Days Out
The Summer Holidays can be an awkward time for both children and parents – how do you entertain children for six whole weeks without spending a fortune and having to take too many days off work? It is important for children to have some unstructured time, a break from their daily routines of school and early bedtimes, and it is likewise important to encourage them to develop their own interests and use their imaginations. That said; there are a number of things you can do to help them along the way.
Theme Parks
A visit to one of the UK’s many theme parks can be a treat that the whole family can enjoy. Places such as Alton Towers, Legoland and Thorpe Park are very welcoming of families with children of all ages; combining roller coaster rides with a variety of activities and entertainment that everyone can enjoy. Though the parks may seem a little expensive at first, discount vouchers are widely available – try this Alton Towers website or the pages listed just to the right of this article.
Visit the Seaside
The great thing about a day at the seaside is that it doesn’t need to be expensive; aside from fuel, parking and a bit of spending money for some fish and chips and ice cream (and maybe a stick of rock), children are usually more than happy to make their own entertainment on the beach whilst the grown ups relax with the newspaper or a gentle stroll along the shore. Those who rarely make it to the coast may have a greater appreciation of the natural beauty and wildlife to be found along cliffs and in rock pools – take a bucket and spade or even a kite and it is unlikely that you’ll even see your children for most of the day as they make their own adventures.
Museums
Many Museums around the UK have a free entry policy and those that do charge are rarely very costly. Museums can be a fantastic way for a family to spend the day together, interacting with one another and with the past. Look out for any special exhibitions that may be on show at the museum in your nearest city, but specifically research those museums that cater towards children and make learning a fun experience for them. ‘Eureka!’- based in Halifax in West Yorkshire, offers a unique and fun learning environment for children and adults, featuring over 400 interactive exhibits designed to inspire children aged 0-11 on a wide range of subjects from health, our bodies, senses, the planet, plants and animals (to name just a few).
Open Air / Working Museums
With a unique twist on the average museum, open air museums can be a great learning experience for children and adults alike, simply because they literally pull you into the time in which they are set. The Ironbridge Gorge in Shropshire explores the crafts and ingenuity behind the industrial revolution, whilst places like Beamish (Durham) explore the working world of nineteenth and early twentieth century Britain. Staff wear costumes typical of the period and guests can explore the home, school and working life of people from that time, buying traditional sweets from the shop or groceries from the hardware store.
Indoor Adventures
A simple internet or yellow pages search can direct you towards one of the many indoor activity centres around the UK where you can ice-skate, ski, snowboard, swim, climb, or even go ten-pin bowling. Places such as ‘Xscape’ which can be found in Milton Keynes, Leeds or Braehead (though the X-Leisure portfolio includes a further 19 sites around the UK) have bowling, cinemas, water parks, bars, shopping, restaurants and a number of extreme sports all under one roof.
Stately Homes / Heritage Sites
There are a number of stately homes and sites belonging to the National Trust that can make a wonderful, and free, day out for any family. Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, Adlington Hall, Cheshire, Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, Fountain’s Abbey, Yorkshire, Neath Abbey, West Glamorgan, Melrose Abbey, Scotland…there are so many in the UK and all have picturesque surroundings and grounds to walk around to give you a day out in the fresh air. Take a picnic and a camera and enjoy a bit of history and fun with all the family.
The Zoo
A day out at the zoo is one of those traditional summer activities that all of the family can enjoy. There are several larger zoos in the UK such as Chester Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo and London Zoo, and plenty of smaller but equally fascinating zoos and animal reserves dotted around the country. Explore and educate your family about the more exotic and extraordinary wildlife the planet has as well as discovering something new about our environment. It is advisable to check opening times before you go but most animal sanctuaries will be open all year round.
Summer Festivals
Summer can be a very busy season when it comes to music festivals, carnivals, food festivals and even film festivals. The local newspaper should list any events that will be happening in your area and they can be a great excuse to get out into the fresh air and experience something you wouldn’t normally get the chance to do. July sees Europe’s largest air show in Sunderland which is a free event, and August sees in the famous Notting Hill Carnival in London and the Leeds Carnival which showcases a celebration of all things West Indian. For something a little more unusual then why not pop along to the Brighton Kite Festival in July or the Dunstable Folk Festival – a concert that showcases a number of local bands. Wales has its famous World Bog-Snorkelling Championships in August around the same time as Bristol’s amazing International Balloon Fiesta – a great opportunity to see the spectacular mass ascents of hot-air balloons.
There are literally hundreds of things to do and see this summer, many of them free and easy to get to. Trying to keep the whole family entertained may seem time consuming to begin with but with just a little imagination, a great time can be had by all.
