Hello!! IM in Swansea. My three are 17,21,21 but have a gorgeous grandson 'Charlie' 16 months old.

Goin Crazy wot u doin for your RA? I can send you some information to help you and know of a great cream.

x

Hi every1
My name is Kellie I also live in Newport Gwent
F/t mum to dd who's 4 yrs & ds who's 2 yrs
I'd love to meet/chat let the lo's play

Hi everyone in Wales! Im back after a loooonnnnggggg time, just thought i'd ask if anyone knows any free places to take the kids in the holls? weve been to the big pit and st fagans anyone know anywhere else that dont charge silly prices to get in?

There is the Amelia Trust farm, if you've got younger kids. There's a few animals to look at, a couple of swings and slide, volunteer-run coffee shop, and you can do a walk through the woods and end up at a pond with frogs in it. So probably only suitable for under 9s. It's just off the road (A48?) which takes you from Culverhouse Cross to Cowbridge. You take the turning for Barry, before you reach Llanerch Vineyard. It's a charity so it's free to get in but you can choose to make a donation.

Can't think of anything else that's free other than having a stroll round Cardiff Bay and walking over to the play area on the barrage or visiting the Senedd building. Or the usual Penarth route - up to the hilly park to look at the birds, walk on the pier, ice cream in rabaiottis, walk along the cliff path.

And can't think of a single thing (other than Big Pit) that's free and indoors.

Oh, there's the Maritime Museum in Swansea if you can be bothered with the drive.

Margam Park's not bad but it's a bit of a drive and again it's outdoors.

There are places you have to pay that are good...
greenmeadow community farm (cwmbran)
techniquest cardiff
dr who exhibition cardiff
cefn mably farm cardiff

Only other free place i can think of is cardiff museum thats free
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/cy/cardiff/
my kids love it there

Another free place is Newport wetlands we went there today:
http://www.gwentbirds.org.uk/GLWR.htm

the kids loved it and the park is lovely

Thanks everyone ,I will give them a try!

Goodness me Cariad - the whole of Newport was one BIG wetlands today wasn't it!!?? I'm suprised you didn't drown!!

I went to a very nice craft cafe the other day that had activity mornings.

x

lol it wasn't raining when we were there luckily
Where is the craft cafe you went to?

It is on Risca Road (The Handpost) in Newport. They are really friendly!!!

I'm glad it wasn't too wet for you - I got soaked on my way home from Blackwood!!

x

We love the Amelia Trust Farm! DD is very taken with the "'iggys".

Techniquest is great, if you live in the area it may be more cost efficient to get a family annual pass, I think it's about £40 but will allow you unlimited access.

Margam park is a favourite of ours, we also love the Forest Drive at Cwmcarn (again, £20 for an annual pass is better value if you go a lot), St Fagans and Cosmeston Lakes for walking. DD can spend hours wasting a quid on the penny pushers at Barry Island! Forest drive has quite a lot of child-focused events, we did a great Easter Egg trail on Easter Sunday that was only £1.50, DD loved looking for the 'clues' and pictures of chicks guiding the way, and she won a Creme Egg, little notepad, pencil and eraser that she was well chuffed with! I have the events list in my handbag if there's anything anyone is particularly interested in.

If your kids are happy with a football and a big open space, the Beacons Visitor Centre near Libanus is lovely, nice tea shop and outdoor seating area with stunning views for grown ups, a big grassed area for kids and lots of little birds. We were there this afternoon actually, watching a jet fighter on a training run!

When the weather's nice, Mum and I like to take DD to Southerndown or Ogmore beaches.

Worth knowing that if you have a child who is registered disabled, they will get free access to Jump in Llanishen, just tell them at the reception desk and they will be admitted free. They don't advertise this, I was lucky enough to find out by accident!

Justthe1, we spend quite a bit of time doing the Penarth cliff walk/park and ice cream from Cioni's, you should look out for me. I will be the one looking harried and chasing an errant toddler who is trying to hug a random dog!

And I'll be the one with a 3yo DS hiding behind my legs every time a dog comes anywhere near! lol