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Family days out – Top 5 spots around London

June 16, 2014 by manjirichitnis 8 Comments

Planning family days out made easy

The Great British Summer is here and the weather is brilliant, sunny and perfect for days out in the park , at the beach or out exploring with the family on a weekend. There are many brilliant places that you can go to on a budget even if you don’t drive and have a really fun day out in the sun with the family.

My top 5 places to visit in and around London in the summer

Last year my 5 favourite day out spots were places where we did one day trips using public transport and carried a few essentials, there is always scope to go in groups and stay overnight in one of the quaint English Bed and Breakfast places – O.D on the morning Full English for breakfast and generally have a blast .

Recommendations for family days out in summer, in and around London

So here’s my list of my Top 5 picks for best places to spend a day out in the Great British Summer 2014, not too far from London,easy on the pocket,family friendly options and easily approachable by public transport! Let me know what you think :

Pebbled Shores of Brighton

This is trip down memory lane for me now, seems like yesterday though. my very first spring in the U.K and on a fine morning we set out for Brighton. Sun, fish and chips and noisy seagulls yes, sandy beach – no! But there is nothing a comfy deck chair can’t solve.

Family days out - Top 5 spots around London - Brighton Pier — Family days out – Top 5 spots around LondonFamily days out – Top 5 spots around London

We hopped onto a 45-minute coastal cruise. The most enchanting view on the cruise was of the skeletal structure or what’s left of the West Pier. Something very fascinating and mysterious about this relic.

Family days out - Top 5 spots around London - Remnants of West Pier Brighton — West Pier Remnants – Brighton

Ideal for a family days out in summer

Walked past the Brighton Marina to admire the many beautiful yachts.Many bars and restaurants along the quayside we choose a rather cosy looking one and had a leisurely drink watching the yachts bobbing around on the water the bright late evening sunlight bouncing off yatch decks.

Family days out - Top 5 spots around London - Stunning Views — Stunning Views – Brighton

We stumbled upon the extraordinary palace the Royal Pavilion built for the Prince Regent, later King George IV. This royal ‘pleasure palace’ is remarkable for its exotic chinoiserie style. It was revered by fashionable Regency society and is still a distinctive landmark for vibrant Brighton & Hove today.

Family days out - Top 5 spots around London - Royal Pavilion, Brighton — Royal Pavilion – Brighton

Fishing, Sailing, or taking a journey on the oldest electric train from the smallest station I’ve seen yet – Marina Station, there are loads of fun activities to do with the family on a day out. Just after we hopped off our bus to the station and on an impulse we took another bus into beautiful the coastal village of Saltdean. Whatever you do, don’t go away from Brighton without seeing Saltdean if only you do it on a plus bus journey like we did, especially since there is a road called Marine Drive at Saltdean, reminded me of Bombay it did.

Day out for 2 at Brighton will cost you approximately under £65 if you had to really budget yourself ***

Train Tickets:£20 if booked in advance via The Train Line
Plus Bus:£3.30 adult ie.£6.60
Boat Ride:£8.50 adult
Fish and Chips: Approx £5 each at The Regency Restaurant
Sundry (Ice Cream, Water, using public loo’s): £15

Soft sandy beach at West Wittering

To me a beach always meant soft white -brown sands and warm waters to splash around in , well that was until I visited a pebbled beach of course. So after Brighton , I was aching to go to a beach where I could just spread a blanket ,lie down and snooze off with the sound of waves in the distant background- ermm yes yes that sounds lazy , but heck thats me! Just walking along the soft sandy beach of West Wittering in West Sussex is very calming and watching kids screaming as they run into the bearably cold water, dogs digging busily into the sand and people generally soaking up the sun and hoping to tan evenly 😉

Family days out - Top 5 spots around London - West Wittering Beach — West Wittering Beach

Sandy beachs makes for the perfect family days out

West Wittering Beach is one of these 4000 beaches and marinas in 48 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and the Caribbean that has cleared the strict criteria dealing with Water Quality, Environmental Education and Information, Environmental Management, and Safety and Other Services and is therefore a BLUE FLAG BEACH. So not only is this beach a highly picturesque place of natural beauty,wildlife and birds to enjoy but very safe too.

Family days out - Top 5 spots around London - West Wittering Beach during summer — Family days out – Top 5 spots around London – West Wittering Beach

With beautiful views of the Chichester Harbour and the South Down its a great place for adventure sports like windsurfing or kitesurfing.

After a long stroll along the beach and having clicked a few pictures especially the beautiful and colourful cabins at the back where we spotted a huge family gathering having fun around a tempting BBQ and lots of chilled beer – perfect! Ice cream at the beach is customary and after we got ourselves some at the beach cafe – braving a long queue we decided to just sit down n enjoy the sights and sounds. To find a quieter spot we walked past the area full of families and hyper excited kids and went to the area where pets are allowed, relatively fewer people and a spot just perfect to lay down a picnic blanket ! Before we knew it we were dozing and I think I dreamt I was part of Tintin’s adventures in Sussex- oh , well don’t you remember he snowy and he headed there in ‘The Black Island‘ .I have been a huge fan of Tintin ever since I first read Herge’s adorable imaginary whodunits as a kid ! I have spent endless summer holidays snuggled up in bed in the afternoon reading Tintin with my cousins or seated in a corner of my local library – such pageturners I tell ya!

How To get there: Train, Road, Bus, Cycle
Toilets Available: Yes
Food and Drink: Beach Cafe
Parking: Minimal charges ranging from £1 to £8 apply depending on what time of the year you visit.

Family days out - Top 5 spots around London - West Wittering Sandy Beach — Sandy Beach at West Wittering

Family days out - Top 5 spots around London - Beautiful beach huts at the Sandy Beach, West Wittering — Beautiful beach huts at the Sandy Beach, West Wittering

Trekking Near Box Hill

Have climbed the Snowdon last year with my husband it might seem that trekking up Box Hill amounts to no effort, but don’t be fooled! It is a fairly good exercise getting up to the top of Box Hill and people enjoy this as its makes for a good climb with breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Salomons Memorial (viewpoint) offers views up to 26 miles away including Chanctonbury Ring and Devil’s Dyke, Sussex, also towards the Gatwick airport and the South Downs.

Family days out - Box Hill Trek — Box Hill

Family days out - Stunning View from atop Box Hill, Surrey — Stunning View from atop Box Hill, Surrey

If you are a trigger happy camera aficionado then this place offers huge scope for taking some great shots. If your a history buff then check out the Box Hill fort built in 1896 ,similar to 12 forts in the south east of England.There’s also an upside down grave where Major Peter Labellière was buried upside down in the belief that the world was ‘topsy turvy’.

Exercise and fresh air on family days out

Another interesting tidbit about Box Hill is that it was home to the inventor of the television!John Logie Baird, the inventor of television, lived at Swiss Cottage on Box Hill from 1929 until 1932. He carried out his initial experiments by sending a TV signal from the top of the hill to the valley below,he also conducted experiments using his Noctovisor an infra-red viewing device.

Family days out - Trekking up Box Hill, Surrey — Trekking up Box Hil

You do do one of the many walks around Box Hill, there is even a trail suitable for toddlers where you can be sure to fire their imagination and get plenty of exercise and fresh air ,who knows they might just discover some interesting flowers,birds or creepy crawlies! There is also a Butterfly trail but the most amazing walk is the superb stepping stones walk which we did.Its something out of a picture pop up book and there is great scope for me time as you walk past the River Mole on a 2 mile circular walk which will take you under 2 hours. Lined by Apple and Cherry trees the stepping stones dating back to 1841 were destroyed in WWII and reinstated in 1946.

Family days out - Stepping stones at Box Hill, Surrey — Family days out – Stepping stones at Box Hill, Surrey

This is Broadwood’s Folly – built-in 1815 for the piano maker Thomas Broadwood.

Family days out - Broadwood's Folly at Box Hill, Surrey — Broadwood’s Folly, Box Hill, Surrey

Due to its historic importance and stunning natural beauty Box Hill is a site protected by the National Trust. Once is not enough, Box hill is the kind of place that draws you in and you want to go back for more. One lazy Sundays when I don’t feel like walking too much we do a mini picnic tea with a thermos, a blanket and our imagination for company – the views are strangely relaxing and I suspect its the clean mountain air and the exercise that is relaxing.

Family days out - Sunset at Box Hill, Surrey — Family days out – Sunset at Box Hill, Surrey

Walk and relax at Richmond Park

The biggest enclosed space in London ,Richmond Park is largest of London’s eight Royal Parks.It is a National Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation in south-west London. It is also where I saw first set eyes on freely roaming deer – something I shall never forget. We were dozing (again!) on our picnic blanket in a nice little woody nook in the park and I had dozed off over a book when hubster urgently jabbing his fingers into my rib – ouch in an attempt to draw my attention to a curious bystander – a huge Red stag! Its massive antler had us awestruck and a bit worried at once. It just gave us a stare and then settled down on a patch of grass munching on something -Phew! Wide awake now, we packed our things as quietly as possible and went for a stroll ….

Family days out - Richmond Park - Deer roaming freely — Family days out – Sunset at Box Hill, Surrey

Surrey’s best finds for family days out

With over 650 red and fallow deer roaming freely one must always bear in mind that though they are immensely beautiful they are wild and we must respect their space.

Family days out - Richmond Park — Family days out – Richmond Park

Entry: Free
Cafe: Yes
Toilets: Yes
How to get there: Interactive Map

Caves at Reigate in the Historic town of Surrey

Thinking of a fab day out with the family under £15? This is the place to go. Ammunition storage during WWI and air-raid shelters during WWII these caves have seen it all. Local folklore has it that the barons held a secret meeting at the Barons’ cave on their way to Runnymede to sign the Magna Carta.

Add some adventure to your family days out

These are actually old sand mines which include the Baron’s Cave in the Castle Grounds and the Tunnel Road caves in the Western Caverns.The castle which is now long gone is only a mound overlooking Reigate town centre and is composed of soft sandstone and has been mined over several centuries.Many excavations of the castle still remain.For as low as £ 2 per adult and £1.50 per child you can tour the caves with an experienced guide who will share details about the history of the caves. Disabled persons can be accompanied by upto 2 carers who go free of charge.

Visit the official website of The Wealden Cave & Mine Society, a charitable organisation here. Read more on the Reigate History website here.

Barons’ Cave. Castle Grounds, Reigate, Surrey

Image credit :Howard Walden from The Wealden Cave & Mine Society website

Image credit Nick Catford from The Wealden Cave & Mine Society website

If you want a more relaxed day out why not consider a trip to Denbies Vineyard? Read my post about my day trip here.

Also, check out my detailed guide to discovering the area around London Bridge with my insiders guide complete with suggestions for the best Foodie Finds around London Bridge.

*** All prices mentioned apply to the period of June 2014, check links for updated information and prices. Always check transport links and information relating to each tourist area before planning a day out to avoid disappointment later.

Browsing around at Angel

April 4, 2012 by manjirichitnis 4 Comments

To the bored Londoner, it’s just another tube station but to me it is a beautiful cosy place with a wonderfully modern mall, a very alive and vibrant street market, great restaurants, and plenty for the hungry soul to do, to see, to absorb and soak in and spend a few hours enjoying the best that this place has to offer.

On my recent visit to Angel, I spent time walking around, enjoying the early spring sun, savouring the street food delicacies and discovering the joy of having a lazy cup of tea and an amazing cafe called Euphorium Bakery.

I walked around the street market and ate this awesome falafel wrap, it has the most divine crunchy fried falafel balls ummmmm and very, very tasty aubergines, cauliflower, spicy chilli pickled, fried potato dusted with the most amazing sauce and what not!

If you see the two blokes in the picture, one smiley and one err well Not so smiley ;), you know you are the right place for mind-blowingly tasty falafel wraps!

The street market has a butcher, a fishmonger, several fruit and vegetable vendors, carpet sellers, lingerie stalls, even a makeup stall! It has all sort of world cuisine on offer, right from the local jacket potatoes and fish and chips to mid-eastern falafels, African jerk chicken, Bangladeshi kebabs, Vietnamese noodles, Thai crispy prawns, and so much more and yes a generous spattering of many pubs and cafes including the famous chains like Starbucks and Costa for the loyal followers.

Though I strongly suggest landing up without having had breakfast , picking up a falafel wrap as an appetiser, then walking around taking in the vibrancy of the place and then eating to your heart’s content at any one of the many food stall, then wandering around the massive mall, indulging in some shopping , strolling around the quiet by lanes and plonking yourself onto an easy chair in one of the many lovely local cafes and sipping away on your latte’ or Indian chai and relishing an afternoon well spent .

A view of the massive ”Angels’s wings” at the entrance to the Mall and a View of the ” Angel’s Halo” at one of the exits ….

I even managed to get a steal-deal on a book I was looking to buy for some time now from a local charity shop ( I don’t know how she does it – By Alison Pearson, a must read for EVERY woman especially if you thrive on a huge guilt conscience of NOT being able to spare enough time for your family because you have a job that you love and are addicted to !, it’s a bible for one of my closest female buddies P)

A view of a beautiful flower shop located close to the bakery.

A little rain while I was safely tucked inside the cafe dropped the temperature by a few degrees and ensured I left to get home just in time to make hubbykins a steaming hot cuppa and share a long conversation about how I spent a lovely day out.

I also discovered a wonderful Fruit called Longan, it’s like litchi in the texture of the skin and the soft watery succulently fresh white fruit hidden inside but with a twist in the form of a sugary sweet caffeine kick concealed in the fruit that explodes with every bite that you take. I managed to gobble quite a large number of them, reluctantly sharing them with my better half 🙂

This is an image of the fruit, that what remains of the LARGE bag I got home I know, I know greedy me!

I have posted some pictures below of the fruit, it’s delicate skin that can easily be peeled off and globular succulent fruit inside.

In India there is a version of this fruit called Litchi or Lychee, it has bright red or dull brown skin, and the appearance of the fruit inside looks very similar to the Longan. Lychees are more oval in shape though and very different but equally delicious and sweet to taste and also are very succulent, every bite releases a delicious sticky liquid ummmm.

Some images of the Litchi or Lychee I got off the net :

It’s at times like this that I imagine how much of effort God put into creating this planet and all that is there on the planet , it is such small everyday pleasures that make me smile.

To those whose mouth is watering after seeing those images please head to China Town or any proper Chinese shop in London and ask for Longan . If you love them as much as I did , write back to me !Please !

I have posted a few images of my day out below, hope you enjoy seeing them. Oh yes, How can I forget the highlight of the day ?! I touched a LIVE snake and that too a BOA CONSTRICTOR (screaammmmmmm EEEEEEECHHHHH,yelll, shiver shudder shake shake ..none of that happened, even little kids were touching the slippery guy who seemed to be basking in the glory of so many curious human eyes set on him !), it is called a Common Boa Constrictor and inhabits rainforests, the other two animals I saw were an African spurred tortoise and a lizard which I think is the Bearded Dragon, a word of praise here for the handlers of these animals who work with a company called the Zoofari.

These handlers were gentle with the animals , very knowledgebale and great with kids too, they also ensured each and every fascinated child and adult got a blob of hand sanitiser after they touched the animals. Kudos to them ! Good work guys and I loved the concept of a mobile zoo and how they raise funds for wildlife ,a very noble thought and deed ..Indeed 🙂

The Zoofari Van :

The crowd around the display area :

Say hello to the Turtle , it’s quite massive isn’t it ??

And now the BOA…….

Ok that was me hesitating and touching the snake after all, so scale-eee , err never mind !

Well After those animals , feats your eyes on some images of the awesome Euphorium Bakery .

And just as I had left the area the taste of chai still lingering in my mouth, I was offered a free sample of the New Almond Latte at Starbucks, worth a try I say!

I managed to stuff my camera back into my bag and dragged my exteremly drowsy self to the tube station , but had to click this last one snap as I laughed aloud and people around gave me the look as if to say ”Crazy woman laughing all alone ..grumphfh ” well you would smirk too after seeing it wouldn’t you ??

Hahaha a quirky laugh at the end of a fab day, all I needed to inspire me to get blogging again!

It’s a BRIGHT and SUNNY DAY !

March 28, 2012 by manjirichitnis 3 Comments

It’s one of those day’s when I ache to grab a mini picnic lunch and a mat , rush to the local park, lie down with a good book and sip some lemonade chilled ofcourse . I dream of falling asleep with the book gently resting on my tummy and the sound of bees buzzing around in the distance , tiny flowers popping up in the grass around me and experiencing a feeling of complete bliss – the feeling of doing nothing and yet doing everythings .

Just the thought makes me smile 🙂