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.
Lizzie loves penguins – and taking photos – so what better digital camera for her to try out than the Penguin from The Zoofamily which has recently launch its toys in the UK. Perfect for small hands.
To celebrate the launch of The Zoo Family range of child friendly adventure toys including video cameras, walkie-talkies and binoculars, we have a competition to win a Unicorn Kids Digital Camera.
From Tuesday 16 to Saturday 21 September, 2025 parents dining with their children can enjoy a complimentary main course from Bella Italia’s mouth-watering menu in one of their UK restaurants.
Giving children's early art attempts a new edge, Doodle Copy from Canal Toys provides reusable templates for young artists to create pictures – and then print them off to be coloured in.
In a welcome addition to the increasingly popular young adult romantasy market , Kiera Azara strikes just the right balance for younger teenagers in her new series, writes Elaine Hewlett.
Foldable Baby Standing Shower Support from Orzbow fits into walk-in showers perfectly, offering safer washing – especially useful if you don't have a conventional bath, writes Anne Coates.
Hay fever sufferers know the common, at times unbearable symptoms, that affect the eyes, and contact lens wearers have extra problems. Here's what to do, by Francesca Marchetti.
We're delighted to team up with QuartoKids with a competition for five readers to win two books from their bestselling series Little People, BIG DREAMS®.
Muddy Puddles has been one of our go-to places for outdoor toddler clothes and we were delighted to review this waterproof jumpsuit plus matching wellies, writes Anne Coates.
The latest impact report from Working Families Legal Advice Service shows that the charity’s helpline and 200-plus advice and guidance pages reached one in ten UK parents.
For bites and stings, Puressentiel has a number of products that can not only repel insects in the first place, but also soothe bitten, sore and itchy skin, writes Dr Tim Bond.
We had ten copies of the 50th anniversary edition of Richard Scarry's Best Counting Book Ever to be won. Here are the names of the winners who will receive their prize from HarperCollins Children's Books.
An engaging picture book from the award-winning author of Colin's Castle. In this second book, Colin the vegetarian vampire prepares for a visit from his Grandma. What could possibly go wrong? asks Anne Coates.
Natasha Da Souza and her daughter Theia loved this product! The premise is very simple – paint your picture, apply fluffy paint and decorate with accessories. The results were great!
The award-winning children’s outerwear brand has launched Muddy Puddles Preloved, a dedicated online platform where you can buy and sell pre-loved Muddy Puddles clothing.
Two of Anne Coates' recently published favourite books for children are now available in paperback: a book of poems by Michael Rosen and the first in a series by Philippa Leathley.
Mud play offers freedom, creativity, and a connection to the natural world. Activities such as mud kitchens can encourage skill development, problem-solving, and cooperation.
Fantasy is all the rage at the moment but Anna Fiteni takes a truly unique approach to the genre, rooting her young adult book firmly in Welsh myths and culture. Review by Elaine Hewlett.
Packed with nourishing ingredients like calendula, hemp oil, and lavender, Nature’s Repair Balm, from Honey Heaven, helps hydrate, protect, and heal dry, irritated, and inflamed skin without feeling sticky or oily.
Hush Puppies offers comfortable, reasonably-priced school shoes for both boys and girls. Many of the designs have both a junior and senior style, alongside patent and non-patent options.
Tracy Darnton, the author of these two delightful picture bookson new babies and sibling relationships, shares her tips on smoothing the transition when a new baby arrives.
Lightweight, child-friendly rechargeable walkie talkies to encourage social interaction and cooperative, imaginative play for young children. Perfect entertainment for holidays and days out.
Pioneer in health and wellness technology, Homedics, has launched The WakeBand™ Silent Alarm, a wearable device to gently rouse you from sleep without a sound for a serene start to the day.
