Thread: Recommendations

I'm just wondering if there is a place anywhere to put recommended days out in 'typical' areas that people are posted.

It only occured to me today after seeing a few new threads about people being posted to Portsmouth. We took the kids to Fort Nelson today in Fareham. It's a Royal Armouries Museum with lots of cannons and stuff in. Completely free entry although the things to do inside are extra but obviously you can choose if you do these or not.

Big tree had a go at firing two different types of guns and created a penny using one of those penny press machine things. There's also a few interactive things along the way the kids can touch/press.

It's not a 'big day out' kind of place to visit but for a cheap couple of hours distraction I would highly recommend it. Not sure it would be too good for girls and there wasn't a lot for little tree (aged almost 2) to do but Big tree (aged 6 3/4) loved it.

I took the plunge and got a family membership for English Heritage 3 years ago. Membership prices vary for singles, couples and families but our two adult cards plus family will cover us for not only ourselves but up to six children each. It costs us about £80 quid a year but the days out are simply stunning. Thousands of Castles, forts, stately homes etc., and the best thing is that it is all free for members. There are events every weekend and they totally bring history to life by having people in costume and character. Free jousting days where you can go and cheer on your favourite Knights of the Realm, falconry shows, etc., etc.,

Best example to give is Dover Castle, we arrived at 9.30am and it was a short walk from the car park to the castle (there is a courtesy luxury coach laid on for those who do not want to walk). Our entrance fee for six of us would have been £95 but for members it is free. Guide book was £3.

Dover Castle has two roman lighthouses and was in use up until 1960s so the history is amazing. I think the PWRR museum was there as well. More interactive buttons and presentations and in the main castle there were actors dressed up as the King, The Prince, His Wife and members of the Royal Court. Every hour there was a Kings Court where the King would preside over squabbles over land, divorces, right to marry, petty theft and crime. It was soooo exciting as all the children were allowed to sit on the floor the King chose 12 members (men only) to be part of the Jury. When the King entered the room we all had to bow and it so cool for the children to be so involved in it all. The King even told off one of them for sniffing!! Extremely cool way to bring history to life.

The White Cliff Tour takes you through the tunnells used during WWII, and it takes you through the offices, hospital, bunk rooms, etc., and it is just staggering, and only a small percentage is opened up. A lot of it still has the furniture etc., left there as it was at the end of WWII.

We were the last to leave at 6pm, and we still did not see everything.

Another English Heritage property worth going to is Downe House in Kent which is the home of Charles Darwin. Thoroughly recommended if you have KS3 or KS4 schoolchildren, again there were people in character but mostly garden staff.

One more shout for English Heritage would be Audley End which is quite near to Saffron Walden. Having been fully restored there are now working kitchens, stables and again everyone is in costume and character. The tours of the grand house and simply breathtaking the if you walk up to the temple on the hill the view is lovely. There are two lovely coffee shops, a really nice playarea and lots of ducks to feed.

English Heritage is very picnic friendly, in actual fact, in the car parks people just park up and all the chairs, picnic boxes and blankets come out. If the thought of taking your children to an indoor playcentre to get battered by other peoples spiteful brats then an English Heritage card is for you.

English Heritage Home Page | English Heritage

TLC x

Two years ago we had a day out at The Big Sheep, Devon. At the time it had a 50% forces discount when OH flashed his MOD90 which saved us £30. Stunning cafe, brilliant indoor play area, laser tag, tractor rides, sheep shearing and racing. The chickens assault course is just genius. Not 100% sure if the forces discount still applies though.

The BIG Sheep - All Weather Attraction - Days out, North Devon

TLC x

English Heritage membership also gives you half price entry to Historic Scotland and Cadw (Welsh equivalent) during your first year and free in subsequent years.

We have National Trust membership so we can get free parking and free entry at lots of fab places near us.

But the best thing we have is an annual pass for the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. You only have to visit three times for it to pay for itself. The views are stunning and there's now a ship watching thing that identifies which ships are sailing in the area. Fab views of the dockyard, and I did watch my OH's old ship come in from up there a few times. And there's discount in the cafe