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.
100 funny, informative poems to answer questions about the world, each one bought to life by Joe Berger. Perfect for children who love asking questions and love hilarious – as well as factual – replies.
Birmingham Rep presents its family Christmas classic The Snowman for its 28th year at Sadler’s Wells’ home in the West End, the Peacock Theatre, with a six-week run from Saturday 22 November 2025. Booking now.
Lego have a reputation for creating must have products. This was no exception. "It’s the best thing I’ve ever had, Nana!" said Christine Mayle's grandson who spent three weeks building this amazing Lego castle.
The perfect activity gym for a newborn which grows and adapts as the baby does, offering appropriate activities for different developmental stages in the first year or so of life, writes Anne Coates.
Super Charlie received a five heart review from Christine Mayle for its cinema release and if you missed it on the big screen it's soon to be available to view at home on all major digital channels.
With beautifully crafted wooden accessories and food to delight young chefs, this set from Melofaver makes a great complement to any existing culinary toys or is a great start-up set, writes Anne Coates.
Nurseries and primary schools will be gearing up to learn about Diwali – The Festival of Lights – falling on 20 October this year – which involves five days of celebrations. Find out more with these books from QuartoKids.
A huge number of Brits write wills without including critical elements, costing families thousands in legal fees and sparking bitter inheritance disputes, reveals legal expert Stephanie Hutton.
The Cave Downwind of the Café, The Hunt for the Fog Town Moose and Alone on My Rock – three colourful picture books to delight young readers and adults alike, reviewed by Anne Coates.
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!
