13 Great Day Trips With Grandchildren
UNSPLASH/YANNY MISHCHUK
Hever Castle, Kent
Just 90 minutes from London by car, Hever Castle is steeped in history. The estate, once the seat of the Boleyn family, dates back to the 13th century and has 125 acres of beautiful grounds to explore. This Easter, there are plenty of family activities for children of all ages, taking place daily until Monday 18th April. Little ones can take part in an Easter hunt around the beautiful grounds, following the trail of colourful carrots to find the Golden Carrot, then go on an egg hunt to find hidden chocolate. There’s also a free craft workshop, an interactive audio guide to listen to inside the castle and a special woodland walk. Kids can find their way out of the Yew Maze, then round off the day with home-cooked food and cakes at one of the on-site cafés.
Visit HeverCastle.co.uk
Horrible Histories' Terrible Thames Tour, London
Horrible Histories returns to the river Thames with a new adventure for children. Families can board the Terrible Thames Tour for a journey across the river to see some of London’s top sites, including the Tower of London, Cleopatra’s Needle and Westminster Bridge. Horrible Histories’ guides will tell guests fascinating – and gruesome – stories along the way, from King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn to Jack the Ripper and Queen Boudicca. Daily sailings begin on Saturday 2nd April from Tower Bridge Quay; tickets cost £22 for adults and £14 for children.
Visit TerribleThames.Seetickets.com
Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre, Buckinghamshire
The Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre is located in the quaint village of Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, a 90-minute drive from central London. Families can come face to face with Fantastic Mr Fox in a new exhibition, measure up to Quentin Blake’s illustrations and discover Roald Dahl's Writing Hut – the birthplace of his famous characters. Now until Saturday 23rd April, little ones can also follow the ‘Crodscolloping Chocolate Trail’ to help make giant chocolate wrapper balls, then settle in for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory storytelling. Make a full day of it and head, too, to the nearby Horse Trust sanctuary to see horses, ponies and donkeys.
Visit RoaldDahl.com
Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
Just two hours from London by train or car, Warwick Castle has a roster of family events taking place this Easter. From today until Sunday 24th April, the UK's biggest bird of prey show returns to the castle. During The Falconer’s Quest, little ones can join the Falconer to learn about the most magnificent birds in a dynamic display of aerial acrobatics overlooking the river within the castle grounds. Kids can also get lost in the Horrible Histories Maze to rediscover the Vicious Vikings and Stormin’ Normans, meet the castle’s resident bowman as he demonstrates his archery skills and uncover hidden riddles at The Princess Tower. For the first time, children can now play at Zog’s new playground, inspired by Julia Donaldson’s books – there’s a dragon zip wire, princess tower, dragon slides and swings, and adventure tunnels.
Visit Warwick-Castle.com
Dino Kingdom, West London
For the first time, Dino Kingdom is coming to London. From Friday 1st to Monday 18th April, families can see the spectacular dinosaur display at Gunnersbury Park near Chiswick. The outdoor prehistoric festival includes over 100 dinosaurs and creatures, from holographic monsters to life-size models, including a 16m Tyrannosaurus and a towering 18m Apatosaurus. Kids will also find little creatures, including hatching baby dinosaurs, crocodiles, frogs, bees, spiders and more.
Visit DinoKingdom.com
Hampton Court Palace
The famous Grade-I listed home of Henry VIII and his wives will keep kids entertained for hours. Less than an hour outside London, visitors can take a tour around the vast estate, including the beautiful gardens and historic maze, and learn about life at court in the 16th century. This Easter, there’s a special Lindt gold bunny hunt where kids can discover the stories of fascinating people who visited, lived and worked at the Palace. They’ll have to match up the name of the character on the trail to the red ribbon on the bunny statue at each location to receive a Lindt treat from the Clore Learning Centre. The trail is suitable for children aged four to 12 and takes around 90 minutes to complete. Be sure to visit The Magic Garden, too, an adventure playground filled with mythical beasts.
Visit HRP.org.uk
HISTORICAL ROYAL PALACES
HISTORICAL ROYAL PALACES
Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Probably best known for its annual Royal Regatta every summer, Henley-on-Thames has plenty to offer families at other times of the year. Within easy reach by rail or road, the town teems with independent shops, brilliant pubs, lively cafés and great restaurants. First, make a beeline for the River & Rowing Museum which is home to a collection of over 20,000 items that illustrate the history of rowing, the town and the River Thames. There’s also an immersive ‘Wind in the Willows’ gallery for kids of all ages, plus a great little café where you can enjoy brunch overlooking the river. Warburg Nature Reserve is also worth a visit – here, kids are given a wildlife explorer pack (full of activities and tasks) to follow the trail through the grassy glades, woods and pond. Stop for lunch at riverside pub The Angel on the Bridge for hearty British fare.
JODY HARTLEY
UNSPLASH/MICHAEL WEIR
London Wetland Centre
The London Wetland Centre in Barnes is home to a wide variety of duck species, from the brightly coloured Mandarin to whistling ducks. This year, the team has created an Easter duck trail, where kids will need to put their detective hats on to crack clues and hunt down bright yellow ducks hiding in the wetlands. Children will also be able to see the real male ducks displaying their bright breeding feathers. Other activities on offer include taking part in an otter feed, visiting the indoor and outdoor play areas and taking on the ‘Wild Walk’ course.
Visit WWT.org.uk
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
The seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and the only non-royal, non-episcopal country house in England is steeped in history. These days, there’s a roster of family activities every month, including plenty of Easter events, including a Hotel Chocolat decorating workshop for children and an Easter egg hunt around the grounds (Monday 11th to Monday 18th April). From Friday 15th to Monday 18th April, families can also take part in circus skill workshops and enjoy balloon modelling, bubble performances, Punch and Judy shows, bungee trampolines and special appearances from the Easter Bunny. The Walled Garden Pizza Café will fire up its pizza oven over the holidays too.
Visit BlenheimPalace.com
New Forest National Park, Hampshire
The New Forest has countless activities the whole family will love. A 90-minute drive will get you there from London, where you can explore over 200 miles of woodland. There are over 40 walking routes to choose from and the area is largely flat – a great option for leisurely bike rides and other outdoor activities. Littles ones can enjoy a tractor ride or visit a petting zoo at Longdown Activity Farm and spot native reptiles at the New Forest Reptile Centre. The park is also home to Peppa Pig World with amusement rides and attractions, as well as Burley Villa School of Riding where children from the age of four can enjoy pony rides. If you have older grandchildren, book paddle boarding lessons or head on a kayaking trip to explore the stunning New Forest coastline.
Visit TheNewForest.co.uk
Kew Gardens
This Easter, The Very Hungry Caterpillar lands at Kew Gardens as part of a nature trail. Guests will embark on the caterpillar’s transformational journey to becoming a beautiful butterfly, based on Eric Carle’s ever-popular book, winding through sculptures of juicy fruits and even a cosy chrysalis along the way. Children will also learn facts about the wonder of nature and the close connections between plant and insect life on Earth, exploring seasonal plants in the gardens, with tulips, bluebells, magnolias and cherry blossom all coming to life.
Visit Kew.org
Winchester, Hampshire
From fun museums for kids to a treasure trove of antique shops for adults, Winchester has something for everyone – and it’s less than an hour away from London by train. A few hours are best spent at Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium to learn about our planet and the universe. There’s currently an ‘Ice World’ exhibition where kids can find out how ice has sculpted and transformed the Solar System, and ‘Wonder-full Wednesdays’ activities which includes science shows, demos and interactive exhibits every Wednesday. Marwell Zoo, home to hundreds of endangered and exotic species spread over 140 acres of land, is well worth a visit, as is Hensting Alpaca farm where you can walk an alpaca and learn how to care for one.
Woburn Safari Park, Bedfordshire
With more than 80 species of wild and exotic animals, Woburn Safari Park is set in over 300 acres of beautiful Bedfordshire parkland. Children will be able to spot some of the world's most endangered animals on a drive-through tour, including rhinos, tigers, lions and giraffes, before continuing the journey in the walk-through Foot Safari to discover more animal enclosures. There are also talks from keepers and animal demonstrations, as well as a spacious leisure area where families can head on a ‘swan boat’ trip or a miniature train ride. Be sure to look out for the newest North American black bear cub who was born at the park just a few months ago, then stop for a bite to eat at the Safari Restaurant.
Visit WoburnSafari.co.uk
UNSPLASH/DUSTIE HOUCHIN
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