Category: Animals

The Rock to Padstow ferry

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The ferry from Rock to Padstow runs roughly every 20 minutes and takes 5-10 minutes to do the journey. The views are great and kids love the experience.

Go window shopping

Padstow is home to a lot of clothes shops like Joules, Seasalt and White Stuff but the chances are your kids won’t be a massive fan of those. Kids will really enjoy having a look into the windows of the places they will find interesting, asking about the different fish for sale in the fishmongers, looking at the huge paintings inside a gallery There’s also plenty of boats in the harbour and it’s fun to look at their names and where they are from or hunting for the biggest boat

Go to a food market

There is great little food and craft market near to the main car park in Padstow. Go and check out some local food the kids will love having little bits to try.

Go on a sea cruise

Boats like the Jubilee Queen run hour long cruises from Padstow that give you and the kids a chance to see some of the fabulous wildlife around Cornwall which can include dolphins, seals or even basking sharks.

Eat some chips

The Rick Stein Café is in the centre of town and is one of the most kid friendly cafes with crayons and colouring sheets on hand as well as food kids would actually eat which is pretty much unheard of.

Have a run around on the beach

There are several beaches in Padstow or if you’ve taken the ferry over then the beach at

Rock is great for playing on too. Perfect for kicking a ball about on, flying a kite or getting busy with a bucket and spade.

Getting a family dog

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So you’re thinking of adding a dog to the family? We all know that it’s a big responsibility. Knowing is one thing; however, the day to day reality can be trickier than you may imagine.

Like most responsibility, becoming a dog owner is a huge undertaking that is sometimes massively underestimated

  1. Dogs don’t like being alone.

So, unless you’re self-employed or have time-generous friends and family, be prepared to spend lots of money on a dog walker.

  1. Dogs always like walking; but mostly kids don’t.

Your vision: come Saturday mornings, the family will take long, leisurely walks with the pooch, on which the rosy-cheeked kids, liberated from their screens, will get tons of fresh air and exercise, right?

Sorry, You may love walking but kids? They can be surprisingly lazy when they want to be. The reality: kids sometimes whinge after 14 steps have even been taken – they also fall over. It’s not always the joyous situation you may have envisaged

  1. Days-out aren’t always suitable for doggies.

You would imagine that your dog would always accompany you on days out – and often they can. But it can get embarrassing when he’s running off with your kids sandwich. Fact is, sometimes its a less stressful day when the dog is at home.

  1. Picking up poo will be a big part of your life.

It’s an everyday part of dog ownership that cannot be avoided. Many people  have singled out this as the reason they don’t get a dog. But it isn’t that bad. Just like your kids when they were young you get used to wiping their little pooey bottoms, but then the thought of changing another kid’s turns your stomach? Same thing. You own dog will become a no big deal part of your life. Ask me to pick up another dog’s poop? Yuk!!

  1. It’s the next biggest responsibility to having a kid.

You don’t get a break from being a doggy parent – they need your time, care and attention, just like a child. And that is draining, especially when you already have little humans to look after. But you know what? Unlike kids, they don’t answer back, they sleep through pretty much straight away, they eat what you give them…

Go wild in London

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Despite all the noise and never ending traffic the capital city has a lot of outdoor wild spaces for children to explore and what is best is a lot of these spaces are completely free making them the perfect stop when your in the city on a budget this summer. So pack a picnic and waterproofs and get ready to go wild in London.

Regents Park

Did you know there was an allotment space ready to explore and open to the public right in the heart of London? Well Regents Park Allotment Garden is perfect for curious little ones who are interested in where their veggies come from. Another favourite is the Wildlife garden which has a wild flower meadow and is a great place for a bug hunt. You can also take in all the colours and beauty of the rose garden in Queen Mary’s Garden which has the largest collection of roses in London

Kentish Town City Farm

A city farm that is completely free to the public and inspires children and adults to get up close with a variety of farm animals and nature. The four acre site also has a wildlife pond and community gardens plus a farm kitchen where kids can learn to cook. This city farm is a charity run organisation and offers a lot for the local community and with over 50 animals to get up close and personal too as well as many other events going on you can easily spend a couple of wild, fun and free hours here

Kensington Gardens

If your looking for a truly magical play park that inspires imagination than the huge wooden pirate ship at the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is amazing and follows on from the famous Peter Pan stories. The ship sits among a sea of sand and also has a sensory trail and teepees and play sculptures. You can also go on a hunt to find the bronze Peter Pan sculptured their is also the stunning Italian gardens and also an allotment gardens to explore

Wildlife Garden at The Natural History Museum

The Natural history museum is great for a rainy day (well any day for that matter) but besides the dinosaurs inside there is something wonderful to be found outside and that is the Wildlife Garden. It’s home to thousands of British floral and fauna and is a great place for spotting different kids and birds and bugs including the robins, wrens and blackbirds who are building their nests or the frogs and frogspawn.

Canal side Walk

If your looking for a quite and peaceful walk and seeing London from a different perspective than an early morning wander along the Regents Canal is a great way for kids to see the waterways and wildlife that lives along them. We recommend starting around Little Venice and walking to Camden which takes around 1-2 hrs. Children will really enjoy spotting all the colourful houseboats and you keep your eyes open as you pass the London Zoo as you maybe able to spy a few animals.

Outdoor Birthday party ideas

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For summer birthdays or just a fun get-together, kids love a good party! Why not take advantage of the (hopefully) summer weather and have the party outside? Get going with these 4 fun outdoor kids party ideas!

1. Animal Party

While we’re all fans of furry creatures, sometimes the thought of having them inside is a little daunting. That’s why animals are the perfect addition to an outdoor party! Does your kid dream of riding a pony or holding a hedgehog? A children’s animal party can deliver! Most petting zoos or pony parties only need a small amount of space outside, like your garden. Reptile shows are great for Jurassic Park or jungle-themed parties. The animals are usually enough to hold the kids’ attention, but animal games can be a just as fun!

2. Outdoor Movie Night Party

Would you like to give your kid a drive-in movie party under the stars? Bring it to your Garden! Your kids and their friends of all ages will love being able to pile onto blankets in the grass and watch a family-friendly flick. Rent an outdoor movie screen or make your own by stringing up a white painter’s canvas.  Set up a movie snack bar with popcorn and classic sweet choices. Set up tin buckets filled with ice and bottles of pop to bring out the nostalgic vibe. Outdoor kids party ideas don’t have to be complicated; sometimes it’s just about spending time together!

3. Kids Olympics Party

Cabin fever may be setting in after all the April showers and being stuck in school, so get the kids outside and burn off some energy! Tap into their competitive side and set up a Kids Olympics party! “Active” is the name of the game with this theme. Discus throws (using Frisbees), obstacle courses, balance beams, or hula hoop contests are great choices for a Kids Olympics Party. You can also encourage teamwork with relay races. At the end of the party, give away small prizes or even have a medal ceremony to bring the festivities to a close!

4. Just Add Water Party

Looking for a way to cool off in the summer heat? Just add water! Have your guests bring their swimsuits, towels, and sunscreen for a day of fun in the sun. Activities like Slip n’ Slides or sprinklers are easy ways to add a little H2O to your outdoor party. Water games are always a great addition to outdoor kids party ideas. If all else fails, pass out squirt guns or water balloons and let the battle begin!

No easy task

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Any parent who has ever organised a bash knows that there’s so much to consider – the invitations, the venue, the food, the decorations, the party bags – and that’s before you’ve even thought about how to keep the crowds amused.

If you’re looking for kids party entertainment ideas and don’t have a clue where to start, don’t panic: we’ve done some research, and come up with a list of the types of kids’ party entertainers that have been the biggest hits with our lot – from real life Elsa and Annas, to puppeteers worthy of a much bigger stage.

There’s something to match every party theme and budget, as well as options that will suit a variety of age groups. Now your only task will be whittling it down to just one!

We’ll start with an oldie but a goodie. No one is not wowed by an animated performer pulling doves out of their pockets. Little ones will appreciate simpler tricks and a shorter show, as their attention spans tend to wane, where as older groups will love anything from card tricks to close-up magic. When you call, ask if they’ll include the birthday boy or girl in their big finale – they’ll love being the star of the show.

Animal safari

Got an animal-mad bunch on your hands? There are services across the country that will bring mammals, birds and reptiles to your bash for the kids to meet and greet. Typical animals include rabbits and guinea pigs, chinchillas, parrots, owls, and lizards, but do some research and see if there’s anything more unusual in your vicinity.

Princesses

You’ve probably seen the influx of Elsa and Anna characters floating around the party circuit recently, but they’re still a big hit in our houses, and you don’t have to limit yourself to just another rousing chorus of ‘Love is an Open Door’. There are entertainers who can take on all sorts of princess characters, from Cinderella to Thumbelina, and hopefully they’ll teach the kids manners worthy of royalty too.

Clowns or circus performers

Clowns have come a long way from the slightly sinister models of our childhoods. These days, they’re bright and fun, although they’re still pulling the same old tricks. If you want a more modern take, see whether there are any circus performers that offer party deals in your area – fire breathers, unicyclists and gymnasts all go down well, and some of them will even teach the guests some of their skills too.

Superheroes

Whether your kid is obsessed with Batman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman or just simply looks smashing in a cape, a superhero party is never going to disappoint. Bonus points if your chosen entertainer has an actual Batmobile, or can throw realistic Spiderman webs from their wrists.

Puppet shows are mostly aimed at younger parties, and for those, they work like a dream – there won’t be a peep for the assigned time slot, leaving you free to set up the buffet or wrap the pass the parcel. Punch and Judy is a classic, but there’s plenty of other, really creative versions on offer, so a unique idea that they’ve never seen before might be the way to go!

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

Fun days out for free!

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East London’s Docklands

The East London’s neighbourhood that is now called Docklands was once the location for one of the world’s busiest ports. A quick walk around this area and you will see the transformation that has happened, there are riverside cafes, shops and restaurants, and you can walk to Canary Wharf from Tower Bridge along the Thames Path, or continue further towards Greenwich.

Urban Farms

In and around London there are a number of farms that you can visit for free. You can meet an array of different animals, learn all about where your food comes from and enjoy being outdoors. Farms you can visit include Surrey Docks Farm, Spitalfields City Farm, Vauxhall City Farm, and there are many more on our website too.

Geffrye Museum

Bring the children here to learn about how homes and gardens have changed over the last 400 years through exciting displays and interaction. Walk through period rooms from the 17th to 20th Centuries and learn how designs have adapted to the modern living of today. Check the website before you visit as they hold fab workshops for children which include rhyme time, craft, baking and storytelling!

Diana Memorial Playground

The kids will love this fun outdoor adventure playground which was built in memorial to the late Diana Princess of Wales and was inspired by the stories of Peter Pan. The centrepiece is a magnificent and fun wooden pirate ship. There’s also a sensory trail, teepees, a beach around the ship and a selection of sculptures and toys to keep the children occupied.

Ragged School Museum

Visit the Ragged School Museum to step back in time and experience life as a Victorian. There’s a Victorian classroom workshop that has been restored as if it were the 1870’s and is equipped with authentic school desks, blackboards, easels, writing slates and even dunce hats! There’s also lots of information on housing, education and work in the East End from the 1800’s to 1900.

Coram’s Fields

One of the most child friendly spaces in central London! You can only get through the gate if you have a child under 16 with you! At the park you will find a giant sandpit, an array of climbing frames to suit all ages, wheeled toys that can be borrowed, plus a city farm, all set within a walled garden!

National Maritime Museum

Visit the world’s largest maritime museum which is filled to the brim with stories of adventure at sea. At the centre of the National Maritime museum there’s ‘The Giant Map’ which is a space where you can delve a little deeper into the collections or join in with activities and events. There are a number of fun games for the family to play including building bridges across continents.

V&A  Museum of Childhood

The exhibitions within the Museum of Childhood will most certainly intrigue the children but will also take the grown ups on a trip down memory lane! With artefacts dating from the 1600’s to the present day there is so much to see from photography to fashion and childhood. There are also plenty of activities organised just for the little ones including art activities and getting messy in the sandpit!

 

Woburn Safari Park

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Enjoy a safari adventure in over 300 acres of beautiful parkland at Woburn Safari Park – home to more than 1,000 wild animals. Take unlimited repeat circuits of the Road Safari, before you continue your journey in Animal Encounters and enjoy lots of free children’s activities in the leisure area. You’ll learn all about the wild residents with fascinating keeper talks and demonstration and there are plenty of fun activities to keep kids amused.

Meet adorable Asian elephant calf Tarli, spot the Amur tiger cub siblings Mishka and Milashki in Kingdom of the Carnivores and of course, don’t miss the three little bears exploring their new home and showing off their climbing skills in the trees! You’ll also get up close to giraffe, monkeys, lions, antelope and rhino on your adventure through the Road Safari.

The Foot Safari is home to a host of animals including a friendly mob of meerkats, lemurs, squirrel monkeys, sea lions, penguins, birds of prey and recent additions; bush dogs and agouti. Peddle across Swan Lake on a swan boat, take the Great Woburn Railway through the deer paddocks and let the kids burn off some energy in the indoor play area, the Mammoth Play Ark.

On offer in the Park also is a Go Ape Tree Top Adventure Experience (for children 10+ and minimum height of 1.4 metres and a separate charge applies). It will certainly be a day to remember.

 

Great days out in the summer hols

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KidZania, Shepherd’s Bush, London

Kids can let their imaginations run wild at KidZania as they test the out real jobs in this mini city, such as being a pilot, firefighter, radio presenter, banker, police officer and many more! After all that work they can use their hard earned ‘KidZos’ to buy themselves some treats!

Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, Warminster

There is so much to see and do at this amazing safari and adventure park! Take a ride on the wild side with their Safari Drive, as well as walk with penguins, visit the meerkats and hop on a cruise to see the gorillas on Gorilla Island. You’ll be given the chance to feed some Rainbow Lorikeets, deer and even giraffes. Great entertainment for kids of all ages.

Oxygen Free Jumping, Various Locations

Kids will be jumping for joy after a visit to this brilliant indoor trampoline park! They’ll get to bounce sky high in open jump sessions and burn off lots of excess energy

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth

Come and learn all about the Royal Navy as it is today and get an insight into what the future holds! Step on board historic ships such as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860. You won’t want to miss the new‐look Mary Rose museum, which gives insight into Tudor life!

AirSpace Trampoline Park, Glasgow/ Wolverhampton

Spend a session bouncing, flipping and jumping at Air Space! This brand new attraction has over 100 interconnected trampolines all waiting for you to spring about on. As well as freestyle sessions you can join in with games such as dodgeball, football and basketball – just bouncier

Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Piccadilly Circus, London

Enter a world of the truly unbelievable, bizarre and amazing! Ripley’s London houses over 700 fascinating artefacts, spread over 5 floors and covering a wide range of themes. Whether it’s amazing art, incredible nature, absorbing history, people and culture or simply the weird and wonderful that intrigue you, Ripley’s will not disappoint!

GoApe! Various Locations

Swing, zip, balance and jump your way through the trees on the Tree Top Adventure courses, suspended high above the forest floor. Younger adventurers will love Tree Top Junior, a lower and easier version

 

Places to take the kids this Summer

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Meadow Keeper’s Cottage, East Sussex

Set on a 40-acre farm, between two wildflower meadows, this idyllic little holiday home is the perfect base for a taste of country life – kids can become junior farmers, helping out at animal feeding time.

The “cottage” itself looks like it’s been lifted straight from a children’s storybook and put on wheels. Hand-made by a local craftsman, it’s as cute as can be with flowers in boxes under blue-framed windows, a wooden door and wood-burner indoors to keep you toasty.

Not one for a large family or older kids but perfect for young ones, with a double bed and two singles that double up as benches, a fold-away dining table between them and indoor cooking area. The loo and (wood-fired) shower are outside.

Walking in the Lake District

If you’ve got kids who need to burn off energy every day, how about a dedicated walking holiday? This group trip features a choice of three child-friendly walks a day ranging from an easy option at six miles to a full 13-mile hike. In the evenings, activities are geared towards children; there’s also a games room.

A cottage in Wales

Wayside, Near Dolgellau, Snowdonia

Sheepskin, which specialises in luxury homes geared for families – the majority of which are in Wales, is offering 10% off its larger properties half-term, including Wayside, near Dolgellau in Snowdonia, a charming cottage with an open-plan living area and cosy sofas around a wood-burning stove, looking out over a valley of fields and forests and perfect children’s entertainment. It sleeps six and costs £1,328 for the half-term holiday.