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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!

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

Family days out - Barons' Cave. Castle Grounds, Reigate, Surrey. Image credit : Howard Walden from The Wealden Cave & Mine Society website
Barons’ Cave. Castle Grounds, Reigate, Surrey

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

Family days out  - Reigate, Surrey, Image credit  Nick Catford from The Wealden Cave & Mine Society website
Family days out – Reigate, Surrey

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.

Filed Under: London and rest of U.K, Travel Tagged With: 12 forts in the south east of England, 1815, 1841, 1896, 1929, 1932, 1946, 2 hours, 2 mile circular walk, 26 miles, 5 ideas for fun days out near London this summer, 650 deers roaming freely, Adventures of Tintin, Apple and Cherry trees, Barons’ cave, bars, bbq, birds, Blue Flag Beach, boat ride, Box Hill, Brazil, Brighton, Brighton & Hove, Broadwood’s Folly, buried, bus, Butterfly trail, cafe, Canada, caribbean, Castle grounds, Caves at Reigate in the historic town of Surrey, Chanctonbury Ring, Chichester Harbour, chilled beer, chinoiserie, Clubs, coastal cruise, creeks, creepy crawlies, Cycle, Denbies Vineyard, Devil’s Dyke, distinctive landmark, Environmental Education and Information, Environmental Management, europe, exciting days out, exotic, explore, facilities, fish and chips, flip flops, flowers, free parking, Gatwick airport, Guilford, Herge, John Logie Baird, King George IV, Kitesurfing, late evening sunlight, London’s eight Royal Parks, Magna Carta, Major Peter Labellière, Morocco, mountains, National Nature Reserve, National Rail, National Trust, New Zealand, Noctovisor, old sand mines, pebble beach, Pebbled Shores, piano maker Thomas Broadwood, Prince Regent, Red Deer, Regency society, relaxation, restaurants, River Mole, Royal Pavilion, royal ‘pleasure palace’, Runnymede, Safety, Salomons Memorial (viewpoint), Sand, sea, seagulls, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Snowdon, snowy, Soft sandy beach, South Africa, south-west London, Special Area of Conservation, stepping stones walk, style, summer holidays, sun, sun screen, Sussex, Swiss Cottage, The Black Island, the Great British Summer, the inventor of television, the South Down, The Train Line, The Wealden Cave & Mine Society, toilets, Tram, tranquil, travel, travel blogger, travel bloggers, travel ideas, travelsfortaste, Trekking Near Box Hill, Tunisia, Tunnel Road caves, upside down grave, Walk and relax at Richmond Park, Water Quality, West Sussex, West Wittering, Western and Caverns, whodunits, Winsurfing, WWII, yachts

Post vacation hangover

June 7, 2012 by manjirichitnis Leave a Comment

I can’t say that a one and a half day escape from city life was a vacation , especially when I ended up buying a thick jacket due to the sudden change in the weather …but , just the thought of going away from it all even for a day is so refreshing that it has given me a massive hangover .

The Isle of Wight is a beautiful place and I know for sure that we are going back for more !

The beautiful seaside , the warm sun hiding behind dark clouds , the feel of the breeze on my face , the early morning view from our B&B room window with the water sparkling like a million tiny diamonds under the weak morning sun, the tiny boats bobbing around ….sighhhhh

A lazy breakfast and walking around aimlessly ….I could go on forever ….

But am back to the grind and have to go , but every time I feel upset about something , I have this little box of happy memories inside me that I shall open and peek into , just to make me smile 🙂

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: b&b, boats, breeze, hangiver, Isle of wight, Sand, sun, vacation

The Sand Man

May 30, 2012 by manjirichitnis Leave a Comment

Ok it’s official then , I am the WORLD’S worst aunt ….I love my 4 year niece dearly but to make her bedtime stick I scared her with a story … I told her that if she didn’t fall asleep by 8 pm every night …then …the SAND MAN would come ….

Her deep black pretty eyes widened with fear and she shook a little in her cute little bed and covered in her pink duvet she looked even more tiny ,surrounded by soft toys and what have you …

She whispered ,” but WHO sends him… and WHY ?”

Well, I said with a grave face , ” It’s the QUEEN !”

Shocked beyond her wildest fears A looked and me and said ” But the QUEEN  is so NICE ,why does she do THISsssss????”

Pat came my reply ,” Well it’s part of her duties to see that all the little people in her Kingdom are well-behaved so if any one below the age of 8 is found to be AWAKE beyond 8pm he or she are made to face the SAND MAN”

Now really terrified she said ,”But WHAT does HE do?” her voice only a whisper now and she looked nervously at the door and clutched my hand even tighter …

”Oh , nothing he just mumbles something and POOF blows a bit of sand into the eyes of the kids and they fall asleep instantly (HA!) ”

A went all quiet and shut her eyes as tight as she could and tried to fall asleep , all the while her smart little brain thinking about this whole new threat to her 4-year-old play time way past her bedtime 😉

”But HOW does the QUEEN know I am awake ??”

AAH smart one little girl but I have an answer ready HA !

”Well, MY DEAR the QUEEN has a massive GPS tracking device fitted into all TV sets of families with little people below the age of 8 and that’s how she KNOWS”

A swallowed that bait and tried to fall asleep , but sleep was eluding her in the wake of this breaking news !

She peeled open her eyes and said ” what is the time?” I told her it was ten minutes past 8pm, she almost shrieked and said ”PLEASE tell the QUEEN not to send him today I am a GOOD girl,aren’t I ? I shall ALWAYS fall sleep by 8pm !! IS HE COMING go check ….”

Now my ”grown up’s” conscience pricked me a little and I comforted her ,telling her and assuring her that I knew she was an angel and so did the Queen so no Sand Man tonight but from tomorrow onwards surely he would keep a close watch on her lest she behaved badly and refused to sleep off by 8pm or even refused to brush her teeth before bed ….sigh the fibs one has to tell !

Just when I thought she has slipped into la-la land , her sleepy voice asked ” But why don’t GROWN UP’s like you have a SAND MAN too? What is YOUR bed time ??”

Now she had caught me off guard , but without skipping a beat , I told her the HARD fact of life ,” my dear , we grown up’s are supposed to be RESPONSIBLE for our actions and so we should also be asleep at least by 11pm , or it’s not good for our health ”

Satisfied with that reply she fell asleep still clutching onto my hand …as I crept out the room and switched on the little night lamp , I felt triumphant at having ensured that a 4-year-old will hopefully now sleep on time almost everyday .

A few days later I received a call from my sister-in-law , she was happy to inform me that the SAND MAN story was still quite fresh in her mind and she had even tried standing in front of the television set beyond 8pm waiting for him but unnerved by the consequences had run up to her room and slept off almost immediately ! we giggled like school girls but I admitted how guilty I felt at having scared her into sleeping on time …

How innocent is the mind of little children who do at times , even in today’s times , believe what the adults tell them , especially the one’s they trust … If nothing I felt more protective towards her and of course fell  in love with my sweet little angel all over again ….

Hail SAND MAN and yes apologies to Her Highness the Queen for adding yet another responsibility to your long list of duties , but I do want you to know that my sweet 4 year likes you a lot and so do I …

 

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Miscellaneous Tagged With: bedtime, brush, daily, innocent, little people, love, Man, neice, Queen, Sand

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