The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

I thought I would share Our Edinburgh Tattoo experience today; I booked the tattoo under extreme duress, I just wasn't sure if it was really my cup of tea. However the boys adore the army, soldiers and castles so we knew they would absolutely love it. But wow, how wrong could I be, the whole event is just breath taking.

We were so lucky that the weather was glorious when we arrived in Edinburgh so we headed to TGI Fridays for a quick lunch had a wander on Princess Street. Then spent the afternoon sunbathing in the gorgeous park that surrounded the castle, it was so cosmopolitan, I had never visited Edinburgh before, I don't know what I expected but it wasn't this sunny, trendy, city with the most amazing atmosphere. 

We were fortunate that the Edinburgh fringe festival was just about to start so there were street entertainers on most corners, as we  meandered up to the castle, we visited the occasional wine bar and stopped to watch the odd street performer. If our day had stopped there is would have been a fantastic day.

Harry Potter Studios, Part 4

Now for my final Harry Potter post, wow this was my absolute favourite part. We were half way through our tour when we turned a corner and there it was Diagon Alley. I must say I was a bit over giddy, if fact the boys were again rolling their eyes at me.

It was THE Diagon Alley and it was amazing. We spent ages looking in all the shop windows; it must have been fantastic to be part of the crew and working here every day. 

 

I particularly loved Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. It looked so exciting, the sort of shop Jack would love. It was surreal seeing Flourish and Blotts Booksellers with professor Professor Gilderoy Lockharts photo in the window.

Harry Potter Part 3, The Creatures.

For part 3 of my Harry Potter tour, I wanted to share some pictures of the creatures. I must say this room was fantastic, jammed pack full, and showed some real behind the scenes goodies; it gave away secrets of how things were done. I won't ruin it and share those secrets; you need to visit to feel the full magic. But the pictures are great to see never the less.

The model of Griphook was so realistic, there were many Goblin heads on show, all equally realistic. I felt  like I was being watched when I looked at it. Like he would blink or speak at any time.

Harry Potter, Studio Tour Part 2

The final part of the sets was the ministry if magic, it was great there was an interactive area where you got to fly a broomstick over London, the boys loved this. They also got to duel a death eater.

The ministry was amazing, I won't spoil it but it is so clever the way it is all filmed to make it how it looks on set, but was still quite spectacular to see in person, along with the death eaters and the statue that voldemort I stalked once he took over, it was huge.

Harry Potter Studio Tour, Part 1

I have been a huge Harry Potter Fan Since the day I read The Philosophers Stone, I read all the books the day they were released and watched all the films, mostly on release day, and have the box set. Yes I am a total Harry Potter geek. I just love it. We have visited Alnwick castle to visit where Harry learnt to fly the broomstick, and can't wait to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios next year.

We tried to book the Studio Tour last year, but it was fully booked. Last week we finally got the chance to visit. And trust me it did not disappoint. We booked the premier inn in St. Albans the night before, it was only 20 minutes away and we wanted the boys to arrive fresh and raring to go rather than weary from a 3.5-hour journey.  As we booked the premier inn, in advance we paid just £30. And I must say, it was £30 very well spent. The reception staff were exceptionally helpful and friendly, the room was spotlessly clean and the Beefeater next door was great for breakfast and dinner.

A Lovely Day in Covent Garden

Last week we took the boys to Covent garden for the day, they have been into London many times but are always so excited, they love London and the novelty of going on the underground with all the hustle and bustle.

They were amazed by all the street performers, and spent ages watching them; in fact they watched one performer for 40 minutes. I totally lost the Will to live as is was seriously boring, however Chris and the Boys seemed quite amazed by this man doing an escape act. To be honest he really dragged it out, but they loved it, so I was happy to sit there bored, whilst they enjoyed the experience.

Pasta Brown Italian, Covent Garden

Last week whilst we were in Covent Garden we decide to go for lunch, the boys were hungry and getting grouchy so we had to find somewhere quick, we found ourselves in Bella Pasta, where we were greeted and shown down a flight of stairs into a basement, to a dirty table, where an extremely busy waitress slammed the menu down on the table and listed a whole list of food that was not available!! I know it was awful this is the third bad experience we have had in Bella Pasta, in fact the only good experience I have ever had is in the Center Parcs Restaurant. So much to the Chris and the boys disgust I decided there was no was I could eat there and persuaded them to leave. 

I am so glad we did. We turned the corner and came across Pasta Brown, I had never heard of it before but it looked busy so we thought we would give it a try. 

Alnwick Gardens, Northumberland.

We visited Alnwick Garden last year as part of a combination ticket with Alnwick Castle. It really is quite breathtaking; who would have thought a garden could be such a fantastic place. I love the great outdoors but this place really is something special. You enter the garden into a Pavilion area with shops and cafes. Facing you, as you enter the gardens; is what seems like an endless waterfall and fountains.

It is called the Grand Cascade and it really is grand, it is a huge tiered water feature that has coordinated fountains going off at intervals and an overflow at the bottom, which ingeniously has small tractors where children can fill their buckets with the overflowing water and transport it around.

A day out in London, The Changing of the Guards

When we went to London last summer we decided to take the boys to see the changing of the guards. It is something they have never seen before. We were lucky as it was a beautiful hot day, we arrived about 10 minutes before the start, however I would advise anyone planning to go to get there about half an hour before, as it was very busy. 

Regent Street With No Cars!

We recently went into London for the day and were so lucky to find Regent Street was closed. I could not believe it, as someone who has visited and worked in London. I was so excited. I don't think Chris and the Boys could quite relate to how giddy I was, but how wonderful a pedestrianised regent street. It was called Summer Streets, and whilst it may have been inconvenient for drivers having to find a route around this, for tourists it was great.

A bus covered in astro turf 

Cadburys World, A family Day out.

I thought as it is Easter I would write about a few of the days out in the UK we have experienced. 

What better place to start than Cadburys World. I must say that I am not the biggest chocolate fan, I like it, but unlike some others it's not a passion. However the Boys were desperate to visit so we booked. It is a tour that you must book in advance as you are given a time slot to enter.

When are looked at the reviews they were mixed, I do believe that is because some people totally misinterpreted what the whole concept is about? Driving into Bournville village was breathtaking, I am positive this was where the name chocolate box cottage came from.  If someone was visiting the UK for the first time, it would be exactly what they expect a English County Village to look like. 

Joe enjoying the climbing frame

Cadburys world was easy to find and there are staff available to direct you to parking spaces. The first area you encounter is a courtyard with picnic benches, it has a huge climbing frame, shops. When we visited there was a children's entertainer doing magic tricks, the atmosphere was great. We had made a picnic, so set up on a bench and ate our lunch. We were lucky it was a hot sunny day.