19 Great Days Out With Kids To Book For The Holidays
Dreamland
Margate
Great restaurants, new hotels and family friendly attractions – there’s lots going on in Margate right now. Plus, it’s only 90 minutes from London on the train. Spend the day at Dreamland amusement park, a great option for multi-generational days out by the sea. One of the oldest-surviving amusement parks in the UK, it has vintage-inspired rides, an amusement arcade and a roller disco room – all of which are open on weekends and during school holidays. Check out the large-scale art installations before stopping for some food and drink in the park – or enjoy fish and chips along the seafront.
Visit Dreamland.co.uk
Drusillas Park
East Sussex
Widely regarded as the best small zoo in the country, Drusilla Park is an animal- and child-friendly environment where the focus is always on discovery. However, animals are only half the fun; Go Wild!, Get Wet!, Go Safari!, Amazon Adventure, the Eden's Eye maze and the Paw Patrol: Heroes In Training are what turn the attraction into a theme park. Children can take part in the ‘Zoolympics’ challenge where they can stamp their way through the Animal Spotter Book, watch the animals being fed and learn new facts at one of the keeper talks. Meanwhile, walk-through enclosures feature lemurs, lorikeets bats, sloths and golden lion tamarins.
Visit Drusillas.co.uk
Lee Valley White Water Centre
East London
You’ll find lots to do at Lee Valley White Water Centre, from white water rafting on the Olympic course to family paddling on its lake. Families can choose from a range of activities or just sit back and watch the action at The Terrace Bar & Café and stroll through River Lee Country Park. Teenagers will love the thrill of Rafting Unleashed. Suitable for those aged 12 and above, participants will use the water to speed down the Olympic course’s rapids like a rollercoaster.
Visit GoWhiteWater.co.uk
Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre
Buckinghamshire
The Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre is 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, measure up to Quentin Blake’s illustrations and discover Roald Dahl's Writing Hut – the birthplace of his famous characters. Over the holidays, kids can take part in activities such as clay making sessions, dream jar crafting classes, and a ‘swishwiffling’ experience in the science workshop. You can also follow a walk around Great Missenden which inspired many of Dahl’s stories.
Visit RoaldDahlMuseum.org
Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter
Hertfordshire
The Harry Potter film series made Leavesden its home for more than ten years. Once filming wrapped on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2010, the production crew were left with a treasure trove of thousands of intricate and beautifully made artefacts. Now fans can visit the studios to view these iconic props, costumes and sets first-hand via two soundstages and a backlot filled with original sets, animatronic creatures and a special effects workshop. Our favourite spot has to be Platform 9 ¾, where kids can clamber inside the original train carriages and booths. Make sure to stop off for a butter beer as you make your way through Hogsmead.
Visit WBStudioTour.co.uk
London Wetland Centre
Barnes
The London Wetland Centre in Barnes is home to a wide variety of duck species, from the brightly coloured Mandarin to whistling ducks. 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. And, from 23rd March to 2nd June, Bing's Nature Explorers will be popping up. Inspired by the popular TV show, children will be able to learn all about wetland nature and wildlife with a little help from Bing and his friends.
Visit WWT.org.uk
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
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 North American black bears, then stop for a bite to eat at the Safari Restaurant.
Visit WoburnSafari.co.uk
The Postal Museum
Clerkenwell
One of the capital’s newest galleries, The Postal Museum’s centrepiece is the Mail Rail train, which runs through the now-deserted postal railway tunnels beneath London’s streets. The tunnels – so secret they were used to hide the Rosetta Stone during WWI – were built to transport mail across the congested capital from Paddington in the west to Whitechapel in the east. For children, check out the Sorted! Postal Play Space, an immersive mini town with streets, buildings, trolleys, pulleys, slides and chutes. It’s also worth noting that its café is accredited by Kids in Museums as part of its Family Café Standard, meaning it’s great for families.
Visit ThePostalMuseum.org
Wonderlab At The Science Museum
South Kensington
This interactive gallery in the Science Museum is perfect for kids. The space is designed for seven to 14-year-olds and encourages children to discover the wonder of science. Filled with 50 exhibits, visitors are encouraged to get hands-on safely: they can race down a giant friction slide, see how clouds form and travel through space under a canopy of stars.
Visit ScienceMuseum.org.uk
Warwick Castle
Warwickshire
Just two hours from London by train or car, Warwick Castle has a roster of family events taking place this season. In the summer months, 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. There’s also Zog playground, inspired by Julia Donaldson’s books – there’s a dragon zip wire, princess tower, dragon slides and swings, and adventure tunnels. Plus, Britain’s largest working siege machine returns to Warwick Castle in a daring, action-packed show: The Legend of the Trebuchet.
Visit Warwick-Castle.com
ArcelorMittal Orbit
Stratford
Created by Anish Kapoor, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is a symbol of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the London 2012 Games. Having been in operation for 12 years – with over 1.12m visitors – the structure has been closed since winter 2023 in for a series of upgrades. It’s all set to relaunch in summer 2024. The UK’s tallest sculpture, at the top, families can ride on the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide. At 178m long, the 12 twists and turns offer chances to glimpse at the park and London’s skyline through transparent sections before plunging into darkness.
Visit ArcelorMittalOrbit.com
Zip World Caverns
Wales
Home to a wealth of North Wales slate mining history, Slate Caverns now houses the world’s first underground playground. With views across Snowdonia from the top of Titan, older visitors can begin their experience by zipping 1,890m from half the height of Snowdon. Whatever the weather, there’s always something to do: top of the list is subterranean playground Bounce Below and the Caverns, an underground adventure zip line and adventure course which runs throughout a 200-year-old former mine.
Visit ZipWorld.co.uk
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 to the 13th century and has 125 acres of beautiful grounds to explore. There are plenty of family activities for children of all ages, including craft workshops, 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
Port Lympne
Kent
Home to the UK's original safari experience, Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve offers a true family adventure. Set in over 600 acres, visitors will be transported to the plains of Africa and Asia to see over 700 animals roaming freely, then explore on foot to see big cats, small cats, primates, gorillas and many more animals before discovering life-sized prehistoric creatures in Dinosaur Forest. With regular animal births and new species coming in every year, there’s always something different to see.
Visit AspinallFoundation.org
Hampton Court Palace
Surrey
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 summer, there’s a medieval-inspired jousting tournament, a minibeast hunt and the Hampton Court Palace Food Festival with over 150 brands, pop-up food and drinks stalls, and live music. Kids can also play in the Magic Garden adventure playground filled with mythical beasts, take a shire horse ride and book in for Rise & Roar, a quiet session aimed at children and young people with Autism, and their families and carers.
Visit HRP.org.uk
Henley-on-Thames
Oxfordshire
Probably best known for its annual Royal Regatta, Henley-on-Thames has plenty to offer families this summer. 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 classic British dishes.
Visit Visit-Henley.com
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; ‘Wonder-full Wednesdays’ includes science shows, demos and interactive exhibits. 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.
Visit VisitWinchester.co.uk
Legoland Windsor
Buckinghamshire
At Legoland Windsor Resort there are over 55 rides and attractions where children can fly through the treetops to escape fearsome dragons, ride rapids with a Viking fleet, join Lego divers on an underwater adventure or enjoy the UK’s only Lego Star Wars model display. The park has lots to offer for families with children between the ages of three and 12. New for 2024 is the Minifigure Speedway, the world’s first Lego-themed duelling rollercoaster that not only races forward but also in reverse. This high-octane family is a live race between the teams Legends and Allstars. The experience continues after park closing time in the Legoland Hotel, where visitors can spend the night in a fully themed bedroom.
Visit Legoland.co.uk
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