Visiting Alton Towers with Children who are 1.3m Tall - Itinerary & Tips
The last time I visited Alton Towers was over 10 years ago. I'm not really sure why but I think it's probably the expense. As a family of 5, it's not exactly a cheap day out and we've always favoured less expensive parks like Lightwater Valley which are both cheaper and closer. We've just invested in Merlin Annual Passes though so can visit Alton Towers as often as we want to this year. Exciting! We made our first visit over Easter and picked up lots of tips for visiting with kids who are too big for CBeebies Land buy not quite 1.4m tall which is the height restriction for most of the thrill rides here. My children are aged 8, 10 and 12.
The Best Picnic Spots in Northumberland for Families with Young Children
A Review of Darwin Forest & The Peak District with Tweens
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This Easter, we spent the most glorious long weekend in the Peak District with our three children (aged 8, 10 and 12). Our base for our trip was Darwin Forest, a countryside retreat close to Bakewell and Matlock Bath. We have stayed at Darwin Forest in the past (read about our cosy stay during a snow storm last winter here) and this time I was pleased that the weather was more on our side so we could get out and explore more of what the Peak District has to offer families with tweens. We stayed in a Skyline View Lodge from Friday-Monday. There are lots of different types of lodges available at Darwin Forest (many are dog-friendly too) and at time of publishing, short breaks are available from £365 (check out their late deals here).
Mega Milkshakes at The Boat Shack, Derwent Reservoir
So many of you have mentioned that we must visit The Boat Shack in the past year or so. Known for their epic milkshakes and hot chocolates, the Boat Shack is now award-winning and somewhere lots of people in the North East have a soft spot for and mention as one of their favourite family days out in North East England.
Located on the banks of Derwent Reservoir near Pow Hill Country Park, the Boat Shack has stunning views and is a lovely place to visit when you fancy some countryside air.
What to pack in your bag for a day at a theme park
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We've just invested in Merlin Annual Passes and plan to really make the most of them so expect lots of theme park reviews and tips from us this year. Theme parks can be expensive places so I'm determined to get organised and plan everything in advance so we don't end up buying last minute drinks or overpriced sunscreen from the gift shops. Here's what I plan to pack in our theme park day trip bags this year - let me know if you have any suggestions too.
Coral Island | A Child-friendly Night Out in Blackpool
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We love visiting Blackpool and I think we've probably visited with the kids around 6 times in total. Now that they're a little older, they don't go to sleep until we do and trying to find something to entertain us all in the evening without breaking the bank can be a little bit of a challenge. Long gone are the days of putting them to bed at 6pm!
A Guide To What's New At Whitehouse Farm Centre
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We love Whitehouse Farm and have visited every year for the past 15 years. It's conveniently located (just off A1 near Morpeth) and there is always so much to do whatever the weather. Whitehouse Farm is 100% one of the best family days out in North East England.
Rothbury Riverside Walk, Picnic Spots & Playground
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| Credit Laura Dixon |
If you're looking for an easy dog and pushchair friendly family day out in North East England, I can highly recommend the Riverside Walk in Rothbury, Northumberland. Parking is FREE, there are public loos nearby, the river banks are filled with wildlife and there are lots of picnic tables and benches along the way plus a newly refurbished play park which is especially suited to toddlers and Under 10s.
Signing Up For A Pay Monthly Merlin Annual Pass - All You Need To Know
I have considered joining the Merlin Annual Pass Club for years now but there's always been some excuse and I've never taken the plunge. Then towards the end of last year, they allowed you to spread the cost and pay monthly rather than having to find £800+ to buy 5 passes up front and my interest was piqued even further.
A Chilled Weekend Break with Friends & Tweens in North Yorkshire
The lovely Cat and Alan from Here Come the Hoopers invited us to stay with them for a short break in their family holiday home in Burniston near Scarborough in North Yorkshire. You may remember we stayed last year and enjoyed a treasure trail around Scarborough, lunch at Scarborough Seafood Social and ice cream by the beach (read about that trip here). It's lovely going away with friends with kids of the same age as ours as they all get on well and play nicely together. As they're older we can let them head to the park by the cottage for an hour by themselves when 5 kids all gets a bit too much too.
The Best Themed Hotels for Families in the UK
We've bought Merlin Annual Passes this year (using their pay monthly scheme) and with no 'big' summer holiday planned, staying in theme parks is going to feature high on our agenda.
We definitely won't make it around all of these rooms (unless we win the lottery) and it's worth noting that these rooms can be pretty expensive but if you keep your eyes peeled, there are often good deals about, especially during off-peak dates and I think staying in a room like this would be a real treat. Let me know your favourite theme park hotels for older kids and if you have any room recommendations for us.
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