• Added: 2nd of October 2008
• Area: Minehead
• Category: Events and Entertainment

Minehead TA24 5SH

SaudiSurfer said
Kids really do love it
This is such a great place for kids. They love every minute, and with so much to do, you'll be run ragged by the end of your holiday! For the little ones there's soft play and Bob the Builder's yard (6 kiddy rides). For the older kids there's the grown up theme park (umbrellas, waltzers, tug boat & many more) and a go-kart track.

For everyone there are the continuous shows, the pool with 5 major slides, and the activities organised by the Red Coats.

You don't have to stay at Butlins to enjoy the place, as you can get a day pass, which gives you access to everything that goes on during the day for no cost.

So if your kids are 10 or under, this really is the best UK holiday they could have - it may drive you mad at times, but they'll be upset when they leave, and be begging you to come back next year.

• Added: 2nd of October 2008
• Area: Hounslow
• Category: Hotels and Travel

Hounslow TW5 9NB

SaudiSurfer said
Poor standard of Accommodation
This travelodge is on the M4 at the services just before you enter London/just on the way out of London. The hotels are basic, and looking a bit tired. You can get family rooms with fold out beds for the kids, but when we stayed they didn't have the kids linen in the room, so we had to go and ask for it.

There are no breakfast facilities in the hotel, but the Services are next door, so you can grab something there.

The hotels are relatively close to Heathrow, so if you've got a car it may be a cheaper option than the hotels by the airport. But make sure you stay on the Westbound hotel, as you can only get out via the motorway, and you have to go all the way to Junction 1 to be able to do a U-Turn, which could take a long time in peak hour traffic.

• Added: 2nd of October 2008
• Area: Bridgend
• Category: Shops

Bridgend CF32 9SU

SaudiSurfer said
Great Outlet Village
This designer outlet village is just off Junction 36 of the M4, near Bridgend. It has loads of great bargains, with shops like Clarks, M&S, Cotton Traders, Levis and Van Hausen.

The shops are all boutique style, all outside, but it is mostly covered, so it's OK if it's raining, but if it's cold, make sure you're wrapped up. There is a large covered children's play area (which you'll have problems getting the kids away from), and an enclosed food court with all the usual restaurants (McDonalds, KFC, Costa Coffee etc.).

There's plenty of parking, and it's free. There's also a cinema at one end of the complex.

• Added: 2nd of October 2008
• Area: Bristol
• Category: Food and Drink

Bristol BS32 8EF

SaudiSurfer said
Exciting New Centre
Bradley Stoke finally has the town centre it's been craving for since the town was built. Tesco has just built a new Tesco Extra on the site of its old, tired looking store, and the replacement sells practically everything in a new modern mini-mall.

The store has a great range of food (as you'd expect) as well as clothes, toys, a pharmacy, and electrical goods. No need to venture down to Cribbs Causeway any more, as you can get everything here.

The new bus station has improved the transport links, and with the other new shops, the leisure centre and the library all a 5 minute walk away, this will hopefully put a real heart in the centre of Bradley Stoke.

• Added: 2nd of October 2008
• Area: Bristol
• Category: Sports and Leisure

Bristol BS32 9BS

SaudiSurfer said
Fantastic Local Leisure Centre
A modern local council leisure centre that is always busy. It has two indoor pools (a full size swimming pool and a large kids pool), a large sports hall (for football, badminton, basketball etc.), squash courts and soft play. Outside there's a skateboard park.

There's also a cafe with Sky Sports - great if your there waiting for kids do their activities. There's also an enclosed outdoor play area for the little ones.

The centre also has the local library in it.

You can hold children's parties at the pool, at the soft play, and/or in one of the many sports areas.

The only thing to bear in mind is that the car park can get very full at busy times.

• Added: 2nd of October 2008
• Area: Bristol
• Category: Stations and Transport

Bristol BS34 8PU

SaudiSurfer said
Fantastic Modern Station
This station has recently been re-built, so it is modern, functional and very busy. The station has automated barriers, so you will have to buy a ticket before boarding the train. The ticket office can get very busy in the mornings, so make sure you leave plenty of time to get your tickets - pre-booking them if possible.

The car park is expensive (£5 a day), gets full by about 9am, and trying to pay for your parking ticket can take ages if you try to pay by card (they're really slow and user-unfriendly). So make sure you get to the station early. There is a traffic warden on duty every day, so do not be tempted to try and get away with it, as you will get a parking ticket. You will also get a ticket if you park outside a marked space (as people do every day when the car park is full).

Traffic around the station at peak times is also busy (it can take half an hour to get from the M32 exit to the station at 5pm), so again, make sure you get there early.

There are decent toilet facilities in the station & lifts to all platforms. There is also an Upper Crust, coffee shop and a small news agent/snack shop.

• Added: 2nd of October 2008
• Area: Bristol
• Category: Stations and Transport

Bristol BS1 6QQ
0870 241 0930

SaudiSurfer said
Historic Station
This is an historic station, forming one end of the line from London Paddington to Bristol. The station has lots of platforms, and it takes some time to go from platform to platform (and it can get confusing on the underground walkway), so if you're changing trains here, make sure you leave enough time.

The station now has automated ticket barriers to enter and exit the station, so there's no chance of buying your ticket on the train any more.

The station is about 15 mins walk from the main city centre, so if it's raining, or don't have the time, you'll have to take a bus or taxi to the main shopping areas or night life.

• Added: 2nd of October 2008
• Area: Bristol
• Category: Events and Entertainment

Bristol BS34 5DG
0871 224 0240

SaudiSurfer said
Great Modern Multiplex
This is a great out-of-town multiplex with 12 screens. It's still pretty new, so everything's in pretty good nick. Some of the screens are pretty small, but the sound and picture quality is good in all the ones we've been in.

If you've got kids, make sure you find out what film is of for the Kids AM feature on a Saturday and Sunday morning. They're usually a few months out of date, but entry is only £1.50 for a child (1 adult free with each child!), and it's an ideal opportunity to take the young kids to the cinema for the first time.

Food & drink is really expensive, and they seem to take forever to serve you, so either take something with you, or have something beforehand.

• Added: 2nd of October 2008
• Area: Bristol
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Bristol BS1 4UT

SaudiSurfer said
Young, Lively Bar
This is a bar for the younger market. It blasts out the music and is always busy on a Friday and Saturday night. Drinks are pretty expensive, but that's par for the course for in Bristol. It's centrally located, being close to the bus drop-offs and the Bristol water-front.

It is ideally located for those wishing to have a drink before or after taking at a show in the Hippodrome next door, but I suspect that the type of crowd that goes to see a musical won't really want to be sitting in a pub where they're unable to speak to each other because of the noise.

• Added: 2nd of October 2008
• Area: Bristol
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Bristol BS1 5UH
0117 929 9652

SaudiSurfer said
Too Busy
This is one bar in a whole line of bars along the water front in Bristol, but while others are often quiet (some even empty), this one is always busy - and I don't know why! It's a modern pub which is tastefully done out, and it blasts out the music (modern, popular songs usually).

It is always packed full of people, so there's a good noisy atmosphere (if that's what you're looking for), but that means that it's difficult (sometimes impossible) to get to the bar, and the prices are on the high side. Why the similar bars on either side that sell alcohol at much lower prices remain pretty empty remains a mystery to me. So it's often just a quick one here, before moving down the strip.