What's On Summer 2017

As the Summer holidays begin, most baby/pre school classes finish, leaving us parents with days and days needing to be filled with activities to entertain energetic toddlers. Thankfully there are still some classes, along with various other activities put on especially for Summer, which are listed below.

Obviously please check with providers before setting out to any event.


Monday 31st July

Joxytales Twinkle Toes baby sensory

Gioco Wigan

11.00-12.00

Birth to crawling

£4

Joxytales Twinkle Tunes baby sensory

St Francis Church

City Road (Kitt Green)

1.00-2.30

Birth to steady on feet

Rock N Learn Family Time Rocks
Whittle-le-Woods Village Hall
1.00-1.45
All ages

Balance Bike Championship - Practice Day
Robin Park
10.00-3.00
18 months to 5 years


Tuesday 1st August

Balance Bike Championship - Practice Day
Robin Park
10.00-3.00
18 months to 5 years


Wednesday 2nd August

Joxytales Baby Bubbles and Rhyme

Gioco Wigan

10.00-11.00

Birth to steady on feet

Joxytales Tiger Feet

Gioco Wigan

11.00-12.00

From steady on feet

£4

Joxytales Story sack builders course

Gioco Wigan

1.00-2.00

20+ months

£20 for four weeks, advance booking required

National Play Day

Haigh Woodland Park

10.00-4.00

All ages

£2 for all day parking

Rock N Learn Family Time Rocks
Whittle-le-Woods Village Hall
9.45-10.30
All ages

Rock N Learn Teddy Bears Rock
Whittle-le-Woods Village Hall
10.45-11.00
Birth to toddlers

Balance Bike Championship - Practice Day
Robin Park
10.00-3.00
18 months to 5 years


Thursday 3rd August

Joxytales Family Frenzy

Westfield School

9.30-10.45

All ages

Joxytales Bedtime Story time

Westfield School

5.15-6.45

Rock N Learn Toddle n Rock
Parbold Village Hall
9.30-10.15
Toddlers to 3 years

Rock N Learn
Parbold Village Hall
10.20-11.05
3-5 years

Rock N Learn
Parbold Village Hall
11.15-12.00
Birth to toddlers


Friday 4th August

Joxytales Tiger Feet

Grand Vault, Old Courts

10.00-11.00

From steady on feet

£4

We LOVE The Stickman

Theatre, Old Courts

11.30-12.30

Under 8

£3 advance, £4 on the door

We LOVE What The Ladybird Heard

Theatre, Old Courts

1.30-2.30

Under 8

£3 advance, £4 on the door

Balance Bike Championship - Practice Day
Robin Park
10.00-3.00
18 months to 5 years


Monday 7th August

Joxytales Twinkle Toes baby sensory
Gioco Wigan
11.00-12.00
Birth to crawling
£4

Joxytales Twinkle Tunes baby sensory

St Francis' Church, City Road (Kitt Green)

1.00-2.30

Birth to steady on feet

The Gruffalo

Theatre, Old Courts

2.00-3.00

Under 7

£6 (both adults and children require tickets)

Balance Bike Championship - Competition Day
Robin Park
10.00-3.00
18 months to 5 years


Wednesday 9th August

Joxytales Baby Bubbles and Rhyme

Gioco Wigan

10.00-11.00

Birth to steady on feet

Joxytales Tiger Feet

Gioco Wigan

11.00-12.00

From steady on feet

£4

Joxytales Story sack builders course

Gioco Wigan

1.00-2.00

20+ months

£20 for four weeks, advance booking required


Thursday 10th August

Joxytales Family Frenzy

Westfield School

9.30-10.45

Joxytales Bedtime Story time

Westfield School

5.15-6.45

Messy Moo with Moo Music

Shevington Youth Club

10.30-11.30

2-8 years

£5

Friday 11th August

Joxytales Crafty Critters

Grand Vault, Old Courts

10.00-11.00

Under 5

£4 booking essential


Monday 14th August

Joxytales Twinkle Toes baby sensory

Gioco Wigan

11.00-12.00

Birth to crawling

£4

Joxytales Twinkle Tunes baby sensory

St Francis Church, City Road (Kitt Green)

1.00-2.30

Birth to steady on feet


Wednesday 16th August

Joxytales Baby Bubbles and Rhyme

Gioco Wigan

10.00-11.00

Birth to steady on feet

Joxytales Tiger Feet

Gioco Wigan

11.00-12.00

From steady on feet

£4

Joxytales Story sack builders course

Gioco Wigan

1.00-2.00

20+ months

£20 for four weeks, advance booking required


Thursday 17th August

Joxytales Family Frenzy

Westfield School

9.30-10.45

Joxytales Bedtime Story time

Westfield School

5.15-6.45

Messy Moo with Moo Music

Shevington Youth Club

10.30-11.30am

Ages 2-8

£5 per child


Friday 18th August

Joxytales What's Cooking Kids,

Grand Vault, Old Courts

10.00-11.00

Under 5

£4 booking essential

We LOVE Matilda

Court Room, Old Courts

11.30-12.30

Under 10

£3 in advance, £4 on the door

We LOVE The Twits

Court Room, Old Courts

2.00-3.00

Under 10

£3 in advance, £4 on the door


Monday 21st August

Joxytales Twinkle Toes baby sensory

Gioco Wigan

11.00-12.00

Birth to crawling

£4

Joxytales Twinkle Tunes baby sensory

St Francis Church, City Road (Kitt Green)

1.00-2.30

Birth to steady on feet

Wizard of Oz

Theatre, Old Courts

2.00-3.00

All ages

£6 (both adults and children require tickets)


Wednesday 23rd August

Joxytales Baby Bubbles and Rhyme

Gioco Wigan

10.00-11.00

Birth to steady on feet

Joxytales Tiger Feet

Gioco Wigan

11.00-12.00

From steady on feet

£4

Joxytales Story sack builders course

Gioco Wigan

1.00-2.00

20+ months

£20 for four weeks, advance booking required


Thursday 24th August

Joxytales Family Frenzy

Westfield School

9.30-10.45

Joxytales Bedtime Story time

Westfield School

5.15-6.45

Messy Moo with Moo Music

Shevington Youth Club

10.30-11.30am

Suitable for ages 2-8

£5


Friday 25th August

Joxytales Storytime

Grand Vault, Old Courts

10.00-11.00

Under 5

£4

We LOVE Alice in Wonderland

Court Room, Old Courts

11.30-12.30

Under 10

£3 in advance, £4 on the door

We LOVE 5 Children and It

Court Room, Old Courts

1.30-2.30

Under 10

£3 in advance, £4 on the door

Friday 1st September

Joxytales Twinkle Toes baby sensory

Grand Vault, Old Courts

10.00-11.00

Birth to walking

£4

We LOVE Paw Patrol

Theatre, Old Courts

11.30-12.30

Under 8

£3 in advance, £4 on the door

We LOVE My Little Pony

Theatre, Old Courts

1.30-2.30

Under 10

£3 in advance, £4 on the door

Southport Model Railway Village

Baby is now a toddler, and her love for trains has only increased as she's grown older. This was our second visit to Southport Model Railway Village, which advertises itself as being the only model railway village in the country.

A five minute walk from both the train station in one direction, and the seafront in the other, and next to Princes Park, it is very easy to find. And at just £4.50 a ticket (in July 2017) for adults, it's a well priced way to spend an hour or so.

The model village occupies a larger than expected area in the centre of the plot, with a tarmac path round the outskirts. Although flat and well maintained, in places the path isn't particularly wide, so if someone ahead with a pushchair or wheelchair stops to look at something in particular, you'd struggle to pass them.

 

Visitors are reminded to keep to the path, and off the grass, by numerous signs at intervals around the village, as well as by the staff at the entrance. I can't help but feel that a small fence, only a foot high or so, would be a useful addition to prevent little feet straying accidentally, or slightly older feet intentionally trespassing.

Two circular train tracks run around the village, with numerous trains running continuously, in both directions. Passenger trains in varying colours, freight trains, and even trains carrying petrol, rounding turns, chugging through tunnels, and passing under and over bridges. Baby loved watching them, crying 'more trains' as soon as one had passed her. There were enough different trains to stop her getting bored, and the frequency with which they passed was very impressive.

The village itself was also excellent. A farm, a church, multiple train stations, a children's playground, and an expansive range of shops were just some of its features. Considering it's exposed to the elements 24/7, it is in remarkably good condition and I can only suppose that it is repainted at least annually. Indeed whilst we were there we saw a member of staff working on improving one of the bridges.

 

Whilst buying our entrance tickets we were given a quiz to complete as we walked around, and as it was the Summer holidays, fairies had been installed throughout the village for visitors to count. Once completed, quiz sheets could be handed in to be entered into a prize draw, and Baby was thrilled to receive a sticker in return, though both the quiz and fairies were lost on her. She did walk around the village three times though, she enjoyed it so much.


Key Facts

Month of visit:
July

Weather for visit:
Grey, but warm and dry.

Is it pushchair friendly?
Yes, there are no steps, and the paths are flat and well maintained.

How are the baby changing facilities?
Toilets are located in a portacabin style building, with baby changing in the women's toilets. Acceptably clean, but rather drafty, even on a Summer's day.

What about somewhere to feed?
A small cafe selling hot drinks and ice creams had a reasonable amount of seating, and there were also plastic tables and chair outside the cafe. Benches were dotted around the village, some more secluded than others.

Is it worth a visit?
Absolutely.

Baby's highlight?
Watching the trains going through the tunnels.



Southport Model Railway Village
Lower Promenade,
Kings Gardens,
Southport
PR8 1QX


http://www.southportmodelrailwayvillage.co.uk