We had a very busy October with us all doing lots of stuff as a family that we had planned. Some of the things we enjoyed had been booked for a long time so we were just so grateful that we were able to go. No one knows what the next couple of months might look like here in the UK as the Winter kicks in so we tried to enjoy it as much as possible.
We started the month with a date night for a Chinese and then off to a charity quiz night. John and I were absolutely rubbish at the quiz although John did make the best paper plane. His plane that went the furthest out of about 40 so he won a prize. He won a juicer. We didn't win at the quiz but it was lots of fun.
Around Springtime we took part in a Percy The Park Keeper Trail in Tatton Park. It was a lovely trail around the gardens and we got to explore, do challenges and meet Percy himself. There was a new Autumn trail to experience at the park this month called After The Storm. The trail was really good and was free to enjoy or you could buy a trail map for just £1. We got to see parts of Tatton Park we hadn't seen before.
We went to the theatre for the first time in what feels like forever and it felt so good to be back watching a live show. Unfortunately there were only about 100 people in there, which was just so sad. I can't even say it was the show as it was the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, Tell Me On A Sunday. I guess people may not feel comfortable heading to such an intimate setting yet. However I absolutely loved the show and Jodie Prenger was amazing.
We made our way up North to visit Blackpool to see the Blackpool illuminations. We try and do it every year and it has become a tradition. We always do the same thing every year but the boys still enjoy it. We head to Coral Island to play some games and try and win some goodies. Then we usually go to the chippy for dinner because you can't go to Blackpool and not get fish and chips. As we are Merlin Pass Holders we then visit the Blackpool Tower to see the illuminations from 380ft in the air. After that we drive through the lights all the way along the golden mile.
Pumpkin Picking was the start of five days of Halloween and was so much fun this year. We managed to pick some really nice pumpkins at Kenyon Hall Farm. Tickets sold out very quickly so we were lucky to grab some before they did, however we actually realised that you only needed the ticket to visit the pumpkin field, everything else was available at no cost with lots of pumpkins already picked for sale. You can also enjoy the play area, cafe and shop too so I won't be too stressed next year if we don't manage to get a ticket as there is still lots to enjoy.
Only one thing to do after you've picked your pumpkins, time to carve them. From left to right is big J, mine, John's and little J's.
After our pumpkin picking day and pumpkin carving night we headed to the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience. We had tried not to see anything about the trail online as we didn't want to spoil our experience so didn't really know what to expect. It was absolutely amazing. The trail was at Arley Hall and Gardens National Trust property which was magically transformed in to all things Harry Potter. The rain poured down however the trees proved to be amazing umbrellas so we didn't feel it until we headed in to the open. It was an unforgettable experience and worth every penny.
We made it to Scarefest at Alton Towers after almost being put off by the rain. We are so glad we still went as the rain stayed away all day and we had a really fun packed day. The morning was a slow start with queuing almost 2 hours for Mixtape but after that we managed to get on all the rides we wanted, visited the new Trick O'Treat Town which was a really fun experience for all the family and rode Galactica and Wicker Man in the dark
We finished off our Halloween themed half term with two Halloween parties.
Halloween is almost here and there are so many events happening close to us. However as we are Merlin Pass Holders we usually try and visit as many of the Merlin attractions as possible to experience their spooky events. Here's what in store for 2021
Where?
Legoland, Windsor
What?
Brick or Treat
When?
14th -31st October
How Much?
Tickets start at £39
What Can We Expect?
Lord Vampyre is throwing the ultimate Halloween party and would like to invite all little monsters and their families to the Legoland Windsor Resort for his favourite time of the year, Halloween! Lord Vampyre promises to make this years Brick or Treat event the most spook-tacular event of the year.
With many fun Halloween activities for you to dig your fangs into, including my very own Haunted House Monster Party Ride and NEW for 2021 Harbour Show, Lord Vampyre’s Creepy Crypt Trail, Monster Rocker’s fang-tastic Pumpkin Trail, costume competitions and so much more – plus all of our rides including the brand new land Legoland Mythica - World of Mythical Creatures, live shows and attractions, it’s a frightfully fun day out for all the family.
Prepare yourself as Fright Nights at Thorpe Park returns for another year. Fright Nights are not for the faint hearted as you will be scared senseless at the UK’s premier Halloween event. Ride Europe’s most thrilling coasters in the dead of night before taking on live action scare experiences.
The Fright Nights event is recommended for guests age 13+ and certain Merlin passes are excluded so a ticket would be required and can be purchased at a discounted rate.
Photo credit and for more information visit Thorpe Park
Where?
Chessington World Of Adventures
What?
Howl 'O' Ween
When?
16th -31st October
How Much?
Tickets start at £34
What Can We Expect?
The mischievous Wild Witches of Adventure Point have conjured up a devilish spell this Howl’o’ween and brought back to life spooktacular characters across the Resort. With lots of tricks and plenty of treats, watch your step as you explore the lands, because you’ll likely encounter all kinds of delightfully ghastly creatures around every corner. Maybe you will bump in to the vile villagers, plunderous pirates, ferocious pharaohs or barbaric bandits.
Make sure you check out the Legends of The wild witches show, the curse catchers and the forgotten forest. All included in your admission.
Open until 9pm each day guests can face head-spinning, hair-raising rides and attractions in darkness including Wicker Man and the Alton Towers Dungeon! If that’s not scary enough, 4 multi-award winning, terrifying mazes are set to return. In addition, older families will be able to enjoy the brand-new Trick o’ Treat Town, an interactive walkthrough a special town where every day is Halloween and as well as treats, there are tricks aplenty.
Returning for 2021 is the free attraction ‘Garden Lights Walk: Whispering Souls’, where the gardens come to life in a whole new spooktacular.
Younger families can enjoy live shows including the CBeebies Monster Ball and the Freaky Fun Zone characters and shows. There really is something for all the family to enjoy.
Scare mazes and Trick O'Treat town are an additional cost.
Photo credit and for more information visit Alton Towers
If you are a Merlin Pass Holder then you can also visit Legoland Discovery Centre in both Manchester and Birmingham and Sealife centre across the country to enjoy their Halloween events. Please check the individuals centres for up to date information.
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I love looking back at our month to see all the things we got up to and what has happened over the past 30 days. The main thing for us this month was settling back in to the back to school routine. Things are going well for little J, he is really enjoying it. Big J doesn't start university till this month but hopefully he will settle well and enjoy it too.
We had a last minute trip to Oktoberfest at Alton Towers which was definitely a highlight. Alton Towers is one of our favourite places to visit and although Oktoberfest isn't a new event for the resort it was our first time visiting.
The resort planned five huge events this year starting with Mardi Gras (which was amazing), Oktoberfest, Scarefest, Fireworks and Christmas. I am hoping we get to visit the last three as they are always a great day out.
While we were at Alton we got little J measured and he has FINALLY reached 1.4m. He absolutely loves rollercoasters so he was over the moon and couldn't wait to try out a new ride. He chose Galactica and loved it so much he went on it twice.
Another highlight was seeing my favourite band in concert, Mcfly. We booked the tickets almost two years ago so it was a very long wait but it was definitely worth it. Unfortunately Tom who is one of the lead vocalists caught Covid so had to isolate. I was really gutted as I wasn't sure what the concert would be like without him but his band mates stepped up and also brought in a little Tom from the band Chapter 13 to help sing Tom's parts.
I've been going to McFly Concerts for as long as they have been putting on shows and I never get bored, they are amazing live.
In Other News
We have had quite a few social events to go to this month so it's been a busy one. I don't think there has been one weekend when we haven't had something planned.
John and I joined the gym at the very beginning of the month and pleased to say that after 30 days we are feeling much better in ourselves. We've been to a variety of classes and also swimming and really hope we keep it up.
Little J's football has started up again. They played two matches this month, lost 6-3 in one match and then won 2-1 in another.
We started and finished all three seasons of Manifest. I really enjoyed it at first but then it got a little crazy but I stuck with it. John loved it and he cannot wait for the fourth and final season next year.
I feel like July has flew by and I know August will be the same and before we know it we will be heading back to work and school in September. July was a busy month so it's nice for me to look back at what we got up to.
We headed into July with no plans and nothing booked but we ended up having a really nice month. July is usually the month we head on a Summer holiday but this year we stayed closer to home but still had lots of fun.
Little J managed to visit three different play areas this month that had his favourite thing, an inflatable slide. The slide at Jump Maniax was huge which he loved. He even enjoyed racing with a friend he made while we were there. The inflatable slide at Calderstones Beach was lots of fun and he got to share it with his cousins. Then during a visit to Dino Kingdom in Manchester he spotted the slide and bouncy castle in the far corner of the fairground area. He was very happy.
Little J was really excited about the Euros and managed to stay up and watch some of the matches even the ones that went to penalties. He really wanted England to win but unfortunately it didn't go their way. He's now looking forward to the start of the Premier League and then the World Cup.
It was the end of another school year for me and it's such a sad time as I have to say goodbye to all my little ones. We were all spoilt this year. The parents were so kind and we got lots of lovely gifts and some personal gifts too.
We decided on a last minute trip to the seaside. It was late in the afternoon when we got there and it was fairly quiet. It was a nice but windy day, a lovely way to spend a few hours.
We also managed to fit in a trip to Coral Island in Blackpool. Little J loves it there and was brave enough to go on the ghost train, we played air hockey, arcade games and we won a huge baby Yoda.
We headed to one of our favourite places, Alton Towers to celebrate Johns birthday. We booked a stay over at the Alton Towers hotel and surprised him with the adult birthday package. We spent the day in the park, early evening in the waterpark and then to the Crooked Spoon for dinner. A lovely way to spend the day. We headed back to the park the next day to do some more rides.
After our second day in the Alton Towers theme park we headed to Goin Golf. We had been invited to visit and try out the Golf Simulators and it was amazing. We didn't want to leave and really over stayed our welcome but it was so much fun.
We finished off the month with a stay over at Drayton Manor Hotel and a visit to the theme park. It's a lovely family park with just a handful of thrill rides. Little J is absolutely desperate to ride the 'big ones' but is just short of the 1.4m requirement. Won't be long though.
In Other News
Big J has been working lots over the past few weeks so unfortunately has missed out on a few of our days out which he doesn't like but we have a full week with him very soon.
To our surprise little J had to have a filling this month. It was a surprise because he is so good brushing his teeth at least twice a day and isn't a big sweet or fruit eater. He has a very strong gag reflex so had to be sedated but was very brave.
We had one week of glorious weather which meant the pool came out for the week. I love having the pool out it was a lovely way to spend the first week of the Summer holidays.
Whilst chatting with a friend we got talking about different types of people. He told me that there are three different types of people. A past person, a present person and a future person. I had never heard this before but after he explained it to me in more detail, I got it and he is right.
When an opportunity crops up for light conversation or general chit chat a ‘past person’ will talk about things that have already happened. Their conversations will start with ‘remember when..’ or ‘ I remember’. They don’t live in the past as such but they do spend an awful lot of time talking about things, people, events that they have already experienced. They like to reminisce.
A present person lives in the here and now. They are right in the moment and their conversations and thoughts are based on what’s happening now. They may chat about things happening in the news, books they are reading, current music, what they are cooking for tea tonight. They are enjoying life now and very rarely think of the future.
Then there’s a future person. This is me. A future person is constantly talking and planning for the future. Whether it’s a birthday a holiday or even further, retirement. A future person is a planner, they always have something they want to book or plan way ahead for. It’s hard being a future person because at times I don’t enjoy the present as much as I should because my brain is constantly thinking of other things.
As I am a future person I have found the past year very hard. I love having things planned, and ideas in my head about what we will be doing next. Due to the uncertainty in the world and lockdowns this hasn't been possible and it's been tough.
As a future person I don’t really like ‘stuff’ I would rather spend my time, energy and money creating memories.
John lives for ‘stuff’ and always craves the latest gadgets, entertainment or music. He definitely lives in the present and enjoys taking each day as it comes. He loves scrolling through social media or news pages looking for the latest news events.
Now that the end of lockdown is in sight I have already looked through our post lockdown travel bucket list and started pricing up trips to Alton Towers or Disneyland Paris. I haven't gone as far as booking anything yet but it's nice to hope that it will be a possibility very soon.
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We have been visiting Alton Towers for as long as I can remember. In the past 15 years we have visited Alton Towers at least 3 times per year and have watched as it has grown in to the resort it is today. Originally Alton Towers was a day trip which you could enjoy with your family or friends but now it is more than that. It's a UK holiday resort with a theme park, a waterpark, mini golf and a wide range of accommodation to choose from and there are lots of reasons to stay over at the Alton Towers Resort. We have been lucky to stay in most of the resorts accommodation over the years and can tell you which hotel to stay in at the Alton towers Resort to suit your needs.
The Alton Towers Hotel
The Alton Towers Hotel is the original hotel and usually our first choice when booking a stay. The hotel is themed around the explorer Sir Algenon who landed at Alton Towers and made this hotel his home. The hotel is beautifully decorated inside and has gorgeous gardens and features on the outside.
The hotel main entrance is on level two and consists of the reception area, a small shop selling gifts and snacks and a small Costa Coffee. Here you will be able to check in and out, book your restaurant reservations, find out information regarding opening times and predicted weather for the duration of your stay. You will find the entertainment board providing you with a schedule of the entertainment available that evening.
Rooms and Suites are located on every floor of the hotel. You can choose to take the lift or enjoy the views from the stunning staircase.
Level 1 has the arcade and toilets. The arcade at the Alton Towers Hotel is only small however there is a larger arcade in the adjacent hotel Splash Landing
On the ground floor you have the Dragons Bar, The Secret Restaurant and Atrium which provides evening entertainment for all the family.
While at the resort you can also enjoy a visit to the Spa which is located in the Alton Towers Hotel.
The Rooms
There are a wide variety of rooms and suites to meet your needs and budget with each room type having a different theme.
The Explorer Room - This is your standard room at the Alton Towers hotel. It consists of a double bed and usually a set of bunkbeds. The theme is based on Sir Algenon's travels and are decorated with maps, compasses and flying boats.
We have stayed in the Explorer Room many times and it has everything you need for an overnight stay for up to a family of four.
The Moon Voyage Room - This room is themed around Sir Algenon's visit to the moon and is space themed. The room is very similar to the Explorer Room except the children have their own area to sleep, watch tv or play XBOX.
We have also stayed in a Moon Voyage Room and the children's separate area was a hit with the boys especially as it is equipped with a TV and XBOX. These rooms are great for families who need a little extra space and entertainment in the room.
The Artic Explorer Room - This is usually our first choice when it comes to booking a room at the hotel. The Artic Explorer room is based on Sir Algenon's travels to the artic and has a snow themed decor.
We have found that there is more floor space in these rooms and they are usually located on a the main entrance floor. The room has a double bed, a single bed and a truckle bed which is pulled out from under the single. We prefer this room setup than those with bunk beds.
These are the main three room types within the hotel however you can choose to book a suite especially if it is a special occasion. There are a number of suites available all with a different theme including The Chocolate Room, The Smiler Room and The Coca Cola Room.
Suites - We have only stayed in the Coca Cola Suite so can't comment on the others however we absolutely loved the room and it was the perfect way to celebrate a birthday.
The Coca Cola room is themed around the brand and features a double bed, a set of bunk beds and a pull out double sofa bed so can comfortably sleep six. As the room is a suite you can expect lots of floor space and special features such as a fridge full of complimentary Coca Cola and a game console in the room. You will also be treated with celebration balloons and chocolates on arrival.
The room and extras are a lovely treat to head back to after a day in the theme park however the rooms are costly an we would probably only stay in a suite for a very special occasion as you don't really get much time in your room as you are so busy enjoying the resort.
Why Stay At The Alton Towers Hotel?
The Alton Towers Hotel is the perfect base for you to explore the resort. It's the original hotel and unlike other accommodation around the resort this hotel actually feels like a hotel with its gorgeous decor, beautiful features and ambience.
The Secret Garden restaurant is the ideal place to enjoy an evening meal or breakfast with some tables having views over the beautiful gardens towards the back.
There are more room choices within the hotel to suit all needs and budgets. We also find the rooms to be bigger than Splash Landings Hotel.
If you do want to explore what Splash Landing hotel has to offer you can always take the indoor walkway which connects the two hotels.
Splash Landing Hotel
The Splash Landing hotel is themed around the Caribbean. Everything about the hotel from the fixtures, furnishing, restaurant and rooms have a calypso feel and is ideal for those who would like a hotel stay to remember.
As soon as you enter the hotel on level two you feel like you have just stepped on to a Caribbean island. As well as the reception, small shop selling snacks and gifts on this level you will find Ma Garrita's Bar. Ma Garrita's serves delicious cocktails as well as beers and soft drinks with a tropical themed terrace or windows overlooking the waterpark. It is also home to the Calypso Crew kids club who provide entertainment throughout the day and evening for the kids staying at any of the resort accommodation.
On level one you will find toilets, a large arcade and Flambo's restaurant. Here you will enjoy your breakfast or if you are staying for an evening meal they serve grills, burgers, salads and a kids menu all in a tropical surrounding with some tables overlooking the waterpark below.
On the ground level you will find The Waterpark. The Waterpark is an indoors Waterpark with an outside area too. It boasts a Master Blaster Coaster and Lazy River and has a Bubbly Wubbly pool and flumes outside. Make a splash in Lagoona Bay, head to the interactive Wacky Waterworks or little ones can paddle and play in Little Leak.
The Rooms
Splash Landings Hotel offers the choice of three rooms to suit your requirements and budget.
Beachcomber Room - This room is a standard room that lives up to your Caribbean expectations. Brightly coloured bedding, pineapple shaped lamp and sand and water patterned carpet.
Rooms sleep up to 4 and consist of a double bed and a set of bunk beds. Cots are available on request.
When staying at Splash Landings this is the hotel room we choose every time. It's comfortable and always clean.
Pirate Room - Inspired by Mutiny Bay, the pirate room is a must for little adventurers. You will be staying in the Captains Quarters filled with Pirate themed decor and hidden treasures. Can you crack the code to unlock them?
The Pirate Room is spacious offering room for up to 6 people. The children can enjoy the XBOX console that is available in the room and also a mini fridge filled with complimentary water.
Ice Age Room - Despite Ice Age being removed from the theme park years ago Splash Landings hotel still offers an Ice Age Themed room for fans of the movies.
Designed and themed around the Ice Age you can cosy up under fur blankets in your own artic den with ice berg walls.
Each room sleeps up to 6 people with an XBOX console and Ice Age Game and a mini fridge filled with complimentary water.
Why Stay At The Splash Landing Hotel?
Splash Landing is perfect for guests who want to be submerged in to the Caribbean theme and feel like they are actually on a tropical island once inside. The temperature is always warmer in this hotel so you usually find guests walking round in shorts and flip flops even during the colder months.
The entertainment has always been more child friendly at Splash Landing with games and fun throughout the evening shows. We also prefer the larger arcade in this hotel too.
Although all guests can access The Waterpark, it is just down a few steps once you have finished breakfast or before checking in.
It is also closer to the Monorail which takes you to the theme park.
CBeebies Land Hotel
Even though we are regulars to the resort and staying over throughout the year we have never stayed at the CBeebies Land Hotel. It's aimed at littler ones and the boys were too old when it opened. We have however visited inside and looked around and it would be the perfect choice for CBeebies fans.
When the hotel was designed and built they definitely had children in mind so you can expect bright colours, CBeebies theme running throughout the whole hotel, interactive features and entertainment exclusive to hotel guests.
The Windmill Restaurant has lots of yummy food for the kids to enjoy including fish fingers, pasta dishes and burgers.
There is a gift shop inside selling lots of CBeebies merchandise.
Keeping the kids entertained is a priority at the hotel and the team provide non stop entertainment throughout the day. Join in with the Ubercorn disco to burn off some energy and dance away to some of Ubercorns favourite music. Meet some of your favourite characters with Meet and Greets. Join the Spot Bots on screen as the CBeebies Land Hotel team help you with some of the Spot Bot puzzles. Just before bedtime enjoy some stargazing on a comfy beanbag.
The Rooms
There is a huge range of rooms and suites in the CBeebies Land Hotel to suit family size, requirements and budget.
Bugbies Room - Although this is your standard room choice it will not feel like it once inside. The room is decorated and themed around CBeebies Bugbies characters. It's brightly coloured and features and double bed and bunk beds.
The children have their own sleeping area which features an interactive play wall.
The room can sleep up to a family of 5.
Themed Rooms - Similar layout and features of a Bugbies room the themed rooms are deluxe and are themed around some of your favourite characters. Choose from Octonauts, Postman Pat, Swashbuckle, In The Night Garden and Something Special.
Suites - As I mentioned earlier the suites available at the Alton Towers Hotels are perfect for larger families, those who would like a little more floor space or if celebrating a special occasion.
The suites at The CBeebies Land Hotel sleep up to 7 people and there are a variety of themes to choose from, Postman Pat, In The Night Garden, Swashbuckle or Something Special.
Why Stay At The CBeebies Land Hotel?
The hotel has children in mind so its bright, fun, interactive and themed around CBeebies and the CBeebies characters. Entertainment and Meet and Greets are scheduled throughout the day to keep little ones busy when they are not at the theme park.
Toddler friendly features available including cots, baby baths, children's toilet seats and steps for the bathroom sink.
Entertainment is exclusive to CBeebies Land Hotel guests and Early Ride Access at CBeebies Land is included.
The Enchanted Village
The Enchanted Village is like a fairytale with woodland lodges and luxury treehouses amongst winding pathways with twinkling lights. The Enchanted Village is set back behind the hotels and is furthest from the theme park.
The Enchanted Village has its own reception for check in to the Woodland Lodges. There is a small gift shop within the village, children's play areas and small arcade machines.
The Crooked Spoon Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere.
Woodland Lodges
Woodland Lodges offer you the privacy of your own log cabin within the Enchanted Village. Each cabin sleeps up to 5 people with a double bed and a separate sleeping area for children featuring bunk beds and a truckle bed.
Each Woodland Lodge offers free wifi, TV and an outdoor decking area to relax at after a long day at the park.
Luxury Treehouses
There are five luxury treehouses within the Alton Towers Resort. Each treehouse offers luxury accommodation for up to 8 people.
The Treehouses have their own private decking with a hot tub overlooking the Enchanted Village. You can access exclusive in-resort takeaway service or make use of the kitchenette with crockery and glasses for up to 8 people.
The treehouse will be equipped with a 50" Plasma TV, PS4 and family friendly games.
You will be given VIP parking, an earlier check in time of 2pm with a Costa waiting for you on arrival.
Stargazing Pods
The stargazing pods are the newest addition to the resort offering budget accommodation. Each pod consists of a double bed and two single beds. The pod does come equipped with lighting and heaters however it is similar to a camping experience where you access to communal toilets, showers, baby change facilities located in another area of the camp.
These are perfect for families who want to enjoy a stay over at the resort without the great expense.
Why Stay In The Enchanted Village?
The Enchanted Village offers a unique experience and is perfect for those who enjoy the idea of having their own personal lodge, cabin or pod.
In the evening it looks magical with the twinkling lights guiding you through the dark pathways. The Crooked Spoon restaurant is at the heart of the village and is within walking distance from the lodges.
Anything Else?
Most short breaks at Alton Towers are based on Bed and Breakfast. You need to add on theme park tickets to your booking to gain access to the theme park unless you are a merlin pass holder.
A complimentary pass to use at the Extraordinary Golf is included in overnight stays.
Check in is 3pm (unless otherwise stated based on your accommodation) and check out is 10am.
Car Parking is free and some accommodation offer VIP parking.
Tickets to the Waterpark can be purchased at the time of booking.
Early access to the theme park is included however this does not include special events such as Scarefest.
Restaurant bookings can be made prior to your arrival using the email link in your booking.
Free WIFI is included throughout the resort.
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