Category: Activities

Winter family fun

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  1. Go outdoors and find a frosty spider’s web (then make your own using PVA glue and silver glitter)
  2. Make a puppet theatre using leftover Christmas cardboard, then create a puppet show
  3. Create a bird feeder using a pine cone, lard and bird seed then take pictures of the birds as they feed in your garden!
  4. Create your own puzzles. Stick a family photo, or a child drawn picture to card and cut it into shapes
  5. Go bowling, it’s a great fun indoor activity that the whole family can enjoy!
  6. Go to a castle and be a knight. Don’t forget to make a shield out of card and foil before you go!
  7. Create a campfire and toast some marshmallows
  8. Collect shells and create fun pictures on the beach, or in the forest with stones and twigs.
  9. Teach your child to thread or sew, for younger children use cardboard with holes punched in it and string as thread.
  10. Go on a scavenger hunt. Give children photos of things to find or set up written clues to help older children find items outside.
  11. Visit a pottery café and create your very own masterpiece.

 

Amazing and Cheap UK attractions

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  1. The Guards Museum, London

Adult: £6, Children: Free

Everyday around 11.30am the Changing of the Guards ceremony happens outside Buckingham Palace (this is FREE to watch!!). The guards who protect the Sovereign have carried out this duty since 1660 and during the ceremony you will see a regiment march from Wellington Barracks to Buckingham Palace to take over the guard. This ceremony takes place every day from April- July and on alternate days throughout the rest of the year (weather permitting). Afterwards pay a visit to the Guards Museum for an enjoyable and educational visit. You can learn all about the various regiments and at the end you might even get to try on a bear skin!

 

  1. The Clink Prison, London

Family £18, Adult: £7.50, Child: £5.50

This museum is built on the original site of a medieval prison. The kids will love the hands on educational experience where you are able to handle original artefacts including torture devices. You will also hear lots of amazing stories about the prison’s past, the inmates and the notorious South Bank.

 

  1. Liberty’s Owl, Raptor & Reptile Centre, Ringwood

Discover one of the South’s largest collection of bird of prey, reptiles, creepy crawlies and more at the Liberty Centre near Ringwood. The flying displays with take your breath away and we can almost guarantee that you’ll learn something exciting and new about the animals you meet. After you’ve looked around, why not stop for a bite to eat at the cafe and the kids can blow off some steam in the play area and sandpit.

 

4.Windmill Hill City Farm – Bedminster, Bristol

FREE ENTRY

This small community farm has loads to offer and is a great day out for kids of all ages. You’ll be able to meet loads of animals, such as goats, sheep, pigs and chickens, and learn all about farming. There’s also a kids play area when they can run around while you refuel with a coffee.

 

  1. Museum of Transport, Manchester

Adult: £4, Children: Free

Take a trip into the past at Manchester’s Museum of Transport. Wander through the UK’s biggest collection of vintage trams, busses, coaches and more including a real horse and carriage and retro double decker bus! Keep the kids entertained on your day out with the free kids quiz which they can complete as they discover each artefact.

 

  1. Boscombe Coastal Activity Park – Bournemouth, Dorset

FREE ENTRY

Stroll down Boscombe Beach and you will be able to enjoy a whole host of coastal activities including free swing ball, table tennis, bouldering and don’t forget to check out the music trail on the pier!

 

  1. Hoar Park Farm, Nuneaton

Family: £11, Adult: £3, Child: £2.50, Under 2: Free

At Hoar Park farm you can meet a whole bunch of different animals such as goats, chickens, geese, ponies, donkeys, pigs, deer, cows, guinea pigs, rabbits and even a tarantula called Rosie, who you can touch! There’s also a playground where your little ones can run around and keep themselves busy for an hour or two.

 

  1. Alice Holt Forest, Surrey

FREE! (Parking Charges Apply)

For a day of exploration and activity outdoors take the family to Alice Holt Forest where you can walk, cycle, play or have a picnic. The kids can discover the play area where there’s a pirate ship to climb and explore, a nest swing and even a 3D maze! Entrance is free for all the only cost is parking, which starts at £1.80 for 1 hour, up to £8 for 4+ hours.

 

  1. Fancy’s Family Farm – Portland, Dorset

FREE ENTRY

Fancy’s Farm has loads of animals and critters that you won’t see at any regular farm! Including slow worms, lizards and even wallabies! Kids will love meeting all the different animals, especially Dinky the Miniature Horse!

 

  1. The Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester

Family: £18.99, Adult: £5.99, Child: £3.99, Under 3: Free

Shopping and soft play

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The majority of large shopping centres now have that sanctuary of cushions, nets and multi coloured balls, the playcentre! Here are five of the best, picked due to their size and proximity to the largest numbers of Mums and Dads in need of a little retail therapy!

KidZania London; Westfield, London

Have your kids ever dreamt of becoming a pilot, a firefighter, or the next award-winning singer? Kidzania is a child-size city inside the shopping centre! With over 60 real life role-play activities in the bank, on stage or fighting crime on the streets as a police officer! KidZania is a real-life role play experience for 4-14-year olds, blending learning and reality with children’s entertainment.

Bluewater; Greenhithe, Kent

With various play areas to choose from; Bluewater is the perfect hangout for you, your friends and your family whilst letting your little monsters have some serious fun! Check out the Pirate Cove Adventure Park with caves, cascading waterfalls, pedalos and two 18-hole adventure golf courses! Children and parents alike can enjoy these fun outdoor spaces complete with sandpits, climbing equipment and picnic areas!

Bullring Shopping Centre; Birmingham

Teenie Weenies at the Bullring offer two dedicated multi-tiered soft play areas, allowing children to play in a fun exciting environment! For the older kids why not check out the Junior Frame. With children’s activities designed to stimulate and challenge children including; a spider’s web, ball pits, zip wires, rope bridges, and a variety of slides. For the little ones the Toddlers Frame provides younger children the chance to play and have fun with mum and dad.

Trafford Centre; Manchester

Approximately five miles west of Manchester city centre, the Trafford Centre is hard to miss! Here the soft play area is designed for kids under 10, and includes a huge ball pool, slides, climbing nets, tube crawls, rope swings etc. For children under 6 there is the Little Tikes play area. Not enough? Then how about the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, SEA LIFE and Paradise Island Adventure Golf. Plus, the ODEON cinema shows a range of family films and host ODEON Kids film screenings on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Intu Metrocentre; Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

The outdoor play area at intu Metrocentre Qube is designed to provide challenging fun for children from 3-10 years old. With a fireman’s pole, climbing walls, and dance chimes there are plenty of activities to keep little ones entertained and give mums and dads a rest!

Is your kid football crazy?

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If you have budding little footballer in the making and are looking for a fab fun day out, then this handy list will give you lots of inspiration! From museums, stadium tours to dining experience, there’s bound to be something for all of the family to enjoy… whether they’re a fan or not!

London Stadium Tours, London

Take a fun and memorable self‐guided audio tour around the home to West Ham United! You’ll get to experience what it’s like to walk through the ‘tunnel’, check out the changing rooms and explore the stands. There are plenty of photo opportunities and at the end of the tour you will get a free personalised certificate too!

National Football Museum, Manchester

This is the perfect day out for all of your aspiring mini footballers! You’ll get to learn all about the history of the beautiful game and see the many collections displaying famous kits, trophies and invaluable archives.

Museum and Stadium Tour, Old Trafford Manchester

For the little Red Devil in your family, treat them to an unforgettable day out at the Manchester United Museum and Tour! Within the museum are various trophies won by the club and displays depicting the club’s most famous achievements and individuals. The Stadium tour offers visitors a chance to get a glimpse of the view from The Alex Ferguson Stand and then head down into the dressing room. Stop for a spot of lunch in the unique Red Cafe, making this the perfect day out.

Cafe Football Stratford London & Old Trafford Manchester

Owned by Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville, this cafe is the ultimate destination for both football fanatics and foodies! Enjoy a relaxed dining experience which is influenced by the spirit of football. They also have fun kids menu which includes a visit to the sweet shop or ice cream parlour.

Scottish Football Museum, Glasgow

On your visit to this fascinating museum, you’ll learn the history of the beautiful game in Scotland. There are over 14 galleries and 2500 objects for you to see, with collections including The Scottish FA Collection and The Hampden Park Collection!

A1 Football Factory, Knottingley

This amazing indoor football facility offers an artificial all weather 3G surface, making it perfect whatever the weather! It’s a fantastic place to hold a football or rugby birthday party, with party food, medals, games and even a bouncy castle included!

Wembley Stadium Tour, London

Bring the family here to relive some of the greatest moments of sporting and music history. You can go behind the scenes see the historic changing rooms, take a seat in Roy Hodgson’s hot-seat in the press room, experience walking through the Players Tunnel, climb the 107 trophy winner’s step and sit in the Royal Box. Tour takes 75 minutes.

Arsenal Emirates Stadium Tour, London

If you are a family of ‘Gooners’ or simply love the beautiful game, this is the place for you! The self-guided tour offers you the chance to follow in your hero’s’ footsteps as you explore the changing rooms, then walk through the tunnel and take in the atmosphere of the crowd. You can also test your knowledge against an Arsenal expert.

Chelsea FC Stadium Tours and Museum, London

The stadium tours and museum at Stamford Bridge will be an unmissable experience for football lovers of all ages, especially for the Blues fans! The an hour-long guided tour will give you access to areas normally reserved for the players and officials, including the home and away dressing rooms, press room, the tunnel and  dug-out areas.

Enjoy the journey

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Here’s our handy guide of some super fun things to do with kids whilst on a long car journey…

  1. Play the ‘Name Five Game’.  One person chooses a theme, such as ‘animals’, and the other person needs to name five things in that category.
  1. Get one of these I-spy books! Inside there are lots of things for kids to spot on a long road trip… and they get points for everything they see!
  1. Play A-Z I spy. Try to find something you can see out of the window for each letter of the alphabet. This simple and fun game may also help kids who suffer from travel sickness.
  1. Play bingo. Make a list or a picture list of things kids may see on the journey. As they spot each item on the list, they can cross it off!
  1. Pack a loom band bracelet making kit and the kids will be kept busy twisting away!
  1. Get the kids to find all the numbers up to 10 on number plates and for older children get them to find all the letters of the alphabet.
  1. Car colour spotting: choose a colour each, then count how many cars of that colour you see!
  1. Take along an activity and games book, such as one of these activity books that have 100 things for little children to do.
  1. Play the ‘What do you like best’ game. Ask one person ‘what do you like best, chocolate or strawberry ice cream?’ Once they have answered they ask you a different question back.
  1. Make up a story. One person needs to start the story with a single sentence and then the next person continues the story with their own sentence, etc.

Get your skates on

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Ice skating is a perfect winter day out; the whole family can get involved and it helps everyone get into the festive spirit. With so many magical outdoor ice skating rinks, which one will you choose?

Natural History Museum, London

26th October – 7th January

Skate beneath frosted trees and fairy lights at the Natural History Museum, London. Head to the capital this Christmas and skate in front of a pretty impressive background. With skate aids for kids, plus a stunning tree to skate around, it’s the ideal place to kickstart that festive feeling.

 

M&D’s, Motherwell

18th November – 7th January

Skate at one of Scotland’s most well-known theme parks at M&D’s on Ice. Just because the roller coasters are closed it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. This is the perfect location if your kids get bored easily, as there is a great Santa’s grotto for you to visit. If you’re still looking for a Santa’s Grotto near you we’ve got you covered!

Best for: Those looking to tick off children’s Ice skating and Santa’s Grotto in one go.

 

Life Science Centre, Newcastle

11th November – 18th February

Feel alive at the Life Science Centre, Newcastle. Fly around on an ice rink beside a modern science museum for kids. The centre says there’s no need to book if you’re a group of ten and under, so make your way to the centre and put on a pair of boots. If you’re a regular skater you should make the most of the 10 skates for the price of 5 deal.

 

Bath On Ice, Royal Victoria Park

17th November – 2nd January

If you’re yet to find your feet on the ice, why not hire your own ice marshall at Royal Victoria Park? They will come at an extra cost, but it will be worth it when you see how happy your kids will be when they’ve finally cracked it. For a cheaper alternative skate aids are available too, and to make things even more exciting an extension was approved for this year, so the ice rink is bigger and better than ever before!

Best for: Those who skate more like Bambi than Torvill and Dean.

 

Royal Pavilion, Brighton

4th November – 14th January

Skate by the sea at the Royal Pavilion Ice Rink in Brighton. As well as an enormous ice rink for adults there is a smaller rink for the not-so-confident skaters. The outdoor ice rink has off-peak prices just after school time, so this will be perfect for those looking for an after school fun treat.

 

Messing about on the river

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Here’s a selection of boat trips across the UK for your budding little pirates!

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Hampshire

There’s so much to see and do at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with indoor and outdoor activities for children and the whole family. Learn about the Royal Navy as it is today and get an insight into what the future holds. Step on board historic ships that changed the world such as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860. Don’t miss the new‐look Mary Rose museum, which gives insight into Tudor life!.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool

Come and see the Fighting Ships, what life was like on board HMS Trincomalee and so much more at this authentically-created historic quayside of the 1800s! Your kids can jump aboard the children’s activities like the play ship for their own seafaring adventures and explore the Children’s Maritime Adventure Centre!

Windermere Lake Cruise

Come and take a cruise on England’s largest lake! Lasting from between 45 minutes to 3 hours, these trips are sure to please everyone in the family! Enjoy trips all around the lake with a Freedom of the Lake ticket, or join one of the evening cruises where kids get to watch the sunset, you can even get a ticket which combines some of the attractions around the lake.

Circular Cruise, London

Hop onboard and marvel at some of the capital’s amazing landmarks! With a live audio commentary along the way, you’re sure to learn some fascinating facts too! You’ll cruise along the River Thames, hop on at either Westminster Pier, Embankment Pier, Festival Pier, Bankside Pier or St Katharine’s Pier.

Thames River Services, London

Take the family on a fantastic return cruise to and from many piers located on the River Thames. Some of the fantastic landmarks you are likely to see include Cutty Sark, The O2 Arena, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, The London Eye, Big Ben, The Shard and plenty more! Each landmark is truly beautiful and has a unique historical story to tell.

City Cruises, London

Enjoy a fabulous all-day hop on, hop off cruise along the River Thames London offering you unlimited access to the majestic River Thames for 24 hours. You have the freedom to hop off and enjoy some sites and then hop back on at a time convenient to you to continue your cruise, making this is a fantastic family day out to see some of the Capital’s most iconic sites and learn a little bit of history too!

 

Nature loving kids

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We are sure to these places will please your little nature lovers!

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park

Nestled in the southern slopes of the Fforest Fawr massif, west of Merthyr Tydfil, the Waterfall Country is one of the most beautiful spots in the Brecon Beacons National Park! You’ll see steep, tree-lined gorges and lots of splashing water! It also contains two Sites of Special Scientific Interest, which include oak and ash trees and over 200 species of mosses, liverworts and ferns!

Cotter Force, North Yorkshire

Explore this lovely secluded waterfall in its beautiful woodland setting! It is a series of about half a dozen waterfalls, with the largest single drop being about 1.5m. The perfect tranquil day out!

Janet’s Foss, North Yorkshire

Try your hand at this popular walk, starting at Malham Village and ending at the magical waterfall at Janet’s Foss. You’ll encounter flagged paths through fields before making your way through the woodland on rough and rocky tracks!

Hardraw Force, Hawdraw, Yorkshire

Hardraw Force is home to England’s largest single drop waterfall with a reputed 100 foot drop! Set within the grounds of the historic Green Dragon Inn, little explorers are sure to be amazed at what this fascinating site has to offer.

Lydford Gorge, Okehampton

The White Lady Waterfall offers breathtaking views… and is a great family photo opportunity! The water runs down the gorge’s face like a stream of silk, inspiring theories around its name. It’s also super beneficial to surrounding wildlife too, with the wind and spray providing a rainforest-like environment for lots of fascinating plant life to form!

Mottisfont Abbey & Garden, Romsey, Hampshire

Surrounded by picturesque riverside gardens, this historic house is full of beauty from paintings, photographs and interior design. The gardens provide seasonal delights throughout the year, with spring offering an amazing blue carpet of ‘Glory of the snow’. There’s also a lovely Wild Play area for kids and great trails to follow!

Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall, Wales

This enchanting waterfall in the Berwyn Mountains is the highest waterfall in the UK! With water plummeting 240 ft from top to bottom, it’s no wonder many visitors return again and again!

Aberdulais Tinworks and Waterfall, Neath, Wales

Come and discover two fascinating attractions in one place! Set in a steep gorge, see how the water-powered tin worked and how the now giant water wheel is used to generate electricity. The kids can pick up a tracker pack which is stuffed full of children’s activities for them to complete as they make their way around! The Old Schoolhouse is now a great little tea room where you can feed the kids with light bites and treats.

 

Get some exercise with the kids

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If you’re looking for fun ways to get your little ones active, as well as cram in a little cardio yourself, have a go at some of the following ideas!

Music Motivation

If you’re looking for a fun way to get your kids active and ready for school in record time, why not throw on an upbeat playlist that they love and see if they can get ready before the songs are over. Shameless dancing around the kitchen is optional.

Gardening with Kids

Prepping the garden for spring and summer is the perfect (yet deceiving) way to get your little ones eager to move. Get them weeding, plant potting and watering flowers to give them some TV free time.

Weekly Sports Night

This one is great for getting the family together and being active. Whether its children’s activities like football in the park, bike riding or going for a swim, there’s lots of options available to keep things interesting each week!

Make Household Chores Fun

Whilst it’s easy for the kids to dismiss chores as boring, why not try and turn them into a fun game to get them moving? Challenging them to see how many toys they can put away in a minute might be all it takes to get them running around the house!

Sneak in More Steps

This one is a super easy way to make sure you’re moving as much as possible. There’s lots of ways to sneak in some more steps, from parking the car a few roads away, taking the stairs instead of the lift and more.

Take a Daily Walk With Kids

Taking a walk everyday is a great way to get your little ones into an exercise routine, which can be both active and educational. See if you can get them naming what wildlife and flowers they can spot on their travels! It doesn’t have to be far, as there’s sure to be something interesting at every corner.

 

Bank Holiday ideas

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One of the top times for the family to do something together is a Bank Holiday.  Many parents are on holiday or at least a day off.  But rather than just visit the family or hit the shops, what other things could you do with the kids to make for a memorable bank holiday? Heres some children’s entertainment ideas to make it fun.

London

Madame Tussauds is one of the most famous waxworks museums in the world . Over the last 87 years, Queen Elizabeth II has had 23 wax portraits done and the museum is holding an exhibition of all of them at one including a recreation of her coronation crown and a dress made with 53,000 Swarovski crystals.

England

For a typically strange English tradition, check out the football on the river at Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds.  It involves two teams playing football knee deep in the River Windrush with hundreds of spectators lining the river banks.  The event has happened every bank holiday for the last century – though no-one really knows why!

The Newlyn Fish Festival in Cornwall is a chance to sample some of the freshest and tastiest seafood straight from the boat.  The kids will love to see the catch come in and may find a new food favourite.  There are also cooking demonstrations and workshops as well as local craft stalls, live music and even a chance to get up close to one of the sea rescue helicopters.

Mathew Street Music Festival is known as the biggest festival of its kind in Europe and is free of charge. Little known acts travel from 30 countries around the world to delight listeners as well as tribute brands from the Beatles to modern groups.

Scotland & Northern Ireland

Another free festival can be found in Edinburgh with the Festival Fringe.  This is the biggest art festival in the world with everything from comedy and dance to theatre and live music on offer.  It only runs until the beginning of September so the Bank Holiday is a perfect time to catch it.

Wales

Of all the Bank Holiday events to witness, the World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Llanwrtyd Wells is perhaps the strangest.  Competitors travel from around the world to dress up in snorkelling gear and fight their way up the muddy river to glory.  Spectators are encouraged to come in fancy dress to add to the mad nature of the day and can even have a go at the sport if they bring their gear.

Cardiff Harbour Festival and is the finale of the free Cardiff Festival that runs all summer.  Listen to sea shanties while trying the very fresh seafood on offer as well as exploring the tall ships docked in the harbour.  The British Fishcraft Championships are taking place as well as a display by the Breitling Wing Walkers, fairground rides and a fancy dress competition for the kids

Ghost hunting is a popular pastime today and Raglan Castle is a great candidate for a resident spook.  The Haunted Histories tour and takes in one of the finest late medieval fortresses in the country.  The tour is definitely aimed at the kids with stories of the past and a few scares along the way.

If you like the water and a little bit of a challenge, why not try canoeing on the River Wye?  Han-on-Wye is the starting point where canoes can be hired, even strapping two together to make a family canoe.  Then off downstream with Wales to the left and England to the right for a full day or half-day trip.  When you get to the other end, enjoy a picnic and then get a lift back to your starting point as part of the package.