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Child-Friendly Hotels Within 2 Hours of London

This selection was compiled by Britain’s Finest – a useful website with plenty of special offers, to help you track down the finest places to stay, dine and unwind. There is also an excellent search facility with over 400 ‘Child Friendly & Family Hotels.’ Here are 5 of the best within 2 hours of London..

Brooklands Hotel, Surrey

Children under 12 years stay for half price, under 3’s goes free. They have serval family packages available, from a Spa day for mum and daughter to family driving experience with Mercedes-Benz.

Tylney Hall Hotel, Hampshire

Children under 2 go free, treasure hunts for 3- 9’s with the use of an outdoor & indoor pool. You can even feed the residence of ducks in the beautiful grounds of this grade two list hotel.

Maison Talbooth Hotel, Essex

Offers canoeing on the river Stour, cycling (with a variety of bikes to suit all ages and stages), tickets to Colchester Zoo, tennis lessons on the hotel’s court and access to outdoor swimming pool.

Rubens at the Palace Hotel, London

Perhaps you would prefer a hotel in London? The Rubens is rolling out the red-carpet for families! Children of all ages are well catered for with a host of family friendly features with your very own director of fun and concierge team. Children under 12 years old stay free when sharing a room with parents.

Old Swan & Minister Mill, Oxfordshire

Children are made to feel welcome as soon as they arrive with bath ducks, teddy bears & treats. Plenty of activities for the children from cycling to fishing. A family holiday package is also available for 2 adults & 2 children under the age of 18 years.

Britains Finest

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Activities Days Out

Topgolf : Golf For All

Whether you are into golf or not, Topgolf is something you have to try. It takes the traditional driving range and adds a ‘ten pin bowling’ like scoring system to it and the ability to order food and drinks from your booth.

There are 3 just outisde London – Chigwell, Watford & Surrey. We bombed down the A3 and headed to the Surrey Topgolf but depending where you are in London, all 3 are very accessable.

It was like being in the States (!) the service was impeccable and the staff were super friendly (and patient!) This summer they have a fantastic deal for the kids – Eat, Drink & Play. Two games (40 balls) and food & drink from a snazzy menu for £10. (Adults £16) That’s a very reasonable way to entertain the children and they are also learning a new skill!

We went en famille and by the end of game, there was a mega improvement (apart from the 2 year old, who funnily enough, wasn’t too interested in playing but she did love watching the scores come up on the screens.)

The idea is that you score by hitting the ball into one of the circles. You activate your ball before you hit it and then your score comes up on screen. The further away the higher the score.

There is also coaching, junior camps and FOOT GOLF. No, I hadn’t heard of it either but it was brilliant.

After a yummy lunch of nachos, burgers and a caeser salad, we headed off to the golf course for a game. Basically, everyone has a football and there is a flag with a whole (for the football) and each hole is given a par (how many kicks they estimate it should take to complete the hole). As you can imagine it was a great success.

As we drove off, there were cries of ‘please can we come here again?’ And that was just my husband…. 🙂

Topgolf

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Activities Days Out

9 Day Trips From London

So, you have your summer holiday booked but how do you fill the days in between? If you want to head to a farm within driving distance of London, have a look at a recent post I did on ‘Fun Farms‘ but for the more intrepid, I have compiled a few places that you may never have even heard of. Enjoy!

Pooh Corner Ashdown Forest, Hartfield, East Sussex

Grab a map from the shop and visit all places that are mentioned. My favourite is the bridge for a game of Pooh Sticks. Make sure you read (reread) the books so you are up to speed and then watch Winnie & friends come to life.

Fishing London Northolt, London

Book a 2 or 4 hour introduction lesson at one of their 6 lakes in West London. They don’t give a starting age but if you have a keeno, this would be a very novel thing to do. They also do parties!

Crockford Bridge & Farm Shop Weybridge, Surrey

Crockford Bridge Farm grows more than 20 fuits and veg on its 75 acre farm. All for the picking. There is also an ice cream parlour and garden centre in case they haven’t eaten enough strawberries. I am going to try and make my own jam if I pick enough!

Berkonscot Model Village Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

I have heard on many accounts that this is a wonderful day out. (It’s on my to do list…) It is the oldest model village in the UK and is a mini England in the 1930’s. Educational and fun.

Hatfield Park Farm Hatfield, Hertfordshire

Tractor rides. demos and Hungarian Wooly Pigs. If that isn’t enough to entice you, there are huge sandpits and a massive play area and the cafe looks qaint too.

Diggerland Medway, Kent

There are Diggerlands all over the UK now, but if you want to do a day trip from London, head to the one in Kent. The kids can ride on every type of farm transport possible and they even have a tractor themed roundabout. Possibly alot of little boys (don’t kill me) definition of heaven.

Bluebell Railway East Grinstead, Sussex

Take a ride through the beautiful countryside on an old fashion train. Stop for lunch and a peruse the gift shop… and then come back again! Not for the fidgety! (Speaking from experience!)

Chiselhurst Caves Chiselhurst, Kent

Not for the faint hearted, this fun filled 45 minute tour guides you through the caves carrying only a lamp for light. Wooooooo. The tour covers many aspects of the national curriculum including light & dark and the WW2.

Discovery Walk at Priory Farm Redhill, Surrey

A magical interractive walk through tunnels, across bridges, along planks & through little houses with lots of adventure obstacles along the way. The highlight is the sunflower maze and duck racing! There is also a brilliant cafe attached to a fenced in play area so you can actually switch off!

I hope this gives you some ideas. If you would prefer to drop them off at a camp, check out 9 Summer Holiday Camps.

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Activities Days Out Events

9 Summer Holiday Camps

One of the things I planned to do before the end of term was to sort out holiday camps. With only three weeks to go, I haven’t done so yet and have been spurred into doing so by the plethora of emails circulating from school and nursery friends about what to book the kiddios into. I have been collating a file of holiday camps over the last 3 months that I am interested in or have done before. Here they are!

Wild Learning

This summer club is a young intrepid explorer’s dream. Between fire making, shelter building, mud sculptures, making dams, whittling, making whistles and crowns, making mini towns, giving the trees faces, making Viking knitting machines or puppets, finding stick men, playing stealth games, learning how to make rope bridges, making and tackling assault courses, making bread or cakes on the fire, mini beast hunts, scent tracking, magic listening stones, ground pictures, story chains, drum and music games, being explorers and much much more no day is the same.

Various locations across the South East including Wimbedon Common and Putney Common in London.

Call Rachel or Julie 01483 424 400

Dance Grooves

Get your kids active and one step ahead of the curve with dance lessons from Dance Grooves.

All over London.

Book here

Clarendon Inspires

If you are keen to get your child educated both culturally and academically, you must try Clarendon Tutors for their cultual itiniaries for kids around London. Not only will it include an hours tutoring, they will be exercised and invigorated at various interesting locations around London.

Contact Henry or Orlando to book here

Danceworks International Ballet Academy

Open to all students 6 to 18 years of age July 18th – 29th 2016

DIBA welcomes you to our second International Ballet Summer School Intensive. This unique two-week programme held in Danceworks London studios for children and teenagers, is founded on the belief that the arts have a unique power to motivate and engage young dancers to achieve excellence. Classes are taught by internationally renowned dancers from leading ballet companies.

Mayfair, London

Apply here

Summer Music Camp in French

Perfect for tiger parents. Music and french in one. If you child is between 8-12, this fun interractive music camp finishes with a performance for parents at the end of the week.

Clapham, London

Book here

Little House of Science

My 5 year old did one of their morning workshops on space and absolutely loved it. Small groups and fully interactive, this is great for a budding scientist.

Various locations in London.

Contact here

My Little Boarders

No, I am not suggesting you pack them off to boarding school for the summer (!) this holiday camp is perfect if you have a budding skate boarder in your midst.

Westway Sports Club & Westminster Academy.

Ages 6-13

Book here

Shooting Starz Holiday Camp

My ultimate favourite football camp (and we have done ALOT of football clubs and classes). The teachers are so kind, interested in the kids, know all the children by name and give specific feedback. The days are super fun and the boys love it.

Ravenscourt, Acton, Fulham.

Book here

Or call Luke to discuss age and siblings (they welcome my 3 year old as he is footy mad!) 07549 982 243

Miss Sophie’s Holiday Club

A spin off from Sophie’s Taste For Knowledge website which supplies cooks and tutors, Sophie has deeveloped days out for children in London. See below!

Contact Sophie here

For more indepth search of holiday camps, try Kidsorted who are up to speed on everything, everywhere! Also, if you want to go it alone in the smoke, sign up to London’s Little Thinkers newsletter with lots of information on what’s on, in and around the Capital.

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Activities Days Out Family Life Food Places

Cocktails & Mocktails

If you are feeling a bit fried over half term, meet up with a friend and take the tribe to Balans Soho Society at the Westfield, Shepherd’s Bush for a cocktail.

Ok, so the Westfield gives me a slight headache if I spend too long in there (although there is loads of free stuff that would keep the kids amused such as the ‘musical armchairs’ and a good dose of lego building in the lego shop to name a few).

We went to the Kids Club Cinema first. It is on every Saturday and a Sunday at 1030. (I don’t advise going on a Sunday though as I snuck out with the youngest to do some shopping but hte shops didn’t open till 12. Of course. Doh.)

Away from the main concourse of restaurants, Balans Soho Society is a little gem of a restaurant not only serving all your favourites beautifully, they have just started a Cocktail and Mocktail menu for you and the little ones. (The former for you, the latter for them – unless they are a bit hyper then knock them out with a cocktail – joke).

They are presented exquisitely and taste as good as they look. I went for a gin based ‘Mummy’s Pick Me Up’. Alex had a slightly more manly sounding ‘The Society Teddy Bear(!)’ which included bourbon, vanilla, cinnamon and cranberry. The kids tried all of the mocktails – the favourite was unsurpsingly ‘Cheeky Little Monkey!’ We were even allowed to take home the bear bottles!

Icce cream, pancakes AND maple syrup. We rolled out of the restaurant! The kids from food and ourselves from one or two ‘Teddy Bears!’

Try it, you will be looked after so well – the staff are fun & friendly (especially Elias who had of averting disasters before they happened!)

balans.co.uk

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Activities Days Out Places Services

London Cultural Trips For Kids

Clarendon Tutors offer a bespoke tutoring service in London. However, it isn’t another tutoring agency that matches child to tutor and leaves you on your way. They understand a parents need for continuous feedback and they also maintain open communication with whichever schools the children attend, ensuring that they are working in co-operation rather than conflict.

‘The thing I loved about Clarendon was the constant support. The agencies I have used in the past have just sent us anonymous tutors and that’s been the end of it. Clarendon helped us through every step of getting ‘M’ into his school.’

The charming and knowledgeable founders, Henry and Orlando, are excellent at matching their highly experienced Oxbridge tutors with a pupil, being tutors themselves, and have a 100% track record of getting your child into the school of your choice.

What makes Clarendon Tutors really unique is their Cultural Trips. Consisting of 1 tutor to 1-2 children, the day out combines traditional learning with experiences such as visiting a museum and also a more active pursuit such as a tennis lesson or a round of crazy golf, for example. Whatever you require, they will endeavor to tailor the day for you and your child including picking them up and taking them home. The tutor also visit a few days before so that you are comfortable with who will be looking after your children for the day.

What’s Included

9am pick up from home (or the train if your child is old enough to come into London for the day)
1 hour of tutoring in the morning
An exhibition or museum such as Imperial, Natural or Design Museum
A healthy lunch
An Afternoon activity such as tennis, football, Go Ape, Putt In The Park
1 hour tutoring
5pm finish

Outside the Ai Wei Wei Exhibition at the RA

Ready for tennis at The Hurlingham Club

For international parents and children that are new to London, they are able to help you by showing them the British culture and system. Whatever your requirements are, these are your guys. With the gaping summer holiday looming, they will be able to take the children off your hands knowing they are being well looked after and educated in a fair few things too!

Tuition rates start at £50/hr. Day trips start from £200/day.

Drop them an email for more information and to ask any questions – henry@clarendontutors.com / orlando@clarendontutors.com or give them a call anytime on 020 7206 2569

clarendontutors.com

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Activities Days Out

Super Spoiling Treat For All The Family

As a family, we are pretty keen on taking the kids to the cinema. The 5 year old loves a flick, the 3 year old uses the usually empty cinema as a soft play and the 1 year old bumbles around at our feet. We get to either watch (although I am not that keen on kids movies – they can give me a headache with the jarring graphics and mega noise – the Lego movie almost putting me off for life) or it has been known for us to have a little zzzzz.

We decided to try out the Children’s Film Club at The Soho Hotel in their very cool screening rooms in the heart of the West End as it was a step up from the usual Saturday morning outing including a delicious brunch, popcorn, prosecco and mini ice creams – all for £20 per head. Now that’s a way to get me to a kids film!

The funky Soho Hotel.

Gorgeous interiors.

Delicious brunch, including mini hamburgers, mini hotdogs, mac n cheese and fruit kebabs!

Chocolate or caramel mini icecreams…

A choice between salt or sweet…

To top it all off, the chairs so comfy and if you sit down promptly you may even bag yourself a sofa.

Upcoming films include –

30th April – Kung Fu Panda 3

7th May – Shrek

14th May – Zootropolis 3D

21st May – Rise of The Guardians

We watched Alvin & The Chipmunks – Road Chip, which was surprisingly ‘watchable’. I have no doubt the surroundings helped as we were looked after so well and guess what, no chairs were climbed on and no one nodded off! I highly recommend you try it…

Click here to make an online booking

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Activities Days Out Events Places

An Adventure Far Far Away

When it comes to entertainment and theme parks I thought the Americans couldn’t be beaten but from the moment Shreks Adventure commenced I realised it was up there with the big guns over at Universal (speaking of which did you know Disney World are opening up a Star Wars WORLD next year?)

Anyway, Merlin Entertainments strike again!

Set amongst the tourist trail on the South Bank, nestled between Sea Life and London Dungeons, Shreks Adventure is situated in County Hall overlooked by the London Eye. It is an impressive building and the entrance lends itself to making a great first impression.

The queue moved quickly and we found ourself in a group of about 40 people aged between 4 and 80. I wouldn’t recommend younger than 4 as this interactive adventure with real actors made even my bullet proof 5 year quake with nerves, especially when the real life witch dangled her finger in his face and asked him what his name was!

I don’t want to give too much away about this 1.5 hours walking adventure to the Far Away Land, through different well known fairy tales to finally meeting the ‘real Shrek’ but take it from me it was a spectacle.

There was lots of interaction with the characters (Sleeping beauty falling asleep during her monologue raising lots of laughs) and the decoration is second to none – I nearly freaked out from claustrophobia in the mirror maze and the sound affects and 4D affects such as water spraying and rats crawling over your bottom were brilliant.

If you have a Shrek fan or a movie fan for that matter (Kung Fu Panda and Toothless to name but a few featured throughout) it is an absolute must and would make a wonderful birthday treat (starting from £18 a ticket it isn’t a walk in the park!)

There was also a ‘play area’ at the end which was super fun, although it leads into the most expensive gift shop I have ever seen although I managed to leave with just a bit of Shreks slime at only £3.50…

The book that they hand to your little one on exit is an artwork with photos of yourself on the journey already printed which if money is no object would make a great memento!

shreksadventure.com/london/

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