Bucklebury Farm Park, Bucklebury, Berkshire

This is a fantastic farm park that a friend recommended we visit. We had never heard of or seen the place advertised before considering its not far from us.

It wasn't too hard to find, there were no brown signs until you are on-top of the farm but Bucklebury is well signposted. There is a large car park and nice walk to the entrance, passing a stream, chickens and sheep along the way. The indoor areas all looked new with benches for packed lunches, and a play area at the end. Next door was a lovely new cafe and new (but basic) toilets beside that.

slides and soft play

 Outdoor hand washing facilities were really good, and we liked the pictures of how to wash your hands properly on the indoor toilet, would like to see them outside too. Lots of antibacterial stops provided along the way too.

We picked up a couple of bags of animal feed, and headed straight to the petting area. We returned a few times to check up on crunchie and badger, charlottes favourite hamster and rabbit during the day as they were so lovely. There was a really helpful member of staff on hand to assist and answer any questions.

Crunchie

Staff also warned us to look out for the escaping goat. We did a wonderful circular walk taking in most of the animals and giving them all a feed. Donkeys, deer, pigs, sheep, goats, alpacas, ponys, wild boar, guinea pig, rabbits and llamas. There were so many to see. We did find the escaped goat too - approach with caution!

goats and reindeer

 There was a woodland adventure area with dens and an agility course, an outdoor play area, inflatable pillow, trikes, go carts (readitdaddy and I didn't really race each other like 10 year olds!) and a zip wire.

outdoor play area

 There were 2 nature walks with markers pointing out interesting facts about the age of the trees, types of trees or the animals or birds who might feed in that area. There was an excellent look out (if slightly scary to climb) on one walk with a view across the valley and the deer.

nature walk

 The tractor ride was excellent, going out to feed the deer and the staff again were excellent and really knowledgable, happy to answer any questions. Charlotte got the chance to help collect eggs from the chicken shed, and again the staff were really great.

up close to Big Ron on the tractor ride

 We had lunch in the cafe, which was wonderfully warm on a cold wet day. The food was really nice some really yummy bread with my soup. But I did find woody/stalky type bits in my soup, I brought this up with the lady clearing the tables and she said I'll be back... but didn't return! The cakes were excellent though which compensated a bit.

feeding sunny the deer

We had such an excellent day and were there for hours, we will definitely be going back. Even the cold wet November weather couldn't dampen what a great day we had. 

Basildon Park, Lower Basildon, Berkshire

The National Trust have a free open weekend most years I think. This year we took up the offer and went to Basildon Park. We have passed it so many times on our way to Beale Park (almost right across the road) that curiosity finally got the better of us to go take a peek over the wall.

What an excellent day it was, and how well timed with the gorgeous sunshine. We took a lovely stroll around the gardens, we sat and made daisy chains whilst looking across the valley with the river below.

We ducked in out of little mazes and willow hides watching people playing games in the grounds. Wandered round the rose garden and pretended to be statues. We then came across the 1950's laundry. What fun, looking at mangles, old irons, twin tubs and smelling carbolic soap, phew stinky.

Before going round the house we headed for the tea room. As is National Trust style (akin to WI standards I'm sure) the service and food were excellent with some wonderful cake.

We then stood on the grand balcony pretending to do royal waves to our minions (sorry fellow NT visitors) below and then ducked into a tour of the house.

Big apologies here, I didn't take any photos in the house as I completely forgot, more reason to go visit yourself!

Its not a guided tour, you are free to wonder between the rooms, there is a guide in each room who can explain things in detail and they were very friendly, open and knowledgeable.  They were happy to explain things to children and adults and give the children a little challenge to spot something or guess what an item was used for. There are also factual sheets in each room where were very well laid out, larger boxes if you have the time to read everything and smaller boxes with snippets and photos with quick detail explaining key points in the room.

Very little in the rooms are "of limits", you can touch things, play on the piano, with just the odd rope to guide your way. Lady Iliffe wanted it left as a family home and this is how it feels. Family photos on the side, old magazines scattered about. I think everyone's favourite room is the shell room. just WOW. Shells everywhere and even more in the tucked away drawers. Some are laid out for you to touch and listen to the sea in. Some set on a low table so the children can listen. The second excellent room was the 1950's kitchen, with a tray of old utensils that I remember playing with at grandparents houses. I think we had just sadly missed the drop scones being baked... a few crumbs were left.

18th century kitchen being restored

The house has been used in a few films us as Pride and Prejudice (2005) and The Wedding Video (2012), we pretended to swirl around the Garden Room like we were in a film surrounded by the most amazing Zuber wallpaper.
To keep children entertained when going round the house, there are changing eye-spy items around, when we went it was playing cards and vol au vents, and people playing bridge.

We then went back outside to enjoy the sunshine and have an ice cream. There are some lovely walks in the grounds to enjoy, but we were enjoying the sun shine a little too much to up and move for a walk. We will be back to do that soon.

After a visit to the gift shop we decided that we had such a great day we joined the National Trust. We really want to return again (marble run this summer sounds excellent fun), and also want to go off and visit a few other places. When considering the idea of joining for a year we then compared it to a trip to Legoland. One day at Legoland is around the same price as a years membership to the NT.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/basildon-park/

Legoland, Windsor

We love Legoland so much that we seem to return every year, and this year Charlotte was now tall enough to go on the big rides. Mummy doesn't do rides very well but Daddy happily obliged on all those I couldn't stomach. We loved them all, the big ones, the scary ones, the more sedate ones, something for every age. I think our family favourite ride is Atlantis, the submarine ride. This is excellent but over so quickly... I wish it was longer. The fish ponds at the end for the kids to feel the sea urchins and crabs were excellent. We got really soaked on Pirates Fall which was Mummy's favourite, Daddy's favourite ride is The Dragon roller-coaster and Charlotte's was the L-driving school. At 4 she is still 2 years off the bigger driving school, and I can't wait for her to be old enough for that. When my brother and I were younger we went to Legoland Denmark and I still remember the driving school there, and I've kept my driving licence.
New for 2012 was the amazing looking Legoland hotel, living only an hour away we had no reason to stay but I would have loved to sneak in and look around. Also new was the Star Wars miniland experience, or geek central for Daddy! Mummy doesn't do star wars but Daddy and Charlotte said it was excellent.
The weather was a bit unpredictable the day we went, but thankfully we managed to time it so when it rained we could dive into the theatre for a 4D experience. This was the first time we have done this and it was excellent, so well done conveying all the emotion with no words just expression and with the added 4D extras.
We had reviewed Legloand last year, but its just so much fun that I thought I would do another update.
http://www.legoland.co.uk/

Windsor Castle, Windsor

After our successful trip to Buckingham Palace we thought we would visit Windsor Castle. The first Saturday of each month they have children's activities, and also in December they have 2 state rooms set up with a Christmas theme display.

On approach we noticed the Royal Standard was flying, we tried to do Queen and corgi spotting. We were told by some very helpful guides that a good place to spot her was from the Crimson Drawing Room as this overlooks the queens garden but alas she wasn't there.

We collected our excellent audio guides, with a children's version for Charlotte to listen to, to take us round. The audio guides are really good with so much information, Charlotte really does listen to it as she asks us to find the things they are talking about. After passing the jubilee gardens and up to Edward IV tower where you get a wonderful view across the Upper Ward and quadrangle, this is where important visitors are greeted.

Heading towards the Henry III tower was the moat education room where Charlotte got to do some colouring and look at some pictures.

We headed to the State Apartments, and passed Queen Mary's Dolls house, which was fascinating with so much detail to it, also on display were dolls dresses which were so wonderfully made. The state rooms were quite different to Buckingham Palace, being a castle there was a lot of armour and swords on display. The fire in 1992 was covered quite a bit as you walk through the rooms that were destroyed. The difference in the old and new is obvious but the rooms are still to such high stadard and in keeping with the rest of the castle. The room containing all the Shields for the Knights of the Royal Garter was stunning.
We had lunch in the Undercroft Cafe, it was a little pricey but the food was wonderful.

We then went to St. Georges Chapel, where we got to sit in the inner chapel and look again at the shields and crowns for each of the Knights of the Royal Garter. We noticed coffins and shrines for most of the previous kings and queens, the most opulent was for Queen Victoria's children and grandchildren.
We had a really good few hours going round Windsor Castle, and even readitdaddy left having enjoyed it more than he expected.

Legoland, Windsor

We had been promising Charlotte a trip to Legoland for some time. She was so excited she almost burst on the way there with excitement.
Outside there were staff giving out sword balloons which keeps little ones entertained while you are standing in shock at the admission prices.

We headed for duplo land first via a couple of rides on the way, the puppet show at duplo land is always good to watch. Completely forgot that there is a water play area and we had forgotten costumes and towels, seems everyone else had forgotten this too.
Charlotte is just under that magic 1m height for the bigger rides so there were a few things we couldn't go on, but everything else she loved. We came off one ride to go rush straight onto another, and sometimes go on it twice. The new ride this year was Atlantis, an underwater adventure and it was excellent, but seemed to be over all to quickly.

We love the parent rivalry at the fire academy, racing your fire engine to the burning house to put the fire out and then back again.
The best bit for Charlotte was getting her driving licence at the L-drivers school, this is a mini-version of the driving school for 3-5 year olds. She loved it and was so pleased with herself.

The bit we enjoyed as a family was the pirates of skeleton bay stunt show. Real goodie badie show with all the boos, hisses and hes behind you bits with some excellent stunts.
The mini-land I thought was starting to look a bit tired, as legoland opened in 1996 I'm assuming some if it is original so I'm not surprised. But some bits do get updated, Charlotte easily spotted Will and Kate on the balcony of Buckingham Place.
We took our own food, so can't comment on the quality of food or prices. Being out of season quite a few of the food places were closed down.
Everywhere is pushchair accessible, with bays to leave pushchairs if you are going on the ride. All the toilets were clean with nice low basins for the kids and large cubicles.
As I said earlier we did go out of season, on a week day so queues were almost non-existent. This was a real bonus. Even with not having to queue we only just managed to do everything in a day. Legoland have realised this and next year the Legoland Hotel is opening. We saw it being built and it looks great.
Charlotte enjoyed the day so much, and keeps on asking to go again. But the admission price is shocking, considering she is too little to go on some of the rides but still has to pay child price and now you have to pay to park. Being end of season things were looking tired and some bits weren't working on the fairy tale brook, but we all left with a big smile on our face and slept very well that night from all the walking.

BBOWT family days out

At Easter time we went to a BBOWT family day at Sutton Courtenay Environmental Education Center and loved it, was a really great day. With the summer holidays BBOWT have quite a few things in their diary for family days out at different locations in Berks, Bucks and Oxon, take a look at their website

Beale Park, Lower Basildon, Reading

My parents used to take me and my brother to Beale Park when we were little, and its starting to become a favourite of Charlotte's too. She can now easily navigate us back to the little tike's play area if we get too far away from it!!!

Beale Park is a mixture of things, it has animals, play areas, swimming pool, paddling pool, ponds, sand pit, model boat shows, gardens, train ride, statues and a small model museum/pavilion. The thing my brother and I remember the most is the frogs, those being giant frogs you can climb on and are part of a water feature.
The play areas are excellent, with different areas for different ages, and an indoor area for when its wet (suitable for under 5's only). If your going in the sand pit you may want to take along a bucket and spade as none are provided. The paddling pool I looks excellent but cold, Charlotte didn't want to come out even though she was shivering, I wasn't brave enough to dip my toe in to see how cold.
There are bird encloses you can go inside, quite a few owls, farm animals, a recent edition is the new meerkat and mongoose area with good viewing platforms. The animals areas are really well spaced out with gardens around, there is a wild flower meadow near the deer and capybara in another garden.
There is a cafe, but most people seem to take their own picnics as there are plenty of spots to sit and eat. We did eat in the cafe, and though the food was ok it wasn't inspiring (we had veggie burger and chips as only meat sandwiches left, portions were very large with a fresh side salad) and maybe next time we will think ahead and take something to eat.
Beale Park is flat and easy to navigate with pushchairs, there are high chairs in the cafe (take an anti-bac wipe to clean it though!) and baby changing facilities.
All in all a good day out with something for everyone, find out more on their website

The Living Rainforest, Newbury

If you have been to the Eden Project in Cornwall and loved it you may initially be slightly disappointed at The Living Rainforest but don't be put off. Eden Project is on a huge scale and The Living Rainforest is a lot smaller and more personal.
The Living Rainforest is a good place to go on cold or miserable days, its warm inside the 2 large greenhouses and there is a nice cafe adjoining it with a play park for letting off steam. The best time to visit would probably be the summer though, with the butterflies, waterlilies and flowers in full bloom but on hot days could get too warm for some.

There's lots to keep little ones amused, scuttling from one area to the next. A pond to look in, some monkeys, snakes, birds flying around (and more but won't spoil it for you). Fact sheets and to do sheets are provided suitable to the child's age. Another bonus is pay once and you get free admission for the year so go back as many times as you like. All areas are pushchair friendly too so suitable for younger and older children.
Visit their website for more information  http://www.livingrainforest.org/