#Spooktacular Warwick Castle is The Haunted Castle!

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We were lucky enough to get the chance to visit Warwick Castle this weekend.  I've always been interested in the site; anyone interested in the Kingmaker and the War of the Roses will visit just for the history.  But this Halloween Warwick Castle becomes The Haunted Castle with new attractions designed to scare and thrill right up until 9pm.  So we were interested to see if there's something for everyone this half-term.  There was!  It's a great day out anyway, but this half term in particular there are some new attractions and Halloween themed thrills!

We arrived at 10am opening time, as we like to maximise our day trips.  Our girls are now 8 and 10 years old.  Their favourite parts of the day were, and I quote; "The Flight of the Eagles show because the birds were HUGE", "The Horrible Histories Maze because you win a prize" and our 10 year old really liked starting the day with the Grand Tour, because "although you didn't go inside the castle, it was good to learn about the history of the castle itself and how and why certain bits were built".

Gullivers World Hotel and Gullivers Splash Zone, Warrington: A review

Tree house beds: kid heaven!

Should I share?

I was torn as to whether to share this brilliant find with you.  But I just had to.

Oh my! What a fabulous hotel!

Despite Gulliver's World theme park being technically closed at this time of year, the hotel, and neighbouring Splash Zone is still open.

So we decided to book an overnight stay at the hotel, in a family room, for one night.  Some friends of ours and their children booked too.

We set off around lunchtime on Saturday, and arrived at 3pm, in plenty of time to quickly ooooo and aaahhh at our room, more on that later, grab the children's swimsuits and wander across the car park to the Splash Zone.

Gulliver's Splash Zone

The Splash Zone is great for 6 year olds and over. It is essentially the sort of mini splash park you get at family hotels in Spain, but instead of being outside, it is inside, in the same set up as the popular soft play zones that have sprung up in every town in the UK in the last 10 years.

Chatsworth House Easter eggstravaganza! A review

If you are thinking of heading out for the day this weekend you wouldn't do much better than a day out at Chatsworth House.  The home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, this beautiful house is set in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire.  From the house, to the extensive gardens and grounds, to the farmyard and adventure playground, the farm shop and animal handling; there is something for everyone here.

And of course it's EASTER!  So this week, until the 15th April, Chatsworth plays host to the Easter Bunny (and cheeky he is too).  There are Easter Egg hunts throughout the day and with 2,500 mini eggs strewn all over a field (per hunt) it's a child's paradise!  There are Easter crafts in the Oak Barn, so that you can keep out of the rain (if it threatens) and make those all important bunny ears for yourself, or an Easter card for Nana.

The Easter Eggspress is trundling around the grounds at regular intervals throughout the day and it's from this brilliant tractor ride that you may spy the Easter Bunny himself.  Do you think he'll come over and say hello?  Of course he will.

If you manage to fit in an Easter Egg Hunt, Eggspress ride and craft session, you still need to leave time to enjoy the refurbished woodland adventure playground with new Rope Challenge finished only last week.

Tip 1:  But remember; take everyone's bucket and spade, wellington boots and spare clothes.  That sand gets everywhere and for some reason the children love the water!

For us, these activities filled the day; but you've still got the animal handling, milking demonstrations, farmyard daily talks, tours of the house, formal garden tours and a separate, more subdued, egg hunt in the gardens; where the eggs are less edible!

If you take a picnic, then a day out for 2 adults and 2 children (3yrs to 16 yrs) would set you back £17.10 for a family ticket entry to the farmyard and adventure playground*, £3 for car parking, £10 for four seats on the Eggspress and free entry into the Easter Egg Hunt (though you must remember to ask for your Egg Hunt tickets when you pay.  Easter crafting is free.  That's a total of £30.10 for a family of 4.  You'll also come home with children wearing bunny ears they've made themselves and with pockets full of mini Easter eggs from the hunt, as well as small bag of mini eggs from the Easter bunny!

On the basis of the smiles that were glued to our two girls' faces all day today; that's £30 well spent.

Tip 2:  HOWEVER, it's a very good idea to either arrive early (the farmyard opens at 10.30am, so be parked by 10am at the latest and queueing at the farmyard gate); OR, even better, book online and print your tickets before you arrive.

If you don't pre-book and arrive at around 11am, you'll be queueing for up to an hour.
If you do pre-book, there's a separate queue for that and you'll waltz right in.  (Chatsworth House members also get to use the fast queue!)

For details of the Easter activities and to book your tickets; click here. 

If you are travelling from further afield you can stay in Chatsworth's historic holiday cottages to give you more time to take in the beautiful surrounding countryside.  You'll find fine food and a bed and breakfast at the Devonshire Arms in Beeley; or indeed at the Devonshire Arms in Pilsley on the Chatsworth Estate.
 
And a final tip:  Take extra coats, jumpers, hats, scarfs and definitely gloves this weekend.  The temperature had dropped suddenly today and out there, in the Peaks, you notice it.  Go prepared.  The car park is so close, it doesn't matter if you end up popping them back in the car, just remember to get your hand stamped when leaving the farmyard, so you can get back in again!

For other ideas for crafts and baking activities to keep the children entertained this Easter please click here.

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*£19.80 with gift aid resulting in a £2.70 voucher back to spend in the shop or restaurants.  If voucher is used, net cost is £17.10.  £18.00 without gift aid.

Please note:  this is an independent review based on our family's experience of Chatsworth House on Friday 6th April 2012.  No payment, gift or encouragement of any kind has been received by this author.  This blog prides itself on unbiased honest opinions of products and services.

The Essential Day Trip Packing List for Mums!

So you're off on a day trip during these summer holidays. So what to pack?


For the children:

• A snack box (raisins, goodie bars, mini chocolate bars, bananas, at least 2 juice drinks per child)
• Sun hat
• Sun cream (ideally cream them before you go out, but take some spare just in case!)
• Rain coat, or if you can manage it a rain suit (they include legs, and this is England you know!)
• Wellies
• Nappies/wipes/nappy bags if applicable
• Change of clothes for each child (including underwear - in case they get drenched, muddy, sandy... etc)
• A mini high chair, or bumper cushion, for small children in case highchairs aren't available; OR,
• A picnic blanket (regardless of if you've taken a picnic - these are really useful)
• Tissues
• Antibacterial hand gel
• Mini first aid kit (single dose sachets of children's paracetamol and ibuprofen, plasters, antibacterial cream for cuts and scrapes)
• A mini colouring book and pencils for each child (just in case)
• A flask - a large one with a lid that converts to a cup (or two cups if you can manage it. Thermos, of course, do a good one) for that all important cuppa!
• Spare socks for all (for some reason they always need socks)
• A buggy - if only to carry that lot around in.

Having a picnic?

• A selection of sandwiches
• A selection of party food to your taste (scotch eggs, sausage rolls, mini sausages, cheesy dippers, couscous, pasta salad, cucumber sticks, grapes, etc etc)
• Plastic plates for all (makes it much easier to track whether they've all actually eaten anything!)
• More juice for all - ideally not requiring separate cups
• A selection of deserts to your taste (mini jelly pots and spoons, mousse pots, cupcakes/fairy cakes, etc )
• Milk for babies
• At least one bib
• Baby food, and spoons.

For yourself:

• Your wellies
• A change of socks
• Sunhat or baseball cap
• Your own suncream (don't forget those shoulders. See earlier post!)
• Raincoat
• Change of clothes - if only to keep in the car. I've had juice split all over me more than once, and those nappies aren't always foolproof; especially when they are sat on your knee!)
• Adult paracetamol and ibuprofen
• Money!
• Any relevant tickets, annual passes etc

And of course, the all important kitchen sink.
Let me know if I missed anything....