We all have fond memories of classic children’s characters, such as Paddington Bear, Mrs Tiggywinkle, Mr Toad and the loveable Winnie the Pooh. With the school summer holidays in full swing, why not take the family along to recapture some of the magic from your childhood?
Take a walk in the Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown Forest or there’s always the famous Hill Top House in Cumbria where Beatrix Potter wrote her well-known stories, or why not try to discover Toad Hall in the picturesque settings of Cornwall.
HouseTrip have put together a childhood adventure pack to keep you and the kids entertained this summer. It’s time to bring out your inner child!
Winnie-the-Pooh
Location
Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown Forest, East Sussex
Adventure
A. A. Milne wrote Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926 and The House at Pooh Corner followed in 1928. The famous books are about Christopher Robin and his animal friends, and their many adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood.
Milne's country home at Cotchford Farm, Hartfield, was situated just north of the real-life Five Hundred Acre Wood in Ashdown Forest. It’s the perfect setting to visit with all the family, so why not explore the public footpaths and see if you can spot Owl's house along the way. However, be sure to watch out for those bouncing Tiggers and pesky Heffalumps and don’t forget if you cross a bridge, you’ll have to challenge them to a game of Pooh Sticks!
On that note, why not join the annual World Pooh Sticks’ Championships situated on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, between the villages Little Wittenham and Dorchester-on-Thames. The event has been voted Britain's Favourite Quirky Event by the readers of Countryfile Magazine.
Sleep tight
The Stables - from £155 per night (Sleeps 6)
Burwash Cottage - from £370 per night (Sleeps 12)
World Pooh Sticks Championships - Asthall Manor Apartment- from £99 per night (Sleeps 4)
Paddington Bear
Location
Dorset Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester, Dorset
Teddy Bear Museum at the Polka Theatre, Wimbledon, London
Adventure
Paddington Bear first appeared on the 13th October 1958 and has been featured in more than twenty books written by Michael Bond. He is a polite bear from darkest Peru, with a love for marmalade and is known for his signature old hat, battered suitcase and blue duffle coat.
He was discovered in Paddington Station, London by the Brown family and subsequently adopted by them. Paddington can today be found at the Teddy Bear Museum at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon or the Dorset Teddy Bear Museum, so pack enough marmalade sandwiches for the family and take a trip to meet your favourite bear!
With the new film set to hit our screens soon, it’s the perfect time to acquaint your young one with the famous line: “Please look after this bear. Thank you.”
Sleep Tight
Cogden Cottages, Bridport - from £73 per night (Sleeps 5)
2 Bedroom Notting Hill/ Paddington - from £263 per night (Sleeps 4)
Wind in the Willows
Location
The Village of Lerryn, Cornwall
Adventure
Lerryn is a village in Cornwall, were Wind in the Willows is said to be based, the children’s classic was written by Kenneth Grahame, and first published in 1908. The book focuses on the four characters: Mr Toad of Toad Hall, Ratty, Mole and Badger.
Kenneth Grahame loved Cornwall, and it is said that he wrote letters to his son whilst staying there, which later became to book Wind in the Willows. The charter of Mr Toad is said to personify his son, with his wayward headstrong nature and swagger. Why not take your little rascals to see the reproductions of letters Grahame wrote and to explore the wonders of Cornwall, immersing them into the characters’ world.
Sleep Tight
Robins Hill - from £63 per night (Sleeps 6)
Roundhouse - from £103 per night (Sleeps 9)
Beatrix Potter Tales
Location
Hill Top Farmhouse House, Cumbria
Adventure
Beatrix Potter bought the lovely Hill Top Farmhouse in 1905 with the proceeds from her first book, the Tale of Peter Rabbit. She used Hill Top itself, and the surrounding countryside, as inspiration for many of her books that followed. The 17th-century farmhouse is now protected by the National Trust, after Beatrix Potter bequeathed the house and her surrounding land to the Trust upon her death.
Hill Top is just as Beatrix would have left it and every room contains a reference to the pictures in her tales. The charming cottage garden is a jumble of mixed flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables, so watch out for those naughty little rabbits! The site has a charming gift shop where you can find your favourite characters such as Mrs Tiggywinkle, Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck. If you fancy a bite to eat, and someone’s already got to the vegetable garden, why not try out the surrounding tea room or the Tower Bank Arms for a spot of lunch.
Sleep Tight
Bakers Rest - from £95 per night (Sleeps 8)
Loughrigg View - from £63 per night (Sleeps 4)
Harry Potter
Location
Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross station, London
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter, Watford, London
Adventures
We know that adults and children alike can’t get enough of Harry Potter and his magic adventures, so why not take a visit to Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross station in London and imagine catching the Hogwarts Express train. If you find you’ve got time to kill before the train departs, why not stock up on some last minute wizarding gear at Harry Potter shop at Platform 9 ¾.
Alternatively, if you are looking for a deeper immersion in the magical world of Hogwarts, the award winning Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter* is the perfect day out. Have a feast in Great Hall, explore the wonders of Professor Dumbledore's Office, or do some window shopping in Diagon Alley, and if it all gets too much why not stop for a glass of butter beer and recharge your wand!
*This summer they will be screening the Harry potter movies on Mondays & Tuesdays until August 26th.
Sleep Tight
Kings Cross: Medburn Street - from £177 per night (Sleeps 8)
Watford: Spacious Luxury Apartment - from £133 per night (Sleeps 6)
To book an apartments, visit: http://www.housetrip.com/