Alton Towers opens its Enchanted Village to the public tomorrow (April 18) and the fairies have allowed the Birmingham Mail a sneaky peak. The huge new development, adjacent to the Staffordshire theme park’s two hotels, includes 125 magical lodges (including five luxury treehouses) a themed restaurant, children’s play areas and a high ropes course. Here’s…
It’s Shakespeare this and Shakespeare that in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Bard’s birthplace. The Warwickshire town, quite rightly, trades heavily on its literary links and attracts millions of visitors from across the world. But what can Stratford offer a family with children not yet old enough to read Peter and Jane, let alone Romeo and Juliet? Well,…
Altogether now, Thomas the red-nosed steam train… Drayton Manor is, of course, home to Thomas Land, the theme park within a theme park that’s based on the popular children’s TV series about the little blue engine and his friends. Promotional posters for Drayton’s Magical Christmas season show Thomas – complete with antlers and a red…
A seaside town with links to the Alice in Wonderland story will be celebrating a very important date next year. Llandudno in North Wales will be marking the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Carroll’s book by bringing to life Alice and her friends White Rabbit, Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat like never before.…
First, Thomas the Tank Engine steamed into Drayton Manor. Then Peppa Pig and her family trotted off to Paultons Park in Hampshire. Now, Postman Pat, Igglepiggle, Tree Fu Tom and Mike the Knight, among others, have set up home together in CBeebies Land at Staffordshire’s Alton Towers. The attraction features characters from many of the…
Think Anna Ryder Richardson and you’ll probably recall the BBC’s long-running DIY show Changing Rooms. But there’s another, perhaps surprising, string to the TV presenter and interior designer’s bow – that of zoo keeper. Six years ago, Anna forked out £1 million to buy the dilapidated Manor House Wildlife Park, near Tenby in Pembrokeshire. The…
Many, many years before young Cerys was born, her mummy and I enjoyed a short break at Disneyland Paris. We met Winnie The Pooh (Mrs C’s lifelong favourite) and a framed picture of that momentous occasion hangs on our three-year-old daughter’s bedroom wall. It goes rather well with the Pooh curtains, Pooh rug, Pooh lampshade,…
Whoever said you never forget how to ride a bike was a liar – and should be forced to sit on the thinnest of racing saddles for all eternity. When I got my leg over, so to speak, for the first time in nigh on 30 years I was as wobbly as a plate of…
It was the ultimate Alton Towers white-knuckle ride experience. I was challenged to tame Oblivion, Air, Nemesis, Ripsaw, The Flume and Rita – Queen Of Speed – all in under 45 minutes. But it wasn’t as stomach-churning as it sounds. For this was Alton Towers’ new miniature golf course where the holes are based on…
Once upon a time there was a land where children of many different languages could come together to live their dreams. They loved its thrilling rides and tales of good overcoming evil. But sadly, too few families fell under the spell of this Magic Kingdom. For starters, it rained… a lot. And secondly, an optimistic…
Holidaying Hack 