laurasidestreet travel (@laurasidestreet)

8 more places in South & West Wales that feels like Narnia. 1. Margam Park, Port Talbot Historic country park with the ruins of a 12th-century Cistercian monastery’s and a Grade 1 listed Tudor-Gothic mansion said to be haunted. 2. Manorbier Castle, Pembrokeshire Not only does this costal castle…

Welsh Museums Festival The Welsh Museums Festival takes place this October half term with a whole week of workshops, special events, Halloween trails, sustainable crafts and family friendly activities. My kids and I absolutely love exploring our local museums, from the larger and more well known…

This view at Chepstow Castle gets me everytime. Wales really is the Land of living legends, mythology, ancient folklore and medieval castles and it gives me so much joy living here. #chepstow #chepstowcastle #welshhistory #welshtiktok #medievaltok

7 places in South and West Wales that feels like Narnia. I could have made this list a lot longer but here are a few places that capture that sense of magic and sometimes it really does feel like Wales is the stuff of fairytales. 1. Llanthony Priory, NP7 7NN Sitting deep within the black…

Our first visit to Bru Coffee Cool interiors, friendly staff and delicious food, plus freshly baked focaccia, which I’ve tasted myself and definitely recommend. Whether you catching up with friends or catching up on emails, if you want a coffee or delicious brunch or perhaps indulgent pancakes…

2026 has been quite hard for a lot of people, around the world, for a variety of reasons, which is why it’s so important to make sure you prioritise a little time away from any mental load that is weighing you down. Even if it’s just a 5 min walk in the woods. Focusing on your mental wellbeing is…

This weekend we popped down to @Gower Fresh Christmas Trees pick your own pumpkin patches and it’s a lovely day out in the fresh air and nature with the bonus of beautiful views across the Gower Peninsula. Day time tickets are £5 per car (up to 6 people). * That gives you access to the pumpkin…

If you are in and around Merthyr Tydfil then I recommend visiting Teddingtons Field. Once a rather forgotten football field had been turned into a beautiful community green space where art and nature inspire you to connect with the environment. It’s less of a walk and more a place to come relax…

A solo brunch date & trip to the National Museum Cardiff makes a great budget friendly birthday. I recently turned 42 and as a busy parent I always try to do something just for me but with my son’s birthday a week after mine it usually means the budget is tight. I was really fancying some sort of…

Autumn Equinox 🍂 And just like that we wave goodbye to summer for another year and hello to the season of evening sunsets, warm drinks, slower weekends & woodland wanders. Both the kids & I are getting older, I’m holding on to moments like this more and more especially with so much happening in…

A walk around the outskirts of Caerphilly Castle Having Wales largest Castle on our doorstep never goes amiss. Whenever I have a spare half hour and I’m nearby, I enjoy a relaxed walk around the outskirts of the castle. It’s free and you get the see the castle from all different angles. There is…

My first visit to @birdandblendtea and I will definitely be going back. The staff are sooo friendly & knowledgeable and went through all their Roobois teas with me. They also have some really nice seasonal teas and chais as well as lots of Matcha. They also have a super cute Moomin tea and a…

Just a few thoughts on this brief moment in time when it’s raining but not cold and unlike peak summer you value it more because you know the winter months are on the way. A little stroll around Pontypridd #warmrain #pontypridd #lifeinwales #welshlife #southwalesvalleys

5 places in South Wales we keep going back to, Part 4 . I love sharing the places that keep pulling us back time and time again. South Wales has some fantastic green spaces to reconnect with nature, please leave no trace so they can be enjoyed for many generations to come. 1. Forest Farm &…

Sometimes all you needed was to get outside. Nothing grand but a simple walk can be the reminder you need that nature is beautiful and the world is worth caring about. #getoudoors #llandaff #southwales #welshwalks #CapCut

The boys and I first visit to Chedworth Roman Villa in the Cotswolds during a recent mini break to Cheltenham - we were not disappointed! It has the longest Mosiac floor in the UK and the location is incredible although you do have to drive down one car tracks to get to it. If you have an interest…

Jump Adventure Newport We were recently invited to come and check out Jump Adventure in Newport which is a great all weather option. There are over 50 trampolines, a wipeout machine, soft ball, basketball hoop, small ninja warrior course and football area - lots of space to burn off energy. The…

I’m absolutely a summer person but even so Autumn in Wales is a really magical time of the year and the landscape turns to golden browns. #wales #southwales #lifeinwales #autumninwales #welshtiktok

Why do I love Wales so much? This is a random Monday evening walk, hope that answers your question ❤️ But yes besides the rolling hills & stunning landscape, the history, language, culture and people are all pretty special too. 📍 The Billy Wynt, Llantrisant #southwales #lifeinwales #welshtiktok…

Come rain or shine St Fagans National Museum of Wales is always a good idea | ad visit I have been brining my kids to St Fagans for over 10yrs, summer isn’t summer without a few days spent exploring the 100 acres of parkland, woodland and gardens alongside over 40 historical buildings and indoor…

Castell Cilgerran is up there as one of our favourite free castles to visit and you can see why. Located near Cardigan, the castles impressive round towers site high above the deep gorge of the River Teifi and they offer fantastic views across Pembrokeshire. Between the 12th & 13th century this…

Turtle Bay Cheltenham is a great family friendly place to eat. On a recent mini break to Cheltenham we dined at Turtle Bay, which is always a favourite for me and the boys as it’s so family friendly & welcoming. The upbeat atmosphere and domino’s at each table are always hit & we are big fans of…

These are the memories I will take with me when I leave this earth one day and that means more to me than anything I could ever get own #familytravel #travelmemories #wortheverypenny #traveltok #exploretheworld

The Big Welsh Bite. The annual food festival in Pontypridd, always free entry and lots for all ages to enjoy including free demos and entertainment. I find the food is reasonably priced for this kind of event and it’s a great way to support local businesses and it’s always wonderful seeing so many…

Cefn Fforest Eco Park was Wales first community Eco park. This green space was once threatened by development but has now been turned into a wonderful community space. It’s not the biggest but it has accessible paths, a meadow and woodland and small stream. It’s very clean and the perfect spot for…

We recently stayed at Cheltenham Holiday Inn Express and we had a great time - managed to find a room with a double bed and sofa bed for £63, it also happened to have a view across Cheltenham which was great. The price includes a really decent breakfast - hot food, fruit, pastries, coffee, fruit…

The Helios has arrived at The National Museum Cardiff This amazing seven meter-wide artwork by Luke Jerram, allows you to get up close and personal with the sun. Using real solar imagery from NASA, this glowing sculpture gives you the chance to really take in the suns surface which also shows…

If you are looking for a cute and quirky place to have a cup of tea or coffee with a slice of Bara Brith or a Welsh Cake, served on Vintage china then the Nantgawr China Works Museum is the place. I recommend going when the sun is out as you can sit in the beautiful garden. It’s not a full scale…

Tewkesbury Medieval festival! Considered the largest free medieval festival in Europe and has been going since 1983. We had the best time! Yes we did struggle with the heat due to the heatwave but we also prepared ourselves with fans, water bottles and breaks in the shade. Highly recommend…

Another week of hot weather in South Wales calls for a shaded walk beneath the trees of Parc Cefn Onn. This historic park is one of those places we visit in every seasons and it never fails to be beautiful. The woodland garden and dingle are lovely and cool under despite the high temperatures…