Our latest adventure was to Stratford YHA where they have deluxe pods which are in essence a teeny tiny shed with beds, sink, 1m2 wet room and a microwave. Despite being separate you get access to all the usual hostel facilities - lounge, games, restaurant and self catering kitchen.
There was a sports college group staying at the same time so the boys were exposed to typical teenagers in droves.
Horrors.
One boy helped K set up the pool table, another switched the TV to cartoons. A girl stepped in when W was too short to see over the reception counter to ask for water. When the kids were running back to the pod, one pair of hoodie wearing hooligans hanging outside the back door were at great pains to say they'd kept an eye on the little boys they'd seen run past as they were worried they might be lost.
As well as the college kids, there was the usual eclectic mix of European travellers, back packers and a family with younger kids. Oh, but that was us.
We'd originally though we'd do Stratford for Shakespeare but as it turned out there wasn't anything suitable at RSC so we adapted and decided to do the MAD museum and Butterfly Farm instead. It was fantastic - MAD was an inspiring collection of machines, buttons. ball bearings and illusions - perfect for W who loves inventing and for S too!
The Butterfly Farm was an unexpected delight. I thought we'd have to seek out butterflies but we were swarmed as we entered - there were involuntary 'oooooohs'. As well as the butterflies there's a caterpillar area, perfect for discussion of life cycles, and a bug and reptile bit too which has some creepy residents in addition to (inexplicably) a handful of tropical fish in a tank. The highlight for us was the iguana who was very happy to wander about eating all the best plants.
A much needed break and we were already planning the return trip before we'd reached the M40.
The View restaurant on the river overlooking RSC did fantastic fish & chips and proper pub-style blackcurrant squash...
