Tilfords Woods Lodge Retreat is a family favourite, so we’ve put together a special list of things to do in Surrey. Our etreat is surrounded by beautiful scenery, only a short walk from one of the best places to eat in the area, The Duke of Wellington Bar & Restaurant, as well as being only a 50 minute train journey from London city center. But what if you didn’t want to enter the hustle and bustle of the big city, and still wanted family friendly things to do with your little ones?

Well here at HQ we’ve come up with 9 things to do with the kids in Surrey that is fun for everyone! Each place has the opening times, prices, postcode and length of time to drive from our retreat, so you can plan your holiday before you get to us!

It’s a bit of long one, so settle in with a cuppa and read our top 9 things to do with the kids in Surrey…

1. hampton court palace

Opening Times: 10am – 6pm
Prices: Adult £18.40. Child £9.20
Postcode: KT8 9AU (50 minutes away)

Wander the corridors of royal power and pleasure of the Hampton Court Palace. A full programme of activities, from Tudor jousting to exploring 300 year old chocolate kitchens! Visit the Magic Garden and let the adventure begin, a place where the little ones will come face to face with mythical beats, help to storm the battlements and explore the secret grotto, a brand new and unique way to explore the past. Venture into the world famous maze, designed by George London and Henry Wise and was commissioned in 1700, take a leisurely stroll but try not to get lost!

2. thorpe park

Opening Times: 10 am – 6 pm off peak. Until 10 pm during Summer holidays.
Prices: (vary, based on online prices) 1 day ticket £29.99, Day ticket + fast track £36.99. Annual pass £119
Postcode: KT16 8PN (45 minutes away)

Endless family fun at this hugely popular theme park, with two categories of rides to choose from, the family friendly rides and the thrill rides for those extra adventurous folks! There are over 30 rides, attractions and live events, with 5 of the UK’s top roller coasters at the theme park, along with Darren Brown’s brand new Ghost Train: Rise of the Demon ride now open, for those who dare! There is also the fun Angry Birds 4D Experience, among other family fun things to do for the kids too!

3. birdworld

Opening Times: 10am – 6pm (BST) and 10am – 4.30pm (GMT) (last admissions are an hour before closing)
Prices: (vary, based on peak times) Adult £18.95, Child 3-15 £14.95
Postcode: GU10 4LD (15 minutes away)

Birdworld is one of the most popular things to do with the kids in Surrey, a place where you can have the ultimate family fun. Visit the penguins at feeding time, help to feed the birds and learn all about their colourful characters. Don’t miss the stunning Flamingo Cove & Seashore Walk, as well as the fabulous Park Pet Shop, were you can cuddle and purchase your very own fluffy bundle of joy! Also don’t miss the exciting Owl Parliament, in honour of the brilliant fantasy author, this satellite exhibit aims to educate and raise awareness of these stunning and wise animals!

4. watts gallery & artists village

Opening Times: 9 am – 5 pm weekdays, 10 am – 5 pm weekends
Prices: Adult £9.50, Student £4.75, Under 16’s go free
Postcode: GU3 1DQ (20 minutes away)

There is something for all ages at Watt’s Gallery & Artists Village, with a full programme of workshops to join in on, creating crafts and learning new skills, while having lots of fun! You can explore the beautiful Artists Village with one of the family trail packs, including the brand new Activity Backpack, which is full of quizzes, activities, games and multi-sensory objects to explore. There is also the Family Explorer Trail, where you discover the entire Artists Village and the collection through drawing activities and challenges. Discover the history behind the centre and view some beautiful art at the Watts Gallery.

5. hatchlands park

Opening Times: 10 am – 5 pm (House opens at 2 pm)
Prices: Adult £11, Child £5.50, Family £27.50 (whole property prices)
Postcode: GU4 7RT (40 minutes away)

Over 400 acres of beautiful parkland is open all year round at the Hatchlands Park. You can find the perfect picnic spot while exploring the magical tree-lined paths and plenty of picnic benches if you don’t fancy sitting on the grass. Visit the children’s adventure area, a place to let them run free and climb the frames! Discover the Parterre Garden, a peaceful spot where you can soak up the surrounding beauty in a place bursting with colour. This stunning suntrap is home to water features, palm tree and benches for you to sit back and take in the tranquillity, while watching the little ones explore the flower beds. Dogs are welcome in the walking paths, and wider gardens, but not in the Hatchlands House. The Georgian house was built in 1756, and you can explore all 6 of the beautifully restored rooms, and if you’re lucky you can even discover the hidden spaces beneath the house.

6. british wildlife centre

Opening Times: 10 am – 5pm (during school holidays)
Prices: Adult £11.50, Child £8.50, Family £37
Postcode: RH7 6LF (1 hour away)

Spend a day visiting the British Wildlife Centre and learn thing about the wildlife on your doorstep. There are over 40 animals on display at the wildlife centre, including little owls, otters, foxes, snowy owls and many more. There are fantastic keeper talks every half an hour, so you and your little ones can learn more about the animals in your back garden at home! Visit the wildlife themed activity area, Pip’s Childrens Corner, where the little ones can run wild and take part in activities such as building a heron’s nest, explore an underground badger sett and slide down the otter bank, among many other activities! You and your family can enjoy a full day at the wildlife centre, take your own picnic and relax at the picnic areas, or grab a hot drink and warm meal at the onsite coffee shop, before off exploring some more of our wonderful wildlife!

7. godstone farm

Opening Times: 10 am – 5 pm everyday
Prices: Adult & Child £8.90, Child (1 year old) £3.40 (based on peak times)
Postcode: RH9 8LX (55 minutes away)

Perfect for a family fun day out in Surrey! Visit a variety of animals, the farmyard section offers pigs, cows, sheep and goats to cuddle! Meet the ponies and horses grazing in the fields, along with an array of colourful birds living all around the farm to see on your stroll. Cuddle the fluffy and furry bunnies, guinea pigs, degus and even cute chinchillas, as well as visiting the very friendly llamas and alpacas! At the top of the farm you can find one of the biggest adventure playgrounds you have ever seen, full of sandpits, slides, climbing walls and even a zip lines! If the weather starts to take a turn for the worse, never fear, head straight for the indoor Playbarn, a wonderful soft play area for all ages! Godstone Farm is truly one of the best things to do with the kids in Surrey no matter the weather.

8. tulley’s farm: maze fun park

Opening Times: seasonal, 22nd July – 3rd September
Prices: Adult £9, Child £10, Family £32
Postcode: RH10 4PE (1 hour away)

Tulley’s Farm is an events venue known for its spectacular seasonal events every year, especially their live-scare Halloween events. During the summer holidays take your little ones to the Summer Maize Fun Park, with over 25 attractions there will be something to entertain all ages! The attractions include logic puzzles, giant games, illusions and a giant adventure play area with trampolines, tractor rides, Frisbee golf and much more! The maize maze is created from 8 acres of corn and is one of the best ways to have a leisurely walk in the summer sun. During the summer nights you can experience the maze in a while new way with the Torchlight Maze Nights, a truly enlightening experience, where you can create your own light show!

9. waverley abbey

Opening Times: Accessible during day light hours
Prices: Free
Postcode: GU9 0JA (10 minutes away)

Waverley Abbey is located in a peaceful loop of the River Wey, and still shows the impression of solitude experienced by the monks who founded the Abbey 900 years ago. The Waverley Abbey ruins are a fantastic day out for the family, a nature walk to the ruins mean you can soak up as much of the summer sun as possible. A unique way for the children to learn about the history of Surrey, they can marvel at the 13th Century vaulted dining hall, and visit the ruins of the monks sleeping quarters. Take a picnic with you for a peaceful day out at the ruins, where you can sit back and relax to the beautiful River Wey.

Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat is a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The ideal place to base yourself if you’re a nature-loving family, where you can venture into the local area on foot, or explore further to the family friendly things to do in Surrey. Book your holiday now and start planning your family holiday to Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat!

Have a Fabulous Family Holiday!

Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat is perfectly placed to the base for your Cornish Halloween adventures this Half Term…

There are lots of fun family adventures to be had in the local Cornish area around Mullion Cove, filled with fireworks and spooky stories!

halloween happenings at Godolphin

When: 22nd – 30th Oct. Time: 10am – 5pm. Prices: £8.50 (adult) £4.25 (child)

Learn some gruesome and fascinating facts about baths along the family bat tail at Godolphin this Halloween half term, venture into the undercroft and listen to some spooky stories of years gone by and learn all about the ghost that still haunt Godolphin today. Keep your eyes peel as you wander around as you never know what you might see!

fireworks half term at flambards

When: 28th Oct. Time: 6pm Start. Prices: £12.50

Flambards annual Tricks and Treats Firework Spectacular is not to be missed, with Flava and the Big Dance Company headlining the stage where talented crews will be performing their super skilled moves it’s sure to be an amazing half term show! You’ll be able to see one of Cornwall’s finest live bands the ‘Broken Down’ who will be getting the crowd ready and amped up for the spectacular firework display!

spooky Trail at Flambards

When: 24th – 30th Oct. Time: 10am – 5pm. Prices: £19.95

Along with all the fun Flambards attractions, this Halloween half term you can step back in time almost 200 years, with the Spooky Trail through the Victorian Village. Things were terrible for the working class people, disease was rife and the spooky streets were plagued with sneaky pickpockets and murderous rogues. Visit the infamous Peggy Price the Victorian Villager who wanders the cobbles and tells tales of vicious Victorian villains, a great trail for all the family.

After a day out celebrating half term Halloween fun you can retreat back to your stunning lodge in Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat and relax while watching a spooky movie!

Happy Half Term Ghosts and Ghouls!

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If you are spending time at Piran Meadows and are searching for family fun activities in and around Newquay look no further…

Piran Meadows Resort & Spa offers an amazing Go Active+ programme, where you can enjoy archery, fencing, water walkerz and body zorbing among many others! But if you are looking to explore the local area for fun family things to do, then here are our top 10 family things to do in and around Newquay…

pirate’s quest

Join in on the swash buckling voyage through Cornwall’s pirates past! (Who knew?!) You will come face to face with smugglers, mermaids and buccaneers as you travel back 300 years and visit The Republic of Pirates. You will escape a shipwreck with the Flying Gang and their Captain Blackbeard, travel through mystical caves and murky 18th Century streets of Cornwall, while looking for new buccaneers to join the gang! The Pirate’s Quest is family fun for everyone!

blue reef aquarium

A place where there are new discoveries everyday, with over 40 naturally themed habitats, you will travel from Cornish waters to exotic seas! Marvel at the fresh water turtles, pulsating jellyfish and mesmerising pufferfish, and at the heart of the Blue Reef Aquarium is the Ocean tank and underwater tunnel, where you can view fascinating sea creatures. The Black Tip Reef Sharks, who grow up to 2 meters long, as well as the completely unique Giant Pacific Octopus who are very intelligent and have 3 hearts, blue blood and a doughnut shaped brain! (wow!) Learn so much at the aquarium and see the masses of colourful fish too.

newquay zoo

With over 1000 of the world’s rarest and endangered animals, Newquay Zoo is surrounded by 13 acres of lush tropical gardens, you can run wild and explore to release your inner animal! See the penguins, lions, tigers and the breathtaking beautiful zebras, and adventure to the topical house if you dare to see the rare and unusual animals there, including a sloth (my favourite animal ever, for obvious reasons. I want to be one, I’m already half way there). There are activity trails, a café, face painting and a loads of education about conservation too, fun for all ages!

jungle jacks

At Jungle Jacks in Newquay you can let the little monkey’s run wild in the 1700 square feet purpose built play frame! Providing a safe places for them to have a blast, burn off some steam and have endless amounts of fun, challenging climbs, a fun rope bridge, astra-glide slide, crafty crawl tubes and cool peekaboo bubble windows. For the adventure seekers there is the super fast racing slide and spiral tube for the brave kids, as well as dedicated baby and toddler play area for the little ones too. There is ample seating, positioned so you can see the whole play area, free Wi-Fi and a well stocked café.

lusty glaze adventure centre

This sheltered beach cove is the perfect place to kick your shoes off and feel the sand between your toes, take a break and breathe in the fresh salt air away from the stresses of everyday life. Take a spade, bucket, ball and a picnic and you have the perfect, free, fun family day out at the beach! There are also plenty of adventure activities taking place at the centre, from abseiling, tightrope walking, a cool surf school, jet ski lessons and a fun banana boat ride! The on-site restaurant has a relaxed and intimate atmosphere with panoramic views, along with mouth watering food on offer too. Relax by the log burner on a colder night, or dine al fresco in the sunshine, Lusty Glaze has something for everyone.

lappa valley steam railway

You can have the ride of your life at Lappa Valley Steam Railway, meet the one of a kind trains and journey through the woodland while sitting back and relaxing. But there is more than just trains here, jump in the canoe and navigate your way around the islands on the canoe lake, have a round of crazy golf, walk the fascinating nature tails and use the outdoor and indoor play areas! There is even a toddlers maze for the little ones to get involved too, the small brick walled maze is a replica of an 1804 locomotive! Don’t forget to enjoy the sand pits, pirate ships and coin operated cars!

crantock beach

Crantock Beach is a 15 minute drive from Newquay town centre and was voted Best British Beach in 2013 by the BBC! Walk over the looming sand dune and marvel at the awe inspiring view on offer, the beautiful expanse of golden sand and glittering blue sea will wash all your stresses away and makes for a great seaside family day out! Drop into the Fern Pit where you can order a cooked lobster that has been freshly caught that morning, and take a walk along the headland overlooking the bay too. And if you have a fur baby with you, dogs are welcome all year round at the beach too!

st eval kart circuit

This is perfect for children aged 7 and above, the St Eval Kart Circuit is a massive outdoor track and one of the UK’s biggest, as well as being the Southwests largest and fastest adult kart circuits too. Its only one of its kind in Devon and Cornwall, so you are rest assured for a fun and unique family day out here! If you aren’t into racing but the little ones are, no worries, you can watch them zoom around the track for free as spectators aren’t charged! It is an all weather track so you can go rain or shine and have the time of your life zipping round the track in the Powermax kart!

skullduggery lazer tag

Skullduggery is Cornwall’s premier lazer tag arena, you can even become a member if you wanted to! With jaw dropping lighting and adrenaline pumping effects you will have the time of your life here, hiding and dodging your family and friends. You can play on your own, so every man for himself, or you can team up and protect your bases, like in Halo (I love that game), sneak around and hide from your opponents in the arena and lazer your way to the leader board!

Those are Darwin Escapes top 10 family fun things to do in Newquay! If you find any hidden treasures or have any ideas to add to our list let us know!

Happy adventuring & family frolicking!

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A family favourite for the past 50 years, Talacre Beach offers fantastic entertainment on the North Wales Coastline! Located just a stone’s throw away from the beautiful sandy beach Talacre Beach Resort is a family favourite. Offering a traditional seaside feel, including its own fish and chip shop, with all the mod cons and luxury that Darwin Escapes offer. Being close to the up and coming town of Prestatyn and the beautiful city of Chester, there is always something to do in and around this 5 Star holiday park.

Our fabulous entertainment team have worked hard to create an egg-tastic Easter programme (see what I did there?) Along with plenty of party dances, laughs and of course Charlie Bear, we have fun Easter Crafts, where you can make a fun Easter card and paint some eggs. Get your running shoes ready for our fun traditional family sports day, will you find the gleaming golden egg in the Easter egg hunt? And don’t miss the fascinating creatures and the beautiful, infamous, Racoon Dog from *Animals out the Box, and join in the cheering and fun at the **Basix Wrestling show!

We also have a fun night time entertainment programme, with fantastic vocalists, such as the family favourite tribute ‘The Frozen Show’, join in the singing with some fun karaoke, win big at bingo and meet Charlie Bear too!

*Animals out the Box dates: 31st March, 7th & 14th April 2016
**Basix Wrestling dates: 6th April 2016

Our brand new retreat in the heart of the Lake District offers fantastic facilities, as well as being close to many events during half term

Half term in the Lake District means exploring the region to your heart’s content, set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you’ll marvel at the scenery around you and enjoy the long walks available, before returning to your stunning lodge accommodation in the Lake District. If the weather isn’t on your side and you prefer to stay dry, there are lots of events inside in the surrounding areas to keep all the family happy!

Keswick film festival

Where: Theatre by the Lake
When: 16th – 19th Feb

Anchored within the stunning Lakeland landscape, the festival will take you all over the world through the screen, you’ll visit places where the majesty of the natural environment shapes the lives, loves and futures of the characters that live there and you will live it right alongside them. With a poetry theme throughout, it explores the creative process of the makers, and sometimes the tortured souls who bring us exquisite writings ranging from 16th Century England to South American in the 20th Century. A brand new Critics Award means you can share your own views, and challenge the opinions of those that can often make or break a film. During the festival there will be thought-provoking documentaries, special guests and, of course, the best from film festivals around the world! There is an option of a festival pass if you don’t want to miss a single thing, or you can pay for individual film passes if there are only a few that tickle your fancy.

half term at Rheged Centre

The Rheged Centre has lots of events on over half term for all the family including:

• Make Your Own Mad Hatter’s Hat workshop on 24th Feb – Where you can make your own crazy and fancy hat to rival the Hatter’s himself! With a rang of colourful collage materials, ribbons and jewels all included to help personalise your hat
• 3D Printing Workshop on 20th Feb – Back by popular demand, Arts Manager John Stokes will help you discover exciting technology and learn how to use simple design software to create and print your own model.
• Film Making Animation on 21st Feb – Here you can have a go at creating your very own stop motion animations, with help from educator and animator Sheryl Jenkins. She will inspire you to design and make your own weird and wonderful creations and bring them to life using animations apps you can use at home!
• Join the Spy Academy on 22nd Feb – calling would be spies, join in and train to be an Agent! Learn how to take fingerprints, use a code cracker and solve some cryptic clues, master tricking team building games and find out who’s been causing all sorts of trouble around Rheged! At the end of the training, all Agents’ will receive a certificate and finer print key ring to take home.
• Professor Pumpernickel’s Mind Bending Science Show on 23rd Feb – Roll up and witness Profession Pumpernickel’s greatest science show on earth! He’s on a mission to inspire all future inventors, explorers, life savers and even super heroes! The show includes fire, explosions and mind bending magic!
• Woodstone Learning on 21st Feb – make your own shield and sword from willow, this workshop is back by popular demand from all would-be Knights! Don’t fancy a shield or sword? No problem, create a beautiful heart decoration instead!

With something for everyone in the Lake District this half term, Keswick Reach is the place to be!

Happy Half Term Exploring Ladies & Gents!

Are you searching for fun family days out in Cornwall? Well look no further, we’ve got it covered in our top 5 child friendly attractions in Cornwall. Cornwall is a great family location with plenty of activities for both old and young. This is why it is such a popular destination for holidays and holiday home ownership, with there being something different to do every time you visit. In this post, we have chosen a selection of our favorite family days out that between them cater for all weather conditions.

1. Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek

Located in Gweek, which is just a 20-minute drive from Mullion Cove, the Cornish seal sanctuary is set in 42 acres of stunning Cornish scenery around the Helford estuary. Half the world’s population of grey seals live on and around the British coast, and their numbers have doubled since the 1960s.

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary offers visitors the chance to meet the adorable whiskered residents, and hear the touching tales behind their rescues. Visitors are also able to get up close to the other residents, which include comical penguins, mischievous otters, and noisy sea lions. You are also free to explore the remarkable woodland or test your bravery by finding out how it feels to touch starfish, crab and other creatures living in the interactive rock pool.

2. Dairyland Farm World

Located a short 7-minute drive from Piran Meadows, Newquay, Dairyland is a fantastic adventure park to suit all ages. Visitors can experience everything from petting and feeding the farm animals to tractor and pony rides, cow milking, nature trails and much more. Dairyland also offers great activities under cover for when the weather is not so good, including the Bull Pen – a massive indoor play centre, as well as the Milking Parlour and the Farm Museum, where visitors can explore Cornish farm life throughout the ages. There is also a Kitchen Café, which offers a great range of good value food and drink.

3. the Eden Project

Set in a reclaimed Kaolanite pit 5km from St Austell, the Eden project showcases artificial biomes containing a diverse collection of plants that imitate the key biomes around the world. The rainforest biome is especially interesting as it exhibits an extremely rich diverse plant ecosystem, which you can observe from a raised viewing platform. The inflated plastic structures themselves are a stunning architectural feat, and are well worth visiting.

Also for those who are interested in their James Bond trivia, the site was used as a set in the filming of Die Another Day. Overall the Eden Project is a great educational trip for the whole family highlighting the relationship between people and plants. Kids can enjoy specially designed play areas as well as follow exciting trails around the site, with shortcuts, hideaways, steppingstones and sandpits. There are also, at various points during the year, special events for kids to get involved with, including den building in the summer, ice skating in the winter, and rock climbing. It has both indoor and outdoor gardens, so it can cater for visitors whatever the weather. The food there is also good quality, ethically sourced and reasonably priced.

4. Newquay Zoo

Less than 10 minutes from Piran Meadows, Newquay Zoo offers exotic fun for all the family. Kids can get up close to over 130 of the world’s rare and exciting creatures, and they can spectate as some of the most lethal cats on the planet devour their lunch. There is also an opportunity to learn more about conservation, as Newquay Zoo is home to some severely endangered species including the delightful Red Pandas, Owston’s Civets and Black Wildebeest.

Keeper talks and animal feeding sessions occur regularly throughout the day, and offer an educational insight into how all varieties of majestic animals go about their daily lives. On top of this, Newquay Zoo’s Animal Experiences give you the chance to meet and feed some of their most popular residents including both cheeky Lemurs and chummy Penguins. Finally if you still have energy after all that, Newquay Zoo has a variety of activity trails, face painting, a dragon maze as well as a children’s play area to keep the kids occupied!

5. Crealy Adventure Park

Recently awarded the Best Family Attraction in Cornwall by readers of Primary Times for three consecutive years, Crealy Adventure Park is a popular choice for visitors with young ones. Located in 111 acres of Cornish countryside, the Adventure Park is a haven of family-friendly rides, giant play areas as well as a sanctuary for hundreds of cute friendly animals. Boasting a rich variety of crazy rides, novel attractions as well as indoor entertainment for those inevitable days when the sun isn’t shining, Cornwall’s Crealy is highly recommended as a Children’s playground destination. Look out for Swampy and Dina, the park’s resident characters!

Piran Meadows offers the ideal place to base yourself in Cornwall, enjoy your getaway, your way, with your family