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Try one of the world's most elusive whiskeys, without having to fork out for a whole bottle... PAPPY. VAN. WINKLE . Even the mention of that name is enough to send whiskey lovers into a fluster. Those vintage, sepia labels; the faded image of Mr Van Winkle chugging on a cigar; the ancient font curved around an amber, wine-shaped bottle. They might look like the kind of dusty receptacles you'd find at the back of your dad's drinks cabinet, but these things are mythical . To the uninitiated, Pappy Van Winkle is the holy grail of bourbon drinkers. The Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery (it's not actually a distillery - it's made by Buffalo Trace - but let's not split hairs) only releases around 7,000 cases of its Family Reserve every year, which means getting your hands on a bottle is like finding a winning lottery ticket. To make matters worse, with whiskey collecting at an all-time high, a good number of people who manage to bag one never end up opening it, because its value will only rise as it becomes older - meaning there are precious few drops available for people to taste. Browse the internet and you'll find bottles of 23 Year Old Family Reserve 2019 listed for just short of £7,000 and the cheapest option - a 10 Year Old 107 Proof - for close to £500, but most have been snapped up within seconds of listing. If you want a real idea of how crazy people are for the stuff, at the time of writing there were EMPTY bottles of 23 Year Old selling for £500 on eBay. That's like buying a Ferrari without an engine, but damn it'll look good on the drive and make the neighbours jealous. Step forward, the K Bar in Kensington Hotel, which prides itself on having one of the finest collections of Brown water in London. Not only are they offering Pappy Van Winkle TO ACTUALLY DRINK, they're serving the stuff up with food included, for a special night on November 27th. If you're lucky enough to grab a ticket, you'll begin your evening with an expertly crafted Eagle Rare Old Fashioned, setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable experience. Then, journey through the finest expressions of Pappy Van Winkle’s craftmanship, starting with 25ml tastings of Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year; 25ml of Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year and 25ml of Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year.   Next up, bourbon connoisseurs will try 25ml of the Pappy Van Winkle 20 – crowned the world’s best bourbon – scoring an astounding 99 out of 100 at the World Spirits Championship. Finally, indulge in the iconic Pappy Van Winkle 23 (25ml), a rare treat usually priced at £135 per pour at The K Bar. Each exquisite bourbon will be paired with a small bite to enhance every sip. If you missed the details, that's FIVE pours of the world's most elusive whiskey, and if you're eyeing that up and thinking of remortgaging the house, fear not - the K Bar is offering all this for just £180pp. How? We're not sure. But we'll be begging to take the empty bottle home at the end of the night... Tickets cost £180pp, Book Now 6:30pm - 9pm, November 27th K Bar, The Kensington Hotel, 109-113 Queen's Gate London SW7 5LP Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

Free Annual Outdoor Film Festival Returns to London Put your hand into the popcorn and not your pocket, with a Summer of free , waterside cinema by the Regent’s Canal in King’s Cross, or the Grand Union Canal in Brentford. From 1 July , you don't have to choose between sunshine or movies, because Everyman invites you to its free, annual outdoor film and TV festival,  Everyman on the Canal,  and for the first time it will also introduce  Everyman on the Water at The Brentford Project. The film line-up is set to include Barbie, Bob Marley One Love, The Little Mermaid (2023), The Lord of The Rings trilogy, Aftersun, Dune II, 10 Things I Hate About You , alongside screenings of the Wimbledon Tennis Championship. Both outdoor cinemas are un-ticketed with limited audience numbers, so guests are encouraged to arrive early to avoid disappointment.  Everyman on the Canal  will return to the iconic Canal Side Steps on the banks of the Regent’s Canal, this time for an extended season from 1 July to 18 August . Audiences can recline on bean bags on the grass steps, while enjoying the big screen. Films and screenings will run throughout the day and every evening between 11.30am to 10pm, complete with sweet treats and savoury snacks from Everyman’s food menu, paired with a drink or two from the range of summer cocktails, wine, beer and soft drinks. Their newest free, outdoor cinema experience, Everyman on the Water at The Brentford Project will run  from 1 July to 31 August. Brentford guests can enjoy al fresco ice creams and drinks served with a range of food goodies from The Brentford Project. The event will give locals a taste of Everyman , before their permanent Brentford cinema launches in 2025. More details about Everyman on the Canal at King’s Cross and Everyman on the Water at The Brentford Project can be found here Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter

Kids turn Super-Sleuths in Breathlessly Engaging, Interactive Murder Mystery Children become trainee detectives in this wonderfully engaging, one-woman murder mystery. A departure from the puppet-led productions Little Angel Theatre is best-known for, this production combines a game show with a brain-teasing super-sleuth adventure, in which young audience members follow clues, interrogate suspects and pore over theatre maps and evidence to crack the case. The show stars Danyah Miller - award-winning co-creator of West End hit, I Believe in Unicorns, with Dani Parr - who captivates children from the second she bounces onto the stage, high-fiving the audience. The children are tasked with helping her identify the murderer of a young actress, who meets her untimely end after being squashed by a piano at Little Angel Theatre , in suspicious circumstances. The clever set (designed by Kate Bunce) features a giant board game recreation of the theatre, with a detective board which is quickly filled with evidence and images of the prime suspects, and doors which flap open to show footage, loaded with intriguing clues. My daughter and the other children are utterly engrossed. Their hands are permanently skyward, desperate to answer Danyah’s questions; share their findings; interrogate or play witnesses or roll the giant dice. It’s a breathless hunt through secrets and surprises, with twists around every corner, which thrill my daughter, who is very vocal throughout, gasping, excitedly sharing her findings and putting Danyah - as the various suspects - through intense grillings. Finally, the puppet element literally pops up with the big reveal, when Danyah pulls up a replica of the theatre from the middle of the board game, and uses puppets of the victim and culprit to reenact the murder, in a dimly-lit scene eerie enough for the 6+ target age group, without being too scary. Danyah is a master of moving the story along - no mean feat, with children misinterpreting evidence and asking suspects curious questions (“what is one plus one?”) - while making every child feel enthusiastically involved. At the end of the show, we are all forbidden from sharing details of the murderer - so to find out, you will need to take your own, junior Columbo’s along to crack the case. Just one more thing: they will love it. The Mystery of Little Angel Theatre , Little Angel Studios, 132 Sebbon St, London N1 2EH. Until 17 November. Tickets £15 adult. £13 child (1-17). Recommended age 6+ Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

Tricks and Treats on a Deliciously Spooky London Bus Adventure The world’s oldest toyshop Hamleys and afternoon tea alchemists, Brigit’s Bakery have created a delicious monster in the shape of the Halloween at Hamleys Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. We take our little ghouls to Victoria Coach Station to board the spookified Double Decker for tricks and treats. A slapstick Mad Scientist welcomes us onboard the bus, which is festooned with cobwebs, pumpkins and spiders and playing creepy hits. And we’re led to our table on the Upper Deck, which is set with two teetering tiers of cakes, sandwiches, pretzels, tarts, quiche and muffins. We set off on our 90-minute tour, taking in landmarks like Royal Albert Hall and Marble Arch with some deliciously spooky facts - The Lanesborough was once a hospital and is London's most haunted hotel, and The Grenadier is haunted by the ghost of a solider. Hot chocolates and coffees are delivered - in Hamleys Halloween travel cups to keep - while we work our way through the feast, marvelling at the acrobatics of friendly staff, pouring fizz and juggling lattes on a swerving bus. Naturally, we pass Hamleys to see their gargantuan pumpkin display and get a glimpse of the free Halloween processions, spooky games and entertainment taking place inside. As a savoury toothed tiger, I am particularly impressed by the wide savoury offering. Stand outs on this tier include the mushroom quiche and the salmon and cucumber pretzel with cream cheese. The cucumber and mint sandwiches on basil bread and the turkey ham, cheese and mustard mayo on tomato bread are also a hit with the adults. The children are eager to dive into the beautifully presented, sweet tier, decorated with edible bats and ghosts. The pumpkin tarts are the biggest hit with the children, alongside cupcakes, matcha sables and my personal favourite, the Frankenstein’s Monster Choux, filled with creamy walnut.  Warm scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream are brought around to close the experience and despite being stuffed, there is always room for an excellent scone. While we eat, the comically bumbling scientist entertains diners with a Halloween quiz - the questions are easy enough for our six-year-old to enjoy - magic, trick or treat cauldrons and daft jokes. Thankfully, we are all provided boxes to take home left overs from the generous spread, as well as popping candy chocolates, while the children are also gifted Hamleys toy keyrings. It’s a spooktacular experience for all ages - the bus was mostly packed with excited adults - and bubbling with tricks and treats. Hamleys Halloween London Bus Tour , Departs from Victoria Coach Station. 12 October - 31 October. From £45 per adult, £35 per child Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

The Capital's Best Family Experiences this January 2025 Back to school, back to work and trying to ignore the tumbleweed blowing around your wallet? January can be a rotter if we let it, but London is still bulging with fun to cheer up the family, and we've rounded up the best of the bunch below. It includes a gaggle of FREE and low-cost events, from brand new light trails to illuminate the gloom, neon painting, kids' theatre, Paddington, Batman and your last chance to cling onto some festive joy with ice rinks and pantomimes. ______________________ FREE Battersea Power Station Light Festival The Power Station’s FREE annual light show returns, bigger, better and more interactive than ever, to shine some light into the January gloom. Many of the eight spectacular installations include soundscapes and interactive elements which respond to people’s movements, like the LightPiano, which invites people to play with music and light; or Lightbattle III, for a cycling competition inside arches of light, with the ultimate winner awarded with a flood of colourful light. Battersea Power Station , Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW11 8DD. 23 January - 23 February. FREE. FREE Winter Lights, Canary Wharf This gorgeous, free light trail returns for its ninth year, with 12 installations, including a towering stack of bath tubs, pulsating with light and music, portals, mirages, a 20m wide black hole. There are also sweet treats and hot drinks to fuel you on the adventure. Winter Lights. Throughout Canary Wharf. 21 January - 1 February 2025. FREE. Neon Brush For Kids This brilliantly original event invites kids to experience the magic of neon painting, using fluorescent paints which glow in UV light. Stencils, brushes, paints and tools for snazzy effects are all provided for the family event, enjoyed to a soundtrack of kid-pleasing tunes. And they can leave with their finished masterpiece. Neon Brush Kids Edition , Glazier’s Hall SE1 11th and 12th January From £21 Charlie Cook's Favourite Book Read our review Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s deliciously meta book about the magic of reading has had a major adaptation from our favourite puppet alchemists,  Little Angel Theatre, now showing at Trafalgar Theatre. Adaptors Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane (who also directs) reunite for the show, following their Olivier -nominated collaboration on Donaldson and Scheffler’s other hit book, The Smartest Giant in Town. The story follows Charlie diving through books, magazine and encyclopaedias and encompasses 11 books, complete with ghosts, pirates, aliens and dragons. Little Angel Studios, Trafalgar Theatre, 14 Whitehall London SW1A 2DY . Running time: 1 hour. Until 5 January Replay: A Limitless Recycled Playground Part installation, part adventure playground, REPLAY is a space built entirely out of waste materials repurposed for fun by The Herd Theatre, which children can transform in any way their imaginations lead them. Everything here can be moved, changed, combined, worn and reimagined, for kids to build their own worlds, invent games and leave ideas for players to come. It’s designed for all ages, with designated sessions grouped by age. Replay . The Royal Festival Hall. 21 Jan – 1 June Tickets from £7.50 Magic of Afternoon Tea at Vintry & Mercer Read our review Five star boutique hotel,  Vintry & Mercer launched a brand new candlelit Magic of Afternoon Tea, for little (and big) wizards, which is full of delicious surprises. Our menu comes to life with a UV torch, there are chocolate soil-filled coffins to excavate, magical elixirs to mix, dramatic smoking tiers brimming with edible spell books, chocolate wands, owls and a chocolate and mango Excalibur dessert stabbed with a chocolate sword. And that's before we discuss the savouries and other surprises, which you can read about in our review. Hint: It's one of our favourite new family afternoon tea experiences. Vintry & Mercer,  19-20 Garlick Hill, London EC4V 2AU. Adult's Magic of Afternoon Tea - from £49.50 pp. Kid's Wizard's Afternoon Tea - £37.50 Batman Unmasked: The Exhibition Follow the Bat Signal and explore a never-before-seen collection of the Caped Crusader's original props, vehicles, and costumes. The new Batman exhibition has nine themed rooms, including the famous Wayne Manor library (and secret bookcase door) The Joker's Room and The Batcave. Batman Unmasked . 45 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7BN. Until 5 January. Tickets from £24 Room on the Broom Read our review Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's classic children’s book is zooming onto the stage at the Lyric Theatre, in this Olivier Award-nominated adventure. When a witch with a plait, a hat and her cat are flying through the skies, they pick up some fantastic creatures along the way. But while there was room on the broom for two, there certainly was not room for five. And things take a turn for the worse when a fiery dragon is thrown into the mix. Lyric Theatre , Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES. 22 November - 5 January. Tickets from £12 Hansel and Gretel at The Globe Read our review Follow the trail of breadcrumbs all the way to Shakespeare's Globe this Christmas, for their beautiful production of Hansel and Gretel, returning for its second year. Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage transforms the Globe Theatre into the gingerbread and lollipop festooned sphere of the world's most famous witch-conquering siblings, for this classic Brother Grimm fairytale. In this timely retelling, a woodcutting dad and bread-making mum leave their children in the woods to protect them from their war-torn village, where they meet a strange old lady with a plan of her own. The Globe,  21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT. 29 November - 5 January Hogwarts in the Snow Have a very Harry Christmas at the Hogwarts in the Snow studio tour, when the iconic Harry Potter sets are twinkling with Christmas lights and covered in a blanket of snow. The Great Hall will be decked in golden decorations from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and you’ll find a banquet of turkeys and flaming puddings for the end-of-term Hogwarts feast. Learn the dance moves studied by Neville Longbottom ahead of the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , or how the invisibility cloak Harry Potter receives as a Christmas present was used to create the illusion on-screen. Then step into the Forbidden Forest , where the woodlands will be covered in snow, or stroll down Diagon Alley   with its snowy shop fronts and cobbled stones. Stop by the Christmas shop which has returned this year to provide you with a premium and exclusive selection of Christmas gifts, souvenirs, and stocking fillers. The experience ends with a walk around the Hogwarts Castle model, which is blanketed with snow. Hogwarts in the Snow , Warner Bros Studios, Studio Tour Dr, Leavesden, Watford WD25 7LR. 16 November - 19 January. Tickets from £56. Under 4s go free. Winter Festival - Museum of the Home Winter traditions are explored through a gaggle of colourful events for all ages, celebrating cultures spanning from Diwali and Hanukkah to Christmas and Lunar New Year. Highlights include the Winter Past Exhibition, looking back on festive traditions from 1630 to the future and Christmas events from live toy theatres, to gift making workshops. Museum of the Home , 136 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8EA. Until 12 January Skate at Somerset House It’s not Christmas until Somerset House opens its iconic ice rink. Expect gourmet dining at The Chalet, a rink-side view Skate lounge by Whispering Angel; Skate School lessons, and a pop-up Shelter Boutique store.   Somerset House , Strand, London WC2R 1LA. 13 Nov - 12 Jan. Tickets from £11 Ice Rink Canary Wharf London’s longest running seasonal ice rink, Ice Rink Canary Wharf offers visitors a magical skate session in the heart of Canary Wharf. This year’s ice rink will be putting on themed skating sessions, including 80’s, 90’s and Soul Classics nights to get skaters in the festive spirit. There’s a transparent roof, to thwart Blighty’s pesky weather, plus an apres-skate alpine bar serving winter warmers for skaters and spectators. And the centre piece this year is a glorious Christmas tree, beneath a suspended giant mirrored ball, casting disco reflections across the rink. Ice Rink Canary Wharf.  Canada Square, London E14 5AB. 26 Oct - 23 February F1 Driving, Skywalks and Tours at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Little adrenaline junkies can get their kicks at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a hat trick of high octane tours, from The Dare Skywalk - climbing to the top of the stadium, 46.8m above the pitch - to the UK’s first controlled descent from a stadium, once at the top. Plus a Stadium Tour for those who want to keep their feet on the ground. They can also experience a high tech Formula 1 driving experience, with an exciting track layout and LED steering wheels. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium , 782 High Rd, London N17 0BX Michelin-Star Cookery School for Little Chefs Michelin restaurant Pavyllon London will partner with the popular En Petit Pavilion on a series of 90-minute, kid’s cookery experiences, while parents enjoy lunch dishes from multi-Michelin-starred Chef Yannick Alléno.  Starting on 15 September and running on the third Sunday of each month until January 2025, children will learn to craft from a range of cuisines, including French gastronomy, creating a main course and a dessert alongside En Cuisine’s passionate team. The pièce de résistance? Mini master chefs will proudly present their fine dining creations to their loved ones at the iconic Pavyllon counter at the end of the class, dressed in their very own chef’s hat and apron, standing alongside the Pavyllon team. Pavyllon London, Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane Hamilton Pl, London, W1J 7DR . Every third Sunday at 12pm & 1:30pm until 19 January 2025. Ages 6-12. Price: £350: includes four-course set lunch menu for two adults and 1x children’s cooking class The Paddington Bear Immersive Experience Read Review Everybody’s favourite, Peruvian bear has had the immersive treatment, with The Paddington Bear™ Experience. The marmalade-addled, interactive adventure across more than 26,000 square feet of Southbank’s London County Hall  invites guests into a series of themed rooms, inspired by iconic locations from the Paddington stories. Fittingly, it kicks off at Paddington Station, where guests will be greeted by a friendly Station Master and taken on a colourful train journey through London’s most famous landmarks, to the Browns’ charming, No. 32 Windsor Gardens home. Once inside the famous, tree-adorned hallway, guests will embark on a multi-sensory adventure to help the Brown family and Paddington prepare for the all-important Marmalade Day Festival. The Paddington Bear™ Experience , London County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, SE1 7PB. Adult tickets £34pp. Children (2-15) £24. Under 2s go FREE Mrs Doubtfire Dining Experience Hellooo poppets! Hit West End musical Mrs Doubtfire has put the eat into theatre for a delicious new partnership with luxury London restaurant, Colonel Saab . The award-winning Indian dining concept gives fans a multi-sensory, pre-theatre dining experience, featuring cocktails and dishes inspired by famous scenes, which transform before your eyes and are not what they seem - just like the title character of Shaftesbury Theatre’s comedy show. Expect a "Run-By Fruiting" and a grand finale involving liquid nitrogen, in a cheeky nod to the famous kitchen fire scene, before heading around the corner to watch the show itself at Shaftesbury Theatre. Colonel Saab, 193-197 High Holborn, London WC1V 7BD. £60 course five course meal and cocktail or £35 Mrs Doubtfire Set Lunch plus theatre tickets. Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8DP Barbie: The Exhibition The wonder doll (and society’s) evolution is charted in this luminous exhibition, which opened this month, to coincide with Barbie’s 65th birthday. Exploring her story through a design lens including fashion, architecture, furniture and vehicle design, her plastic-fantastic universe has engulfed the Design Museum, showing changing attitudes to women’s careers - Barbie has had more than 250 jobs -  race, sexuality, fashion and body image. Highlights include a rare first edition of the very first doll released by Mattel in 1959, the first Black, Hispanic and Asian dolls to bear the Barbie name, as well as dolls that reflect today’s diverse, multicultural society, including the first Barbie with Down Syndrome, the first to use a wheelchair, and the first to be designed with a curvy body shape. Design Museum,  224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG. Until 23 February 2025. Adult from £14.38. Children from £7.19 Science Museum Astronights Sleepover  Read our review Budding scientists (aged 7-11) can spend the night at The Science Museum,  exploring the museum out-of-hours,  sleeping among space rockets, a Moon rock or in the world’s largest medical galleries. Young campers will experience the ultimate sleepover, with an evening full of activities, including science shows and interactive workshops.  This year’s Astronights programme is supported by official sponsor TEMPUR®, who will gift all campers a travel pillow to help budding scientists get some rest during this exciting night.The following morning, campers can refuel at breakfast, before exploring Wonderlab , their interactive gallery, with hands-on exhibits and immersive experiences, and catch a 3D documentary on their giant IMAX screen. Science Museum,  Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD. Dates vary, £70pp standard, £100 VIP. 20 August Monster Funfair at Discover Children's Story Centre Stratford's immersive, sprog-storytelling Mecca has launched its new family adventure, taking visitors through a fantastical circus tent and into the woods. In amongst the trees you’ll find an amazing, marvellous, EXTRAORDINARY… Monster Funfair!   Created with the award-winning Nadia Shireen, this magical world also has a fairground mystery to solve – just who has stolen ALL the candyfloss?  Discover Children's Story Centre is brimming with entertainment across three floors, plus a wonderfully imaginative Story Garden. Creep through caves, find fairy worlds within magical trees, explore hidden ships, perform in a puppet castle, leap over alligators and man your own spaceships and rockets across two floors. Discover Children's Story Centre  383-387 High St, London E15 4QZ.  Ages 0-8 Art in the Docks - FREE There are FREE art classes every Saturday morning at Art in the Docks, which can be booked online, with 30 spots for each class. Children are encouraged to use their imagination and gain confidence in a nurturing environment, hosted by ceramic artist Mariana Alemany. The classes are suitable for all ages, and all materials and equipment will be provided. Art in the Docks , 25 Shackleton Way, London, E16 2XJ. Every Saturday. 10am-12pm. FREE. Birds: Brilliant and Bizarre Natural History Museum ’s new show will be a real tweet for the whole family, inviting us to experience birds in a whole new way. Swirl around with a murmuration, chirp along with the dawn chorus and see if you have the stomach to sniff a stinky seabird egg. From feeling their heartbeats to seeing through their eyes, get to know our feathered friends better. Meet the wonderchicken - the world’s oldest bird - find out what a pigeon has in common with a ferocious T. Rex and discover how these winged wonders managed to survive the mass extinction that wiped out all the other dinosaurs. Today there’s more than 11,000 species. From pigeons to penguins, ostriches to ospreys, birds live on every single continent on Earth, so what’s the secret to their success? From sucking blood to bathing in acid, our winged wonders have found surprising, clever and downright freaky ways to survive. Natural History Museum,  Waterhouse Gallery, Kensington, London. Until 5 January 2025. Adults £16.50pp. Children (4-16) £9.95pp Navrtar VR Arctic Expedition Take the family on an Arctic expedition, without leaving London. They’ll learn about global warming in a whole, new way during the 60-minute experience, exploring the abyss of the Arctic; its icy tundras, hidden caverns and unique wildlife hidden in an extraordinary, underwater world. Guests in teams of six can teleport 100 years into the future to compare the effects of global warming. The sessions begin with a range of multi-player mini games to enhance the senses and test skills, before embarking on the Arctic expedition, exploring marine life and shipwrecks. Navrtar , Dickens Yard, Longfield Ave W5 2UQ. Prices from £32pp. iFly Childrens’ Skydive Read our review here Anybody from the age of 3 to 103 can experience the superpower of flight at iFly , as long as they can comfortably wear a helmet. The instructors allow children to safely feel the sensation of an  exhilarating, 12,000 ft free-fall and flight,  without  jumping out of a plane. Along with watching the instructor perform a mesmerising  dance on air inside the vertical wind tunnel, your family can enjoy the extraordinary sensation of weightlessness, soaring around the glass tube and unlocking a core memory of their newfound super powers. iFLY London at The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX. Tickets and vouchers to fly can be purchased by clicking here  and are available from £69.99 per person Wizard Exploratorium Check out our review here.   Soho's magic-themed Wizard Exploratorium is a five-storey, geek wonderland, offering a 4D wand-making workshop, immersive trick shop and suitably magical afternoon tea encompassing tea brewing, molecular gastronomy, and technology. Wizard Exploratorium , 26 Greek St, London W1D 5DE Slimy Gootopia Sessions Slime is a gloopy rite of passage for every child - parents quickly learn the art of removing it from hair and unwitting pets and it’s up there with ice cream in the kiddie delight department. Enter stage left: Gootopia , which brings its gloopy joy to Brixton and Lewisham. The venues have shelves of ready-made slime, slime ingredients, activator, and their ‘goo-to-go’ slime vending machine. They also offer a range of activities and experiences for kids of all ages, including slime workshops, birthday parties, school science workshops, drop-in slime-making sessions and live slime-making demonstrations by goo alchemists Gootopia . Brixton and Lewisham locations. Pampering for all the family at Pan Pacific London Family activities that involve lying down and being pampered? Count us massively IN. Pan Pacific London  has partnered with luxury children’s brand Bonpoint , to create a unique offering for the hotel’s dedicated Wellbeing Floor. The first partnership of its kind in the UK, the duo have created a range of unisex skincare treatments and packages for children aged 6 – 16 years old, that provide an opportunity for parents to spend quality time with their children and teens and enjoy a spot of pampering. Pan Pacific Family Pampering , 80 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7AB. Treatments start from £100. Power Up at the Science Museum Following five successful runs, Power Up will make its permanent home at the Science Museum from July, allowing visitors to try over 160 consoles and hundreds of the very best video games, all year long. With the new Power Up annual passes, visitors can return whenever they fancy, to journey through the world of gaming. Experience the evolution of gaming – from classics such as Pong and Street Fighter to the latest PlayStation and Xbox – while discovering the science and history behind gaming’s most iconic developments. Power Up  Ticketed, daily passes: £10, annual passes: £15   . Age: 5+. Science Museum, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD Get the Kids Climbing the Walls Get the kids climbing the walls at London’s Parthian Climbing centre in Wandsworth. The 25,000 square foot beast combines climbing with lifestyle, thanks to its café, bar, gym, retail and co-working space. And it is the first indoor climbing facility in the UK to feature an exact replica of  The Titan  Olympic bouldering wall, which will be used at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. They offer a range of kids’ sessions and courses for ages 3 and up. There are instructors for little ones taking on their first climbing experience, as well as the National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS) for a progressive syllabus. They also host kids’ parties, for 1.5 hours of climbing activities and games which are the perfect antidote to ‘Fun Freddie’ wrestling a balloon into a drooping sausage dog. Parthian Climbing Centre , 52 - 58 Garratt Ln, Wandsworth, London SW18 4TF Avora Family Experience Read our review Up an unassuming, Shoreditch street is a secret portal to another planet. And on school holidays and Sundays, you can take your kids for a well-deserved break from Earth, on planet Avora. This  otherworldly adventure will see you encounter scientists, mocktails, aliens, army villains and closes with a child-pleasing, farty finale. Avora: Family Immersive Adventure  5C, 127 Hackney Road, London, E2 8GY. Sundays, 12pm – 3:30pm. School Holiday weekdays. £24.50 per child (6-13) £29.50 per adult. The Gunpowder Plot at Tower of London Vaults Older children (12+) will be catapulted into the most exciting history lesson of their lives, in this explosive new, immersive experience, starring Harry Potter’s Tom Felton. Your mission is to go undercover and unmask the mysterious figures behind history’s most infamous plot. But when you’re surrounded by traitors, who can you trust? With surprises around every turn, descend into the vaults and experience a combination of live and digital actors, virtual reality and fancy pants technology like motion simulators and special effects, transporting you back to London 1605 in the heart of the Gunpowder plot. The Gunpowder Plot , 8-12 Tower Hill Vaults, London, EC3N 4EE Play Captain on a GoBoat River Picnic Read our review If you’re looking for somewhere to spend a genuinely relaxing few hours for parents and  children (plus dogs, if you have one) we recommend a GoBoat  trip. You can enjoy a picnic as captain of your own, electric boat through Canary Wharf, Paddington, Kingston, Thames Ditton or Birmingham. GoBoat UK , Open 7 days a week from 9am - dusk. Prices start from  £85 for 1 hour and  £125 for two hours on the  8-person boats. GoBoat Canary Wharf, 22 Churchill Place, London, E14 5RE Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus Tour Read our review Brigit's Bakery  launched the first, official Paddington Bear afternoon tea bus tour , celebrating the capital.The double-decker has built-in screens, so that Paddington and Mrs Bird can provide an animated guide to the tour, which includes some of Paddington's favourite landmarks, like Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Hyde Park, Nelson’s Column, Downing Street, St. Paul's Cathedral, Borough Market, Green Park and Piccadilly Circus. The tour takes just under two hours, while you scoff treats including glittering shortbreads, designed to look like nibbled marmalade sandwiches, mini pizzas, smoked salmon and cucumber pretzels, turkey ham and cheddar or cream cheese and cucumber finger sandwiches and naturally, marmalade sandwiches. And for those who share the bear’s sweet tooth, the homemade sweet treats included a rice pudding studded with chocolate honeycomb, chocolate cupcakes crowned with Paddington’s chocolate paws, lemon meringue tarts, chocolate macarons and freshly baked scones with cream and jam. Brigit’s Bakery also provide vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and halal afternoon teas. Paddington Afternoon Tea Bus tour  Departs from Trafalgar Square, Wednesdays to Sundays. Prices from £45 adult, £35 child. Whizz Down The ArcelorMittal Orbit How about hurling your children down the world’s tallest slide? The 178m long ArcelorMittal Orbit  was the iconic landmark of the 2012 London Olympics and is now an attraction with three adventure experiences. Families can speed down the winding slide, abseil, or walk around the glass orbit at the top. You can also pretend it's a high-brow, cultural experience, because the orbit is also a sculpture by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond. And it beats the usual views of grubby swings and bins, because here you can check out the stunning views of Queen Elizabeth Park. To ride the slide, children must be at least eight years old and over 1.3m.   ArcelorMittal Orbit , Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 5 Thornton St, London E20 2AD. From £10.75. Cutty Sark Rig Climb Experience Originally climbed when the ship first arrived to Greenwich in 1954, visitors can now recreate this, by clambering up the famous masts of the Cutty Sark.The Rig Climb Experience invites kids and brave parents to step up from the main deck onto the ship’s ratlines and climb up its top mast, as hundreds of sailors did during the Cutty Sark’s heyday. Once at the top, climbers will experience a controlled descent from the rigging. Participants will be rewarded with some of the best views in London, overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral, The Shard and Tower Bridge. Cutty Sark King William Walk, London SE10 9H Snot, Sick and Scabs at the Centre of the Cell Deliciously disgusting and sneakily educational centre in a futuristic, light-studded pod suspended above the laboratories of the Blizard Institute in Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Children can learn about the heart, teeth or senses, see scientists at work and enjoy their delightfully vile ‘Snot, Sick and Scabs’ session. Centre of the Cell,  4 Newark St, London E1 2AT Out-of-Hours at the British Museum Your little ones can walk in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks, Pharoahs or journey through the cultures of China at The British Museum's family-friendly, out-of-hours tours. Taking place between 8.50 – 10am, before the galleries are open to the public, you can beat the unsavoury crowds. And from 4 - 25 March, children can explore Roman history through Minecraft, create a Japan-themed family photo (11 March) and make mosaic masks inspired by the Aztec gods on 18 March. The British Museum , Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG. Under fives go free.  £16.50 for 5-15 year olds. £33 Adults Monopoly Lifesized Go big or go home… or straight to jail at Monopoly Lifesized,  an immersive, on-your-feet version of the classic, family game, played on a 15m x 15m lifesized Monopoly board. Enter the 4D experience and compete in challenges for your chance to buy properties. Stage a heist in Mayfair, compete against a clock to build some of London’s iconic buildings, solve a baffling murder mystery or step into the world of codebreakers. The 80-minute experience is suitable for kids from 9 and older and is open every day except Mondays. Monopoly Lifesized , 213-215 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 7PS. Tickets £49 pp Crystal Maze LIVE Experience Older children (from 8 onwards) can take on this immersive adventure, which brings the hit 90s TV show to life.Run around like mentalists, yell, complete a host of difficult challenges and end the game in a fetching, satin bomber jacket. Crystal Maze Live Experience , 22 - 32 Shaftesbury Avenue W1D 7EU Holiday to Space at Royal Observatory Greenwich Join Ted and Plant as they explore the Solar System in search of the best place to take a holiday in an intergalactic morning adventure, including a planetarium show and interactive workshop. Recommended Age: 3 - 6 yrs. Open 10am-5pm daily Royal Observator y Greenwich Park, Blackheath Avenue SE10 8XJ Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Insta?

Cults in Shipping Containers and Tilda Swinton Narrated Interactive, Mixed Reality ADHD Documentaries I’ve accidentally joined a murderous cult and Tilda Swinton has climbed inside my head for a powerful exploration of ADHD, and it’s not even midday. I’m at the launch of BFI London Film Festival’s Expanded, this year’s bulging programme of immersive art and extended reality, celebrating the moving image in its many forms. I’m strapped into my VR headset and controllers to start with the extraordinary Impulse: Playing with Reality. With soothing narration from Swinton, this mixed reality, interactive documentary captures what it means to be neurodivergent in a radical new way, which stays with me for long afterwards. Swinton sets the tone by giving me challenges, hoovering up a wall of kaleidoscopic shapes and using them to process tasks and information at increasing speeds, with assorted distractions, allowing me to feel the chaos and anxiety sometimes experienced with ADHD. An extraordinary, interactive documentary follows, using the real voices of people with ADHD telling their powerful stories, while animations of their experiences explode around me. I watch buildings erupt from the ground and characters teeter on the tops, contemplating suicide. Then I find myself on the top of buildings which get higher, the closer to the edge I move, while Tilda says: “Vertigo isn’t a fear of heights, it’s the fear that we might jump.” Powerful quotes from each, moving story are sucked up with my controller and I place them on floors and walls around me. This intimate and fully immersive way of absorbing these stories is incredibly moving, and at the end, there is a room filled with slides and facts about ADHD, to decompress in. Things get even more intense in the festival’s ARCADE installation, a shipping container, housing a particularly dark, choose your own adventure experience. We’re led inside, to rows of vintage arcade machines, and warned that we will be in complete darkness for 25 minutes. Headsets are donned, coins appear for us to pop in the slots and pitch blackness envelops us, while eerie voices whisper and shout so convincingly, I instinctively put my hand out to feel if somebody is behind. We’re invited to become avatars, which are conscious of our/their actions, answering questions using a button which change the path of our journey - do I head to a war-torn world, seek peace or join a cult? There's a vulnerability in the darkness, coupled with the dark audio and sensory effects - like the wet of blood splattering our faces - which adds to the cloying and intentionally unsettling experience. It’s an original and compelling installation, and there’s palpable relief when the game ends and the lights come back up. These are our highlights, but Expanded has a gaggle of events and experiences, including a free gaming lounge and free, virtual dance and AI simulation, merging ethereal dancers and transhumance species, in the BFI IMAX foyer. LFF Expanded is presented across multiple central London venues, including Bargehouse at Oxo Tower Wharf, BFI IMAX, BFI Southbank, Royal Festival Hall and Outernet London. Ticket prices vary. 11-27 October Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

UK Premiere of Whimsically Grotesque Master's World Heads to Design Museum We whispered Beetlejuice three times, and the UK premiere of The World of Tim Burton has been announced at London's Design Museum. Fittingly, the alchemist of whimsical goth horror’s exhibition launches just before Halloween, on 25 October , riding the crest of the hype-tsunami around the freshly released Beetlejuice 2 movie. Visitors will be invited into his world, to explore the darkly unique aesthetic behind some of the most celebrated films of the last four decades, mastering the comically grotesque and the endearingly misfit. The show will showcase his work beyond the silver-screen, as an illustrator, painter, photographer and author, as well as key collaborations with designers. Drawing from Burton’s personal archive and representing his creative output from childhood to the present day, this collection of drawings, paintings, photographs, sketchbooks, moving-image works, sculptural installations, set and costume design focuses on the recurrent visual themes and motifs found in Burton’s art and film worlds. This will be the final stop in a decade-long world tour for this exhibition and will be its only ever showing in the UK. The World of Tim Burton , Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, W8 6AG. 25 October 25 2024 - 21 April 2025. Tickets from £19.69 pp, Kid’s £9.85 Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter

Witches, Goblins, Falcons and Spellbinding Beauty in New Interactive Adventure Beautiful Leeds Castle is steeped in history and legend and is exactly the sort of enchanted place you’d expect to find otherworldly creatures. That’s exactly what we discover on its new Haunted Halloween Quest , an interactive journey through its stunning, 550-acre estate to rescue Rocky the Stone Monster and break the curse of the castle’s crumbling walls. It’s a perfect autumn day, as we crunch through golden leaves across the immaculate, sun dappled grounds, past swans, water features, blooming magnolia, the grand castle, mazes and trees, while the children excitedly tick off six magical coloured stones on their quest sheets. Along the way, we meet a host of colourful characters, who give clues and interact with the audience, from Ember the Witch, Bramble the Tree Goblin, Diablo the Cursed Castle Hound, Talon the Hawkman, Kit the Castle Keeper and finally, Rocky the Stone Monster. There is also surprise seasonal entertainment along the way, including a brilliant chainsaw wood carver, transforming logs into pumpkins and owls, and the Cast of Hawks Halloween falconry displays. Finally, through the maze we discover the final gem and the sprawling Knights’ Stronghold Playground, where the grand finale takes place. All of the characters gather to place the gems we’ve discovered into the walls to lift the curse. The children sing along with the characters, enthusiastically help with the spells, shout instructions and delight in helping their magical new friends. Afterwards, we’re free to explore the extraordinary, medieval-themed playground, complete with giant castles full of zip wires, climbing walls, wobbly bridges, cargo nets, slides, plus an underworld grotto, adventure golf, giant outdoor beach, obstacle course and every park feature you can imagine. There’s a cafe in the play area for pizzas and sandwiches, or the gorgeous, oak-beamed Castle View Restaurant for something more special. On the way out, we stop at its vintage ice cream shop for treats, before exploring Leeds Castle and its fabulous 900-year history of strong and visionary women, which my daughter loves. We immerse ourselves in its Medieval and Tudor stories, including the fascinating tale of Joan of Navarre, who was imprisoned at the castle by King Henry V, who falsely accused her of being a witch. And we relive the glamour of Lady Bailie’s time at the castle, holding lavish parties for everybody from Charlie Chaplin to Errol Flynn and filling the grounds with llamas, zebras, exotic birds and even a swimming pool with wave machine. Tired little legs from a busy day exploring the sprawling grounds are an excellent excuse to jump aboard Elsie the Castle Train, a charming green land train which can take guests back from the castle to the main entrance. The spirit of Lady Bailie’s passion for entertaining lives on in the castle walls, which our children are thrilled they have stopped from crumbling. Leeds Castle , Penfold Hill, Kent ME17 1RG. Tickets for Halloween event & annual pass: Adult £31.50, Child £22.50 (Age 3-16); Family £79 (2 + 2). Must be booked in advance Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram? Follow us on Insta

Fancy celebrating America with a gluttonous nosh-up and maybe a dash of bourbon? Hey, let's forget all that 'other stuff' that's happening across the pond right now - America is the home of large portions, smoked meat, Bourbon whiskey and rock 'n' roll, and for THAT, we'll always be grateful. So whether you're an American in London or just fancy sending your thanks via a plate of grub, check our the best Thanksgiving Dinners in London this year. ______________ The Stafford St James's If you're ever in doubt as to The Stafford's position on those across the pond, just know that they've got a bar called American Bar ( pictured above ), which is one of the longest surviving US bars in London. It launched in the Thirties, when the craze for American-style cocktails first hit these shores and even served as a club for GIs during World War II. So if you're after an upmarket - but entirely authentic - experience, this is the spot for you. It's filled with memorabilia that has been donated over close to a century by American guests, so you'll have plenty to look at while you wait for your table next door in the Game Bird restaurant. And what of the grub? Well, you won't be surprised to learn that it's not burgers or chicken wings on offer at this 5-star establishment. This year, the three-course menu starts with Butternut squash velouté, sour cream and chive rye bread crouton. This is followed by Traditional Roast Turkey with garlic mash, sage and onion stuffing, green bean casserole and roasted pumpkin. For a sweet conclusion, the menu finishes with a Chocolate Pecan Pie with mocha ice cream . Price £70pp - available for lunch and dinner on Thursday 28th November   The Stafford, 16-18 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NJ , Book Now   CUT at 45 Park Lane Park Lane CUT is a luxury steakhouse that's every bit as upmarket as you'd expect from a Park Lane venue by Wolfgang Puck. It's famed for offering some of the finest cuts of beef in London (hence the name). But Exectuive Chef Elliott Grover won't just be turfing out steaks on Thanksgiving, giving guests the option of a traditional turkey, albeit a Norfolk Bronze variety brought down from East Anglia for the occasion. The three-course menu starts with a choice of starters including a Bigeye Tuna Tartare , Dorset Crab & Lobster ‘Louis’ Cocktail , Prime Beef Steak Tartare. This is followed by mains, with a choice of Norfolk Bronze Turkey with the traditional sides of cornbread stuffing, cranberry compote  and pigs in blanket , or a Grilled Cornish Dover Sole  or an Australian Wagyu Beef , served with classic Thanksgiving sides for the table, including sweet potatoes with torched marshmallows , Roasted brussels sprouts with bacon and chestnuts  and Green bean casserole topped with breadcrumbs . If you've any room left after all that, there's an array of American Pies including a Key Lime, Pumpkin  and Pecan . Price £195pp - available for lunch and dinner on Thursday 28th November. CUT at 45 Park Lane, London W1K 1PN, Book Now PROMENADE at Dorchester Park Lane Across the road from CUT, The Promenade at The Dorchester is offering an equally belly-busting menu, with four-courses and live entertainment inside one of London's poshest hotels.   The menu, designed by Culinary Director Martyn Nail , starts with a selection of canapés on arrival before a choice of starters, including a Crab cake with sea herbs , a Grilled shrimp salad , or a Guinea hen salad . An intermediate course follows with a choice of either Clam chowder or J erusalem artichoke velouté before mains including a Cambridge Bronze Turkey with all the trimmings, a Roasted seabass , a JD Bonded Bourbon braised ribs or a Butternut squash & smoked Applewood Wellington . The feast ends with a selection of desserts including a Caramel pie , a Pumpkin pie, or a Blueberry cheesecake . If you're up for spending a little extra for a Thanksgiving feast (it only happens once a year, after all), Park Lane is looking like a fine destination for all you Americans out there. Price £150pp / £75 per child (up to 12 years old) - available for lunch and dinner on Thursday 28th November. The Dorchester, 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA, Book Now NYnLON Blackfriars NYnLON wears its influences on its sleeve ( NY 'n' LONdon, geddit? ), so there's no surprise that it's catering to its American fanbase this Thanksgiving. Led by Head Chef Giuseppe Federico , the team has meticulously crafted a Thanksgiving Dinner Menu, exclusively available on the 28th and 29th of November. Keeping things traditional, guests can choose from a main of classic Turkey Crown , or Gruyere and Pumpkin Pie , alongside a selection of side dishes to share, including Truffle mac & cheese, Confit garlic and sweet potato mash, Root vegetables and Brussels sprouts with sage-infused brown butter and Charred tenderstem broccoli with chili and confit shallots . And it's not a proper Thanksgiving dinner without dessert, so throw a homemade Apple pie, served with warm custard and ice cream into the mix . Price £99 for two people, Book Now Available November 28th and 29th NYnLON, 19 New Bridge St, London EC4V 6DB THE K BAR Kensington OK, so Thanksgiving is usually about the food, but when your country is responsible for bringing Bourbon into this world, maybe it's time we ALL gave thanks to you. The K Bar in The Kensington Hotel is spending all of November celebrating Brown water and it'd be remiss of us not to let you know. Sink into a leather wingback chair and order one of three, limited edition Buffalo Trace cocktails, each priced at £17. Sipping on the good stuff in a leather chair, surrounded by wood panelling? Hell yeah, you just turned into Don Draper. 'Noyaux' is the perfect Autumn tipple, with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Chestnuts and Bitters. ' Louisville ' will transport you to the deep South with Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon, Bacon, Maple and Bitters and ' Fortunella' is made up of Sazerac Rye, Camparo, Mancino Chinato and Kumquat. K Bar and Townhouse, The Kensington Hotel, 109-113 Queen's Gate, London SW7 5LP , Book Now Bloomsbury Club Bar Bloomsbury Also heading down the booze-route is Bloomsbury Club Bar, which has teamed up with Dutch Barn Vodka - curiously, a British brand made with British Apples and owned by the very-much British Ricky Gervais. Still, he's had a Hollywood makeover of late, so we'll allow it. The cosy art deco bar in the bowels of The Bloomsbury Hotel has made a name for itself as a destination for music lovers and on Wedneday 27th November, they'll be handing over the stage to some good ol' American blues musicians to help you see in Thanksgiving in style. To lend an extra flavour of the Deep South, they'll also hand over a complimentary slice of apple pie with your vodka cocktails and when the clock strikes midnight it'll feel like you're kicking back in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Wednesday 27th November, Reserve your table now Bloomsbury Club Bar, The Bloomsbury Hotel, 16-22 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3NN THE FRIENDS™ EXPERIENCE: THE ONE IN LONDON Excel Centre Ah, Friends. That magical sitcom that made us all think we could get jobs as waitresses, chefs, musicians, actors, copywriters and paleontologists and afford a New York loft apartment with our friends. Such wonderful, naive times. Well, this winter The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in London will allow you a little glimpse into that world and with tickets available for just £20, even we can afford it on our pitiful, London wages. They're giving their New York-themed sets a festive twist, inviting fans to celebrate the festive season “Holiday Armadillo” style. Relive unforgettable holiday moments from the show, including Monica’s Christmas tree and Ross’s Holiday Armadillo costume. Additionally, visitors can indulge in a Thanksgiving and holiday-themed menu, which offers Thanksgiving and festive treats at FRIENDS™ Station, making it a perfect place to celebrate the festive season. Could that be any more American? Tickets £20, Buy Now The Friends Experience: The London One, Immerse LDN, ExCeL Waterfront, E16 1XL BODEAN'S Various Locations It wouldn't be an American roundup without the finest purveyors of Stateside grub, Bodean's BBQ. The smokehouse launched way back in 2002 when Andre Blais saw a big ol' hog-shaped gap in the market and started firing up his Kansas barbecue for the good people of London. Having grown from one location to numerous spots across the capital, it's now the go-to place for everything Americana, from late-night Superbowl parties to Thanksgiving celebrations. Their menu for this year depends on location, so pick your destination wisely and enter with an empty belly, because Bodean's doesn't do small portions. The Tower Hill and Soho locations will be offering a full-blown three courser (£45pp), kicking off with a choice between Ranch Salad, Sweet Potato Soup or Pistachio Salsa Mac ‘n’ Cheese Balls with Diablo Mayo. From there, you'll be deep into the meat, with a sharing platter consisting of Smoked Turkey Drumsticks, Glazed Ham, Smoked Turkey Breast, Creamed Mashed Potato, Corn Bread Stuffing with Bacon and Sage , plus Carrots and Parsnips roasted with honey & fresh thyme and Pan Fried Greens. Still got room for more? Yeah, course you have - you're American and you know how to do Thanksgiving! Have a Key Lime Pie or Pumpkin Pie and see it off with a Pickleback indluded in the price. Oh, and wanna know something totally unexpected? There's a whole vegan menu, too, though you'll have to chow down in the fumes of meat - there's no escaping that at Bodean's. The Camden and Covent Garden restaurants take a slightly different approach to Thanksgiving this year, offering a special Pilgrim Sandwich (£18.50), which promises "all the best bits of Thanksgiving in a bun." They're not wrong, either: Smoked turkey breast, crisp streaky bacon, cornbread stuffing, hash browns, cranberry sauce and gravy, all served with seasoned fries. There's also a pumpkin tartlet on offer, at £6. Choose wisely, friends, and give your thanks to our American brothers and sisters. Various Locations. Book Now Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

London’s Most Exciting Children's Party Venues and Experiences Your child is counting down the days, hours and milliseconds to mark the moment they hurtled into the world. However, you’re not sure you can face another, sweaty softplay party and aren’t in love with having your rugs marinated in birthday cake and jelly, Luckily, London has you covered with a gaggle of fun and imaginative parties to celebrate every flavour of child, from museum sleepovers, Shrek adventures, sushi and pancake parties, pampering, slime, bears, treetop adventures and football. So put down the limp balloon and read our guide to London's best kids' birthday parties. _________________________________ THE ULTIMATE BIRTHDAY SLEEPOVERS Natural History Museum Sleepover What kid doesn’t fancy a sleepover with a giraffe, or camped beneath a giant, blue whale? Children aged 7-11 can experience Dino Snores birthdays, exploring the Museum by torchlight; getting creative with a dinosaur t-shirt workshop and enjoying a science show until midnight, when it’s time for a special bedtime story and sleep, surrounded by its incredible creatures. The following morning after breakfast, they’ll have the museum to themselves for a fact-filled trail until it opens to the public at 10am.   Dino Snores, Natural History Museum,  Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD.  £80pp, including breakfast. Science Museum AstroNights Sleepover  Read our review Budding scientists (aged 7-11) can spend the night with chums at one of its galleries, exploring the museum out-of-hours. Inspired by its Turn it Up: The Power of Music exhibition, these evenings will include hands-on workshops, shows and activities that delve into music’s magic. The following morning after breakfast, the party can enjoy its hit Wonderlab and IMAX experiences before the museum opens to the public at 10am.  Science Museum,  Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2DD. Dates vary, £70pp standard, £100 VIP IMAGINATION SPARKING CELEBRATIONS Shrek’s Adventure Read our review Send your sprogs to the Land of Far, Far Away for an immersive adventure, meeting characters like Donkey, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots and the big green Ogre himself. Then make your friends green with envy, with a unique birthday party in Shrek's Swamp with a gaggle of Shrek-themed party games like pin the tail on Donkey, feed hungry Shrek and Connect 4 Gingys. The party package includes entry and full Shrek's Adventure tour, exclusive Shrek’s Swamp birthday room hire, dedicated host, Shrek party games and evites. Shrek’s Adventure , Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB.  £29.99 per child. Two adults go free. Additional adults £15 each. Discover Children’s Story Centre Read our review If you’ve ever wondered how it feels to climb inside a child’s imagination, Discover Children’s Story Centr e is it. The party package includes three hours, exploring Story World’s two floors filled with caves, fairy worlds, hidden ships and puppet castles, plus the Story Garden, where they can find Baba Yaga’s hut held up by chicken legs, climb Hootah’s castle and slide out of the Stratford Sputnik. It also includes entry to their immersive exhibition downstairs, plus a party lunch in Hootah’s room. Discover Children’s Story Centre,   383-387 High St, London E15 4QZ.  £345 for  10 Children and 11 Adults, including a visit to the exhibition and food in a room for 45 minutes. Packaway Parties For a cost-effective, stress-free and big impact party at home, we recommend Packaway Parties . They provide imaginative, themed parties, delivered straight to your door. The 14 themes include  Harry Potter, Lego, Roald Dahl, Pokemon and Encanto . The standard, £120 package includes decorations, games, costumes, props, prizes, certificates and a full party plan. Personalised invitations, eco-friendly party bags, tableware and themed sweet shops can also be added to your party package. And you can be smug about throwing a killer party, with zero stress, which is also better for the environment - each box contains high quality, reusable items with a plastic-free goodie bag.  Packaway Parties . From £120 for a standard party package.  Use code  PACKAWAY2024 and receive a free eco-friendly party bag for the birthday child. FOODIE PARTIES Kids ’N' Sushi Party Budding sushi masters are invited to celebrate their big day by learning how to make Kappa Hosomaki rolls (Cucumber), Pink Alaska Uramaki rolls (Salmon, avocado, cream cheese, and lumpfish roe) and Shake Nigiri (Salmon) during the 90-minute, hands-on class. As well as learning a new skill and creating sushi masterpieces, each guest receives soft drinks during the class and a goodie bag at the end with a certificate, bandana, rolling mat, chopsticks, chocolate fish and Japanese number and phrase sheet.  Sticks 'N' Sushi,  Multiple locations including 100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ. £40 pp. Biscuiteers Budding bakers and icers can head to the Little School of Biscuiteers to learn tips and tricks from the Grand Icing Hall while they decorate their own collection of biscuits. The experience includes biscuits and all the icing and decorations children will need to make a collection to take home in signature, hand-illustrated, Biscuiteers boxes. They'll have their own expert icer on hand to teach and guide, and each bijou biscuiteer will receive a Biscuiteers apron and certificate of 'Biscuiteers Icing Brilliance' to take away. There are a range of biscuit designs to suit any occasion, and they can make the day extra special with a bespoke cake.  While the iccle icers are busily biscuiting, parents can browse their Biscuit Boutique and receive 10% off shopping in store Biscuiteers , Notting Hill or Belgravia locations. £49 for one hour with 4 guests. Pizza Express Pizza Making Party Kids are encouraged to make a mess, tossing their very own dough before being let loose on the ingredients. Expect a lively combination of pizza making fun with games to keep everybody happy. Each two-hour party includes invitations, unlimited squash, pizza, games and plenty of time to enjoy their creations before devouring gelato. Pizza Express . Multiple locations. £14.95 per guest. Minimum number 8. Stack and Still Pancake Parties From just £13.95 per child, each guest gets a Double Stack to decorate however they like using three toppings from the kids' menu, plus unlimited drinks, Peel & Stick stickers, gold and blue party balloons and the birthday child receives a special birthday stack: a Double Buttermilk stack with Whipped Cream, Funfetti, Sauce and (of course) candles. Stack and Still. Multiple locations. £13.45 per child. PAMPERING PARTIES Lush Birthday Party Your dedicated Party Host will look after the kids, with the option of two different themes: Fun and Games or Treat Yourself.  Every party booking includes a selection of games, product making and activities tailored to the birthday girl or boy; a Lush making kit of their choice, and an exclusive party product for each of the guests. The guest of honour can also choose from three of the party exclusive products and receive them in a special Party Animal gift to take home. Lush . Multiple Locations. £25pp Snazzy Party Bus Snazzy Party Buses rock up to your chosen location and offer a gaggle of themes, from Spa Parties - including a makeover and pedicure area - to crafty and disco bashes, with options including UV Painting, Slime Making, Loom band parties and Teddy bear building parties plus karaoke, Just Dance and a light up floor area. Snazzy Party Bus. From £299 for 7 guests. Sweet Spa Party See our review This Bexleyheath spa includes a gaggle of impossibly cute kids’ party options, where they are welcomed with pink lemonade in champagne flutes and can enjoy activities like face mask making, jewellery crafting, foot spas in unicorn bubbles, 100 varnish choices, glitter, gems, eye make up, hand massage, file and polish.  Guests wear matching dressing gowns, fluffy headbands and flip flops - with flower crown for the birthday girl - plus personalised welcome sign. Afternoon tea can also be included. Sweet Spa Party, 44 Pickford Ln, Bexleyheath DA7 4QT. From £200 for four children. CREATIVE PARTIES Gootopia Slime Celebrations Give kids the slime of their lives with a slime-making party at Gootopia venues in Brixton, Lewisham, and Wandsworth. Children will enjoy a slime show, make a giant, stretchy slime, plus two tubs of individual slime to take home, with options of glow in the dark goo, a variety of colours and scents. There is also a party room for food and cake, plus optional goodie bags. Gootopia . Lewisham, Brixton and Wandsworth locations. From £299 for up to 15 children. 1 hour 30.  Build-a-Bear Parties Providing the ultimate party gifts, these popular parties allow guests to create their own furry friends to take home. The party chiefs take the stress out of celebrations, by leading the games with packages that fit your budget, with a toy making workshop to make cuddly friends they can keep, a special heart ceremony, games, bear ear party hats and photo prop opps. The guest of honour also recieved a plush, light-up cupcake gift and t-shirt. Build-a-Bear. Multiple locations. From £17 per child. Kids Art! Parties For crafty kids, these guys bring the creativity to your home, a venue of your choice or a KidsArt ! studio. They provide all art materials and can theme the party to your choice. All guests create one artwork with tuition  Kids Art! Party. Multiple locations. £20 per child, plus studio hire (£30 per hour for Finchley studio; other studios, priced on request).  Extra £5 per child if children work with clay or extra £10 per child if children work on canvas.  Minimum 8 children. ACTIVE PARTIES Go Ape Parties Treat your cheeky monkeys to a Go Ape party for treetop adventures at one of their  36 UK locations across the UK, soaring across zip wires, crossings and wobbly bridges.  Tackle tree to tree crossings on two to three different loops with a zip wire to bring you back down onto the forest floor at the end of each loop. You can make the day even more special by hiring a forest shelter or private party room. Go Ape, Multiple locations From £20 pp. 1 adult to 2 children under six or 8 children over six Chelsea Football Party Soccer sprogs can be man of the birthday match with a private stadium tour; five-a-side football, and a Chelsea gift and certificate for each child. Chelsea Football Club , Stamford Bridge, Fulham Rd., London SW6 1HS.  £25 per child. Get the Kids Climbing the Walls Get the kids climbing the walls for their birthday at London’s Parthian Climbing centre in Wandsworth. The 25,000 square foot beast is the first indoor climbing facility in the UK to feature an exact replica of  The Titan  Olympic bouldering wall, which will be used at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. They offer a range of kids’ sessions and courses for ages 3 and up. There are instructors for little ones taking on their first climbing experience, as well as the National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS) for a progressive syllabus. They also host kids’ parties, for 1.5 hours of climbing activities and games. Parthian Climbing Centre , 52 - 58 Garratt Ln, Wandsworth, London SW18 4TF Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter

There's a lot more to the Happiest Place on Earth than meets the eye! A visit to Orlando's Walt Disney World is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the memories will last forever. But for all the incredible things you'll see at the world's most visited holiday resort, there's plenty you'll miss. Some of it is even designed specifically so you'll miss it. Clever, huh? Check out these incredible facts about The Most Magical Place on Earth and if you can make it to the end without formulating a plan to go there right now , you're stronger than us. _____________________ Every American flag you see at Walt Disney World is a FAKE Considering how much the Americans worship their flag, it's incredible to learn that every flag you see at Disney World has been purposefully designed with a mistake. That's right, they're all missing a stripe, or a star, and technically aren't flags at all - they're pennants . And the reason for this is because of America's strict flag etiquette. There are national flag codes that are strictly adhered to throughout the 52 states, such as flying at half mast during a time of national mourning. But Walt Disney World is a magical place where outside issues are left at the door, and the last thing guests want is to be reminded of a national tragedy, and as these aren't American flags, they're allowed to be flown at full mast every day of the year, no matter what's happening in the real world. Disney has a colour called Go Away Green - and it's specifically designed to make things disappear Wherever you go in Walt Disney World, there's plenty to see, from incredible set designs to rides, characters, shops and restaurants. But there's plenty they don't want you to see, too, like doors for cast members, utility boxes and construction projects. Y'know, all that boring stuff that doesn't happen in the most Magical Place on Earth. So, they paint it Go Away Green , which is a colour that tricks your eyes into thinking it's not there. It would take 81 years to stay in every single room at the Walt Disney World resorts There are plenty of Walt Disney World super fans who return year after year to experience the magic of Walt Disney World, but it's unlikely anyone will tick off every room in Disney's various resorts and hotels. There are 36,000 in total, which means you'd have to spend 81 years at Disney, staying in a different room every night to pull off the feat. Walt Disney World was originally intended to include a city with 20,000 inhabitants Yep, that's right. Living at Disney World might not have been a pipe dream, after all. EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow and was dreamt up by Walt Disney as a showcase for a new way of living. He intended to open the city as a liveable vision of the future, and invite families to come and live there. Unfortunately when Walt passed away, the idea was deemed to be too ambitious, but Imagineers paid homage to his vision by incorporating the futuristic architecture and technology into what is now the EPCOT section of the park. There's a whole world beneath your feet When Mickey, Donald or any other cast members need a break, they can't just stroll through the park for a sandwich and a cup of coffee. That's why there's a huge network of underground tunnels that allow them to move around 'behind the scenes.' The tunnels are colour coded so cast members know where they are, and there's a fleet of golf buggies to help them navigate the huge park. These tunnels are known as Utilidors and they're also big enough for an Ambulance to drive through in case of an emergency. There are other tunnels, too - a hugely impressive system called an Automated Vacuum Collection (AVAC) collects all of the rubbish from the park and whooshes it along at 60mph to a processing plant, where it is crushed and sent to landfill or a recycling centre. You're never more than 30ft from a rubbish bin Ever noticed all that rubbish overflowing around the park? No! Of course you haven't, and that's because there are bins every 30 feet throughout Disney World. Additionally, certain products such as chewing gum aren't sold anywhere on Disney property - just one of the ways they keep the whole resort looking perfect despite the millions of visitors it attracts every year. In fact, Disney makes a habit of tricking your eyes Go Away Green isn't the only technique Disney employ to trick your eyes - they've plenty more visual magic on show all over the resort. One of the most impressive illusions is called Forced Perspective . Take Main Street USA, for example, where the buildings are nowhere near as tall as you might think. The windows on the upper floors are progressively smaller than the windows on the lower floors, which tricks the eye into thinking they're further away than they are. The same technique is used on Cinderella's Castle, where windows, bricks and shingle get smaller towards the top of the building. And the reverse is also true - there are buildings such as the American Adventure in EPCOT, which needs to be tall enough to house the theatre inside. But buildings from that era were never higher than two stories, so the windows on the top floors are bigger than those on the lower floor, making it look smaller to the naked eye. Disney created a world that caters for ALL of your senses Disney knew that in order to truly transport us into another world, he'd have to bombard every one of our senses. That's why he introduced ' Smellitzers ', which are spread throughout the park and emit aromas to trick your brain with their smell. They're not just air-fresheners, though - that would be much too simple. The Imagineers were concerned that pumping out smells would lead to them getting lost in the air, or mixing with other aromas and becoming contaminated. Smellitzers propel the scent towards guests and then, just when they've had a whiff, suck the air back in using a powerful exhaust. Disney tested over 3,000 scents before choosing the ones that are used throughout the park and they're often used when you least expect it, just to create a nostalgic feeling. Is that popcorn you can smell, or is Disney playing tricks on you? The technology behind Smellitzers is a Disney secret, but he was a true pioneer. Back when Walt Disney World opened, smell technology was a new thing, but nowadays it's widespread - in fact, when you walk around a shopping centre, many of those smells such as fresh leather in a shoe shop, or baked bread in a sandwich shop, are being pumped through the air vents. Mickey Mouse has around 136 outfits - which is more than Minnie Mouse When you're expected to look your best every day, it's important to have a large wardrobe. But for Mickey Mouse it's not just about having a change of clothes in case of a spillage - he needs a different outfit for every zone he enters. It's no secret that Disney pays close attention to the little details, and it simply wouldn't do to have scuba diving Mickey strolling through Frontierland. That's why he has so many outfits, and if you read on you'll find out the lengths Disney go to, just to make sure you're never jolted from the magic by seeing the 'wrong Mickey.' Disney World includes 4,000 acres of 'empty' land Rumour has it that Walt Disney was riding a rollercoaster at Disney Land in California and as he reached the top of a big dipper, he spotted the lights of a 7Eleven on the distant horizon. This was an abomination for a man who had built a park where the outside world could be forgotten. So, when plans were being drawn up for Disney World, an extra 4,000 acres were bought and now serve as eco habitats for wildlife. The result is that it there is no point in the park where it's possible to see outside of Disney World. You won't find a structure higher than 199 feet tall inside the park Why not? Well, it's all linked to the USA's aviation rules, which state tat buildings 200 feet or taller must have flashing lights atop them to warn planes of their presence. Walt Disney felt that flashing lights would be a distraction from the magical world he was creating, so he ordered that no structure be made higher than 199 feet. Cinderella's Castle is more like a fortress It might look quaint and delicate with all its intricate towers, but don't let that deceive you. Walt Disney World's incredible centre-piece is built to withstand 125mph winds - handy when you consider that Florida's weather can be a bit temperamental. That's not the only clever trick designed to beat the local climate - there are lightning rods hidden all over the park to keep guests safe in a storm. One of these is as soon as you enter the Hollywood Studios section of the park, where you're met with a huge 'statue' of Mickey Mouse called 'Crossroads of the World'. Well, Mickey's right ear is made out of copper, so he'll heroically take the full brunt of a lightning strike. What a hero! The Tower of Terror is 'Morocco Red' for a reason Ever notice that the Tower of Terror, which sits in Hollywood Studios, is a similar colour to the Morocco pavilion in EPCOT? It's just another example of Disney's incredible attention to detail. The tower is exactly that - a large tower - and that meant it was visible when you look across the Moroccan area. It would look out of place if a large, concrete slab was visible behind the low rise buildings of ancient Morocco, so the Imagineers painted the tower red, and it fits perfectly with the skyline visible from EPCOT. Walt Disney World has more employees than every other Disney resort combined More than 75,000 people are required to make Disney World such a magical place - that's 5,000 more than the total number of employees at Disneyland Resort in California, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghain Disney Resort. For comparison, that's roughly the same as the population of Inverness. It would take you 52 years to do one day of Disney World's laundry It's no surprise that 75,000 people produce a lot of laundry, but when you consider that many cast members have various costumes and all need to be in perfect condition, that's a lot of washing. Every single day, around 285,000lbs of clothing is sent to the Disney World Laundry. If you were to try and tackle that using a regular, household washing machine, it'd take around 52 years to get through it all. The park attracts over 58 million visitors a year That's a lot of people. In fact, Walt Disney World's annual visitor count is roughly the same as the population of Italy, and Magic Kingdom accounted for around 12 million of those visitors in 2021. That makes it the most popular holiday resort on the planet and Magic Kingdom the most visited amusement park by some distance. On average, 210 pairs of sunglasses are lost every day in the park Keep hold of your belongings, folks! Walt Disney World could open a shop to rival Sunglasses Hut with all the lost items handed in every day. At a rate of 210 pairs a day, they could have collected up to 1.7 million pairs of sunglasses since they opened in 1971, and that's not the only thing being handed in to lost property. Thousands of cameras, phones and hats are also dropped by visitors. Just think of all those once-in-a-lifetime photographs that'll never find their way back to their owners. Walt Disney World is officially a city You might be forgiven for thinking that Walt Disney World was in the city of Orlando, but it's actually a fully incorporated city of its own. It's part of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special taxing district which has its own authority that has the powers and responsibility of a county government. There are two cities within the district - Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista - all of which is owned by Disney. As such, you'll see fire, police, traffic cops and the like all with badges featuring Mickey Mouse. They're not just costumes - they're genuine departments who work for the local authority, Disney! The district does have a few full-time residents, all of whom are Disney employees. Perhaps it's not surprising when you consider that the resort spans 27,000 acres, which is the same as TWO Manhattan islands. The Beatles officially split up at Disney World It's remarkable that such a happy place could be the site of an event that sent shockwaves around the world, but it's true - John Lennon was enjoying a stay at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort when he signed the documents that would seal the dissolution of the world's most famous band. Former Presidents of the USA donate their outfits to Disney World The Hall of Presidents features animatronics of every former leader of the USA, and meticulous attention has been paid to the little details in their costumes. Older Presidents wear suits that have been made using only materials and sewing techniques that were available at the time of their stint in power. But since Walt Disney World opened in the 70s, Presidents have donated their own suits for their models to wear, so you're looking at the real deal. Walt Disney never got to visit his greatest creation Despite being heavily involved in the creation of Walt Disney World, Walt Disney never got to see his vision come to life. Sadly, he died five years before it opened its doors and his brother, Roy O. Disney, oversaw the completion of the project. It was Roy who decided to call the park Walt Disney World as a tribute to his brother. Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Insta?

Stretch your money that little bit further with some wallet-saving Black Friday deals your kids will love Black Friday, eh? What a weird concept. Everybody decides to make stuff cheaper, just because it's a Friday. But in the midst of a cost of living crisis, we're not about to turn our noses up at a bargain, so why not check out the best Black Friday deals for families? Your kids (and your wallet) will thank us for it... ALTON TOWERS Kids Stay and Swim Free There's more to Alton Towers than The Smiler and Nemesis Reborn (though those two are worth the trip on their own). Yep, it's also got a pretty solid offering for younger kids, including CBeebies Land where youngsters can meet Postman Pat and shoot for the stars with the Octonauts, and a waterpark featuring lazy rivers, flume rides and even the Master Blaster watercoaster. If the waterpark tickles your fancy, Black Friday has come at the right time - book a stay at the Alton Towers Resort and not only do the kids go free, they'll also get free entry to all the aquatic excitement they can handle, plus nine holes on the Extraordinary Golf Course (that's crazy golf to you and me). You want MORE? Fine, they'll also chuck in free parking and a buffet breakfast. Deal ends December 2nd. Get it now CHESSINGTON WORLD OF ADVENTURES 20% off 2025 breaks Time Well Spent devotees will know that we love Chessington's crazy mix of wild rides and wild life - the resort is home to over 1,000 animals including lions, penguins, Western Lowland Gorillas and Rothschild's Giraffes, while also offering up animal-themed rides including Mandrill Mayhem (the world's only Jumanji rollercoaster), Mamba Strike and Croc Drop. The rooms are pretty awesome, too, with crazy themed rooms including Gruffalo Room, Oreo Room, Capri-Sun Room and the Jumanji Room. Why? Cos kids love it, that's why! And you'll love it, too, but you probably won't admit it. If you're thinking of heading to Chessington World of Adventures in the Spring, you'd better get your skates on and nab this 20% off deal before it runs out. It does what it says on the tin - all the same stuff, but 20% cheaper than normal if you visit between March 22 and May 23. Deal ends December 2nd, Get it now THORPE PARK Free Fastrack passes What do we love? ROLLERCOASTERS! What do we hate? QUEUING FOR ROLLERCOASTERS! Let's be honest, nothing kills the excitement of riding Collosus than spending two hours watching everyone else riding Collosus. Thorpe Park boasts some of the finest 'coasters in the UK, from the leg-dangling terror of Nemesis Inferno to the UK's only horror themed rollercoaster, SAW, which drops its riders at a beyond vertical angle, which seems a little excessive if we're being completely honest. Nevertheless, whether you're hoping to watch your toes flapping about over the heads of fellow park goers or begging for mercy as Collosus reaches its peak, you can do it without queuing if you grab a free fastrack pass this Black Friday. Book an overnight stay in the Shark Cabins and you'll get two full days in the park, a whole day of fastrack entry, free parking, a buffet breakfast and 10% off snacks and merch in the resort shops. Oh, and you'll get an hour of fastrack on day two, so you can revisit the scene of your scariest moments. Deal ends December 2nd. Get it now LEGOLAND WINDSOR Get a second day free You'd have to be a total blockhead to pay full whack for a visit to Legoland in Windsor, when you could bag TWO days in the park for the same price. You'll stay in one of the resort's themed bedrooms - choose between the Woodland Village, Castle Hotel and pirate-themed Resort Hotel, each with separate kids' sleeping areas - and spend your days riding The Dragon or shooting around the Minifigure Speedway. Your room will include a free treasure hunt and special, LEGO gift for kids, plus you'll enjoy a free hot breakfast before getting early access to the park before the great unwashed are allowed to join you, VIP access for two days! Deal ends December 2nd, Get it now WARWICK CASTLE 20% off short breaks Have you ever met a kid who doesn't want to live in a castle? They don't exist! And while we can't promise you can move in for good, you can give your little ones a taster with an overnight stay at this pad that dates back to 1068. You'll stay in a room fit for a King, naturally, and there'll be themed evening entertainment to match. Spend the day exploring the activities in the castle grounds, which include Zog meet and greets, a Zog children's playground, birds of prey displays and even a chilling tour of the castle dungeons, before retiring to your quarters for a good night's sleep. Of course, there'll be a cooked breakfast waiting for you when you wake and you'll get free parking and WiFi throughout - something even King Henry II couldn't boast. Deal ends December 2nd, Get it now Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?