FAMILY DAYS OUT // amazing trips you can make by southeastern trains

Lil Sis is the funniest, happiest, quirkiest kid. She wakes up with a smile on her face, which (more or less) stays there all day, and she’ll pretty much do anything to make someone laugh.

But it wasn’t always this way.

There were several years when I was essentially housebound, because she was in the ‘Tantrum Zone’. I’m talking huge, all-singing all-dancing, nuclear-sized tantrums that made it practically impossible to go out in public.

Thankfully, the Tantrum Zone passed, and now taking the girls out is my absolute favourite thing in the world.

I’m not huge on driving on the motorways over here (you Brits are quite – how can I put this nicely – assertive on the roads), so always prefer to take easy UK day trips by train. That way I can sit back and relax and enjoy the journey rather than panicking about whether I’m in the right lane, or where I’m going to park when (if) I get where I’m going.

This summer there are loads of places I want to take them, all of them within handy reach of the Southeastern train line. Here are some of the places on my ‘to-go’ list:

Royal Observatory, Planetarium & Astronomy Centre (nearest station Greenwich): Here you can literally stand with one foot in the eastern hemisphere, and one in the west. Visit the Planetarium for free family workshops on space and our place in the universe.

Climb the O2  (nearest station Charlton): Not satisfied to tour inside the revamped Millennium Dome, now you can clip on a harness and climb OVER the iconic London landmark. From the top you can see 15 mile on a clear day; just imagine those views!

National History Museum (nearest station London Victoria): Big Sis loves dinosaurs – I can’t wait to see her jaw drop at the sight of ‘Dippy’ the 26-metre long Diplodocus, who greets visitors from his time-honoured spot in the front entrance hall.

Leeds Castle (nearest station Bearsted): Once the home of Henry the VIII, today you can tour the castle and take a glimpse back into medieval life, with faithfully restored interiors, falconry displays and punting along the moat.

Broadstairs (nearest station Broadstairs): you can’t get a more traditional UK seaside spot than Broadstairs. There are seven sandy beaches to choose from – pick from the white-chalk cliffs of Botany Bay, the children’s rides and tidal pools of Viking Bay, and popular surf spot, Joss Bay.

Hastings (nearest station Hastings): Visit the place where Great Britain’s most famous battle was fought. Explore the ruins of Hastings Castle, take a trip in the West Hill Lift – a funicular that still uses its original wooden Victorian coaches – or take in some fresh sea air with a walk along the promenade.

Covent Garden (nearest station Charing Cross): This iconic piazza in the heart of London’s West End is your one stop-shop for shopping and eating out, or simply wandering around and taking in the historic surroundings. Picturesque and packed with stalls and street performers, this is a must-do when visiting the capital (prepare for the crowds though!).

Southeastern Trains recently carried out some research amongst a group of 4-12 year olds. Perhaps surprisingly, nearly three quarters of them said they’d rather spend time with family than play computer games, while an impressive 87 percent chose a day out with family over watching their favourite TV programmes.

Good news for me for the next few years – I’d better start cramming in more UK day trips you can take by train before those teenage years touch down, and they’d sooner gouge out their own eyeballs than hang out with their boring mum.

READ: Delightful Dorset – Following in the Footsteps of the Famous Five

• top photo ‘fast moving train‘ courtesy of Shutterstock