• things to do in London in 2017
    days out - Local Review - London - parenting

    7 things to do in London in 2017

    April 18, 2017 - By 

    I can’t lie. A small part of me was glad that the children returned to school and the husband to work this morning. I really enjoyed our Easter holidays but the days were just so busy and sociable. I missed my quiet time. We’re not blessed with any family anywhere near us so it’s pretty hard to do anything as a couple. For the last 7 years we’ve been a family and I love our family days out. But occasionally we remember our child-free days of going out after work, lazy weekend lunches and the hottest tickets for the latest…

  • 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…

  • Eastcote House Gardens
    days out - Hillingdon - Local Review - London - parenting

    Eastcote House Gardens {exploring the local area}

    April 13, 2017 - By 

    We’ve now lived in our present house for 4 years. The time has gone so quickly but we’re still discovering local places. I thought it would be fun to write about some of favourite places, and record the new ones we discover too. As the weather is getting warmer we’re so excited to get out and about more. Eastcote House Gardens Eastcote House Gardens is actually one of the first places we visited when we first moved to the area. It’s a large public park, formerly the site of Eastcote House. The house was demolished in the 1960s, leaving a…

  • days out - Local Review - London - parenting

    PAW Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue comes to the UK this summer

    April 12, 2017 - By 

    If you have little ones then you’re going to want to know about PAW Patrol Live! “Race to the rescue” which has just announced the 2017 UK tour calendar. Oh yes, the UK’s favourite pups star in a heroic musical adventure coming to the UK this summer. My children adore PAW Patrol so we’re so excited to go and see our first live show! PAW Patrol Live! “Race to the Rescue” shows that “No job is too big, no pup is too small!” and shares lessons for all ages about community, social skills and problem solving as the characters each use their…

  • Stormtroopers at Star Wars Identities
    days out - Local Review - London - Star Wars crafts

    Star Wars Identities at the O2 London

    April 8, 2017 - By 

    My son received tickets to go and see Star Wars Identities at the O2 London. He’s a huge Star Wars fan, we all are, so thought it would make a great trip during the Easter holidays. We planned a day out, travelling by tube, seeing the exhibition and coming part of the way back by river boat. Yesterday we had our big day out and had a brilliant time. When we entered the exhibition we were given a wristband and audio guide. Throughout the exhibition there were 10 points where you could touch in with your wristband and choose a Star…

  • Introducing children to opera {Silver Electra by the ETO}
    days out - Local Review - London - parenting

    Introducing children to opera {Silver Electra by the ETO}

    April 5, 2017 - By 

    With our Easter holiday in full swing, today I had a real treat for my children, tickets for Silver Electra by the English Touring Opera. The performance was taking place at Wilton’s Music Hall in London, the oldest grand music hall in the world. Silver Electra by the English Touring Opera Silver Electra is a show written for children and is suitable for the whole family, reimagining the story of Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly the Atlantic. My children love watching live performances so I thought they would enjoy trying something new. The English Touring Opera is the leading…

  • Sightseeing in London with kids
    days out - London

    Sightseeing in London with kids {London Duck Tours}

    March 25, 2017 - By 

    With the weather getting warmer it is lovely to get out and about again. It doesn’t feel like we did much over the winter months, except for attend endless children’s parties. So with the warmer weather and longer days – thank you Spring! – we’ve booked plenty of activities to get outside. Today we hopped on the tube into London for the London Duck Tour. When we were in London a few weeks ago for The Art of the Brick we saw plenty of the distinctive yellow Duck Tour vehicles out and about so I was really happy we were…

  • The Art Of The Brick: DC Super Heroes in London
    days out - Lego - Local Review - London - parenting

    The Art Of The Brick: DC Super Heroes in London

    March 12, 2017 - By 

    My 5 year old absolutely adores Batman so for Christmas we gave her tickets to go and see The Art Of The Brick: DC Super Heroes, billed as the world’s largest collection of Super Heroes-inspired LEGO artwork! Created by legendary Lego artist Nathan Sawaya, this is the second large-scale exhibition of his that we’ve been to see. It’s actually been two years ago since  we saw the last one, blogged about here. This new The Art Of The Brick, sub-titled DC Super Heroes is a contemporary art exhibition using nearly 2,000,000 bricks to create large-scale sculptures of the most enduring…