From a rainy staycation in Scotland to two trips to Alton Towers, how family-of-24 the Radfords celebrate summer
WHEN you've got a large family, going on a summer holiday can seem like a military operation - something that the Radfords know very well.
However, the family-of-24 still prioritise going on an annual summer holiday together every year, and are currently away at Alton Towers.
But this isn't the only holiday the family have been on recently - they've also been camping in Scotland, had a trip to the beach and walks at Center Parcs.
Need some staycation inspiration?
Here's how the Radfords celebrate summer.
Fun at Alton Towers
Taking kids out for a family theme park day can be hectic - but imagine what it is like for mum-of-22 Sue Radford.
Earlier this year Sue, 46, and Noel, 50, took their whopping brood for a day of fun at Alton Towers.
The family could be seen enjoying the rides and exploring the grounds during their bumper visit.
Poking fun at their large party size, Sue could be seen jokingly checking in all of her kids using a clipboard of names.
Sue and Noel are parents to Chris, 32, Sophie, 27, Chloe, 25, Jack, 24, Daniel, 22, Luke, 20, Millie, 19, Katie, 18, James, 17, Ellie, 16, Aimee, 15, Josh, 13, Max, 12, Tillie, 11, Oscar, nine, Casper, eight, Hallie, five, Phoebe, four, Archie, three, Bonnie, two, and Heidie, one.
Sadly the couple's 17th child Alfie was still born on July 6, 2014.
The family famously don’t rely on benefits, but support themselves with the family’s pie business.
The Radfords have been thoroughly enjoying lockdown easing and their Alton Towers trip last year was so much fun, Britain’s biggest family have returned there for another fun-filled trip.
Sue shared pictures of her family at Alton Towers on Instagram and said: “What an AMAZING day making beautiful memories.
“Absolutely love Alton Towers.”
Sue shared a video of her children playing with water guns and said: “so so funny we got soaked”.
The kids even got their faces painted - from cute unicorn designs to a cool spiderman look.
But it wasn’t all rainbows - 10-year-old Tillie passed out on one of the rides.
Sue reassured fans that everything was ok and said: “She’s fine apparently it happens a lot because of the speed.”
Sue then showed the family in the rollercoaster restaurant, as their food and drinks were transported to their table by a clever rollercoaster.
Today, the family gathered for breakfast en masse and tucked into pancakes with Nutella, fruit and the full English fry-up.
It seems like they're having a great time!
Caravan stays in Scotland
Last year the Radfords headed to Scotland for a family staycation, enjoying trips to Primark and an unfortunate incident with a seagull.
The supersized family had planned a four-week ‘holiday of a lifetime’ to Australia, but had to change their plans due to coronavirus.
Instead the family headed to Scotland and stayed at a caravan park in Edinburgh, meeting up with another large family, the Walker’s, who have nine children.
Chatting in a YouTube video, she said: “Today we're going away for the week.
"We're staying with our friends in their caravan, they have some caravans at a site in Edinburgh, so we're staying there until Monday - and then going to another caravan site with them for the rest of the week.
Sue revealed that packing for so many children was “crazy”, as she desperately tried to round everyone up.
She added: “It was very, very, very stressful getting everyone in. But we did it! We've got about two hours and a bit of a drive now."
The family finally made it after an eight and a half hour journey.
Sue filmed her son Casper showing off his new skills at the caravan park, after he learned to ride a bike.
The parents then split up for the day, with Noel taking some of the kids to a park, while Sue went to “Primani with some of the older girls,” he said.
And Noel surprised his hungry brood, after they didn’t bring any sandwiches, as he announced in their latest YouTube clip: “There’s been a change of plan, we’re getting McDonald’s.”
Meanwhile Sue’s shopping trip is successful, as she says: “We’ve got loads.”
Although she revealed there had been a disaster with the McDonald’s order, as she said: “Noel and the kids had McDonald's and Oscar was just sat eating his burger and the seagull just came down on him and took it out his hand. Naughty seagulls.”
Sue shared snaps from their trip after they visited the Kelpies, giant horse head sculptures, in Falkirk.
She wrote on Instagram: “We’ve had such a busy day today with @walkerfamily11 we went to see the Kelpies."
This summer, the Radford’s went back to Scotland for a camping trip to celebrate their daughter Phoebe’s fifth birthday.
Sue, 46, and Noel, 50, posted a snap of their 22 kids dressed in ponchos in the pouring rain - but the classic British weather didn’t seem to be dampening their spirits.
The bumper brood have been making the most of their kids being broken up for the holidays by hiring two camper vans and touring around Scotland.
During the trip they have done pony-trekking, dolphin watching and they also said they were making the "most amazing memories" exploring the North Coast 500.
Posting their rainy snap, Sue wrote: “Our last day in Scotland was spent here @nevisrange we had such a lovely day the gondola.
“Was absolutely brilliant.
“If you are near fort William on your travels definitely check it out we loved it.”
Walks at Center Parcs
The family are also big fans of Center Parcs.
Last May, Sue shared a clip on the family's YouTube channel revealing the surprise trip to her large brood - to shrieks of delight.
Sue, from Morecambe, Lancashire, said: “We have something very exciting planned for this weekend and the kids know nothing.
“I’m frantically trying to get everything sorted out. I’ve got a mountain of washing to put away.”
Gathering her whopping family together in the lounge, Sue told them: “Guess where we are going this weekend? Holiday!”
Unsurprisingly, the kids seemed overjoyed at the news and were seeing dancing round the lounge in happiness.
Once they arrived at their Center Parcs lodge, the family wasted no time in exploring their woodland cabins and riding on scooters.
Noel added: “Kids have enjoyed playing out, they’ve been playing out until about 9pm tonight and worn themselves out.
“Finally gone to sleep so hopefully we might get a lie in in the morning you never know.
“I think tomorrow we might try and hire some bikes and get out on them for the day, which will be fun.”
Trips to the Beach
Another one of the Radford's favourite staycation ideas is a trip to the beach.
After all, you can't go wrong with the sun on your skin and the sand in-between your toes, can you?!
The Radford's took their whopping brood on a trip to the beach last September and shared photos of the fun-filled day out on Instagram, with the caption: “A few picks from today while filming down on the beach.”
The photos showed the large family eating ice cream and lined up on the sea-front as they enjoyed their time together.
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