- family
- (1936)
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St Mary's is the largest Island out of all the Scilly Islands, it also is the busiest. I'd recommend St Mary's because it's a nice place to go and have a break and since you're only allowed a car if you live there, it's quite a 'Global Friendly' place. It's also brilliant for a midnight cycle adventure!
It has a lot of great beaches to picnic on, where you can paddle in the sea even in April! Watching the gigs race whilst having fish and chips is fun too. There are plenty of interesting little shops to potter around in. You can get to any of the islands by boat.
My favourite island is Tresco because of the Abbey Gardens and the shell grotto inside it.
From Katie Lawrence (age 10) from Pembrokeshire.
I travel in central London a lot at weekends, buying games, clothes and various other things. I have always generally enjoyed London, for all its opportunities and tucked-away secrets. But I then found a place which doesn’t have clothes or games. There was a children’s show on there (and this was many years ago) and we decided to sit down and watch. The show itself wasn’t really that good, and I soon tottered off. I wandered around, looking for anything interesting, but just found dull concrete buildings. But in the midst of this wall of grey I found a most peculiar sculpture. It was very hard to describe, as it seemed to be a partly squashed bug. A large sphere of metal with wiggly antennae, with two large flat metal discs behind it and I found it very amusing to hop from one disc to another, as they weren’t very high, and made a loud clang, much to the annoyance of my parents. As I got older I would always visit that metal sculpture. There were several large buildings nearby the metal toy. We ventured inside one once, and found it very family friendly. It often had exhibitions, and had a constant feed of entertainment, such as live music and dance, as well as a cafe, and a well-stocked book shop. This was of course, the Royal Festival Hall, which is now under refurbishment.
As I grew older still we would move around London more, and me and my little sister would beg our parents to let us go to the South Bank instead of boring clothes shops. We soon discovered the far-off ends of the South Bank, which seemed to never have an end to the various forms of entertainment. There were several good restaurants, along the bank, including a Wagamamas we still often visit, a Strada (best Italian food in the world) and a pizza place at the end. In the summer, we regularly visit the South Bank, as it provides a way to take up a day, and make it a fun one. We often meet friends there, or go and watch a show, as well as having dinner.
The great thing about the South Bank is that there is always a place you haven’t been, some unturned leaf, which is always ready and waiting, and bursting full of energy and imagination. And these leaves are always falling, so regular visiting is always needed. Still things remain undiscovered to my family, so we shall keep on visiting, and so should you.
Angus Hegarty, Age 13, East Barnet
Embankment or Waterloo Tube Station
My favourite place to go is the Enginuity centre in Ironbridge in Shropshire. It's a hands-on place where you really see what makes things work. I like it there because you can do lots of fun things there, like using water to make energy and just by turning a wheel round you can make a steam engine move a tiny bit. When you put balls into a big machine it keeps it working and there’s loads more stuff to do.
There are other great things for kids to do at the other sites too.
From Bryony Yates (age 8).
Follow signs for Ironbridge Gorge. Then follow signs for Coalbrookdale Museums and park in Museum of Iron car park
Tel: 01952 884391
Nearest Station: Telford Central
Bus: Telford Travelink (tel 01952 200005)
www.ironbridge.org.uk/our_attractions/enginuity/
A trip to Vienna is not complete without visiting the Prater and riding on the Riesenrad (ferris wheel). When you are up there in the rustic red carriages you can look down and see all the rides and people, and on a dark night you can almost hear the Harry Lime tune cranking away in the background . . .
Google map: tinyurl.com/lhnx8a
Seafood and steak restaurant in a simply stunning location, right on the waters edge at the eastern end of the Solent. We visited for lunch in midsummer and moored up just off the beach on one of their mooring buoys (free of charge!) Had moules mariniere followed by local lobster, crab and seabass - all washed down with an extremely agreeable bottle of wine. Wow! such fabulous food and impeccable service in a perfect location! Indeed so nice was it that we stayed overnight and went back for full English breakfast. Highly recommended - insanely popular.
The Waterfront, St Helens, Isle of Wight 01983 873259
When I arrived, it looked like an ordinary place, there was a large car park and a modern building at the end. All around were trees and bushes, so I assumed there was countryside beyond. But when I walked through the gates, I found myself in a completely different world. The noise and bustle was different from the calm and quiet of the outside world.
The thing I noticed first was the people. There were people of all ages in modern day clothes, tourists like me exploring. But there were also ladies in long dresses, with beautiful hats and some plainer dresses but with the same swishing skirts, and tasselled shawls.
The buildings too caught my eye; there were shops with bright signs outside, products on display in the window, a grocer, a butcher, and chemists. It felt like I had gone back in time, and in a way I had, this was Blists Hill Open air museum, a reconstructed Victorian village in Shropshire that was part of the Ironbridge Gorge museum.
We first went to the bank, where we changed our money to Victorian coins, and then we explored the shops where we could spend them. They shops were fantastic, the best of course was the sweet shop, there was shelves full of jars of brightly coloured treats, liquorice, sherbet, toffee, and things I had never heard of.
We carried on down the hill, and bought some freshly baked rolls from the bakery, watched a carpenter at work, and then came to the bottom of the hill where we found my favourite part of all, the Victorian fairground. There was a magnificent carousel as well as different games to play for prizes.
My attention was caught by different things, the pub - though I found ginger beer wasn’t quite to my taste, the school, and most of all the photographers where we all had our photo taken in Victorian clothes. I had a fantastic long, black swishy skirt with a blouse, and my baby brother looked very cute in what looked to me suspiciously like a long white dress.
There really is something for everyone there, my brothers, (then 3 and 1) were particularly excited by one of the houses where they kept pigs, and they loved the carousel so much they refused to get off!
But aside from having a great time, I learnt a great deal. I watched craftsmen at work, and tried candle dipping, I saw a policemen asking a couple if they had a licence for their dog. After looking round the doctor’s house and a smaller house furnished quite plainly, I was shocked to then see the squatter’s cottage with only two rooms where the whole family slept in one bed.
The whole experience was an amazing insight into Victorian times, as well as a brilliant day out.
From Rebecca McKie (age 14).
Visting Melbourne's Chinatown - the oldest area of continuous Chinese settlement in the western world is a great way to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon. Lots to see (as the history of the area dates back to the 1840s and 1850s), plenty of places to have a bite and while there, visit the Chinese Museum.
Melbourne's ChinaTown
along Little Bourke Street City
plus the alleys which link the area to Bourke St and Lonsdale St
www.melbournechinatown.com.au/
Museum of Chinese Australian History
22 Cohen Place Melbourne
Victoria 3000 Australia
Phone: 9662 2888
www.chinesemuseum.com.au
See one of the UK's greatest wildlife attractions. There are over a thousand Grey Seals at very close quarters at the Donna Nook nature reserve between mid-November to mid-December.
Location details can be found here www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/reserve.php?mapref=15
For more details www.lincsuk.com/donnanookseals.htm
Go to the zoo and see the animals ..and get up close with the animals. After closing time, "Roar 'n' Snore' starts with dinner followed by a nightime guided tour of the zoo. You get to explore the zoo as night falls and see the zoo's nightlife...animals whose activities start at dusk. Supper follows..before you bed down for the night...in your tent in the middle of the zoo.
I might add, nightime at the zoo is NOISY!
Breakfast is served next morning before more walks around the zoo.
This is simply a wonderful activity that has to be experienced.
For adults and families with children 7+
Melbourne Zoo
Elliot Ave, Parkville
Melbourne Zoo is located only minutes north from the city centre, within Royal Park. Car parking is available or visitors can take the tram or train to reach the Zoo. Trains run from Flinders Street Station stopping at Melbourne Zoo's own Royal Park Station
www.zoo.org.au/melbourne/roarnsnore.htm
There is a great cycle path along Palmas seafront and beyond towards the west, if you have a hire car you can get free bicycles in the underground parking on the seafront across from the cathedral as long as you are parked there, then cycle west and enjoy a ride along the busy neighbourhoods of Palmas coastline. There are many good places to stop off and grab a bite on the way.
The entrance to the garage is on the main causeway along the seafront across from the cathedral.
To call the Forum shops at Caesar’s a “Shopping Mall” is a bit of an understatement – indeed the same could also be said of Desert Passage at Aladdin and the Canal Shoppes at the Venetian.
As well as approximately 150 shops and restaurants there are also street entertainers, fountains and the “Lost City of Atlantis” animatronics presentation, making it as much an attraction as a mall.
As for the shops, well for fashion devotees there is Gucci, Versace, Armani and Christian Dior (as well as Banana Republic and Gap for the slightly less well-heeled shopper) for children and the child within us there is FAO Schwartz. For foodies, stop at the Cheesecake Factory or Planet Hollywood. And for those who simply like to window-shop and people-watch, well, the Forum is a great place to do both.
3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Next to The Mirage and Ceasar's Palace
Gothenburg is on the west coast of Sweden. Don't be put off by tales of how expensive it is in Scandanavia. I found Gothenburg to be reasonably priced, with loads to do inside and outside. It is a very clean, civilised and vibrant city. It would be good for families as there is the Lisberg Amusement Park and the Universeum hands on science museum.
The Metro is Tyne and Wear's version of the underground. I always find Metro is a quick and cheap way to get around Newcastle and also out to the coast and airport.
Get on for £1.60 umlimited travel in newcastle all day.
Stops throughout Newcastle and Tyne and Wear
Old fashioned amusement park and zoo right in the city centre.
Great old wooden roller coaster and plenty of stalls serving Tuborg, Carlsberg and Pølsekorv (the best hotdogs this side of Manhattan).
A child friendly hostel - 10 minutes walk from Bella Center metro stop. My son and I stayed for four days last summer. There are places to play outside and a really good breakfast for 15 Krona.
It costs 95 Krona for IYHA/YHA members and 125 Krona for non members.
Bella Center metro - 15 minutes from the centre of Copenhagen.
Just opened in time for this year's cricket season (and series of Test matches) the new museum (needed as the old one disappeared when the stand was torn down) contains an amazing amount of cricket paraphernalia and artifacts ... tours of the museum depart regularly each (week) day, definitely worth a visit.
Gate 3 (tours leave from here)
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Brunton Ave
Melbourne VIC 3002
Phone 03 9653 1100
www.cricketvictoria.com.au
Cricket fan? Barmy Army member?
THE Ashes test match to attend is the one traditionally starting on Boxing Day at the 'G'. The MCG is the Australian home of Test cricket and the Boxing Day Test match has been there for more than 50 years.
However, this is more than just a cricket match, it's a sporting and cultural event Melbourne is proud to showcase to the world. There is something for everyone if cricket isn't your thing such as: Family Day, KidsZone, Merv's Walk to the G, Ladies Day...so go to the G on Boxing Day.
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Brunton Ave
Melbourne VIC 3002
Phone 9653 1100
(get off either at Richmond or Flinders St railway station)
www.cricketvictoria.com.au
If you find yourself out in Tignes during the school holidays (which in France means the whole of Feb), structure your day so you eat lunch at 11am or 3pm and use the lunch hours to ski. While all the families are queuing to feed their little ones, you can make the most out of empty pistes.
Tignes, Savoie.
The Grand Theatre hosts the National Opera of Bordeaux, with a season of opera, ballet and classical music running largely from September to June. The building itself is beautiful and ornate.
Concerts en balade are held on the first Sunday of every month and have a uniform seat price of 5 euros. They usually take place in the morning or early afternoon and cover music from Mozart to Messaien and Holst to Haydn. You can reserve online.
www.opera-bordeaux.com
Place de la Comédie
Largest and last piece of original rainforest left on the island. Walk up the incredibly steep hill (mind the monkeys!) for a fantastic view from the top. Thick forest offers a respite from the high temperatures.
Bukit Timah Road; get the bus toward Malaysia (I think it's the 70 and/or 170), or a taxi.
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