Little Legends » Kids Sussex

Hallowen Shriek Week at Drusillas Park, East Sussex

Vicky — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:41:21 +0000

Between Saturday 22nd and Monday 31st October Drusillas Park have conjured up some fang-tastically spooky surprises to keep your little horrors half term happy.

Details
The Haunted Cottage – enter if you dare!
Venture through the creepy cobwebbed corridors into the terror-tory of Winifred the witch, as she plays hide and shriek with the unsuspecting public! Be warned however, Winifred and her frightful cat can startle young children and those of a nervous disposition!!

The Thomas Pumpkin Challenge
Jump aboard Thomas the Tank Engine to complete the Pumpkin Ch-Ch-Challenge and experience a hair-raising haul through the Spooky Tunnel.

Trick or Treat
Winifred and her fiendish tricksters have caused mayhem throughout the Park by burying a wealth of witchy wares within the sandy hollows of Dino-Dig. Help them reverse Winifred’s spell and return to normality, by retrieving the items in exchange for a tasty treat.
N.B. The Trick or Treat activity will not be open on Monday 31st October.

The Wicked Wacky
The Wacky Workshop has also been transformed into a spook-tacular den where children can make their own creepy creations. Fang-tastically frightening tattoos and face painting is also available, transforming little angels into witches, black cats and pumpkins. (Additional charge).

With all this, plus the usual animal magic, it’s well worth jumping on your broomstick to stake out the fun at Drusillas.

Half Term Fun at the Weald & Downland Museum

Vicky — Wed, 11 May 2011 08:24:27 +0000

Enjoy the great outdoors and springtime in the countryside! Join the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum for a week of exciting activities, from Mon 30 May – Fri 3 June, with a focus on springtime and the natural world. There will be arts and crafts to enjoy, a chance to visit the working woodyard, and to try brickmaking and bricklaying.

Explore all of the Museum’s historic houses, and visit the 17th century watermill to buy a bag of grain for the hungry ducks and their new ducklings on the millpond! See the working Shire horses, donkeys, cattle, and traditional breed farm animals. There are different activities each day (under cover if wet), from 11am – 4pm, including:

* Museum ‘hidden treasures’ trail * Have a go at blacksmithing
* Learn about pounds, shillings & pence! * Try Maypole dancing
* Make a paper pot & plant a seed * Enjoy playground games
* Meet the working donkeys! * Horse-drawn wagon rides
………… and much more!

For more details, please visit their website at www.wealddown.co.uk/

Toy Story 3 at a Cinema near you!

Vicky — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 20:30:45 +0000

The first two films were brilliant, so will the latest Toy Story live up to your expectations? You decide …

Father’s Day Out at Open Air Museum

Vicky — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:01:13 +0000

Give dad a special treat this Father’s Day, Sunday 20th June, with a day of excitement, challenge, activity and family fun at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, near Chichester. England’s leading museum of historic buildings and traditional rural life is planning an event packed with unusual and traditional rural activities for dad, and the rest of the family, to discover and enjoy.

Fathers will have a chance to experience a number of specialist countryside skills all in one event-packed day, with activities, demonstrations and competitions designed to appeal to fathers, grandfathers, and children of all ages – and of course, mum will be welcome to join in as well! There will be a chance to drive a vintage tractor, archery, and an opportunity to drive a horse-drawn cart pulled by one of the Museum’s team of working Shire horses. The working Tudor kitchen is also sure to be a popular destination for fathers because there they can discover the art of traditional brewing.

Haredown Mountain Boarding Centre from East Dean, near Chichester will be in attendance once again, giving brave visitors the opportunity to experience rolling downhill on a small set of wheels, with just gravity and a sense of balance to guide them! The team from the Centre will provide instruction and equipment, with a couple of expert demonstrations during the day. There will also be a wooden sculpture activity, using shaped wooden sections which are assembled to make the design of the visitor’s choice. This activity proved extremely popular last year, and resulted in a magnificent variety of items ranging from steam trains complete with smoke, to aeroplanes, helicopters, owls and penguins!

There will also be welly boot throwing – always more difficult than it looks; a golf activity with a difference, field target air rifles, and of course with the World Cup firmly on everyone’s mind, a number of football challenges. There will be a falconry display, with a chance to get up close to the birds themselves, and the historic Timber Yard will be in action. For younger visitors, there will be a special Father’s Day arts and craft activity, and the chance to try some traditional Tudor and Victorian games.

Visitors on Fathers Day will be able to enjoy all of the Museum’s exhibits, which include over 45 historic buildings, rescued from destruction and carefully reconstructed in the heart of the South Downs National Park. They will be able to see the traditional breed farm animals including Tamworth pigs, cattle, and sheep. The 17th century watermill will be grinding flour sold in the shop and used in the café, while children will love the woodland walks and feeding the hungry ducks on the lake with grain from the mill.

The Museum is open daily until 23 December. It is open from 10.30am to 6pm during British Summer Time, and until 4pm for the rest of the year. Admission is adults £9, over 60s £8.15 children £4.80, family £24.75, under 5’s free.

Half-Term Fun at Arundel Wetland Centre

Vicky — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:06:37 +0000

Visit the Arundel Wetland Centre for some half-term fun up until Sunday 6th June. There is plenty to see and do:

Dabbling & Diving Pond Dipping
Discover an amazing variety of exciting creatures living below the surface!

Duck Safaris
Get duck-close and personal with during boat trips through Wetlands Discovery

Ducky Designs
Daily craft sessions in the Roundhouse.

Feathered Furlongs Race rubber duckies for fun and prizes.

Great Duck Hunt
Follow the clues to discover fascinating duck facts!

All activities are free, but regular admission prices apply.

Arundel Wetland Centre, Mill Road, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9PB
T: 01903 883355

The Heavy Horse and Working Animals Show

Vicky — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:27:26 +0000

On 5th & 6th June, the giants of the horse world will demonstrate their skills and versatility alongside a host of other working animals at a magnificent gathering. The Heavy Horse and Working Animals Show at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, near Chichester, West Sussex, will be an unforgettable weekend of displays, demonstrations and parades. The Museum has for many years held its Heavy Horse Spectacular, one of the biggest shows of its kind in the south of England, and last year expanded the event to include a wide variety of working animals. This proved highly successful and an even more innovative show is planned for this year, guaranteed to delight visitors of all ages.

During the two days over thirty Shires, Clydesdales, Suffolks, British Percherons and Ardennes horses will be taking part in a variety of activities. Weighing up to a ton and standing up to 19 hands high, these powerful and majestic horses are prized for their good looks, gentle temperament and capacity for work. In the Show arena, demonstrations will include agricultural vehicles, brewers’ drays, a horse-drawn steam-powered fire engine with ‘firemen’ in period costume, harnessing and decoration. Continuous ringside commentary will be provided.

Also among the activities at the Show will be a display of one of the most exciting developments in the heavy horse scene – cross-country driving. This will be the highlight of the Show on the Saturday, with intrepid drivers putting on a special display of timed obstacle driving through a cones course. Arena parades take place at the end of each day, with a Grand Parade around the Museum site bringing the event to a conclusion on the Sunday.

The working animals element to the Show will bring an additional entertaining dimension to the event, with information and displays showcasing man’s working relationship, both modern and traditional, with a variety of creatures great and small. There will be a display of working donkeys with a chance to meet them as they participate in the Show; an opportunity to see the Museum’s own working Sussex cattle as they undertake seasonal tasks on the Museum’s farmland; and displays of gun dogs, falconry, and Search and Rescue Dogs, plus a whole host of involvement from various organisations who work with animals on a daily basis.

The Museum is open for the Heavy Horse and Working Animals Show on Saturday and Sunday 5 and 6 June, and daily until 23 December. Opening hours are 10.30 – 6pm during British Summer Time, and until 4pm during the rest of the year. Admission is adults £9, over 60s £8.15, children £4.80, family £24.75. Group rates are also available.

Museums at Night 14th-16th May 2010

Vicky — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:44:49 +0000

‘Museums at Night’ is a national campaign, led by Culture24, and funded by MLA and the National Museum Directors’ Conference (NMDC), to showcase the unique and vibrant museums, galleries, heritage sites, libraries and archives in the UK. Running over the weekend of Friday 14th May to Sunday 16th May, museums and galleries alike will aim to inspire fresh discovery by opening their doors to late night visitors.

Museums will be unrolling an imaginative array of activities across the country. From candle-lit readings, paranormal investigations, sleepovers, night-time tours, musical events and much, much more.

This year’s programme sees the return of firm favourites, like Cabinet War Rooms sleepover and the Old Operating Theatre at St Thomas Church, plus exciting new additions such as the; Helicopter Museum’s ‘Back to the Blitz’ experience, follow a night shift at Cornwall’s Geevor Tin Mine and the chance to see a ‘Light in the Night’ at Cromer’s Lifeboat Museum.

You can find up to date listings at the Culture 24 Website

The Best Summer Holiday Camps for Kids

Vicky — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:24:23 +0000

Today the Telegraph has produced a really useful list of six of the best activity centres for children and teenagers.

What the newspaper calls “Residential activity weeks” I call “Holiday Camp”, but whatever the name, they can be a great form of entertainment for the kids during half-term and the school holidays. Not only will they learn new skills but also they will make friends and generally discover a bit of independence.

These activity weeks do not come cheap with prices ranging from £350 and £600 per week, which includes full board and activities (but not necessarily insurance). However, for working parents or those with very energetic children these camps are fantastic.

The most important thing to do when choosing which camp to sent your child to is to choose a centre that offers activities that interest your son/daughter. It is also key that there will be other children of the same age so try to find this out before you make your booking.

Not all centres have to be licensed but members of the British Activity Holiday Association (www.baha.org.uk) must adhere to a code of practice. Companies providing certain adventurous activities, however, have to be licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority.

So, the Telegraph name the best Summer Camps for Kids as:

Best family-run centre: Mill on the Brue Outdoor Centre
(01749 812307; www.millonthebrue.co.uk)
Set in 20 acres of Somerset countryside, offering more than 40 activities for children from eight to 15 years of age.

Best for range of activities: PGL
(08700 50750; www.pgl.co.uk)
13 centres around the UK for seven to 17 year-olds, offering competitively priced half term and summer camps.

Best for watersports:Rockley Point
(01202 677272; www.rockleywatersports.com)
Well-run centre in Poole Harbour with five-day courses for children aged eight years old and over.

Best for shorter breaks: Adventure & Computer Holidays
(01306 711005; www.holiday-adventure.com)
Based in Surrey this centre offers technical, riding and outdoor holidays to children of six and over. Three-day breaks in May half-term also available.

Best for sports:Exsportise Limited
(01444 444777; www.exsportise.co.uk)
Sports coaching using public school facilities in Sussex, Dorset and Northamptonshire offering eight activities including football, tennis, golf and rugby for 10 to 16 year-olds.

Best for seaside fun: Wickedly Wonderful Holidays for Children
(0794 123 1168; www.wickedlywonderful.com)
Coastal centre in Sussex offering multi-activity, sailing or pony camps for children aged six to 13 years old.

The Best Luxury Hotels for UK Parents

Vicky — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:17:01 +0000

Every couple with kids knows how difficult it is to create time for themselves. But now it is possible to have a romantic weekend away with the kids because more and more luxury hotels are becoming family friendly.

If you want to treat yourself to a special break, then you will find that one of the following places will meet your needs. (Just click the link for more details)

1.Tresanton, Cornwall

2. Driftwood, Cornwall

3. Fowey Hall, Cornwall

4. Cotswold House Hotel, Gloucestershire

5. Cowley Manor, Gloucestershire

6. Westover Hall Hotel, Hampshire

7. Baglioni, London

8. Soho Hotel, London

9. Strattons, Norfolk

10. Le Manoir Aux Quatre Saisons, Oxfordshire

11. Babington House, Somerset

12. Ickworth, Suffolk

13. Royal Oak, Sussex

14. Woolley Grange, Wiltshire

Family Days Out for August Bank Holiday Weekend

Vicky — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 18:57:38 +0000

The researchers who recently conducted a holiday survey for Total Greek Yoghurt have put together a list of places for a family outing this coming August Bank Holiday weekend:

A NEW DAY OUT Bewilderwood, Norfolk
ADRENALINE RUSH Dalby Forest biking trails, Yorkshire
ALFRESCO BATH The Samling, Cumbria
ANIMAL ENCOUNTER Monkey Forest, Staffordshire
BANDSTAND Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham
BEACH CAFE East Beach Café, Littlehampton, Sussex
BEACH FOR KIDS Crantock, Cornwall

BOATING The Thames at Richmond, Surrey
BREEZY HILLTOP Great Hetha, Northumberland
CAMP SITE Budemeadows Holiday Park, Cornwall
CLIFFTOP COTTAGE Whitby lighthouse, Yorkshire
COASTAL WALK Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim, Ireland
CREAM TEA Southern Cross tearoom, Devon

DEGUSTATION Valley Farm Vineyards, Suffolk
DONKEY RIDE Maggie’s beach donkeys, Weymouth, Dorset
DRIFT DOWNSTREAM River Wye, Wales
FAMILY CYCLE Loch Katrine, Trossachs, Scotland
FAMILY HOTEL Fowey Hall, Cornwall
FISH AND CHIPS Ben Ledi Cafe, Callander, Stirling, Scotland
FLYING International Kite Festival, Portsmouth, Hampshire
ICE CREAM Morelli’s, Broadstairs, Kent
LAKESIDE PICNIC Buttermere, Cumbria

MOONLIT WALK Seven Sisters, East Sussex
PICNIC CONCERT Battle Abbey, East Sussex
PUNCH AND JUDY MAN Codman’s, Llandudno, Wales
RIVERSIDE PUB The King’s Head, Northamptonshire
ROCKPOOLING Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset
SAFARI Cairngorms, Highlands, Scotland
SEA BREEZE Yachting on the Solent, Isle of Wight
SEAKAYAKING Beara Peninsula, Co Cork, Ireland

SEAL BOAT TRIP Searles, Hunstanton, Norfolk
SEASIDE PIER Southwold Pier, Suffolk
SEA-VIEW ROOM Mullion Cove Hotel, Cornwall
SECRET GARDEN Hawkstone Park Follies, Shropshire
SOLAR-POWERED STAY Mesmear, Cornwall

SOLITUDE Sandwood Bay, Sutherland, Scotland
STRIP Morfa Dyffryn Beach, Snowdonia, Wales
TOPLESS DRIVE A686, Penrith to Haydon Bridge, Cumbria
VILLAGE CRICKET Hambledon, Hampshire
WOODIE Oakwood Theme Park, Pembrokeshire, Wales
WILD SWIM Angle Tarn, Cumbria