CAPTURE THE SPIRIT OF GLASTONBURY ABBEY
As sunny days sparkle once more, Glastonbury Abbey, the 2,000 year-old mystical venue for prayer and worship, is launching a special photographic competition for all aspiring David Baileys. The competition will run between 1 April and 9 September and will provide prizes for the first, second and third place winners, plus a certificate.

The motif of this year’s competition will focus on “The Spirit of Glastonbury Abbey”. Winning pictures will be selected from those that capture the tranquil ambience of the Abbey. Competition application forms are available from the Abbey or can be downloaded from www.glastonburyabbey.com

The theme for the last competition focused on ‘Life and Wildlife in the Abbey and allowed entrants to submit stunning pictures of flora and fauna, family days out, religious processions, live music and mediaeval fairs and performances taking place at the Abbey over a six month period. The winner was Sandra Howe who took the stunning picture used as our lead image.

Francis Thyer, Deputy Custodian at the Abbey is excited to run the event and welcomes pictures from all ages and capabilities. He said ‘Glastonbury Abbey is a mesmerising place throughout the year. Steeped in history, the beauty of the venue shines through whether against an early spring backdrop of snowdrops, English daffodils and bluebells, or long summer grass, butterflies and dragonflies as the year progresses. The seasons change but the Abbey’s spiritual essence remains. We’re delighted to launch this competition and welcome visitors to submit photos ready for judging in early September.’

The winning entries and best of 'the rest' from the Photographic Competition will form an exhibition on display in the Museum daily from 0930hrs until 1700hrs between the 9 and 25 October.

The judging panel involves Anne Cook, a professional photographer and Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and Gill Hammond, a qualified photography teacher and member of the Royal Photographic Society.

Looking for a great day out with the family? The abbey is open daily between 9.30am and 6pm until September. Entrance to the Abbey is £5.00 for adults, £3 for under-16s and children under five go free. For more information visit the abbey’s website at www.glastonburyabbey.com

IS YOUR FAMILY THE UK’S FAMILY OF THE YEAR?

The search is on for the UK’s most exceptional family to celebrate National Family Week

Enter now by visiting www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk

The winning family gets a year’s free shopping at Sainsbury’s worth £5,000

Entries close 27 April 2009

3 April 2009: National Family Week is calling for families across the UK to stand up and be recognised as the search begins to find the UK’s Family of the Year. Taking place between 25-31 May 2009, National Family Week is about bringing families together and recognising the importance of strong families. As part of the celebrations of family life in the UK, it will be crowning the UK’s Family of the Year. Entrants should fall under one of four categories: Charitable, Courageous, Active and Eccentric! and families can enter now at www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk

National Family Week would like to hear from families of all shapes and sizes. Nominations can be based on a particular episode or a summary of the family and their activities over a specific or extended period of time. Whether it’s your own family, or a family you know, all will be considered for this prestigious award. Entries can be made online at www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk or through some of National Family Week’s partners including Capital Shopping Centres.

The entry closing date is the 27 April 2009 when the top four entries, as judged by National Family Week, will be put forward to the official judging panel including positive parenting expert and author, Sue Atkins. The family that wins the vote of the judges will be invited to attend the Guinness World Record setting Family Week Picnic in Regent’s Park, London on the first day of National Family Week (Monday 25th May 2009) for the official announcement with a number of VIP guests.

The winning family will bag a year’s free shopping at Sainsbury’s worth £5,000. Plus they will receive a National Family Week prize package worth over £3,000 including a Butlins family break, £750 worth of family camping equipment from Outwell, an annual family pass to Vue cinemas, a year’s worth of family dining at Pizza Hut, a family day ticket to LEGOLAND Windsor and a year’s worth of family dining at Little Chef. The three runners up will also receive a National Family Week prize package to the value of £250 each and all four finalists will have the chance to appear in a short form programme on Sky Real Lives.

National Family Week would also like to give recognition to exceptional Mums and Dads and has teamed up with top parenting sites, Dads’ Space (www.dads-space.com) and Mumsnet (www.mumsnet.com) who are looking to find the Dad of the Year and Mum of the Year also to be announced at the Family Week Picnic.

For further information on National Family Week, visit www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk .

AN EGGSTATIC CREDIT CRUNCH-BEATING EASTER AT MERCEDES-BENZ WORLD

Surrey families are being invited to a free day out at Mercedes-Benz World over the Easter holidays. With daily mouth-watering events, children and their parents will be asked to use their brains and brawn in exchange for an eggcellent chocolate reward!

The Easter Trivia Trail will challenge youngsters to solve a series of clues which will take them all around the building, amongst over 100 cars both old and new. The trail will end with a surprise for each participant on completion of the hunt – meaning that, even in the midst of the credit crunch, the Easter Bunny won’t forget anyone.

As children enjoy a chocolate treat, the Silver Arrows Display Team will be setting pulses racing as they entertain and thrill the crowds. The display team combines four exceptionally-skilled drivers with four equally impressive and powerful AMG cars, guaranteed to wow both parents and children alike.

The daily awe-inspiring performances, which comprise power-sliding, pirouetting, and overtaking, will take place at lunchtime over the Easter weekend and subsequent school holidays on the Mercedes-Benz World Handling Circuits and Wet Skid Circle.

Once the Silver Arrows Display Team have left your little ones dreaming about becoming the next Lewis Hamilton, why not let them get behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz A-Class or smart with a Kids Driving Experience? As long as children are over 4’11’’ (1.5m) tall, they can take a pit stop at Mercedes-Benz World to be the envy of their friends. A fully qualified instructor will take them out in a dual-controlled car, where they will be taught how to handle and drive a vehicle in a safe and controlled environment.

Peter O’Halloran, managing director of Mercedes-Benz World, said: “This Easter Mercedes-Benz World is offering families a recession-busting day out. From the Easter Trivia Trail and the Silver Arrows Display Team to the unrivalled number of Mercedes-Benz Cars both old and new under one roof, there are endless ways for families to enjoy themselves this Easter without breaking the bank. ”

To find out more information about any of the events at Mercedes-Benz World please call 0870 400 4000 or visit www.mercedes-benzworld.co.uk Mercedes-Benz World is open daily from 10am to 6pm, seven days a week (except Christmas Day and Boxing Day), and admission is free.

• AMG Passenger Experience – £30 for 15 minutes
• AMG Experience – £170 for 1 hour
• AMG Advanced – £470 for 3 hours
• Off-Road Passenger Experience – £30 for 15 minutes
• Off-Road Experience – £110 for 1 hour
• Mercedes-Benz of your Choice - £85 for 30 minutes
• Kids Driving Experience - £40 for 30 minutes.
• Kids Driving Experience - £75 for 1 hour

EGG HUNTS AND CHOCOTINI COCKTAILS ALL PART OF ENTICING NEW OFFER FOR FAMILIES STARTING AT EASTER 2009
With the Easter holiday season approaching, the Rocco Forte Collection has devised a smart and thoughtful package for families which will apply across each of its properties, located in 11 very attractive and busy destinations. In addition, each hotel will run a programme of fun, child-friendly activities, based initially around Easter and local tradition, but with new ideas following on for summer and autumn too.

Bookable from February 26, and available over the entire Easter holiday period and beyond, the Family Affair package works like this:

• book one deluxe room and the second adjacent or interconnecting room for the children comes half price
• under-3s eat for free
• under-12s receive a 50% discount on food and drink
• continental breakfast for two adults and two children is included
• a fun present will be waiting for the children in their room(s) when they arrive
• children’s rooms come with themed bed linen, pint-sized bathrobes and slippers and junior bubbles and bombs in the bathrooms
Taking things a step further, individual properties within the Rocco Forte Collection have come up with ideas to occupy and fascinate younger guests, working on the basis that a diet of only sightseeing with their parents may not do the trick.

So, by destination, expect the following:

Brussels: in the heart of the city, at Hotel Amigo, there will be milk and cookies at bedtime, Easter bunnies and eggs from Pierre Marcolini and a family ticket to – where else? – the Museum of Cacao and Chocolate.
Frankfurt: luxurious downtown retreat Villa Kennedy, close to the south bank of the Main, is running a Children’s Guestbook – similar to a VIP guestbook – inviting children to draw and write their thoughts about the place and the holiday; to help inspire them they’ll be offered a special children’s cocktail in the Courtyard or in JFK’s Bar, and the chance to join in an egg hunt on Easter Sunday.

Manchester: the River Room restaurant at the ultra-stylish and contemporary Lowry has gone choc-tastic for the month of April, and devised a three-course menu based almost entirely on chocolate, starting with a chocotini cocktail on arrival.
St Petersburg: Hotel Astoria in the city-hub of St Isaac Square will be brimming with traditional Russian Easter cakes – kulich – which will be distributed to guests.

Edinburgh: in its majestic setting at the head of Princes Street, in full view of the Castle, The Balmoral has organised an egg hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny on Easter Sunday.

Berlin: within the grand neo-classical walls of Hotel de Rome there will be a labyrinthine egg hunt on Easter Sunday.
Munich: a leisurely stroll from the tourist centre, opposite the old botanic gardens, The Charles Hotel is doing a splendid, over-the-top Easter brunch.

London: everyone staying at the fabulous Browns Hotel, just off Piccadilly, over Easter weekend (April 10-12) gets a chocolate egg, and for children under 12 these will be personalised with their names; plus there’s an egg hunt on Easter Sunday morning. Between March 27 and April 13, the Afternoon Tea Room will serve its Traditional Afternoon Tea with an Easter twist, including warm hot cross buns and Simnel cake.

For reservations, please contact: www.roccofortecollection.com or call 00800 7666 6667

KIDS EASTER EGG HUNT IN COVENT GARDEN IN ASSOCIATION WITH THORNTONS
Fun and frolics are guaranteed in Covent Garden this Easter as Thorntons ‘Bunny Trail’ leads kids on a magical Easter egg hunt around the Market Building and cobble-stoned Piazza! Along the way, kids will search high and low for hidden clues. Once all the clues have been found there will be a free Thorntons milk chocolate egg waiting for every child that takes part! *

Make your way to Covent Garden at 2pm or 4pm each day over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, Friday 10th – Monday 13th April 2009 to seek out the best kids chocolate eggs London has to offer from chocolate makers Thorntons. And once you've completed the Bunny Trail, you can enjoy the free entertainment from world-class Street Performers against the back-drop of the Piazza.

For those who are unable to make it down to Covent Garden, Thorntons have created their own Easter Treasure Hunt Kits to use at home, bursting with treats and clues to make everyone’s Easter weekend fantastic no matter where they are! The Easter Treasure Hunt Kits, are available in over 600 Thorntons stores throughout the UK, along with a mouth-watering range of Easter treats . Store locations can be found at

http://www.thorntons.co.uk/ThorntonsSite/pages/home/default.asp

http://www.coventgardenlondonuk.com/

* While stocks last. One egg per child

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY - THE HEMPEL, WEST LONDON –
Enjoy a quick fix of indulgence in the capital with a single night ‘Nano’ break at The Hempel, a credit crunch alternative to the long weekend. Gareth Banner, General Manager at the hotel explains “In the challenging economic climate a little bit of personal pampering is the ideal pick-me-up. Our one night break provides a quick hit of luxury and relaxation without breaking the bank.” Nestled in the heart of West London, and only 5 minutes walk from Paddington station, The Hempel allows guests to experience a hidden gem only a stones throw from many of London’s leading complimentary attractions and exhibitions including Hyde Park, Victoria & Albert Museum as well as the Natural History Museum currently celebrating Darwin’s 200th anniversary, running until 16th April. The Hempel invites guests to enjoy the cosmopolitan vibe of the city and then return to de stress and unwind in one of London’s black book addresses without making a dent in your wallet. Book a Nano escape only 3 days in advance and enjoy the benefits of an Advance Purchase Saver Rate from £119 per room, per night.

The Hempel comprises of 50 individually designed bedrooms and suites, each with its own minimalist style and relaxing ambience. The Hempel Restaurant offers a cosy environment to experience an innovative selection of seasonal British and European dishes, with an extensive range of interesting wines.

www.the-hempel.co.uk

FREE EASTER AND APRIL EVENTS AT MUSEUM OF LONDON AND MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS

Museum of London

1940s shopping list
The shelves in the supermarket are almost empty and you have to think carefully before you spend your last coupons. In this art workshop children and adults will work together to solve the challenge of shopping with ration books. In the end you'll have the chance to create your own game to take home.
Duration: 1 hour(s) 30 mins.
No fee
Dates & times
Saturday 4 April 2009: 12.30pm & 2.30pm
Sunday 5 April 2009: 12.30pm & 2.30pm


Old Chelsea Bun House
At Easter the Old Chelsea Bun House would be mobbed by Londoners wishing to get their hands on a hot cross bun or a Chelsea Bun. Enjoy a mouth-watering story about this famous 18th century bakery.
Duration: 30 mins.
No fee
Dates & times
Thursday 9 April 2009: 1.0pm & 2.0pm & 3.0pm
Friday 10 April 2009: 1.0pm & 2.0pm & 3.0pm
Thursday 16 April 2009: 1.0pm & 2.0pm & 3.0pm
Friday 17 April 2009: 1.0pm & 2.0pm & 3.0pm


Museum of London Docklands

Chocolate tasting
Follow the story of cocoa and chocolate from slavery to fair trade and try out its many flavours.
Duration: 1 hour(s) .
Advanced booking required.
No fee
Dates & times
Sunday 12 April 2009: 12.30pm & 2.30pm
Monday 13 April 2009: 12.30pm & 2.30pm

www.museumoflondon.org.uk
www.museumindocklands.org.uk

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS AND PHILIP PULLMAN HEAD UP A MONTH OF KID’S ACTIVITY AT THE QUAYS
With Spongebob Squarepants, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials and LazyTown all making appearances in April, The Quays – Greater Manchester’s waterfront destination – is the place to be when it comes to entertaining both kids and adults alike.

Featuring a host of exciting activities and venues within a single square mile there’s always something happening at The Quays and April is no exception.

Running over Easter Weekend itself (8-12 April) at The Lowry, LazyTown Live – The Pirate Adventure takes up where the phenomenally successful LazyTown Live show left off. It’s a brand new show full of star-jumps, power-moves, laugh out-loud sea-faring fun, and enough sing-along songs to get the whole family dancing in the aisles.

Then there’s the UK premier tour of Spongebob Squarepants – The Sponge Who Could Fly running from 15-19th April. A bizarre underwater musical featuring the zany Bikini Bottom gang, Spongbob and his pal Patrick yearn to swim with the jellyfish. Not to be missed.

Slightly older kids and adults won’t fail to be won over by the two-part adaptation for the stage of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. Taking place from 23-26th April it’s been a roaring success since its initial run at the National Theatre in 2004.

Meanwhile the Lowry Outlet Mall has a series of events for the children from 4-19th April. Events include magic shows, face painting, craft workshops and Beatrix Potter stories being read aloud. There’s also a Crème Egg and Spoon race taking place on April 10th.

Throughout April Imperial War Museum is hosting a series of family-led events from 6-10th April in the Learning Studio. In conjunction with the major Women War Artists children can design their own pictures based on the exhibition. This event runs concurrently with the regular Sunday hotspots (5th, 12th, 19th) that include such activities as badge-making, puppeteering and medals making.

The Lowry is also hosting a fantastic exhibition called Express Yourself running from 10th April right through until the end of September. An interactive journey for all the family, it charts the history of dance moves throughout the last 100 years and insists on visitors getting involved.

While at The Quays for any one of these shows why not also visit the amazing Imperial War Museum North with its child-friendly handling sessions and guided tours. It’s an experience like no other.

Both The Ramada Manchester Salford Quays and Old Trafford Lodge offer affordable accommodation for those looking to make a weekend out of it to fit all the fun in.

With The Quays the possibilities are endless.

http://www.thequays.org.uk/

NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM CORNWALL

Spring into Action

Dates: from 4th April 2009 to: 9th April 2009
Time: 12-3.30pm
Location: On Gallery

Celebrate Spring by creating a beautiful 3D flower, butterfly or creepy crawly, make your own Spring Crown and learn the ropes with our knots hunt.

*FREE with your museum ticket. Adult supervision required.

For more information on everything happening at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall download our Spring What’s On Guide.

Easter Weekend

Dates: from 10th April 2009 to: 13th April 2009
Time: 12-3.30pm
Location: On Gallery

Work off some of that chocolate with our fabulous ‘Faberge egg hunt’ and make an Easter crown to wear as you explore the Museum.

*FREE with your museum ticket. Adult supervision required.

For more information on everything happening at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall download our Spring What’s On Guide.

www.nmmc.co.uk

Please Note
All information is supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change. Please check with individual organizations for the latest information about all events, products, or news items. Inclusion in a news item does not imply endorsement by Hot Brands Cool Places. Hot Brands Cool Places does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site.