Tag: adventure

Amazing cheap attractions across the UK

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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!

2. Illuminasia, Blackpool

Visit the world’s largest indoor illuminations and see wonders from around the globe light up before your very eyes! Combining traditional Chinese lantern methods with the latest in lighting technology, Illuminasia creates a family friendly, educational and awe-inspiring day out.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Mount Stewart, Northern Ireland

Family: £21.15, Adult £8.50, Child £4

The house itself finished a three year long refurbishment last year and now you can enjoy its grandeur just as it would have been for the previous owners. The gardens are wonderful to wander around where there’s oodles of wildlife to spot. Children can pick up a tracker pack which is full of activities for them to complete as they make their way around.

7. 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.

8. 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!

9. Wellsfield Farm Park, Falkirk

Family: £20, Adult: £5, Child: £6

This family run farm park has plenty to keep the little ones happy.  There’s acres of green space to explore, trails to follow, an adventure play area and so much more. Race around the go-kart track, have a ride on a pony, go pond dipping or try your luck at panning for gold! If you want something a bit more active there’s a climbing wall, agility poles, monkey bars, scramble net, balance beams and a zip wire.

10. 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.

11. Ludlow Castle, Shropshire

Family: £13.50, Adult: £5, Child: £2.50, Under 6: Free

Explore this medieval ruin and your little ones can play at being princes and princesses for the day!

They often have loads of special events on from kids workshops to food festivals and on Monday the 29th of August they’ve got a family entertainment spectacular taking place. Watch the knights battle for the Heritage Cup, listen to the Jester’s jokes and listen to exciting talks about medieval weaponry. Please note that prices are higher for this event – £20 for a family ticket.

12. Alice Holt Forest, Surrey

FREE! (Parking Charges Apply)

For a day of exploration and children’s outdoor activities 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.

13. 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!

14. The Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester

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

Save an extra £5 on Family Tickets with the Days Out Card

Thomas Land

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Europe’s only Thomas Land attraction is welcoming a brand new ride this season to mark further expansion to the thriving attraction at Drayton Manor Park, Staffordshire.

James and the Red Balloon, set to delight visitors from Saturday 1st April 2017, is based on the beloved Thomas and Friends character James and his naughty antics with a red hot air balloon. James will be joining the 20 other children’s rides and attractions based on the popular series. Families can experience the magic of Sodor like never before as they fly up, up and away in their very own balloon.

The £250,000 ride, made by Italian manufacturer Zamperla, takes visitors on an adventure onwards and upwards to the lofty heights of 1.5 metres with a maximum speed of 5.5 RPM, a perfect ride for the whole family to enjoy. Families will get to enjoy extensive views of the park from the ride’s highest points, the perfect opportunity to plan which ride is next!

The successful multi-million pound Thomas Land was launched in 2008 and recently underwent a £2.5 million expansion, cementing its status in the hearts of UK families. The well themed attraction ensures visitors of any age are immersed in Thomas and Friends fun from the moment they step in the gates.

For those who want to plan a Thomas filled staycation, the Drayton Manor Park Hotel also extends the fun from Thomas Land into its halls with special themed rooms and a ‘Stay and Play’ package, perfect for those young and old locomotive enthusiasts!

James is the ideal ride for the whole family to enjoy and will act as a great stepping stone for those little ones looking for their next, thrilling experience and are looking forward to welcoming new and returning visitors once we open for the season.

To book tickets, or for more information about the park, visit Drayton Manor. Reduced prices are available for tickets bought in advance.

Places to take the kids on February half term

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Meadow Keeper’s Cottage, near Rye, 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 – children 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.

The wide stretches of beach at Camber Sands are only nine miles away and Bodiam castle, which also looks like it’s been lifted from a fairytale with its crenellated towers and drawbridge.

• £660 for six nights from 10-16 February (sleeps four),

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.

The four-day trip, departing 13 February, costs £279 per adult (saving £50), with children (aged 11 to 17 and sharing with an adult) paying £194 each (under-11s go free), including full-board at the company’s Derwent Bank Country House on the shores of Derwentwater through HF Holidays.

A cottage in Wales

Wayside, Near Dolgellau, Snowdonia

Sheepskin, which specialises in luxury homes – the majority of which are in Wales, is offering 10% off its larger properties this 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. It sleeps six and costs £1,328 for the half-term holiday (including the 10% discount), arriving on 10 February.

Alternatively, Bantwen, a traditional cottage in Carmarthenshire, is on offer through Under the Thatch; it sleeps six and costs just £224 for four nights starting 13 February.

Budget school holiday ideas

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Knowing how to keep children amused through the school holidays can sometimes be daunting for parents, especially when things cost so much. Family Lives have come up with some top tips to help take some of the stress out of it, and keep everyone happy without needing to spend a fortune.

Going out and about

During the school holidays, there may be lots going on in your local area that your family can enjoy, often for free. Check the websites of your local council and tourist information centres for local days out, or scan the local papers and community centres to see what’s going on in your area. Visit your local library and look for adverts of events. Many libraries hold events such as story time, and arts and crafts days. Libraries are also a great source of activity in themselves, with plenty of books and computers to keep children busy, plus they often have storytime for toddlers and

parents.

  • Check to see if your local council swimming pool offers free or reduced-fee entrance in the school holidays.

  • Museums and galleries often have new exhibitions and events running in the summer. Many art galleries put on special events for children and families – this could be just the thing to stimulate your child’s artistic streak.

  • Check out your local leisure centre – there are plenty of children’s sports and activities they can participate in.

  • Staying at home

Of course, on some days, you will find yourselves stuck at home, but that doesn’t mean anyone has to be bored. You could take the opportunity to spend some time sharing a favourite game or story with your children or, if you want some more inspiration, try some of these activities for kids.

  • Arrange a movie day – choose a couple of favourite films, get some popcorn and put your feet up with the kids.

  • Get cooking – pick a recipe with the kids, go shopping for ingredients and cook something together that you can enjoy eating afterwards. Depending on your child’s age and interest, this could be anything from a simple sponge cake to a mushroom stroganoff! Dig out the puzzles, games and books and give them a go. Some good old-fashioned entertainment can be really fun.

Have a look in your cupboards and play dress up with your old clothes. Sort through your clothes together and recycle the ones that you never wear and the stuff your little one’s grown out of.

Encourage the kids to put on a play or a magic show. They could even use the dress up clothes and props from around the house. If you have a camera, you can even film it, for great memories.

Build a den with the kids – if the weather is ok, you could even risk doing this outside! All you need is some boxes or sofa cushions, a few blankets, and a bit of imagination.

 

Create a scrapbook together using photos from your family album, or torn from magazines.

The great outdoors (and the garden!)

Sunny days are great for simple activities like picnics and ball games. This can be done as close to home as in the back garden!

 

  • Organise a treasure hunt around your home and garden with clues and treats for the children to find

  • Hold your own mini Olympics with games that require little equipment… a sack race with pillowcases, a tug of war with a dressing gown belt! Use your imagination.

  • If outside is dry, wrap up and go to the park or a nice walk somewhere quiet with the children with a flask of hot chocolate – sure to go down a treat!

  • If you have a tent, you could arrange a camping trip in your garden with the children for one night!

  • Kites are great if it is a windy day and they can be bought from bargain shops very cheaply

    Making your own fun

Be creative – make things together like greeting cards or use beads to make some jewellery.

  • Have an arts and craft day and get some canvas and paints, they can be bought in bargain shops for as little as a pound and use paints or crayons and the kids can hang up their creations in their rooms.

  • Make a list of your favourite childhood games – old favourites such as hopscotch, putting on a show or marbles won’t cost the earth and your children will enjoy you reminiscing!

  • In the evenings get the kids to design a game that you can make the next day – give them ideas to keep it simple such as a paper boat race in the paddling pool or homemade skittles using a tennis ball and empty toilet rolls.

  • Have you ever thought about Origami? All you need is paper and instructions which can be found online, will keeps kids amused and they will learn a new skill

Don’t try and fill every minute of every day. Encourage your children’s imagination and independence – let them play in their rooms or the garden.

Bluestone for kids

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Things to do

 

Breathe in, take a look around and get to know your surroundings. Get familiar with your habitat; 500 acres of rambling woodland to scramble, climb and run through lush green grass, skim stones across clear blue lakes and explore Britain’s only Coastal National Park.

If forest bathing isn’t your thing then The Blue Lagoon should fulfill any mermaid’s requirements. Completely heated by a Biomass fuel system, we’re determined that having an amazing time shouldn’t cost the earth.

We can’t guarantee the weather, so if grey clouds threaten there’s also the Adventure Centre, where you can get a taste for climbing trees and making dens, indoors. Here you can go truly wild.

Or if you want to relax opt out of the world for a day. The Well Spa uses traditional, natural ingredients in its massages and treatments; here you can meander from roof top hydrotherapy pool to any one of the 6 thermal spa rooms with different temperatures and focuses, depending on what your body needs to rebalance itself.

Go wild. Get messy. Try something new.

During your stay at Bluestone you’ll be spoilt for choice with things to do! With a range of activities for kids for the smallest adventurers, to the most seasoned, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Find out what’s on offer and start planning your holiday filled with free range fun!

Adventures

Whether you’re an outdoor adrenaline chaser, a fanatic foodie or a wound up workaholic in need of some winding down, you’ll find your perfect adventure on a Bluestone holiday.

Bluestone Rangers

When your kids become Bluestone Rangers, it’s Famous Five adventures all the way. Build dens, explore, look for bugs, get muddy: it’s all about free range fun. Set them free to learn, have fun and go exploring the natural world, indoors or out.

Splash About

Being by the sea we love the water here at Bluestone and you’ll be able to dive straight into fun on your holiday right here. Our subtropical Blue Lagoon is free for guests to enjoy during your stay, zoom the flumes, jump the waves and have a great time! Our Lake is also home to great water sports from kayaking to coracle racing, bring the whole family together and take part in the raft building challenges!

If you are for some well earned relaxation during your break then we have you covered. With a luxurious Spa on resort specialising in ESPA treatments and acres of forest space for long walks with nature you’ll be spoilt for choice. Take the days as they come, relax, unwind and try life at a leisurely Pembrokeshire pace for a change!

Centre parcs

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Having kids a little bit older means there’s a lot more to take advantage of in Center Parcs, from dirt buggies to falconry to steep water slides, the activities just go on and on…

To experience Center Parcs with slightly older children, to see what they think of the facilities now that they can participate in more family activities.

Center Parcs has brilliant childcare facilities, including kids’ clubs for younger kids and drop-off activities for slightly older ones. You can pay for a babysitter which costs: £15 for two hours.

Center Parcs is famous in that it offers something for everyone. For parents who want to get away from it all in particular, there is the Aqua Sana, where no kids are allowed  and offers a big range of “experiences” such as steam room, sauna, swimming pool and Turkish baths, as well as myriad treatments. Whether you want a facial, an aromatherapy massage or a mud bath, it’s all here.

Take a small backpack for every family member with you if you intend to ride bikes everywhere, otherwise you might find lugging around all your swimming kit etc. around extremely hard going.

Sherwood Forest is located north of Nottingham between the M1 and A1. Prices vary, depending on the type of accommodation and the time of year. You can pre-book a mid-week break, weekend break (Friday – Monday) or a week-long break.

The cheapest break is £239 for a family of four in a two-bedroom comfort lodge during the cheapest time of the year, but that does not include any activities, bicycle hire etc. It all adds up! Other Center Parc locations are in Whinfell Forest, Cumbria, Longleat Forest, Wiltshire, and Elveden Forest, Suffolk.

Brilliant LEGOLAND

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The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort has formally invited the mini monarchs and their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to lend their royal seal of approval by staying at the premium castle-themed family hotel at their earliest convenience, once it opens its doors on 1 July 2017.

Situated right on the edge of the theme park next to the existing LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel, the new Castle Hotel will have 61 magical rooms. Families can choose between two imaginatively themed room types – Knights and Wizards – and enjoy the leisure and entertainment facilities at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Hotel plus special benefits including early entry to the park, free refillable drink vessels, unique LEGO gifts and collectables.

Colourful LEGO touches and models large and small will feature throughout from the hotel’s astonishing lobby dominated by a giant LEGO Wizard unleashing LEGO magic from his wand, to the à la carte Tournament Tavern Restaurant, indoor Jester’s Play area and outdoor children’s Playground.

There are plenty of other websites offering great deals for LEGOLAND short breaks. Some offer 1 day free.  Your family will certainly enjoy LEGOLAND as there is something for everyone to enjoy…

Child friendly ski holidays

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UK baby and toddler friendly holiday company Tots To Travel has introduced ultra-child friendly ski holidays for families looking to hit the slopes.

By popular demand, parents with young children can enjoy guilt-free skiing while youngsters have lots of fun in dedicated playrooms and out in the snow.

Until now parents with young children have had to sacrifice their winter holidays or feel guilty about leaving their young ones at home.  Tots To Travel have responded to the gap in the market and come up with a solution that will also allow for families to invest in future family ski holidays too.

Hand selected by Tots to Travel, all child-friendly ski chalets and resorts have dedicated childcare, specially-designed chalets with high-quality catering, as well as the Tots To Travel Baby and Toddler

Essential Kit Guarantee.

What a Tots To Travel ski holiday includes:

  • À la carte childcare in your own chalet (additional cost)

  • Flights and transfers

  • Daily filling breakfast

  • Home made purees and Hipp Organic baby food for babies and toddlers

  • Afternoon tea, coffee and cakes when you return from the slopes

  • Children’s two-course High Tea seven nights a week

  • Aperitif with canapés, six nights a week

  • A delicious three-course meal for adults, including wine, six nights a week

Seasoned skiers will know that a ski holiday is a little different to other holidays. However, a lot of parents may feel that they become inaccessible with little ones. Tots To Travel, craft family holidays by parents for parents. We understand that parents of young families need a holiday to get quality family time and to reconnect.

About Tots To Travel:

Tots To Travel’s mission is to select the very best and most suitable baby and toddler friendly and resort accommodation, then craft an experience that is exclusively available for Tots To Travel families.

This experience includes barrier pools, an Essential Kit Guarantee and outstanding levels of customer service, giving families the very best chance of a blissful family holiday. In doing so, Wendy has created a very successful brand that resonates with families.

Clamping with the kids

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So what is glamping?  It is a term that means glamorous camping and has become synonymous with luxury camping – no more leaky tents or sites where you wake up with no tent because the wind is so high!  Glamping is all about having a unique experience that allows people to see things they would otherwise miss but no sacrificing comfort and amenities to do this. 

Glamping is also an eco-friendly option because many of the venues offering this type of break are made with environmentally friendly concerns foremost to the mind.  It takes a lot of resources to build and run even a small hotel but nowhere near as much to build a luxury treehouse or to convert and upgrade a caravan.

Glamping is a worldwide trend that allows people to stay somewhere unique.  Here in the UK we already have a wide range of exciting glamping spots.  One such example is the yurt at Springhill Farm campsite in East Sussex.  Complete with a double bed and inflatable furniture, the yurt is built in the style once used by Genghis Khan with a few modern touches and cooking is done in a fire pit outside.  The site is near Ashdown Forest, so perfect for a walk the next morning.

If you loved treehouses as a kid, then staying in one will be a perfect escape as an adult.  There are a number of treehouse glamping providers spread around the country and these are treehouses in the lap of luxury.  Enjoy a session in the hot tub before turning in for the night or take the whole family along in a treehouse that can house up to eight people.

Champing

Champing is perhaps the newest addition to the camping idea and involved staying in a historic church and using it as a base for a range of activities for children and sightseeing in the area.  The Churches Conservation Trust say there are currently 347 churches spread around the UK that are no longer places of worship and so are being made available for people to spend the night. 

Why is it good?

Camping, glamping and champing all offer different facilities and styles for holidaymakers but there is a hidden benefit to it all.  In a study conducted by the Institute of Education at Plymouth University, in collaboration with the Camping and Caravanning Club, it was shown that kids who spend at least one holiday each year camping outdoors do better in school than those that don’t.

The study involved asking parents across the country a series of question studying the educational, social and psychological benefits of camping to children of all ages.  The study discovered that four out of five parents thought that camping had a positive effect on school education of their children.

It also showed that 98% of parents believed their kids were more connected with nature due to their camping experience and appreciated the outdoors more while 95% thought the kids were happier.  93% thought that children learned skills that would be beneficial later in life because of their camping holidays.

Conclusion

So the evidence is clear from the study – camping is good for you and your children.  But with the range of options such as glamping in a treehouse or champing in a historic church, camping no longer needs to be something only done in the very best weather.  For people who aren’t so keen on putting up the tent in the middle of a field, there are now plenty of other options that allow all the benefits of camping with a little luxury included as well.  And after the holiday is over, the children will go back to school invigorated and filled with exciting stories to tell their teachers and friends that will continue to benefit them for some time afterwards.

Stop, Look and Listen

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We are in the era of pedestrian crossings and crossing guards, or the lollipop man or lady as we always knew them. We often teach kids to find these safe spots to cross the road but sometimes can neglect to teach them how to cross the road without these safety features.  Another aspect of road safety for kids that can be literally life-saving involves when they are on their bikes or scooters. Road Safety Week is an annual event held on 23-29th November with the aim of refreshing these crucial matters in all parent’s and kid’s minds.

A major road safety campaign that has been in operation for many years is Think! Through their website, the campaign has a wealth of resources for teachers, kids and parents to help with road safety. These include information depending on the age group of the kids involved for teachers to introduce the topics in the classroom – these are split into under-fives, five to seven and over sevens.

The pupil’s area is separated into the same age groups and has a fun aspect to it. There are five different activities for kids to get involved with categorised as see, hear, read, do and play.  Each has a number of activities within it that can be downloaded to the computer by their parents.  There are stories that parents can read to the younger kids learning them road safety in a run and easy to understand way.  The older kids have worksheets to do on road safety as well as when they are on their bikes.  There is even resources to help them understand why distracting someone driving a car can be so dangerous.

The final section is for parents and groups into 3-5s, 5-7s and the 7 to 11 age group.  Parents can also order from the catalogue with a variety of information to use at home with kids to complement what the schools are teaching on the subject and reinforce it.

Importance of Road Safety

One of the oldest campaigns around road safety aimed at kids is the Green Cross Code.  The code aims to reduce the numbers of kids hurt or killed on the roads, which currently stands at 19 a week across the country.  These are kids under the age of eleven who are seriously hurt or killed and some of these deaths could be stopped by use of the code.

Therefore, parents can do their bit by teaching the green cross code to their kids from the earliest age.  Make it part of the road crossing every time to instil into kids these vital safety measures.  The code highlights aspects such as:

Finding a safe place to cross, using subways, footbridges, islands and different types of crossings if there isn’t a crossing patrol or traffic warden in sight. Otherwise, using a place where they can see in all directions and, just as importantly, can be seen by drivers.  This means no crossing between parked cars or on sharp bends

Stopping at the kerb but not too near the edge to leave a little space to look around and be away from the traffic.

The Stop-Look-Listen message about crossing safety including not to run and to keep watching for all kinds of traffic including bikes and motorcycles

It is also important that adults follow the same code and make sure they set an example for the kids.  No nipping between the cars and dashing out into the road when you are with them as young kids copy what adults do and older kids use it as an excuse to do the same!