May 25'
From birthday parties and soft play chaos to National Trust adventures and seaside trips, May was full of family fun. We revisited favorites like Wimpole Estate and Yorkshire Wildlife Park, discovered new spots like The Airport Pub, and made the most of the weekends with the boys.
Poof — and just like that, another month’s vanished into thin air! I kicked off these month-end rambles back in April, so if you're curious (or just nosy), you can check out the first one here.
This month we celebrated Georges 6th birthday with a party for all his school friends and a few family friends at a popular soft play within our local town, pretty sure they all had a blast and hopefully tired them all out if that's possible?
Since I work from home Monday to Friday, our weekends are usually packed with getting out and about with the boys. We try to make the most of it—and being full-on National Trust members (yes, we’re those people), it means we’ve always got somewhere fun to go for just a small monthly fee.
This month we’ve made return trips to three of our favorites: Wimpole Estate, Clumber Park, and Lyme Park. We've been to them all before, but Wimpole is our top pick. It’s not just the beautiful house and gardens it also has a proper working farm, which the boys love. They get to see the animals, run around, and learn just by playing.
If you’ve got kids and a bit of weekend wanderlust, the National Trust is honestly such a win.
Other places we have been to are Saltburn-by-the-Sea, The Airport Pub at Manchester Airport, and Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Saltburn-by-the-sea is a great compact East Coast seaside town by compact, I mean there is an arcade, two fish and chip shops, a surf school, and a funicular cliff lift on the seafront.
If you're looking for a family-friendly spot to grab a bite, The Airport Pub in Northenden is a hidden gem. Just 50 feet from Manchester Airport's runway, it offers an unbeatable view of planes taking off and landing. The beer garden is equipped with a play area for kids and even a plane-shaped play zone to keep them entertained. Inside, you'll find quirky decor like spitfire armchairs and jet engine booth seating. The menu features American-style dishes such as burgers, wings, and loaded fries, with vegetarian and vegan options available.
Another fantastic family destination is Yorkshire Wildlife Park, located near Doncaster. This 175-acre park is home to over 70 rare and endangered species, including polar bears, tigers, and lemurs. The park features themed areas like Into Africa and Lion Country, offering immersive experiences for visitors. Kids will love the multiple play areas, including Oasis Adventure Play, which cater to all ages. The park also offers ranger talks throughout the day, providing educational insights into the animals' behaviors and habitats and a walk around some life size animatronic dinosaurs!
As I write this, we've just arrived in the Netherlands for a week-long break at Lake Resort Beekse Bergen. Our itinerary is packed with family-friendly adventures: a visit to the enchanting Efteling, water fun at Speelland Beekse Bergen, a thrilling safari at Beekse Bergen Safari Park, and possibly a day trip to explore Amsterdam.
Till next time