• The Board House Crewkerne
    Somerset

    The Board House Crewkerne

    September 5, 2024 - By 

    Continuing our attempt to visit as many board game cafes and play new games we recently visited The Board House in Crewkerne. Although we have quite a collection of board games at home, we also enjoy trying new ones. Board game cafes are a great place to try new games out. We booked in advance as we knew half term would be busy. On our table was handy booklet featuring some suggestions of games for families. We own Ticket to Ride and Carcassonne so thought we would try Santorini. Santorini is a strategy-based board game where you use different shaped…

  • A visit to the New Assembly Rooms Bath
    Somerset

    A visit to the New Assembly Rooms Bath

    February 24, 2024 - By 

    If you have a few days in Bath I would recommend a visit to the Assembly Rooms in Bath. They are owned and managed by the National Trust and you can visit by pre-booked tour only. These are known as the New Assembly Rooms as they were actually the third set to be built in Georgian Bath. Designed by John Wood the Younger and opened around 1771. A visit to the New Assembly Rooms Bath With a few days to spend exploring the pretty city of Bath we decided to use our National Trust membership card and book a guided…

  • Thirsty Meeples Bath {Board Game Cafe review}
    Somerset

    Thirsty Meeples Bath {Board Game Cafe review}

    February 15, 2024 - By 

    With the kids on half term we decided to have a short city break in Bath. We love Bath and have been lucky to visit many times. It is the perfect size for a short city break and has lots to offer families. We booked a fantastic apartment in a Georgian terrace just off the famous Royal Crescent within easy walking distance of the centre of Bath. Thirsty Meeples Bath {Board Game Cafe review} We love a visit to a Board Game Cafe as we love to play board games. I searched for Board Game Cafes in Bath and found…

  • Exploring Montacute House with kids
    National Trust - Somerset

    Exploring Montacute House with kids

    July 21, 2023 - By 

    It seems a while since I shared one of our family days out here. Looking through my photos shows that we’ve had some great days out and I don’t always get round to writing about them. During the half term holidays we were able to explore beautiful Montacute House in Somerset with the kids (and dog). Exploring Montacute House with kids We are lucky to have life time membership of the National Trust and it means we have some lovely days out exploring historic places around the UK. Montacute House is a stunning example of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture and design,…

  • A day out at Barrington Court Somerset
    Family Life - National Trust - Somerset

    A day out at Barrington Court Somerset

    January 16, 2018 - By 

    Between Christmas and New Year we travelled a lot of miles to see family and friends. We had to plan places to stop to break up the journey and picked Barrington Court in Somerset. It’s owned by the National Trust so was free for us as we are members. A day out at Barrington Court Somerset Barrington Court has the honour of being the first house acquired by the National Trust, in 1907. It’s a beautiful Tudor manor house begun around 1538 and completed in the late 1550s, with a vernacular stable court (dated 1675). It was almost derelict when it was acquired by…

  • Visiting a pumpkin patch in Somerset
    Autumn - days out - parenting - Somerset

    Where to pick your own pumpkins in Somerset {Farrington’s Farm Shop}

    October 22, 2017 - By 

    Top of my Autumn wishlist was to visit a pumpkin patch. I researched all the pumpkin patches in London but we actually ended up visiting one in Somerset whilst we visited family in Somerset. I love a good farm shop and Farrington’s Farm Shop in Farrington Gurney, between Bath and Bristol. As well as the Farm Shop there’s also a cafe, playbarn and all kinds of little shops. Spookley Pumpkin Festival Spookley Pumpkin Festival runs in late October and supports national anti-bullying week. Spookley tells the story of a square pumpkin who lives in a pumpkin patch with a crop of…

  • Somerset Lavender
    days out - holidays - parenting - Somerset

    Somerset Lavender {kids in lavender fields]

    August 13, 2017 - By 

    So today we finally made it to a lavender field. I’ve really wanted to go to the one at Hitchin but so far we haven’t made it. We’re visiting my mum for a few days so decided to visit Somerset Lavender. Lately my Instagram feed has been full of happy children standing in lavender. I was wondering what my children would think. I love lavender. We grow it and use it at home (lavender play dough anyone?) and a few years ago we visited Isle of Wight Lavender and stocked up on lavender products. I’ve also baked lavender shortbread which you…

  • An Easter Egg Hunt at Lytes Cary Manor
    days out - Local Review - Somerset

    An Easter Egg Hunt at Lytes Cary Manor

    April 17, 2017 - By 

    We’re really keen to use our National Trust membership more this year. Whilst we spent a few days in Wiltshire over the Easter holidays we were able to visit a couple of properties which had been on our wish list for a while. The first was Lytes Cary Manor in Somerset. Lytes Cary Manor Lytes Cary Manor is an intimate medieval manor house with a beautiful Arts and Crafts garden. Originally the family home of Henry Lyte, where he translated the unique Niewe Herball book on herbal remedies, Lytes Cary was then lovingly restored in the 20th century by Sir Walter Jenner. The garden…

  • The Haynes International Motor Museum
    days out - Local Review - parenting - Somerset

    Haynes International Motor Museum {day out with kids}

    April 15, 2017 - By 

    We visit Wiltshire quite a few times a year as my mum lives there. It can be difficult to find time for days out but over the last few years we’ve visited Westbury Manor as well as Bratton Camp and the Westbury White Horse. Today we visited the Haynes International Motor Museum with the children (aged 5 and 7). It’s based in Sparkford, near Yeovil in Somerset, and we’ve driven past a few times, always meaning to stop. If you’re looking for something to do with children on the Somerset/Wiltshire border then this makes a great day out. Haynes International Motor Museum…