Cakes, a Castle and Cathedral - What to do in Lincoln

[caption id="attachment_1560" align="alignnone" width="940"] Beautiful Lincoln Cathedral[/caption]

Jess says: At the start of the summer, mum, dad, Robert and I spent two lovely nights in Lincoln. We had a fantastic time, and I was surprised by how beautiful and picturesque the city was.

While dad and Robert drove, mum and I took the train up so that we could spend an extra night in Lincoln. We were both astounded at how quick and easy the journey from Kings Cross to Lincoln was. It took about an hour and a half to get to Newark North Gate, where we changed and got on a short (and tiny) train to Lincoln Central. The journey was very convenient and relaxing, and the views of the countryside were really nice.

We were staying at The Rest, an old church which is now a boutique hotel and cafe. It is on a road named Steep Hill, which was crowned the best street in Britain 2012. When we visited it was sunny weather, so it was absolutely stunning. The road is full of tearooms, ice cream shops, sweet shops, bakeries and a fudge shop, and there was a market at the top. The market is in a brilliant location, as it is sandwiched right between Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle.

[caption id="attachment_1561" align="alignnone" width="940"] Our room at The Rest[/caption]

Our rooms at The Rest were furnished well and the beds were ridiculously comfy, although the walls were thin. We were able to hear what the people in the other room was saying, which was quite annoying. Breakfast was also delicious and we loved the crossants, although it was slightly weird that you had to ask for jam, butter and napkins if you wanted them.

Our entire trip to the Midlands included Lincoln, Nottingham and Leicester, but my favourite part of the entire holiday was going up the hill and looking at the beautiful tearooms, houses and the Cathedral and Castle. It was truly stunning, and I really want to go back!

Here are my highlights of the trip, and what I think everyone should visit when they travel to Lincoln.

Lincoln Cathedral

[caption id="attachment_1563" align="alignnone" width="940"] The choir were practising in Lincoln Cathedral when we visited[/caption]

Mum and I were given a tour around Lincoln Cathedral by a lovely woman named Dorothy Moss, and were captivated by its beauty. The Cathedral is the third largest in Britain (after London's St Paul's and Salisbury) and it is absolutely incredible to look at. The Cathedral is a mix of architecture ranging from Medieval to Victorian times, and the stained glass windows looked unbelievable. It was strange to think that the Cathedral had once been painted different colours and was covered with ornate patterns - this was shown by the small remainders of paint on the walls.

I was fascinated with the story of an jongleur (a contortionist). Like the majority of people in Medieval times, he could not read Latin. Therefore, he had no way of communicating with God. To make up for this, he asked if he would perform the best show possible in the Cathedral overnight. When the Cathedral opened the following morning, they found him dead on the floor - he had worked himself so hard that he died! Luckily, he had a smile on his face...

There was so much information to find out about the Cathedral. We learnt about the juxtaposition of architecture,

[caption id="attachment_1570" align="alignnone" width="940"] A tomb with the brass missing, taken by Oliver Cromwell![/caption]

the Blood Libel that took place in the area and the Cathedral's involvement with the Monarchy. Mum and I were amazed by the floor, as people's graves were just silhouettes and did not have any detail. Dorothy told us that this was because Oliver Cromwell removed all of the brass from the graves as it was unnecessary. His reasoning was that the dead didn't need it, and that the money it would fetch should go to the government!

After the tour, Dorothy showed us the Jew's Houses - the oldest stone houses in all of Lincoln. The tour was extremely interesting and exciting, and the Cathedral is breathtaking. I definitely recommend a visit, whether you are going to take a tour or just have a quick look. Mum was disappointed that we didn't have time to take a rooftop tour.

Lincoln Castle

[caption id="attachment_1564" align="alignnone" width="940"] The Castle and Cathedral, built by William the Conquerer are so near each other[/caption]

Lincoln Castle was a fantastic place to visit, and I would definitely recommend it to everyone of every age. It is comprised of three sections: the Magna Carta, the Victorian prison and the wall tour. For the Magna Carta section, there are fascinating videos to watch, and you get to see three treaties - a 1215 Magna Carta, the charter of the forest from 1217 and a 1225 Magna Carta. This was fascinating, and the video was really well done. The Victorian prison was extremely interesting, and I was shocked at how segregated the prison was. Something that stood out to me was the Chapel. The idea then was that prisoners should be segregated all the time, even at chapel, so the inmates weren't allowed to see each other. Instead they stood in tiny cubicles which could be shut, so that they could just see walls on either side of them, and whoever was running the service. This was unbelievable, and Robert and I had great fun in locking each other into the boxes!

[caption id="attachment_1565" align="alignnone" width="940"] The Chapel was so strange[/caption]

The prison was full of videos, dressing up and astounding information, and I loved it. However, my favourite part of the castle was the wall tour. This was brilliant - you are given audio guides and walk up some stairs until you are on the walls of the castle. The views of the cathedral and the rest of Lincoln were breath-taking, and the audio guide was really interesting. It was probably the highlight of my trip, and mum is going to write about it at a later date.

[caption id="attachment_1566" align="alignnone" width="940"] It was brilliant being able to walk around the walls of Lincoln Castle[/caption]

Museum of Lincolnshire Life
Mum and I thought that we would only spend about half an hour walking through the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, but we ended up taking up so much time there that we were the last people to leave when it closed! The museum tells you all about life in Lincolnshire, and is really interesting. We both took audio guides and started walking through the first section of the museum. This was all about how homes used to be like in Lincoln, and I enjoyed looking at the kitchen and learning how food was cooked and how clothes were washed.

Next, we learnt about Lincolnshire's army regiment. This was unbelievable, engaging and quite sad, and there was a lot to see and watch. Mum and I barely made it onto the transport section before the museum was closed, and we wanted to stay for longer. The museum is also great for kids as there is a family audio tour and lots of additional information for the younger visitors. Mum and I learnt a lot and had a really great time.

[caption id="attachment_1567" align="alignnone" width="940"] An old fashioned bed, with bowl for a night-time toilet break, as seen as the Museum of Lincolnshire Life[/caption]

The Collection
Mum, dad, Robert and I all visited The Collection, which is a gathering of objects, books and paintings that are all related to Lincoln. It is situated over four different sites and we visited two - the main building and the Usher Gallery.

In the main building of The Collection, there are two main rooms. The first one we visited is mainly aimed at adults, although there is a booklet for children to complete that Robert enjoyed. It is all about important things and places to do with Lincoln, and was full of portraits, letters, jewels, pictures and more.

A particular highlight of that room was seeing the Habeas Corpus (something which I had never expected to see) and the Heneage Jewel; this was a beautiful locket with Elizabeth I's face on it. It was decorated with precious stones, which was really cool.

Next door was a room which was more kid friendly. It was all about Lincoln throughout history, and contained fossils, a really old boat and lots of opportunities to interact with screens and create things. While I created a mosaic and helped a Viking learn how to budget, Robert tried on clothes from different eras and mum and dad learnt about dinosaurs and the Middle Ages. This was great fun, and we also enjoyed looking through the Usher Gallery at different paintings, plates and wristwatches.

If you have free time in Lincoln, I think that families will have particular fun going through the second room of The Collection, as it is full of lots of things for kids, and there is so much to see and do.

Lincoln Bus Tour
I really enjoyed the Lincoln bus tour. It started at the Cathedral, and drove all the way around the city. Due to issues with the normal bus, we were shown around in one that wasn't open top, but that was fine. I had never known that Lincoln was such a historical city, and that it used to be a really grotty city during the Industrial Revolution. It was so dirty that Queen Victoria asked to have her windows pulled down when she passed through Lincoln on the train, as she didn't want to look at it!

[caption id="attachment_1568" align="alignnone" width="768"] Visit Lincoln Bus tour outside Lincoln Cathedral[/caption]

Lincoln was a thriving city in Roman times, and reminders of their influence can be found all over the city. We saw ruins of Roman walls and arches all over the city, and learnt loads. We also went down near the river, which was very pretty and which is surrounded by shops and restaurants (and a huge cinema).

The person taking the tour was really kind and interesting, and I learnt a lot. The only annoying part of the tour was that the bus moved quite quickly, so we sometimes couldn't see what she was saying. However, I really liked the tour, so much so that we went around in one go instead of getting off halfway through as planned! The tour took around 50 minutes, and you can get in and off at any point throughout the trip.

Where to Eat
Lincoln is full of places to eat, and we had a hard time deciding where to go. Mum and I decided to visit The Burton Road Chippy, as it was named the Best Independent Fish and Chip Shop in the UK 2015. My battered haddock and mum's fish cakes were very nice, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. I'm not sure what made their fish and chips "the best", although the prices were decent and the food was fresh and local.

Mum and I bought incredible Eton mess, lemon meringue and peanut butter fudge from Roly's Fudge. Our whole family also enjoyed ice cream from Daisy Made Farm Parlour, and I tried apple pie flavour!

[caption id="attachment_1569" align="alignnone" width="940"] Enjoying our scones![/caption]

We enjoyed scones from Bells' Tea Rooms, where everyone was friendly and the service was fast. I had a fruit scone with cream and jam, and mum had a cheese scone with butter. This was mouthwatering, and I could have eaten another one...

The Castle Hotel has a restaurant named Reform, which mum and I ate at. It was quite a smart restaurant, and everyone was really nice. I enjoyed a tomato broth and a halloumi dish, and mum had fish. Although the food was delicious, mum was slightly shaken as they gave us crab which we asked them not to, and she almost ate it. We both drank teas afterwards, and I liked the large variety of speciality teas they had on offer.

Mexican food is my favourite type of cuisine, which is why I loved having supper at Tequilas - an authentic Mexican restaurant. While Robert had guacamole and mum had nachos, dad and I tried frijoles. These were fantastic, and the food was fab and the prices good.

Overall, I utterly loved Lincoln, and really want to go back. It is such a stunning, picturesque city and I could happily have spent another few days exploring the city. There is something for something and it is perfect for families, but if I had to pick one place to go to, it would have to be the castle. It was interesting, exciting and shocking, and I liked how they talked about things other than how the upper class lived, which is what normally happens at castles. Mum and I were in the city by 12:45, and we could have been there earlier if we had taken the earlier train. It was really simple to get there, and I really think that it would make an amazing bank holiday weekend holiday destination.

Lincoln is tiny so you don't need a car to get around, and there is a lot to do in such a small space. I know that this probably sounds like an advert for Lincoln, but I really loved it and can't believe that I hadn't been there before!

Disclosure: We were fortunate enough to holiday in Lincoln with the help of Visit Lincoln, which arranged our accommodation and passes to many of the attractions. However, this didn't influence our opinions which are very much our own.

You can get a joint family ticket to visit the Castle and the Cathedral for £40, or you can just pay to walk around the walls (£13 per family). It is free to go into the grounds. It is also free to visit The Collection. The bus tour costs ​£10 for adults and this includes two free children under 16 per adult. Rooms at The Rest cost from £89 per night. We had adjoining rooms which is really handy for families.

READ ABOUT OUR TRIP TO LINCOLN CASTLE - AND MORE ON THE CHAPEL

More by us:

London from up high at the London Eye

Becoming Reporters, Recyclers and Radio Presenters at Kidzania London

London from up high at the London Eye

London is (in my unbiased opinion as a life-long Londoner) one of the most wonderful cities in the world. It is both beautiful and liveable, and full of so many things to do and see.

I’m often taken by how many ways there are to enjoy the sights of London, on tours by foot, bus, taxi, or boat. I think it’s particularly enjoyable to see cities from up high and we have enjoyed London’s views from The Shard and the top of the Monument among other landmarks. We would also recommend climbing to the summit of Primrose Hill for a free way to see the city in all its glory.

[caption id="attachment_1528" align="alignnone" width="940"] It was a beautiful day when we went - we were very lucky![/caption]

But although he had been to all of those places, Robert had long aspired to a visit to the London Eye (or to give it its full name, the Coca Cola London Eye). I wasn’t sure if we needed to see those same views of The Thames and Westminster again, but I’m glad to say that I was wrong. We loved our trip on the Eye, and I think that’s because of its extra-special ingredient: it moves.

The London Eye is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, one of my favourite places to frequent, as you can have a great walk here, going past the South Bank Centre and the National Theatre, past Gabriel’s Wharf, and on under Blackfriar’s Bridge, past the Globe Theatre and Tate Modern until you come to Borough Market and London Bridge (and the Golden Hind, the Clink and more). You will really see a lot of London this way and of course you can stop on the way. It’s quite a lengthy stroll.

But back to the Eye. The South Bank is both lovely, and extremely busy, especially around the area where the Eye is situated. This is partly because it’s also very near the Aquarium, London Dungeons and Westminster (just across the river). It’s also right by Jubilee Gardens, a lovely children’s playground, which is perfect for running off steam afterwards. And there are lots of places to eat nearby.

As it is, let’s be honest, what is politely known as a “tourist trap”, there are always queues, so think about booking your tickets in advance, not least because you will often find online offers which may make it more palatable. The only problem with this is that you might end up with bad weather. You could also buy a fasttrack ticket to bypass most of the queue. However, this will cost you £9 more person. You may also find other 2 for 1 offers if you look around (if you go online, there are various sites which offer money off vouchers, so it’s worth taking a look). The queues are not always mad though, especially if you go outwith peak times (so early or late).

The Eye is not cheap. However, I do think it is worth it. It stands 137m high (it's the fifth highest structure in London) and gives you views of around 25 miles. Tickets are sold in half hour slots starting from 10am.

We were blessed with gorgeous weather when we went. We didn’t have to wait for long and climbed into our pod with around 20 other people. The capsules are beautifully designed and there is a definite sense of space in them. You can walk around easily and see all the different viewpoints without much trouble. The pods (or gondolas as they are supposed to be known) also contain a number of iPads which tell you which buildings are which, and the kids on our journey particularly loved these (probably because they soon got enough of the views).

[caption id="attachment_1530" align="alignnone" width="940"] Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament[/caption]

However, we loved the sights, even the ones of Westminster and Big Ben (again). It was particularly enjoyable going up and suddenly seeing The Shard, which had been hidden behind other buildings until we got high enough. We also saw Buckingham Palace and the guards at Horseguards Parade at one point. Then it was fun going down again and realising you couldn’t see everything anymore! We also saw buildings as far away as Wembley Stadium

[caption id="attachment_1531" align="alignnone" width="940"] The guards[/caption]

The “journey” on the London Eye is quite quick – just half an hour (which means you will have to have plans for afterwards). It’s not fast (you need to warn any thrill seeking children of this) but it is fun.

After our trip we went into the visitor centre to watch the 4D adventure and I have to say we were pleasantly surprised. It showed you a pigeon’s eye view of London (!) and made me really proud of my home city. The effects were pretty cool too, even though it only lasted five minutes.

[caption id="attachment_1532" align="alignnone" width="940"] Standing outside a pod after our visit[/caption]

All in all, we really enjoyed our trip. We know that people will have gripes because it’s not cheap and it doesn’t last for that long. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it if you want a terrific way to see London - from a different perspective.

The London Eye costs £23 for adults (this means 16+) and £17 for kids if booked online (under 4s are free). It’s open every day until 9.30pm, and also open late on Friday evenings during the summer (until 11.30pm, which sounds like fun). It’s located by County Hall, London SE1 (right by The Thames).

The nearest tube stations are Westminster and Waterloo.

Read about our trip up the Monument to the Fire of London

Read about our Harry Potter London walking tour

 

Becoming Reporters, Recyclers and Radio Presenters at Kidzania London

Jess writes: When mum told me and Robert that we were going to visit London's new Kidzania in Westfield Shopping Centre, I instantly looked it up. I had no idea what a "child-size city where kids are in charge" could actually be, and what we would do there.

I quickly discovered that Kidzania is a "city" full of lots of different jobs and opportunities, where children earn KidZos for completing jobs such as firefighting and hair-styling, and can spend them on recreational activities such as drumming lessons or buy things at the Kidzania department store.

[caption id="attachment_1485" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We entered Kidzania through the British Airways "airport"[/caption]

Although I loved the concept, I was slightly worried - the age range is four to fourteen years, and as a thirteen year old, I was worried that I might be too old for the majority of the "world". Robert's initial thoughts were very different to mine...

Robert says: When I heard that we were going to Kidzania I was extremely excited as I had never done anything like it. When I looked on the website there were so many things to do and I was worried that we wouldn't have enough time to do everything. Fortunately your ticket lets you into the city for four hours and, as most activities were 10-30 minutes we could get loads in. I managed to complete every single job I had really wanted to do plus a few more. I managed to get through nine careers and I could've done more if I didn't have to queue. Some jobs like the Vault or recycling never had a very long line to get in while with the chocolate factory or aviation academy you had to wait.

[caption id="attachment_1486" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We were all surprised by how big Kidzania actually is - it really looks like a mini city![/caption]

I was really excited when I heard that with the Kidzos you earned you could buy things. Unfortunately when our time was up and I entered the department store with 115 Kidzos I was disappointed at the rubbish prizes you could get and also how many Kidzos they cost. A tiny toy was worth 70 Kidzos which was about two and a half hours of work. The toy we eventually bought which looked quite cool was actually terrible and didn't work. But apart from those things it was great.

Jess: Robert and I were given 50 KidZos each, and we decided to create Inncocent smoothies and become fruitologists. I was surprised by how many brands had sponsored shops in Kidzania - H&M had a fashion studio, and Renault had an engineering room, for example. Robert and I paid 12 KidZos to create the smoothies, and we were the only two people in the group. The activity started off with learning where pineapples, mangos and oranges are from, and tasting some of the fruit. We were shown how the smoothies are created, and got to see the machines that packaged the drinks. At the end, our smoothies fell out of the machine, ready for us to take away and drink.

[caption id="attachment_1487" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Inside Innocent, where Jess and Robert became fruitologists and made smoothies[/caption]

The activity was obviously intended for children around Robert's age, but I didn't dislike it. I was interested to see how smoothies were packaged, and definitely liked getting a smoothie at the end!

Robert: One of my favourite careers was the hand bell ringer which was surprising as it sounded a bit dull and boring. After talking a bit about world time zones and GMT we put on our costume, a smart red shirt and a hair net (as a hairnet is used in various activities you keep it with you until the end). Because we had half the number of people needed, we each picked up two bells, all of which were different colours. Then we were shown how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star using the bells. We practised the tune inside the clock tower before walking onto the balcony. Then we performed our piece of music to the whole square. It was really fun.

[caption id="attachment_1488" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Robert performed "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" with bells in the square![/caption]

The hotel was brilliant as we learnt to be a receptionist - and how to stand, talk and smile before performing our new skills to another child who had dressed up to be a guest. We filled in a sheet consisting of lots of questions about their stay before explaining to the guest the many things they could do in Kidzania. I really liked being a receptionist as it involved lots of drama, although another reason was the man doing it. Some of the adults who supervised and explained the activities were not so happy and enthusiastic, most of them were ok but there were a few that were super nice and funny. The best ones were at the hotel and doing the newspaper.

[caption id="attachment_1489" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Jess and Robert enjoyed typing up their stories at the newspaper[/caption]

Jess: The newspaper was probably one of my favourite activities, as it wasn't too long, we were given our newspapers at the end and the adults didn't talk to me as though I was the same age as the rest of the children. However, I did find it weird that I was taking part in the same activities as five year olds. At one point I was about to go into the engineering centre, but walked away as a group of very young children joined the queue.

The radio station was the best activity by far; along with four other children, Robert and I put on lanyards and presented a radio show on Capital Radio. The instructors were really nice, and there was a special video made for us by Dave Berry and Lisa Snowdon, presenters of the Capital Breakfast Show. I was "presenter one" and Robert was "presenter two", meaning that we got to introduce songs and the different segments of the show. It was actually exciting to talk into the microphones and see the "On Air" signs, and I bonded with another girl who looked about my age over our mutual dislike of One Direction!

[caption id="attachment_1490" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Jess speaking into the microphone and presenting the radio show[/caption]

Robert: Not all the careers were meant to be fun, some were educational. I found this when being a recycling specialist. We learned that when used paper was shredded then kept over night soaked in water and afterwards blended into a paste it could make another piece of paper. We scooped up some of the paste, shook off all the water then turned it upside down onto a cloth. Then carefully I moved the cloth into a place where it could dry. Soon enough I had my own piece of recycled paper. It was grey and not that rectangular but it was useable. This is a really good career to choose as it is fun, you learn things and you take something home that you made.

[caption id="attachment_1499" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Robert enjoyed delivering packages and being a vault guard apprentice[/caption]

The point of being a vault guard apprentice and courier is to deliver parcels and sacks to buildings all around the city. The vault guard apprentices had a talk on how to know if money was fake or not before delivering sacks of money all over Kidzania while the couriers delivered big boxes and parcels to the various places. After giving an adult their object you made them sign. Both jobs were extremely fun as you got to run around, plus as an extra bonus you got to use walkie- talkies.

Jess: As Robert and I split up, we did a lot of different activities. I really enjoyed taking a drumming lesson, as the drums were really cool and there was no pressure of messing up. The lady who was taking the class was helpful and friendly, and by the end of the twenty minute lesson we had been taught a basic beat and a drumroll.

[caption id="attachment_1501" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Jess really enjoyed the drumming[/caption]

I also liked creating fruit and nut bars in the Eat Natural kitchen. We got to taste apricots, sultanas, dates, dried bananas, chocolate and dried rice before weighing them out, mixing them with honey and putting them in moulds to bake. We were given bars at the end of the session, and they were delicious! The lady running the workshop was lovely and smiley.

There was one job I took part in which I genuinely didn't enjoy - creating strawberry Mini Milks in the Wall's kitchen. The milk powder for the lollies had run out so we were forced to use water, and the pasteurising machine leaked. We had to wait around while the woman inside of the workshop wasted time trying to fix it, which was quite annoying. At the end of every food experience we were given a product to take home, but not here. I was quite upset at this, as there were boxes of the ice lollies on the table, and I had paid 12 KidZos to become a Mini Milk maker!

[caption id="attachment_1500" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Everything seemed to go wrong when making Wall's Mini Milks[/caption]

Robert: When being a policeman you get to run around the city looking for criminals and rule breakers. This sounded really fun but unfortunately when it was my turn to be a police man we had no time for that and rushed off to the flamingo hotel. Every half an hour the building "burst into flames" and the firemen ride onto the scene on a mini fire truck. While the firemen and women shoot water at the flames the police stand with their arms out for ten minutes. This is great for the firemen and not so great for the police. My arms were aching by the end of it!

[caption id="attachment_1498" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Robert became a policeman, and helped when a hotel caught ablaze[/caption]

In Kidzania there are lots of vehicles to see and use. As I just said the firemen and women use a fire truck, the doctors and medical staff use an ambulance and tour buses go around showing people the city. At the entrance there is a special kidzania car and being a mechanical engineer or pit lane crew allows you to do things with a big shiny race car.

Taking a course at the University allows you to get double the amount of KidZos you would normally get when doing a job. So if you take the medical course you get double the pay when being a dentist, doctor or nurse. I sadly did not go to the University as the courses on did not interest me, so remember to check what you are doing before doing it.

Jess: In conclusion, I enjoyed Kidzania more than I expected. Although I felt strange taking part in activities where I was double the rest of the group's height, I still found different people to talk to who were around my age. I'm sure that if I had a friend with me, we would have had a laugh and taken part in loads of activities. I thought it was really well done, and loved drumming and eating the food that I had seen being created. Overall, Kidzania seems like an excellent day out for children aged around eleven and younger, but older children would probably enjoy it more if they had someone else their own age with them.

[caption id="attachment_1492" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We were sad to leave![/caption]

Robert: I loved every part of part of Kidzania and my final tips are:

1. Every hour all the staff start dancing, be sure to look out for that. Some of the adults really have moves!


2. Go to the things you really want to do first. Being a pilot or a member of cabin crew is really popular and there is usually a long wait.


3. Some people don't notice it but there is a climbing wall, so go on that.

It was a brilliant and very unique day out I would definitely go again.

A child ticket for a four hour slot at Kidzania is £28.00, and an adult (aged over 15) is £16.50. Toddlers aged one-three are £10.00, and babies under one are free. Full pricing information can be found on the website. We were given complimentary tickets in order to write about the experience, but all our views are completely our own.

The only thing our parents would add is that the adults don't really have anything to do inside Kidzania, except for run around after us, or wait while we queue, so their tickets do seem quite pricey (there is a parents' room, but you have to buy drinks and food in there too, which increases the price further). However, Mum and Dad did notice that not many children had both parents with them (perhaps one was shopping in the Westfield!) They would also warn that you do have to queue for some of the activities, which may make younger children tetchy. However, they have never seen anything like Kidzania and loved that the children there were entertained and busy without recourse to a screen!

More by Jess and Robert:

Top Secret: A Brilliant Visit To Bletchley Park

An Amazing Time At clueQuest!

We've linked up with Travel Tales from North East Family Fun. Zip over there to find more great family adventures!

Becoming Reporters, Recyclers and Radio Presenters at Kidzania London

Jess writes: When mum told me and Robert that we were going to visit London's new Kidzania in Westfield Shopping Centre, I instantly looked it up. I had no idea what a "child-size city where kids are in charge" could actually be, and what we would do there.

I quickly discovered that Kidzania is a "city" full of lots of different jobs and opportunities, where children earn KidZos for completing jobs such as firefighting and hair-styling, and can spend them on recreational activities such as drumming lessons or buy things at the Kidzania department store.

[caption id="attachment_1485" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We entered Kidzania through the British Airways "airport"[/caption]

Although I loved the concept, I was slightly worried - the age range is four to fourteen years, and as a thirteen year old, I was worried that I might be too old for the majority of the "world". Robert's initial thoughts were very different to mine...

Robert says: When I heard that we were going to Kidzania I was extremely excited as I had never done anything like it. When I looked on the website there were so many things to do and I was worried that we wouldn't have enough time to do everything. Fortunately your ticket lets you into the city for four hours and, as most activities were 10-30 minutes we could get loads in. I managed to complete every single job I had really wanted to do plus a few more. I managed to get through nine careers and I could've done more if I didn't have to queue. Some jobs like the Vault or recycling never had a very long line to get in while with the chocolate factory or aviation academy you had to wait.

[caption id="attachment_1486" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We were all surprised by how big Kidzania actually is - it really looks like a mini city![/caption]

I was really excited when I heard that with the Kidzos you earned you could buy things. Unfortunately when our time was up and I entered the department store with 115 Kidzos I was disappointed at the rubbish prizes you could get and also how many Kidzos they cost. A tiny toy was worth 70 Kidzos which was about two and a half hours of work. The toy we eventually bought which looked quite cool was actually terrible and didn't work. But apart from those things it was great.

Jess: Robert and I were given 50 KidZos each, and we decided to create Inncocent smoothies and become fruitologists. I was surprised by how many brands had sponsored shops in Kidzania - H&M had a fashion studio, and Renault had an engineering room, for example. Robert and I paid 12 KidZos to create the smoothies, and we were the only two people in the group. The activity started off with learning where pineapples, mangos and oranges are from, and tasting some of the fruit. We were shown how the smoothies are created, and got to see the machines that packaged the drinks. At the end, our smoothies fell out of the machine, ready for us to take away and drink.

[caption id="attachment_1487" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Inside Innocent, where Jess and Robert became fruitologists and made smoothies[/caption]

The activity was obviously intended for children around Robert's age, but I didn't dislike it. I was interested to see how smoothies were packaged, and definitely liked getting a smoothie at the end!

Robert: One of my favourite careers was the hand bell ringer which was surprising as it sounded a bit dull and boring. After talking a bit about world time zones and GMT we put on our costume, a smart red shirt and a hair net (as a hairnet is used in various activities you keep it with you until the end). Because we had half the number of people needed, we each picked up two bells, all of which were different colours. Then we were shown how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star using the bells. We practised the tune inside the clock tower before walking onto the balcony. Then we performed our piece of music to the whole square. It was really fun.

[caption id="attachment_1488" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Robert performed "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" with bells in the square![/caption]

The hotel was brilliant as we learnt to be a receptionist - and how to stand, talk and smile before performing our new skills to another child who had dressed up to be a guest. We filled in a sheet consisting of lots of questions about their stay before explaining to the guest the many things they could do in Kidzania. I really liked being a receptionist as it involved lots of drama, although another reason was the man doing it. Some of the adults who supervised and explained the activities were not so happy and enthusiastic, most of them were ok but there were a few that were super nice and funny. The best ones were at the hotel and doing the newspaper.

[caption id="attachment_1489" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Jess and Robert enjoyed typing up their stories at the newspaper[/caption]

Jess: The newspaper was probably one of my favourite activities, as it wasn't too long, we were given our newspapers at the end and the adults didn't talk to me as though I was the same age as the rest of the children. However, I did find it weird that I was taking part in the same activities as five year olds. At one point I was about to go into the engineering centre, but walked away as a group of very young children joined the queue.

The radio station was the best activity by far; along with four other children, Robert and I put on lanyards and presented a radio show on Capital Radio. The instructors were really nice, and there was a special video made for us by Dave Berry and Lisa Snowdon, presenters of the Capital Breakfast Show. I was "presenter one" and Robert was "presenter two", meaning that we got to introduce songs and the different segments of the show. It was actually exciting to talk into the microphones and see the "On Air" signs, and I bonded with another girl who looked about my age over our mutual dislike of One Direction!

[caption id="attachment_1490" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Jess speaking into the microphone and presenting the radio show[/caption]

Robert: Not all the careers were meant to be fun, some were educational. I found this when being a recycling specialist. We learned that when used paper was shredded then kept over night soaked in water and afterwards blended into a paste it could make another piece of paper. We scooped up some of the paste, shook off all the water then turned it upside down onto a cloth. Then carefully I moved the cloth into a place where it could dry. Soon enough I had my own piece of recycled paper. It was grey and not that rectangular but it was useable. This is a really good career to choose as it is fun, you learn things and you take something home that you made.

[caption id="attachment_1499" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Robert enjoyed delivering packages and being a vault guard apprentice[/caption]

The point of being a vault guard apprentice and courier is to deliver parcels and sacks to buildings all around the city. The vault guard apprentices had a talk on how to know if money was fake or not before delivering sacks of money all over Kidzania while the couriers delivered big boxes and parcels to the various places. After giving an adult their object you made them sign. Both jobs were extremely fun as you got to run around, plus as an extra bonus you got to use walkie- talkies.

Jess: As Robert and I split up, we did a lot of different activities. I really enjoyed taking a drumming lesson, as the drums were really cool and there was no pressure of messing up. The lady who was taking the class was helpful and friendly, and by the end of the twenty minute lesson we had been taught a basic beat and a drumroll.

[caption id="attachment_1501" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Jess really enjoyed the drumming[/caption]

I also liked creating fruit and nut bars in the Eat Natural kitchen. We got to taste apricots, sultanas, dates, dried bananas, chocolate and dried rice before weighing them out, mixing them with honey and putting them in moulds to bake. We were given bars at the end of the session, and they were delicious! The lady running the workshop was lovely and smiley.

There was one job I took part in which I genuinely didn't enjoy - creating strawberry Mini Milks in the Wall's kitchen. The milk powder for the lollies had run out so we were forced to use water, and the pasteurising machine leaked. We had to wait around while the woman inside of the workshop wasted time trying to fix it, which was quite annoying. At the end of every food experience we were given a product to take home, but not here. I was quite upset at this, as there were boxes of the ice lollies on the table, and I had paid 12 KidZos to become a Mini Milk maker!

[caption id="attachment_1500" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Everything seemed to go wrong when making Wall's Mini Milks[/caption]

Robert: When being a policeman you get to run around the city looking for criminals and rule breakers. This sounded really fun but unfortunately when it was my turn to be a police man we had no time for that and rushed off to the flamingo hotel. Every half an hour the building "burst into flames" and the firemen ride onto the scene on a mini fire truck. While the firemen and women shoot water at the flames the police stand with their arms out for ten minutes. This is great for the firemen and not so great for the police. My arms were aching by the end of it!

[caption id="attachment_1498" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Robert became a policeman, and helped when a hotel caught ablaze[/caption]

In Kidzania there are lots of vehicles to see and use. As I just said the firemen and women use a fire truck, the doctors and medical staff use an ambulance and tour buses go around showing people the city. At the entrance there is a special kidzania car and being a mechanical engineer or pit lane crew allows you to do things with a big shiny race car.

Taking a course at the University allows you to get double the amount of KidZos you would normally get when doing a job. So if you take the medical course you get double the pay when being a dentist, doctor or nurse. I sadly did not go to the University as the courses on did not interest me, so remember to check what you are doing before doing it.

Jess: In conclusion, I enjoyed Kidzania more than I expected. Although I felt strange taking part in activities where I was double the rest of the group's height, I still found different people to talk to who were around my age. I'm sure that if I had a friend with me, we would have had a laugh and taken part in loads of activities. I thought it was really well done, and loved drumming and eating the food that I had seen being created. Overall, Kidzania seems like an excellent day out for children aged around eleven and younger, but older children would probably enjoy it more if they had someone else their own age with them.

[caption id="attachment_1492" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We were sad to leave![/caption]

Robert: I loved every part of part of Kidzania and my final tips are:

1. Every hour all the staff start dancing, be sure to look out for that. Some of the adults really have moves!


2. Go to the things you really want to do first. Being a pilot or a member of cabin crew is really popular and there is usually a long wait.


3. Some people don't notice it but there is a climbing wall, so go on that.

It was a brilliant and very unique day out I would definitely go again.

A child ticket for a four hour slot at Kidzania is £28.00, and an adult (aged over 15) is £16.50. Toddlers aged one-three are £10.00, and babies under one are free. Full pricing information can be found on the website. We were given complimentary tickets in order to write about the experience, but all our views are completely our own.

The only thing our parents would add is that the adults don't really have anything to do inside Kidzania, except for run around after us, or wait while we queue, so their tickets do seem quite pricey (there is a parents' room, but you have to buy drinks and food in there too, which increases the price further). However, Mum and Dad did notice that not many children had both parents with them (perhaps one was shopping in the Westfield!) They would also warn that you do have to queue for some of the activities, which may make younger children tetchy. However, they have never seen anything like Kidzania and loved that the children there were entertained and busy without recourse to a screen!

More by Jess and Robert:

Top Secret: A Brilliant Visit To Bletchley Park

An Amazing Time At clueQuest!

We've linked up with Travel Tales from North East Family Fun. Zip over there to find more great family adventures!

Keeping Cool in the Summer - Sledging and Skiing at The Snow Centre

It's been surprisingly hot in London of late, but we found a rather unusual way to cool down....

Jess writes: Before yesterday, no one in my family had ever been skiing or sledging before - in fact, I was confused as to which one was which! Consequently, we were all really excited to go to The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead to try our hands at both of these activities. First of all, we had an hour-long private family beginner's ski lesson, and then we spent half an hour sledging. I have created a video of our day, which you can watch below. Watch out for Dad sledging into the side bumpers (and mum laughing as she videoed it!)...

[kad_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6Hj2KHOIXI" width=500 height=300 ]

After donning incredibly warm jackets, boots and trousers, we wobbled our way onto the snow with our instructor Hussein. Our boots had such a large heel that Hussein had to instruct us how to walk properly - keep your eyes fixed on where you are going and put your heel on the ground first.

[caption id="attachment_1468" align="aligncenter" width="940"] There were a lot of helmets on offer![/caption]

This is what Robert thought of the lesson: As it was our first time ever skiing, we took part in a basic lesson which involved us learning how to walk, turn and ski down small hills. I greatly enjoyed gliding across the snow, even though I did fall over about 20 times. Near the end of the lesson we each took it in turns to go a small way up the slope then back down again. To get to that point we had to hold onto a moving rope which brought us upwards. Unfortunately for me even that was too complicated and I usually ended up being dragged on the ground by the rope.

I learnt lots in that lesson and I really hope to go back and try lesson two. In the future I want to ski down one of the larger slopes. I enjoyed nearly everything about the lesson but the only downside was that the instructor was quite mean and bossy at times when I couldn't do the thing he wanted me to.

Jess writes: I loved the lesson; even though what we were doing was very basic, it was exhilarating to hold on to the rope and be pulled upwards, and it was a strange feeling to glide down the slope on the skis. I had never realised how slippery the snow was before, making it difficult to turn or move upwards without turning your skis sideways.

[caption id="attachment_1469" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Robert tries some skiing![/caption]

Although I think that Robert disliked not being able to grasp everything quickly, I love a challenge and had a really exciting time. Hussein was funny and helpful, and always corrected me so that I could go faster or slide more smoothly. I realised that I have a tendency to wave my arms frantically in the air, and that I am better at skiing than I expected - I only fell down once! I had a brilliant time and wish that the lesson lasted longer, as even though it was an hour long, the time flew by really quickly.

Robert writes: After swapping our ski boots for snow shoes, we returned to the coldness to do sledging. This was extremely fun yet it was really tiring walking up the slope holding either a rubber ring or chair thing. I preferred the rubber ring as it was more comfortable to sit in but they were heavier to carry. I loved zooming down the hill but didn't enjoy all the snow flying upwards into my face. Some sledges could carry two people and that was more fun than doing it by yourself. It was great.

Jess writes: I really liked sledging. We had to carry sledges or rings to the top of a slope, and pushed ourselves off it. I ended up sliding down really quickly, and getting snow all over me. Robert, Dad and I loved it, but it was exhausting having to walk up to the top again and again. We were in a group of around ten adults and children, but we never had to wait long for our goes, which was lovely.

[caption id="attachment_1471" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Jess and Rob after sledging down the hill[/caption]

Although I preferred skiing, sledging was definitely faster and it didn't take long to grasp. Once, dad ended up sliding into the cushion-y barrier, meaning that Robert, mum and I erupted into laughter. I would love to go sledging again.

[caption id="attachment_1472" align="aligncenter" width="940"] If you were a proper skier, you could try out the slopes on the other side from us and slalom down![/caption]

After our time was up, we gave back our ski clothes, boots and helmets and went upstairs to have lunch. There was a large range of choices, and a good kids' menu, plus the lodge where we ate had a very nice atmosphere and you could watch the skiing go on through the windows behind you.

[caption id="attachment_1473" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Eating in the lodge after our exploits on the snow. You can see the slopes behind[/caption]

Dad had a mushroom stroganoff, I had the vegetable chilli, mum had a falafel burger and Robert had fish fingers, beans and chips. Everyone was kind, and friendly and the food was very tasty - perfect after being so tired out from the skiing and the sledging. It was also pretty good value, with the kids' menu costing £4.50 per child, including a drink and dessert, and the main meals costing less than £10 each. Dad and I also treated ourselves to a mouth-watering waffle with ice cream and chocolate sauce afterwards...

[caption id="attachment_1474" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We enjoyed our waffles![/caption]

Overall, we would all definitely recommend The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead for skiing and sledging, whether you are a total novice or a seasoned skier. Everyone was so lovely, and it was so exciting to slide down the slopes really quickly. We were also very impressed by the more experienced skiers who went down the much steeper slops. I had always wanted to see what it would be like to ski and sledge, and my first time certainly didn't disappoint me. In fact, I want to go back again!

The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead is the closest ski slope to London, and clothes hire is £6.75 per person. A one hour private family ski lesson (two adults and two children) is £165, and sledging is £7 per person. Group ski lessons are cheaper, and are offered for juniors and adults. Our visit was kindly hosted by the Snow Centre, but they have had no input into this article and all opinions are our own.

Hemel Hempstead is in Hertfordshire, about 40 minutes from Central London

More by me:

Cupcakes and the Queen at the Rubens Hotel in London!

Science and Baseball Bats in Louisville, Kentucky

Dos and Don'ts when going to Wimbledon: our trip to the tennis

[caption id="attachment_1454" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Novak Djokovic and Philipp Kohlschreiber watch the toss on Centre Court[/caption]

For two weeks each year, the world turns its attention to London SW19 and Wimbledon. This leafy part of South London comes under intense scrutiny as the world waits to find out who will win the greatest tennis tournament of them all. Players from over 60 counties compete in the five main events, all wanting to take the crown.

This is one of the famous sporting events in the world, and we were lucky enough to win tickets for Centre Court in the ballot. This is open to all members of the public (we only had to send off an application form last year).

So, last week my dad and I ventured off to South London (we’re from the north – North London that is – so it did feel a bit wrong) to watch some of the most talented players in tennis ply their trade.

The first thing you need to know when visiting Wimbledon is that you should take the tube, but not get off at Wimbledon Station. The stop you need is called Southfields, on the District Line. It’s not far from Central London.

You will know when you’re in the right place, as the station staff have transformed the stop! There are Wimbledon banners, chairs in the Wimbledon colours and even green covering the platforms, designed to look like grass.

It’s beautiful around here. Wimbledon is an upmarket part of London, very green and leafy, so it’s a pleasant walk to the grounds, especially if the sun is shining. This year (so far) we’ve been very lucky, but, as I’m sure you know, that isn’t always the case.

If you have a ticket, the queues aren’t at all long and we only stood in a line for about two minutes. Then our bags were searched and we were in, ready to take in the sights and sounds of Wimbledon 2015.

Unlike many other events, there is far more leeway about what you are allowed to take inside, including drinks such as bottled water. However, the grounds are full of places to eat and drink, from fish and chips and pizza to sit down restaurants, the purchase of Pimms or frozen yoghurt, and even its own sweet shop, newsagent and chemist (pharmacy). You can also buy used balls - 54,250 balls are used throughout the two weeks, which are stored at 68’F. However, be warned that it's not cheap (as you would expect), so it's probably wise to bring some snacks.

We walked around the outside courts where play was already underway. Centre and Number One Court usually start at 1pm, but the outer courts begin at 11.30. It was about noon when we arrived and already very busy. However, we were lucky enough to see some of Fernando Verdasco of Spain take on Martin Plizan of Slovakia on Court No 14.

Wimbledon, or to give it its full name, the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, is a beautiful place. It reminded me, in a strange way, of a Disney theme park, but one which focusses on sport. It was lovely to simply walk around and admire the flowers, the sights and sounds, and it was also super clean. I saw so many members of staff making sure that rubbish was removed or the toilets cleaned.

We made our way onto Centre Court, capacity 15,000, just before 1pm. Our seats were right at the back, but that was fine as it meant we could see the whole of the court. It was gorgeous.

[caption id="attachment_1457" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Novak Djokovic being sheltered from the sun[/caption]

As we were attending on Day One, we were treated to some excellent tennis, courtesy of the 2014 Wimbledon Champion Novak Djokovic, who is some athlete (his calf muscles are something else....). It was incredible to see him right in front of us, and his opponent, Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, also played extremely well. It was very, very hot, and each time the players switched sides and sat down to take a drink, a ballgirl would appear and hold an umbrella over their head.

[caption id="attachment_1458" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Maria Sharapova (about to grunt)[/caption]

We also saw Maria Sharapova play Johanna Konta, the British player. I couldn’t believe how loud Sharapova’s grunts were. I have heard them on television, but in person they are extremely forceful and she makes them on every shot. I’m sure it would put me off.

[caption id="attachment_1459" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We were surprised how empty the court was when Sharapova started playing (although it did fill up later on)[/caption]

The tennis I enjoyed the most was by Stan Wawrinka, the French Open champion. He came on third and hit the ball absolutely beautifully, especially with his one-handed backhand. It was a real delight to watch.

[caption id="attachment_1460" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Stan Wawrinka[/caption]

We left at around 7pm, having had a marvellous day. However, we did have some annoying experiences – thanks to fellow fans. Here are my tips for how not to annoy the Wimbledon audience...

• Turn off your phone


• If your phone goes when play is going on, turn it off. Don’t answer it. After you’ve spoken, turn it off, as otherwise it is sure to ring again (yes, this did happen, right in front of us).


• Don’t bring food in a paper bag (it’s very noisy when you rustle about to get things)


• Don’t eat crisps while watching tennis. They are even noisier


• Don’t chat while the action is going on. Or if you do need to chat, perhaps whisper.....

And: don't worry about wearing white (that's just for the players!)

Need to know regarding tickets: There are four ways to get tickets for Wimbledon:  via the ballot (as we did), the queue, ticketmaster, or official hospitality packages (but these will cost you!)

The public ballot, which was introduced in 1924, is seen as the fairest way to distribute tickets for the show courts (Centre, No 1 and No 2). It is open to everyone and is (unsurprisingly) very oversubscribed.

There are a limited number of tickets on sale each day for the show courts, but these tend to sell very quickly and people queue up days in advance. Ticket prices also go up during the tournament. Our Centre Court tickets cost £50 each for the first day. This had gone up to £84 a ticket to see a Centre Court match on Saturday, and will be £160 for the men’s final which takes place this Sunday at 2pm. You can’t buy tickets for the quarter-finals onwards from the turnstiles.

You can buy general “grounds admission” tickets by queueing up and these allow you access to courts No 3 to 19 (first come, first served). These open from 10.30am and close one hour after play ends (or at 11pm). They cost £25 the first week (for entry before 5pm  £18 afterwards), and £20 the second week.

You can also buy certain tickets via ticketmaster, and allocations are also sent to tennis clubs across the country.

When you leave the ground, you can post your ticket back into the resale kiosk and someone else will then be able to purchase it, with all profits going to charity.

Do check the website as the queue is often at capacity, especially the second week and you will really have no chance of getting in.

Need to know: who’s playing? The Order of Play for each day at Wimbledon is announced the evening before.

[caption id="attachment_1455" align="aligncenter" width="940"] The chairs at Southfields Station[/caption]

Need to know regarding transport: Southfields (on the District Line) is the nearest tube stop and the nearest railway station is Wimbledon. There is a regular shuttle bus from Wimbledon station during the Championships. The tennis courts are located around 15 minutes walk away from Southfields, although you can take a fixed price taxi if you want too. Five people go in each cab and pay £2.50 to be dropped nearer the grounds.

Can you bring kids? Babies and children under the age of 5 are not allowed into Centre Court, No 1, No 2 or No 3 or Courts 12 and 18. Those under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and have their own ticket.

READ MY LATEST WIMBLEDON POST - ON SEEING MURRAY WIN IN THE MEN'S FINAL - LIVE!

More great things to do in London

The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London

Trying to escape at clueQuest