by ·Comments Off on Holidaying in the Frozen North

Just a month before Christmas and Britain can be drizzly, dreary and dull.  Not to mention battling the crowds of shoppers hoping to bag a bargain, queuing for a precious parking spot, getting tied up in sticky tape and string, making endless batches of mince pies and sausage rolls….

So, a well-earned break, away from it all, might seem very attractive. How about flying to either Stockholm or Helsinki and then catching a connecting flight up to the frozen wastes of Lapland within the confines of the Arctic Circle?

It may be cold with temperatures below freezing and snow piled all around but the air is fresh and the light is bright under cloudless, chilly blue skies.  Stay in a romantic log cabin and relax in the evenings in front of a roaring log fire or book a night or two into an ice hotel for a totally unique experience.  For those who are full of energy and prefer activity holidays to rest and relaxation, then  hire skis and try cross country skiing, have a go at dog sledding or simply hike amongst the snow covered hills and mountains, stopping for a hot chocolate and a pastry in a picturesque village cafe.

If you are travelling with young children, then you must look into a trip to Santa’s grotto and visit his reindeer on a reindeer farm! Tourists to Lapland who visit during December to March may also be lucky enough to experience the beauty of the Northern Lights.

by ·Comments Off on A recommended day out to Warwick Castle

October half-term may only be a week, but for some parents it can feel like a very long week if the weather is cold and wet and the children are bored and fractious.

For a special treat, why not visit the very imposing Warwick Castle in Warwickshire.  During half-term week, the Castle has organised special activities and spooky events for Hallowe’en and is open until 9pm at night.

For those who can’t stay that late, there is still plenty to see and do at the castle.  For the energetic, there are 500 steps to climb if you want to explore the towers and walk along the ramparts.  Have your children peering through the arrow slits and imagine firing arrows onto an enemy below.  Look across to the the huge trebuchet on the other side of the river and admire the views over the city of Warwick and the surrounding countryside.

There are interesting rooms to discover where children can learn about life in the castle and its history.  Feel how heavy the chain mail is to wear and giggle at the medieval toilet which overhangs the dry moat.  Imagine wearing heavy armour or sleeping in a four poster bed.

Included in the admission price is the Bowman Show where children can admire the skill and accuracy of using a bow and arrow. You can also take in the Birds of Prey Display and admire and wonder at the eagles and vultures which are allowed to fly majestically around the castle ramparts whilst you and your children enjoy a picnic on the grass nearby.

by ·Comments Off on Exploring Cambridge

If you like city breaks, then you won’t go far wrong with a short stay in the beautiful university city of Cambridge.  It’s easily accessible with good motorway links from the M11 and rail services from London, King’s Cross and Birmingham.

There’s something for everyone in Cambridge.  The commercial centre has a great selection of shops, small arcades and interesting narrow alleys including plenty of small independent shops and cafes. You can wander around some of the university colleges, some of which are open to the public.  Have a peep inside King’s College Chapel or take a picnic and sit out on the picturesque “backs”, next to the river Cam, looking towards the rear of several colleges including Clare College and King’s College.  If you are feeling energetic, you could try punting on the river or hire a bike and tour the city on two wheels.

Cambridge is home to several galleries and museums. The Fitzwilliam Museum on Trumpington Street holds world class collections of art and antiquities, some dating back to ancient Egypt and Roman times. For theatre lovers, there is often a choice of performances from student theatre to touring theatre and West End shows.

by ·Comments Off on A weekend away in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

If you are looking for a short break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, then pay a visit to medieval Tewkesbury.  Situated roughly halfway between Bristol and Birmingham, it has easy access from the M5 motorway.

Located on the confluence of the Rivers Severn and Avon, it is easy to understand how it developed as an important trading centre and market town for the local area.  The population of Tewkesbury is relatively small – just over 10,000 – but the town centre is full of high street shops, independent retailers, welcoming cafes and quaint antique shops.  Many of the high street shops still retain their original half-timbered Tudor frontages and wooden framed windows.  Explore the many tiny, narrow alleys with their strange medieval names or watch the world pass by from one of the many tea rooms.

Imposing Tewkesbury Abbey, just to the south of the main shopping area, is well worth visiting and is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the country.  Tewkesbury Museum has exhibits of local life and the John Moore Museum, housed in a row of half-timbered cottages, explores the local countryside and natural history.

Once you are tired of shopping and sight seeing, then a picnic by the river or a boat trip along the Severn is highly recommended for rest and relaxation.

by ·Comments Off on A Butlins Holiday

Butlins is a holiday package provider, which targets families with young children specifically. This means that a lot of the services on offer in one of their packages will be stuff that your children will enjoy. It doesn’t mean that there won’t be things for the parents to enjoy either though. They try their best to ensure that the entertainment value from their holidays remains high for everybody on holiday with them, even if you aren’t the children that they target. It also means that you can be sure that they will have the necessary resources there in order to care for your child for part of the day, so that adults accompanying them get some time to enjoy some quiet relaxation and privacy.

A Butlins holiday is also an ideal way for you to make the most of a short getaway, with resorts located throughout the UK, you can get there and come back with relative ease.