DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge is a 4 star hotel located next to the Queen Elizabeth Bridge over the River Thames. The hotel has modern bedrooms with internally equipped air conditioning and various other amenities, that any guest would need for a convenient stay. The hotel offers bedrooms designed for all sorts of guests, either solo travellers or couples, those staying with family or business guests. 

My family and I stayed in a 2 queen bed deluxe room that also offered the view of the bridge along with the other fantastic amenities. I would say this room is definitely a great choice for families, due to the larger space available for the little ones to play and to run around. 

DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge has their own private car park with ample space for parking, available for the hotel guests. Also, it has a fantastic location as it’s quite near to the two big shopping centres in the area, Lakeside and Bluewater where one can spend time in shopping or enjoy a meal or even a sweet treat at any of the restaurants or dessert parlours located inside the mall. Freshly cooked waffles are always one of my favourite items on the menu at a popular dessert parlour located inside the Bluewater shopping centre. 

We found a convenient parking spot in the car park, after which headed straight to our room after a very smooth check-in.  

The first thing on entering the room that caught my eye was a welcome pack laid aesthetically on the coffee table. I’m a huge fan of a rich chocolate cake, and this was perfect to go with an evening hot drink especially after burning some calories at the spa. I am also really fond of hand written, personalised messages as they instantly level up the whole guest experience and makes one feel welcomed. 

Just after settling in and unpacking, we decided to go straight to the spa to enjoy a dip in the indoor pool and to relax in the jacuzzi. The spa also has a sauna and steam room, but we enjoyed looking at the little one playing with water and twirling in the pool in his swim ring. 

We were provided bathrobes and slippers in our room, which is always very convenient when staying at a hotel. Since I am not a fan of walking barefoot, I make sure to carry my slippers, but just as we left for the hotel, I realised I hadn't packed one.  

Our spacious bedroom also had USB ports, a safe, LCD TV, a hair dryer and iron with the stand. The interior was modern and comfortable beds were great for a good night's sleep. 

Our room also had a kettle and tea and coffee facility, which husband enjoyed after coming back to the room from the spa. Just after that, we drove out for some dinner before hitting the bed to catch some Z's. 

After a good night's sleep, we headed to the restaurant for breakfast. I am so glad the breakfast is served until 11:00 am on weekends, because it gave me a chance to sleep a bit longer. 

The restaurant offers a variety of both hot and cold breakfast items including fried eggs, mushrooms and tomatoes, hash browns, and freshly baked croissants. Different types of breads, juices, hot drinks, fruits, yogurt as well as the cereal bar was also present. I was told they also cater to gluten and dairy free options, but the little one wasn't keen on eating anything, so we didn't order anything for him. 

My family and I had a fantastic staycation at DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge, and I would definitely love to stay there again in the future.

Struggling for ideas for your child’s next birthday party? Here are 5 ideas you could try out with your child that can get them out of the house, or begin to use the house more creatively.

Getting your child outside and exploring will give them a lot of confidence and it’s a cost-effective solution that will get all the kids out and playing. The first ones to find all of the clues to get to the treasure will get a special present.

A great party idea is heading out to the swimming pool and having a good chance to play in the water with their friends. A pool party is always a good shout and can be put together very easily at your local swimming pool. Why not try this swimming pool in Northwood?

While children love to have a cake in front of them, you could flip it on its head and get all of the kids to make a cake together. Buy a range of icings and mixes to put together a range of different cakes, or just make cupcakes!

A classic with kids is bowling, as anyone of any age can really appreciate it for what it is and how fun it can really be. It’s a great way for children to try out something new as well; it can often be something not everyone has tried out before. Bowling parties are regularly organised and held all across the UK.

If your child is younger and still appreciates those play centres, you can hire out a soft play area for a few hours with your child’s friends. You can always bring your own food and drinks (if allowed) and get them involved in the making of the food, or just let them enjoy as much as they can!

Anxiety is a big player in many of our lives, but it’s also important to address the risk of them in younger people. Stress and mental health is important to manage in modern day, and our children will also need that support through school. Here are some top tips to help your child manage their stress and anxiety, as recommended by this private school in Wales.

Having those regular conversations with your child is going to do a world of good. They will feel a lot more confident in their abilities if they know they have someone in their corner there to support them. It helps your child know who they can turn to if they do need that extra help, and it will make your child feel a lot more comfortable.

It’s also important to not stifle your child if they are feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes that space you’ve made for your child is going to be their safe space, and it’s important to provide them with that space to destress and think. It’s a good way to train your child to be a lot more independent and responsible as well; they’re able to think about how they would manage these feelings in the future.

Managing a child’s stress is going to be key to their development. There are going to be a lot of different elements to consider in life, like going through school and navigating different exams, among other stresses in life. Work on managing deep breaths, using games as ample distraction, and other techniques that are known to work with your child.

Stress hits us in different ways, so it’s important to explore different areas of your child’s mental health. Assess how your child is doing in everyday life and work towards their studies, general health and more. And let them turn to you if they need guidance.

When it comes to particular studies, your child should feel like they’re in control of their future and what’s to come. Having their career goals in mind is going to be a popular topic of conversation for kids as well, which is why your child should have a think about what is going to be their area of study in the future.

In this guide, we explore the apprenticeship benefits and if it’s the right choice for your child.

Schools can be a tough environment to grow in, which means that learning is just a lot more complicated in these situations. Having that on your mind can be tough for a child, and if they don’t have any aspirations to go forward with academic ways of study it can mean that they should look elsewhere. An apprenticeship in this case would be the ideal scenario for your child.

Practical work does mean that your child is going to be a lot more hands on with their projects. They may prefer art work, or more interactive activities as opposed to sitting in the classroom and taking on more academic ways of learning. With many children learning in different ways it can be difficult for children to remain focused, which is why an apprenticeship is a great avenue to go down.

It’s known that this area of the industry is always going to be high in demand, but also not very attractive to younger students. Taking on an apprenticeship is the best way to pick up skills that make the world of construction a lot more appreciated. There is also the added benefit of exploring many different courses, from plant training, health and safety, to a streetworks course.

Maintaining your home is going to be important for you to keep on top of. Like cleaning the house, it’s best to have a good idea of what you can do to keep your home in tip top condition. Here are 5 checks you should perform on a yearly basis.

Having leaks or cracks in the home can cause damp and other structural damage to your home, sometimes without even realising it. This is the time for you to make sure your home is structurally sound. Doing a bit of ground investigation will give you peace of mind in the colder months.

Having a functional boiler is going to help you gain a lot of reassurance when it comes to heating the home and ensuring it works properly. It should be serviced annually, and regular maintenance will ensure that your boiler is in tip top condition all year round.

Clear out your gutters on a regular basis. In the autumn and winter they can get overfilled with leaves and other debris which can cause clogs and leaks across the outside of your home. Keep these areas clean to reduce the amount of damp or cracks that could form on the outside of your house.

If there are any tiles that are damaged or missing, you should replace them as soon as possible. Having a lot of rain fall down in these areas can cause leaks very quickly, so it’s important that they are fixed up.

Winter can cause many issues around the house, like too much moisture in the air or plant damage. Similarly in the summer there’s often a number of instances where the grass is too dry or it’s caused the wood around your home to expand. Keep an eye on these all year round for any significant changes.

A team player is going to be a huge asset to anyone’s classroom or in the outside world. It helps your child develop so many of their key skills, as well as discover ways to develop new ones. Many schools, like this independent girls prep school, will have many opportunities for their students to work well in lots of different groups, which will give your child that competitive edge. But there are other ways you can raise a team player throughout your child’s life from home.

Lots of activities require you to work well in a team and delegate tasks. This is no different to when you’re working in school on a project or in a specific sport. Have an opportunity for your child to try out lots of exciting activities that will give your child the freedom to make new friends and communicate with others. This is also the perfect time for your child to find their true passion in life.

Having a well formed team also means there needs to be a good leader in charge of all main responsibilities. This is where your child should also be trained to do well in their skills built up thus far. Show them what it takes to be a leader that listens to others and takes their advice on board.

A big aspect of building well in a team means that your child should be able to cater to their strengths. Show your child what their strengths are to help them provide their own input that makes things easier on them and in their team. A team that caters to everyone’s strengths is a lot more likely to gel together than those that don’t.

Last week my family and I stayed at the Presidential Suite at the Hilton London Croydon for a short getaway. London is my forever favourite destination, and I believe one can never get bored of the city no matter how many times you’ve visited as there’s always something new to do, from the endless options for dining out to different sorts of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy and make memories. 

Located in South London, Hilton London Croydon is no doubt, one of my favourite hotels to stay in whenever visiting London. From the hospitality of the staff at check-in, during the stay and at check-out, I felt my family and I were very well looked after throughout the stay. 

Hilton London Croydon has a secured parking space for the hotel guests (costs £9 per night) and has a very welcoming entrance with a very thoughtfully done interior. 

As soon as I reached the reception for check-in, I was mesmerised by the subtle fragrance and quickly realised it was their newly launched wellness box right in front of my eyes. The box contains 2 bath bombs for a mesmerising bath, a room and linen mist, a diffuser and a face serum - all my favourite things!

Our King Presidential Suite at Hilton London Croydon was absolutely brilliant, loved the extra space and decor at first instance. I am always very keen on space because BabyM’ loves to explore and run around to keep himself entertained. Our suite had a sofa, dining area, mini-fridge, work desk, 48-inch TV, along with WiFi. 

The idea of a separate living, working and dining area made us feel right at home. Some of the other features included complimentary tea and coffee facility, USB socket, mini fridge, safe and fluffy bathrobes, slippers, hair dryer, safe, iron and ironing board.

Our suite had a separate bathtub and shower along with Crabtree and Evelyn(R) toiletries (body wash, lotion and shampoo).