![[AD - Press visit]
We enjoyed the glorious sunshine this weekend with a trip to Brighton. We went on the @brightoni360official which is right by the sea front.
The i360 pod take a slow journey up, allowing you to take in views across Brighton and the South Downs 450ft above ground. There’s a bar inside with drinks and snacks available to purchase and the experience lasts 25 minutes.
Afterwards, we headed to the open air roller rink for a roller skating session!
The roller rink is:
⭐ Suitable for over 5s
⭐ £6.50 if you have your own skates or £9.50 if you need to hire them
⭐ 45 minutes per session
Full details to visit the i360 + skating
📍 Brighton i360, Lower Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2LN
🚗 Parking nearby (we parked in the Regency Square Car park)
🎟️ Prices start from £25.40 for an adult and £16.90 for a child
🕐 Opening hours are currently Sun-Fri 10.30am-18.30pm and until 19.30pm on Saturdays
☕️ Bar inside the i360, cafe and gift shop
Book tickets here:
https://tickets.brightoni360.co.uk/tickets/?_ga=2.195305772.1869001490.1689671753-1757164059.1689671753/#events?eventid=157](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/417980235_313576471048632_3682382982231216432_n.jpg)
![[AD] ***Summer of fun at Barracudas Activity Camps!****
There is plenty for kids to do at @barracudas_activity_day_camps
From Tennis, Archery, Swimming, Motor Sports and more you can be sure that there will be something for kids aged 4.5-14. ⚽🏈🥅🎾🏓🏎️🏹🏊♂️🏉
You can book on a day by day basis - so it can fit in with any other days out/activities you have planned and there are early drop off and late pickup options available. Barracudas are also Ofsted registered so you can use your Childcare Vouchers too.
⭐⭐⭐Get £20 off a week or £4 off a day using my discount code: MARIA20⭐⭐⭐
#BarracudasActivityDayCamp #BarracudasActivityCamp #BarracudaAmbassadors #SummerHolidays #SchoolHolidays #Summer2023 #SummerCamp #DayCare #Camp #KidsCamp #surreymummy #surreymums #SummerOfFun #ActivityCamps #HolidayCamps #Childcare #SchoolHolidays #schoolholidaycamps](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/353583570_625625966167953_545896259645102575_n.jpg)
![[AD] We have some super exciting news...we have been chosen to be Laser Quest Ambassadors, and the boys are over the moon!
We are really lucky that our local Laser Quest (@laserquestkingston) is just around the corner from us. It means we can pop in of a weekend or anytime during the school holidays, and with summer just around the corner, I know Laser Quest will be one of our go-to places for some family fun.
As well as games of Laser Quest, there are also VR experiences and arcade amusements too. To find out a bit more about how Laser Quest works, you can read my blog post: https://www.suburban-mum.com/laser-quest-kingston/ (clickable link in bio)
Don't forget to keep an eye out for our Laser Quest posts - I'm going to be giving away two family passes to use at Laserquest Kingston!
If you can't wait and want to head down to Laser Quest to try it out, use the code SUMMER30 for 30% off your booking. The code is valid from now until the end of August 2023 and can be used on Laser Quest games and birthday party bookings.
#LaserquestAmbassador #Laserquest #LaserquestKingston #ActivitiesForKids #FamilyFun #DaysOutWithKids #Lasertag #LaserquestVR #Kingston #ThingsToDoInKingston #SurreyFamilyDaysOut #ThingsToDoWithKids #RainyDayFun #SurreyMummy #SurreyLife #LifeWithKids #LifeWithBoys #familyfunday](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/353230107_797358078406942_2405522556733455165_n.jpg)
![[AD] The sun has finally made an appearance and the boys have been making the most of it by spending it
in the garden.
They’re go-to is always football and they’ve been trying to improve their aim and accuracy with the new Messi Foldable Footlball goal from the #MessiTrainingSystem range.
I love the fact the goal is foldable, making it easy to store away when not in use. It is also lightweight so you can effortlessly pack it up and take it to the park or to a friend’s house.
The Messi Foldable Football Goal retails at £36 and can be purchased from @argos
You can read my full review here: https://www.suburban-mum.com/messi-foldable-football-goal/
#TrainLikeMessi #FoldableFootballGoal #FootballSkills #OutdoorFun #LionelMessi #LeoMessi #FootballAtHome #OutdoorKids #JustGetOutside #OutdoorsAndFree #ScreenFreeKids #WhateverTheWeatherKids @flair_gp](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/341194882_615024710178056_41977149395989448_n.jpg)
![[AD] We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we are Barracuda Ambassadors again this year.
With Easter just around the corner, the boys were sent the @barracudas_activity_day_camps new camp kit in preparation for the school holidays.
There’s a wide range of activities for kids aged 4.5 - 14 including Tennis, Archery, Basketball, Arts & Crafts and more.
If you like the sound of Barracudas, find out more over on their website. You can also save £20 a week or £4 a day, using my discount code: MARIA20](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/336812306_765234558514317_685553691647241974_n.jpg)
![[AD - Gifted]
Last weekend we were invited to try out @tsarettaspice’s new Bottomless Brunch menu and I can tell you it was thumbs up all round!
There’s a good choice tapas on offer from Punjabi fish fingers, Indo Chinese Chicken to Spiced Lamb Scotch Eggs and Manchurian Cauliflower (which was amazing!)
If you’re local to Twickenham and fancy giving them a try here’s are the details.
Tsaretta Spice Bottomless Brunch
⭐️£37.50 per head for bottomless Prosecco or cocktail of the day
⭐️£55 per head for bottomless Champagne
⭐️ Food included: 4 tapas selections and dessert or 2 tapas selections, a pav or naanwich and dessert
⭐️ Non-alcohol brunch is also available
Tsaretta Spice
55 Church Street
Twickenham
TW1 3NR
You can also read our full review over on the blog (link in bio)](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/334565436_5960402314015030_663031098700829518_n.jpg)
![[AD] What does family look like for you?
I am fortunate to be surrounded by strong, powerful women in the form of my mum, sister and mother-in-law (along with many others). With Mother’s Day just around the corner, @BootsUK want to celebrate all the different mums and mother figures we are lucky enough to have in our lives. They have a huge range of Mother’s Day gifts to choose from so we can show them how much they mean to us. (swipe to take a look at some of my choices)
If you want to express love and appreciation for the mother figure(s) in your life, head to Boots.com to find the ideal gift. They have a whole host of gifts, so you can be sure to find something to suit all tastes. Celebrate the #LoveForAllMums this Mother’s Day with Boots.
](https://suburban-mum.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/334276459_136658625736352_6403224988403337253_n.jpg)
![📚 Are you ready for World Book Day? 📚
[AD - Gifted] I don't know about you, but I have never made the boys a costume for #WorldBookDay. I just don't have it in me to be creative that way. Their costumes have always been bought or cobbled together with what we already have, and luckily, the school allow you to wear pyjamas to school, which makes things a lot easier!
M has been living in his @TheRealTomGates pyjamas recently, and I think he might wear these when his World Book Day dress-up day comes around (the school celebrate with Book Week rather than just Book Day)
The boys have been fans of Tom Gates for a while now. M has always loved reading books that make him laugh and contain humour - they tend to keep him engaged in reading.
Did you know that there are now 20 Tom Gates storybooks to get stuck into? Ideal for kids aged 6-12, the series consists of feel-good, hilarious books full of photos and stories about Tom's life at home and school. Best of all, you can read them in any order.
The latest book is Tom Gates: Happy to Help (Eventually), and along with the pyjamas, you can pick them up from @GeorgeAtAsda just in time for World Book Day!
There's also a range of Tom Gates items, including games, puzzles and greeting cards at major retailers.
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How to choose the right family car
Starting a family is an exciting time – lots of changes are on the horizon and you will be responsible for a teeny tiny newborn.
One of the main things that overwhelmed us before we became parents were the huge array of items we needed to buy for our new arrival. I’m talking car seats, prams, cots – you get the gist.
Choosing a practical pram took forever and I still remember standing in John Lewis with my big pregnant belly attempting to fold up a “travel system” Who knew there would be so much to think about? Did the pram manoeuvre well? Was there enough space in the basket? And most importantly, would the pram fit in our car?!
A lot of parent’s eventually come to the realisation that their pre-baby car is far from practical and doesn’t particularly suit their growing family needs.
So how do we got about choosing the right family car? Read on to find out.
Working out your budget
Wouldn’t it be a dream to just be able to walk into a car dealership and simply pick the best car without batting an eyelid at the price? Unfortunately, for many of us, we will need to stick to some kind of budget so it’s best to work out what this is beforehand so we know what we can get for our money – whether it’s through finance or other means. Car finance for people with bad credit can be an option for those who can’t easily get credit and most importantly don’t forget to check what tax band your potential new car will be under, as well as working out how much car insurance will be as these all add up.
Safety
When transporting our precious cargo safety must, of course, be on top of the list. The best thing to do is to do your research into the cars you are considering. You can gather safety information from online sources like Euro NCAP which offers details safety information from tests that have been carried out. They also use a star rating system.
How much space do you need?
Working out how much space you think you will need will be crucial to the size of car you buy. You may think that a 5 door hatchback car is sufficient when you have two children but you may need to take into consideration ferrying around extra adults/children for play dates etc.
What about boot size? Is there enough room to fit your pram and weekly shop in? Do you also need to carry an extra child car seat around in the boot? Maybe you regularly go on staycations in the UK, if so – will your boot accommodate all the above plus luggage?
How many family members do you have? If you have three kids of different ages it will mean you will have to fit three different sized car seats into your car. Will the seatbelt still be easily accessible for you to clip them in?
All these things need to be considered and if necessary, measure bulky items so you can work out if they fit, or better still take them with you if possible to test out.
Get the kids involved
Choosing the right car can be a long process – even harder if you have to bring the kids along with you. If they are old enough, why not get them involved by asking them what colour they prefer or giving them a choice of models you are considering? Getting them involved makes them feel part of the process. When we chose our family car my eldest was 2 (his baby brother was on the way) but he loved trying out all the different cars with us and loved “pretend driving” Making it fun for them means they will be less likely to play up and be bored.
How did you go about choosing your family car or are you yet to take that step?
*Collaborative post
About The Author
11 thoughts on “How to choose the right family car”
We had to change cars recently as we had our third and that opened a whole can of worms to do with fitting three car seats in the back. And yes remember feeling so stupid about travel systems #picknmix
These are great tips. We recently changed our car and space was a key reason. We needed something to fit the wheelchair when I need to use it. Also it was hard fitting sylvia and others in the back with her seat so we went for a larger car this time around, one that can transport all of us and my parents while they are here in the uk.
We won’t be changing ours for a while. We love our old A6 estate. It’s 10 years old with over 100k on the clock but it still feels and looks like a much newer car than the numberplate suggests. Plus it can fit sooooo much in. Great tips #KCACOLS
we knew wed need a new car as both ours were only 3 door. no way I was faffing on with moving the seat forward to get bubba in and out. we went for a Qashqai and love it 🙂 #KCACOLS
Great tips, you’re right there’s so much to think about! #kcacols
Since having a baby 6 months ago I now realise how much stuff you have to lug around! I have a little C3 which will fit the pram on its side in the boot but nothing else. My husband has a large saloon car so fits everything in it. Lucky mine is just the run about! xx
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
Great tips! We bought our car with the idea it would be ok for when we ha md a baby. Now we think it’s too small so I wish we’d considered it a bit more!#kcacols
You’re so right, there’s so much to consider when buying a family car. We just have the 1 baby but once I have his pushchair in the boot, there’s very little space for anything else. Will have to put a lot of thought into the next one when I can afford it! #KCACOLS
We had my Father-in-law’s car after he bought a new one, so we knew it was safe and had been well looked after! x #KCACOLS
We never seemed to have problems with space and fitting people/little people in when there were just the five of us.
Our Passat ticked all the boxes.
Since we added Little Miss OMG to the mix, finding a seven seater with enough room for kids and all the crap that goes with them is a nightmare.
Great post with very good information
#KCACOLS
Having 3 sometimes 4 kids space is a big deal for us. We have an MPV but still end up using the roof box when going away. Thanks for linking to #picknmix