It’s that time of year again when we’re already planning holidays for the coming months. I’ve been lucky enough to have a few wonderful breaks away lately. But if you’re desperate for some time out, chances are you want that holiday to be memorable. Family holidays aren’t always easy to time right. So why not stay closer to home this coming year, and try one of these holiday ideas from the four corners of exciting England:

North

The north of England offers a wealth of activities and some amazing city breaks to enjoy too. Kids will love the idea of camping in the Lake District. Boating, hiking, and climbing are all favourite pastimes when you take your camper or your canvas up there. Of course, if you are all assured cyclists, there are some pretty incredible views to enjoy throughout the region. For great northern cities, you can’t beat Liverpool. This city is steeped in history and roars with culture too. Shopping is lots of fun, and there are plenty of theatres for an evening (or matinee) of fun with the family. Hotels range from plush five-star city centre accommodation to cute bed and breakfasts on the outskirts.

South

At the opposite end of the country is the Jurassic Coast. This is an absolute must for all dinosaur loving kids. The big Diplodocus from the British Museum is making a stop in Dorset next year. Be sure to check it out if you’re around. Combing the coastline for little fossils and the odd dinosaur bone will often reap rewards. There are also dozens of cute seafront stores with plenty of them for sale in places like Lyme Regis or Weymouth.

East

The east coast prides itself on its beautiful wildlife habitats. It’s a world away from the big international theme parks we’ve been to lately! If you want vast coastline and plenty of peace and quiet, this is the holiday destination for you. Bird lovers will not be disappointed here. Of course, there are plenty of seaside resorts to enjoy too. Farm centres are plentiful for the animal lovers among you. But it might be the canals and river systems that really pique your interest for a great family holiday next year.

West

Down in Cornwall you can surf, camp, and feel like you are in a completely different place every day. This end of the country is wild, rugged, beautiful and elegant, all at the same time. Holiday homes in Cornwall are easy to find. Plenty of people let out their properties to tourists each season. You can also find a few that are set in the most incredible landscapes. And some have amazing facilities to keep you all entertained too.

Most of us spend a long time researching potential holiday destinations. You might way up the experiences you can get with the price you have to pay. But nothing beats a holiday you don’t have to fly across the world for! So why not pick a stunning break away, right here at home.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

I find that choosing gifts for children for Christmas can be even trickier than shopping for adults. I want to make sure that they are given something useful, and not just extra plastic that they’ll forget about. Choosing good quality and long lasting products is always a great idea to me. But as children grow, so do their needs. Their tastes change too, and they can start to be a little fussier about what they play with or wear. So if you have little ones that have a penchant for all things chic and stylish, what do you get them? Here are a few gifts ideas for stylish little ones.

For Pretend Play

Imaginative and pretend play is essential for our children. But you might want to get something than a bog-standard plastic shopping cart or basket. How about a stylish afternoon tea set, or even a chopping food or fruit set? Melissa and Doug have a great selection of wooden play sets. You could even get a wooden pretend play sushi set, for example. Perfect for classy little ones.

Clothing

It might not be the most fun gift for a child, but clothing is always a useful gift. You could just get some of the standard things that you know they need. You could splash out on a designer little outfit for them, though. If they are getting a little older like my daughter, then they become conscious about what they are wearing. So the right kind of clothes can help them feel more confident. You could choose an outfit or just one item from Gucci kids, for example. This would certainly be a fantastic gift for tween-age children.

Stylish Accessories

There are so many little things that you could get that ooze style. You could get them a leather backpack, for example. Having them carry their things around with them is great for holidays and day trips. You could get them some sunglasses or perhaps a funky new pair of shoes. High tops are always a good choice and work well for both boys and girls.

Scooter

Scooters are a really big deal these days. I can’t really see a time when they will ever be out of style. They are practical too. So why not get them a scooter, if they don’t already have one? The metal ones tend to be the longest lasting. If your child already has one, then getting them a helmet or some accessories for it is a good idea too. A bell or a basket are good ideas.

Fancy Dress

Being able to use their imagination is always good for our children. So having a good stash of dressing up accessories is really useful. Choose a variety of outfits, include some fun little accessories too. Dressing up shoes are always a really fun idea, as well as things like jewelry and crowns, for example. Make sure that you have them out on display, so they can just pull them out as and when they want them.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.

Are you sick of your kids sitting in front of the TV at every chance they get? If so, you are probably already thinking of how you can coax them away from the screen during the upcoming Christmas holidays. Well, the best way will be to gift them amazing presents that will make them want to switch off the TV and do something completely different! Hopefully, the following presents should give you plenty of ideas!

A New Bike

There will be a lot of foods on offer over Christmas, so getting your kids presents that will encourage them to be active is a bonus. Then, hopefully, all of the chocolates and sweets they eat won’t be so noticeable! So why not get them new bikes? They’ll love getting out and riding around the neighbourhood to show them off! Instead of driving them to school, you will now be able to walk with them as they cycle. And if you have a bike as well, you will be able to go for bike rides at the weekends!

Roller Skates

Roller skates are another gift that will motivate your kids to be a bit more active. If you have young kids, it could be a good idea to get them to practice on a lawn so that they won’t hurt themselves too much if they fall. Once they get better, take your kids and their roller skates to your local leisure centre. Many centres have areas where kids can skate. If you’re lucky, you may even live close to a venue that hosts a roller disco!

Baking Sets

Do your kids love watching you prepare their meals? If so, you can always try and encourage this interest by buying them a cookery or baking set. You can buy many different types, but they all come with baking tins and some decoration pieces. All you need to do is buy the required ingredients! Once your kids open their baking sets, they’ll want to get to work straight away in the kitchen. So you won’t have to worry about them asking to put the TV on for a while!

Books

One of the best ways to ignite your children’s imagination is by giving them books. When they start reading, they will enter fictional worlds filled with many interesting characters. Not only that, though, but many studies show that children who read regularly often do extremely well at school. So not only will books entertain your kids, but they will also help them to achieve more in the classroom! Not sure which books are best for your kids? If you have very young children, get them something that you can read together. Such as the Funnybones books. For older children, you can’t go wrong with getting them a book from the Harry Potter series.

So if your kids are on Santa’s good list this year, why not think about one of the above fantastic presents for them? All of which should keep them away from the TV for a while!

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