What can you learn on holiday?

Holidays are wonderful (although the build-up isn't always so great!). I love spending time with my family, travelling to new places and learning, yes, I said learning about new things.

I didn't grow up thinking that holidays were just about relaxing. Instead they were exciting, full of anything from castles and museums to lakes and mountains. We went fishing with little nets in Devon and to the magnificent Cologne Cathedral in Germany. We learnt about steering a canal boat and opening locks in Wales, and visited historic chateaux in the Loire Valley in France. Holiday time was incredibly enriching.

Of course we weren't on the go all the time. My parents were careful to make sure that we had lots of time to read, or swim or just chill. But we didn't do that all the time.

And, when I stop to think about it, the holidays I had as a child and loved, are similar to the ones we now have with our children. We travel somewhere and we shop and eat and have fun, but we also discover local museums (like At Science in Bristol, which was fantastic) and stately homes.

Sometimes we learn in different ways too - by picking up bits of a different language if we go abroad, looking at maps of where we are travelling to, or even by one-offs. The children simply loved their trip to the Harry Potter studio tour and learnt an awful lot about how films are made. Meanwhile I will always remember the thrill of Jessica realising she could actually cycle properly as she went round and round the very safe caravan park we were visiting in France some years ago. It was perfect for building up her confidence.

Of course holidays are all about trying new experiences. My son was thrilled to try out bungee jumping on a Bristol street, while my daughter loved swimming in the caves in Jamaica. We all enjoyed feeding the animals in Ireland (you can see this in the photo at the top of this piece and I think it was probably the first time that Robert, then only 2, had ever done it) as well as something completely different - the theme park rides in the USA. This is where my son discovered that he doesn't appear to feel G force!

So, holidays are fun, but they can also be so much more than that. Kids (and adults) can always learn and holidays, when you are relaxed and actually have some time to spend together, can be brilliant learning experiences. I, for one, wish we had more of them.

Do you learn on holiday, and if so, what? This post is part of the Visit Wales #Wales4Kids Family Holiday Challenge. Wales is the perfect place for a fun-filled family break.

Read about:

Our trip to Ireland

Our trip to France

Our trip to Jamaica

What can you learn on holiday?

Holidays are wonderful (although the build-up isn't always so great!). I love spending time with my family, travelling to new places and learning, yes, I said learning about new things.

I didn't grow up thinking that holidays were just about relaxing. Instead they were exciting, full of anything from castles and museums to lakes and mountains. We went fishing with little nets in Devon and to the magnificent Cologne Cathedral in Germany. We learnt about steering a canal boat and opening locks in Wales, and visited historic chateaux in the Loire Valley in France. Holiday time was incredibly enriching.

Of course we weren't on the go all the time. My parents were careful to make sure that we had lots of time to read, or swim or just chill. But we didn't do that all the time.

And, when I stop to think about it, the holidays I had as a child and loved, are similar to the ones we now have with our children. We travel somewhere and we shop and eat and have fun, but we also discover local museums (like At Science in Bristol, which was fantastic) and stately homes.
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Going back in time at Thornbury Castle

Thornbury Castle is absolutely beautiful

I don't know who was more excited, me, or the children. After all, it's not everyday that you spend the night in a castle, and certainly not one which has hosted one of the famous monarchs of all, Henry VIII.

Then again, Thornbury Castle is not your everyday kind of place. Instead, it is utterly gorgeous and perfect for a real taste of luxury. It is also situated right next to a beautiful church and just a few minutes from the delightful village of Thornbury in Gloucestershire. Thornbury has a very impressive array of shops, tearooms and restaurants and the most fabulous park which boasts the biggest paddling pool I've ever seen.

But back to the castle, which was built by Edward Stafford, the third Duke of Buckingham between 1510 and 1521. He was beheaded (unfortunately a common experience in Tudor times) in 1521 but the castle continued to go from strength to strength. Mary I stayed here often and Henry and Anne Boleyn (another who lost her head) stayed for 10 days in the Tower suite (yes, it's still there, although with some mod cons) in 1535.


The castle became a hotel in the 1960s and has recently been renovated and refurbished. It is part of the Luxury Family Hotels group, though more for families with older children (like ours) who don't need creches or looking after by other people during the day. However, it does offer activities for kids during the summer, early suppers, babysitting, and of course, a really special location.

Our suite was up its own stone staircase

I am a real sucker for history and castles (see my piece on Gorey Castle here), but Thornbury is special. The Tudor architecture is a joy and the bedchambers (all different - we made sure we visited some other than our own) are fantastic.

We stayed in Portlethen, up its own stone staircase and with its own impressively heavy key (to open a heavy oak door). The suite was magnificent, with more than enough space for the four of us, and with the children in separate single beds (they aren't too happy to share a double now they're getting older). There was even a small kitchen, as well as a very authentic looking tapestry on the wall.

This tapestry was in our suite

We loved the "royal" touches, such as long red ropes which you pulled to put the lights on and off, and crested toilet paper. My husband and I had a proper four poster bed and it was incredibly comfortable. In fact, we had such a good night's sleep and were so impressed by how unusual that is, we asked about the mattress the next day.

Upmarket toilet roll!

Aaah, we loved this comfortable bed!

The grounds are also atmospheric and charming. We enjoyed walking around the beautifully manicured gardens and although we didn't have afternoon tea outside, I can imagine that it would be a lovely place to do so.

Enjoying the gorgeous lawns

Portlethen was in one of the wings of the castle, so obviously we explored the main part of the castle too. We said hello to the coat of armour and visited the library and dining room. We also learnt that the long, deep windows in that room were originally built like that so that the men could, ahem, do their business in there, and not have to leave and miss any conversation (or plotting).

Our only criticism of our stay was that the service in the restaurant was extremely slow. We had booked an early supper, from 6.45, but were still there at near to 9pm and weren't given any explanation for the delay. In addition (and it hurts me to say this as we did have such a wonderful time), we weren't hugely impressed by the food, except for the desserts. We chose the vegetarian menu (we were impressed to know that there was a vegetarian menu) and it was a bit bland for all of us, although the menu descriptions sounded delicious. The food simply needed more seasoning.

However, it didn't detract too much from such a marvellous stay. We all agreed that Thornbury is simply not the kind of place you come across very often and that makes it truly special. We would recommend it for visitors from all over the UK (it's not far from Bath or Bristol, so you could combine it with a day trip to either) and around the world.

Visit Thornbury Castle's website for more.

We stayed as guests at Thornbury Castle, near Bristol, which is part of the Luxury Family Hotels collection (telephone 0844 482 2152 or www.luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk).

Classic Rooms start at £170 per night based on two adults sharing on a room and breakfast basis. A room accommodating two adults and two children is available from £270 per room per night on a room and breakfast basis.

Going back in time at Thornbury Castle

Thornbury Castle is absolutely beautiful

I don't know who was more excited, me, or the children. After all, it's not everyday that you spend the night in a castle, and certainly not one which has hosted one of the famous monarchs of all, Henry VIII.

Then again, Thornbury Castle is not your everyday kind of place. Instead, it is utterly gorgeous and perfect for a real taste of luxury. It is also situated right next to a beautiful church and just a few minutes from the delightful village of Thornbury in Gloucestershire. Thornbury has a very impressive array of shops, tearooms and restaurants and the most fabulous park which boasts the biggest paddling pool I've ever seen.

But back to the castle, which was built by Edward Stafford, the third Duke of Buckingham between 1510 and 1521. He was beheaded (unfortunately a common experience in Tudor times) in 1521 but the castle continued to go from strength to strength. Mary I stayed here often and Henry and Anne Boleyn (another who lost her head) stayed for 10 days in the Tower suite (yes, it's still there, although with some mod cons) in 1535.

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The real Gromit (and more on Bristol)

We loved Bristol (you may have gathered this by our last two posts, on Gromit-hunting and where to eat with kids in the city). Jessica has now written a lovely, more in-depth post about our trip for UK Travel Room, so please pop over there to take a look.

[caption id="attachment_741" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Brian with Gromit at Paddington station[/caption]

We were sad not to see all the Gromits during our trip, but decided that we must at least visit one more, even though we are now home in London. So, yesterday, Jessica, Robert and their dad popped off to Paddington Station to visit the one London-based Gromit and, although it was very busy, they managed to get a photo or two as well.

So, why not take a little trip too? Gromit is based on platform 8 and it is, as Jessica says, THE Gromit, or rather, the original.

Gromit hunting ends on September 8th.

 Read what Robert had to say about searching for Gromits!

Jessica's piece on our Bristol holiday for UK Travel Room can be seen here.

The original Gromit (and more on Bristol)

We loved Bristol (you may have gathered this by our last two posts, on Gromit-hunting and where to eat with kids in the city). Jessica has now written a lovely, more in-depth post about our trip for UK Travel Room, so please pop over there to take a look.

We were sad not to see all the Gromits during our trip, but decided that we must at least visit one more, even though we are now home in London. So, yesterday, Jessica, Robert and their dad popped off to Paddington Station to visit the one London-based Gromit and, although it was very busy, they managed to get a photo or two as well.
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Three Amazing Places To Eat In Central Bristol With Kids (by Jessica)

This summer, we had an amazing five days in Bristol, with lots of time spent in the city centre. Here are three great places that we ate at and really enjoyed...

The Spyglass

3. Spyglass
The Spyglass is a small, friendly restaurant with a fabulous children's menu and a wonderful and quiet location.
The menu had great variety and all of the food was delicious. I especially loved my corn on the cob which was rolled in an incredible chilli, garlic and cheese mixture - scrumptious! This was served wi
th BBQ garlic bread which was really nice. The Spyglass makes its very own ice-cream on the premises and it was honestly one of the nicest ice-creams I've ever tasted. My mum points out that kids eat free here if adults have a main course, and that seems like very good value to me.


2. Las Iguanas
I really loved this restaurant as the spices and flavours were really unique and different to what we usually eat. I had an Epic Enchilada with butternut squash, spinach, cream cheese, beans & chickpeas from the adult's menu which was lovely but very spicy. The food on the children's menu has fewer vegetables but still has a great variety of foods. Kids also get a sheet of paper with puzzles on to complete when they are waiting for the food. Everything tasted really nice and now I really love Latin food.

1. Za Za Bazaar

Za Za Bazaar is definitely one of the nicest places that I've ever eaten at. Seating 1000, it is the biggest restaurant in the UK and probably the busiest! It is an all-you-can-eat buffet for a fixed price and was like no place I'd ever been to before... 

The atmosphere is incredible; it has big blinking lights, great views and big pictures and posters plastered all over the walls. It was also very clean when we went. The only downside is that it is extraordinarily hot - a bit like being in an oven!

With Dad In Za Za Bazaar

Although we don't eat meat and Robert can't have dairy, there was something for all of us. All the food was yummy and every chef was kind and friendly. The room consists of lots of stations, full of different types of food. There was sushi, pizza, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Tex-Mex etc and everything I tried I liked. There was also a whole station full of desserts, fruit and sweets. The best bit was a soft scoop ice-cream machine and the juicy watermelon.

My favourite thing about Za Za Bazaar were the yellow parts of the stations where chefs could make your meal for you! I had a brilliant vegetable and cheese fajita as well as some superb noodles where I picked the type of noodles, toppings and how spicy it was - yum!

Overall, Central Bristol is a great place to eat with kids. Make sure you take them to these three places! 

More By Me: Our Fabulous Day At The Science Museum! My Three Top Rides At Universal, Orlando The View From The Shard

Three Amazing Places To Eat In Central Bristol With Kids (by Jessica)

This summer, we had an amazing five days in Bristol, with lots of time spent in the city centre. Here are three great places that we ate at and really enjoyed...

The Spyglass

3. Spyglass
The Spyglass is a small, friendly restaurant with a fabulous children's menu and a wonderful and quiet location.
The menu had great variety and all of the food was delicious. I especially loved my corn on the cob which was rolled in an incredible chilli, garlic and cheese mixture - scrumptious! This was served wi
th BBQ garlic bread which was really nice. The Spyglass makes its very own ice-cream on the premises and it was honestly one of the nicest ice-creams I've ever tasted. My mum points out that kids eat free here if adults have a main course, and that seems like very good value to me.
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Gromit Set Loose (by Robert)

"Gromit set loose" is on over the summer holidays. In it you try to find models of Gromit (from Wallace and Gromit.) Each sculpture is different because each one was designed by another person or artist like the Beano or Zayn from One Direction.

[caption id="attachment_734" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The "Where's Wallace?" Gromit[/caption]

There are 80 Gromits to find all over Bristol and a few in other towns. My sister and I found 39. It was really fun looking for the Gromits and sometimes we found some without meaning to. My favourite ones were a salty sea dog by Peter Lord, Gromit Lightyear by Pixar and Where's Wallace? by Martin Handford.

[caption id="attachment_736" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Isambark Kingdom Brunel[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_737" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Gromit Lightyear[/caption]

Overall it was a great thing to do in the holiday and if you want to do the trail, start looking in Bristol before the end of the summer holidays or as Wallace would say "get cracking lads " It ends on September 8th.

[caption id="attachment_738" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Hero![/caption]

My mum says: Gromit Unleashed is a series of giant Gromits which have been designed by artists and others in order to raise funds for sick children.

We've sent this post to Gretta at Mumsdotravel where she and others recommend other great family days out!

UPDATE: We have now managed to visit the original Gromit, who is currently in London, at Paddington Station. Take a look at our little post and pics here.

More by Robert on Beanotown at the South Bank in London and Cadbury World in Birmingham.

Gromit Set Loose (by Robert)

Gromit Lightyear

Where's Wallace?

Gromit set loose is on over the summer holidays. In it you try to find  models of Gromit (from Wallace and Gromit.) Each sculpture is different because each one was designed by another person or artist like the Beano or Zayn from One Direction.

There are 80 Gromits to find all over Bristol and a few in other towns. My sister and I found 39. It was really fun looking for the Gromits and sometimes we found some without meaning to. My favourite ones were a salty sea dog by Peter Lord, Gromit Lightyear by Pixar and Where's Wallace? by Martin Handford.

Read more »