Category: Fun

Family days out for little historians

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York, Yorkshire

This picturesque town, located in North Yorkshire, is the perfect place to bring your budding little historians! Head to the York Castle Museum to get an insight into Edwardian and Victorian life in York, or pay a visit to the Jorvik Viking Centre to discover why they’re so popular. It’s also a must for chocolate lovers with the fab York’s Chocolate Story! If you’ve got a little thrill seeker in tow, be sure to check out Lightwater Valley to take on Europe’s longest rollercoaster; The Ultimate!

Cardiff, Wales

This beautiful town offers lots of varied and entertaining fun for all of the family! Explore Cardiff Bay on The Open Boat; a lovely steam boat that offers amazing views of the harbour, or head over to Cardiff Castle to learn all about this town’s fascinating medieval history. Fans of Doctor Who will love the Doctor Who Experience for an immersive journey through space and time!

Lymington, New Forest

For those after an escape to the forest, Lymington is the place to be! Situated on the edge of the New Forest, this port town is renowned as a sailing resort and is home to lots of lovely independent boutiques… perfect for budding little fashionistas! For those after a slice of culture, head on over to St. Barbe Museum and Art Gallery to marvel at amazing artwork and have a go at one of their family friendly trails. Hiring a bike and exploring the nearby woodland is also a must for active families looking to work up a pre-pub appetite!

Dartmouth, Devon

If you’re looking for active filled family day out with a spectacular backdrop, Dartmouth is your one stop destination! From cycling, walking and an array of outdoor activities, you really are spoilt for choice. This is as well as amazing historic houses, gardens, castles and museums, such as Dartmouth Castle. If you’re looking to delve deeper into the countryside, the Dartmoor National Park is only a short drive away from the town centre!

Falmouth, Cornwall

If you’ve got a budding surfer dude or dudette in tow, or are a lover of the seaside, Falmouth is the place to be! With a stunning beach that offers a variety of children’s activities such as rock pooling, sailing, snorkelling and SUP paddle boarding, your little beach bums won’t know where to start first. Head on over to the National Maritime Museum to find out all about this lovely town.

 

Fun garden games

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Let’s go outside and make the most of the sun,

Play some garden games and have lots of fun!

From quoits, frisbee and hopscotch too,

You’ll be spoilt for choice at which one to choose!

1.Quoits (Hoop throwing Game)

This game involves throwing a rope or rubber hoop over a distance and land it around an object maybe a plastic peg that is coming out of the ground. Players take it in turn and the player with the most hoops around the object at the end wins.

2. Garden Golf

Garden golf is a very easy game where all you will need is a few plastic golf clubs or bats. Placing 9 or 18 cricket wickets or any sort of stick into the ground and number them using paper triangles (get the kids to make these)

Place objects throughout the course such as grannie in a chair or a teddy bear’s picnic making it into a challenge.  Get the children (the big kids as well) to take it in turns to putt the ball and hit each post.

3) Popcorn Drop

This easy relay race can work at a children’s birthday party or a family fun day with any number of players. It’s most fun with four to eight players.

First, you’ll need to make two pairs of shoe cups. Use a pushpin to poke holes in the bottom of plastic cups. Push a wide rubber band through the holes, and secure it inside the cup with a paper clip.

To play: Split the players into two teams. The first player straps cups on their shoes and fills them with popcorn from a bag at the starting line. Then going from the line head to the other end of the course and dump the popcorn into a bucket, after the popcorn is dumped head back, and tag the next teammate.

The race is over when one of the bags of popcorn is empty. Measure the popcorn in the baskets to see which team actually got the most in.

4) Frisbee noughts and crosses

Supersize tic-tac-toe is perfect for an outdoor children’s party. Flying disks and a shower curtain transform into an easy party game.

Use duct tape to block out squares on a shower curtain liner. Use more tape to mark which disks are Xs, or use colour to divide the teams.

Players stand behind a throw line and follow the rules of tic-tac-toe. If the disk lands off the board or in an occupied square, the player can throw again.

5) Hopscotch

An oldie but a great game none the less, just need some chalk, somewhere to draw and something to throw such as a beanbag or a small stone.

6) Pretend to be pirates

Let the kids imagination go wild with a bit of imaginative play. Dress up, put some blue sheeting down for ‘water’ and some cardboard boxes for ships and let the adventure begin.

7) Make Mud Pies

Let the kids imagination go wild with a bit of imaginative play. Dress up, put some blue sheeting down for ‘water’ and some cardboard boxes for ships and let the adventure begin.

8) Make your own Tin Can Alley

Collect up your recycled tins (with no sharp edges) and make your own tin can alley against a wall, throw either a small bean bag or ball. See who can knock over the most.

9) Garden Waterslide

This may be one for the long summer days but you never know, a super warm day may be just round the corner ? Set up this water slide in the garden for hours of fun for all the family. If your kids are ‘thrill seekers’ like mine, put this at the end of a garden slide for maximum slipping!!! Race down the slide using the swimming floats or on your tummy.

10) Children’s Croquet

Get this adorable croquet set for the lawn (it can be brought indoors in winter too). A great way to learn how to play croquet

 

Great gardens to explore

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Here’s our favourite gardens for you to explore

Discover plant’s, parks, history and more

Beautiful colours you will see

alongside beautiful butterflies and maybe even a bee!

Trelissick Garden, Truro, Cornwall

This tranquil garden, which is home to an array of stunning exotic plants and four summerhouses waiting to be explored, is the perfect place to bring kids to blow off some steam! Head to The Roundwood Quay, where you can watch the passing wildlife and boats. In the gallery you can discover work from Cornish artists and craftspeople too!

Plas Yn Rhiw, Pwllheli, Wales

This organic garden, which is brimming with a variety of plants and is framed by over 1/4 mile of box hedges, is a feast for the senses and is sure to fascinate your mini budding gardeners! In spring you’ll find magnificent magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, daffodils, tulips and so much more!

Dunster Castle, Minehead, Somerset

Not only is this fascinating castle a fab visit for days out for little historians, but their gardens alone offer lots to see and do! Pay a visit to The South Terrace, which stems from the Victorian period, to learn all about its microclimate which allows tender plants such as Chusan Palms to grow!

Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire

This beautiful Georgian house, set within a deer park, is the perfect place to bring kids after a challenge! You can complete a fun quiz, with clues hidden in the beautiful garden, where you’ll be sure to spot lots of interesting wildlife!

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon, North Yorkshire

Explore the ruins of this stunning and history rich 12th century abbey, it’s amazing water garden and deer park, which is home to three different types of cute deer! Kids will also love the play area, which is situated near the Visitor Centre.

Scotney Castle, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

This glorious estate is sure to be a hit with little ones and their family looking to brush up on their history! Take a visit to their stunning garden, which is landscaped with many plants, flowers and secret parts to explore. There’s also a Natural Play Trail, Discovery Room and building dens in the Wilderness Camp!

Stourhead, Warminster, Wiltshire

Come and see this world famous 18th century landscape garden, which is truly breathtaking with a beautiful lake at its centre and fascinating temples and grottoes to explore! Pay a visit to the house, stunning interiors and interesting history, being one of the first houses built in the fashionable Palladian style.

Fenton House and Garden, London

This 17th century house and garden, which is a hidden treasure within London’s bustling streets, offers a retreat for and lots to explore! Discover the Walled Garden, which features a formal lawn and terrace, sunken rose garden, kitchen garden and historic orchard… home to 32 different varieties of apples and pears!

Polesden Lacey, Dorking, Surrey

This amazing house and garden, which provides stunning views of the Surrey Hills, is one of the best places to see some snowdrops in spring. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother also spent part of their honeymoon here! You can also spot a sea of bluebells as you walk throughout this gorgeous garden.

Mottisfont Abbey and Garden, Romsey, Hampshire

These picturesque gardens are perfect for letting your little ones blow off some steam! Find rivers, see rolling hills and even spot an artist in residence or two working iín one of the studio huts. Kids will love the Wild Play area and children’s activities, as well as the chance to follow a fascinating trail to learn all about Mottisfont history.

 

Ice-skating party

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My daughter’s tenth birthday party was fastly approaching and we needed to plan a children’s birthday party that wouldn’t require too much money. That is when my daughter asked if we would be able to do an ice skating party. Of course, I thought this would be a great idea since it was not our home, so we wouldn’t need to clean up or plan much. So, the next day I called up the local skating rink and they told me I could rent a party room for 3 hours for only £80. This was great!

Then, my daughter and I picked up some nice stationary from a hobby craft shop and wrote all the information down on a piece of it – one for each guest (we invited 12).

The day of the party, we went to the rink early to set up the tables and decorations, and to rent the skates (we had called everyone in advance and asked what shoe size they were). The skates were complimentary with the party room.

An hour later, almost all of the guests had arrived so they got their skates on and met up with one of the rink instructors who would be leading the party. For about an hour, she showed them tricks and they played a variety of skating games.

Later, they were called to lunch where they were given their choice of pizza, hot dogs, or chicken nuggets. We also laid out hot chocolate so they could come back from skating to get some whenever they wanted.

When they finished lunch, they went back to skating and there was disco lights and music playing! They all had great fun and skated to a light show for about 30 minutes, when they got tired and decided to come back in and open gifts. Before they knew it, it was time to go.

They were each given their goodie bags which were supplied by the rink. They were a plastic bag with an ice skate on it, an ice skate keychain, sweets, ice skating pencil, and other traditional party bag treats.

This party was great – they had fun, there was no clean up, it was extremely inexpensive, and it required about 30 minutes of planning!

Party games for kids 5+

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Musical Chairs or Cushions

Set up chairs or cushions in 2 rows back to back. Put out one less chair/cushion than there are children. Start playing the music and ask the children to walk all around the chairs/cushions until the music stops. When the music stops, the children must each sit on a chair/cushion. The child without a chair/cushion is ‘out’. You might like to have a bowl of sweets to offer to each child that is ‘out’ so they don’t feel too humiliated – but don’t make it so tempting that everybody wants to be ‘out’! Then remove another chair/cushion. If there is ever a tie, don’t spend ages making a decision, just replay that round.

Animal Musical Chairs.

The player left standing must pull the name of an animal, written on a piece of paper, out of a hat. Then, they must act it out while the other guests try to guess what the animal is. Start the music again and repeat the game until there’s only one chair left.

Musical Statues

Play some music, and watch the children dance and jump about. Without notice, turn off the music and the children need to freeze. If anybody moves, they are ‘out’. As with musical chairs, you might like to have a bowl of sweets to give to this child so they don’t feel too humiliated – but don’t make it so tempting that everybody wants to be ‘out’! Repeat until there is just one person left.

Hot Potato

Sit the kids in a circle and choose one to sit out wearing a blindfold. Begin by passing a potato around the circle, while the ‘blind’ child stands to one side. Everyone must accept the potato, and may not hold it longer than a second. At any point the ‘blind’ child can yell, ‘Hot Potato’, and whoever has the potato is out (Think about using that invaluable bowl of sweets again!) Continue to play until there is only one person left, and they are the winner. A really good variation is to follow the theme of your party. Use an appropriate item to pass around the circle instead of a potato.

Duck, Duck, Goose

This classic kids game is perfect fun for any kids party entertainment. Gather your guests to sit in a circle and let the birthday child begin as the ‘Goose’. They walk around the circle tapping each child on the head, saying ‘duck’ with each tap. When they are ready to choose the next person to be Goose, they say ‘goose’ when tapping that person on the head. That child gets up and chases the birthday child around the circle. If the new Goose does not tag the birthday child before they make it all the way around the circle and sit in the open spot, then the new Goose becomes ‘it’. If the new Goose tags the birthday child, then the birthday child remains ‘it’ for the next round and the game continues.

Decorate a Birthday Banner

Unroll a roll of unwanted wallpaper and mount it plain side up on a wall within easy reach of your guests. At the top of the ‘banner’, write ‘Happy Birthday (your child’s name)’. You could lay the paper on the floor if you’re worried some of the artists may mistake your wall for their canvas!

Provide a variety of crayons and felt pens and let the children create their own masterpieces. Don’t forget to ask each artist to write their name and age beside their drawing. You can even encourage them to write a special message to the birthday child. After the party, fold it up and save it, or if you’d prefer, take a close-up picture so you can tuck it inside your photo album later.

 

Common worries for parents

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Any parent knows that children’s parties can be stressful. From who to invite to chasing RSVPs, planning an event can feel like a minefield of social conundrums.

However, the important thing to remember is that you’re not alone – visit any of the major parenting forums and you’ll find plenty of posts detailing exactly the same concerns. And, as the saying goes, there’s ‘wisdom in crowds’, so what better place to look for advice?

Here are some of the most common concerns;

Should I invite the whole class?

This is a common concern – how do you decide who to invite from your child’s class? Only invite a select few and you run the risk that someone’s feelings will be hurt, invite everyone and your budget can spiral out of control.

The consensus seems to be that only inviting half the class is fine, as long as you make sure you aren’t just leaving out a couple of children. It’s fairly common for parents not to invite the whole class, especially if their child isn’t close to all of its members.

When you consider that all of the children may bring parents or siblings, limiting the number of invites seems perfectly reasonably – as long as you’re not singling anyone out.

Should I invite boys and girls?

The gender divide is a frequent concern, with many parents noticing boys not turning up to their daughter’s parties and vice versa.

An explanation for this could be the party theme. For example, one parent notes that her son was happy to go to a ‘heroes party’ but not a ‘Frozen’ party. Having a unisex theme is a good way to make sure that all of the children feel comfortable attending.

Another explanation could be age. Younger kids tend to have friends of both genders, whilst older children will often have a group of friends who are the same gender as them. However, every child is different, so it’s important to discuss with them who they’d like to invite.

How much should I spend?

Children’s parties can become expensive, so money is always a pressing concern. Once children reach school age, they’re likely to be invited to their classmate’s parties, which can pile the pressure on to compete.

So, how do you ignore the pleas for all the latest bells and whistles, and make sure you don’t spend more than you can afford? As mentioned above, one of the easiest ways is to reduce the number of people you invite.

However, there are lots of other things you can do to cut down on costs. Hiring out a village hall can be a good bet, as they will generally charge an all-in-one fee for a two to three-hour party, unlike other venues, which will often have additional charges for food etc.

If you’ve got the time, making supplies such as the cake and decorations yourself is a great budgeting trick.

What to do if parents don’t RSVP?

Is there anything more annoying than people who don’t RSVP? Unfortunately, not knowing who’s going to turn up seems to be a common problem

This can be particularly problematic when ordering party bags or food – how do you know how much you’ll need, if you don’t know who’s coming? And the problem is exacerbated if they then turn up with siblings in tow.

A good tactic is to include a politely worded caution in the invitation.  Something along the lines of ‘food and party bags will be ordered on XXX, so could you please RSVP by then to let me know either way’.

If there are still non-responders, it might be worth handing out reminders just before the date stipulated in the invitations.

How much should I put in the party bags?

Handing out party bags has become a staple of children’s parties, but knowing what to put in them is causing some parents a headache. Whilst you don’t want to look like you’ve gone completely over the top (largely due to the impact on your budget!), you don’t want to look like you’ve been too stingy either.

The general consensus is that just a couple of quality items is more than enough, with many parents including a mixture of sweets and small toys, with one or two different items for boys and girls. The focus should be on quality not quantity, as these items will bring more fun for longer.

Throwing a children’s party doesn’t have to be stressful. By following our guide to party etiquette, you can ensure that you sail smoothly through any potential pitfalls. And, if in doubt, talk to other parents – two heads are always better than one.

 

Ship Ahoy!!

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Ahoy there! Are you and your little ones wanting to take to the seas for a splashing good time? Look no further! Here’s a selection of boat trips across the UK for your budding little pirates!

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!

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Hampshire

There’s so much to see and do at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with indoor and outdoor activities suitable for 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! Young pirates and sailors 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.

Places to take nature lovers

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Looking to make a splash with your next family day out? Head to one of these many beautiful waterfalls and take in some stunning sights and scenery, which is sure to please your little nature lovers!

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 brood with light bites and treats.

Waterfall Country, Brecon Beacons National Park

Nestled in the southern slopes of the Forest, 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!

Get some sneaky exercise in with the kids

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Now that spring has made an appearance, it is the perfect time to start making the most of the sunshine to enjoy a bit of fresh air, getting some exercise outdoors. If you’re looking for 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!

1. 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!

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Music Motivation

If you’re looking for a way to get your little ones 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.

5. 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.

6. Weekly Sports Night

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

Castle culture

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Looking for the best place to grab a slice of culture and learn a thing or two? You can’t go wrong with a visit to a castle to entertain your mini knights and princesses! Here’s a list of some  family days out throughout the UK.

Corfe Castle, Wareham

Bring your budding little historian to these iconic ruins steeped in 100 years of fascinating history. Try and spot murder holes, count arrow loops and complete a quiz on your travels! Keep your eyes peeled for family events held throughout the year including spectacular battle re-enactments, an open-air theatre and cinema days.

Dunster Castle, Minehead

Located in the picturesque setting of Dunster, this beautiful castle was home to the Luttrell family who lived here for 600 years. It overlooks the village and features an amazing 17th century staircase, as well as a sub-tropical garden covering 28 acre and contains plants such as the giant lemon tree, yuccas, mimosa and palms.

Penrhyn Castle, Bangor

Come and bring your little knights and princesses to explore this amazing 19th century castle! You’ll find fascinating objects such as a one tonne slate bed made for Queen Victoria, as well as the castle kitchens and stables. Outdoors there are over 60 acres of grounds to be discovered with parkland, exotic trees and a Victorian walled garden.

Scotney Castle, Tunbridge Wells

Discover all that this wonderful castle, which was built by Edward Hussey III from the sandstone quarried from the grounds, has to offer! Covering 770 acres, this castle is the perfect spot for walks and picnics. There is plenty for the kids to enjoy including the Natural Play Trail, Discovery Room, building dens in the Wilderness Camp and looking out for wildlife including barn owls!

Lindisfarne Castle, Berwick upon Tweed

This dramatic castle, which was renovated by Arts and Crafts architect Edwin Lutyens, is an an amazing place to bring the kids! Explore its many rooms, staircases and see some fantastic views from the top. The Gertrude Jekyll Garden is a beautiful little garden by the castle and there are lime kilns that you can explore too!

Castle Ward, Downpatrick

Take a tour of this 18th century castle surrounded by dramatic rolling hills. There’s trails around the grounds to keep little explorers entertained, where they can spot wildlife such as butterflies, rabbits, ducks and swans. There’s also a super fun outdoor woodland playground and adventure playground too!