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10 Fun Things to do with Kids in and around Aldershot

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Today we have a guest post from one of our favourite bloggers Sarah from Mummy Kind,

We have some amazing pregnancy – preschool groups and businesses in and around Aldershot but if you are looking for something a little different, Mummy Kind has written a fabulous blog “10 Things to do with Kids in and Around Aldershot”

 

10 things to do with the kids in and around… Aldershot (North Hampshire/Surrey)

1. Gruffalo Trail at Alice Holt Forest
2. Ceramics Cafe Farnham
3. Gravity Force Trampolining
4. 360 Play Farnborough
5. Coral Reef Bracknell
6. Aldershot Lido
7. Birdworld
8. Hampton Court Palace
9. Chessington World of Adventures
10. Farnborough Vue

1. Gruffalo Trail at Alice Holt Forest

Alice Holt Forestis situated in the South Downs National Park which spans a vast area covering Hampshire and Surrey. Alice Holt itself is local to Farnham, a mere 15 minute drive from the centre of Aldershot, and is FREE OF CHARGE! That’s right! You can spend the entire day there and the only money you will spend is for parking and petrol.
Alice Holt boasts a fantastic wooden play area, bike hire and trails, walking trails (including the infamous Gruffalo Trail), and GoApe! for the older kids. We have been many times to Alice Holt and never grow tired of it!

2. Ceramics Cafe in Farnham

Whether you have little babies doing handprints on plates or older children, a quiet afternoon of pottery painting is a great way to spend time with the family.
Ceramics Cafe in Farnham is situated less than a 5 minute walk from a large car park (next to Sainsbury’s) and is in the centre of Farnham, which is a beautiful place to visit in itself. There is a £2 session fee on top of anything you paint, and the pottery prices are very reasonable. The staff are always on hand to help, and they will happily cater for parties too!

10 things to do with kids in and round aldershot

3. Gravity Force Trampolining

This fantastic trampoline park in Camberley is where we have spent many a weekend morning!
Gravity Force have a brilliant timetable which caters for all ages, with dedicated sessions for younger jumpers and a family jump session which makes it much easier to have fun with all of the family. We love it there so much that we’ve been annual pass holders since last summer, for the very good price of £8 per month. This park also hosts Gravity Fit sessions and they have a holiday club for older children!

GravityForce

4. 360 Play in Farnborough

This is more than just a soft play… This is an M&S soft play… KIDDING OF COURSE!
But this soft play is really something else. It is absolutely huge for a start, and there are loads of different areas and activities for the children to do. The staff are very safety and security conscious and you have a photo ID card so that they know exactly who is in the building in case of any emergencies or lost kiddies! (Not that we have ever had to seek assistance for this, thank lord!)
360 Play is a hidden gem in Farnborough, just past the Sainsbury’s in the town centre. They have a carousel, a dressing up area, a huge soft play structure for the big kids, and smaller soft plays for toddlers and babies. They have also begun Gymfinity clubs there which are gymnastics and ninja classes for children of all ages – we are trialling those very soon and can’t wait to bring you a review!

5. Coral Reef Waterworld in Bracknell

This one is a bit further afield, but definitely worth the travel! Coral Reef is an amazing indoor water world famous for it’s slides. Again there are lots of different areas in the pool for children of different ages. They often have a professional photographer there too to capture pictures of your babies’ first swims!
Just up the M3 and probably a half an hour / 45 minute drive from Aldershot, this is a brilliant day out for the family. Booking in advance is usually recommended as it can get quite busy, but equally if you arrive for when it opens you won’t end up queuing for too long either.

6. Aldershot Lido

Following on from the swimming theme – Aldershot Lido is a great local day out and a fantastic way to cool off in the summer sun! It’s also relatively close to Aldershot Park so you can combine the fun!
Tickets are half price after 3pm if you don’t get there until later in the day.

7. Birdworld in Farnham

You will drive past Birdworld on the way to Alice Holt Forest – it takes about 10 minutes in the car to get there from Aldershot town centre.
Birdworld often have special exhibits and events on during school holidays, and military families may be able to secure a discount on entry! Speak to your local welfare service if this is you. You also have the opportunity to feed the penguins which is just amazing!

8. Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is a bit further afield, based in Moseley, but a truly wonderful day out with the family. The Palace itself is magnificent, and the gardens are an extra something special!
Hampton Court Palace’s Magic Garden is a wonderful area for the children, and the Palace itself hosts lots of extra events such as music festivals and outdoor cinemas throughout the summer months!
If you are a member of the Historic Royal Palaces Society you can visit Hampton Court Palace (and the other 5 palaces that are included in that membership) for free, but otherwise tickets are free for under 5s and roughly £10 for children up to 15 and £20 for adults. There is also car parking nearby (just across the road from the main entrance), and the whole palace is quite accessible if you’re having to lug a buggy around with you!

9. Chessington World of Adventures

Again a bit further afield, but where we are we are lucky to be living on the doorstep of this and other incredible theme parks! I would say that without any horrendous traffic we live roughly half an hour away from Chessington, which of course boasts a children’s theme park, a SeaLife centre AND a zoo!
It’s no wonder that many of the families living in Aldershot invest in Merlin passes while we live so close to Chessington and other Merlin attractions. Chessington however is the best one for young families as the rides accommodate a range of age groups. Our tall 9 year old and our only just 3 year old love going to Chessington, and the SeaLife centre and zoo are frequented during the day! The penguins are a particularly great attraction. You can also feed the giraffes and the elephants if you get there at the right time!

Chessington world of adventures review

10. Farnborough Vue

If the weather isn’t good enough for a full on outdoor day trip, the Vue cinema in Farnborough is a really good way to spend a few hours with the kids without feeling like you’re stuck at home. Farnborough Vue offers any film at any time for £4.99 per person, so even if you’re a big family, you can have a cinema experience without breaking the bank!
This year is set to be a brilliant one for Disney films with Dumbo and Aladdin having already been released, and Lion King, Toy Story 4 and Frozen 2 due to come out later in the year as well!

Are you local to Aldershot? Would you add any other attractions to the list? Let us know if you have been to any of these listed here!

If you would like to follow Mummykind’s blog and adventures you can find her under the favourite blogger section of our app and visit her blog on following links;

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Top 5 Family Attractions In Surrey

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Today we have a fantastic guest post from the lovely Claire from Fairy Cakes Babysitting and Childcare services in and around Surrey. Claire has written an article on her top 5 attractions for families in Surrey. As you know we have lots of pregnancy to pre-school groups and classes within our directory in Surrey.

Surrey’s Top 5 Family Attractions

Here in Surrey we have so many wonderful places to explore and lots of history to learn about and of course the River Thames. If you love history, being out and about, taking a stroll along the River Thames or if you are thrill seeker, Surrey has something for everyone of all ages. It is very hard for me to pick just 5 places in Surrey as there are so many, but I would like to share with you some of the best places my family and I have been to and have made amazing memories along the way.

#1 Top Attraction in Surrey Hampton Court Palace

top-5-family-attractions-surrey

My number one has to be Hampton Court Palace, I have been so many times with my children, with children I’ve looked after, with my Mum and I never get bored neither do the children.

The Palace itself is amazing with so much to see and historical information to take in. During school holidays they have activities going on around the palace for the children to take part in and actors dressed up doing bits of re-enactment. There is the maze to get lost in or to lose the children in !!

Amazing gardens and grounds to walk through, have picnics on whilst looking at the beautiful surroundings. Many cafes and restaurants to try too.

My favourite part of Hampton Court by far is The Magic Garden, it’s a magical wonder for the children, well and for me !! We often go to Hampton Court just to go to The Magic Garden.

Each part of Hampton Court Palace can be paid for separately,but I for the last two years have bought a palace pass which last for 15 months and can get you into the whole palace, grounds, maze, and magic garden.

The palace pass also allows to visit other palaces such as Kensington Palace,Kew Palace, Tower of London and many more.

Opening times –

Monday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm

Prices for all attractions

Gate price

Adult £23.70

Child £11.90

Family two adults and up to 3 children £59.10

Prices vary please check the website individual prices available for magic garden and the maze.

 

#2 Top Attraction in Surrey – The Discovery Lookout Centre

The discovery lookout Centre. Part of the lookout Centre is a science exhibition with lots of hands-on science activities for children of all ages it’s a great way to have fun and learn at the same time.

We love it here and have been many times I also love trying all the experiments pushing buttons, playing with the water and so much more. They also have daily shows that run at weekends and school holidays.

Outside in the grounds of the lookout discovery Centre is an adventure playground set in Bracknell Forest which also provides a lovely walk and we many a time I’ve played in the forest making our own tepees out of branches that have fallen from the trees.

Caution- there is so much to see and do here that as the parent/child carer you need eyes in the back of your head and octopus arms!!

Opening hours – daily 10 am to 5 pm.

Entry price of the discovery Centre

Adult £7.90

Child £5.40

Under4’s free

(See website for saver tickets)

Car park £2 for 4 hours

£4 for the whole day

Adventure playground/forest free.

 

#3 Top Attraction in Surrey –  Runnymede Pleasure Grounds,

I love it here it’s a great day out for not a lot of money and making your own fun, especially during the warmer weather.

Situated on the River Thames with lovely views and lots of open grassy spaces for the little ones to run around, play games, have picnics and maybe even an ice cream!!

There is a playground and also a splash pool for the kiddies that is open in the warmer weather, also feeding the ducks and swans is an option.

A little further up but still in the grounds of Runnemede you can jump on a boat which you can soak up the beautiful views all the way to Windsor.

I have spent many days at Runnymede with my children and the fluffy child!

 

Car park prices

For all day parking £6

(Varying times and charges)

 

#4 Top Attraction in Surrey Bocketts Farm

Bocketts farm is a wonderful place for a day out and is hugely popular. It has got better and better over the years, with many more attractions added since I first went many years ago when it was a simple petting farm.

Bocketts farm is situated in Fetcham, not far from Leatherhead and the M25.

The form is a working farm and of course has many lovely animals to visit and some you were able to feed and hold, they even have pig races in a tractor ride.

They have a huge outdoor space filled with multiple adventure playgrounds for the children to all run off in different directions as there is just so much for them to do!

And as if that hasn’t exhausted you enough , there is also an indoor play area (soft play).

and yes you guessed it the only way out to the exit is the very lovely souvenir shop, where usually I do a quick march through saying the car park ticket is about to expire!

All in all this is a fantastic day out for the whole family.

 

Open daily 10 am to 5 pm

Standard prices

Adult £11.95

Children 3 to 17 years old £12.95

Children 2 years £10.95

Under 2’s Free

There are optional extras see website for other special deals.

#5 Top Attraction in Surrey Chessington World of Adventures

Chessington world of adventures review

Last but not least is Chessington world of adventures theme park. You can read MyBump2Baby’s review here.

We are very lucky here in Surrey we have many theme parks to choose from Thorpe park, Legoland and of course Chessington.

I have chosen Chessington as age range wise I think it has something for everyone, where is Thorpe park is really aimed at adults/older teenagers and Legoland for much younger children.

Yes it is a very expensive day out and maybe a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many. My children and I have been very lucky and have had Merlin passes many times and they are well worth the outlay, but for a cheap day out at a theme park you can buy a day ticket using your Tesco vouchers if you’re good at saving them up!

Obviously there is so much to do and many different rides and shows to see, but can also be extremely busy. Always an amazing day out.

You can also visit the zoo with many different animals, my favourite is the little penguins and sea lions and you can also take a look around the sea life centre.

 

Average day price- £50.50pp

Car park- £3 per car

There are also lots of online deals check out their website.

 

Thank you for reading my name is Claire a mum of two girls aged 16 and 12 years and I am a nursery nurse/nanny to many wonderful families for over 20 years and this is my top five days out in Surrey.

I am the owner of Fairy Cakes Babysitting and Childcare Services providing ad hoc, emergency childcare, evening babysitting and Proxy Parenting to many families in and around Surrey. And coming soon Fairy’s wedding and events childcare services.

Email: fairyclaire1979@icloud.com

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5 Pram Friendly Walks in Lytham St Annes

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Pram Friendly walk in Lytham St Annes

We love to share information with parents in fun things to do in the local area including pregnancy to pre-school groups and classes in the local area of Lytham st Annes, but sometimes it is nice to get out for a pram friendly walk in Lytham. Today we share a guest post written by the fantastic Ashlie from Yummy Mummy and Me who are a bespoke sweet cone service custom made for any occasion. Today Ashlie shares her favourite pram friendly walks in Lytham.

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The Best Pram Friendly Walks in Lytham St Anne’s

Living in Lytham is a dream. It’s a dual seaside town with picturesque coastline and some fantastic parks and lawns. As a Mum of one I am always on the lookout for places to go for a walk that are ideal for a pram and families to discover, here are my top 5:

Lytham Hall – Lytham Hall, Ballam Road, Lytham, FY8 4JX

Lytham Hall is a national heritage 18th century Georgian country house and is set in 78 acres of wooded parkland. There is a gorgeous lawn area that you can take a picnic or a lovely little café that you can grab a cake in. There is a 5k route that you can take or if you would rather an adventure see how many turns you can take through the woods that lead you to different tracks. It also has ample parking which is free but some days it does have events on and parking is outside of the grounds.

 

– Fairhaven lake – Inner Promenade, Lytham Saint Annes FY8 1BD

The lake has recently undertaken a lot of restoration and it is such a lovely walk round the lake and it doesn’t take too long, you can even feed the ducks along the way. You will also find a park once you get around the lake and tennis courts. It is truly picturesque on a summers day and absolutely perfect for if you have a pram, it is flat all the way round. You may even spot a spitfire plane statue along the way. There is a charge for parking next to the lake or you can park on the main road.

 

– Lytham front

On a dry day this is one of my all-time favourite places to come, Lytham front with the iconic windmill situated at the start, it’s just idyllic. Extremely pram friendly, flat all the way and if you get to the end of Lytham front you can turn back or you can continue to walk in to St Annes. With a large grass area why not take a picnic and a few toys and enjoy the scenery with a sandwich and a bottle…. (obviously a milk bottle).

– Lowther Gardens

Lowther Gardens is the oldest park in Lytham St Annes and is one of the most beautiful parks in the borough. It is a great route to walk through and look at the flowers in the spring, sit and have a picnic in the summer and a great café in all weathers. It has a lovely park and tennis courts but I have walked round this park many a time with my little girl in the pram and she especially loves the statue in the pond you can park on the main road or down one of the side streets to get here.

 

– Ashton Gardens,

Ashton Gardens are based in St Annes but these gardens are beautiful, when the flowers are in bloom babies will love looking at the bright colours or toddlers will love running around them. This park has lots of different routes and it even has a little bridge that you can cross to get to the other side of the park. The café here is fantastic and super pram friendly, it’s really spacious and you could even sit out on the veranda in the sunshine and enjoy tea and cake.

So whether it’s exploring the grounds of a Georgian house or pottering through a rose garden Lytham St Annes has a lot to offer for walking with prams, hope you enjoy visiting these places.

 

Fun Things to do for Families in Dartford

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We are thrilled to bits to feature the amazing Tracey from the awesome Usborne Books who is blogging today about fun things for new families to do in Dartford.

As a first time mum to a now seven month old, my initial thoughts when I was pregnant were around how to change a nappy or would I be able to breastfeed?! When he arrived, I realised the real challenge ahead was how to keep my baby…and myself…entertained! Those first few weeks were incredible bonding with my son and spending our days wrapped in a blissful bubble, but the four walls soon closed in and my inquisitive baby became bored of the same ceiling to watch from his Moses basket so I decided it was time to venture out and see what Kent offered babies!

There are a plethora of options to choose from; some free and some not! The amazing thing about living in Kent is the amount of beautiful outside space there is to enjoy for FREE! (More on that later!)

Baby classes in the Dartford area;

Our first class was a Baby Sensory class. I had read a lot about baby sensory classes and the concept is amazing. The sessions which were in total darkness with fairy lights, disco balls and glowing toys were enthralling! It was magical for me so I can only imagine the sensory delight my three month old was feeling!

There are tons of articles online with reasons why sensory classes are so good for babies and how they aid with development and you can steal a lot of the ideas to make your own sensory areas at home! One of my babies favourite activities is to sit on a foil blanket (the type you keep in your car for emergencies) and make a lot of noise rustling the foil! He absolutely loves it!

Our second class was Tots Play run by Nicola Whitehead in Dartford and Bexley. Classes are from birth to four years old and combine a range of different activities in each session – baby yoga, sensory play, sign language, music and massage. My son adores the bubble machine at the end and often, he would fall asleep during story massage after having so much fun and stimulation! I’ve also been to the older kids classes with my Usborne Children’s Books business and have seen, firsthand, the enjoyment the kids get and the energy they expend…which may mean you get a cup of tea in peace when you get home if they’re asleep!

Things to do in Dartford

Another amazing class is Sing & Sign in Dartford. I knew whilst I was pregnant I wanted to try baby sign classes to help my baby communicate before he could talk. Within a few weeks he knew the sign for “milk” and would get very excited when he saw me signing! Each week we learn different signs and he enjoys listening to Netty, who runs the class, sing and play with Jessie Cat. Nothing brings me more happiness than seeing the beaming smile on his face during classes! It’s also something to focus on outside of class too and builds a bond between you with a silent language only the two of you understand!

As an avid fan of books, I was excited to see a new class starting locally to me, Sounds Right Phonics….in my opinion, reading is such an important part of childhood and this class helps children with their reading by covering sound recognition, alliteration, segmenting and blending as well as gross motor skills for handwriting. The Mini’s class is from 12-30 months and there is a preschool class for 2.5yrs-4yrs. There are classes at various Kent locations.

There are so many classes to choose from it’s impossible to list them all! Check out the MyBump2Baby directory for more options.

Fun Things to do Outdoors in Dartford

With summer approaching, enjoying the outdoors is high on my list of things to do with my baby. With the coast not too far away, daydreams of ice creams and sand between our toes is within reach!

Closer to home I love spending a few hours at Shorne Country Park. With various trails (including buggy friendly ones!) and a cafe on site, it’s a great place to enjoy nature. As it’s a wooded area it is also great for when it’s warm and sunny as there are plenty of shaded places to keep children out of the sun. There is also Jeskyns Community Woodland in Cobham which is 360 acres of woodlands, meadows and orchards. This is a very popular place for dog walkers too!

Having spent the majority of my life in the suburbs of Birmingham, every day I am so grateful to live in the Garden of England, Kent. There are so many family friendly options to choose from. To see more have a look at the MyBump2Baby Directory

 

 

Things to do for Families in Wakefield

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Perhaps you are visiting Wakefield for the day or maybe you live in Wakefield. but either way if you have found this blog post and you are interested in looking for things to do with your family in Wakefield you have come to the right place. First of all, we have some fantastic pregnancy – pre-school businesses listed in our Wakefield directory, you can find these local businesses by clicking here.

Our special guest today is one of our favourite bloggers Sophie from the fantastic Mama Mei blog. Sophie tells us about her favourite things to do in Wakefield as a family.

Favourite Things to do as a Family in Wakefield

Things to do for families in Wakefield 3

Wakefield in West Yorkshire is often overlooked or seen as Leeds’ poorer sister but actually there is so much to do for families across the Wakefield District (which includes Pontefract and Castleford).

 

Here are my top 5 things to do in Wakefield

West Yorkshire History Centre

West Yorkshire History Centre has a free changing exhibition and free family activities, check out their facebook page for the latest news and events.

 

The Hepworth, Wakefield

Just a short walk from the History Centre (also known as West Yorkshire Archive Service) is The Hepworth Wakefield which is free to enter (although parking is £5 for the day but it is a short walk from Wakefield Kirkgate station). The Barbara Hepworth inspired gallery has a range of free crafts on during the school holidays and on weekends.

There is also an outdoor playground and UK’s largest public garden is currently being built outside the gallery next to The Calder building. There’s also stunning views from the The Hepworth Cafe over the River Calder and The Chantry Chapel (which has free heritage open days on select dates)

Things to do for families in Wakefield

 

National Coal Mining Museum of England

The National Coal Mining Museum of England is also in the district in an area called Overton and it is steeped in history and great for an indoor and outdoor day out.

 

Angler’s Country Park, near Wakefield.

Anglers Country Park is free and there is a fabulous Room on the Broom trail.

Anglers Country Park is dominated by a lake, surrounded by grassland, woodland and a wetland area known as the ‘Pol’. At one time this was the deepest open cast coal mine in the country, reaching a depth of 250 feet.

Anglers has been awarded Green Flag status – recognising it as one of the best parks in the country. I’d also recommend trying out Hemsworth Water Park.

Pontefract Castle

Pontefract Castle is a hidden gem in West Yorkshire with outdoor ruins and an indoor visitor centre. Make sure you take time to visit the dungeons on a tour (these cost however, £3 per person at the time of writing).

 

So whether it’s exploring the outdoors at National Trust’s Nostell Priory or it’s a rainy day inside Wakefield Museum, Wakefield is not a place to be overlooked.

 

For more of what to do in Yorkshire check out Sophie’s blogs at https://yorkshirefamilies.co.uk, https://mamamei.co.uk and https://blogupnorth.co.uk

If you are looking to find some local pregnancy – preschool classes, groups of businesses, you can click here to see our Wakefield baby and toddler directory.

 

Fun Things for Families to do in Nottingham

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As you know we have our pregnancy – pre-school directory where we display local businesses that may interest you and your growing family. To find out what is classes and businesses we have on in Nottingham please click here.

We are thrilled to share a guest post from the lovely Lydia who blogs over at Eyes of a Mum. Lydia shares a list of fun things for families to do in Nottingham.

things to do for families in nottingham

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There’s no doubt about it, Nottingham is a great place for families! No matter what day of the week, time of year or weather forecast, there’s plenty to do!

Some of the best classes include letting the little ones get messy (whilst keeping the house clean!) at Splat Messy Play, having a good old boogie and sing song at Wiggle and Giggle Music and Movement Classes and learning how to communicate through the skill of British Sign Language at the baby sign classes Little Signers Club. Even better, all of these classes run all over the city so you’re never too far away from a good time!

 

Soft Play in Nottingham| Fun for Families in Nottingham

If classes aren’t your thing and you enjoy the freedom of soft play, there are a vast array of centres to choose from. From the magic of Hocus Pocus Soft Play to the wild times at Jungletastic, you’re truly spoilt for choice. If you’re also wanting a bit of adult time whilst the little one has a rest in the pram, Nottingham also has some amazing garden centres that also have soft play. East Bridgford Garden Centre (just outside of Nottingham) is huge! They have a large soft play centre for babies, toddlers and children and the most luxurious garden centre with a wide variety of food, gifts and goodies. Cherry Lane Garden Centre is also a great spot. It’s much smaller but still has an onsite soft play. They also have lovely stock (with some bargains to be had) and delicious food and drinks in their café.

Fun parks and Playgrounds| For Families in Nottingham

Nottingham also has some spectacular parks which offer fantastic children’s playgrounds. Wollaton Hall and Deer Park is simply stunning. I think the whole of Nottingham could go for a picnic here and there would still be space for a kick about! Wild deer roam free, which are an impressive sight to see. They have two on site cafés with one connected to a vast wooden playground.

Another great spot is Rushcliffe Country Park. Full of hidden gems including beautiful wildlife, Natural Heritage trials, skateboard ramps, a large playground as well as the track from the Great Central Railway running through the park where, if you’re lucky you’ll see a historic steam train pass through

 

Attractions | Families in Nottingham

If you’re looking for more of a destination attraction, then Stonebridge City Farm is definitely worth a visit! It’s a hidden piece of the country in the middle of the city. Best of all it’s free (they are a charity, so they do welcome donations). With opportunities to feed the animals on the farm, view and buy plants and produce from the gardens and veg patch, let the little ones play on the play area and enjoy some lunch in the café, it really is a great community project!

At the other end of the spectrum and on a much larger scale, is Robin Hoods Wheelgate Park. This theme park is a great day out for the whole family. With loads of indoor and outdoor rides and activities for children of all ages. It’s a great attraction whatever the weather! They also host lots of seasonal events throughout the year including  spectacular firework displays and visits from Father Christmas!

All in all Nottingham (and it’s surrounding area’s) offers a great range of activities for families with children of all ages to create memories that will last a lifetime!

You can follow Lydias blog over on Facebook

5 Fun Things for Families to do in Preston

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As you know, we are MyBump2Baby – A pregnancy – preschool directory and we love helping local families find fun things to do in Preston. If you would like to find local pregnancy – preschool groups, classes and businesses we have our local Preston family directory you can access by clicking here. You can also find a list of days out in Lancashire on our website by clicking here.

Today we are excited to share our guest post from the awesome Jennii, who also happens to be one of our favourite bloggers. Her blog is Chilling with Lucas. Jenni shares her top 5 things to do in Preston for Families.

Things for Families to do in Preston for Families;

Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston

Brockholes is set on the site of an old quarry which is now a 250 acre reserve with a network of trails and hides. You can also explore the woods or enjoy the lakes on site, which have all been specially designed to attract all kinds of wildlife. They have also catered for all ages with their play parks including a climbing forest, a miniature gravel quarry for scooping, digging and transporting fun, a bouncing flower, play hut, swings, balance blocks, chain path, see-saw and zip wire! Entrance is free but you do have to pay for parking. There is a visitor centre with an ice cream parlour, cafe and shop… read more here.

Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston

The Harris is free to enter and a treasure trove with something for everyone whether you are interested in arts, ceramics, costume and textiles or history. The Harris also has the Harris library within it. There is a cafe, shop and free WiFi. They also have regular events and classes for families and children between 5 and 12 years.

Salmesbury Hall, Preston

Salmesbury Hall is free to visit and has an abundance of things to see. There are art exhibitions with work available to buy. They have animals to visit including pigs, bees, rabbits, hens, goats and sheep. Next to the animal area they have a play area including a miniature Salmesbury Hall replica that children can climb through the windows to the rope bridge of the Mayflower ship! There is a wooden trail with bridges, swings and fun obstacles. Various extra family and children’s activities are offered during the school holidays. If you want to stay for something to eat there is a wafflery and restaurant. Read more here…

Ribble Steam railway, Preston

Ribble Steam Railway has a 3 mile return trip along marina, swing bridge and River Ribble, giving interesting views over Preston. Surrounded by naturally relaxing landscape you can discover the wildlife and fauna that live and grow along the riverside railway. There is also a hands on museum, complete with an indoor miniature railway. There is a shop and a cafe. Throughout the year they hold special events and activities.

Ninja Adventure , Preston

Over 40 ninja warrior obstacles, a multilevelled harnessed high ropes course, 2 warped walls, a virtual reality arcade, cafe and soft play area for the little ones this is a great place for the adventurers in the family Read more here

 

If you are a MyBump2Baby app holder, remember that you qualify for our exclusive discounts section.

Things to do in London as a Family

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Today we have an amazing guest post from the fabulous Kirsty who blogs over at Navigating Baby. As parents,  you maybe interested in finding things to do in London as a family. We have our free local pregnancy to pre-school directory of classes and business here but if you are looking for something a little different to do in London … carry on reading to find some awesome things to do in London as a family.

Things to do as a family in London

Fun Things to do as a Family in London

We have lived in South West London for the past 10 years (I have actually been here all my life) and we love it especially now as it is great area to be in as a family.  People always think of London and see crowded spaces and loads of buildings, but our little corner of the city is a lot about being outdoors and large open spaces.

Here is my list of fab things to do in London as a Family;

Visit one of the Lidos for an open-air swim. There are fantastic outdoor pools in Brockwell Park and Tooting Common which make a perfect family day out in the summer months.  For those feeling less brave Hampton Open Air Pool is also fabulous and has the added bonus of being heated.  Be warned though you need to get to all of these early or face long queues.

Pack a picnic and head to one of the many commons. South West London is blessed with huge amounts of green space and a fair bit of woodland for tree climbing and adventure.  We spend hours in the woods building dens.

Things to do as a family in London

To name but a few there is Tooting Common, Streatham Common, Clapham Common, Wimbledon Common, Wandsworth Common, Morden Hall Park, Richmond Park and Bushey Park.  Each of these has playgrounds galore, there are also sandpits, tennis courts and often organised events such as Park Runs for kids or recently Easter Egg hunts.

Hampton Court Palace. This is one of my favourite places in South West London for a family day out and we don’t even always go into the palace.  Being in the gardens is free and a lovely place for kids to run around.  If you want to pay there are usually activities for kids organised during weekends and holidays and there is the amazing Magic Garden which is a fabulously designed play space for children.  There are towers to be climbed, water to play in, sand to dig in and hills to roll or slide down.

If you do visit don’t forget the maze –  I have been lost in there more times than I care to remember both as a child and an adult!

Visit Buckingham Palace and see the changing of the guard. You can combine this with a walk and a play in St James Park or a walk down the Mall will take you to Horseguards Parade where there are soldiers on horses.  If little legs are not yet exhausted another short walk will take you to Westminster to see Big Ben.

The Wetlands, Barnes – there are over 100 acres of wetlands and marshes here where you can see butterflies, pond life and birds a plenty. If your little people love wildlife this is a total must visit

The more I write about it the more I realise how lucky I am to live somewhere so very full of history and amazing sites, but that still has extraordinary green spaces for my children to experience.

I am Kirsty from Navigating Baby and I write about raising my 4 crackers littles.  I have two singleton boys and then after going for number 3 I was  blessed to have very lively twin girls.  My children can be found tearing around my house playing ninjas, loving one another or driving one other crazy. I can be found alternating between drinking coffee, pleading for order and writing about the chaos here.

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Top 5 Attractions in West Lancashire

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As you know MyBump2Baby has newly launched it’s very own MyBump2Baby Lancashire section of our website and app. Today we are delighted to share our guest post from the fantastic Nicola who blogs over at Mummy to Dex.

 

Top 5 Attractions in West Lancashire

Welcome to West Lancashire, an historic borough with so many family friendly attractions, you could spend months here and not get bored. Whether you’re a wildlife lover, a historic building aficionado or just a lover of being outdoors, West Lancashire has got something for the whole family. It was hard to narrow it down the top 5 attractions in West Lancashire, but these 5 family days out are definitely some of the best!

Our Favourite Attractions in West Lancashire;

Rufford Old Hall| West Lancashire

Located in the historic village of Rufford, Rufford Old Hall is a 500 year old fine Tudor building which used to be home to the Heskeths up until the mid-1700s.

While Dad is exploring the fine architecture of the Grade II listed building, Mum and the kids can tackle the large grounds, including a one mile nature trail, perfect for kids who love to spy butterflies and dragonflies.

When Dad gets bored of the Hall, why not take part in one of the garden games on the lawn- chess or croquet, or explore the woods and build a den? There’s so much to do at Rufford Old Hall and it’s a fantastic day out for the whole family.

There’s an on-site tearoom offering a comprehensive children’s menu, but if you’re trying to save money, you’re more than welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy your sandwiches and snacks in the sunshine.

Free entry for National Trust members, adult ticket prices with gift aid cost £10.50 and under fives go free. Check website for opening times as these can vary depending on the day of the week and season.

Martin Mere Wetlands Centre| West Lancashire

If you have bird mad children, then Martin Mere Wetlands Centre is a must visit when you’re in the local area. Located on the West Lancashire Coastal Plains, Martin Mere, which was once England’s largest body of fresh water, has played host to over 280 species of bird on its wetlands, and every Autumn it welcomes 30,000 pink footed geese, as they make their journey from Iceland south for the winter.

There’s so much more to see and do at Martin Mere, whether you’re a bird lover or not. Kids love the outdoor play area, the boating trips across the wetlands and there’s even toddler story time on a Thursday morning for the littlest members of our family.

Top 5 attractions in Lancashire

Open all year round, seven days a week, prices for entry start from £7.

Windmill Animal Farm| West Lancashire

If you’re looking for a family attraction that will keep you busy for the full day, then look no further than Windmill Animal Farm, based just outside of Burscough.

Offering indoor soft play, a light railway, outdoor play areas, access to a huge range of farm animals, cute furry pets and a lovely cafe with coffee and cake to die for, Windmill Animal Farm keeps our energetic toddler busy for hours on end.

There’s an array of farming events throughout the year including pumpkin picking in October and the lambing season in March – two events not to be missed.

Open seven days a week, entry starts from £7.50 with discounted family tickets and half price weekday tickets available.

Mere Sands Woods| West Lancashire

Located just down the road from Rufford Old Hall, Mere Sands Woods named as such as this location was the shoreline of the now drained Martin Mere.

Within the reserve are lakes, sandy wet meadows, forest, six bird hides and several walking path routes which are accessible for both wheelchairs and prams.

As well as using the bird hides to look out for magnificent kingfishers, woodpeckers and sparrows, you can also see foxes, squirrels, deer and water voles around the reserve.

Truly a nature lovers paradise, Mere Sands Woods is like Martin Mere Wetland’s Centre cooler, younger brother. A really relaxing place to be at one with nature, and a serene location to spend a few hours with the kids, learning about insects, birds and mammals.

Top 5 attractions in Lancashire

Entry into Mere Sands Woods is free, however it costs £2 to park your car for the day.

Farmer Ted’s| West Lancashire

The ultimate family friendly farm in the North West and a must visit destination for any child. Farmer Ted’s always has so much going on for children and adults alike. Located between Formby and Ormskirk on Flatman’s Lane, there’s a world of things to do when you arrive such as meeting farm animals, go karting, exploring the adventure maze, archery, watching birds of prey and an indoor and outdoor play area.

Check out the website for seasonal activities including Easter egg hunts in March/April, pumpkin carving in October and gingerbread decorating in December.

 

Prices start from £4.75 with prices going up slightly on the weekend. Open all year around except for January and two weeks in November

Nicola who blogs over at Mummy to Dex lives in a small village in rural West Lancashire with her husband, two year old spirited toddler, Dexter and newborn baby, Felix.

 

Aladdin Christmas Pantomime Blackpool Circus

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I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a family trip to a pantomime around Christmas and if I did, well…. I would probably be questioning our relationship right now!

Pantomimes around Christmas are a tradition for most families, a tradition that has often been passed on from generation to generation. Pantomimes are often based around kid’s stories combining the perfect balance of magic, audience interaction and music peppered with witty humour creating an everlasting memory for all the family – whatever the age.

We reviewed the fantastic Mooky Doolitte Christmas pantomime this time last year and of course, we jumped at the chance when we got invited to this years “Aladdin Christmas Pantomime” at Blackpool Circus. I personally love the added edge that a circus panto brings above the usual pantomimes. Last year our son George was 18 months old and he really enjoyed the Mooky Doolittle Pantomime so I was really excited for us all to go again this Christmas.

Aladdin Pantomime Blackpool Circus

 

You can read our Aladdin Christmas Pantomime, Blackpool Circus overall review below.

Aladdin Christmas Pantomime at Blackpool Circus

Parking

We parked in the Houndshill shopping centre car park in Blackpool, you can pay via card or cash when you return to your car.  The walk from Houndshill shopping centre car park to Blackpool tower takes around 5 minutes. The postcode for the houndshill car park is FY1 4NY.

I would suggest leaving the pram in the car as they cannot be taken in to the circus and must be left in the buggy park downstairs.

Ticket Prices

The Blackpool Tower Winter Pantomime now! Season runs between 24/11/2018 – 20/01/2018

Save money if you can by booking online by clicking here

You can upgrade to VIP or second row seating by calling 0871 222 9929 or via the link above.

 

 

Adult (15+)

 

£16.50 walk up price

 £14.00  

Booked online

Child (3-14 years)£13.50 walk up price£11.50 Booked online
Toddler (Under 3)£5.95 walk up price£5.95 Booked online
Group of 4*£54.00 walk up price£46.00 Booked online

 

Safety

You will struggle to get telephone signal in the circus and it can get a little confusing when looking for your seat especially as it is dark during the show. I strongly suggest that you have a meeting point should anyone get lost.

Recommendations for babies and toddlers

2 hours is a long time to keep a baby or young toddler happy and interested – George can’t even colour in felt tips on our walls for that long so I knew he would probably get a little stressed sat in the same seat for 2 hours. I would suggest bringing milk and some snacks if you can. We brought a couple of emergency sweets that George could eat and we also treated him to an ice lolly and juice in the interval which kept him quiet.

The Refreshment kiosk had;

Alcohol (always handy if your child is giving you a hard time)
Crisps
Tea
Coffee
Fizzy drinks
Popcorn
Ben and Jerrys ice cream
Ice lollies

 The Aladdin Pantomime, Blackpool Tower Circus 2018

 The Aladdin Pantomine at Blackpool tower circus is the perfect combination of theatre, music, dance, jokes, audience participation, and mild yet hilarious innuendos. We laughed from start to finish. The first half displayed the most beautiful rendition of “A whole new world” and once the circus ring filled with water, Aladdin and Jasmin sat on the magic carpet and made their way around waving at the audience – a tear actually fell down my cheek (ok, ok I may have had a few too many vinos the night before but it really was a beautiful moment)

By the second half it was clear to see that Blackpool circus had really upped their game since last year, the jaw dropping acts that were totally different to last year which was refreshing and showed how dedicated and hardworking the performers must be.

If you are looking for a pantomime with an extra sprinkle of edge from daredevil performers to keep you gasping throughout then look no further Aladdin Pantomime at Blackpool Circus is for you.

 

Get your tickets here