60 fun things to do in London with teens
With democracy, roof gardens, theatre and vintage shopping, stars of stage and screen and fragments of actual stars in the museums – London is a treasure trove of teenage fun.
Family Travel
Spinning family travel tales about how to entertain 2 boys and to keep smiling in spite of lashing rain, lack of research and en suite facilities – at home and beyond (sometimes in) the seas.
Wales Road Trip – 7 quirky stops
A Wales road trip has a few secret rabbits under it’s hat. Yes, there are mountains, castles and sheep, but there are also Italianate villages, Victoriana sweetshops and sweeping surfing beaches.
11 unique things to do in Belfast with teenagers
From standing on the virtual hull of the world’s most famous sunken ship to hanging out in prisons and opulent Victorian gin palaces, Belfast has a unique combination of activities to capture your teen’s attention. Not to mention handling rubber bullets, signing peace walls and learning to fly.
Essential guide to a Road Trip Northern Ireland with kids
Craggy coasts, ruined castles and dark hedges await on your road trip Northern Ireland. Check out my essential guide so you don’t miss the surprising Caribbean waters and luxury spa resorts on the way.
London for kids in 2021 – 23 essential insider tips
With sparkling Lidos, parakeets in the parks and Olympic slides, London with kids is always brilliant. And the good news is it can totally be done on a budget in Covid, even in the rain. It is harder to plan than usual and you need back-ups at your finger tips Here are my top tips for how to navigate setting up an itinerary with a few lessons learned along the way.
Top 10 Best Sun Holiday Parks in South West England
The best holiday parks we have found in our decade of travels around the Sun holiday parks in South West England. This is my essential guide to the ultimate on-site activities, on-your-doorstep beach access, adventurous local attractions and favourite towns.
Essential guide for booking Caravan Holidays UK
An essential guide for what to look for in a site and a caravan, how to bag one on a budget and booking lessons learned. 2021 brings you palm trees and cocktail bars by the sea. Staycations can look more tropical than you’d imagine!
One day canal boat hire – tips on how not to sink
Ever fancied a one day canal boat hire? Here are some top tips on how not to sink one, avoiding random pivots and navigating sneaky lock sills. Life in the slow lane (with forays into the fast.)
12 fun things to do in Bristol with kids in Lockdown
Looking for top things to do in Bristol with kids in Lockdown? Can I suggest sliding over slippy rocks, giant head hunting, sledging down ski slopes and climbing over monkeys?
A-Z of affordable bucket list destinations – alphabet around the world (part 1)
Everyone has a bucket list destinations dream, but how are you going to get there before the bucket gets kicked? Travel inspiration and tips for making your dreams come true.
20 gift ideas for campers
Wondering what to buy someone who loves travel but can’t at the moment? Here are some gift ideas for campers and travellers that they can look forward to using next summer.
After a lifetime of camping, these are our most treasured finds that we no longer travel without – our essential non-essentials.
40 top tips for Veneto and Venice with kids – water and fire
Join us on our adventure to Venice with kids – flamingos, beach clubs, Murano glass tigers and chocolate box Burano houses. Marvel at the fabulously elaborate architecture and walk amongst Roman horses on the terrace of St Marks Basilica itself.
27 top tips for Legoland and Windsor with kids
Travel in time from the Stone Age at the Henge, through the Norman Conquest at Windsor Castle and into the laser shooting Ninjago Lego-ride future by way of castles real and fantastic.
Tuscany with kids – 5 great ideas for days out
Tuscany with kids – land of Narnia-like statues, buildings saved from destruction by their own beauty, comedically leaning towers, modern Roman Gladiators and pizza n ice cream for tea.
7 top tips Morocco with kids – rockin’ the Kasbah
Becoming lost in time and space in the crazy Kasbah with its waist coated monkeys, uninvited snake necklaces and abandoned donkey hooves. Embark on sunflower festooned rafts to the foot of waterfalls in the Atlas mountains and join a camel caravan, disguised as a Bedouin..
10 top tips for Jamaica with kids – a Caribbean adventure
Land of crocodiles, rum, dolphin and crime. 10 tips on how stay in Jamaica with kids all inclusive and have an adventure at the same time.
10 things to do in Dubai with kids
Flowers, water and snow in the desert – there are more things to do in Dubai with kids than you may think. check out these top 10 activities from a local expert.
Edgy Scafell Pike hike with kids – 10 top tips
Scafell Pike hike – the tallest mountain, the clearest waters and the steepest roads in all the land. Featuring a rising river.
11 top tips for Portugal with kids – Lagos to Lisbon
Portugal with kids – Lagos to Lisbon; furnace hot beaches with icy eat-you-up waves, adventure canoeing, unexpected medieval camels and castles in the sky.
Top 10 large group accommodation UK holidays
A lifetime compendium of the best large group accommodation UK we have found with UK friends and family. From Abbot’s Manors, to Old Schools, yurts and farmhouses.
11 top tips for a Snowdon hike – dramatic scenes with the kids
Family Snowdon hike up the Pyg Track and down the Miners in – 6 degrees, with supporting roles from fog, tarns,and Snickers. And a surprise trip down memory lane.
Roadtrip USA – Vegas or/and bust!
Having a wedding anniversary to celebrate – it has been deemed necessary to revisit the scene of the crime (a Vegas wedding chapel) 20 years on, in 2020. Destiny is calling. Throw in NYC and a 2 week roadtrip USA, for a trip to end all trips – this time with the kids.
Day out in Liverpool, 4 essential activities – featuring a Ferry cross the Mersey
Ferry cross the Mersey, past the half cormorant/half eagle Liver Birds and selfies on the psychedelic Tate floors- a rainy November day out in Liverpool.
Top 10 Best non touristy things to do in NYC
Looking for the best non touristy things to do in NYC? Then look no further than these top tips for cheaper and less crowded New York City alternatives from a real New Yorker. For a local expert guide to NYC’s best bagels, rooftop bars, skyline views, beaches, delis and diners with singing waiters, read on…
Top 10 great things to do in Parksville
Beach boardwalks, crystal lakes, horse riding with bears, local markets and summer fairs. Some of the top 10 things to do in Parksville.
33 top tips for a family Canada Road Trip – via Big Foot, the Rockies and Vancouver Island
Horse riding with bears, glacial hikes and Elk salami cocktails drunk under Bison heads in a Canada road trip with (bear) bells on.
5 London with kids activities – Hamilton and the House of Commons
A varied few days in London with kids doing the Lambeth walk, meeting John Bercow and his mace, visiting an Easter Island Head, being startled by a very Hallowe’eny organ blast in St Paul’s and witnessing the founding of America and the Holocaust.
Croyde Bay Holidays – A Storm and a Teacup
Weather warnings, flooding, power cuts, 2 lifeguard rescues – perfect conditions for a half term Croyde Bay holidays weekend
15 fun things to do on a St Ives holiday – surfing, seal boats and a surprise llama
How do you organise a group St Ives holiday? Answer, split them up into chocolate box fisherman’s cottages. Then check out the fabulous St Ives beaches, walk llamas over the Cornish hills, feed an alpaca army, bob about on a seal boat and catch a show at the cliff top open air Minack Theatre.
Family trip to Europe itinerary: Fair(s and) Cities -Paris, Disney, Brussels, Duinrell and Amsterdam
Disneyland in a day, Paris for breakfast, Brussels for lunch and then Holland for tea.
Found fire breathing Disney dragons, drank wasps by the Seine, dined under centuries old gold leather wallpaper and Rembrandts in Amsterdam before being drenched by surely the world’s wettest spectator log flume in Duinrell in the Dutch woods in this 10 day family funfair roadtrip.
Top 10 YHAs -best in Britain
From Grade 1 listed 800 year old castles to former life boat stations – try something a bit different with a YHA.
Things to do in South Devon – Going Old School in Slapton Sands
What can you do in a large group in South Devon for the weekend? Answer: stay an old school house in Slapton complete with school field, taxidermy, a papier mache shark and a swarm of daddy longlegs.
17 top tips for Dartmoor with kids – wild and miniature ponies
Dartmoor with kids- wild ponies, miniature ponies (sometimes masquerading as unicorns), woodland water flumes, rock climbing and prison. More than just a moor.
Adventures with my family
Gypsy caravan in the Wye Valley
How to fit 4 into a turn of the Century Showman’s gypsy caravan in the Wye using fairylights for an August Bank Holiday weekend.
Best Iceland pictures
Classic Iceland pictures – brought to you from milky blue lagoons, inside glaciers and black baby puffin-strewn volcanic beaches.
17 top tips for your Iceland family holiday – glaciers and blue lagoons
What to do in Iceland with kids? Swim in milky blue lagoons wearing Voodoo face masks, walk inside a glacier and be dive bombed by kamikaze puffins at a volcanic beach called Vik.
Moscow with kids – 20 winter wonderland activities in 7 days
Moscow with kids: Visiting the embalmed body of Lenin, marvelling at the Russian Crown jewels and motorway-style neon back-lit ice skating at Gorky Park – how to spend freezing February in Moscow with kids.
11 Pembrokeshire holidays with kids tips – for a beaches and castles adventure
Pembrokeshire – discovering remote beaches reached through secret cliff tunnels or stone archways, fugitive falcons and a military presence in this corner of Wales.
Russia pictures
Moscow winter wonderland in Pictures – golden onion domes, fabulous cathedrals, icy rivers, scarlet fortresses in Red Square, a snow covered Kremlin and neon back-lit ice skating at Gorky Park.
Travel Tales and Tips
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Holidays from Hels
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Anecdotal evidence
Spinning tales about our family travel mishaps and successes, with lessons learned so you can avoid our pitfalls and holiday a little better.
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Treasure hunting in Oxford with kids
Looking for fantastic beasts, Roman mummies, Harry Potter film sets and Egyptian curses – why not give Oxford a whirl?
Bucket list ideas 4
Can I invite you to head into the dreamlike whipped cream architecture of Barcelona or wander amongst golden palaces in Bangkok? You could perhaps stop for breakfast cooked on an active Balinese volcano before heading into skies over Vancouver in a sea plane? More ideas for your list this way...
London with teens
With seats democracy, roof gardens, theatre and vintage shopping, stars of stage and screen and fragments of actual stars in the museums – London is a treasure trove of teenage fun.
Quirky Wales road trip stops
A Wales road trip has a few secret rabbits under it’s hat. Yes, there are mountains, castles and sheep, but there are also Italianate villages, Victoriana sweetshops and sweeping surfing beaches.
Belfast with teens
From ship sinking icebergs, to ex-con peace wall tours and skydiving, the city will capture your teen's attention.
Northern Ireland Road Trip
Craggy coasts, ruined castles and dark hedges await on your road trip Northern Ireland. Check out my essential guide so you don’t miss the surprising Caribbean waters and luxury spa resorts on the way.
Ideas for a bucket list 3
6 fun outdoor activity ideas for your bucket list – from helicopter glacier hikes to sleeping under the stars in the Outback, live life to the max while there’s still time.
London for kids in 2021
With sparkling Lidos, parakeets in the parks and Olympic slides, London with kids is always brilliant. And the good news is it can totally be done on a budget in Covid, even in the rain. It is harder to plan than usual and you need back-ups at your finger tips Here are my top tips for how to navigate setting up an itinerary with a few lessons learned along the way.
Best holiday parks in the (South) West!
Quite simply the best holiday parks we have found in our decade of travels around the Sun holiday parks in South West England. Discover the ultimate on-site activities, on-your-doorstep beach access, adventurous local attractions and a touch of Miami in England.
Booking a UK caravan holiday
An essential guide for what to look for in a site and a caravan. Think palm trees and cocktail bars by the sea. Staycations can look more tropical than you’d imagine!
Messing about on the river
Ever fancied a one day canal boat hire? Here are our tips for one day as captain of the watery roads - navigating narrow bridges, leaky locks and sneaky sills.
6 unique bucket list ideas
Experience all this planet has to offer with this series of affordable bucket list ideas. From watching lightning over the Grand Canyon to seeing living goddesses in Kathmandu – inspiration for secrets worth seeking out.
10 free activities for your 3 day London itinerary with kids
How much can you pack into a London itinerary with kids without finishing them off? Quite a bit it turns out! We managed sitting glass floor at Tower Bridge, balancing lorikeets on your head and seeing Queen Victoria’s actual crown.
12 fun things to do in Bristol with kids
Looking for top things to do in Bristol with kids in Lockdown? Can I suggest sliding over slippy rocks, giant head hunting, sledging down ski slopes and climbing over monkeys?
Affordable Bucket List destinations
Everyone has a bucket list destinations dream, but how are you going to get there before the bucket gets kicked? Travel inspiration and tips for making your dreams come true.
20 Gift ideas for campers
Wondering what to buy someone who loves travel but can’t at the moment? Here are some gift ideas for campers and travellers that they can look forward to using next summer. After a lifetime of camping, these are our most treasured finds that we no longer travel without – our essential non-essentials.
Venice with kids
Join us on our adventure to Venice with kids - flamingos, beach clubs, Murano glass tigers and chocolate box Burano houses. Marvel at the fabulously elaborate architecture and walk amongst Roman horses on the terrace of St Marks Basilica itself.
Windsor with kids
Travel in time from the Stone Age at the Henge, through the Norman Conquest at Windsor Castle and into the laser shooting Ninjago Lego-ride future by way of castles real and fantastic.
Tuscany with kids
Tuscany with kids - land of Narnia-like statues, buildings saved from destruction by their own beauty, comedically leaning towers, modern Roman Gladiators and pizza n ice cream for tea.
Morocco with kids
Becoming lost in time and space in the crazy Kasbah with its waist coated monkeys, uninvited snake necklaces and abandoned donkey hooves. Embark on sunflower festooned rafts to the foot of waterfalls in the Atlas mountains; and join a camel caravan, disguised as a Bedouin.
Jamaica All Inclusive with kids
Land of crocodiles, rum, dolphin and crime. How to stay in Jamaica all inclusive and have an adventure at the same time.
Epic travel fails
Top ten epic travel fails - from face attacking fish to enraged bulls and unexpected water snakes. Sometimes it's so bad its good.
Dubai with kids
Flowers, water and snow in the desert - there are more things to do in Dubai with kids than you may think. check out these top 10 activities from a local expert.
25 Budget Travel tips
Using these 25 budget travel top tips UK I have found free flights to Jamaica, 2-centre holidays for the price of 1, free entry to Legoland, the Tower of London, Matilda the musica . You may already know all this but, if not, here's how.
St Ives gallery – favourite photos of the many fabulous beaches fronting St Ives: Porthmeor, Porth Gwidden, Porthminster and Harbour Beach (and I’ve thrown in Porthcurno, which is a drive away but too beautiful not to).
A lifetime compendium of the best large group accommodation we have found with UK friends and family. From Abbot’s Manors, to Old Schools, yurts and farmhouses.
Scafell Pike family hike – the tallest mountain, the clearest waters and the steepest roads in all the land. Travel tales featuring a rising river, tears and a boat.
Portugal with kids – Lagos to Lisbon: furnace hot beaches with icy eat-you-up waves, adventure canoeing, unexpected medieval camels and castles in the sky.
Family Snowdon hike up the Pyg Track and down the Miners in minus 6 degrees, with supporting roles from fog, tarns,and Snickers. And a surprise trip down memory lane.
Discover the best beaches in UK – aquatic sea tractors, causeways, cliff stairs to open air theatres and dunes too big to play hide and seek in.
Ferry cross the Mersey, past the half cormorant/half eagle Liver Birds and selfies on the psychedelic Tate floors- travel tales from a rainy November day out in Liverpool.
With a wedding anniversary to celebrate – it has been deemed necessary to revisit the Vegas wedding chapel 20 years on, in 2020. Destiny is calling. Throwing in NYC and a 2 week roadtrip USA – this time with the kids.
Christmas or Hallowe’en? Tricky to tell the difference this Boxing Day hunting for the half man and hooded monk in Madeley in Britain’s most haunted hotel. Did we sleep? Would you?
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