Days Out Archives - With love from Lou

7 Great Reasons To Give Kids Pass A Try This Summer

21/07/2019 by Louise 16 Comments

Taking the kids on a day out can be expensive. Just going to a zoo or wildlife park as a family of four can easily cost us around £100. And visiting a theme park is way pricier. Cinema tickets are ridiculously expensive these days too – coming in at more than £10 per adult at our local venue!

Luckily there are loads of simple ways to cut costs on family days out, restaurant bills and cinema tickets nowadays. And in this post, I’m going to be talking about one of the ways we save money on our days out thanks to a little something called Kids Pass.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve tried to look for money off vouchers to save a bit of cash whenever we’re going out. Especially if we’re planning on going to a chain restaurant or well-known attraction. And, to be fair, there’s almost always a voucher code flying around which can be used to save some money. But it can involve a lot of scouring the internet to find a legit code (if I can even find one at all) and I usually end up getting stressed out in the process.

But thanks to Kids Pass, who have thousands of money-saving offers in one place, it makes the whole process much simpler and less time-consuming. And that’s something I really like. So, without further ado, let me share my top 7 reasons I think you should give them a try this summer. I promise you won’t regret it …

01. YOU CAN GET DISCOUNTS ON FAMILY DAYS OUT

All the major UK theme parks are listed on the app with savings of up to 57%. We recently visited Drayton Manor and got a discount of £42.50 off of the gate price! They actually had a special offer on on the day we went but the Kids Pass price still beat it. We were amazed!

There are also loads of other activities you can save money on in each area such as bowling, go-karting, trampolining and more. Along with discounted entry to nature centres, wildlife parks, zoos and farms. There is so much to choose from, and also a great way of finding something fun to do with the family at a great price!

02. THEY OFFER HUGE SAVINGS ON FAMILY HOLIDAYS

Last year we booked an amazing 7-day holiday at Parkdean Resorts in Norfolk and managed to save a massive £280 by using our Kids Pass when we booked. But there are even bigger savings to be found on family holidays when you book with them. One that particularly stands out to me is a saving of up to 50% off a Eurocamp holiday. I’ve wanted to take the kids out of the country for years but have never been able to afford it.

It would be an absolute dream to take a trip to Europe and possibly to stay at a Eurocamp in France. And being able to cut the cost of our holiday in half by using Kids Pass will be amazing! Just this saving alone will recuperate the annual membership fee and more. And at the time of writing there are discounts available at Haven, Butlins and Hoseasons too!

03. YOU CAN GET UP TO 40% OFF AT CINEMAS

If there’s one place my kids like to go for a special treat, it’s the cinema. But, my goodness! It isn’t half expensive these days! My local Odeon charge £11.50 per adult, £10.25 per teen and £9.75 per child. Which means it usually costs £31.50 per visit. However, Kids Pass offers up to a 40% discount at over 500 nationwide cinemas, which significantly reduces the price we pay to get in. It’s fantastic!

I think it’s safe to say that we’ve been to see twice as many movies than we usually would since we discovered Kids Pass. It’s made such a big difference. And the kids want to go and see all the new Disney movies this summer too, so it will get a lot of use over the next month or so!

04. KIDS EAT FREE

Eating out can be another huge expense with kids, so any money off vouchers I can find are always appreciated. With Kids Pass, there are plenty of restaurant savings vouchers or takeaway offers to choose from. Just in my area, I can see we can currently save 25% at Frankie & Benny’s and kids can eat for free with one paying adult at Giraffe and Barburrito! We love eating out so will certainly make use of these. And if you prefer takeaway’s to eating out then there are BOGOF offers to be found at both Pizza Hut delivery and Papa John’s at the moment. Perfect for a little treat over the summer holidays. Yum!

05. THEY HAVE AN EASY TO USE APP

The Kids Pass app is super easy to use and allows you to search for ‘offers near me’ allowing you to see all the nearby attractions, restaurants and activities with a discount that are most local. You can also search by categories such as Restaurants or Family Days Out if you’re looking for something in particular or don’t mind going further afield for an attraction.

I’ve been using Kids Pass for just under a year now and I’ve saved £402.50 altogether as whenever we’re going somewhere I just whip out my phone, tap the app and then search for it to see if there are any discounts available. I find that 9 times out of 10 there is, and this has meant that the cost of my membership was covered by the savings I made. It’s just brilliant!

06. ONE KIDS PASS COVERS THE WHOLE HOUSEHOLD

One thing I really like about the Kids Pass is that you only need one subscription to cover everyone in your household! I hate it when companies insist on you buying a pass for each different person as the cost soon adds up and eats into any savings you might make. So I think it’s great that one Kids Pass covers everyone, making it perfect for both large and small families alike. Well done, Kids Pass!

07. YOU CAN GIVE KIDS PASS A TRY FOR JUST £1

At the moment Kids Pass are giving everyone the opportunity to trial their services for 30-days for just £1. And, with the summer holiday’s in full swing, I think it’s the perfect time for you to put them to the test. Don’t you!?

There are plenty of testimonials on the website from families saving enough to justify the £2.99 monthly cost or £39.99 monthly cost of membership after the trial. And if you find it’s not for you, you can simply cancel your membership and you won’t be charged anymore. As I mentioned before, I saved £402.50 during my first year with Kids Pass, so I was thrilled to bits with that!

If you fancy giving Kids Pass a try for yourself then you can sign up for a 30-day trial for just £1 by clicking here.

Have you ever tried Kids Pass before?
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Post contains my Kids Pass Referral Link.
All opinions are my own.

8 Natural Attractions to Visit in London to Escape the Monotonous City Life

01/04/2019 by Louise 13 Comments

London is a beautiful city. It is the global epicentre of art, culture, education, trade, literature, fashion, and political influence. It is one of the top travel destinations of the world and attracts millions from around the globe. If you intend to take a long vacation in London and want to explore more than just the popular places, you may want to explore some of these natural attractions to get away from the monotony of a bustling city life.

01. WWT London Wetland Centre – Voted Britain’s Favourite Natural Reserve back in 2012, the WWT London Wetland Centre is one of the green spaces and wildlife sanctuaries right in the heart of London. It is home to a number of species including rare birds and animals and it is a haven for nature lovers.

02. Epping Forest – The Epping Forest between Epping and Forest Gate is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest. It encompasses 5900 acres of wooded areas and grasslands, waterbodies and green lands. The Epping Forest is called ‘London’s Great Forest’ and hosts a number of sporting events.

03. Kensington Gardens – One of the royal parks of London, the Kensington Gardens is spread over an area of 270 acres. Listed in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, garden is open to public since 1841. It is one of the most beautiful and green spaces in central London and very close to some of the best hotels in London.

04. The Regent’s Park – Opened to the public in 1838, the Regent’s Park is one of the most popular parks in London City. With over 400 types of roses and numerous other plants, it is a beautiful park. The Regent’s Park is known for the sporting activities that take place here.

05. Greenwich Park – Straddling the Prime Meridia, the 74-acre Greenwich Park covers 74 hectares and is the most scenic part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site. The flower beds, the herb gardens, the orchards and the manicured lawns make this a favourite with visitors.

06. Hyde Park – One of the eight royal parks of London, Hyde Park covers and area of about 350 acres of greenery and waterbodies. It is located within the heart of the city, close to the business hotels in London. Hyde Park is known for the sporting activities and cultural shows that are held here. The Speakers Corner in Hyde Park is very well-known too.

07. St James’s Park – One of the most beautiful parks in London City, St. James Park is home to a number of pelicans. These and the beautiful flower beds, the lake and the fountain attract a number of visitors. From pageants to ceremonial occasions – a number of events are held here.

08. Queen’s Wood – The 52-acre Queen’s Wood is a nature lover’s treasure trove right in the heart of London. It is part of the Better Haringey Walking Trail and is a thick wooded expanse, home to numerous birds and insects. It is one of the popular natural attractions of London City.

What’s your favourite natural attraction to Visit in London to escape the monotonous city life?
Let me know in the comments below!
With love from Lou Signature Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram | Pinterest

Top 10 Travel Goals 2019

22/01/2019 by Louise 47 Comments

**VOTING IS OPEN! IF YOU’D LIKE TO VOTE FOR ME YOU CAN DO SO BY CLICKING HERE, THEN CLICKING THE VOTE BUTTON UNDER MY NAME – WITH LOVE FROM YOU – THANKS GUYS **

Over the last couple of years, I’ve found myself wanting to visit more and more places with the kids before they grow up and leave home. But it wasn’t until last year that I actually found the confidence to just jump on a bus or train and take them away by myself. Crazy, huh? Anyway, back in January 2018 we sat down together and made a list of 12 places we’d love to visit over the course of the year. And although we only ticked a few of them off of the list, we thoroughly enjoyed our time at the places we did visit.

This year, we decided to make a list of our top 10 travel goals for 2019. And even though I honestly don’t think we’ll be able to cross them all off the list before the year comes to an end, we’re determined to give it our very best shot! So, without further ado, let me tell you about all the lovely places we’d really love to visit this year!

01. Calypso Cove

OK, so the first place on our list is actually exactly the same as it was last year! And that place is the Calypso Cove Waterpark in Barnsley. The waterpark can be found in the Metrodome Leisure Complex, and it has 3 different pools for the whole family to enjoy. I’ve been promising the kids we could visit Calypso Cove for so long now, but we’ve still never been. However, I know for a fact that we’ll be visiting this year as I’ve organised a coach trip from our home town during February Half Term. Eek!

As well as having the 3 different pool areas, Calypso Cove is home to 3 amazing looking flumes, a slide that’s perfect for little ones to use as it goes down into the shallow end of the pool, and a fantastic four-lane open slide that’s great for racing down with your friends! There’s even a diving board made to look and feel as if you’re about to walk the plank. How cool is that!?

After your swim, you can enjoy a tasty treat at The Hideout poolside restaurant. It looks like they do some really delicious snacks and meals, and I’ll definitely be taking the kids to eat there when we finally go for our swim. I’m really glad we’re finally crossing this off our bucket list of places we’d like to visit this half term, as like I mentioned before, the kids have been wanting to check it out for years. I can’t wait to see their little faces when we arrive! Priceless.

02. Crete

Next up on my list of places I’d love to travel to this year is the Greek island of Crete. My kids have never been abroad before. And, if I’m honest, I can’t really remember what it feels like to travel out of the country myself. It’s been that long! When we were looking at booking a foreign holiday last year we came across the TUI Sensatori Resort Atlantica Caldera Palace in Crete, and it looks like an absolutely amazing place to stay for people who maybe haven’t been abroad before and want to make everything as easy as possible.

The resort can be found in Analipsi, a traditional village that’s home to a handful of cafés, bars and beach shops. And as it’s all-inclusive, it means we wouldn’t have to head out every evening to find someone affordable to eat. It has 6 pools, a spa with 23 treatment rooms, 7 restaurants and lots of different areas to keep the kids entertained. It even has free wi-fi so I could even take my laptop with me and do a bit of blogging if I wanted to … nah, who am I kidding!? If we were lucky enough to stay here I’d definitely want to be relaxing rather than working!

I’ve been reading up on Crete a lot over the last few months, and it’s the biggest of the Greek Islands, with lots of lovely things for families to do there. I think Oscar would love to take a Pirate Ship Cruise. And Stacey would be in her element exploring nearby Chrissi Island. I really hope that we can visit the island later this year as I know the kids would be in their element.

03. LEGOLAND

It will be Oscar’s 6th birthday this May (I know, I know! Where has the time gone!?) And the one present he’s asked for is to take a trip down to LEGOLAND! Now, I only really wanted to visit for the day, as it’s quite an expensive place to go. But due to us living in the middle of nowhere, we’d most definitely have to make a weekend of it or we’d only be able to spend a couple of hours in the park.

LEGOLAND is somewhere both myself and Stacey have wanted to visit for a long time too. So I know we’d all enjoy spending time there. There looks to be lots of different LEGO ‘Worlds’ to explore once you’re inside. And I reckon Oscar would love NINJAGO World and Pirate Shores, and Stacey would definitely enjoy Heartlake City. She had loads of LEGO Friends playsets when she was younger. And, me? Well, as long as there’s somewhere I can sit and build for half an hour or so I’ll be a happy bunny. I mean, I like to think of myself as being quite the master builder!

If we did manage to travel down for Oscar’s birthday, I’d really like to stay in one of the themed rooms in the LEGOLAND hotel. If you hadn’t already noticed, he’s crazy about pirates, so I think one of their pirate themed rooms would be right up his street. They’re all decked out with pirate bedding, curtains, wallpaper, and more! It would be a real birthday treat. Keep everything crossed for us with this one, guys.

04. The Algarve

The next place on my bucket list of places to travel to in 2019 is The Algarve in Portugal. And this is somewhere I’ve been wanting to visit in what feels like forever. In fact, I’ve mentioned it so many times here on my blog in the past that I’m sure you guys must be getting sick and tired of hearing about it! LOL.

It would be my dream to stay in a lovely villa in The Algarve with the whole family, although it’s absolutely huge, so I’d probably need a private jet to get us there. LOL. How much does a private jet cost to rent? Does anyone know? Anyway, I’d preferably like to hire a villa with a private pool so the kids can go for a swim whenever they wanted. And I could take lots and lots of lovely photographs of them enjoying themselves without having to worry about being told off because I might get other people’s children in them.

As well as spending lots of time just relaxing, and splashing in the pool, I’d love to check out the local area and maybe go on a boat trip or something. It looks like The Algarve has a lot to offer, and I’d really love to explore it. I know that Stacey would enjoy it too, as she’s always saying how much her friends love their foreign holidays. I’d love to take my two abroad just once before they grow up.

05. Iceland

Another place I’d love to visit outside of the UK is Iceland. And I’m not gonna lie – this is mainly because I’d love to see the Northern Lights! I mean, who wouldn’t? The Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon that doesn’t always appear when you might expect them. So I definitely wouldn’t travel to Iceland just to try and see them. Which is why it’s a good thing there are loads of other things to do out there.

The first thing on my list would be to go waterfall hunting, as I’m absolutely mesmerised by them! I just think there’s something breathtaking about watching the water plunge from a great height into a stream or river below. And Iceland is said to be full of jaw-dropping waterfalls that are amazing to see. And I’d also like to snorkel through the Silfra Fissure – the only place in the world where you can swim through two tectonic plates – the North American and Eurasian continental plates. Imagine how cool it would be to one day tell the grandkids about that time you swam between two continents!? Amazing!

Visiting Iceland would be an absolute dream come true for me. And I just know I’d enjoy every second of my trip there. I think it’s the ultimate travel bucket list destination at the moment, isn’t it? It’s most definitely a place that’s increasing in popularity each year.

06. Lumsdale Valley, Matlock

As we’re lucky enough to live on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border, I thought it would be nice to try and take the kids out to explore the local area more this year. And I’d love to start by taking them to the wonderful Lumsdale Valley in Matlock, a true hidden gem that can be quite tricky to find!

Lumsdale Valley is the perfect place to visit if you enjoy walking as not only is it absolutely beautiful, but it’s steeped in history too. The recommended walking route begins at the top of the valley, in Upper Lumsdale, in the layby opposite the carpark entrance to Highfields Upper School. The trail takes you past remnants of buildings from a bygone age, and there are information boards at poignant locations telling you all about the valley’s industrial past. These capture the history of the area perfectly and really bring the trail to life.

The trail also takes you past some beautiful natural waterfalls, and the scenery is just so breathtaking that it’s definitely not a place you’ll want to miss visiting if you’re ever in the area. It really is a beautiful place to explore, whatever the weather. And I’d really love to go back again this year.

07. Disneyland Paris

Another place that featured on last year’s travel bucket list that we never got round to visiting was Disneyland Paris! There was actually a very selfish reason for me wanting to go to Disneyland Paris last year. And that was because Stacey was supposed to be going on a school trip to Paris with school this year, and one of the places they were going to be visiting while they were there was Disneyland. And since I always imagined that I’d be the first person to see her reaction if we were ever lucky enough to visit, I wanted to try and take her before she went with her friends. That’s so bad, isn’t it!?

Anyway, shortly after writing up my post on places I’d love to take the kids last year, I came down with pneumonia and was really poorly. So instead of going to a friends party one Saturday night, she decided to stay home and keep me company. And that was when some of her so-called ‘friends’ started bullying her. The bullying went on for months and the school refused to do anything about it.

So, in July, I applied for a place at a local college who were happy to take on children under 16 to do their GCSE’s, and she was accepted! But she’s obviously missing out on the trip she was looking forward to now, so I’m determined to get to Disneyland this year. Even if it’s only for the day. I just know both she and Oscar would love it as we’re kind of Disney crazy in our house.

If any of you guys have been to Disneyland Paris before and have any tips for booking a trip away, please let me know in the comments below. I always think the booking process looks super scary, and I don’t want to mess it all up if we do finally get the chance to go!

08. Cherry Tree, Great Yarmouth

Every single year Nathan and I find ourselves booking a holiday to Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth, because we love the area so much. But we’ve both admitted that we’re getting a little fed up of being in the same place now. So we’ve decided that we’re going to stay at a Parkdean site called Cherry Tree this year instead.

We’ve been to Cherry Tree in the past, and the kids love it because there’s a nice big pool, a fancy dining area, and a kids club to keep them entertained throughout the day. Stacey once made a monkey pizza at the kids club when she was younger. It looked awesome!

There’s always loads to do in Great Yarmouth, which is why we go back year after year. The kids love walking around the Model Village, going on the rides at the funfair and taking boat trips on the Norfolk Broads. And Cherry Tree is a great place to stay as it’s not too far from all the action! This year I’ve been reading a lot about places such as Holkham Hall and Wells-next-the-sea, which we’ve never been to before, and I think I’m going to suggest to Nathan that we visit them both during our stay as they sound just lovely.

09. Sundown Adventureland

Last summer, Nathan and I took Oscar to a place called Sundown Adventureland for the day. And we all thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so, in fact, that Oscar has already asked to go back several times this year! Sundown Adventureland (formerly known as Pets Corner), is an under 10’s theme park based in Retford, Notts. And even though it’s slightly rundown and in need of an update, there’s something charming about it that you can’t help but love!

There are loads of different rides and attractions to be found at Sundown, and Oscar loved that it’s home to an awesome Angry Birds Activity Park! We found that we could go on the majority of rides with him, which is always good when you’ve got younger children, and the ones we couldn’t go on were more than suitable for his age and ability. And it has an absolutely huge indoor play area as well. It was absolutely red hot when we visited last May, so there weren’t many kids in the play area, which meant Oscar could play safely on his own.

As well as Sundown having lots of rides and attractions, there’s a lovely little cafe where you can grab a bite to eat at a reasonable price too. I think this made a big difference to our visit as we were expecting to spend a small fortune while we were there. The food was delicious too. We will definitely be taking him back later on in the year, and I know he can’t wait!

10. Disney Cruise

And last but certainly not least, I would love to take the kids on a Disney Cruise this year! We all love being out on the water, so I think a cruise would make the perfect holiday for us. And one that comes with a little added Disney magic would be even better. Don’t you agree?

Disney Cruise’s combine a trip around lots of different destinations, but are made extra special by having the added Disney element! For example, you can meet your favourite characters on board. And have certain meals with them, just like you can at Disneyland. The cruise ships look absolutely incredible, and there are plenty of dining options, kids clubs, and evening entertainment to keep the whole family happy.

I just know my two would be over the moon if I ever announced we were going on a Disney cruise, but I have to be honest and say it’s likely to be the one thing on my list that we won’t get to do this year. Purely because they tend to be quite pricey. A girl can dream, though. Can’t she!?

And there you have it, my top 10 travel goals for 2019. I hope you enjoyed having a read, and that it’s inspired you to check out a few new places this year as well.

Have you ever visited any of the places on my list?
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments below.
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Clip ‘n Climb Nottingham

04/01/2019 by Louise 28 Comments

A little while ago the kids and I were lucky enough to be invited along to Clip ‘n Climb in Nottingham to see what we thought of their brand new indoor climbing arena. And as I’m always struggling to find activities that the kids can do together with there being such a big age gap between them, I was more than happy to take them along and give it a try.

I just want to quickly apologise in advance for some of the photos being a little blurry. With so many people around us, it was it a little difficult to get the perfect shots. I think they show just how much the kids enjoyed their visit though. And that’s the main thing, isn’t it?

So, Clip ‘n Climb can be found in Unit 2B, Ash Court, Millennium Way East, Phoenix Park, Nottingham, which is just a short two-minute walk away from Cinderhill Tram Stop. You can either book your tickets online in advance (which I’d highly recommend doing as there are only a limited amount of places available for each session), and then collect your wristbands when you arrive, or you can just turn up and pay for your session at the cash desk on the day.

We decided to go to one of their Sunday afternoon sessions, which run every half an hour and cost £12.50 per person, regardless of age. Sessions are suitable for anyone age 4 and over, and you can try your hand at any of the 20+ climbing walls in the main arena. Each session includes a 20-minute introduction, harness fitting and safety briefing, followed by a full 55 minutes of climbing. I think this is the perfect amount of time for little ones, as Oscar started to get tired after half an hour of climbing. But he still powered on through till the end!

My main concern about taking the kids to Clip ‘n Climb was that I thought with Oscar being so young he would get a little fed up and start messing about during the introduction and safety briefing. But he actually sat and listened to every word the instructor said and was the first to stick his hand in the air when we were asked who was ready to get harnessed-up! He couldn’t wait to get started, and I think you can see this from the great big smile on his face in the pictures above.

The first thing I noticed as we headed into the climbing arena was just how big it was. I don’t really know what I was expecting, but definitely nothing anywhere near as impressive as this! The brightly coloured apparatus all have different, fun looking designs on them. And they look really inviting, which makes you want to jump straight in and start climbing. Which is exactly what we did!

Stacey’s first stop was a wall where you climbed up a rope ladder to begin with, and then finished on a netted climbing wall. And what you do when you first approach a wall is take the clip that’s attached to your own harness and clip it into the one on the purple mat propped up against the wall. This then releases the mat down onto the floor, and you’re safe to climb. One of the most important things they stressed in the safety briefing was that if you saw a purple mat on the floor you weren’t to walk over it, as it means someone is climbing that particular wall, and you might end up getting kicked in the face by accident!

I have to be honest and say that all 3 of us actually found clipping ourselves in really hard (Oscar couldn’t do it at all, bless him), but it was OK because there was always an instructor on-hand to help us in our moment of need. No matter how many times we had to ask for help they were happy to oblige. And every single staff member had a smile on their face throughout our entire visit. I think this shows that they enjoy their jobs and want people to get as much out of their visit to Clip ‘n Climb as they possibly can.

Oscar had pretty much only just turned 5 when we first visited Clip ‘n Climb, so he struggled a lot more than Stacey to climb up some of the walls. But he gave it a good try! One of the instructors told him that the wall made up of different coloured hexagons was the easiest one to climb, so he gave that a go and found she was right. He was soon scaling it like Spider-Man and then jumping back down from the top like a pro! He actually spent most of his time on this wall after that, but I guess that’s the beauty of a place like this. You can spend as much or as little time as you want on each wall as there are so many to choose from. And don’t worry, whenever anybody else wanted to have a go on this one, Oscar un-clipped himself and waited patiently for them to have a turn before returning to it.

As I mentioned before, there are more than 20 different climbing walls and challenge’s to have a go on at Clip ‘n Climb. And, although we didn’t have time to try them all on our first visit, we had a go on as many as we could. We liked that each wall was different, so some were easier to climb than others. Some also have buttons you can press at the bottom and top so you can race your friends to see who is the quickest at climbing.

Stacey’s favourite challenge has to be the ‘Stairway to Heaven’, which is a series of green pipes like the ones you see in Super Mario games, that get higher and higher until you’re almost touching the ceiling! The idea is that you stride from one to the other and then jump off into the middle of them once you get to the top. It looks absolutely terrifying, but Stacey has long legs so she makes it look easy when she runs up them. I think she spends more time on this challenge than any other whenever we go to Clip ‘n Climb!

I should also mention that I have Scoliosis (which is a curvature of the spine), so I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to climb with the kids or not. But I gave it a go and found that I could cope with some of the easier walls alright, even if the harness did start to make my back ache after half an hour or so. I was proud of myself for giving it a try, and would definitely take part again as it’s lots of fun!

Over the last few years, Stacey’s become a little bit of a daredevil, and she was gutted that she didn’t have the chance to try out the Leap of Faith on our first visit to Clip ‘n Climb. So for her 15th birthday, we took her back with a group of friends and let her have a go. It’s an extra £2.50 to do the Leap of Faith, but she enjoyed it so much that I think it was worth every penny.

So, what is the Leap of Faith? Basically, an instructor harnesses you up and makes you wear a hard hat, and you climb up a super high ladder and walk out onto a platform that can only be described as being like a plank on a pirate ship. Eek! The instructor then gives you a signal and whenever you’re ready, you leap off of the platform and try to catch the red bar that’s hanging from the ceiling.

The day that Stacey did the Leap of Faith we saw a couple of other people do it too, and she was the only one who managed to grab the bar! It was amazing. And, of course, she got such an amazing adrenaline rush from it.

One thing I will say is that all that climbing is sure to make you hungry. But don’t worry, there’s a lovely little cafe on-site where you can grab yourself some much-needed refreshments. We’ve eaten there a couple of times now and the food is always delicious.

Oscar loves to play in the play area while we wait for our food to be delivered to our table, and he always has so much fun. It’s a really decent sized play area with a slide, ball bit, climbing frames and loads of other little bits and bobs to keep little ones entertained. It’s ideal to use if you’ve got older kids who want to climb without being distracted by younger siblings too.

We always thoroughly enjoy visiting Clip ‘n Climb Nottingham, and could easily spend a whole afternoon there. It’s a brilliant place to take the kids for a fun activity, but I also imagine it would be fab for adults who are wanting to find a fun way to keep fit to use too. I mean, I felt muscles that I didn’t know I had after climbing with my two! Haha.

Have you ever visited Clip ‘n Climb Nottingham before?
If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts on them.
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12 Places I’d Love to Take My Kids This Year

16/01/2018 by Louise 45 Comments

Over the past few years, I’ve found myself wanting to visit more and more places with the kids before they grow up and fly the nest. But it wasn’t until recently that I actually found the confidence to just jump on a bus or train and take them away by myself. And while I still have this new found confidence, I really want to make the most of it, and take them to more places than ever this year.

So, for today’s post, I thought I’d compile a list of 12 places I’d love to take them this year. I honestly don’t think we’ll be able to cross them all off the list before 2018 comes to an end, but we’re going to give it our best shot! OK, then. Are you sitting comfortably? Then let me tell you about all the lovely places we’d really love to visit this year!

01. Calypso Cove

The first place on our list is actually somewhere I’ve been vowing to take the kids for a good couple of years now. But we still haven’t been! And that place is the Calypso Cove Waterpark in Barnsley. The waterpark can be found in the Metrodome Leisure Complex, and it has 3 different pools for the whole family to enjoy.

As well as having the different pool areas, Calypso Cove is the home to 3 amazing looking flumes, a slide that’s perfect for little ones, as it goes down into the shallow end of the pool, and a fantastically fun four-lane open slide that’s great for racing your friends! There’s even a diving board made to look and feel as if you’re about to walk the plank. How cool is that?!

After your swim, you can enjoy a tasty treat at The Hideout poolside restaurant. It looks like they do some really delicious snacks and meals, and I’ll definitely be taking the kids to eat there when we finally go for our swim. I hope we can cross this off our bucket list of places we’d like to visit quite early in the year, as like I mentioned before, the kids have been wanting to check it out for years.

02. Thomas Land

Next up, I’ve picked out the amazing Thomas Land at Drayton Manor Theme Park. My mum and I took Oscar for the day back in 2016, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Despite only just turning 3 back then, he remembers it really well and often asks if we can go back. And of course, I always say yes!

Next time we visit, though, I’d love to take advantage of their ‘Stay & Play’ offer, so Oscar can enjoy spending the night in one of their Thomas themed bedrooms. I just know he’d love it! Thomas Land is the perfect place to take little ones who are fans of the TV show, as there are loads of rides and attractions for them to enjoy. And I’m pleased to say they’re all age appropriate.

When we visited last, our favourite rides were Diesel’s Locomotive Mayhem, Harold’s Helicopter Tours, and the Bertie Bus ride. I think Oscar would get more out of it if we went again as he’d be able to go on some of the bigger rides. I really hope we can go back at some point this year.

03. Shrek the Musical

I’m not sure whether or not I’ve mentioned this before, but my daughter, Stacey, is a big fan of singer Amelia Lily. And this year she’ll be playing the part of Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical, which you’ll know we’ve been wanting to see for absolutely ages if you happened to take a look at my theatre bucket list last year.

The show is a touring one, too. And I noticed that it’s coming to both nearby Nottingham and Sheffield, which should mean we’ll be in with a good chance of seeing it at some point. Yay! Oscar keeps saying that he doesn’t want to see it as it will be scary, but he’s been to absolutely loads of shows over the last few years, so I think he will be OK. If you’ve seen it, let me know in the comments below if it’s suitable for young children or not. I’m sure it will be.

I think it would make Stacey’s year if she got to see Amelia in a musical. I didn’t take her to see American Idiot with me, so she’s never seen her perform live on stage before. She really is amazing, though. She has an incredible voice and really knows how to grab an audience’s attention. I bet she’ll be just as fantastic in Shrek!

04. Red Kangaroo Trampoline Park

Trampoline Parks are big news right now, and both Stacey and Oscar are dying to visit Red Kangaroo, which opened up on the outskirts of Nottingham last year. Firm in the belief that everyone is born to bounce; Red Kangaroo’s Trampoline Park features sessions and facilities for all ages and abilities. As well as a huge main court with wall-to-wall trampolines, which are much bigger than the industry standard.

As well as the main court, Red Kangaroo have a whole host of additional aerial activities such as an assault course that features a demanding vertical climbing wall, hanging bags to swing from and ‘doors’ to clamber through, all without touching the ground, an awesome wipeout game where players jump over or duck under a rotating sweeper arm while trying desperately to perch safely on their podiums without toppling off, a double cardio wall for two people to test endurance and reaction skills against each other, and loads more.

From what we’ve seen online, Red Kangaroo looks a lot bigger and better than any of the other Trampoline Parks we’ve visited in the area, and we’re hoping to visit over half term so we can all burn off lots of energy!

05. Flamingo Land

At the end of the summer last year, we went to Flamingo Land for the day. And we had the best time ever! There were loads of amazing rides for the kids to enjoy. And Oscar discovered he loved the bigger thrill ones rather than the ones aimed at his age group, which made for an interesting day! LOL.

One of the main reasons I wanted to take the kids to Flamingo Land was because it was one of my favourite places to go when I was their age. I imagined it had probably changed a lot over the years, but it was almost exactly as I remembered it. But with lots more rides and attractions, of course.

Sadly, we didn’t get time to explore the whole of the park, as it was super busy with it being the school holidays, but we still thoroughly enjoyed it. And Oscar sobbed most of the way home because he didn’t want to leave! This year I’d like to stay over one weekend so we can enjoy everything the park has to offer. I know the kids would love that too. Of all the places I’ve put down on my list, I know this is the one we’ll definitely visit again this year.

06. Disneyland Paris

Next up on my list of places I’d love to take my kids this year is Disneyland Paris. And I’ve got to admit that there’s a super selfish reason behind this one. Basically, Stacey is going on a school trip to Paris in 2019, and one of the places they get to visit while they’re there is Disneyland. But I always imagined that I’d be the first person to see her reaction if we were ever lucky enough to visit. So now I’m desperate to take her before she goes with her friends. That’s so bad, isn’t it?!

Both Stacey and Oscar have been asking for years to go to Disneyland Paris. We’re kind of Disney crazy in our house, and I know they’d love to meet their favourite characters, and see the parades and firework displays and stuff. I think they’d really enjoy all the rides as well.

07. Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment

As I mentioned before, the kids and I love a bit of Disney and very often head to Nottingham Arena to see the latest Disney on Ice. This year’s show is called ‘World of Enchantment’, and it has four different stories in it: Cars, Frozen, Toy Story 3, and The Little Mermaid. And as Stacey’s a big fan of Cars, and Buzz Lightyear is Oscar’s hero, I’d really love to take them to see it!

Disney on Ice never seems to lose its magic, no matter how many times we go to see it. And the skaters are just incredible. Stacey and I have seen all 4 of this year’s stories brought to life on the ice before, but we’ve both agreed that we’d still love to see them again. I just need to keep my fingers crossed that tickets don’t sell out before I manage to get hold of some.

08. The Algarve

Next on my list of places I’d love to take my kids this year is The Algarve in Portugal. We’ve not been on a foreign holiday since Stacey was 2, and I’ve recently found myself wanting to jump on a plane and enjoy the warmer climes of somewhere like Portugal.

It would be my dream to stay in a lovely villa with a private pool so the kids can go for a swim whenever they wanted, and I could take lots and lots of photographs without having to worry about being told off because I might get other people’s children in them.

As well as spending lots of time just relaxing, and splashing in the pool, I’d love to check out the local area and maybe go on a boat trip or something similar. It seems like The Algarve has a lot to offer, and I’d really love to explore it. I know that Stacey would enjoy it too, as she’s always saying how much her friends love their foreign holidays! Have you ever been to The Algarve? If so, let me know what you thought of it in the comments below.

09. Camp Bestival

When I was younger, I really enjoyed going to music festivals with my older brother, and it’s definitely something I’d like my two to experience at some point too. And Camp Bestival looks like the perfect first festival to take them to! If you’ve never heard of it before, Camp Bestival is a multi-award winning festival that combines an all-encompassing family festival experience with an action-packed camping holiday!

Set in the majestic grounds of Lulworth Castle, on Dorset’s dramatic Jurassic coastline, Camp Bestival is jam-packed with entertainment! From first-class musical performances and cultural delights to stunning sideshow attractions and lashings of family fun.

Camp Bestival has something for everyone, which is perfect for someone like me, whose kids have a ten year age gap between them! Oscar would be sure to enjoy the soft play area and circus skills, and Stacey would love seeing some of her favourite bands and having a go at go-karting! I think it would make the perfect little getaway for us this summer.

10. Disney Cruise

If I had to name just one thing I’ve always wanted to do, I would have to say it’s to go on a cruise. I always think they look so glamorous! But if I’m being honest, I don’t think my kids would be quite as excited to go on a cruise as I would be. And that’s why I’d like to take them on a Disney Cruise instead!

Yes, our love of Disney has made another appearance. I’m so sorry! But their cruise’s combine a trip around lots of different places with a little bit of Disney magic! The cruise ships look absolutely incredible, and there are plenty of dining options, kids clubs, and evening entertainment to keep the whole family happy.

You can even meet your favourite characters on board. And have certain meals with them, just like you can at the theme parks. I think a Disney Cruise would prove to be a big hit with the kids. But if I’m being honest, it’s likely to be the one thing on my list that we won’t get to do. Purely because they’re quite pricey. A girl can dream, though. Can’t she?

11. Yorkshire Wildlife Park

I don’t know about you guys, but we love visiting zoos and wildlife parks as a family. And one that we’ve been meaning to visit for years is the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. I mean, it’s practically on our doorstep! It’s said to be a dynamic centre for conservation and welfare, and it boasts over 400 animals and over 70 different species. How cool is that?

Oscar loves looking at different animals, and learning about where they come from and what sorts of things they like to eat etc. So I think he’d thoroughly enjoy it here. They have lots of our favourite animals from lions, tigers, lemurs and leopards, to zebras, rhinos, giant otters, meerkats, and everything in between! I think it would make a fantastic day out that we’d all enjoy.

12. LaplandUK

And last, but certainly not least, this year I would love to take the kids to LaplandUK this year! If you’ve never heard of it before, LaplandUK is an original adaptation of the Father Christmas story and the secret world of the elves brought to life through a 4-hour immersive experience of unprecedented scale and quality.

When you book the experience you get a personalised invitation and entry into Father Christmas’ arctic homeland, an Elf Passport for every child, all activities at the venue, ice skating and a beautiful gift for every child. Also included is one photograph of your children with Father Christmas per booking. Plus a Christmas Morning Thank You card from Father Christmas!

The whole experience just looks magical, and if you’d like to read more about it, then make sure you check out my lovely friend Rebecca’s review of it by clicking here. I know my two would thoroughly enjoy this (despite one of them being a teenager), and I think it would help add an extra layer of magic to Christmas this year. I actually want to go right now!

And there you have it, 12 places I would love to take my kids this year. I hope you enjoyed having a read, and that it’s inspired you to check out a few new places in 2018 as well.

Have you ever visited any of the places on my list?
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments below.
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7 Super Romantic Places to Go On a Date in Nottingham

08/06/2017 by Louise 91 Comments

Once upon a time, when I was a lot younger, going on a date usually involved meeting up for a few drinks in a bar or pub, followed by dinner at a nice restaurant. It was all very nice, and what I enjoyed doing at the time. But now I’m getting older I like to plan dates that are a little more, well, fun.

Living in Nottingham means there’s always something different to see or do on a date. And today I thought I’d share my top 7 romantic date ideas for those of us who live in or around the city. I hope you guys enjoy it, and it gives you some inspiration for what you can do on your next date!

01. TAKE A CRUISE ON THE RIVER TRENT

One of my favourite things to do on a date in Nottingham is to go on a romantic cruise on the River Trent. Run by Princess River Cruises, there are two different types of cruise available to go on: a tranquil daytime one, and a more vibrant, exciting evening one.

The afternoon cruises tend to have more over 50s dating, while the evening ones draw a much younger crowd. And it’s really not hard to see why. As once the sun sets and the passengers are on board, the disco and the barbeque fire up and it’s time to party! You can dance the night away to your favourite sounds, relax with a drink from the bar or just enjoy the enchanting floodlit atmosphere of the River Trent by night. It’s the perfect setting for enjoying some quality time with a loved one.

02. TAKE A PICNIC TO NEARBY CLUMBER PARK

I don’t think there’s anything more romantic than going for a picnic. So the next time the sun comes out why not pack up a basket full of your favourite foods and drinks, and head to nearby Clumber Park for an intimate afternoon for two? Don’t forget to take a nice big blanket so you can lie down and have a chat (or a snooze) once you’ve eaten, and I highly recommend having a walk around the woodland, hand in hand, as the scenery is just beautiful.

Back when I was a single parent dating we visited Clumber Park a lot, as Stacey could run around to her heart’s content while Nathan and I enjoyed some time chatting and getting to know one another. There’s plenty of secluded spots for picnicking as well, so you won’t end up sitting at the side of hundreds of other couples looking to get away from it all. It’s just wonderful there.

03. HAVE AFTERNOON TEA AT THE PUDDING PANTRY

Afternoon Tea is big news right now. And I don’t think anywhere in Nottingham does it as well as The Pudding Pantry! Afternoon Tea here is served from 2pm till 4:30pm daily (5:30pm on a Saturday) and there are 3 different options you can choose from:

Classic Tea, which includes 2 mini scones, homemade jam & clotted cream, 4 individually designed cakes, and sandwiches.
High Tea, which includes 2 mini scones, homemade jam & clotted cream, 4 individually designed cakes and sandwiches, and a glass of bubbly Prosecco.
Sweet Tea, which includes 2 mini scones, homemade jam & clotted cream, and 4 individually designed cakes.

The Pudding Pantry’s Afternoon Tea’s really are second-to-none. Everything here is absolutely delicious, and the cakes are super imaginative, so you won’t forget about eating here in a hurry. If your date is the sort of girl (or guy) who loves their afternoon tea, I highly recommend you take them here at least once. I promise they’ll love you for it forever!

04. GO ICE SKATING AT THE NATIONAL ICE CENTRE

Nottingham is well-known for being the birthplace of ice skating legends, Torvill and Dean. So why not head down to the amazing National Ice Arena in Hockney and have a go at skating, yourselves? You’re guaranteed to have lots of fun. And if you’re like me and you’re not very steady on your feet, you have a good excuse to cling on to your date for “safety”.

There are plenty of public sessions on throughout the week, and it will cost you less than a tenner each with skate hire. Bargain! The National Ice Centre is also home to the Motorpoint Arena, so if you’re lucky you might be able to catch a gig at the same time. It really is the place to go for a great night out.

05. HAVE A NIGHT OUT AT THE THEATRE

I don’t know about you guys, but I love nothing more than a night out at the theatre. I really enjoy getting lost in the music and story of the show I’m seeing. But the theatre can also be quite the romantic setting for a date too. Especially if you pair it with a pre-show meal and drinks.

There are 3 theatre’s that I know of in Nottingham itself: The Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall, which are just across the road from Nottingham’s Cornerhouse, where there are loads of different places to grab a bite to eat and a drink before the performances. And The Nottingham Playhouse, which is situated on Wellington Circus.

To see what’s on at the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall click here, and to see what’s on at The Nottingham Playhouse click here. And if you’d like to see what I thought of all the shows I’ve been to see recently, make sure you check out the theatre reviews section of my blog.

06. VISIT THE MOONLIGHT DRIVE-IN CINEMA

If you’re looking for something quite different to do for a date in Nottingham, how about visiting the Moonlight Drive-In Cinema on the Giltbrook Shopping Park? Drive-In cinemas have become really popular here in the UK over the last couple of years, and I think that’s because we tend to love anything that originated in America.

Every month the Moonlight Drive-In Cinema shows 3 or 4 different movies, such as Dirty Dancing, Top Gun, Grease and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the beauty of it is that you get to watch it from the comfort of your own car, with the sound playing through your stereo. You can even order food and drink to devour while you watch. It makes for a great night out, and I’m hoping to go and see Dirty Dancing there next month as this month’s showing has already sold out. Dammit!

07. PLAY A ROUND OFADVENTURE GOLF AT THE LOST CITY

OK, OK, I know what you’re going to say. How is playing a round of adventure golf romantic? And I hear ya, I really do! But trust me, The Lost City Indoor Adventure Golf is a fantastic place to go on a date in Nottingham. You can start out by playing either 18 or 36 holes of adventure golf (which is situated in the basement of The Cornerhouse) and then head to the super romantic Tiki Bar for drinks afterwards.

The Tiki Bar has a really relaxed atmosphere, and it’s the perfect place to just sit and chat to your date with a drink. It almost feels like you’re in a whole other world while you’re down there, and I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest it as a date idea to anyone looking to do something fun while they’re out and about in Nottingham. I love it!

If you’re looking for a way to fund your date night, how about taking out a small loan that you can pay back on payday? Using a site like badcreditsite.co.uk is free of charge, and you can get an instant quote from 40+ lenders and see who is the cheapest lender likely to say yes to you. Even if you have bad credit, many of their lenders can offer them a loan for as little as 49.9%APR.

And there you have it, my 7 suggestions of super romantic places to go on a date in Nottingham.
Have you ever tried any of them? Don’t forget to let me know in the comments below!

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5 Hidden Gems in Derbyshire

22/01/2017 by Louise 38 Comments

I was recently asked by the lovely people over at Chill Car Insurance if I knew of any hidden gems in my local area. And as I’m lucky enough to live on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border, I can safely say that there are a lot!

Now, I tend to talk about the things we get up to in the Nottinghamshire area quite a bit, so I thought I’d share 5 hidden gems in Derbyshire with you guys today. I hope you enjoy reading about some of my favourite places in the area.

01. LUMSDALE VALLEY, MATLOCK

First up I wanted to talk about Lumsdale Valley in Matlock, which truly is a hidden gem as it can be a little tricky to find! This place is perfect to visit if you enjoy walking as not only is it absolutely beautiful, but it’s steeped in history too. The recommended walking route begins at the top of the valley, in Upper Lumsdale, in the layby opposite the carpark entrance to Highfields Upper School.

The trail takes you past remnants of buildings from a bygone age, and there are information boards at poignant locations telling you all about the valley’s industrial past. These capture the history of the area perfectly and really bring the trail to life.

02. PEAK RAIL, MATLOCK

Next up is Peak Rail, which is also situated in the Matlock area. Peak Rail is a beautifully preserved steam railway, which is open to the public throughout the year and operates between Rowsley South and Matlock Platform 2 for a distance of 4 miles.

The journey itself takes around 20-25 minutes through the picturesque Derbyshire countryside in beautifully restored carriages. There’s a fully licensed buffet car on the train too, which is open on all Peak Rail operating days and serves a variety of alcoholic beverages, hot and cold drinks, sweets, chocolate, cakes, biscuits and crisps. And during certain times of the year, you can enjoy things such as Sunday dinner, afternoon tea or Christmas dinner on the train too! There’s nothing else like this in the area as far as I’m aware, so it makes a wonderful little day out.

Oscar is a massive fan of trains, and I’m hoping to take him to Peak Rail in May as a special treat for his 4th birthday. I think he’ll really enjoy it!

03. EYAM MUSEUM, EYAM

If you enjoy visiting places that are steeped in history, then I think you’ll enjoy visiting the Eyam Museum, which tells the story of 260 Eyam villagers who sadly died from the bubonic plague back in 1665.

I remember going to Eyam for the first time when I was at primary school, and I’ve been back several times over the years as I find it such a fascinating place to visit. I think the plague story coupled with the beauty of the village is just amazing, and I would happily spend all day here.

Eyam is a truly magical place, made even more special by the fact that over 40 of the stewards who work at the museum live in or have a family connection to the village. You can see how much they want to keep it thriving and I can’t wait to take Oscar for a visit when he’s a little older.

04. THE RITZ CINEMA, BELPER

When thinking of hidden gems in Derbyshire, the Ritz Cinema in Belper instantly comes to mind. You might be wondering what could be so special about a cinema, but once I tell you a little bit about this place I’m sure you’ll understand why I just had to include it.

The Ritz Cinema is a fabulous, independent cinema with a vintage feel. It has nice, big, comfy seats and sofas to sit on. And believe it or not, seeing the latest movies here is actually cheaper than going to one of the big multiplexes! The Ritz Cinema usually shows 2-3 movies per day. And they sell a wide range of hot and cold drinks and homemade cakes and desserts for you to enjoy while you watch too. Yum!

The staff here are super friendly, and if you’re after an enjoyable night out at the movies then the Ritz Cinema is definitely the place for you. You won’t find anywhere better.

05. THE DEVONSHIRE, UPPER LANGWITH

And last but certainly not least on my list of hidden gems in Derbyshire is a bar and restaurant called The Devonshire, which is situated in Upper Langwith – not too far from Bolsover.

I love this place as not only is it really close to where I live, but the meals they serve are freshly prepared to order, made with local produce, and taste absolutely delicious. I’ve never had a bad meal here!

The Devonshire had a major refurb last year when the new management took over, and the decor is absolutely beautiful inside. During the winter months, they have a real fire burning in the bar area, which gives it a real homely feel, and the eating area is lovely and spacious. I’ve tried quite a few different dishes from the main menu, and everything has been just delicious. I can’t fault them at all. I highly recommend eating here if you’re ever in the area. You won’t regret it.

And there you have it, 5 hidden gems in Derbyshire that I absolutely love.

Have you ever visited any of these places before? Or do you know of any other hidden gems in Derbyshire?
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments below!
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10 Things To Do With The Kids In Nottingham This Christmas

16/11/2015 by Louise 21 Comments

With the festive period fast approaching, you might be starting to think of fun things to do with the kids during the school holidays. And if you’re lucky enough to be in or around Nottingham then I have a list of 10 fabulous activities you can do with them, and each one has been given the seal of approval by my own 2 little monkey’s!

So, if you’d like to find out more then make sure you’re sitting comfortably and read on …

01. Visit Nottingham’s Winter Wonderland
Every year Nottingham’s Market Square transforms into an amazing Winter Wonderland with a beautiful ‘Old English’ theme. The streets are lined with quaint little cabins where you can find everything from handmade Christmas gifts and craft items to delicious food and drink.

You’ll also find a bandstand, rides and an amazing outdoor ice rink, which I believe is going to be bigger and better than ever this year. Stacey is excited as her cousin has promised to take her skating when we head into Nottingham to do our Christmas shopping next month, and I can’t wait to see them out having fun on the ice.

And, if your kids are fanatical for Frozen, then make sure you head on down to the ice rink on Wednesday 16th December between 6pm and 8pm where you can join Anna, Elsa and Olaf for the Ultimate Frozen Disco Party, which is completely free of charge! How awesome is that?

The Winter Wonderland opens on Friday 20th November and runs until Sunday 3rd January and the opening times are as follows …

Christmas Market – 10am until 6pm (8pm late night shopping)
Ice Rink – 11am until 10pm (last session begins at 9pm)
Winter Bars & Food Hall – 10am until late

I definitely recommend having a wander around the Winter Wonderand as it’s a truly magical experience – my two absolutely love it as it captures the essence of Christmas just perfectly. It’s no wonder that it was voted No.1 for the best festive shopping experience in the Midlands last year!

02. See a Pantomime
Ever since Stacey was a toddler I’ve taken her to see a pantomime at Christmas time. I think it’s a great way to introduce children to the wonderful world of theatre, and as they contain a lot of audience participation, they’re great fun as well!

Pantomimes often feature a line-up of well known celebrities, and this year you can find pantomime legend Christopher Biggins, star of boyband Blue Simon Webbe, and Nottingham’s favourite panto comic Ben Nickless bringing an Aladdin’s cave full of fun and laughter to the Theatre Royal.

We come to see the pantomime here almost every year and it never fails to disappoint – there’s always spectacular special effects, bright and colourful costumes, hilarious slapstick comedy and music and dancing that’s second to none. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable night out and I can’t wait to take Oscar to see his first pantomime this year!

The pantomime runs from Saturday 5th December until Sunday 10th January and ticket prices start at just £15 each.

03. Visit Santa’s Grotto
Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without paying a visit to the main man himself – Santa Claus. And this year he’s bringing his super duper amazing 5D grotto to the Intu Broadmarsh Centre in Nottingham!

When you visit Santa’s magical grotto this year you get to enjoy an amazing 5D movie where you and your child get to be the star of the show! Next they’ll be able to write a list of all the wonderful presents they’d like to find under the tree on Christmas morning, before handing it to Santa Claus in person. Plus, you can get the movie sent to your home after your visit so you show it off and be the envy of all your family and friends!

I was disappointed last year and the year before as the queues to see Santa in my local town were always a good couple of hours long so I didn’t get to take Oscar to have his photo taken with him. This year however, I’ve booked online to visit the 5D grotto to avoid that disappointment. I just hope that Oscar isn’t frightened when we get there or it could turn into a total disaster! I’m sure Stacey will be happy to sit and have her photo taken though!

Santa arrives at the Intu Broadmarsh Centre on Thursday 19th November and will be around until Christmas Eve. You’ll be able to find him and his little helpers at the bottom of the precinct, near Wilko’s. And the ticket prices are as follows …

Children – £4.50 (which includes a 50p donation to Text Santa and a gift)
Adults – £2.00
Family – £11.00 (2 adults, 2 children)

You can also save money on your ticket to the Winter Wonderland ice rink that I mentioned above when you visit Santa’s grotto, but please be aware that you need to do both activities on the same day to take advantage of this offer.

04. Watch a Movie at Cineworld’s Movies for Juniors
Did you know that Cineworld in Nottingham have special discounted screenings at weekends and school holiday mornings? Well, they do, and my two absolutely love to head along to them!

Movies for Juniors is a great way to introduce your little ones to the exciting world of cinema without it costing a fortune and having to keep them quiet throughout the whole film. We’ve been to a fair few screenings now and find them to be lovely, relaxed environment. If children want to jump up and down and sing or talk throughout the whole film then they can – no one complains. Although to be fair I’ve always found the majority of children do sit and watch the movies quietly, no matter how young they are!

The selection of movies is always really good and we’ve been to see The Muppet’s Most Wanted, Shaun the Sheep and Minions to name just a few. In fact, I think Stacey will be wanting to go again next weekend if the Spongebob Movie is still showing as she’s been wanting to see that one for ages. And how can I say no when tickets are priced at just £1.75 each (and £3.25 for 3D movies?)

Movies for Juniors offers great value for money and you’re guaranteed to choose a movie that’s suitable for the whole family to enjoy. And if you’re worried that you’ll get cheap cinema tickets but then end up spending a small fortune at the popcorn stand then don’t be. Cineworld have a special deal where you can get a box of popcorn, a snack and a drink that doesn’t cost the earth. It’s a real winner in my eyes!

05. Go Trampolining at Planet Bounce
If you have children over 4 then I most definitely recommend checking out Planet Bounce, one of the first trampoline parks in the UK!

Planet Bounce is basically a giant (I’m not over-exaggerating here guys) warehouse that is filled with over 50 interconnected trampolines, with designated zones for various sporting activities such as dodgeball and basketball. As Stacey had gotten a fabulous settling-in report from her new school last week I decided to treat her and a friend to an hour at Planet Bounce and it’s safe to say they were (literally) bouncing off the walls with excitement!

There are 3 different sessions available at Planet Bounce, and you’d need to check their website for times and availability before your visit as they’re subject to change. The sessions are priced as follows …

Jump – £10 for 1 hour of jumping for 4-65 year olds
Space Cadets – £6 for 1 hour of jumping for 4-8 year olds every Monday & Friday from 4pm till 5pm during term time
After Dark – £15 for 2 hours of jumping to the beats of the resident DJ for 12-17 year olds every Friday night from 8pm

You will need to wear special grippy socks when you’re using the trampolines to minimize the risk of slipping, and these can be purchased from Planet Bounce for a small cost of just £2.00 per pair. A waiver also needs to be filled in by a parent or guardian prior to bouncing, and I’d most definitely filling it in online before your visit if possible as the venue gets super crowded and they only have a couple of laptops to go around.

A lot of people I’ve told about Planet Bounce have said that it seems expensive for an hours worth of jumping, but I actually think it’s really reasonable. After all, trampolines in holiday destinations are often a couple of pound for just 5 minutes of bouncing fun!

There’s also a cafe on the premises for anyone not using the trampolines to get a drink and a snack, although I have to be honest here and say that I think they could do with more staff in there. It was really busy the day that we went and there was just one person serving and one person making the drinks, which meant there was quite a long queue most of the time, and I had to leave Oscar sat in his buggy alone for longer than I would have chosen to. Hopefully they’ll rectify this soon though and it will match the high standards of the rest of Planet Bounce.

Planet Bounce is open from 10am until 10pm all week long!

06. Take a Trip to Nottingham Castle
If you’re looking for something to do on a budget this Christmas, then how about taking a trip to Nottingham Castle on either Saturday 12th or Sunday 13th December when entry is absolutely free?!

You can have a walk around the Castle and take a look around their traditional craft fair – you might even find the most perfect present for a loved one whilst you’re there! It’s been quite a long time since I last visited the Castle myself, but I remember Stacey being absolutely enthralled with it and we all enjoyed viewing the gardens. They have some absolutely wonderful hedges that have been cut into different shapes like an archer and a knight.

On this particular weekend you can also visit Santa in the Bastion for a charge of £3.00 and/or take part in a special trail to help find his missing presents for a small charge of just £1.00.

Nottingham Castle is open from 10am until 3pm on Monday and Tuesday and from 10am until 4pm from Wednesday through till Sunday.

07. Paint Your Own Pottery at Razzle Dazzle Pots
Now, I have to be honest here and say I’ve never actually been to Razzle Dazzle Pots myself. However, I know lots of people who have and they always rave about how fantastic it is, so I’m hoping to book myself in with the kids this December so we can spend some quality time together and each paint a pot. Plus, at this time of year, I hear we can paint Christmas decorations!

So, the idea is that you choose from a huge range of ready made pottery such as mugs, plates, jugs, ornaments and candle holders to name just a few, and then they let you loose on a range of paints, stamps, glitter and glazes etc. to create your very own masterpiece! Once you’ve finished you leave your items at Razzle Dazzle Pots for around a week so they can fire your piece in the kiln and present you with the finished article when you return.

I am assured that all this magic happens in a fun and friendly environment, and you can also treat yourself to a drink and a snack while you work from their little cafe. It definitely sounds like a day out we would all love!

Now, Razzle Dazzle Pots is actually a little way outside of Nottingham, in Mapperly, but it’s only a few miles to travel and doesn’t take too long if you catch a bus from the Victoria Centre bus stop.

The cost of painting a piece of pottery varies, depending on what you choose to paint, but the cost of paints, glazes and firing is all included within that price.

Razzle Dazzle Pots are open from 10am until 5:30pm Tuesday through till Saturday and 11am until 4pm on a Sunday.

08. Have a meal and then let the kids play at Brewers Fayre
If there’s one thing I love, it’s taking Stacey and Oscar out for a meal. They’re both really good when we’re out and have excellent table manners and can each find at least one thing on every menu that they like.

One of my favourite places to eat out with the kids just has to be at Brewers Fayre. I think both their adult and children’s menu’s offer great value for money and the food is always freshly prepared each day. Oh, and I should mention that they taste absolutely delicious as well – it’s very rare that you’ll ever find anything left on any of our plates. And that’s got to be a good thing, right?

The closest Brewers Fayre to Nottingham is actually Oldmoor Lodge which is 4 miles away in Nutall, but we really like eating there as they have a soft play zone which is completely free for the little ones to use, and it means that mummy can sit and relax with a hot cup of tea for once after a meal – something that never happens at home!

Oldmoor Lodge also has free parking, an outdoor seating area, wifi and is wheelchair accessible. All things that I think make this place stand out among similar restaurants. The opening hours for this particular restaurant are 11am until 11pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm till 10:30pm on a Sunday.

09. The Lost City Adventure Golf

Another place we’ve never been to, but comes highly recommended (and is of course of Stacey’s list of places she really wants to visit) is The Lost City Adventure Golf course which can be found in Nottingham Cornerhouse.

The Lost City features two 18-hole adventure golf courses with dramatic interactive features such as talking Inca statues, towering rock faces and even tropical rain storms! It just sounds amazing (and the pictures on the Lost City’s website look pretty epic as well). I’m definitely going to make Stacey’s dream come true and take her for an adventure on the golf course this Christmas.

The admission prices for The Lost City Adventure Golf are as follows …

18 Holes

Young Uns – 5 and under – £3.50
Adventurers – 6 and over – £7.50
Family – One player under 16 – £24.00
Early Bird – Before 12 noon – £6.00

36 Holes

Young Uns – 5 and under – £6.00
Adventurers – 6 and over – £12.50
Family – One player under 16 – £37.00
Early Bird – Before 12 noon – £10.00

See website for student and senior citizen prices.

Both courses at The Lost City are wheelchair accessible and they have a fully licensed bar so you can sit and enjoy a refreshing drink after your game.

The Lost City Adventure Golf is open from 10:30am till 11pm Monday-Friday, 10am till 11pm on Saturday and 10am till 10pm on Sunday.

10. Win Fab Prizes at the Nottingham Fun Station
And last but certainly not least we think you should most definitely check out the Nottingham Fun Station!

Now, I’m not going to go into too much detail about this one as I have a full review which you can read by clicking here, but I am going to say that both my two like to be let loose in the Fun Station for half an hour or so when we’re in Nottingham.

Basically, the Fun Station is an innovative new family entertainment centre, which houses an array of fabulous arcade games and an amazing bowling alley as well! Each of the machines issues tickets when you play, and you can exchange the tickets at the Prize Counter for a whole host of different goodies.

You just pick up a swipe card from the counter, load some money onto it and then you swipe your card at each machine instead of inserting cash. I usually load £5.00 onto each of the kids cards when we go in and then once they’re out of credits it’s time to go.

Stacey is currently saving her tokens so she can pick up a glitter lamp on one of her visits, and Oscar is just happy to run around and pretend to play on the machines.

The Fun Station can be found on the second floor of the Cornerhouse complex and is open from 11am till 10pm Monday-Thursday, 11am-11pm Friday, 10am-11pm Saturday and 10am-10pm Sunday. It really is a whole load of fun!

And there you have it, my 10 recommendations of things to do with the kids in Nottingham this Christmas.
Would you add any other activities? Please let me know in the comments below!

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