Sometimes its about making the most of what you have already spent money on. The questions about fireworks started early in my house and the local options are amazing and are actually all for very good causes but it does end up a lot of money with entrance and most of them now have rides to pay for and candy floss etc.

So managed to convince the kids that as we had Merlin Passes which we bought instead of a summer holiday this year that we should do fireworks at Legoland instead. We went yesterday and got there early as it does get full and I was not prepared to pay extra to make sure we got in. Made sure I was organised enough to take a picnic and we went in at 10.30 and and left at 8.30pm saw all the fireworks, went on any rides with shortish queues and saw several shows. I was going to have tea in one of the restaurants and use the kids eat free after 3 offer but cheeky people changed it to after the fireworks which was too late for us and we had to just grab an extra sandwich.

The Merlin Passes are a large outlay and not sure I will be able to afford it next year (although I will start the hunt for better ways to get them - Tesco vouchers I have heard works well?).

I am going to see that I get the best value ever from mine this year. We bought them in August as we were going to drive to Scotland to visit a friend and it meant we would pass Alton Towers on the way and Warwick Castle on the way back. While we were in Scotland we happened upon the Sealife at Loch Lomand which was also covered by the pass. We also went to Legoland a couple of weeks ago so with today's visit we have already more than covered the cost. I wonder how many other visits we can squeeze in before next August?

Will keep you posted.