Toad Hall Adventure play is open 7 days a week and offers soft play facilities for children from…read morebabies through to juniors. There's a good under 3s section with a ball pit and 2-stage climbing frame (soft). There are some sit-on soft toys and some blocks. The floor is a bit suspect and there's a bit of an old smell to the area - nothing terrible but you do notice it. The play equipment appears safe but could be in better condition. The main soft play is a triple height affair with climbing, balls, slides and chutes. It's safe and in better condition than the toddler area. At weekends and after school this place can get packed but, during the day it's not too bad. A cafe facility is available serving teas, coffees, soft drinks and snacks. The prices are reasonable. Tables are kept away from the soft play being behind a low wall. They are OK but there's not a good view of the play area meaning that it's hard to have a coffee and take care of your child. For many parents this just seems to mean that they don't watch their child and so you do have to be careful that your child doesn't get set upon by unrully kids. It's not a particularly comfortable place but it's a good local option for a rainy day. Car parking is available.

So green and watery, a little area of wilderness that begs you to follow the squashy path into the…read morerustling, gurgling heart of Rack Marsh, located at Bagnor near Newbury in deepest Berkshire. You'd think you were a million miles from nowhere, surrounded by fluffy topped rushes, swaying grasses, trees and the pretty ring of quaint old cottages across the way. But, you would be wrong, this is 7 minutes from Newbury town centre - this is the battle ground of the original road-wars over the infamous Newbury By-pass of a few years ago. Remember Swampy? Well, that was his little war - he lost and actually, Rack Marsh and Bagnor have not suffered as they thought. Dragon flies, trout, buzzards, cucckoos, ducks, bugs, you name it, the place is just bursting with wild life. Come down on a hot summer day and dip your toes in the crystal clear stream water (surprisingly freezing cold!) from the skinny bridge at the centre of the Marsh. If picnics are not your thing, there's The Blackbird pub 100 yards away with its good food and drinks selection and welcoming gardens. Along one side is the Watermill Theatre. With the streams flowing past though its grounds into the wetland, the theatre is housed in a mill (refurbished, obviously!) that was recorded in the Doomsday Book. In recent years, the theatre has apparently progressed into the top league of regional theatre with many shows produced here transferring to London or touring throughout the UK or overseas. Wow, and you thought this was just any old bit of bog land - but no, a famous cultural centre too! A really beautiful bit of English countryside, Rack Marsh is definitely worth a visit.

A friendly, local outdoor lawn bowling club. Open through the summer from 1st May to end of…read moreSeptember. Six of the finest bowling rinks in Berkshire, set within Newbury's Victoria Park. A members club, open to the public upon request and during summer open days where members of the public can try the sport for themselves. Monday nights are 'club nights' when any member of the public interested in playing bowls can try the sport, with equipment provided free-of-charge on the night (remember to wear flat shoes) the club also has a very reasonably priced bar.

My salsa friend Hilary and I headed out to Beepy's nightclub located at the Lakeside Leisure Centre…read morein Frimley on Friday for a salsa party organised by Renato of Salsa Esperiensa Heavy traffic on the M3 and A31 meant that we used my trusty sat nav to navigate us there on the back roads of Surrey. The Lakeside complex is huge with the leisure centre as well as hotel and large darts venue where they hold big dart tournaments Renato teaches salsa here regularly here every Monday but this party was a one off event with guest teachers for the bachata tango and advanced salsa classes as well as a performance by Laith Sami and the Diablo dance company There was a big dance floor but with great music all night, it was always full of whirling, twirling couples. Although the hall felt cold when we entered, it heated up fast with the dancing The classes were fun and we learned a lot of new moves in both classes. Though we didn't get home til 1.30am, it was a great night of dancing

Just off Marlborough Road - a country park with lakes. Lots of wildlife and lots of 'Ranger'…read morecourses take place here. Also Swindon Sailing Club meet here. A good place to walk - the walk around the lake is approx. 2 miles. Small cafe serving hot drinks and ice creams. A very small railway operates at weekends - good for the children - about 50p a ride. Swings and slides. Plenty of ducks to feed on the lake. Fishing. Crazy golf and pitch and putt - 18 holes.

Coate water is a great place to go for a family walk with the dog. It has a huge lake in the middle…read morewith a nature walk all the way around, which takes about a hour to get around. They also have a big golf course for the more serious golfer and a crazy golf course for some fun! There is also a paddling pool that is open in the summer months and a hut that sells chips/burgers/sweets and drinks! Every sunday during the summer there is also a little ride on train that goes round a little track for the kids! In August each year they do a night called 'Lanterns on the Lake' where people can come and make a lantern with a tea light and then they are all released onto the lake which is such a pretty view! - A must see!

I wanted to buy Russian Coats with "Oxford Uni" written on them. Can't get them here. I should have…read moregone to "University Parkas." Oxford is full of gorgeous and stunning and legendary Parks. University Parks may not be my favourite, but it is the one within the closest walking distance of most of the colleges of Oxford University, and it's a wonderful place to relax and play football... And to look at the flowers like I did when I was a little kid, as you can see from the picture.

The University Parks are open to everyone and have something for everyone. There's no cycling…read moreallowed, so no risk of being run down by hurried students, and it's surprisingly free from tourists, so the parks are a great place to get away from it all. There are park wardens to make sure people follow the rules, which makes it seem a little less liberating, but they are generally unobtrusive and friendly. They also shut at night, which is probably best safety wise, but is slightly alarming if you are there at closing time and feel you may get locked in! The parks hold rare and tropical flowers and well-cultivated trees and flowerbeds which are home to all sorts of furry and feathered creatures if you just look hard enough. There are well-kept paths for joggers and pushchairs and lots of benches for the more romantic, people who want to eat or read, or just those who feel like watching the world go by. There's a duck pond near the river, where you can watch punters floating by, and sports fields where local cricketers, footballers and ultimate frisbee players train. At some weekends there's an ice cream van near the entrance and during the week there's a great little crepe stand near the Keble Road entrance. The perfect place to escape the city without leaving behind the culture and beauty of Oxford.

An old church might seem like an odd place to have a climbing wall but it actually works…read moresurprisingly well. The high walls are perfect, with climbs in excess of thirty feet. The view when you get to the top is amazing as well; you literally get a totally different perspective on the building. Plus, it doesn't have that hot sweaty feeling that some climbing walls have - all the space means you can breathe a little better. All the space means the sound gets soaked up a bit too - sometimes gyms can sound like factories with all the machines going, but this place certainly doesn't. Usually the only sounds that will interrupt your thoughts are the echoes of whatever the receptionist has decided to put on the sound system. As well as conventional climbing walls there's a large bouldering area, with soft crash mats that have caught my body on the many occasions that my fingers have decided to give out. The atmosphere's great though, and nobody judges you if your new or just a bit crap like me. If you do want to improve they have excellent instructors on hand, who are very patient (they get a lot of school groups in here so they have plenty of practice. Bristol Climbing Centre is unique, a great place to learn to climb, and a wonderful environment to do it in.

it just never ceases to amaze me the wealth of exiting and slightly unusual things to do in and…read morearound Bristol. Set within an old church, god knows how much effort must have been put in to convert the building to a climbing centre, the South West's biggest Climbing centre - if you didn't know! There are all sorts of levels of walls and sessions available to accommodate for the real beginner (which is where I was) and the more experiences climber. 12 meters doesn't sound very high until you get half way up it and feel like you might be able to reach the clouds with your next step up! They run things like Easter courses so great for kids but also for adults.

Beautiful nature, wonderful views and a well maintained park. The cost can be a bit much without a…read moremembership but it's worth it: a great experience all around.

Wisley is amazing and gorgeous. I cannot imagine the amount…read moreof water they must use to keep the gardens looking so glorious. Important in the summer heat: take the complimentary shuttle to the top and walk down. You'll be so glad you did. Ask at the entrance where to catch it and it'll drop you at the top by the new building. Staggering up in the pounding heat is miserable. Climbing to the roof, anticipating a breathtaking view is pointless if it's summer. Do it after the leaves have fallen or you'll get a big fat view of tree, as well as heatstroke. (The lift was broken today.) Well worth it.