The trouble with planning a family holiday in Cornwall is there are just too many fantastic beaches to choose from. Every couple of miles, it seems, there’s either a cosy little cove or a wide expanse of golden sand just perfect for kite flying or castle building. I couldn’t make up my mind when organising…
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…
It’s a tale to melt the heart of every dog owner. One day back in the 13th century, the Welsh prince Llywelyn The Great went hunting, leaving his faithful hound Gelert at the palace with his baby son. On Llywelyn’s return, Gelert joyfully sprang into his master’s arms – but his jaws were smeared with…
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…
You may not know the name but there’s a chance you’ll recognise the place. The family-friendly Luabay Costa Los Gigantes hotel in Tenerife is the location for a long-running TV ad by all-inclusive specialist First Choice. Featuring the Flo Rida track Good Feeling, the minute-long promo aims to sell the “feelgood” factor you get when…
Holidaying Hack 