We are meeting my mum for a day out. The M4/M25 junction is about halfway between where we each live so anywhere nearish there would be ideal. I was thinking legoland but am worried that it will be grim if the weather is nasty. Any ideas? The dss are 1.5 and 3.5.

ta

Lookout Discovery Centre - Science Centre which your 3.5 year old may like. There are also forest walks, plus playground.

When are you going? Legoland is now closed until March 2009.

Hi Nannynick
thanks for telling me about Legoland - I like to think I would have checked first before going, but on the other hand...

The Science Centre looks fab. It's slightly further for us than I'd hoped, but sounds like it may be worth the trip.

Any other suggestions?

I find Winter really hard for finding places to go. Especially indoor places.

If it's good weather, then there is Windsor Great Park and Savill Gardens (Free entry during December). There is a playarea less than a 2 minute walk from the Savill Gardens building.

Anyone know of any good indoor places to go in the area?

I'm wracking my brains for somewhere that isn't soft play (although if you do want a decent small softplay, Playtime in Shepperton is not too far away). Windsor itself is nice to wander around. Maybe go on the Big Wheel and there's a little kiddies funfair in the park nearby. Feed the ducks, have a look at the castle. Windsor Leisure Centre has a good kiddies pool.

Is Playtime still open? I ask because I saw an advert in Family Grapevine which looked as though it is now a nursery. Have you been recently... is softplay still open to the public, or is it all nursrey now?

Oh, I didn't know that. Last time I was there would've been June/July time. That's a shame, it was about the only decent place around here

I second the LookOut, my 2.7 year old has a great time there playing in the woods and making dens. I haven't been in the Dicovery Centre yet though. It only takes possibly 15 mins from Windsor.

Playtime website seems to imply it is still operating, so guess I (and my boss) must have just got the wrong impression from their advert. Will have to investigate - no opening hours or price details on their website. Will try to visit this week and report back.

website is very confusing isn't it - maybe ring before going? My DC are all in full-time school now, so I have no reason to go now.

The obvious place to go is Windsor Castle!

I am ashamed of myself of never having been properly despite living nearby (I have been to my Godson's confirmation in St George's Castle, and also to visit a friend who lives in the castle).

If you plan to spend the day in Windsor, you can do the Castle, lunch, and shopping/walking around. There is also the Wheel, which will turn into an icerink at some point.

You could also do a boat trip on the river.

The website suggests that the big wheel is closed in the winter. Is this right?

nannynick - where is the play area at Savill Garden? I go all the time (my parents are members) and have never seen it

Sorry for the hijack OP. River trip might be good. Or there is a great animal park (Beale Park) near Reading but that's probably a bit far as it's beyond the Lookout

Monkeymates is a soft play place which has a couple of branches I think.

It's really hard in Winter isn't it? We go to Dinton Pastures a fair bit which is nice

Facing the entrance to Savill Gardens building, turn Left, walking towards Obelisk Lawn. Continue down the path about 200 yards, following it on a long left bend. Playground is located on the Left. It was officially opened 10-July-08. More info, with picture.

Wow - that's brilliant - thanks! I think now my mum and dad have membership, they don't tend to go into the park itself much as I'm sure they would have noticed it.

Hope you find a lovely day out OP

Muddleduck, they take the wheel down and make an ice-rink on the area.

The wheel was not there today! Well it was, but in pieces on some very large trailers. No news about an ice-rink yet though.

update - re Playtime, Shepperton. Went this afternoon and found that it is all now Nursery, no Activity Cafe.

Hi.
Just wanted to say thanks to all.
In the end we decided to split the journey times a bit differently and go somewhere a bit closer to our home. We went to willows farm village (near M25/A1M junction) which was good fun. Lots to do, but you pay for what you get!