Author: Natalie Gomez

Categories
London

Cool Things to do in London

1. BREAKFAST UP HIGH

Big Bus Tour: Stop 18

An interesting way to enjoy the spectacular views of London from
The Shard is to go for breakfast at Aqua Shard. Although you are ‘only’ on the 31st fl oor, the views are almost as stunning as the top and you don’t have to pay any extra for them. Even a full English (£14.50)costs less than the trip to the top.

Open: Breakfast is served Monday to Fridays from 7am to 10.30am (9am to 10am at weekends).

Info: 020 3011 1256; aquashard.co.uk.

Tube: London Bridge

Categories
England

20 Holidays Under £500

1) A HOUSEBOAT IN SUFFOLK

Climb aboard Twee Gebroeders, a restored 1914 Dutch sailing barge moored at Pin Mill on the River Orwell, for walking, skippered sailing trips and fishing. £465 (Easter), £480 (summer).

 

2) UNDER CANVAS IN WEST WALES

Book a ‘threepi’ (a large tipi with woodburner, sundeck and cooking facilities) at Fforest, a rural 200-acre site next to the river Teifi gorge, near Cardigan. Kayaking, coasteering and archery are available. £418 (Easter), £468 (summer), including breakfast.

 

3) CULTURAL FUN IN LONDON

Keep costs down by self-catering. Citadines Apart’hotels have fully equipped kitchens and sofa beds for children making them the perfect base for exploring the capital; £456.

 

4) CYCLING IN THE NEW FOREST

Rent some bikes and free-wheel along leafy routes through scenic woodland. A day’s hire is £16 for adults and £7 for children. Stay at nearby Forest Yurts. £390–£495.

 

5) EXPLORE NATURE IN SNOWDONIA

Enjoy bat walks, pond-dipping or bushcraft at the Rhyd-y-Creuau Field Studies Centre near Betws-y-Coed, a Georgian house with family rooms. £240, including meals and activities. For more information, visit Real Family Holidays.

 

6) WHITE-WATER RAFTING IN NORTH WALES

Try a Raft Safari adventure on the Tryweryn River. A two-hour trip costs £44 per person. Stay in the Bunk Room at St Curigs Church at Capel Curig. £240, including breakfast.

 

7) A HORSE-DRAWN GYPSY CARAVAN IN WILTSHIRE

Clip-clop through the Vale of Pewsey pulled by either Jack, Ned or Jimmy. The horses follow a set route, which includes lunch and overnight stops at local hostelries. Tuition and back-up available. £490. For more information, visitWhite Horse Gypsy Caravans.

 

8) FARM-BASED ACTIVITIES IN NORFOLK

Get a taste of rural life at College Farm near Beccles (voted Farm of the Year in 2013), where luxurious tents are equipped with a woodburning stove, beds, flushing toilets and running water. £399 for four nights.

 

9) AN ADRENALINE RUSH IN LLANGOLLEN

Try quad biking, archery, kayaking, high ropes or canyoning with Whitewater Active in North Wales (£50 per person for half a day). Stay at Llangollen Hostel; £240.

 

10) STEP BACK IN TIME IN SHROPSHIRE

Ironbridge Gorge is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and has 10 child-friendly museums. A family ticket costs £68. Stay at 1 Sternsmill Cottage; £420.

 

11) PONY TREKKING IN BRECON

Saddle up and explore the beautiful Welsh countryside on horseback. A half-day trek costs £144 for a family of four with two children under 16. £240 for two nights’ b&b. For more information, visit Tregoyd Mountain Riders.

 

12) A NARROWBOAT IN OXFORDSHIRE

Travel through the Cherwell Valley in a traditional canal boat. Boats take a maximum of 10, plus two dogs. £150–£240 per day. Two nights’ b&b in a canal cottage costs £260.

 

13) CAMP IN SHERWOOD FOREST

Base yourselves in a cosy wooden ‘pod’ at Clumber Park, with more than 20 miles of cycle routes to explore; £179.

 

14) COASTAL WALKS IN CORNWALL

Book the family suite at Bre-Pen, a working National Trust farm in Mawgan Porth that overlooks the sea. £297, including breakfast.

 

15) SEALS AND BEACHES IN NORTH NORFOLK

Take a seal-watching trip to Blakeney Point (adults £10, children £5). Stay at Deepdale Farm, Burnham Deepdale, £240.

 

16) A HEAD FOR HEIGHTS IN WALES

Challenge yourselves on Titan, a four-person zipline at Llechwedd Slate Caverns (£180 for four). Rooms at Pen-y-Gwynant Hotel cost £43 per person per night.

 

17) MEET THE ROMANS IN NORTHUMBERLAND

Stay at Causeway House in Bardon Mill, an 18th-century farmhouse with a roof thatched in heather. Ideal for exploring Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman fort of Vindolanda. £418.

 

18) LITERARY BREAK IN DORSET

Introduce your children to Thomas Hardy country by exploring Dorchester and the surrounding area. Yalbury Cottagein Lower Bockhampton costs £360 b&b.

 

19) STEAM TRAINS IN SCOTLAND

Board the Jacobite steam train, made famous by the Harry Potter films, for a day trip from Fort William to Mallaig. £34 for adults and £19 for children, return. Stay at Glenfinnan House Hotel. £300 for two nights.

 

20) AN ARTY BREAK IN CORNWALL

Explore Penzance and the west Cornish coast from the endearingly eccentric Artist Residence, complete with original works of art. £360 for a family room.

 

For more of what you love…

Read Make the most of your money for valuable travel advice and check out these money saving tips from American Express. For more cheap holiday ideas, choose from this list of 17 days out in the UK.

Categories
Scotland

Homecoming in Scotland

Homecoming in Scotland

Along with the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup, this is a landmark year for Scotland with world-class events celebrating the Year of Homecoming.

ACTIVITIES

With such a rich and varied history, culture vultures will feel totally at home here. Scotland’s creative scene is buzzing and all across the country you’ll find museums and attractions to keep every member of the family happy, on top of that there will be a bumper programme of events running throughout the country. Here’s some of our favourites:

Edinburgh International Science Festival: Gastrofest (5-20 April)
Molecular gastronomy enthusiasts will love this Science Festival, which brings together science and food with wacky workshops like Nature’s Larder, showing you how to create novel meals using the biodiversity around; SciMart, ascientfic take on the standard farmer’s market and GastroLab, an evening of gastronomical surprises for all the senses.

TweedLove Bike Festival (24 May-8 June)
Active clans will love taking in the Highland air from two wheels at this bike festival.

Wickerman Festival (25-26 July)
If dancing in fields is your thing, pack up the troops for a weekend. Don’t worry, there will be no child sacrifices here. Instead sway to big name music acts, which play alongside a fun fair, circus acts, arts and crafts, segway hire and mountain biking. And there’s boutique camping in the form of yurts, tipis and cloud houses. 

Edinburgh Fringe (all of August)
The capital’s much-loved Fringe more than doubles its population as people flock for a month of comedy, theatre, dance and music.

Flavour Fortnight (8 August-14 September)
Visit this foodie festival in Dumfries & Galloway for chocolate making sessions, to learn about foraging and fishing, and head off for tours around local farms. There’s also specialist tips like how to make artisan bread, gluten-free dishes or home-brewed cider.

Brodick Highland Games (8 August)
Soak up the Scottish heritage with traditional caber hurling, tug of wars, races for children and piping aplenty.

Findhorn Bay Arts Festival (24-28 September)
The lesser-known cousin of the Edinburgh Fringe will draw in the thespians among you, here Shakespeare’s ‘Scottish play’ will receive a new lease of life for the 21st century in the world premiere of Macbeth: the Red King in September. Promising high drama set against the stunning backdrop of Brodie Castle near Forres, it’s one of the highlights of this dynamic festival on the Moray coast.

For more infomation: VisitScotland

Categories
Spain

Barcelona Activities

From a visit to the grounds of the city’s famed football team to a taste of exploding tapas, here are the top things to do with kids in Barcelona.

Why go?

From a visit to the grounds of the city’s famed football team to a taste of exploding tapas, here are the top things to do with kids in Barcelona, including Parc del Tibidabo, the Camp Nou Experience, The Eixample district, and Las Ramblas boulevard, as well as scream-worthy rollercoaster rides and delicious tapas , these are the places the kids will be texting about from the Spanish city.

Activities

PARC DEL TIBIDABO

This theme park is a mix of vintage kitsch and high-tech thrills and has been wowing kids for over 100 years. Set on the summit of Barcelona’s highest mountain, Tibidabo, if the views alone don’t get blasé teens gasping, the Muntanya Russa rollercoaster and 360-degree spinning Hurakan ride should.

One of the world’s oldest theme parks, there are 25 rides to suit all thrill-seekers, from toddlers to teens. To avoid the queues and impatient kids, book online.

CAMP NOU EXPERIENCE

For football fans, a visit to the home of Barcelona football team is a must – regardless of who they support.

Aside from that all-conquering feeling they’ll get as they walk down the players’ tunnel, Messi-wannabes can check out the away team changing room, press room, commentators’ box and sit in the dugouts.

The cutting-edge FCB Museum has more silverware than Tiffany, a fantastically interactive multimedia zone, and audiovisual screenings of Barça’s best moments, shown on a 35-metre screen.

Adults, €23; 6-13 years, €17; under 6, free.

THE EIXAMPLE DISTRICT

The playground of Modernisme’s pre-eminent architects, including the genius Antoni Gaudi – to wander the streets here is to be transported into the pages of some freaky fairytale.

Maximise on Gaudi’s magic by searching for skeleton bones and a dragon’s back at Casa Batló; counting gargoyles at La Sagrada Familia or, best of all, heading to Park Güell, where a grinning dragon, teacup chairs and gingerbread house are just a few of the treasures to hunt.

LAS RAMBLAS BOULEVARD

Cutting through Barcelona’s heart, this bustling boulevard runs for more than 1.2 km from Port Vell in the south toPlaça Catalunya in the North, dividing the Raval from the Barri Gotic as it goes.

Pedestrianised down its centre, it’s famous for its many street performers, including the most insanely realistic human statues.

Yes, it’s über-touristy, but the kids will have a ball taking it all in and watching the performers.

The lowdown

Where to stay: Check into The 5 Rooms, a B&B of 12 rooms, which makes a delightful base, not least because it’s minutes from Casa Alfonso – a charcuteria, café and brasseria that’s been serving porcine produce since 1934. It costs around £150 per night for a room, and extra beds and/or cots cost around £12-£25.

How to get there: easyJet offers a flight from London Gatwick to Barcelona; from £54 return.

Travel time: A London to Barcelona flight takes 2 hours.

Categories
Denmark

Activities in Copenhagen

Head to Copenhagen in Denmark for fun, family-friendly activities in the city, and visit towns nearby for historical Viking history.

Why go?

Despite Sarah Lund and her Viking forebears’ best efforts to prove otherwise, Danes are generally a friendly bunch, and that warm welcome most certainly extends to children.

From Legoland to Tivoli, the country is packed with child-friendly activities, although they aren’t just to be found in theme parks. From Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid to the UNESCO listed Royal Jelling Viking monument, and the gloriously wide white beaches of Jutland, the weather might not be much to write home about but there’s lots to love in Denmark.

Activities

The capital, Copenhagen, is the first stop for most visitors, and here families will find plenty to keep them busy. Start with the quaint district of Nyhavn; where bright rainbow-coloured homes clash prettily with the equally colourful boats in the harbour below. Children’s writer Hans Christian Andersen lived at 20 Nyhaven and wrote his first fairy tales there in 1835. Down the road is Edvard Eriksen’s bronze statue of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid that looks out over the harbour.

The lovely walk along the Langelinie Marina to the statue is worth the trip by itself and takes you past the magnificent Gefion Fountain.

Away from the harbourside, head to the world’s longest pedestrian street, Strøget, for lunch and a spot of retail therapy. Starting at Rådhuspladsen, it ends in the pretty Kongens Nytorv – home to the Charlottenborg Palace and the Royal Danish Theatre.

If all that sounds too much for your brood, a tour of the Tivoli Gardens are a alternative. With a enchanting combination of fairground rides and pretty pleasure gardens, Tivoli is great for a relaxed walk and  a rollercoaster ride or two during the day – but is best at night when it’s lit up by miles of twinkling fairy lights.

After the capital, the next stop for most families is Legoland in the new city of Billund, where you’ll find all the sights of the capital replicated in Lego. Along with the mini Copenhagen, Legoland has rides galore, a 4D cinema and a Duplo section for smaller children.

Top tip: For those who want to stay onsite, there is also a Lego hotel, which recently had a pirate-themed makeover. Billund, and Legoland, is also a good base for exploring the gorgeous surrounding area, which includes the UNESCO listed heritage site, Royal Jelling. Raised by the Viking king Gorm the Old and completed by his son, Harald Bluetooth, it is more than 1,000 years old and marks the point when Christianity came to Denmark.

Don’t miss: The nearby town of Veije is also not to be missed, while the Billund area is also known for its beaches, including the vast golden Grene Sand. The North Sea waters aren’t the warmest but there’s plenty of space for building sandcastles. Further south, there’s more Viking fun to be had in Ribe, the oldest town in Denmark.

With over 1000 years of history, it boasts a recreated Long House, complete with Viking artefacts and food to sample. Round off your Viking adventure with a short voyage on a replica Viking ship along the North Sea beaches from Ribe to the tiny Wadden Sea Island of Mandø. The route takes you past huge banks of sand still rich in wildlife and little changed since the days of Gorm and Harald. Boys in particular won’t ever want to leave.

The lowdown

How to get there: Flights to Copenhagen start at £113 return with British Airways and £44 return with easyJet.

Travel time: 1 hour and 50 minutes flight time.

 

Categories
Scotland

Family Holidays in Scotland

WHY GO?

Some say Scotland is the New Zealand of the UK. Ok, we’ve never actually heard anyone say that, but they should. There are mountains, lakes, adrenaline and plenty of space – although slightly less space than in New Zealand. It’s a great off-the-beaten-track destination for restless teens and fearless kids. Just make sure you’ve got the right kit, as it gets cold.

ACTIVITIES

There’s canoeing and kayaking on the lochs and white water rafting. Head toRiverLochy or Oich, which finishes in Loch Ness, for scenic river safaris (from £40pp) suitable for children as young as five.

Go Ape! is a reliable old friend, families love itand there are several sites in Scotland, including Aberfoyle. Navigate rope swings, sway across bridges and make your way around tree-top assault courses.

Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Carrbridge is a similar set up with a touch of mystery thrown in. It has a Labyrinth, Wonder Wood, Bamboozeleum (distorting mirrors, infinity rooms, holograms and special effects), Tarzan Trail, Wild Water Coaster and SkyDive (two climbing masts which rise from the forest floor to approximately 50ft up in the pine canopy. Using special Powerfan descenders – similar to those used by Hollywood stuntmen – the high-tech rigs guarantee a safe and smooth return to earth.)

You don’t have to leave the cities to get your thrills, the capital is home to Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, which is the largest of its kind in Europe and along with climbing has archery, abseiling and special taster sessions for children (from four years old).

Mountain biking in Glentress Forest near Peebles is not to be missed if two-wheeling is your thing and Peebles is a great spot for families, with another Go Ape! and heaps of family-friendly activities at Peebles Hydro Hotel and Spa.

More information: VisitScotland

Categories
Cyrpus

5 of the Best: Family Friendly Beaches in Cyprus

Cyprus is a great family-friendly destination for you and your little ones. We pick out the best beaches to take them this summer.

LARA BEACH, LARA BAY, AKAMAS PENINSULA

Found on Cyprus’s rugged north-west coast, this often deserted beach is more of a local haunt than a tourist one.

Despite a slightly arduous journey to find it – a four-wheel drive is recommended – it’s definitely worth the effort. Calm waters and a wide expanse of sand means that Lara Beach is as far removed from the over-populated beaches of Paphos as you can get – a great place for kids to run around freely. Go early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid scorching temperatures (and too-hot-to-bear sand underfoot). Take your own parasol if possible as Lara Beach is also a haven for loggerhead and green turtles so there are no sun loungers or umbrellas provided. Nature lovers should check the website of the Cyprus Society for the Protection of Turtles (www.cyprusturtles.org) as there are occasional organized night-time walks along the beach in egg-laying season, when you can see the turtles coming ashore.

 

CORAL BAY, PEYIA

For more of a buzzy beach vibe, Coral Bay on the west coast, 14 miles north of Paphos, is a good choice. The Blue Flag beach has shallow, gentle waters and white sands with plenty of facilities, such as child-friendly cafés, restaurants and reasonably-priced sunbeds.

There are also lots of water sports on offer here – from diving to parasailing. The horseshoe-shaped cove is a picturesque spot, framed by limestone cliffs and, surprisingly, it remains relatively uncrowded even at the height of the season.

 

KONNOS BAY, CAPE GRECO

Another one of Cyprus’s Blue Flag beaches (the island actually has an impressive 57 in total), found a mile east of Ayia Napa, Konnos Bay is a pretty, sheltered beach with wonderfully clear waters. Close to the national forest and rugged coastline that is Cape Greco, this is a great choice for families with older children – if you get the chance, take a boat tour out to the many sea caves that are found around this stretch of coast.

 

FIG TREE BAY, PROTARAS

A family favourite, Fig Tree Bay, on the southeastern tip of the island, is one of the most scenic of Cyprus’s beaches. Shallow, turquoise waters and soft golden sands make it perfect for young children. A great place to chill out for the day – there’s even Wi-Fi (if you must).

Confident swimmers can venture out to the tiny uninhabited islet that is in easy reach through shallow waters. History buffs may be intrigued to know that in 2010 an ancient Greek tomb – containing four coffins – was found on the road leading to the beach, thought to have been untouched for thousands of years.

 

PISSOURI BEACH, PAPHOS

Located between Paphos and Limassol, Pissouri Beach is a great all-rounder – with its wide sweep of sand, crystal-clear waters, and water sports on offer – making it brilliant for families. The nearby Pissouri Village retains its traditional Cypriot character and is a great spot for lunch, with a choice of tavernas and restaurants.

 

THE LOWDOWN

More information: Go to visitcyprus.com

How to get there: British Airways flies to Paphos From £158 return.

Travel time: A flight from London Gatwick takes around 4 hours and 35 minutes.

Categories
Family Days Out

Best Family Events this Easter

Like or not, the Easter holidays are upon us. Don’t worry we’ve found enough events, activities and days out to keep them busy for the entire fortnight.

EASTER BAKING, SEAFOOD SCHOOL, PADSTOW

Learn new recipes and bond over backing at Rick Stein’s new Parent and Child Easter-themed course. Wow your family and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same by whip up raspberry truffles, decorated Easter eggs and your very own piped and rolled chocolate.

When: 9 April, 12–3pm
Price: £148 for parent and child (8-16 years)
Find out more: rickstein.com

PORTHLEVEN FOOD FESTIVAL, CORNWALL

Skip the cooking and come hungry to the Porthleven Food Festival where there will be plenty of dishes for the family to tuck in to. Look forward to celebrity chefs, soulful musicians and a Pirate-themed mini festival for the youngsters.

When: 24–26 April
Price: Non-profit, some events vary
Find out more: porthlevenfoodfestival.com

EASTER BREAK AT CRIEFF HYDRO, PERTHSHIRE, SCOTLAND

At the beautiful Victorian hotel, Crieff Hydro, Mum and dad can look forward to an Easter break of their own that includes accommodation, breakfast, entertainment, a spa and gym, and even free childcare for up to six hours a day! If you prefer to keep the youngsters close, the hotel has a family entertainment programme brimming with films, gamesm quizzes, ceilidhs and more. With a zero-tolerance policy on shushing and tutting, it’s fair to say Crieff Hydro was built with kids in mind.

When: Availability is limited for certain dates
Price: £97 per adult, per night
Find out more: crieffhydro.com

THE NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN OF WALES

The fun-packed Easter weekend at the National Botanic Garden kicks off with a series of animal shows, including Meet A Meerkat, and ends with the annual Easter bonnet parade. With a host of other Easter activities in betweeen, it’s enough o have your little ones jumping with joy.

When: 3–6 April, 10:30am
Price: £9.75 Adults, OAPS £8, Children 5-16 £4.95
Find out more: gardenofwales.org.uk

EASTER DANCE PARTY, OLYMPIC PARK, LONDON

Dance the night away with the whole family at the Copper Box Arena this Easter. Packed with free dance classes with none other than the Easter Bunny himself, DJ Egg-Cellent and the marvelous host Natasha Khamjani, even the most reluctant of dancers will be getting their groove on in no time. Teens are invited to get stuck into the exclusive Get Ur Freak On dance sessions. The best part is that this is only one of an abundance of Easter activities on offer in and around East Village.

When: 7 April
Price: Free
Find out more: getlivinglondon.com

EASTER AFTERNOON TEA AT THE DORCHESTER

This one’s for you, mum and dad! Easter doesn’t have to be all about egg hunts, bunny ears and Rice Krispy cakes. This spring, treat yourselves to the Dorchester’s exquisite Easter Afternoon Tea, which includes hot-cross buns, delectable finger sandwiches, themed pastries and of course, champagne. Picture yourself chatting, relaxing and sipping tea in the Dorchester’s beautiful Promenade – bliss.

When: 3 April – 6 April, 1pm, 2pm, 3:15pm, 4:15pm, 5:30pm
Price: £59 per person
Find out more: dorchestercollection.com

Categories
Family Days Out

Best Films for Kids this Easter

SHAUN THE SHEEP

Aardman – creators of Wallace & Gromit – are at it again. This time, they’re back with the story of a hapless farmer and his lovable flock, lead by Shaun the Sheep, at large in the big city. There’s no discernible dialogue in this big-hearted animation, as the sheep grunt, mumble and bleat. We defy you not to fall in love.

Rated: U

Ages: 4+

Release date: Friday 6 February 2015

CINDERELLA

60 years after Disney’s famous animation, the beloved tale of Cinderella is back, and it doesn’t disappoint. With gorgeous princes, ponies and sparkle by the bucketful, this happily-ever-after classic is one you won’t want to miss.

Rated: PG

Ages: 10+

Release date: Friday 27 March 2015

THE SPONGEBOB MOVIE: SPONGE OUT OF WATER

Everyone’s favourite high-pitched sponge is back. Follow SpongeBob in the long-awaited sequel to 2004’s ‘The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie’, as he is once again called on to guard the Krabby Patty formula from his evil rival, Plankton. But before you write this off as kids’ stuff, there are enough cheeky one-liners and sexual innuendos to keep mum and dad chuckling all the way to the end.

Rated: PG

Ages: 6+

Release date: Friday 27 March 2015

HOME

Discover the true meaning of the word, while you follow Oh, a charming misfit from another planet and Tip, a girl who is on a quest of her own. The lovable pair set off on a series of adventures together while helping each other truly change each others’ lives.

Rated: PG

Ages: 4+

Release date: Friday 27 March 2015

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

Teens will be counting down the days until the release of this summer’s big blockbuster. In this action-packed tale, Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping programme, but things soon go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans. Buckle up for a high-octane adventure!

Rated: tbc (expected to be PG13)

Ages: 13+

Release date: Friday 24 April 2015

Categories
Ski

The Best Ski School for Kids

Before you book your next family ski holiday, find out which resorts have great ski schools for kids.

Standards at ski schools have constantly improved over the years, and the healthy competition between more-recently founded schools at many resorts has helped this. Classes are usually smaller than they used to be (although we do still come across some that are way too large) and most schools have plenty of good English-speaking instructors. A big growth area has been the development of programmes for children.

MAJOR PLAYERS

Some British ski travel operators run their own schools. Esprit Ski is one of the major players here, with schools for children at a dozen resorts across the Alps, and has achieved a considerable reputation for the quality of teaching.Spritelets is for three- and four-year-olds, and is geared towards fun and play with a gentle introduction to skiing. Sprite Beginners is for five- to nine-year-old novices, and Sprite Improvers for more-experienced six-to 10-year-olds. The firm offers a range of courses for older children. 

Resorts covered include Gressoney in Italy, La Rosière, Courchevel 1850, Belle Plagne, Les Gets and Val d’Isère in France, and St Anton and Obergurgl in Austria. La Rosière also has one of the best branches of the Ecole du Ski Français (ESF) we have come across, run by a Brit, astonishingly, and with an English-language section. The chalet holiday firm Mountain Heaven has an excellent selection of catered chalets and self-catered apartments in La Rosière, yards from the slopes.

PRETTY RESORTS

In the attractive little resort of Puy-Saint-Vincent in the southern French Alps, British firm Snow Bizz has its own ski school staffed entirely by English-speaking ESF instructors. A massively loyal British clientele returns year after year, and now former pupils are coming back with their own children to learn with the same highly praised school.

One of the prettiest villages in Austria, Alpbach, in the Tirol, has a great ski school that has had exceptionally close connections with generations of British skiers. Under the guidance of director Sepp Margreiter, many aspiring racers have honed their technique here – and every level and age group is catered for.

Also in the Tirol, there’s a great ski school in Obergurgl that has long been highly regarded, with excellent English spoken by instructors, and classes kept small. The little Tirolean village of Scheffau, part of the extensive interlinked SkiWelt area, also has a very well-organised children’s section in its school, with little ones as young as two having the chance to enjoy the sensation of sliding on the snow.

CANADA AND BEYOND

In Canada, we’ve been impressed by the school at the British Columbia resort of Big White. The children’s centre is ski-in, ski-out, with a huge range of courses tailored for every age and ability level – and there is even an innovative programme for the whole family in which parents are given a grounding on how they can help their children improve.

Powder Byrne, operating in 13 resorts, is another firm that runs its own special ski programme for youngsters. The Yeti scheme takes children from three to nine in an all-day programme that combines ski lessons with apres-ski activities. Powder Byrne also has various courses for older children, including instruction from British Downhill Olympian Martin Bell.

WANT THE HOLIDAY WITHOUT THE BIG BUDGET? FIND LOW-COST FAMILY SKI HOLIDAYS