A week by the seaside in the Uk offers lots of entertainment as well as swimming in the sea when the weather allows! Anne Coates and family spent a week in Portsmouth and Southsea.
Each year in the first week of the school summer holidays Harriet and I go away for a few days usually by the seaside. Last year it was Margate, this year Brighton. So what was Brighton like as the Covid-19 lockdown eased a little? Worth a visit and a perfect place for a staycation.
No visit to Brighton is complete without some time spent on the Palace Pier. Covid-19 has made some changes to how you experience the rides and you are time-limited but everyone has worked hard to maintain the fun. We added a Seafront Treasure Trail to our day.
BAi360 is a viewing tower located directly on Brighton beach, where visitors travel in a giant glass viewing pod up to 138 metres high for 360 degree views on Brighton & Hove, the South Downs and all along the South Coast from Beachy Head to the Isle of Wight.
On her recent press trip to Bodrum, Anne Coates was taken on a Safari into the rural environs to see the "real Turkey" – it was an eye-opener in many ways as she reports.
Here's a round-up of some of the sights (and sites) plus activities to help you make the most of a visit to Bodrum, Turkey compiled by Anne Coates after her recent trip there.
On a press trip to Bodrum, Anne Coates was a guest at La Blanche Resort & Spa at Turgutreis, just outside this major tourist destination. The hotel made a perfect base from which to explore the area as well as offering a range of amenities to enjoy.
Last year four members of the Parenting Without Tears team spent a long weekend aboard a Herbert Woods' cruiser. Here Anne Coates sums up the experience and recommends this as a great holiday for families.
As part of the press trip to Thrace in Turkey, Anne Coates visited two of the dozens of vineyards in the area both of which offered hotel accommodation: Barbara Vineyards and Bakucha SPA at the Arcadia Vineyards.
Edirne is a city which needs a lot more time than the one day allocated during the Thrace trip organised by the Trakya Development Agency. However one attraction that should be on everyone's itinerary is the Beyazid II Complex which includes the Health Museum, writes Anne Coates.
At the end of last month, Anne Coates was a guest of the Trakya Development Agency and visited various destinations and attractions in the Thrace region of Turkey. As a prelude to the articles which will be posted in the coming weeks, here are Anne's Top Ten Thrace experiences.
Harriet and Anne Coates spent a four-day break at Family Activity Adventure Holiday at Barton Hall PGL, in Devon. In the first of her articles, Anne reviews the accommodation.
Hokan Bowls are a time-saving, space-optimising essential. Whether storing batch-cooked baby food or gently reheating meals, these bowls rise to meet the demands of modern parenthood with effortless grace.
An exclusive teen party transforms into horror in this fast-paced thriller that takes place over the course of only one night. Suitable for older teenage readers and reviewed by Elaine Hewlett.
It's a day that's eagerly anticipated by some, dreaded by others – and that's just the parents of A level students! Here Anne Coates gives her top ten tips for parents to support their offspring.
Christine Mayle reviews Kaleidoscope Entertainment's action-packed family animation adventure film based on Swedish best-selling author, Camilla Läckberg’s, children’s hit book series, Super Charlie.
Summer's here and it's barbecue season and with this great play set the kids can enjoy cooking indoors or outside with probably more utensils than the adults own, writes Anne Coates.
Front Room Productions and Lawrence Batley Theatre expose the sensational trial for Humpty Dumpty’s murder this summer in a new fairy-tale inspired musical. Review by Joe O'Neill.
This charming adaptation of the Three Musketeers tale, with the well known “all for one and one for all” motto at its core, is a couple of hours very well spent, writes Sarah Taylor who attended with her son.
Sun protection becoming a daily battle? Dr Sonia Khorana shares her hacks for helping to keep children safe in the sun, including tips for applying suncream to reluctant little ones.
An energetic and entertaining start to the first full week of the Edinburgh Fringe as The Crawl, performed at a nearly-full Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh. Review by Joe O'Neill.
This whimsical retelling of a beloved fairy tale is a delightful adventure, bursting with laughter, infectious original songs, and playful mischief. Simon Collins' two young daughters loved the experience.
The trials and tribulations of pre-teen life and the start of secondary school are the subject of this first volume in a new comedy series. Review by Elaine Hewlett.
One in four women in the UK experiences bladder weakness – stress incontinence – but for most of them this could be solved by exercising the pelvic floor muscles.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Richard Scarry's Best Counting Book Ever, we have teamed up with HarperCollins Children's Books to offer you the chance to win a copy.
What to do when your city is full of out-of-control magic? Send in the cleaners! Elaine Hewlett reviews this delightful tale, perfect for middle grade readers.
There are a staggering 48 signs of menopause. M-Club has been set up to create a supportive community to help navigate this important stage of a woman's life.
Mark Bradley's full-colour graphic novel, the fifth in his Bumble & Snug series was greeted with great enthusiasm by Natasha Da Souza's older daughter.
Endearing fable about family, fun, friendship, and fear. Heidi proves love triumphs in the face of evil and corruption – animated film in Odeon cinemas from 1 August, 2025.
According to a recent report – Skin Matters by Hada Labo Tokyo – some 80 per cent of women have gone our on a warm and sunny day wearing no sunscreen. Anne Coates recommends their Water-Resistant Moisturising Sunscreen: Face Cream and Sun Lotion for your body.
With social media, there’s always something to compare: the child who seems to excel at everything, the family who’s always having more “picture-perfect” moments. If you or your child are caught in this comparison trap, there’s good news: you’re not powerless.
Fantastic magnetic shapes which actually increase in value as children get older and it's certainly fun for adults to join in with as Anne Coates discovered, playing with her granddaughter Lizzie.
Creating stability for children during divorce requires planning, communication, and practical solutions. These ensure both households operate clearly, allowing children to maintain their routines and relationships.
Whether your taste is for Mexican, Italian or French food, here are four restaurant chains offering a free child's meal when an adult orders a main course – valid throughout the school summer holidays.
Helen Little reviews this lagoon shaped pool which is large enough for all the family to enjoy if you have adequate room in your garden. The Bestway Pool is available from BM Stores.
