During the October school half term we stayed in a lovely Cotswold cottage and visited Westonbirt, The National Arboretum. With over 17 miles of forest walks, glorious colour from 16,000 trees (2,500 different species) it is a lovely day out even on a cooler day.
Find out more about the National Arboretum.
Find a Cotswold cottage break
This has to be one of our family favourites each year, ice skating outside of the beautiful Natural History Museum building in London.
We are not born ice skaters, in fact we barely strap a skate on of any sort during the year, but come November we find ourselves heading to London for an ice skating session on the outdoor temporary
y rink. It’s great fun and what better backdrop to your efforts than one of London’s most impressive buildings.
Of course the ice skating is great fun but it also forms part of a fun winters day out. Once the skating is over there is plenty of time to take in the museum, which is absolutely free, or visit some of the other great museums near by – the interactive Science Museum is always popular with children.
Once you are exhausted there are plenty of great places to eat near by or simply travel short distance on the Underground to popular eating places around Covent Garden, Leicester Square and China Town.
The Natural History Museum Ice Rink, supported by Starbucks, opens next Friday (2nd Nov – 6 Jan) promising a season of fantastic skating.
The first ice rink to open in London
Be among the first to enjoy a magical skate on one of London’s largest ice rinks, and celebrate the launch of Starbucks’ Red Cups with a hot drink in our fabulous café bar, open to skaters and non-skaters alike.
Something for the whole family
Bring friends and family along for a fun active day out. Next to the main rink we have a smaller rink and penguin skate aids for the little ones. And, don’t miss a spin on our beautiful fairground carousel, open throughout the day.
If you want to enjoy the splendour and beauty of an English Autumn day then it’s time to check out Exbury Gardens in the New Forest, Hampshire on the south coast.
At this time of Exbury Gardens are full of resplendent and spectacular fiery seasonal colours from maples, dogwoods and deciduous azaleas to the stunning National Collection of Nyssa and Oxydendrum. You can also enjoy a 45 minute self-guided trail leading you to the best of the colour in Yard Wood, with descriptions of over 23 trees associated with the season, and discover arguably the country’s finest display of Nerine sarniensis (the jewel lily) in the Five Arrows Gallery displayed alongside Peter Thwaites inspiring ‘Wild Autumn Art.’
It is a great family day out with over 20 miles of pathways, three woods and parkland to explore. Even the wet cannot spoil the fun – simply put on your waterproof and see a new side to Exbury! In the Gardens children can discover plants that existed before dinosaurs roamed the earth; plants dinosaurs liked to eat; a Chinese Coffin Tree and even the Devil’s Walking Stick!
Exbury is also home to a Steam Railway that runs every day the Gardens are open and a special Halloween ghost train runs during late October.
Find out more about Exbury Gardens including website details and opening times.
If you liked this, check out….
We love a good bonfire and spectacular fireworks displays which is why we love the British tradition of Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, each November.
Traditionally held on the 5th November each year, Bonfire Night is an annual commemoration of way back in 1605 when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding the explosives that the Plotters had put beneath the British Government’s House of Lords. The failure of the Plot to kill the King James I was initially celebrated with the lighting of bonfires each year and even became an enforced day of thanksgiving! In these early years the day had many religious overtones but towards the end of the 18th Century Guy Fawkes Day had become an established date in the diary, as had the customer of children collecting (begging) for money for the Guy – an effigy of Guy that was usually put on top of the bonfire.
In recent times, Bonfire and Guy Fawkes Night are less about its history and more about a Winter’s night of celebration. It remains a hugely popular night across the UK and you will find many well organised family focussed bonfire and extravagant firework displays taking place across the UK.
If you would like to add your display to our list, please let us know.
Where is the time going, we are all ready approaching mid September? It only feels like yesterday we got back from our summer holidays and yet we are about to head into the second half of the month.
Well time is certainly running out to make the most of the mild weather and the number of major outdoor events and attractions is definitely dropping, so here are some things to look out for this weekend (15th & 16th September 2012). If you are going out for the weekend why not tell us where by adding a comment below.
This is one of the last weekends of country and county shows in the UK and Ireland so it’s one of your last chances to get out and enjoy a fun family day out. Here are some to check out:
The cycling Tour of Britain concludes this weekend with stages from Barnstaple to Dartmouth and the concluding stage in the Guildford area.
Of course many of the UK’s holiday attractions are still open, check out our attraction list. In addition, many of the lovely British and Irish Gardens are still open to the public so if you want to see the last of the summer planting before Autumn sets in and changes the colours and views make a bee line to them this weekend.
So what are you doing, what else should be on our list?
Today is the 213th Westmorland County Show until 5.30pm. The Westmorland County Show is one of the largest one day Shows in the Country and certainly one of the oldest, given that the Society was founded in 1799. In fact, it was voted by the Farmers Guardian readers as the 5th top Show and the only one-day show in the top 12!
It also attracts over 30,000 people to see the major livestock Show, with its heart firmly in agriculture. Sections include cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, heavy horses, alpacas, dogs and poultry, as well as marquees for The Women’s Institute, Learning for Life, Crafts from Cumbria, local produce Food Hall, Rural Crafts and over 350 trade stands. Not forgetting the very popular Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling. A colourful event, with many competitors competing in traditional costumes.
So if you are in Cumbria and have some hours free then head over to the Show ground. See more details about Westmorland Show
Whether you’re a cycling enthusiast or just looking for a day out in September it is worth checking out the Tour of Britain, cycling’s premier road race in Britain.
In 2012 the event has attracted Team Sky with both Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish taking part, so its a great chance to see a current cycling World Champion, Tour de France winner and an Olympic gold medalist.
The 2012 Tour kicked off from Ipswich yesterday finishing at the Royal Norfolk Showground. There were a number of crashes, one of which unfortunately accounted for Mark Cavendish, but the stage saw a British winner in the form of Luke Wroe from Team Sky.
Here is what is in store over the next few days and where you can see some of the action.
The second stage today is from Nottingham to Knowsley Safari Park in Merseyside passing through Cheshire’s Peak District. So it will be taking in some wonderful British countryside and the Safari Park finishes promises some great excitement.
The third stage heads to Scotland, moving from Jedburgh to Dumfries and taking in Scotland’s stunning landscapes which provide the perfect backdrop to Britain’s biggest race and an undulating stage route.
Stage four is the half way point of the Tour of Britain and takes place in the North West of England from Carlisle and Penrith to Blackpool Promenade.
It is certainly an exciting few days in store, if you go along make sure you take some great pictures and how about posting some here or on our Facebook page.
What a wonderful sporting summer it has been in the UK, we have been truly spoilt with sporting excitement, drama and moments to fill you with pride.
The London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics have been simply AWESOME. Not only for the outstanding performances, but for the Gamesmakers, the organisers, the crowds and the general buzz across the UK. We are hugely proud to be British and, as Lord Sebastian Coe said, London 2012 was ‘Made in Britain’.
Last night’s closing ceremony of the Paralympics was, as we have come to expect now, a polished entertaining spectacle that perfectly captured the mood and a firework ending that was jaw-dropping.
Sadly though the Closing Ceremony not only saw the end of the Paralympic Games but also the end of this wonderful summer of sport and I for one feel just a little deflated and sad this morning. Britain being the centre of the World’s attention is something we have got to quite like!
However there is one last chance to look back and celebrate this wonderful summer of sports with all our sporting heroes in Team GB at today’s London Team GB Victory Parade. Its starts at the Mansion House in central London from 1.30pm.
The parade of 21 floats will pass St Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square, where there’ll be a big screen at the base of Nelson’s Column along with live commentary. Each float will carry around 40 athletes arranged by sport. The parade is expected to take up to 13 minutes to pass any given point.
If you are going we would love to see some pictures.
The skies are blue, the sun is out, and so we are all set for a lovely September weekend, so what are your plans for the weekend? Going anywhere, doing something or just chilling at home?
This is one of the last big weekends of country and county shows in the UK and Ireland so it’s one of your last chances to get out and enjoy a fun family day out. Here are some to check out:
In addition, many of the lovely British and Irish Gardens are still open to the public so if you want to see the last of the summer planting before Autumn sets in and changes the colours and views make a bee line to them this weekend.
If you are going to be stuck at home this weekend then there are some major sporting events taking place this weekend. The Spanish Grand Prix qualifying is on Saturday and the race is on Sunday as well as the US Open Tennis with Andy Murray in the semi-finals on Saturday.
And, of course, the wonderful London 2012 Paralympics draw to a close with the final competitions over the weekend and the closing ceremony on Sunday night.
As we are going to have to tackle our overgrown garden this weekend due to a summer of neglect, the Paralympics will be featuring high on our activities this weekend.
So what are you doing, what else should be on our list?
If you are looking for a bit of fun this coming weekend then watching a lot of people throwing themselves off a pier might be just the thing!
On Saturday the 18th and Sunday the 19th you can witness the latest attempts of man to fly with wings and other dubious devices in Worthing, West Sussex at the annual International Birdman Rally. There are prizes for the furthest distances managed but of course for most its for pride and fun.
Flying starts at 12.15am on the Saturday and will be for the serious flyers only.
On Sunday flying also starts at 12.15pm and will be for the fun flyers and serious flyers.
There is also a full program of events and entertainment on the day on the stage until 3.30pm Saturday and 4.30 Sunday subject to weather. Entertainment includes Jet-Ski displays by the Xtreme Action display team, entertainment, local singers, Bands and more.
Saturday at approx 1.50pm there will be the family movie ‘Toy Story’ on the big screen on the beach by the Lido.
NCP are also offering a special Birdman rate of £5 for all day parking in the High Street, Buckingham Road and Grafton Car parks on Saturday 13th August. You must park after 10am to qualify for the deal. Please contact NCP for further details and full terms and conditions. On Sunday NCP Multi-storey are £1 an hour, with a max £3 charge. Civic Centre carpark is free. All on street parking is free but vehicles must be parked in an appropriate bay.
The best place to view the event will be on the beach between the Pier and the Lido, please do not sit below the taped water line or under the Pier or Lido as these areas will be submerged during the event.
There is limited disabled viewing for wheelchairs on the Lido please speak to steward for access.
Find Cottage Holidays 