Travelodge Children’s Christmas

10 ideas for keeping the kids entertained this festive period

Business Travel News for the most part does not report on purely promotional efforts and discount schemes.  And we try to keep our stories to about 200 words.

But with the holiday period upon us we have broken our own rules to publicise a Travelodge promotion releasing thousands of rooms at £21 at UK hotels during the festive season. 
 
With Travelodge you only pay for the room and not for the number of people in it.  Each has a king size bed, sofa bed, en-suite facilities, flat screen TV with 18 digital channels, free tea / coffee making facilities and wi-fi.  Travelodge hotels that have a Bar Café offer an ‘eat as much as you like’ breakfast buffet for £7.65 per guest and for each paying adult – two children under the age of 16 eat for free.  Online discounts are available too.  As they say why not make the most of this great deal and invest in some family bonding time over the break.  For a family of four it works out at just £5.25 per person – cheaper than a cinema ticket.

Harry Potter Studio Tour, Watford
Explore the magic of the Harry Potter films with this unique walking tour.  The experience takes visitors behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props.  Step inside and discover the Great Hall and Dumbledore’s Office and discover never-seen-before treasures.  The tour also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world.
Open: Daily, except 25-26 December
Location: Warner Bros Studio Tour, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, Herts WD25 7LS (Sat Nav WD25 7GS)
Nearest Travelodge: Watford Central Travelodge, 23-25 Market Street, Watford, Herts WD18 0PA
www.wbstudiotour.co.uk


At-Bristol
Get your thinking caps on this festive period.  At Bristol is one of the UK's most exciting hands-on science centres!  With two floors packed full of over 300 interactive exhibits and fascinating special exhibitions.  The new interactive exhibition, in association with Aardman, the creators of Wallace and Gromit, where you can make your own animated mini-film and light a street scene from Aardman's latest Wallace & Gromit film.
Open: Daily, except 24-26 December
Location: At-Bristol, Anchor Road, Bristol BS1 5DB (Sat Nav BS1 5LL)
Nearest Travelodge: Bristol Central Mitchell Lane Travelodge, Bristol BS1 6BU
www.at-bristol.org.uk


Snow Factor, Glasgow Braehead
The real snow experience where you can ski and snowboard on fresh snow each and every day...indoors!  They also have fantastic fun activities like sledging.  If you are looking to lean how to ski or snowboard – Snow Factor is the best place in Scotland!  You can learn all of the techniques and tricks from the best instructors in the business.
Open: Daily, except 25 December and 1 January
Location: Xscape, Kings Inch Road, Braehead, Renfrew PA4 8XQ
Nearest Travelodge: Glasgow Braehead Travelodge, 150 Kings Inch Road, Renfrew PA4 8ZL
www.snowfactor.com  www.xscape.co.uk/braehead


Thinktank, Birmingham
Redefines the concept of a science museum.  It gives you the opportunity to discover the world around you and the life you lead.  From steam engines to intestines, this exciting museum has over 200 hands-on displays on science and technology including a digital Planetarium and outdoor Science Garden.
Open: Daily, except 24-26 December
Location: Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG
Nearest Travelodge: Birmingham Central Moor Street Travelodge, Carrs Lane, Birmingham B4 7SS
www.thinktank.ac


Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park, London
If you are visiting the capital this Christmas visit the festive Winter Wonderland scene in London’s Hyde Park.  Open to 6 January 2013, Winter Wonderland is the ultimate Christmas experience for all the family.  The 24,000sqm site features London’s largest outdoor ice rink, as well as an incredible 50m giant observation wheel offering magnificent views of Hyde Park, along with a toboggan slide, cafes, bars and a carousel.
Open: Daily, except 25 December
Location: London’s Hyde Park, London W1
Nearest Travelodge: London Marylebone Travelodge, Harewood Row, London NW1 6SE
www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com


Roald Dahl Museum, Buckinghamshire
Roald Dahl’s weird and wonderful books have captured children’s and adults imaginations for years.  Throw yourself into the crazy world, explore the stories and characters where giants capture dreams and young girls can move objects with their eyes.  The small but perfectly formed museum is inspirational and actively encourages children and adults to unlock their imaginations, engage with reading and have a go at creative writing.
Open: Daily, except some Mondays. Closed 24-26 December, 31 December-1 January
Location: 81-83 High Street, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, HP16 0AL
Nearest Travelodge: Thame Travelodge, A418 London Crendon Road, Thame OX9 3SB
www.roalddahlmuseum.com


Big Pit, National Coal Museum, Wales
Big Pit was a working coalmine until it closed in 1980.  Now it stands high on the bracken-clad moors of north Gwent importing visitors instead of exporting coal.  The highlight of the visit is the hour-long underground tour, led by ex-miners, which takes you down in the pit cage to walk through underground roadways.  This Christmas, the Big Pit is holding festive trails from 15 December to 3 January.  Pick up a trail sheet when you arrive and see if you can solve the festive quiz.
Open: Daily, except 24-26 December, 1 and 31 January.  Underground tours unavailable weekends
Location: The Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, Torfaen NP4 9XP (Sat Nav Blaenavon town and follow brown signs)
Nearest Travelodge: Pontypool Travelodge, Lower Mill Field, Pontypool, Gwent NP4 0XB
www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/bigpit


National Space Centre, Leicester
The UK's biggest attraction dedicated to space.  Offering hours of interactive discovery and fun, the award winning National Space Centre offers something for all the family.  There are six themed galleries covering topics like 'Orbiting Earth' and 'Exploring the Universe', and each with amazing space rockets, satellites and capsules, and hundreds of fun and educational interactive activities.
Open: Daily, except Mondays (open 31 December).  Closed 17-21 and 24-26 December, 1 January.  Pre-booking only 22-23 December
Location: National Space Centre, Exploration Drive, Leicester LE4 5NS
Nearest Travelodge: Leicester Central Travelodge, Vaughan Way, Leicester LE1 4NN
www.spacecentre.co.uk

 
Eureka Museum, Halifax
Eureka is the UK’s national children’s museum. It is an educational charity based in Halifax which features over 400 interactive exhibits designed to inspire children aged 0 to eleven years to learn about themselves and the world around them through imagination, play and discovery.
Open: Daily during holidays and bank holidays.  Closed 24-26 December, 1 January, and Mondays during term-time
Location: The National Children's Museum, Discovery Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 2NE
Nearest Travelodge: Halifax Travelodge, Gate 9, Dean Clough Industrial Park, Halifax HX3 5AY
https://www.eureka.org.uk


The Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth
If your children are obsessed with playing battleships at home why not take a trip down to Portsmouth which is famed for its naval heritage and harbour. Explore the maritime history at The Historic Dockyard which houses HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, the Mary Rose, the Royal Naval Museum and Action Stations.
Open: Daily, except 24-26 December
Location: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LJ
Nearest Travelodge: Portsmouth Travelodge, Kingston Crescent, North End, Portsmouth, Hants PO2 8AB
www.historicdockyard.co.uk

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum