Folly Farm: a great day out in Wales

Robert, who's 12, writes:

We went to Folly Farm on our last day in Pembrokeshire, and believe me – it didn’t disappoint. I would describe Folly Farm as a zoo, farm and a funfair mixed into one which happens to be a very good combination. 

First we explored an area filled with glass boxes and these were filled with all sorts of awesome creatures. There were tarantulas, bats, (incredibly cute) tortoises and mum’s personal favourite: the two-toed sloths. I really enjoyed looking at all the animals, especially the parrots that flew about, it was really cool.  

Outside that area I loved seeing the penguins, lions, zebras and rhinos and was fascinated by the towering giraffes. There was also an enclosure filled with colourful birds. I had lots of fun, looking around and trying to spot particular birds from the posters. 

Although seeing all the animals listed above, and lots more, that wasn’t what attracted me to come to Folly Farm. It was the vintage fairground. This indoor fairground was stuffed with machines where you put in a coin and could either win or lose money, although it was usually the latter. The machines were so much fun and made you feel great when you won.

There were also other old-fashioned  machines that tested your strength or told you what type of lover you are!? On top of that, there were also the (overpriced) stalls in which you had to complete a seemingly easy task in order to win a prize. Although it was fun and we all had a laugh, it does cost money as you will keep trying to win!

[caption id="attachment_4074" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Enjoying a ride[/caption]

In terms of rides there was a good variety. There were classics like the carousel, waltzer or dodgems as well as a classically non-spooky ghost train and a classically awesome chair-o-plane where you sit in a chair and swing about. The caterpillar was my favourite as it was the fastest and I personally found it the most exciting. There were a load of other rides as well but we didn’t have enough time to go on them and they were mainly for little kids. 



I ended the day by going racing. I got into my car and sped round the track personally enjoying it more than all the rides at the fairground, apart from the chair-o-plane and caterpillar. Overall I had a really fun day and would definitely recommend going to families with young kids.

[caption id="attachment_4075" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert loved the driving![/caption]

If you do have younger children, there is also a petting farm, and soft play too. It is a great place to spend time, rain or shine, as there are both indoor and outdoor activities.

Disclosure: We went to Pembrokeshire and stayed with Coastal Cottages on a complimentary basis, in Little Haven (you can read about that here). Our visit to Folly Farm was arranged for us as part of Coastal Cottage's concierge service. You can find out more about that here. Neither Folly Farm, nor Coastal Cottages had any hand in this blog post.

Folly Farm costs £13.95 per adult and £11.95 for children aged 3-15. An annual pass for an adult is £45 and £40 for a child.

Read about our week in Pembrokeshire (we loved it!)

Read what Robert thought of Heatherton World of Activities

Indulging in an Afternoon Tea at The Arch Hotel

Jess, aged 15, writes: Being British, our family loves a good afternoon tea. This is why I was so excited to try an afternoon tea in the Arch Hotel, Marble Arch, in celebration of dad's birthday. It's not do often we get to eat unlimited food in a gorgeous setting, so we all had an amazing time.

[caption id="attachment_4048" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] The Arch Hotel[/caption]

After entering the hotel, we were directed to the Salon de Champagne, where we were given our own private booth. This was very exciting, as there was a curtain which we could draw. This meant that the four of us were effectively sitting in private - something that felt extremely luxurious. On top of this, our plush seats were extremely comfortable, there was a beautiful chandelier above us, and our floral crockery looked amazing.

[caption id="attachment_4049" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Our booth was really luxurious![/caption]

Our main server was named Rebeca and she was really kind and friendly, but also extremely helpful. Our family is not able to eat certain foods, but she was really good at making adjustments and making sure we knew what we were eating. We were presented with a menu of different types of tea, which I loved. I adore tea, and it took me a long time to decide on what to drink. I eventually decided on a silver needle white tea, and afterwards a green tea with jasmine pearls. The variety was so wide, and it was all delicious.

[caption id="attachment_4040" align="aligncenter" width="900"] The tea menu was long and extensive[/caption]

Soon, the food arrived. Our stand was simply magnificent - piled high with sandwiches, biscuits, cakes, and scones. We had not eaten a big lunch in preparation for the occasion, and soon got to work stuffing our faces. The sandwiches were divine, and much more impressive than I was expecting. These were English cheddar with apple chutney, mozzarella and avocado with sun blushed tomato on sourdough toast, smoked salmon and cream cheese on a blini, egg and cress, and cucumber and cream cheese. Particular favourites of mine were the sourdough with mozzarella, and the apple chutney. We devoured these quickly, and were allowed replacements soon after.

[caption id="attachment_4042" align="aligncenter" width="900"] The food was all so delicious, especially the sandwiches![/caption]

Next was the second tier, filled with all sorts on cakes. There was coffee cake, millionaire's shortbread, teacakes, Battenberg cake, and a strawberry tart. Had we not had dietary requirements (no gelatine), there would have been trifle and cheesecake, but we were more than happy with our selection. It was fantastic, particularly the tart and the Battenberg cake, and nothing was too rich or overpowering.

[caption id="attachment_4047" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Robert piled his scone high with cream[/caption]

Our final tier was the scones, but by this point I was so full that I could only manage one! Piled high with jam and clotted cream, it was a perfect end to the tea.

Overall, we had such an amazing time at the tea. We stayed there for over two hours, and by the time we time we left we were unbelievably full. It was such an incredible experience which I would love to relive.

A Royal Afternoon Tea at The Arch hotel, near Marble Arch, London, costs £25 a head. We were given a special media rate to sample the tea, but the hotel had no input into this review.

More food in London with Family Travel Times

A chocolate walking tour - my dream

Trying our Hip Chips - crisps and dips for lunch

 

Cybermen in Cardiff: visiting the Dr Who Experience

[caption id="attachment_4030" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Robert at the Dr Who experience in Cardiff[/caption]

Robert, who's 12, writes:

We went to Cardiff especially to see the Dr Who Experience – as I’m a big Dr Who fan. Let me tell you what it was like...

The Doctor Who Experience is made up of two parts, and the first is an interactive experience where you have to help the Doctor escape from a giant time-distorting octopus. We started by getting our passes that allowed us to enter “the Gallifrey Museum”. These passes changed colour and vibrated throughout the experience which was really cool and made you feel part of the story. After entering the museum we watched a live feed of the Tardis in which, coincidentally, the giant octopus attacked. We were hurried out of the room by our tour-guide and made our way into section. After a video call from the Doctor himself and an interactive “ride” where we controlled the Tardis, our group travelled through time to help save the Doctor. We met up with some classic Doctor Who villains along the way, some of the rooms were incredibly designed and the whole thing was very exciting. However, the guide who took us through was very unenergetic and seemed quite bored by the whole thing, which was a real shame.

[caption id="attachment_4052" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Two versions of Davros![/caption]

After we had saved the universe, we entered a massive two-floor exhibition about Doctor Who. This held a number of Tardis from different series, and included the control panels, not just the blue police boxes.

The exhibition was also home to outfits from all series, including costumes used for the different Doctors, monsters and companions. There were even all the costumes from this current series and they were the real outfits they used in the show. There were plenty of other props and objects from the show’s history too, most with an information board telling you what the specific costume was. I liked it, and so did my parents as it went back over many years so it was very nostalgic for them!

[caption id="attachment_4053" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Cybermen through the ages[/caption]

Personally I really liked the section where it showed how the cyberman had evolved - it included different cybermen through the ages. You could also get into a dalek and pretend to be one.

[caption id="attachment_4027" align="alignnone" width="800"] Robert as a dalek[/caption]

There was also a green screen where you could get your photo taken in a Doctor Who scene which was cool (although not necessarily cool enough to spend money on!)

Overall I had a really fun day out. Personally, I enjoyed the exhibition more than the experience as it felt a bit childish and there was no real interaction. But I would still recommend it all to Dr Who fans. And there's a great shop at the end!

The Dr Who Experience is open until September 9th. Admission costs £14 per adult if booked online (£16 on the door), and £9.75 per child (£11.75 on the door). A family ticket is £41. You can find more information here.
We were given free admission in order to write about it but the Dr Who Experience had no input into this blog post at all.

 

More about Dr Who - the Dr Who Festival, by Daniel

Murray wins: watching Men's finals day at Wimbledon

[caption id="attachment_4011" align="alignnone" width="1200"] An emotional Andy Murray just after winning[/caption]

There are some sporting events you dream of seeing in person –an Olympics final, the deciding match of a Premier League season or perhaps the last day of a golf major. My sports bucket list also included a Wimbledon Final, but it wasn’t something I ever thought I actually would see in person. Until last year.

And, as I'm a Brit, you’ll know that 2016 was the perfect year to be there for the “Gentleman’s Singles final”. After all, Andy Murray was playing and that’s something you really don’t want to miss.

I have been to Wimbledon a number of times, always getting tickets through the ballot, which you need to apply for in the autumn of the winter before. Anyone can apply for this – you simply need to send off a stamped addressed envelope and then fill in and send back the official form – and you are told if you are lucky enough to have received tickets in the spring. If you are allocated tickets you still have to purchase them, and they rise in price, depending on their importance. The cost of the men’s final was a whopping £175 (but I know I’m never going to get tickets again, so I decided it was worth it!).

Going to Wimbledon on finals day is so different from going earlier in the Championships. For one thing, it’s much quieter. Normally there are matches being played on all the courts, but there were only a few going on – the main action was to take place on one court only. There were far fewer people bustling around and pictures of the main protagonists (Andy Murray and Milos Raonic – the first Canadian ever to reach the men’s final there) on display.

We arrived as we have done before, by tube to Southfields, and then took a taxi from the station (although we walked back later). I was going with my dad, who was then 79, so a taxi seemed wise, at least for one day.

We arrived and took some pictures and then took our seats. The court quickly filled up and I was mesmerised by the royal box. Although I had seen celebrities in there when I had been lucky enough to get tickets before, it had been nothing like this...

[caption id="attachment_4013" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Who can you spot?[/caption]

First up were Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, and Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London. But they got better! I was indebted to the excellent zoom on my camera and excitedly told the couple sitting next to us that I could see Bradley Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Hugh Grant, David Cameron, Bjorn Borg, Stefan Edberg and others. I had to pull myself away to watch the tennis – although I did glance back a few times at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, when they appeared.

The match was terrifically exciting. It may not have seemed like it from the score (Murray won his second Wimbledon title in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6), but when you are watching and want someone to win so much, you just want it to be over. Plus two of those sets went to a tie-break, which made it nail biting. I am a big Murray fan and am always amazed by how he handles the pressure. But he played beautifully and Raonic was not quite in his league. Even his big serve wasn’t as big as we were expecting.

The whole match took two hours, 48 minutes and it really was a thrill to see Murray win his second Wimbledon title. I took a lot of pictures, including some which really show his emotions.

I was surprised to see so many people leave after Murray’s victory, especially as we had the possibility of seeing two British winners in one day! Heather Watson was surprised to reach the Wimbledon Mixed Doubles final with her partner Henri Kontinen, as they had not played together before the event. They came onto court soon after Murray and Raonic, in order to play Robert Farah and Anna-Lena Groenefeld and beat them 7-6, 6-4 for their first Grand Slam title. In the process, Watson became the first British woman to win a Wimbledon title since Jo Durie and Jeremy Bates picked up the same title in 1987.

[caption id="attachment_4016" align="alignnone" width="1200"] A very happy Heather Watson![/caption]

It was a joy to watch them – the match seemed less stressful than the previous one – and it was amazing to see them win! Mind you, there weren’t many in the royal box who stayed to see it (round of applause for Hugh Grant, who did stay).

[caption id="attachment_4017" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Spot the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge applauding![/caption]

All in all, it was a fabulous, historic day, and all because we filled in a form. We’d recommend you do the same for next year – although be warned, you aren’t always lucky. We didn’t get any tickets in the ballot for 2017. Luckily we have the athletics world championships in London to come in August instead!

Read my tips for a trip to Wimbledon, written following my visit in 2015

Attending The Open Air Theatre, London

Jess, aged 15, writes: Our family loves to go to the theatre, but there is one London theatre which is definitely more memorable than the rest. This is the Open Air Theatre, located in Regent’s Park.

As you might be able to tell from the name, what makes the Open Air Theatre so unique is the plays are conducted outside. This is a really different experience to attending a West End theatre.

[caption id="attachment_4001" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Outside the theatre[/caption]

After a short walk through the gorgeous flowers and trees of Regent’s Park, you come to the entrance of the Open Air Theatre. After being admitted, you walk past the café, and come face to face with the stage. Regardless of the production, the stage always houses an elaborate and extremely impressive set. In this year’s production of “On The Town” (which has just finished its run), the set was of a naval dockyard, but this transformed into museums, restaurants, and the bustling streets of New York City.

I have seen five different productions at the Open Air Theatre: “The Tempest”, “The Sound of Music”, “To Kill A Mockingbird”, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”, and “On The Town”. While I cannot completely remember “The Tempest” (I think I was about six at the time), I have always really enjoyed my visits. My favourite has to be “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”, which involved amazing singing and simply unbelievable dancing. This was such an exciting and joyous evening, which I really wish I could experience again. Unfortunately, this year’s production was not as good, but I think this was because it just wasn’t to my taste.

[caption id="attachment_4000" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The weather at the theatre ranges from rainy to very sunny![/caption]

Of course, being outside does have some drawbacks; namely the weather. All evening performances tend to get very cold and dark after the interval, but we combat this problem with lots of layers, scarves, gloves, hats, and blankets. Out of the five productions I have seen at the theatre, it has rained twice. Even during the heaviest of rain, the performances have never stopped - this year, the stage was simply wiped down twice before continuing.

The Open Air Theatre puts on such a wide variety of magnificent plays: comedies, musicals, serious drama, and more. It is so exciting to be outside - you can feel the wind in your face, hear birdsong, and even see the sun set! There really is something for everyone, and I would recommend experiencing it.

The Open Air Theatre is about 10 minutes walk from Baker Street tube station and is open from May to December each year. Prices range from £25 to £65 for the main musical theatre productions (the next one up is Jesus Christ Superstar), although there are often other events at weekends during the summer. This year there is also a production of Oliver Twist, aimed at those aged six upwards, and tickets cost £18.

Find out more from their website.