dumbledore's actual office. The three-hour tour is sure to fascinate you and your children, and give you a fresh perspective on these timeless films. Buying direct from the studio is a little pricey, but you can get reduced tickets and deals from sites such as Trip Advisor.
If you've never been to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, then I suggest you change this as soon as possible! Full of rides that will suit the whole family, along with some great restaurants and incredible live shows, coming here is a sure-fire start to a fantastic day out. If you or your partner were never that crazy about rollercoasters, just keep looking forward to the homely bars that are scattered along the beach. Of course, if you go to this popular tourist spot for a whole day out, the price can quickly begin to stack up. You can mitigate the cost somewhat by buying your park tickets in advance. If Blackpool's a bit of a drive, then you can buy a "rainy day" ticket. This gives you free re-entry the next day if it rains for three consecutive hours.
If there's one place which is great for budget days out, then it's London. The National Gallery, British Museum and British Library are all in the city. Although I find these three fascinating, your kids might find the whole thing a bit dry to put it lightly! To get around this problem, go to the Natural History Museum and Science Museum. Built right next to each other, the curators of these museums have certainly had a good go at making education more interesting. The Natural History Museum is full of life-size dinosaur fossils and models, and displays about our early ancestors which really get you thinking. The Science Museum has all kinds of tech and interactive displays, ensuring your kids don't go into full-blown screen withdrawals! Entry is completely free, though a small donation is kind of a given.
Another great idea is camping, even if it's in your back garden! Kids will love the novelty of sleeping in a tent and it's dirt cheap once you've invested in some camping gear.
Any one of these solutions will make a great day out for less. Keeping your days off both fun and affordable may feel tough, but it's certainly not impossible!