We pre-booked Virgin Train tickets so they were quite cheap and meant that we had guaranteed seats which was brill as the train was bloody rammed both ways! Alas under 5's don't get a seat as you don't pay but we managed quite easily to get my girl a chair. Mother was a genius and suggested using Oyster cards so we didn't have to queue in that MASSIVE tube ticket line at Euston which I always feel stressful about as I always do it wrong and people tut and then I scowl.
We only had a few hours to kill before the event so we headed to Leicester Square where we went to the m&m shop which is such an odd place. I've been to the one in Vegas as well. It's like weird. It's like having a whole shop devoted to, I dunno, wotsits? Odd. And this is where I got fleeced for gulp, gasp, vom £17.99 FOR A BAG OF SWEETS!!! (see below bottom right hand picture). I am a fool.
Next we had lunch in Muriel's Kitchen, which I thought was just lovely! It was like my dream shabby chic home but in a restaurant, in the middle of London! It was quaint, and cute and sold really nice food. Also kids eat for free so obvs that made me, the tightest lady in the world (don't mention the £17.99 bag of sweets please sob), really happy. I would recommend to go and eat there, it wasn't really busy and the staff were lovely to my girl. It was aces. Food was great and so was my yummy juice.
Next we popped back on the tube and went to Maggie and Rose, which is where the Voucher Code event was being held. After a small confusion at the station, then a bit of a gossip incident where we got lost whilst talking, my lovely bloggy chum Potty Mouthed Mummy, we managed to get to where we were meant to be. My girl then had the most joyous few hours making biscuits, painting, eating, having balloons made and generally having her dream afternoon out!
Whilst our little ones were doing this, the parents got together and talked about how we plan to make our finances stretch over the summer. Our worries about them and if we were going to struggle trying to keep out little families entertained (my answer is hell to the yes!). They then came up with some good ways to keep the kiddies occupied for under £20. Go and check out the Voucher Codes site for ways to get some nice discounts.
Overall I really enjoyed taking my toddler to London. It was fun and not to stressful. She was beautifully behaved and the only mildly scary bit was trying to get her on those bloody tube escalators! They were a proper nightmare. But all in all a great day, spent with some great family and friends. Let's just not mention the over priced sweets.
Sounds like a good day out. As for the M&Ms, not sure it will make you feel better I once bought my daughter a £10 frozen yoghurt because I didn't understand it was based on weight not tub size. She ate one mouthful and announced it was icky. I cried silently. Emma
ReplyDeleteThis was the ish here bab. I didn't understand the weighing system! I must admit though. The hub appears to have eaten £15 worth! xxx
DeleteSounds like a lovely day out in London...promise I won't mention the sweets :-0
ReplyDeletewww.lauraevelynbee.co.uk
NEVER MENTION THOSE SWEETS! xxx
DeleteI was invited to this but was working that day :( EVERYONE seems to have gone!! So sad I missed meeting you. AND yes, you were robbed! £18?!?!?!??! Better be gold plated sweets for that! x PS, I love that you were going to something talking about how to entertain your children for as little as possible and yet you spent nearly £20 on sweets on the way! HAHAHAHAHA! x
ReplyDeleteAh shame you didn't come. I was so crap on the day and totally didn't recognise everyone. Boo to me! I stuck with Sian of Potty Mouthed Mummy. I am now off how to plan a day out with my remaining £2.01 xxx
DeleteOh Emma how the hell were they so expensive?!?! :(
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a fab day though and it all went smoothly with travel etc. pretty sure I've been to Muriel's before too x
Bab. There was some weird system that I clearly did not grasp the concept of. Also got a bit caught up in the mad tourists buying a million m&m things! xxx
DeleteSounds like you both had a fab day lovely. I look forward to seeing what the Voucher Codes people come up with :-) £18 for a bag of sweets? Noooooooooo!!!! #whatsthestory
ReplyDeleteI know! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! :( xxx
DeleteOMG.. how much on a bag of sweets???? Looks like a lovely day out in London. My trip with my girls was very stressful as S didn't want to walk, and J needed the loo... not many public loo's around, and I don't know it well... shall be waiting a few more years to return.
ReplyDelete#MagicMoments
Oh no! The doom of non walking children is always horrif isn't it? I was lucky I only had the one with me and I also had my Mum most of the time. Thank the Lord xxx
DeleteMuriel's Kitchen looks absolutely fabulous! So jealous of all these bloggy meet-ups this week - I missed them all, with just too much going on at the moment :( I cannot believe that your little lady managed to convince you that £17.99 for a bag of sweets was a good buy ha ha! x
ReplyDeleteIt was such a nice place. I love shabby chic tat as my hub calls it. Pop a bit of bunting on a turd? And I would love it me! xxx
Deletewhat a super trip out!! .. pre booking is so the way to go! ;-) .. i think we will both be hitting the big smoke now we had successful trips!
ReplyDeletethanks for linking up with with #MagicMoments
YAY LONDON BABY!!! xxx
DeleteSounds like such a nice trip to London! £18 for a bag of M&Ms is extortion, but she looks really happy with herself there! Where is Muriel's kitchen? I have never heard of that place and it seems like my kind of place to eat (free for the kids... yay, I have 4 kids!). #MagicMoments
ReplyDeleteThere are a few? This one was in Leicester Sq? You may have to have an adult per child but it was really lovely! xxx
DeleteI really want to take Z again now he's much older and will remember some of it. Love your video and your little girl is so cute.
ReplyDeleteShe's a cutty but also a bit batty ;) xxx
DeleteThat M&M shop is a bit odd - the tourists love it. Best bit about it is the loo that none seems to know about on the bottom floor. Free and not usually busy!
ReplyDeleteWe never made it to the bottom. I had to bloody escape! It was so odd! xxx
DeleteBeen following this activity in instagram and my son really loves those M&Ms! Are those m&ms's where they will put your photos on the candy? #countrykids
ReplyDeleteYeah you can have things put on m&ms but if the normal ones are £17.99? God knows how much they would be!!! xxx
DeleteLooks like you had a really fun day out in the big smoke. I'd love to take the kids to London.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great day thanks lovely xxx
DeleteI think i'd be nervous too, I don't really do the train or London let alone with a child in tow. Looks like a great event though and I love M&Ms but maybe not for that much :) #magicmoments
ReplyDeleteNo one loves m&ms that much!!! It wasn't too bad but I so won't be going on a Sat again. Far too busy xxx
DeleteWhat a fab day out in London. It all sounds like a great adventure with lots of fun and time with family. I hope the M&M's were gold plated for that price!! Thanks for linking up and sharing with Country Kids.
ReplyDeleteShe didn't even get one bloomin nut one Grrrrrr xxx
DeleteAhhh what a great day out in London,. Sounds like you had a grand adventure together making memories. Great video. #magicmoments
ReplyDeleteThanks lovely! xxx
DeleteMy husband loves m&ms, don't think I'll be letting him in the shop though, £17.99!!!!!!!!! #LetKidsBeKids
ReplyDeleteAVOID AT ALL COSTS! xxx
DeleteLooks like you had a fab day in London town. It's not as stressful as you think it might be, like you mentioned, the hardest bit is navigating the escalators on the tube. But I find people can be helpful, us Londoners are not as bad as some people make out! :) #letkidsbekids
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good fun day out in London. I think it is stressful taking children into London, I'm going to rope my parents into helping us do that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
I'd love to take my daughters to London (I was born there!) but I must admit at 2 and 4 and their energetic personalities I'd find it way too stressful. Looks like you had a great day though! :) #LetKidsBeKids
ReplyDeleteI almost cried for you at that price. Glad you had a great day and those m&m people look weird and yes very odd to have a shop devoted to m&m's. #letkidsbekids
ReplyDeleteThat M&M shop is my nemesis. I made the mistake of taking the kids there once. I hated it, they loved it and keep on asking to go back, er no! I think I got away with a £5 bag of sweets but you can't stop thinking how much cheaper a few bags from Tesco would be! #letkidsbekids
ReplyDeleteAwww only just seen this! Was a lovely afternoon missy , still can't get over the m&ms!!!! xx
ReplyDeleteOh my word I can't believe how expensive those sweets were! Sounds like a great place though and you all seemed to have an awesome day together. Great post Mrs, thanks for sharing with #whatsthestory
ReplyDelete