out & about
Days Out
The UK is brilliant for trips to the coasts, forests or moorlands. The place is crammed with historic monuments and fun family attractions. Unfortunately you’re also going to find mediocre, over-priced food (the major gripe of Britain’s millions of visitors) and frequent peltings from Britain’s unpredictable weather (the major gripe of Britain’s millions of residents).
Family outings can easily become fraught, so here’s our checklist for staying on top of the day:
- Look at the weather forecasts so you aren’t caught on the hop.
- Ring up first if you’re not 100 per cent sure of opening times.
- Start looking for lunch early (you can always pull into a supermarket car park and raid the snacks and sandwich section for fresh and tasty offerings).
- Bring a First Aid kid. Don’t forget travel-sickness pills!
- Don’t stick rigidly to a plan that is starting to fall behind schedule – rushing will cause you stress.
- Take travel-busters such as tapes, personal CD players, books and hand-held games.
- Younger children need rest-stops at playgrounds (and more frequent feeding than adults).
- Older children need to be invited… not dragged!
For a quick summing-up of the top attractions in each county across the country, the website of the Good Britain Guide www.goodguides.com is hard to beat.
For comprehensive coverage, including maps, prices and opening times, try www.daysout.co.uk.
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