The first two films were brilliant, so will the latest Toy Story live up to your expectations? You decide …
Kids Wales
23
May 10
Best Wildlife Events during Half-Term
The two weeks from May 29 to June 13 have been designated National Wildlife Fortnight and so there are a whole range of fun kids activities happening at nature reserves up and down the country.
To find out the top ten family wildlife outings in the country this half term, don’t miss this article in the Telegraph
13
May 10
The Best Music Festivals for Families and Kids
I was sitting on the train at the weekend and was listening to the conversation of a couple of Mums opposite me and I was surprised to hear one of them say that she had already booked her Family Yurt at Glastonbury this year. The more I thought about the idea of taking my kids to a music festival the more I liked it, so I decided to do a bit of research. Unfortunately, many of the 2010 tickets are already sold out, so this is an event to book well in advance. Nevertheless, there are a number of festivals which are suitable for families and so I thought I would share some of the details …
1. Latitude, Henham Park, Southwold Suffolk
The festival hosts an impressive bill of musicians and bands who perform on four stages – The Obelisk Arena, The Uncut Arena, The Sunrise Arena, and the Lake Stage – as well as including theatre, art, comedy and more. Children under 12 get in free with a ticket holder and there is a dedicated family campsite with special activities laid on. However, the main attraction for families is really the Kids Arena. In this area a magical mini-festival for kids takes place. It is as diverse as the rest of Latitude, with books, art, music and theatre, heaps of participation and fun, from drama workshops to an insect circus, making your own pizza to joining their Glee club.
2. Bestival, Robin Hill, Isle of Wight
Bestival is one of the smaller, boutique festivals. It has a special Bigtopmania Kidzone Team with a host of artists and activities designed to keep the kids happy and far from bored with all that adult partying!! There is a baby Big Top for the shows, a Crafts Marquee, a Toddlers Under 5s Area, Jan’s infamous Van, a dressing up tent, a bouncy castle, face painting, and an outdoor play area. The kids area is located right next to the family camp area and it is a bit of a peaceful haven for the kids to play in away from all the hustle and bustle.
3. Big Chill, Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Worcestershire
The Big Chill calls itself UK’s most family-friendly festival. Children under 13 get in for £4 and at the Kids Zone, children can enjoy performances from No Strings Puppet Theatre, Crazy Comic Club, Scamp Theatre’s production of Pinocchio, John Hegley and many more. There are also ongoing activities and workshops for kids in movement and dance, drum making, arts and crafts and giant 3D sculpture. There are several options for sleeping at The Big Chill 2010 – you can bring your own tent to camp, bring a camper-van, or you can try a bit of luxury camping in the form of a yurt or pod pad.
Other festivals worth checking out are WOMAD, Charlton Park, Wiltshire and Green Man, Glanusk Park, Wales, both of which let young children in free and are very childfriendly.
Top tips for when you are there include writing your mobile phone number on the back of their hands, packing plenty of baby wipes and snacks, ear plugs (for when you or the kids want some sleep!) but most importantly go with some other friends with kids so you can share this extraordinary experience.
Maybe I’ll see you there!
12
May 10
Museums at Night 14th-16th May 2010
‘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
28
Apr 10
May Bank Holiday Activities for Families
I think everyone is looking forward to this May Bank Holiday whatever the weather, but what are you going to do and where are you going to take the Kids?
Here are a few suggestions:
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Scotland
Go down to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh and find out about fruits. Do you ever argue with your family about fruits? Ever called a cucumber a vegetable? Find out about the myths surrounding fruits and categorise things in their true, botanical sense with the Garden Rangers.
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North East
Mother Shipton’s Cave and Petrifying Well are apparently the oldest tourist attractions in Britain! There is plenty for all the family to do with a museum, playground and 12 acres of riverside grounds besides the main attractions.
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North West
If you have a “Wild Child” visit Fellfoot park in Cumbria. Here the kids can run free without fear of being told off! They can build a den, construct a dam, climb trees or splash in the lake. Fell Foot Country Park offers a unique experience for our younger visitors. Tracker packs are available and a hoot for Mum & Dad to join in! From rowing boats on the lake to crashing through the undergrowth, this is an event for an energetic family.
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Midlands
Why not visit the Amazing Hedge Puzzlein Herefordshire and have fun finding your way to the centre, trying to avoid the dead ends along the way. At the museum you can also test your own theories on their computers, and contemplate mystic myths about mazes from all the world’s great religions.
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East Anglia
Visit Bure Valley Railway in Norfolk for a great train day out for all the family! See all the engines and coaches in action, take a trip on a steam train and children can enter a competition which has a free prize for every correct entry. Also, under 5′s travel free.
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South East
In London, there is a May Day family fun fair at Alexandra Palace with dodgems, rides, stalls with prizes, kiddies rides and refreshments.
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South West
The Brixham Pirate and Shanty Festival 2010 will be held from 30th April to the 3rd May in South Devon. There you can enjoy a bank Holiday weekend of swashbuckling fun, music and piratical antics to suit all ages with the Brixham Buccaneers at their second annual festival.
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Wales
The Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza offers a great opportunity to experience a huge selection of exhibits such as steam engines, early vehicles, traditional organs and much more.
Each day throughout the weekend there is a Grand Parade led by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang followed by marching bands, Victorian Costume walkers, Steam engines and vintage vehicles. There is also a fairground complete with ghost train.
Maybe you have your own suggestions? If so, please share them 
28
Jan 08
10 Great Family Days Out for the Kids This Half-term
Half-term is only a couple of weeks away, so what have you got planned?
Here is a list of some places you might want to consider (just click the link for more details):
1. Centre for Life, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
2. Knowsley Safari Park, Liverpool, Merseyside
3. Eureka!, Halifax, Yorkshire
4. Techniquest, Cardiff, Wales
5. Amazing Hedge Puzzle, Symonds Yat West, Herefordshire
6. Tales of Robin Hood, Nottingham, East Midlands
7. Dinosaur Adventure Park, Norwich, Norfolk
8. Beatrix Potter – The Tailor Of Gloucester’s House, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
9. Deep Sea World, Fife, Scotland
10. Imperial War Museum, Waterloo, London
19
Sep 07
10 Free Family Days Out For Kids
If you are feeling short of cash but still want a day out with the kids you might want to consider one of these free attractions:
1. Tate Modern , London
This famous Art Gallery has a huge hall and a variety of exhibitions so it is perfect for kids of all ages.
2. Sea Watch Centre, Suffolk
At this National Trust centre the kids can use high-powered telescopes to look for sea birds, porpoises, seals and if you are lucky, dolphins.
3. People’s Story, Edinburgh
Here you can find out all about the history and lives of the inhabitants of the Scottish capital from the eighteenth century to the present day.
3. Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester
This museum tells the story of the world’s first industrial city.
4. Blaise Castle Estate, Bristol
A small gothic castle dating from 1766 with large grounds and play areas for the kids.
5. World Museum, Liverpool
An interactive museum with treasures from around the globe. Each of the five floors has a different theme.
6. Monkwearmouth Station Museum, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
A Victorian Station with large collection of railway and second world war memorabilia. There is a dedicated Children’s Gallery with toys, books and dressing up clothes.
7. National Roman Legion Museum, Cardiff
Let your kids learn about the formidable force of the Romans. At weekends they are even allowed to try on replica armour.
8. Ecopark, Birmingham
Visit these lovely gardens and watch demonstrations about what you can do to become a bit greener.
9. Cheshire Farm Ice Cream, Cheshire
Watch cows being milked, let your kids run around the playbarn and be tempted by the delicious ice-creams.
10. St James City Farm, Gloucestershire
A city centre farm where children and adults can experience the sights, sounds and smells of the countryside.
Do let us know more of your favourite free places
21
Aug 07
Family Days Out for August Bank Holiday Weekend
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
19
Jul 07
Free Family Days Out
There was a great article in The Times recently listing free days out for the family this summer across the UK. These include:
1. Spitalfields City Farm, London
2. World Museum, Liverpool, Merseyside
3. Transport Museum, Coventry, West Midlands
4. East Midlands Aeropark, Castle Donington, Leicestershire
5. Pickfords House, Derby, East Midlands
6. Baltic Centre, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
7. High Force Waterfall, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Durham
8. Pudsey Park, Leeds, Yorkshire
9. Pitt River Museum, Oxford, Oxfordshire
10. Natural History Museum, Tring, Hertfordshire
11. National Museum, Cardiff, Wales
12. Victorian Pier, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex
If you have been to any of them, let others know whether or not they are worth visiting
20
May 07
Family Days Out: Youth Hostels for Families
Believe it or not staying at Youth Hostels is a very affordable way to travel the UK with families. Comfortable rooms with en suite bathrooms and breakfast are available from around £18.50 per adult and £13.50 for kids. That is pretty good and cheaper than many B&Bs.
Youth Hostels that are particularly family friendly include:
1) Bellever, Devon – a former farm near the Bellever forest and Dart River. Miniature pony centre nearby.
2) Oxford – a centrally based Youth Hostel, ideal for exploring this beautiful city of dreaming spires.
3) Sandown, Isle of Wight – walking distance from the beach and lots of family attractions nearby
4) Derwentwater, Cumbria – mansion situated next to Derwentwater with stunning views. Large outdoor area for kids to play in
5) Golant, Cornwall – this youth hostel overlooks the Fowey estuary and is close to the Eden Project and Bodmin Moor
6) Bristol – another city youth hostel based on the quayside. You can walk to most attractions from here.
7) Lee Valley, Hertfordshire – believe it or not they have waterside log cabins here. Lots of watersports on offer.
Arundel, West Sussex – another youth hostel that is close to the beach. Attractions such as an outdoor swimming pool and castle nearby.
9) Poppit Sands, Pembrokeshire – close to beach with lots of activities on offer nearby such as horse riding, fishing and cycling.
10) Danywenalt, Powys – a former farmhouse with lovely views. Some great walks and pony trekking close by.
Thanks to Families South West for pointing these out.
