Visiting Bodiam Castle with kids
Of all the castles I’ve visited in the UK, I’d say Bodiam Castle, set amid the idyllic East Sussex countryside, is one of the most evocative. Encircled by a wide moat, Bodiam Castle has towers…
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What to see and do in Umbria …
To many, Umbria in central Italy is a perfect holiday destination, brimming with natural beauty, incredible culture and superb cuisine. But can you visit Umbria with kids? Well, provided you balance out the culture with…
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Is York the best UK city break …
My family and I spent a few days in York last year. It rained, it was cold and one of my children suffered from a severe case of insomnia. Nevertheless, I came away thinking what…
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Walks in Herts with kids: Mardley Heath
When you’re taking children out for a walk it sometimes helps to have a destination or focal point to aim for to encourage them away from their Lego, iPad or whatever other housebound activity they’re…
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An Italian beach holiday in Grottammare
An angry man strides towards us, he’s wearing swimming trunks and a T-shirt, I’m unsure of his place in the hierarchy of the beach but he gives off an air of authority. He castigates us…
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Wild flowers of Sicily
So, it’s January and we’re right in the middle of winter. But I can already see the shoots of flowers poking through the ground and buds on trees. There’s no denying that winter is dark…
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Visiting Stevenage Museum with kids
If you’re a fan of Brutalist architecture, it’s worth visiting Stevenage Museum for its location alone, set beneath the 1960s St Andrew and St George Church, which features an unusual concrete bell tower. Stevenage Museum is…
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The best muddy day out ever
What makes a really good day out with small children? I discovered the answer on a breezy December day when I visited the National Trust’s Wimpole Estate, in Cambridgeshire. The stately pile part of the…
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Seeing the Christmas lights at Blenheim Palace
What does Christmas mean to me? Well, I quite like the traditional stuff: turkey, presents and family (not necessarily in that order). I’ve discovered that I also like this new phenomenon of Christmas light displays.…
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A trip to the National Maritime Museum …
We recently took our boys, aged six and three, to the National Maritime Museum in London. It’s part of the Royal Museums Greenwich which includes the Cutty Sark, the Queen’s House and the Royal Observatory.…
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