Mummies day out at Wakehurst Place

Recently, Abigail and I paid a visit to Wakehurst Place in West Sussex with some of our friends. We turned up on mass, and our buggy brigade (!) spent the day enjoying the grounds, walking and picnicking. The weather was definitely on our side and was perfect for taking our little ones out for the day.

Wakehurst Place is the country estate of Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens in London. It boasts beautiful landscapes including tree collections, lakes, woodland, a country house, gardens and the Millennium Seed Bank project.

We found it to be ideal for a child-friendly day out with plenty of space to roam, family-friendly facilities, lovely cafes and picnic areas.  

I loved the formal gardens with all the gorgeous flowers in bloom and tried to show them to Abigail, although she didn't look too impressed...

After buying the year’s membership at £24 (the cost of two visits), I think it will become a regular on our list of day trips!

http://www.kew.org/visit-wakehurst

Travelling into London with a baby? 5 tips to help plan your trip.

Abigail taking in the sights of the train...

Taking your baby into London can be a daunting experience. I certainly felt apprehensive when I planned to take Abigail there a few weeks ago to meet some friends. I planned the trip with military precision, packed my changing bag for all eventualities and headed off to face London with a buggy!

My trip was a success in the end (no outfit changes for mummy or baby required this time!) and I learnt a few tips to share with other mums planning on taking their little ones into the capital soon...

1. Plan your route. Work out your route from your front door to your destination and back again. I recommend using the app Citymapper. It's a nifty little app that shows you the different options you have, how long they take, when the next bus is, how much a taxi would cost etc. Plus it's free!

2. Consider your baby carrying options. For me it was a toss up between the buggy or the baby carrier. Each have their own advantages; the buggy will hold more stuff and you won't need to hold your baby for the duration of the trip  whereas the carrier means you only have to move yourself around and baby gets a good view of things. Your decision will depend on the type of trip you are planning and how you think your baby will respond. I went for the buggy this time as we had lunch plans.

3. Travel outside rush hour. One of the benefits of being on maternity leave is that you can plan your days to fit in with the needs of you and your baby. So capitalise on the emptier trains and travel off peak. The travel card is cheaper too!

4. Avoid tubes and use a bus instead.  Unfortunately London tubes aren't very buggy friendly. The stations with lifts are few and far between and unless you are lucky, you will end up having to battle with a buggy and some stairs. London buses are actually pretty good. They are regular, have room for buggies and are a great way to see London. But remember your Oyster card as buses will be cashless from the beginning of July.

5. Ask for help. Sometimes you just need a helping hand to get in out of places or up onto a train, particularly if you are on your own with your little one. Most people are happy to oblige and usually just a glimpse of your baby is enough incentive for anyone.!

Do you have any other tips? Send them through!

Happy travelling!