We love this blog

Sarah, Jess and Rob outside Buckingham Palace

We love writing this blog. It's so lovely to do something together, as a family. In fact, when we started it, my daughter and I didn't realise how much fun it would be to share what we do with other people, or how keen Robert (who's 8) would be to get involved.

The children write what they really think on here and I don't go through and edit it with a fine toothcomb - although I do correct spelling mistakes (once a journalist, always a journalist). I sometimes find that the children are harsher critics than me - or that they have picked out something which I would not have emphasised. That is part of the joy of doing this together.

It's also lovely to recommend places for other people to visit, which is why we like writing about holidays abroad as well as days out at home. We like reading other travel blogs and family websites too, and are very happy that through Family Travel Times we have met (in person, I mean) such lovely people as Gretta over at Mumsdotravel, Trish at mumsgoneto , Kirsty at the Family Adventure Project and Mari at Mari's World (as well, of course, as many, many more!) We've also made many virtual contacts (and we would love to turn those into real humans one day...).

We have had such a great time over the last year. America was outstanding, but we also loved our summer holiday to Bristol and searching for Gromits. Robert really enjoyed Dr Johnson's House and I felt spoilt rotten to be lucky enough to take a trip to Jamaica with Jessica.

We write the blog because we enjoy it, and we are delighted that you are reading it too. We are also extremely happy that some kind souls have nominated us for the MAD blog awards - the awards for mum and dad bloggers (and family ones too!)

So, we hope to carry on writing and hopefully entertaining you with our adventures. Thanks for stopping by.

We love this blog (and please nominate us!)

Sarah, Jess and Rob outside Buckingham Palace

We love writing this blog. It's so lovely to do something together, as a family. In fact, when we started it, my daughter and I didn't realise how much fun it would be to share what we do with other people, or how keen Robert (who's 8) would be to get involved.

The children write what they really think on here and I don't go through and edit it with a fine toothcomb - although I do correct spelling mistakes (once a journalist, always a journalist). I sometimes find that the children are harsher critics than me - or that they have picked out something which I would not have emphasised. That is part of the joy of doing this together.

It's also lovely to recommend places for other people to visit, which is why we like writing about holidays abroad as well as days out at home. We like reading other travel blogs and family websites too, and are very happy that through Family Travel Times we have met (in person, I mean) such lovely people as Gretta over at Mumsdotravel, Trish at mumsgoneto , Kirsty at the Family Adventure Project and Mari at Mari's World (as well, of course, as many, many more!) We've also made many virtual contacts (and we would love to turn those into real humans one day...).

We have had such a great time over the last year. America was outstanding, but we also loved our summer holiday to Bristol and searching for Gromits. Robert really enjoyed Dr Johnson's House and I felt spoilt rotten to be lucky enough to take a trip to Jamaica with Jessica.

We write the blog because we enjoy it, and we are delighted that you are reading it too. We are also extremely happy that some kind souls have nominated us for the MAD blog awards - the awards for mum and dad bloggers (and family ones too!)

We would be absolutely thrilled, honoured and delighted if you would also take the time to please nominate and vote for us. We think that we fit best into the category of family travel blog and new blog, but we are very happy to be up in any category you think might suit us (so, not best pregnancy blog then....)

You can vote by clicking on the following link, travelling over to the MADs nomination page, and then following the instructions. The first page has a slot for best overall blog, so we will leave that up to you. We're crossing our fingers that you might pop us down on the next page.

Thank you so much, and we hope you don't mind us asking.

The Drake Fun Day at the Golden Hinde (by Robert)

The Drake Fun Day was awesome, funny, interesting and overall, a great day out.

It took place on the Golden Hinde II, which is a replica of the ship which Sir Francis Drake used to sail all round the world and attack Spanish ships with. It was the first ever English ship that circumnavigated (that means went all around) the world, and this happened when Queen Elizabeth was on the throne. The voyage took place from 1577 to 1580 and before Drake left, the Queen said to him " Sail around the world for England's glory."

We played games and learned facts from the Captain and his stupid, disgusting  assistant, Fart, who even wiped his finger (that he had used to scratch his his bottom) on me!

We played rock, paper scissors, Tudor sailing style. Captain was paper, officer was rock and sailor was scissors.


We also played hide and seek. We were trying to find the Spanish who Francis Drake hated. I was one of the people who hid and no one found me.

We also played a different version of Chinese Whispers, where we had to guess what the Queen was saying. The Queen let Francis Drake attack Spanish ships but in return she had to get half of the treasure that he stole.
No one was supposed to know that she was giving permission for this, so her majesty talked in code. We listened to a silly code like "birds and feet flavoured crisps" and then we had to guess which it actually meant, using some clues.

The captain's room where Sir Francis Drake would sleep.

We also learnt how to fire a minion (a sort of gun) using all sorts of powder, pig dung, sheep wool and lots more. There were 14 minions on the cannon deck.

I thought it was interesting that the people who built the ship
put most of the rooms with the weight at the bottom of the ship and barely any weight on the top of the ship so the ship didn't sink. We stood in the room next to the water, the ceiling was very low, only about 1.28 metres tall and you couldn't even stand up. There wasn't very much space, even though 80 sailors would have been on the ship and nearly all of them would have slept in that room (on the floor!).

You can see how small the rooms were. Jess is taller than the door!

I would recommend the Drake Fun Day to ages 7+ and  I would give it 5 stars *****.

An actor called Michael played Lowman Fart, while one called James played the captain

Sarah says: The Golden Hinde is situated right near London Bridge station. The Drake Fun Day cost £7 for adults and £5 for children, but we had a smartsave voucher which saved us 20 percent! The tour lasted for two hours and we thought it was good value, while there are regular guided tours and also sleepovers. It is also a lovely part of town, near the Clink (which we have written about before) and also near Borough Market, where we had lunch afterwards.

Also by me!

Our trip to Cadburyworld

Going back in time at Dr Johnson's house

The Drake Fun Day at the Golden Hinde (by Robert)

The Drake Fun Day was awesome, funny, interesting and overall, a great day out.

It took place on the Golden Hinde II, which is a replica of the ship which Sir Francis Drake used to sail all round the world and attack Spanish ships with. It was the first ever English ship that circumnavigated (that means went all around) the world, and this happened when Queen Elizabeth was on the throne. The voyage took place from 1577 to 1580 and before Drake left, the Queen said to him " Sail around the world for England's glory."

We played games and learned facts from the Captain and his stupid, disgusting  assistant, Fart, who even wiped his finger (that he had used to scratch his his bottom) on me!

We played rock, paper scissors, Tudor sailing style. Captain was paper, officer was rock and sailor was scissors.


We also played hide and seek. We were trying to find the Spanish who Francis Drake hated. I was one of the people who hid and no one found me.
Read more »

Brighton In The Winter (By Jessica)

Me ice-Skating At The Royal Pavilion

I was lucky enough to spend a few days at my friend's grandparents' house in Brighton recently and had a great time. Here is what we did...

Ice Skating

First of all, we took the bus to Brighton's Royal Pavilion to go ice-skating. One problem - I can't ice-skate AT ALL! After putting on skates, I slowly went out onto the ice and did a few laps, soon realizing that I wasn't as bad as I thought. Although I definitely wasn't the best person on the rink, an hour was enough for me to (kind of) learn to skate.

The Pavilion in itself was beautiful - the grass was green, there were loads of flowers and the building looked like a miniature Taj Mahal. It created the perfect atmosphere. The open-air rink is open only in winter, and is somewhere you should really go to, whether you can skate or not...

We also had lunch in the pop-up tent by the rink and were not disappointed. I had a delicious fish finger sandwich and chips, and the whole place smelt amazing. The service was good and the atmosphere was warm and friendly.

The Pier

Obviously, the part I was most looking forward to in our whole trip was Brighton's famous pier. Unfortunately, when we went it was absolutely pouring with rain (far too common in England), so we mainly stayed inside. The first thing I noticed was that the food was ridiculously overpriced. Although I only wanted a stick of candyfloss, you had to pay loads of money, so I ended up walking away from the food empty-stomached.

I am a bit of a cynical person, the kind of person who usually realizes that it is impossible to win arcade games and doesn't even try. Yet somehow, the stupid games inside the pier stopped me from being my usual self. After an hour, I had ALMOST won four radio-controlled minions, a professional camera, a tablet and I managed to cut half the string off a gigantic pacman toy. All my mini angry bird toys had been dropped by a giant claw just before they fell down the hole and all the money I won from the penny falls was wasted by going straight back into the machines. Oops.

Although I had a fantastic time at the pier, I ended up wasting £14 (!) and walked away ashamed and empty handed. If you do go to Brighton pier, make sure to pace yourself!

The Brighton Wheel

The Brighton Wheel is 50m high and is placed right between the sea and the rest of Brighton and Hove. Although it is quite pricey (£6.50 for children), I had fun looking at the fantastic views and taking pictures on my phone. The wheel is quite fast, and you are allowed three complete turns on it, which takes approximately 12 minutes. I loved most of it, as there were stunning views over the sea, and it was fun to see the people in the other pods. On the other hand, the other side of the wheel is just buildings and is not very interesting to look at, so there are only really two good spaces to sit in a pod, as otherwise you cramp your neck by trying to look at the sea!

There was some commentary while going round the wheel, and it was incredibly interesting. I was fascinated with the story about the old pier, and there was something for everyone. I did also notice that there was a cool looking mini golf place next to the wheel, but we didn't go on it.

The Beach

We didn't go to the beach as the weather was terrible, the sea was cold and the waves were colossal, but it was still absolutely gorgeous. It is a pebble beach, which was nice for a change and I bet that it is lovely in the summer...

Overall, I had a fabulous time in Brighton, even though the weather was terrible. There was always loads to do - shops, museums, restaurants and attractions are in abundant supply. If you live in the UK, you should definitely visit Brighton, whether it is the winter or the summer.

More By Me!

Our Experience Of The Sandals Foundation

A Delicious Sally Lunn Bun

A Brilliant Time At Buckingham Palace

Brighton In The Winter (By Jessica)

Me ice-Skating At The Royal Pavilion

I was lucky enough to spend a few days at my friend's grandparents' house in Brighton recently and had a great time. Here is what we did...

Ice Skating

First of all, we took the bus to Brighton's Royal Pavilion to go ice-skating. One problem - I can't ice-skate AT ALL! After putting on skates, I slowly went out onto the ice and did a few laps, soon realizing that I wasn't as bad as I thought. Although I definitely wasn't the best person on the rink, an hour was enough for me to (kind of) learn to skate. 

The Pavilion in itself was beautiful - the grass was green, there were loads of flowers and the building looked like a miniature Taj Mahal. It created the perfect atmosphere. The open-air rink is open only in winter, and is somewhere you should really go to, whether you can skate or not... 

Read more »

This one's for mums (& dads!) Rafayel on the Left Bank - a 5 star spa hotel

The Rafayel spa

My friend Beverlie Summers is a woman of many talents, including writing, and being the mum of four. She is also the first person to guest post on our blog, and her post is about a wonderful sounding hotel which would be just perfect for a few days without the kids in tow! With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it seemed a good time to run her piece.

Over to Beverlie:

"Iqbal Latif - polymath, weaver of stories, social scientist, owner of one of the world's first environmentally-conscious luxury hotels.... I am just a little bit in love with him!  What he has created at Falcon Wharf, Battersea is nothing short of incredible. From the second you walk into the lobby you know that this is going to be an amazing experience.

The lobby

The Rafayel is one of the world’s first environmentally-conscious luxury hotels, managing to minimize its environmental impact without comprising on 5-star luxury, quality or comfort. Personally I really like having the choice of just having the bed remade or having all the bed linen changed every single day – similarly with the towels. I always find it somewhat wasteful to throw perfectly usable towels on the floor each day to be replaced.

The bedrooms themselves have MediaHub panels to connect mp3 players, laptops and digital cameras to the TV and audio system. The beds are really comfortable and the linen is luxurious. The bathrooms are spacious and full of top spec equipment – gorgeous power shower and a separate bath (complete with TV).

The Rafayel is in Battersea close to The London Heliport and with views of the Thames. There is a free Shuttle Service running every 30 minutes to and from nearest transport links. (Clapham Junction & Clapham Common) or if you prefer, there is car parking in the hotel car park for £15 per day. I chose to drive in as it gave me the freedom to travel the next day, but actually the hotel is so central I could easily have relied on public transport.

There are lovely riverside walks, charming cafes, markets and shops all on the doorstep and easy access to a host of activities and outings via the bus and tube. The Westfield Shopping Centre is nearby and Kings Road is just a 20 minute stroll along the river.

As well as the 65 luxurious guest rooms, there are also 23 serviced apartments which are ideal for families.

I stayed with a friend – we had decided to have a "girlie night away" – and we were both really impressed with the spa.  The treatments were professional and reasonably priced. I had an urban cleanse facial, which took an hour and cost a special offer price of £60 (it's usually £120). It was very relaxing, deep cleansing and my skin looked much fresher and clearer afterwards. I also found my therapist to be very gentle and friendly

Best of all though was the relaxation room which you can see above, where we hunkered down, sipping champagne and watching the sun set over the Thames.  We sat there chatting and unwinding until it was so dark outside and then marvelled at all the lights twinkling on the river.

Helicopters swooped in onto the helicopter landing pad just beyond the roof terrace – even I was excited by that, but I could imagine it being the highlight of a child’s stay to watch them at such close range!

The view from the roof terrace

The spa area boasts a Jacuzzi, a power pool and well equipped gym. Children are allowed in the Jacuzzi only under strict parental guidance – which I think is fair for everyone.

Dotted around on each of the four floors are little lounge areas and specially commissioned art and sculpture throughout. There is even a library, all of which add to the very intimate, quirky feel of this hotel.

Residents get a 50 percent discount in the Banyan Restaurant and once again, we were impressed. There was enough choice to suit even the fussiest of eaters – adult and child alike - and the staff were friendly, attentive and very helpful.

A special treat for the children (and adults!) is the 17th Floor 360 degree view of London.  Although there is so much to see and do outside of the hotel, my friend and I managed to spend our whole time inside and found plenty to keep us occupied.

I would highly recommend The Rafayel on the Left Bank to families or couples (there are lovely Spa deals – ideal for Valentine’s Day) or for a "girlie" night away and would definitely stay there again….maybe next time I would even venture outside at some point!

Beverlie stayed in the Amazon Suite, which cost £139 per night at the Hotel Rafayel. you can find out more details of room rates here.  

More on Family Travel Times:

Read about our "bests" of 2013, including our favourite hotels.

This one's for mums (& dads!) Rafayel on the Left Bank - a 5 star spa hotel

The Rafayel spa

My friend Beverlie Summers is a woman of many talents, including writing, and being the mum of four. She is also the first person to guest post on our blog, and her post is about a wonderful sounding hotel which would be just perfect for a few days without the kids in tow! With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it seemed a good time to run her piece.

Over to Beverlie:

"Iqbal Latif - polymath, weaver of stories, social scientist, owner of one of the world's first environmentally-conscious luxury hotels.... I am just a little bit in love with him!  What he has created at Falcon Wharf, Battersea is nothing short of incredible. From the second you walk into the lobby you know that this is going to be an amazing experience.

The lobby

The Rafayel is one of the world’s first environmentally-conscious luxury hotels, managing to minimize its environmental impact without comprising on 5-star luxury, quality or comfort. Personally I really like having the choice of just having the bed remade or having all the bed linen changed every single day – similarly with the towels. I always find it somewhat wasteful to throw perfectly usable towels on the floor each day to be replaced.

The bedrooms themselves have MediaHub panels to connect mp3 players, laptops and digital cameras to the TV and audio system. The beds are really comfortable and the linen is luxurious. The bathrooms are spacious and full of top spec equipment – gorgeous power shower and a separate bath (complete with TV).

The Rafayel is in Battersea close to The London Heliport and with views of the Thames. There is a free Shuttle Service running every 30 minutes to and from nearest transport links. (Clapham Junction & Clapham Common) or if you prefer, there is car parking in the hotel car park for £15 per day. I chose to drive in as it gave me the freedom to travel the next day, but actually the hotel is so central I could easily have relied on public transport.

Read more »

Where shall we go in the summer (it's tricky!)?

We went to Paris in October. Where's next?

Where should we go in the summer? That's our burning question for now. It may only be January, but you can never think about your next trip too early!

I gave advice on summer family holidays in this post on Top Cashback and realised there there were so many things to take into account...It's not easy.

Firstly, of course, there's a budget. Like most people we know, we don't have a great cache of money hanging around waiting to be used, so although we would love a fly drive trip to the USA, that's not going to happen.

Which leaves the UK and Europe.


I love travelling in the UK, taking the train, or car. There are so many places we haven't gone to, and I think the children would love York. Cornwall and Devon are always fantastic and I have had long had a yearning to visit Lincoln (why? I'm not sure).

Wales is so pretty (though often too wet!) and Scotland too. There are lots of choices.

But Jessica craves Italy, partly due to the idea of delicious ice cream, pasta and pizza, but also just because it's a place she's always wanted to go. And both children like the idea of Spain (though would it be too hot in the summer?) and Scandinavia. I love lakes and mountains, so the Italian lakes are tempting, and so is Switzerland.

Of course what we do on holiday matters too. We like to walk around and be busy (although Robert loves the beach). That means we like places with castles and kid friendly museums, plus walking or bike trails and maybe a local swimming pool. The children like trying things out - climbing trails for example - and I like beautiful scenery. What do you think will suit us? And do you already know where you are going this year?

Read our posts on:

Parks in Paris with kids (by Robert)

The Roman Baths

Where shall we go in the summer (it's tricky!)?

We went to Paris in October. Where's next?

Where should we go in the summer? That's our burning question for now. It may only be January, but you can never think about your next trip too early!

I gave advice on summer family holidays in this post on Top Cashback and realised there there were so many things to take into account...It's not easy.

Firstly, of course, there's a budget. Like most people we know, we don't have a great cache of money hanging around waiting to be used, so although we would love a fly drive trip to the USA, that's not going to happen.

Which leaves the UK and Europe.


Read more »