Any local knowledge welcome.

G

Galia

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We are planning to spend 10 days in England for our holidays in July. The two main spots are Tamworth (Thomasland) and Windsor (Legoland). As its a family holiday I don't want to completely hog the time as they have been very tolerant of my relatively new found boating passion and the last three summer holidays have been spent with the boat in Fermanagh. Anyhow, to get to the point, we are planning to take a boat trip on the Avon when we are in Stratford and we have got vouchers for a Thames trip with French brothers. Are there any other boaty things suitable for a family in the area ? Or indeed any other advice at all (apart from don't stay in Travelodges - oops too late! :o )
Thanks
George
 
How about a family day ticket for the Water Buses in London. Jump on and off wherever you like and get a great view of London from the river.
 
dash300 said:
How about a family day ticket for the Water Buses in London. Jump on and off wherever you like and get a great view of London from the river.
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Our "base" for Windsor / Legoland / London is Langley, Slough. Do the Water buses go that far out , or is it a more Central thing? We haven't really decided if we are going into the City. The kids still think they're spending another week boating in Fermanagh !!
 
Galia said:
Of course, swmbo has already specified this and the Guard changes around 11am I think and parades through the town ?
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Yes, I think that's the case. Legoland is a whole day trip I think and the Castle for another day. From the Castle you could walk around Windsor and down to the Thames. If it's a hot Saturday or Sunday nip off on a 15 minute drive to Maidenhead and watch posh people take large boats through Boulter's lock. A very good park for the kids near Boulter's too, (depending on age of kids, it has sand pits, climbing etc).
 
Galia said:
Our "base" for Windsor / Legoland / London is Langley, Slough. Do the Water buses go that far out , or is it a more Central thing? We haven't really decided if we are going into the City. The kids still think they're spending another week boating in Fermanagh !!
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I grew up in Langley. Take a gun.
 
Langley is not on the river and has a minor railway station. But a train / bus / cab will take you to Slough which has a major railway station. Train fares are very high but if you book in advance online you can save a lot of money - particularly well in advance. Have a think about your plans then consider booking train tickets to Paddington then exploring the 1,000s of things London offers.
 
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There are short river excursions at Windsor. Also look up Salters Steamers they do long distance river trips during the summer.
Concur with Moxon .... dont miss out on what London has to offer.
 
oldgit said:
Presume things are better since the sheriff ran you out of town :)
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LOL You know it's bad when you upgrade to Swindon.

Geroge, I realise there's potential to be overwhelmed by ideas. But for a London trip you could do this:

Train from Slough to Paddington
Underground to London Eye
Walk to a pre-booked Duck Tour
Tube to museum (National History / Science / V&A etc).

There's fully packed day there. Perhaps too much for one day.
 
Google legoland as there was chaos this week where they shut the gates as to many visitors turned up causing traffic jams all over the place.
Some good weather and the place goes beserk!


Lynall
 
We always spend a night at Penton Hook marina when up the Thames as it is directly opposite Thorpe Park which keeps the kids happy. If you collect the two for one vouchers beforehand it doesn't work out too expensive.
 
lynall said:
Google legoland as there was chaos this week where they shut the gates as to many visitors turned up causing traffic jams all over the place.
Some good weather and the place goes beserk!


Lynall
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Legoland is Hell on earth ... I gave up going there a while back (we have merlin passes getting you in all parks). It's problem is most rides are slow and takes an age to load and unload as they are mostly kids rides. This just means you queue all day.

We found the only time to go was 30 mins before opening on a weekday , smash through five or more big rides and out the door by 1300 latest.

We were lucky in the my daughters holidays were always out of sync with the local area.

It's grossly over rated.

Thorpe Park is you best bet for kids over 140cm.

Hmm two posts ?
 
lynall said:
Google legoland as there was chaos this week where they shut the gates as to many visitors turned up causing traffic jams all over the place.
Some good weather and the place goes beserk!


Lynall
Click to expand...

We plan to go on a Mon / Tues, whole day affair, and as far as I know English school holidays won't have started by then.
G
 
Moxon said:
Yes, I think that's the case. Legoland is a whole day trip I think and the Castle for another day. From the Castle you could walk around Windsor and down to the Thames. If it's a hot Saturday or Sunday nip off on a 15 minute drive to Maidenhead and watch posh people take large boats through Boulter's lock. A very good park for the kids near Boulter's too, (depending on age of kids, it has sand pits, climbing etc).
Click to expand...

That sounds good, we trail boat and "our" favourite slipways all have adjacent kids parks / playgrounds. They're 5 & 7 yo so attention span is not great unless it is something they really want to do. :rolleyes:
Thanks
George
 
Moxon said:
LOL You know it's bad when you upgrade to Swindon.

Geroge, I realise there's potential to be overwhelmed by ideas. But for a London trip you could do this:

Train from Slough to Paddington
Underground to London Eye
Walk to a pre-booked Duck Tour
Tube to museum (National History / Science / V&A etc).

There's fully packed day there. Perhaps too much for one day.
Click to expand...

We hadn't considered going into the city. With 5 & 7 yo we are trying to alternate full days with relaxing days :cool: (as much for our benefit as theirs!) so we don't come back from holidays even more knackered than we set off ! Having said that , that does sound a good itinerary, although I think I would enjoy the museums better without the kids! (Bad daddy) :o
 
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