Learning to walk before I run

rtandon27

Art galleries are free too & if you check their websites, they often have free to low-cost kiddie activities!

This is the latest one at the Nati0nal Gallery:
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/whats-on/keeper-of-paintings
Loads onto your mobile - very cute (yes I gave it a try - lol - it's close to the office & a lovely way to escape at lunch!)

Cornish_mum

Hi Ed, I took DD to that musical last year and it was fantastic, one of the best west end shows I have ever seen.

Just to warn you there is a lot of high spending opportunities in and around that theatre (dolls, teddies and accessories in the theatre), and rickshaws with dubious tax/safety records outside etc. I had to say No quite a lot of times to DD when we went and wished I had packed a small themed doll and a tiara and some interval snacks. 

Nearby is the National Portrait which is quite fun for kids and a bit further towards KX the British museum (where you can eat a pack lunch for free in the atrium, if it’s wet in a super nice environment).  Last time I went there I could not find a place to refill water bottles though. They also have a special extra short queue for people with primary age kids, so you can waltz straight in and avoid the massive queue of adult tourists. Our DD likes to see the jewels in the Anglo Saxon section which is always empty compared to downstairs. CM 

pavlovs_dog

if you are coming by train, national rail and daysout 2 for 1 offer might make the prices of the 'big ticket' attractions slightly more palatable

savingholmes

My kids are young adults now but still remember the London trips fondly - we went a few times and did Portobello Rd market of bedknobs fame - covent garden, china town, the river cruise and the wheel. We looked at the outside of the houses of parliament, tower bridge, Nat history museum and loved the V&A - it had outdoor fountains which were perfect on a hot summer day - may not be as useful at the time of year you are going. We also went to the famous H toyshop - the posh H shop (bought fudge) and primarni

edinburgher

Thank you all for the London tips. I'm not too worried about spending in London itself, DD1 gets pocket money and I am fairly familiar with the area as a Londoner from many moons ago and a fairly regular tourist.

This week has proven to be very negative at work and I am struggling a bit. I find myself blatantly skiving because I am so angry and that is not sustainable or fair on my colleagues. I asked to purchase a week's annual leave to help offset the impact of a few holidays that we have planned for next year and to avoid hitting the High Income Child Benefit Charge because of overtime worked. My arguments (which were clearly laid out and explained how any nominal time balance was hundreds of hours in my favour due to the overtime I work) were either ignored or responded to with platitudes that were either factually incorrect or irrelevant. Boss also waited 'til it was less than 1 hour to the deadline for responding, a common trait with managers in my team to try and delay people they don't want to respond to. I have appealled it but am expecting to receive short shrift from my HOS who has a reputation as a bit of a bulldog I am not going to lie, psychologically it felt like another kick in the soft parts. I will try and drag myself back into normal operating mode come Monday.

In more positive work related news, my back pay has been paid as well as a slew of overtime payments. I will be able to add £1,000+ to our EF. I thought about budgeting for holiday expenses first but think the security of a bigger EF and my mental health need to come first.

£5 from Prolific, £10 from Airtime Rewards and £10 cashback from Barclays yesterday, £7.40 from Mrs E's Barclays cashback today. All split between us for January pocket money.

edinburgher

I'm told 5/15 attended our work Christmas lunch Lots of semi-plausible excuses but too many absentees to be a coincidence.

beanielou

edinburgher said:

I'm told 5/15 attended our work Christmas lunch Lots of semi-plausible excuses but too many absentees to be a coincidence.

Blimey, that is poor.

edinburgher

A somewhat complicated day of transferring money saved from voucher spends, surveys and ZipZero to our January pocket money. £38 or so all told, £19 each.

LadyWithAPlan

Some nice mse-ing there

Good to have the EF fund bigger - its useful in a 'if i need to leave this company i could money - sorry they are being a pain about your holiday - can you not otherwise add the extra cash into you sipp/work pension for that month to get the tax advantage?

edinburgher

@LadyWithAPlan - could be paid into SIPP - employers pension not a thing for a couple of factors. I'd rather have the time, got a small preserved DB pension, current DB pension and a useful wee wodge in a SIPP already