'Tidy Books' Book Storage (Review & Giveaway)

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I'm pretty sure that our home is like many other young families' homes all over Britain in that the vast majority of the children's toys and books are stored in a large, cuboid, storage system from a well-known Scandinavian company. It's efficient, cheap and it works.

Only it doesn't.

It doesn't work for books.

Granted they fit, and you can actually get a lot of them in the sections, but the problem that I've discovered is that The Boy forgets that they're there. For the vast majority of the time he does not remember about his fifty or so books in the dining room storage unit because he can't see them.

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Butlin's Bognor Regis: The Restaurants

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One of the many things that appeals to me about the Butlin's Resort in Bognor Regis is the wide variety of food available across the many different restaurants on site. As a part of our Butlin's Ambassador's break in The Ocean Hotel we received the premium dining package, which included breakfast in our resident hotel each day and then a choice of five different restaurants for an evening meal; Turner's, South Coast (within The Shoreline Hotel), The Deck, Papa John's and The Beachcomber Inn.

Premium dining voucher

The voucher is collected each morning from the butlers in the entrance of The Ocean Hotel, and completed with details of the chosen restaurant (if already decided upon) and the number of adults and children.

The key thing to note here is that it does not save money; it is not a discount voucher. What it provides is the opportunity to prepay for the dining options at the time of booking, rather than have to factor it into spending money. I think it's a truly efficient way of budgeting for the holiday, almost like a wristband at an all-inclusive resort, but with more subtlety. As the voucher is worth £13.50 for adults or £6.75 for children, it covers the cost of most two course meals on the resort. We had to pay one or two pounds extra when eating in The Beachcomber (but only because we actually had three courses), and an additional £10 (approximately) to eat in Turner's (further explanation later).

The Beachcomber Inn

I particularly like this pub-restaurant for its casual and relaxed atmosphere. Unlike a few of the dining halls, it doesn't feel like it caters to huge quantities of people, although that is more to do with the organisation as I didn't see an empty table on both occasions that we ate here.

Serving a wide selection of traditional pub meals, along with family favourites and modern light dishes, The Beachcomber Inn is a great choice to find something for everyone. Decorated in light wood with plenty of lighting, the pub is friendly and lends itself well to parties of all sizes.

The Beachcomber Inn

Most main meals average out around the £8-10 bracket and we ate:

  • Gigante Asparagus Pasta (V) £9.25
  • Pasta Carbonara £8.45
  • Chippy Chips £2.00
  • Battered Whole Onion Rings £1.95

The Boy chose from the 'Pick'n'Mix Meals' menu which costs £3.50 per meal, and provides children with the visual option of choosing a potato or rice dish, a vegetable portion and then a fish, chicken or sausage selection. This menu is designed for the younger child, there is the Shipmates' Favourites for £4.99 which provides a range of more adventurous meals for older children. It's worth noting that there isn't a vegetarian option on the 'Pick'n'Mix' menu, but there are two pasta or noodles dishes available for older children.

Turner's Restaurant

The result of a collaboration with Brian Turner, Turner's Restaurant is a welcome addition to the Butlin's family and the jewel in the culinary crown. I had first eaten here in December 2010 when it had first opened, and was impressed with the ambience and quality of service then, so looked forward to returning with my family and seeing how well equipped it was to deal with the demands of a four year old child.

The main difference between Turner's and the other restaurants on site is that it is more adult in its vibe. Of course children are welcomed and there is an excellent children's menu with good home-cooked meals listed, akin to the food they would eat at home. However, it is waiter-service with everything cooked to order (not mass produced prior to opening) and therefore it's not really the place to let children chill out away from the table. If I was paying a fair price for a quiet, grown-up meal, I wouldn't appreciate it.

Turner's Restaurant

Main meals at Turner's are priced between £10-12 with fish and steak obviously priced slightly higher, starters are around the £5 mark with pudding priced similarly. There was a meal deal available at the time we went, with two or three set courses available for a set price. We ate:

  • Roasted Tomato & Sweet Pepper Soup with Rarebit Toast £4.95 (starter)
  • Macaroni Cheese with Slow Cooked Cherry Tomatoes £5.25 (starter)
  • Aubergine & Spinach Rolls on Braised Cannellini Beans £11.75 (main)
  • Turner’s Own Burger Steak with the Best Chips £11.50 (main)
  • Marmalade Bread & Butter Pudding £5.25 (dessert)
  • Peanut Butter Cheesecake £4.75 (dessert)
  • a glass of Pinot Grigio Rosato del Veneto £4.15 (175ml)
  • Golden Macaroni Cheese £3.00 (children's starter served as a main)
  • A Selection of Ice Creams £3.00 (children's dessert)

I enjoyed the meal and thought that the vegetarian option was  an exciting alternative to the standard pasta dishes available. My husband also enjoyed his burger, but he did admit that he wasn't overwhelmed by it and therefore slightly disappointed. The portion of macaroni cheese that he had to start was larger than The Boy's main meal of macaroni cheese, which unfortunately solidified and went cold quite quickly and he was unable to finish it due to this. The meal was pleasant enough but it didn't complete live up to the expectations that a 'celebrity restaurant' has. I also had expectations of near silver service from a restaurant of that calibre which has a maitre'd to seat people. Our waiter was quite clumsy, not very attentive (we actually asked a different waiter to serve us) and didn't bring the food at the same time.

Would I go again? Probably, but I'd be very selective of our meals to ensure we had the best value.

Papa John's

Everyone enjoys a pizza restaurant and Papa John's has to be one of the easiest places to eat at on the Bognor Regis resort. There is an all-you-can-eat lunchtime buffet available before the evening rush as well, which we partook of on our first evening there. We missed it by half an hour on our second stay, and I will admit that the speed of service wasn't as fast as I'd hope for with a fast-food pizza restaurant.

Papa John's pizzas

The pizza menu is good quality with a wide range of meat toppings, although the range of toppings for vegetarians isn't very exciting. We ate:

  • a Garden Party pizza (medium – 11.5") £12.95
  • a Chicken BBQ pizza (medium – 11.5") £13.45
  • a ham and cheese pizza (children's) £3.45

The pizzas are tasty, it's worth noting that they are American style not Italian based, but I'm not completely convinced that they are worth the prices. Of course, prices are more than in Pizza Hut for example, as it is the convenience that inflates the price. However, as my pizza in this fast-food restaurant cost more than my main meal in Turner's, I think my tip is to eat here during the all-you-can-eat buffet time.

The Deck Restaurant

The Deck was our favourite (and easiest) place to eat throughout the week. Yes it's busy (it's the main restaurant for The Wave Hotel) but I actually really enjoyed the friendly, chatty environment listening to family parties having fun, laughing about their day.

There is no menu at The Deck, because it is a self-service restaurant with the all-you-can-eat philosophy. And there is something for everyone here; from salads to freshly cooked to order pasta, roast dinners to hot dogs and chips, stir-fries to mushy peas! The selection is immense and it is all really good quality.

The Deck Restaurant

 The pasta station is a genius touch; each dish is cooked freshly and to order. The selection of children's meals is excellent and it is laid out so that older children can easily help themselves to the goodies. Desserts included formal gateaux and tarts, alongside rice pudding, fruit and an ice-cream machine which sent children into raptures.

After a packed day of activities, The Deck is the place to come and relax. I would visit this restaurant every night of the week and never tire of the range of food available.

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Back To School: Aldi School Uniform (Review)

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It is with a slightly heavy heart that I am beginning to accept that The Boy will start school in September. He's tremendously excited, and I must confess that I can't wait to see him enjoying school in the way that all three of us hope he will. He's going to a really lovely school very close to home with a huge rolling field and small class sizes; I couldn't ask for more.

And so with the acceptance of school comes the realisation that a whole new realm of requirements is needed:

  • school uniform
  • school shoes
  • PE kits
  • coats
  • name tags

and the list goes on and on…

We've now reached the point where life could become a little expensive with everything that The Boy will need for school. Luckily help is on hand from Aldi; tomorrow (Thursday 25th July 2013), they are launching the UK’s cheapest supermarket school uniform.

And when I say cheap I mean financially frugal, not poor quality!

Aldi sent me a school uniform to try out with The Boy, and included a thick Winter coat (£9.99) with reflective panels for him as well:

Aldi school uniform

We were sent:

  • 2 polo shirts
  • 1 round neck sweater
  • skirt or trousers
    • = £4

I've had instruction from my sister that life (as a working mum) is easier if they have a fresh uniform each day, therefore that means I could buy The Boy five complete outfits for the grand total of £17.50.

£17.50!

In a very well known high-street clothing store (where my sister gets her children's uniform) one outfit costs £14 and a week's worth would be £73.00.

I know which store I will be going to!

Regular shoppers of Aldi will know that they have weekly special buys which are incredible bargains, but once they have gone then that's it, no more! So pop down to your local store tomorrow and stock up before you have to start buying the expensive uniforms instead!

I was sent these products for the purpose of this review, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

Front Loader Digger Toy Truck (Review & Giveaway)

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Ever since The Boy randomly asked Father Christmas three days before Christmas for a robot that moves (sending me into a blind panic!), he's developed a liking for controllable toys. The ultimate one that he has is the retro Big Trax which is excellent for teaching control and programming and makes Mr. TBaM very happy indeed, but remote controlled toys are his latest big thing. Grandad found a Scalectrix set at a car boot sale and when he visits my grandparents that is where the three of them can be found.

I wouldn't mind, but I'd quite like a go as well!

Therefore when The Boy was recently sent a digger toy truck from Hifi Tower, he was not the only one over the moon at the brilliant front loader remote controlled digger!

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Ecover Zero

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Many years ago I discovered the wonders of Ecover laundry liquid when I interrogated my sister as to how her children's clothes smelt so delicious and 'natural'. She introduced me to Ecover and I haven't used anything since; that was six years ago. I once strayed into the world of the 'leading brand non-bio' type and the overwhelming chemical smell irritated my nose, the residual liquid irritated all our skins and exacerbated my husband's eczema.

Ecover it is for us then! Once every two months or so, I trot up to the independent health-food and 'green' products shop in the town centre and order a 5 litre box of laundry liquid and conditioner, pop back the next day and pick them up.

Ecover Laundry Liquid & Conditioner

Ecover is created using gentle plant based and mineral ingredients, so it has no nasties. I love the smell of the conditioner; it reminds me of Summer and walks in fields. I actually do that thing which you see on television adverts where the mum buries her face in a pile of clothes to smell them, the fragrance is intoxicating to me.

Therefore when I was asked if I'd like to try the Ecover Zero range I was sceptical; could anything replace my beloved 'Amongst The Flowers' fabric softener? Particularly as the Ecover Zero range is just that; especially crafted from plant-based and natural ingredients, the Zero range is dermatologically tested and 100% fragrance free. It has been approved by Allergy UK and the Good Housekeeping Institute, and Ecover Zero can help to reduce allergic symptoms while giving clean, fresh, sparkly results.

I was sent the Non-Bio Laundry Liquid, the Fabric Conditioner and the Washing-Up Liquid to try out.

Ecover Zero

The washing-up liquid is excellent. Literally no fragrance at all. As nice as it is for the person who is doing the washing-up to have a gentle fragrance to mask the caked on lasagne and tuna mayonnaise smells, I can always 'taste' that smell on the 'clean' dishes afterwards; it's why we already use Ecover dishwasher tablets and washing-up liquid. In the future, we'll be buying the Zero liquid rather than the normal Ecover bottle.

I've happily used the non-bio laundry liquid as the lack of fragrance means it smells pretty much the same as the usual Ecover that I use, I must confess though that as effective as the fabric conditioner is at softening clothes and making them easier to iron, I miss the fragrance of my usual Ecover conditioner. This fabric conditioner would be perfect for those people who have extremely sensitive skin and can't cope with any additives, but I enjoy the gentle aroma on my clothes and having a sneaky inhale when I give The Boy a cuddle.

I was sent these products for the purpose of this review, my opinion is honest, as is the fact that I actually do have a sneaky whiff of my son's clothes.

Cord Hobby Horse (Review)

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Hobby horse

Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady upon a white horse;
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
And she shall have music wherever she goes.

When we took The Boy to explore Tredegar House recently, he was captivated with the hobby horses which were hanging up in the Victorian stables. The three of us had to race up and down pretending to be a horse, then find our own stable and have something to eat from the hay in the corner.

Therefore when I was asked if I'd like to review a hobby horse for him, I jumped at the chance; it's one of those traditional toys that every child should have. Traditionally referred to as 'cock horses' (as in the traditional nursery rhyme) above, hobby horses have been played with by children for centuries, and The Boy is no different!

There are a multitude of hobby horses on the market, and for some it is questionable as to their validity to use the description 'horse'; a vaguely stuffed head with a mediocre mane and poor quality fabric doesn't look very exciting, nor does it last very long. And really a hobby horse should have a little set of wheels on the bottom so it glides along the ground. I was over the moon to see this cord hobby horse, with a soft babycord head and cotton mane, and a sturdy wooden frame (with wheels) and leather bridle.

GLT Cord Hobby Horse

The Boy loves this toy and is forever charging up and down the garden playing at horse races, the only problem is that we might need to get another one as riding a broom-horse is a bit rubbish in comparison!

The hobby horse is priced at £18.00, which I think it a good price for a good quality, traditional toy of this ilk. There are cheaper on eBay and Amazon, but they are made from a rough felt or velvet fabric and seem to be little more than a bag of stuffing on the end of a stick. This cord hobby horse from the Great Little Trading Company is beautifully made, strong and far more conducive to imaginative play.

I was sent this product for the purpose of this review, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

Vapiano Italian Restaurant (Review)

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Vapiano

When we were in London for Britmums Live! we were invited to try out a very different Italian restaurant chain called Vapiano. There are two Vapianos in London, and we decided to visit the branch on Great Portland Street, just north of Oxford Street.

Obviously this was a prearranged meal and therefore it could be considered that the experience we had was vastly different to reality. Both TripAdvisor and the three thousand people who eat at this branch every day clearly indicate that that is not the case. Yes, three thousand people. The Great Portlant Street restaurant is the busiest in the world. We visited at a peak time on a busy Sunday afternoon; no table was reserved for us (standard practise) yet we found a seat instantly on the upper level, and we stayed for two and a half hours. During that time the tables around us changed parties several times, however we didn't see anyone hanging around waiting for a seat and nobody appeared to feel rushed.

Vapiano is a chain of restaurants that originated in Germany in 2002, and now has over 120 branches in twenty six countries over four continents. The supervisor that greeted us was so genuinely enthusiastic about the company that I could feel his passion for their ethos, ensuring good, fresh food is delivered to the patrons quickly and in a friendly manner. The best bit of news he shared with me is that in Vapiano's five-year plan, there will be a restaurant opening in Cardiff!

I've digressed from the factual parts of this review.

Upon arrival at the restaurant, customers are given a card which has a chip embedded in it. Once customers have found their seats and looked at the menus, then they go and order at each food station (antipasti & starters, pizza, pasta, a bar, desserts). The order is made, the card is 'scanned' and the details of the order are added to the card (this happens for every item of food and drink ordered). The chefs prepare and cook the food to order while the customer waits, receives their food and then returns to their party to enjoy their meal. Once the meal is finished, the customers take their card (which has a £50 limit on it) to the cashdesk, which is situated on the way out, and pays.

Vapiano

This is an incredibly fair system as it means that if a party of friends is visiting together, then there is not the awkward moment when the bill comes and individual amounts are calculated, which often causes arguments. If a family party is having a meal, then the bill can be spread over several cards which the adults have; children do not have cards as alcoholic drinks can be added to the 'credit' on the card.

Seating is mainly in long benches and tables which allows for large parties to sit, chat and enjoy each other's company, there are booths, tall tables and smaller tables. We sat on a high bench and tall table at the back of the restaurant, watching everyone enjoying themselves and soaking up the atmosphere, before I went and ordered.

Antipasti & Starters

We decided to order a variety of starters so that the three of us could pick and choose:

  • Piatto antipasti (Parma ham, salami, pepperoni, roasted vegetables, mozzarella, bruschetta) = £9.00
  • Insalata Caprese (tomatoes, mozzarella, basil) = £6.50
  • Bruschetta (toasted bread, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil) = £2.80

Vapiano

As I carried the food back upstairs on an overladen tray, I anticipated the look on my husband's face and I certainly wasn't disappointed! When he saw the plate of mixed cold meats, with bread, bruschetta and mozzarella, his face lit up and in all honesty that could have been a light meal in itself; there was so much choice!

I've had a lot of Insalata Caprese (including on Capri itself) and this was one of the best as the mozzarella was so smooth and virtually melted in my mouth. The brushetta was perfectly toasted meaning the middle didn't go soggy and the edges weren't too crispy and hard.

While the Insalata Caprese was a little more expensive than I'd have normally been prepared to pay, the quality of the mozzarella more than made up for that. The bruschetta was incredibly well priced for a starter.

A definite 10/10 for the starters.

Pizzas & Pastas

We decided to both go for a vegetarian main meal so that we could mix and match:

  • Pasta: Rucola Ravioli (ravioli with rocket, ricotta cheese filling, butter, pine nuts) = £8.75
  • Pizza: Dell’Alpe (Gorgonzola, Grana Padano D.O.P., smoked cheese, dried tomatoes and figs [I didn't have these on mine], rocket, mozzarella) = £9.75

Pizza and pasta

This pizza has gone up there as one of the best I've had, and I've had a lot! My husband cites the one we had in Pompeii as the best he's ever had, I liked the one in Rome more, but this was just as good as either. Vapiano make their pizza dough on site every day from fresh ingredients, and the recipe that they use for the dough means that it doesn't get soggy in the middle underneath all the cheese. The flavours blended perfectly and the crust was suitably volcanic in appearance. I couldn't manage it all though due to the size, and I'd suggest this would be a good dish to share in the party.

The ravioli was very tasty and the pasta was again freshly made on site in the morning. There is actually a section of the restaurant which is encased in glass walls and contains the pasta machine. Here customers can watch the pasta being made, shaped and bagged into perfect 180g portions before being dispensed to the pasta chefs who cook the sauces to a given recipe but can personalise each dish.

Main meals receive a 9/10, mainly for portion sizes, but that might be more to do with the fact that we were pretty full from our starters!

Children's Menu

When we were seated we were given a children's menu and a packet of colouring pencils for The Boy. There is a range of simple, and slightly more adventurous pizza and pasta dishes available for the grand total of £3.50 each. That is one of the cheapest children's meals I've seen. The pasta dishes are half the weight of the adults' at 90g and the pizzas are slightly smaller.

The Boy went for a ham pizza which the chefs shaped into a rabbit's head.

Vapiano children's menu

The Boy really enjoyed his pizza and was completely amused by it being shaped into a character. It would have been a good size portion for an older child of around 7-10 years, but for a 4 year old it defeated him and he managed around a third of the pizza. And what was worse was that daddy couldn't even help him as he was too full himself!

9/10 for the children's meal, purely down to the size of the portions for younger children.

Desserts

This was the part of the meal I was really looking forward to; I'm a big dolci fan and Vapiano didn't disappoint me at all. I went for my standard Italian dessert (it's the one I hold as a true measure to the chef's ability to cook Italian), while The Boy and Mr. TBaM went for their usual as well:

  • Tiramisu (small) for me = £1.90
  • Baked cheesecake (classic lemon & vanilla cheesecake) for Mr. TBaM = £3.00
  • Ice-cream (Green & Black's white chocolate and raspberry swirl) for The Boy = £2.50

Vapiano desserts

I was really impressed with my tiramisu which was light and fluffy, smooth and really very tasty of coffee, while not being at all sickly. I sampled the cheesecake as well and it was so delicately flavoured with lemon that it was really enjoyable; there was none left on the plate at all by my husband. The Boy really enjoyed the ice-cream and I was pleased that the prices of all three were so reasonable = 10/10

Long Drinks

As we weren't driving, we decided to try out a few of the long drinks that Vapiano has to offer:

  • Aperol Spritzer (Prosecco, Aperol orange liqueur & soda water) = £4.50
  • Strawberry Bellini (Prosecco, strawberry puree) = £4.95

I've never had a bellini before and I absolutely adored it! The conventional bellini is peach, but this was sweet and light making it a perfect Summer drink. My husband really enjoys citrus drinks and was pleasantly surprised to find that the aperol spritzer is the trendiest drink in Italy at the moment, one of the few times he's been fashionable!

vapiano long drinks

I thought that the cost of each cocktail was very reasonable actually; especially as I've paid £20.45 for two vodkas and cokes in London before. They are something I will definitely have again.

We really enjoyed our meal at Vapiano, reflected in the length of time that we stayed there (two and a half hours). We've already said that it is the restaurant that we will actively seek out in future when we go to London, regardless of whether we have The Boy with us or not. It is a great family-friendly restaurant with reasonably priced meals for all which can easily be shared, likewise I can see it is a brilliant place for a group of friends to visit and enjoy the good food and company.

We received this meal for free in exchange for this review, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

LipZor Cold Sore Device (Review & Giveaway)

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I'm going to talk about something now, that's a shushed up and fairly unpleasant subject. Distinctly unglamorous.

Cold sores.

They're not nice to look at and quite frankly they're not nice to have.

They hurt.

And the virus which causes them is indiscriminate in who it decides to live with. Worse? They are a form of the herpes virus, and that's a horrible thing to acknowledge. The NHS website describes them as, "Cold sores are small blisters that develop on the lips or around the mouth. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus and usually clear up without treatment within 7-10 days.

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Mia Tui: Lottie (Review)

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While I may be a fan of another brand of bags for use when I am being a mummy, I do however like a different style of bag for when I'm being 'me'.

Just because I like Dairy Milk, doesn't mean I don't also like Galaxy.

Get my drift?

Therefore when Mia Tui sent me one of their newer designs, the Lottie, I was very happy to test the bag out and see if it was as good as the other bags I have from their range. And I have a fair few Mia Tui bags; four Graces, two Amelies, one Sofia and one Ava at the last count.

I did say I like bags.

The Lottie is the first bag by Mia Tui that isn't designed for multi-use; this isn't one aimed at use as a gym bag, or an overnight bag, or a change bag. The Lottie is meant to be a small cross-body or shoulder bag, big enough to fit the essentials in, and great for grabbing as you're running out the door to the shops etc.

photo(8)

I've got a fairly hefty purse (my mother would be proud, my single friends look on in disbelief) which fits in nicely, alongside my phone (or an iPod) into the slim internal pocket, and there is space for two pens as well as the usual key fob. There isn't a bottle holder but a small bottle does fit inside. On the outside of the wipe-clean bag is a zipped pocket ideal for ladies 'bits and pieces', and the main internal section has a zip keeping the contents away from prying eyes and safe and secure.

I very much like the strong 'steel' colour of the Lottie that I was sent, I'm generally not a girly woman and Mia Tui colours are chosen to reflect women of the 21st century. The Lottie range comes in black, brown, steel blue, teal, sand, red and aubergine; definitely something for every woman.

And the best bit is that they only cost £15.00.

What are you waiting for?

I was sent this product for the purpose of this post, my opinion is honest and unbiased.

The London Eye (Review)

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Before our recent weekend trip to London, we spent a long time weighing up where we would go on the Sunday for our family sightseeing day. The problem with London is that while there's a whole host of places to go to and plenty to amuse a four year old child, it's difficult to find one suitable in unpredictable weather.

In the end the one place which had been prodding me in the arm the whole time, poked a little harder and I finally sat up and took notice.

I'd forgotten how peaceful it is 443 feet above the streets of London.

London attractions

We first took The Boy on the London Eye last year and he was besotted even at the tender age of three. This year his spatial awareness and general understanding of the world he lives in has developed, along with his general knowledge, and so spending half an hour spotting the places he'd visited the previous day with his daddy was far easier and more meaningful.

"Mummy, I'm trying to spot the soldier at Buckingham Palace. That's where the Queen lives, you know. The flag is flying today which means she's home."

Visiting the London Eye is easy, especially when it's booked in advance over the Internet via a site like Superbreak, and tickets are picked up in the central ticket office. This runs alongside the main courtyard leading up to the Eye, lined peacefully with trees and provides a large area to queue on one of the busiest days over the Summer season. Luckily, we went on a Sunday morning when most of London is still thinking about breakfast, and the half an hour queue was relatively short and moved steadily, one of the benefits of the Eye never actually stopping.

The vista from the Eye is amazing, and it has to be experienced to understand just how impressive it is. Buildings which are miles away can be seen easily from 135 metres up in the air, people look like ants, the sealed pods hide the noise and chaos of the streets below and allow the beauty of London to be seen as it should be.

Included in the price of the ticket is entry into the 4D film 'experience' and it is a must. It's described as a pre-flight show, presumably once tickets have been picked up from the office, however I think it's actually better after the flight on the Eye as it provides context for children. The effects are brilliant and I wasn't sure whether the bubbles we were trying to catch were real or if the snow falling was; it shows off the wonders of 3D films brilliantly and is the best use of a fourth aspect in 4D films.

Tips:

  • pushchairs must be folded down due to space restrictions, do this in the queue as the attendants won't let you on with it up;
  • take water because although the pods are air conditioned, it does get warm in there;
  • buy one of the £1 360° maps which help you find the various sites around London with the Eye as the centre;
  • bags will be checked, a metal detector will be waved around your body. All very discreet and unthreatening;
  • make sure you look at the views on all sides of the pod, the Shard and Waterloo Station train tracks are particularly impressive;
  • do visit the 4D film experience which is included in the price of the ticket, but don't be conned into posing for the green-screen photo before entering the cinema, they're not free.

Tickets to the London Eye are available directly from the website, however there are a variety of packages available that include entrance into the attraction and a hotel stay as well. Since the cost of hotels in London alone is extortionate, it is well worth investigating London breaks available with someone like Superbreak.

I received free admission tickets onto the London Eye for two adults and one child. My opinion is honest and unbiased.

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