Things to do with children in southeast England

[alchemist]

Greetings, English people!

The alchemist family will be spending their holidays in your fine country this summer, as they're going to the Olympics. That will take up only one day, though, so we're looking for some other activities. The Natural History Museum and Legoland are likely destinations.

1) Can you recommend any others, preferably outside the bustle of the capital? We have three young boys who like boy things, like cars, planes and trains.

2) Our Olympic Park and Ride is based in the Lakeside Shopping Centre. We may stay with friends in Wokingham. Would it be madness to navigate half a circuit of the M25 in order to get to the P'n'R by 10.30am on a Tuesday?

3) Assuming the answer to 2) is "Yes, that's madness", we are looking for accomodation on the correct side of the city, i.e. Essex. I often see ads on the TV for some Fantasy/GRRM programme set in Essex, with an orange coloured race who speak in high-pitched tones. This hasn't put me off, but can anyone recommend family-friendly accomodation in Essex? I've done some searching but personal experience is always better. We have a car, so anything suitable in a 50 mile radius would do.

Any suggestions will be very welcome

[mosaix]

Alchemist, did you try Bletchley park? Science Museum always good for kids as well.

[Vladd67]

Bletchley might be a bit of a trek from Essex, try this site for ideas closer to where ever you end up staying
http://www.visitessex.com/

[StormFeather]

Hi Alc,

my stomping ground is Tonbridge, West Kent, which is probably too far out to where you want to be, although transport links are relatively good, and there are various activities in the area, both near and far, that your boys might enjoy.

How old are your boys, and I'll be able to better suggest stuff that might be of interest.

As to #2 - Utter madness! the M25 is a carpark at the best of times, and even from here, where getting from the A21 to the M25 is easy, and should be relatively clear until Junction 3, after that in busy times you can be stuck for well over an hour to get to the tolls for the tunnel (and I can imagine that such busy times will be when people are arriving for P'n'R services as well as the rush hour) It's another reason for thinking that this part of the world, although good for much other stuff, is going to be a nightmare for you in this regard.

Unfortunately I can't recommend anywhere in the land of the orange people! I rarely even venture to the shops at Thurrock - mostly we're trying to get through Essex as fast as we can on the M25 on our way somewhere else!

So, in actual fact I'm probably not much help at all really!

But if Kent ends up taking your fancy then maybe I can be of more use!

Good luck!

(Oh, and if you go to the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum is just around the corner, and if you book their Explorer ticket you get to do some really cool stuff - like the Red arrows thing - which the boys will absolutely love! I can also recommend a good Italian restaurant in the area where we ate on Monday - tiny, but good food at non-museum prices and the service, especially in regards to the kids, was really good)

[alchemist]

Originally Posted by mosaix

Alchemist, did you try Bletchley park? Science Museum always good for kids as well.

(so that's where Milton Keynes is)
Thanks mosaix. Bletchley is a possibility - anything with vehicles is. Don't think the kids will be on for the codebreaking though

Originally Posted by Vladd67

Bletchley might be a bit of a trek from Essex, try this site for ideas closer to where ever you end up staying
http://www.visitessex.com/

They make it look so nice! Some beds available still...

Originally Posted by StormFeather

Hi Alc,

my stomping ground is Tonbridge, West Kent, which is probably too far out to where you want to be, although transport links are relatively good, and there are various activities in the area, both near and far, that your boys might enjoy.

How old are your boys, and I'll be able to better suggest stuff that might be of interest.

As to #2 - Utter madness! the M25 is a carpark at the best of times, and even from here, where getting from the A21 to the M25 is easy, and should be relatively clear until Junction 3, after that in busy times you can be stuck for well over an hour to get to the tolls for the tunnel (and I can imagine that such busy times will be when people are arriving for P'n'R services as well as the rush hour) It's another reason for thinking that this part of the world, although good for much other stuff, is going to be a nightmare for you in this regard.

Unfortunately I can't recommend anywhere in the land of the orange people! I rarely even venture to the shops at Thurrock - mostly we're trying to get through Essex as fast as we can on the M25 on our way somewhere else!

So, in actual fact I'm probably not much help at all really!

But if Kent ends up taking your fancy then maybe I can be of more use!

Good luck!

(Oh, and if you go to the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum is just around the corner, and if you book their Explorer ticket you get to do some really cool stuff - like the Red arrows thing - which the boys will absolutely love! I can also recommend a good Italian restaurant in the area where we ate on Monday - tiny, but good food at non-museum prices and the service, especially in regards to the kids, was really good)

The boys are 8, 6, and 3.

Wouldn't Kent give me the same problem, having to get across the river? It may be good as a base post-Olympics, though, so suggestions for there would be good too.

Thanks for the advice, all.

[StormFeather]

Originally Posted by alchemist

The boys are 8, 6, and 3.

Wouldn't Kent give me the same problem, having to get across the river? It may be good as a base post-Olympics, though, so suggestions for there would be good too.

Thanks for the advice, all.

For your P'n'R I would advise finding somewhere north of the river, out in Essex. Certainly I wouldn't want to drive from here!

As to the things you might like to do, this site might be more useful to you than I am! It's got most of the attractions in the area and you can get a better idea of what might suit you:

http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/s...hp?county=kent

Let me know if you're heading this way!

[Dave]

There is plenty to do in Central London, but I think you are correct that you ought to stay away from there this summer. Very strangely theatres believe they are going to be quieter this summer, but I don't know how they work this out. Once everyone has been to their Olympic event, they are all going to be looking for something to fill the rest of their stay. The road traffic and the underground may just about cope but they are going to be uncomfortable.

That is a long journey from Wokingham to Lakeside. Kent to Essex via the Dartford Crossing is usually doable, but not sure this summer. Why not stay in Kent and get the train from Ebbsfleet International directly to Stratford?

I'd normally recommend Travelodge or Premier Inns to stay, but you would need two rooms which would not be so cheap. Try a Bed & Breakfast, but book it up soon.

I can't help with things to do in Essex, but can give you South London and Kent activities if you want them.

[Dozmonic]

We moved away from Essex when I was about 14. My mum asked what the one thing I wanted to do before I left was: "Go to Colchester Zoo!" I said :-) There's also a Roman castle in Colchester that's worth a look

[alchemist]

Originally Posted by StormFeather

For your P'n'R I would advise finding somewhere north of the river, out in Essex. Certainly I wouldn't want to drive from here!

As to the things you might like to do, this site might be more useful to you than I am! It's got most of the attractions in the area and you can get a better idea of what might suit you:

http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/s...hp?county=kent

Let me know if you're heading this way!

Ooh, plenty of stuff there. Thanks for the offer; I don't know where we'll end up yet.

Originally Posted by Dave

There is plenty to do in Central London, but I think you are correct that you ought to stay away from there this summer. Very strangely theatres believe they are going to be quieter this summer, but I don't know how they work this out. Once everyone has been to their Olympic event, they are all going to be looking for something to fill the rest of their stay. The road traffic and the underground may just about cope but they are going to be uncomfortable.

That is a long journey from Wokingham to Lakeside. Kent to Essex via the Dartford Crossing is usually doable, but not sure this summer. Why not stay in Kent and get the train from Ebbsfleet International directly to Stratford?

I'd normally recommend Travelodge or Premier Inns to stay, but you would need two rooms which would not be so cheap. Try a Bed & Breakfast, but book it up soon.

I can't help with things to do in Essex, but can give you South London and Kent activities if you want them.

A crowded underground is slightly turning us away from the idea of the Natural History Museum, meaning we may end up going to the Liverpool version (seriously). As for accommodation, there are still some small hotels available with "family rooms", and I'll be booking this week, hopefully.

Originally Posted by Dozmonic

We moved away from Essex when I was about 14. My mum asked what the one thing I wanted to do before I left was: "Go to Colchester Zoo!" I said :-) There's also a Roman castle in Colchester that's worth a look

Can't argue with a castle! It might even be quieter than London.

Thanks again, everybody.

[Dave]

Central London tourist spots are actually reporting a fall in numbers during the Olympic Games. Traders in Greenwich Market are complaining that LOCOG stewards are stewarding spectators straight past their businesses and away on the trains. People have been told by Transport for London to stay away and not drive anyway near events. Taxi drivers in Newham and around the ExCel Centre say there is no business for them. Some of the Games Lanes have been opened up to all traffic.

So, forget what I said earlier. It appears most tourists are going straight to the Games and back again, while locals and day-trippers are just staying away. That means that right now might actually be the best time ever to visit London and miss the crowds (providing you can find space on the trains.)