THE EAST Midlands makes for a fab family escape, says Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley.
Birdholme Glamping near Nottingham is the perfect destination for a great staycation.
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The pad
In a rewilded woodland just south of Nottingham sits Birdholme Glamping, with its five safari lodges set around a pond.
Den building by the stream is on tap and the lodges are smart, spacious and spotless.
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Each sleeps up to six, with a hot tub and firepit on the decking ready for the compulsory marshmallow toasting (is it even camping without this?).
You’ll also find prosecco in the fridge, an archery kit, games and books, plus a dishwasher and smart TV.
Birdholme lies just off a main road, so the rumble of traffic when spending time alfresco may upset some, though the local wildlife – think dragonflies, badgers and pheasants – don’t seem to mind.
Explore
Nestled within Leicester’s suburbia, the National Space Centre is well worth a whole day’s visit.
The Tetrastar Spaceport experience with interactive challenges delighted my five year old, and the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium, huge rockets and an actual piece of the moon were hits with us all.
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Entry costs £19.95 for adults and £17.95 for over-fives (Spacecentre.co.uk).
Hold an owl, see wallabies get fed and meet a load of farm animals (and dinosaur models) at Manor Park & Woodlands, 20 minutes from Birdholme.
Plus, there’s indoor adventure play, too.
Entry costs £12.95 and £2 for under-twos (Manorfarm.info).
Meanwhile, Twinlakes theme park is no Universal Studios, but it’s a winner with small kids.
There are quaint rides aplenty, more animal-petting opportunities and two huge soft plays.
Entry costs from £10.87 for adults and £5.43 for children over 95cm (Twinlakespark.co.uk).
Don’t miss the cute lifestyle shop, Studio Pips, in the courtyard, either (Studiopips.com).
Refuel
You’ll find a cracking pub with a huge beer garden just 30 minutes’ walk from your lodge – The Plough at Normanton’s duck liver parfait with rhubarb and wasabi nuts, £8.50, is one of the best starters I’ve had in ages.
Treats like venison shepherd’s pie with Lincolnshire poacher mash, £16.95, and passion fruit, basil and stem ginger Arctic roll, £9, also hit the spot (Ploughnormanton.co.uk).
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Set in an old railway station, family-run Perkins Bar & Bistro serves up excellent Sunday roasts, £25 for two courses (Perkinsbarbistro.co.uk).
Service is relaxed at The Berkeley Arms in Wymondham, but you’ll find excellent pies of the day and huge rump steak burgers, £16 each, a decent wine list (including English bacchus) and classic puds – think pear crumble and black treacle sponge, £7 each (Berkeley-arms.co.uk).
Book it
Stays at Birdholme Glamping cost from £165 per night (Towanderuk.co.uk/properties/birdholme-glamping).
Psst…
The Old Vol in Caythorpe has a fab kids roleplay village in its beer garden (Oldvolpub.co.uk).
