• Operation Ouch! Live on Stage review
    days out - London

    Operation Ouch! Live on Stage {Not for the Squeamish}

    December 5, 2021 - By 

    This morning we took a trip into London as we were gifted tickets to Operation Ouch! Live on Stage – Not for the Squeamish, written by TV’s favourite doctors, Dr Chris and Dr Xand, which has opened at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End. The strictly limited season must end on 16th January 2022. Operation Ouch! Live on Stage review Following three sell-out Australian tours, and a smash hit season in London’s West End Dr Chris and Dr Xand are back! Their show is packed with all-new crazy experiments and amazing facts. They explore the fascinating world of biology…

  • wild flower field ickenham
    days out - Family Life - Hillingdon

    Wild flower meadow Ickenham

    July 4, 2021 - By 

    I was really keen to re-visit the wild flower meadows we discovered in Ickenham last year. I had a few comments about it on my Instagram and wanted to pop over to see if the same fields had been left as wild flower meadows. We’re lucky to have lots of open green spaces in Hillingdon and we all love to see the wild flower verges which have been sown. This year there were red and pink poppies which are now over, but the verges are still full of colourful wild flowers and cow parsley. Wild flower meadow Ickenham Our little…

  • Exploring The Gravel Pits, Northwood
    Family Life - Hillingdon

    Exploring The Gravel Pits, Northwood

    June 27, 2021 - By 

    After 7 years we are still discovering new places on our doorstep. This weekend we explored an area known as The Gravel Pits in Northwood. Exploring The Gravel Pits, Northwood Unsurprisingly the area got its name as gravel was extracted during the time gravel was used for road surfaces. By the late 1890’s the gravel pits at Northwood were described as “worked out” and no more gravel could be extracted. Fortunately this small area remained unbuilt on and became a public amenity for the people of Northwood to enjoy. The woods are dominated by sycamore, ash and common hawthorn, interspersed…

  • exploring Sutton Hoo with kids
    Family Life - Suffolk

    Exploring Sutton Hoo with kids

    June 10, 2021 - By 

    Earlier this year my daughter was studying the Anglo Saxons during that loooong period of home learning. She learned all about Sutton Hoo and we thought it would be fun to visit the site when travel restrictions eased. So last week we found ourselves in the pretty village of Southwold for a week, with tickets to Sutton Hoo. Exploring Sutton Hoo with kids The Sutton Hoo site is managed by the National Trust and comprises of Tranmer House, the Royal Burial Ground and the High Hall exhibition. Due to current restrictions we had to pre-book our tickets due to restricted…

  • Rendlesham Forest and the UFO trail
    Family Life - Suffolk

    Rendlesham Forest and the UFO trail

    June 5, 2021 - By 

    With a week based in Southwold, Sussex, my husband wanted to spend some time exploring Rendlesham Forest and the UFO trail. Who isn’t fascinated by conspiracy theories and the idea of UFO’s landing in a remote forest right next to an RAF base in 1980’s Britain? It turns out we weren’t the only ones with an interest in the little green men and Forestry England had a handy trail through Rendlesham Forest for those who wanted to find the sites. Exploring Rendlesham Forest It was established during the First World War when Britain had increasing demand for timber and is…

  • Exploring Chenies Manor and Gardens
    Buckinghamshire - Family Life

    Exploring Chenies Manor and Gardens

    May 21, 2021 - By 

    A few weeks ago we managed to book tickets to visit Chenies Manor and Gardens in Buckinghamshire. This was a place we had wanted to visit for a while, so booked tickets for their special open gardens. Chenies Manor is a gorgeous Grade 1 Tudor mansion house with lovely gardens. Exploring Chenies Manor and Gardens We pre-booked our tickets and drove the short distance to Chenies in Buckinghamshire. The village of Chenies is very picturesque and you drive right past the front of the house to get to the car park. The House is currently closed but we were able…

  • Harefield Church and Commonwealth War Graves
    Family Life - Hillingdon

    Harefield Church and Commonwealth War Graves

    May 2, 2021 - By 

    A few weeks ago we re-visited St Mary’s Church in Harefield which has Commonwealth War Graves in the cemetery. The church is on the outskirts of Harefield and a lovely place for a walk. St Mary’s Church, Harefield St Mary the Virgin is the parish church for Harefield and the oldest building in Harefield. Mentioned in the Domesday Book it has some notable monuments, such as the 17th century tomb of Alice Stanley, Dowager Countess of Derby. She lived nearby at Harefield Place (demolished in 1813). When we visited the snowdrops were out in the older parts of the graveyard.…

  • A trip to Bekonscot Model Village and Railway
    Buckinghamshire - Family Life

    A trip to Bekonscot Model Village and Railway

    April 16, 2021 - By 

    We are so excited to be able to plan family days out again. We have missed our days out and although we have been out every day, the walks began to get slightly boring. Even with our little pup adventure walks and bikes and scooters, it has been hard keeping the kids entertained. So what did we book for our first day out since places re-opened? We booked a slot at Bekonscot Model Village and Railway which is just 20 minutes away. It’s a place we visited when the kids were younger and we wanted to visit again before they…

  • Oxhey Activity Park
    Family Life - Hertfordshire

    Exploring Oxhey Activity Park

    April 7, 2021 - By 

    Our local area has some amazing places which we have been lucky to explore over the past year. We have the best of both worlds, being on the outskirts of London with easy access to central London as well as the surrounding countryside. I’ve shared some of our outdoor escapes and today I wanted to tell you about Oxhey Activity Park because if you have children they will want to go there! Exploring Oxhey Activity Park Oxhey Activity Park has only recently opened between a re-developed strip of land at the bottom of Oxhey Park towards the River Colne. We’ve…