A train trip to the Spooky Seas
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Two excited little girls stood on the railway platform dancing a train dance. As their carriage puffed up, they jumped up and down. We were off!
Family and Friends Railcard
A day out in Birmingham is always a treat. They’ve been going to the National Sea Life Centre regularly since they were tiny, but they never tire of it. And one of the most exciting parts of the day is always the ride on the train.
But I must admit, it was starting to get a bit expensive. Libby turned five a few months ago, and since then we’ve been having to pay for her train ticket. So I was delighted to hear that with a Family and Friends Railcard, we could keep the cost down.
In fact, for a single from Birmingham to my local train station, the cheapest adult fare is £10.90. With the Family and Friends Railcard, it cost £7.20 for me and £2.10 for Libby, a total of £9.30. Making it cheaper for me to travel with Libby than without her. Railcard estimates that families using this card save an average of £131 per year.
Spooky Seas at the National Sea Life Centre
From 14th to 31st October, the National Sea Life Centre has a spooky theme. It is decked out with freaky cobwebs and pumpkins. Visitors can learn about the spooky and magical creatures of the deep. From ghost-like jellyfish to camouflaged sea horses to not-so-scary sharks.
In the 4D cinema, visitors can watch the Octonauts on their Amazon adventure. The penguins were particularly friendly during our visit, coming over to see what we were up to when we crouched next to their enclosure.
We learnt spooky facts about the creatures of the deep. Like the way that shoaling fish like tuna stick together for protection and sea horses change colour to avoid predators. As always, Libby loved touching the creatures in the rock pool, whereas Lia was a bit too nervous. A lovely addition today was being able to watch the otters on a camera while we were in a queue for the 4D cinema.
A favourite lunch
After we left the Sea Life Centre, I let the girls decide where to go to lunch. Whenever we go to Birmingham, they usually ask to eat at Wagamamas. But a few months ago, we had dinner at Yo Sushi! in Worcester. Realising there was a Yo Sushi! in Birmingham as well, the girls asked to go there.
There’s nothing more fun that sitting by the conveyor belt, grabbing the food you want. We decided to go to the restaurant in Grand Central, which is right next to New Street train station. It made a nice change to be at the station early rather than running for the train.
Saving money on days out
We regularly go for days out in the West Midlands. I always find it more relaxing to go by train, and with a Family and Friends Railcard it’s relatively inexpensive. You can buy one for £30 for the year. The card gives you 30% off adult fares and 60% off children’s fares.
The card can be used by up to 4 adults when travelling with up to 4 children aged 5-15. Two adults can be named on the card, which means that my husband can use it if he takes the children for a day out without me. If you’re looking to make use of the card over half term, check out my West Midlands October half term post. For Christmas, head to my post about Christmas days out in the West Midlands.
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The Family & Friends Railcard is so good! I had a nasty shock in the summer when I travelled with just my 16yo and realised we had to pay full fares! 🙁 If we have at least one of the others with us my eldest and I can at least benefit from the reduced adult fares. Glad you had such a lovely day out. I will never cease to be jealous of you having children who eat at Wagamama and Yo! Sushi.
Oh gosh yes, what a nightmare. And if there had been three of you then you could have got a reduction for a group ticket, but two adults is expensive! He could probably get a young person’s railcard now though?
Nat.x
OoOh I like the idea of exploting the Spooky Seas. What lies beneath our murky seas? Bahhhaaaa.
I just bought a family and friends railcard for our trip to London. Very good savings!
Yes, well worth it for London. It might make me more inclined to go regularly if it’s a bit cheaper.
Nat.x
The sea life centre looks amazing! I love that you took the train too, it’s always nice to get their by public transport, especially when it’s cheaper with a Railcard!
Yes you’re right, it’s much better environmentally to use public transport too.
Nat.x
I love the Family and Friends Railcard and it can pay for itself in one trip – especially with us going to London a lot. Each year there’s usually at least one offer to get it cheaper too.
Yes, it will make London so much cheaper!
Nat.x
Hi Nat, travel is expensive these days. I’m sure it’s probably cheaper to fly abroad than to travel by train in the UK. The family railcard sounds like a sensible purchase for a family. And the National Sea Life Center looks like a place to visit this October.
xx
Yes you’re probably right actually. Time to get some sunshine perhaps 😉
Nat.x
The sealife centre looks such fantastic fun! And what a bargain on those tickets! I think I take for granted how much free stuff we get with the boys at the mo. #familytraveltips
Ah that’s good, it must be brilliant not having to pay for them. It’s amazing how much more things cost when they turn 5.
Nat.x
The railcard sounds really useful – I will have to remember that once my daughter reaches 5! We really like to travel by train – I agree that it is much more relaxing. #familytraveltips
Yes, well worth remembering. I wish I’d bought one as soon as she turned five.
Nat.x
we also love wagamamas. sadly we dont have one close to where we live. #familytraveltips
That’s a shame, Wagamamas is fabulous.
Nat.x
We’ve just got hold of a Family and Friends Railcard ourselves. I wish we’d got one years ago because the savings are just awesome. Why not go for a day out in Brum? Although you’re welcome to the sushi. I’m not a fan!
I agree, we should’ve got one years ago too. We’d have saved a fortune.
Nat.x
We love the sealife centre. It looks like they do Halloween well
Yeah, it’s a great place to go for Halloween. We’re looking forward to their Christmas event.
Nat.x
The railcard sounds great for money saving. We don’t use the train enough. My eldest loves it on the train though. The national sea centre sounds great too.
It was a lovey day out and the railcard is well worth it.
Nat.x
Oh we used to live in the West Midlands and the National SeaLife Centre was one of our favourite places to go. Railcards are brilliant aren’t they as rail travel is so expensive nowadays. They look so cute in their pics and glad you all had a brilliant time. #familytraveltips
Thank you, it was a fabulous day.
Nat.x
You can’t beat a trip on the train it adds to the whole day out! I’ve been amazed at the savings a family railcard makes, a must have! X
I’ve been amazed too, it’s cheaper to travel with them than without them!
Nat.x
Never been to Birmingham, but this sounds like brilliant Halloween related fun day out! #familytraveltips
It’s a brilliant day out, we always enjoy it.
Nat.x
Aw mine love a trip on the train, makes a day trip seem even more exciting. Up here Scotrail are letting children travel free with an adult ticket in the school holidays. We are definitely going to try and make use of that.
That’s brilliant about kids travelling free. It actually works out cheaper with the railcard than if we didn’t pay for the kids though as there’s money off adult tickets too.
Nat.x
You have just reminded me that our railcard has expired!!! We use it mostly over Christmas as we prefer to get the train when the roads and carparks are so busy. We have never visited the sealife centre and we are so close to Birmingham…one to add to our list!
Yes, it’s so much more relaxing on the train when roads are busy. You’ll love the Sea Life Centre, Christmas is a lovely time to visit.
Nat.x
Sounds like you had a lovely day out. The Family & Friends railcard is so good for saving money on train journeys. We got one for our trip from Land’s End to John O’Groats and it made such a difference on all our train tickets.
It’s amazing isn’t it? I’m sure we’ll get loads of use out of it this year.
Nat.x
Sounds like the railcard is amazing value for money! I really need to look into getting one.
They really are good value, it has saved us money already.
Nat.x
This certainly sounds like a great deal to me. Though if I go out with the girls I’m usually accompanied by hubby too. I’ll have to get some tips from you as to how you do it. #familytraveltips
I think it gets a little easier to manage them on your own as children get older, it certainly has for me.
Nat.x