Legoland Windsor with 3 year olds and a 9 month old

What can I say... The day was filled with smiles and excitement from the moment we left our house to the moment our chaps went to bed – a 3^rd birthday to remember! 

I had never been to Legoland, much to the distain of my now 26 year old! I never really understood what all the fuss was about and was always told it was just an expensive day out. However a new mummy friend went a few weeks ago and stayed in the hotel resort too. Her children were gushing with stories and so I decided to take our chap for his 3^rd birthday with his best friend to see what all the fuss was about and we weren’t disappointed.

The excitement began the moment we woke, as we were travelling in one car and so the boys were sitting together. There was a jam on the M4 – surprise – but we managed to only add ½ hr on our journey time and arrived in good spirits, the weather was favourable too.

As you enter Legoland you are faced with a few buildings housing shops, eateries and toilets and a few Lego figures to wet your appetite and then as you enter the world beneath you are greeted with two enormous dragons (which happen to be one of Freddie’s favourite animals at the moment) and they matched the boys coats too so they decided they had one each!

From then on the day became a whirlwind of fun and excitement. Our first port of call was the Dragons Apprentice. A smallish roller coaster just enough for little people to get a thrill. The boys couldn’t go on together as we had a baby with us but enjoyed watching each other and this was the first of many squeals of delight. (note riders have to be at least a meter tall for many of the rides and some 1.3). The queue was pretty long, there is a Lego table for the kids to play half way which kept them entertained for a while, but the thought of queuing for more rides with 3 year olds and baby wasn’t something we were looking forward to, so we made the decision to purchase a Q-Bot. This made the day a breeze. It costs £15 a head but really is worth every penny as you can pre-book a ride and it does the queuing for you– leaving you to explore the park – it took all the pressure out of the day)

Back to Legoland itself...

I could write a full essay but know that this wouldn’t get read so here are some highlights that our boys especially enjoyed:

Atlantis

This new underwater voyage is a must for everyone! Freddie didn’t stop squeeling, SHARK MUMMY! LOOK FISH MUMMY! LOOK STINGRAY MUMMY! MUMMY! MUMMY! LOOK!  You cannot book this with your Q Bot but the queue keeps moving so you shouldn’t have to wait too long..

Pirate play ground

Brilliant pirate play ground for older children with rope bridges, wooden climbing frames and more...

Miniland

A whole world of miniature cities, land marks, rocket stations. trains and more.

Driving School

There are two areas for your little ones to learn to drive 3-5 year olds and over 6. The concentration was intense!

Theatre

We didn’t have time to catch the 4D experience but did watch a lovely little theatre show, which gave us time to sit and have a coffee!

Orient Expedition

Great little train ride around the Legoland park area where you can get a good view of all the activities, rides and Lego dragons and dinosaurs.

Pirates Splash

Has to be one of my favs, a slow boat ride passing pirates, parrots and treasure with a big drop at the end – you will get wet!

We went on lots of other rides and took part in different activities but really only touched the surface. We decided that we wanted to finish the day with a big finale, The Dragon, a faster meaner roller coaster than our boys had ever been on, our Q-Bot came good, and our time slot was perfect just 10 minutes before the rides close. It was a brilliant end to a fantastic day and we will be back for more – our boys will make sure of it!

Tot Friendly rating

There is plenty to do for under 5s and good baby changing facilities throughout the park, there are also little buggies to use if you want. If you want to go on rides and have young children we would suggest a Q-Bot, it really will make your visit that much more enjoyable allowing you to enjoy the park between rides. Be warned that you will have to face a lengthy queue at the end of your day as there is only one road out. We made sure we had some snacks available and our little chaps were very contended.

Price: At the moment you can get 40% off on-line here  full price can be a little expensive - but no more than other attractions of the same quality, and there are so many offers now that if you search the internet or keep an eye out on products and supermarkets you will find 2 for 1 and discount offers that will bring the price down.

Legoland Windsor is aimed at families with children under 12 and for the under 5s we give it 4.5 stars out of 5 but with a Q Bot we give it a 5!

A Tot-tastic day out!
Visit the Legoland Website for more details.

Hatfield House - great for little explorers wanting to let off steam!

Hatfield House has so far missed my days out radar, not sure why as we only live a few miles away but it just never occurred to me, which is strange as we are explorers  by nature!

A friend suggested we take our little ones (ages 2x 2yrs and one 5 year old) and I was pleasantly surprised. We only touched the surface visiting the Farm, Bloody Hollow Adventure Playground and retail area so will be back for a longer visit but here is what we thought...

Bloody Hollow Adventure Playground

The Bloody Hollow Adventure Playground is a fantastic play area with castle, rope bridges, zip slide, swings and more. Probably not great for little ones just learning to toddle but if you have a sturdy-on-their-feet 2+ year-old who enjoys climbing and running they will have a blast. The whole area is fully enclosed but beware: there are very steep banks (which actually adds to the whole experience- although I think castles were usually built on hills!)

Hatfield Park Farm

Large farm with a variety of animals to feed. Freddie especially loved the pigs as they made such a squealing noise when we walked past them. There are sandpits dotted around with great little diggers, the kids played there for ages! We were also lucky enough to see the lambs being fed.

The Stable Yard

The Stable Yard offers a variety of independent retailers: one is a lovely old fashioned toy shop, where Freddie spent his £1 with ease. You will also find the Coach House Restaurant here which offers a nice selection of food and drink. There is currently a FREE HOT DRINK offer- just visit the Hatfield House website here and print off the voucher (offer valid until 15^th July). There are often free events for children here too, we made Easter baskets, rabbits and chicks.

As I said we only touched the surface, there is so much more to explore and we will definitely be back! Entrance to the Farm and Bloody Hollow costs £4.50 for adults and £2 for children 3+. Visit the website for full prices (Free entry to Stable Yard).
Website; www.hatfield-house.co.uk/

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland- A Toddlers View

We headed off to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland for the opening night on Friday with our 2 ½ year old.  It was an all-round toddler Winner!

The Park is filled with wonder and excitement, whatever you are looking for, from shows, to rides, to eateries ,bars, shops and market stalls it really does spark a bit of Christmas spirit.  It is open 10m -10pm through to January 3^rd, except for Christmas day.

We parked in the park itself and headed off in the dark for a stroll along the Serpentine. In the distance the sky was illuminated by the park’s Giant Observation Wheel which reminded me of a large snow flake. As soon as Freddie clapped eyes on it he was on a mission in the right direction for once! As we got nearer, his mouth opened wider at this enormous wheel. Like most toddlers he has a thing for wheels and this was the biggest and brightest he had ever seen.

On entering the park from this end you are greeted, much to his delight, with a huge static stream train and an old fashion organ. The giant talking tree received a different reaction as he is a little scary in the dark!

The whole park is very well laid out although I am not sure how it would fair when too busy. To give Freddie a little more freedom we attached his backpack and lead which was a god send as we didn’t need to worry about hands – which are not fashionable in toddler world for Freddie at the moment.

The must visit ride for him was “Santa’s Flying Sleigh”- his first ever roller coaster experience was a memory to behold and his dad and big brother enjoyed it too.  Second on the list was Santa’s Workshop, an even smaller roller coaster which Freddie went on by himself and lots of traditional roundabouts where the London bus was a firm favourite.

By the giant wheel you will find Santa Land, a wonderland for children; it is surrounded by the Santa Express, a miniature railway line with the only access being via a bridge or over the railway’s crossroads. In this area there are lots of activities for young children, an inflatable snow man bouncy castle, mini carousels and fairground rides, hook a Santa game, Elves workshop and Father Christmas himself who is free to visit between 10am and 6pm.

If you are looking for a little getaway, head to the fantastic Speigel tent which offered a relaxing atmosphere, food, drinks and highchairs and had a live jazz band when we were there – this is a great brief escape from the busy lights and music outside.

There is plenty to do for families with pre-school children, but away from a toddlers view for a minute, it will cost a fair bit. If your toddler is happy to soak up the Christmas atmosphere with you and maybe go on one or two rides then it’s an all-round toddler winner! However if you have a little one who wants to do everything he sees be prepared to dent your wallet. In Santa Land (an area specifically for the younger audience) Hook a Santa costs £3 a go! Ok you win a prize every-time but if you have more than one child it is pretty expensive.

Taking the cost aside the experience is a festive pleasurable one and we managed to lose over 3 hrs here. Our toddler had three expressions throughout the whole time, mouth open, squealing with delight and grinning from ear to ear. 

More details can be found on their website – if you want to avoid the queues you can pre –book the circus, giant wheel and ice skating.

Most of Winter Wonderland is level for buggies with only gentle inclines. There are baby changing facilities at various disabled toilets around the site.

Visit Tot Friendly for more family days out suitable for babies and toddlers

Bekonskot Model Railway and Village

A few weeks ago we visited Bekonscot Model Village & Railway in Buckinghamshire and had a fantastic day. 

We arrived kitted out for a full days adventure with picnic lunches to feed an army, but when we saw the modest entrance we thought we had made a mistake and that we would probably only last half an hour! four hours later we were still there just finishing a train ride. To be honest most families would probably get round in an hour but Freddie decided to pitch him-self at the first railway bridge and it took us over half an hour to coax him to the second!

Bekonscot is great fun for all but especially for little ones with 1.5 acres of miniature buildings, towns, railways, castles, and more to discover.  They also have a playground next to the picnic areas, a miniature ride on railway and remote control boats.

The miniature village and models comprise of six little towns stuck in a 1930’s time warp. Each village has its own character and the tiny railway connects them all very cleverly with stations for the trains to stop and pick up passengers.

The highlight of the day for our 2+ year olds was definitely the Model Railway which has almost 10 scale miles of track (450 meters in real life) .

The paths can be a little narrow for passing especially with buggies.

If you have a morning or afternoon free it is worth a visit...

http://www.bekonscot.co.uk/

Visit our website for more toddler friendly days out

Hertford Christmas Gala 2010

We visited the Hertford Christmas Gala last night and as we approached Fore Street it was nice to feel a little buzz coming from the town. Unfortunately there were very few market stalls with the 'token flashing light gadget stalls' almost over shadowing but those that were there were worth visiting. The big boys M&S were offering mulled wine and mince pies and local businesses included Foxholes Farm, a stall selling children's wooden toys and a nice little silver jewellery stall Jemima's Jewels run by a Hertford mum. You can find her on Bishops Stortford market on Saturday's or soon to be on line at http://www.jemimasjewels.com/.

The kids really enjoyed the festivities and games taking place on the stage and this years Hertford theatre panto characters introduced themselves to the crowds, much to little Freddie's terror, he really doesn't seem to like people dressed in wild outfits!

Hertford went without a Christmas gala in 2009 due to the credit crunch as local shops and groups did not have the funds needed, 2010 at least was heading in the right direction, fingers crossed that 2011 will be even bigger and better!

From Pinky and Perky to Postman Pat - Hertford Museum

Children’s TV Characters 1950-1990

This charming little exhibition at the recently restored Hertford Museum is packed full of memorabilia. Adults will love it because of the warm memories the items bring back to mind (the 1970s were my childhood- Bagpuss & Mr Benn). Children & Toddlers will enjoy it too with plenty of “real-life” characters from Basil Brush to Paddington Bear and the Wombles (the exhibits also includes the largest Pokemon collection newly listed in the Guinness Book of Records).

It’s a small exhibition, so perfect to soak up half an hour one rainy day on from now until Saturday 8th January - visit the website for details

What to do on a wet and cold Sunday with a toddler?

Museum of London Docklands and Baby Loves Disco!


Yesterday we were pleased to have planned a good day out which didn’t depend on what the weather decided to throw at us! We filled the slow cooker with beef, vegetables, herbs spices etc plugged it in and off we went...



Freddie hiding in Sailortown

 Our first stop was Museum of London Docklands (it took about 40 mins to get there from Hertford just enough time for Freddie to have his little toddler nap). The museum itself is free but it did cost £5 to park. We began our journey in the Mudlarks section, a great little set up for children. Freddie is only 17 months and so didn’t really understand what was on offer but had fun all the same.

There is a soft play area for toddlers under a meter tall and there are lots of hands-on activities for older children. To reduce overcrowding entry is via ticket only (sessions are about 40 mins) and are collected (for free) at the front desk as you enter the museum. Once your session is over, you are free to grab another ticket (space permitting) or as we did, enjoy the rest of the museum. There are some great things to see and Freddie enjoyed all three floors (and behaved!).

We all particularly enjoyed Sailortown, a life size reconstruction of streets around Wapping from the 1840s 50s. Stepping through the doors you are transported back 150 years to the dark, winding streets. ‘The gallery attempts to recreate the contemporary description of the area: “both foul and picturesque” – the area was a maze of streets, lanes and alleys catering to the men ashore from vessels from all over the world.’ MOLD

There are baby changing facilities (although the one on the main floor was locked, apparently due to the nappy bin being too full!). The whole museum is fully accessible and we had a lovely snack in the museum restaurant which has highchairs for little ones. There is a children’s menu on offer @ £4.95 a pop but this is free with an adult paying guest ordering from the main menu.

Following lunch we headed for a totally different vibe to Baby Loves Disco. Usually £9 for all walking humans we were lucky enough to get a complimentary family pass.

The music was a great selection of 70s and 80s disco, which I defy anyone not to tap their toes too! Freddie enjoyed it watch him here - sorry side ways on! There was, as you would expect, a DJ and dance floor with good acoustics and a few bubbles thrown in. A nice touch was the chill out area with soft lighting and plenty of toys, books, cushions etc to keep babies, toddlers and beyond amused, as well as free drink and food for the kids. The whole event lasts for 3 hours and so makes the £9 per head not sound too bad...

An ideal place to go with a group of friends where you can let off some steam on the dance floor with your little ones, or sit on the periphery and catch up while the children tire themselves out...

Go Freddie! First club and you managed to get on the guest list!!!!

Tired out by the days excitement Freddie had a little cat nap on the way home and we were greeted with the smell of our dinner as we walked into the house, whoever said rain stops play!?

Duxford Museum - great for young children!

My little chap can’t contain his excitement when he sees an aeroplane flying high in the sky, with an excited pointed finger he grunts and squeals and is in toddler heaven. What better place to visit then I thought, than Duxford Museum on America Day. It didn’t disappoint obviously with planes galore and to feed his boyish addictions there were cars too – he also loves wheels and makes ridiculous brrrrr brrr sounds even when he sees a wheelbarrow at the allotment! There was a delebelela (dog in toddler talk) display and birdman showed off his skills with his owls and hawks – so all in all my 15 month little chap had fun. If you haven’t paid Duxford a visit it’s a must to put on your list of things to do, even if only to marvel at the grounded planes and tanks and enjoy the vast space – great toddler and kiddie energy buster!


If you want to visit on display day check out their website for details of what’s coming up or keep visiting the Tot Friendly calendar.

West Wittering Beach - West Sussex - perfect for toddlers!

Last week we decided to take a last minute break in the UK and leave Hertfordshire and London behind! We were fortunate to know a couple who had just renovated their lovely barn in West Sussex and were happy to rent it out to us at short notice. Located in West Sussex we were unsure what we were heading for as neither of us (hubby or I) had ever been here for a holiday. We were pleasantly surprised; the beach at West Wittering was absolutely amazing! Perfect bucket and spade sand with a safe sloping beach front ideal for toddlers and small children. Little Freddie’s first visit to the seaside in the UK was a great experience, he delighted at the waves and dug furiously with his spade, although at 15 months he didn’t really understand the sand castle business! West Wittering beach is large and sandy and so doesn’t feel ridiculously busy, dogs are allowed on certain areas and it is also a Blue Flag beach. A lovely seaside town called Bosham is also worth a visit, and at high has some of its road covered by the sea.

Willows Farm Village

Willows Farm Village - Hertfordshire
This may go down as the discovery of the year for us. We’ve lived in Hertfordshire for years and can't believe we’ve only just come across this fabulous farming complex which ticks all the boxes for an ideal family day-out. In fact it is much more than just a farm. Animals yes but also play areas (swings, trampolines, bouncy castles, huge slides, go-carts), kids shows for all ages, tractor rides and an intelligently designed maize set in the corn fields. The whole centre is sympathetically designed within the natural environment of Willow Farm and there are plenty of kid orientated shops as well as a farm shop and restaurant.
Freddie loved the pigs!

Royston Kite Festival 2010

What a good old British day out at Royston Kite festival we had. £1.00 entry (all to charity) to see some spectacular kiting displays. Most memorable was the one man handling of three separate kites flown to match music- we were mesmerised by the elegant formations. We’ll certainly go back next year but make sure we take a picnic and spend the whole day as there is plenty of other stuff to see- fire engines, market stalls, carousels, hot air balloons........