It’s time to start planning some fun days out for children in the school holidays.
All out of ideas on how to fill the long summer days? These activities – including immersive experiences, engaging theatre, fascinating exhibitions and fun farms – will keep little ones entertained. Located in London and its surrounding areas, here you’ll find plenty of inspiration for days out for children, come rain or shine.
The Spyscape
Think you’ve got what it takes to be in MI6? Or fancy your chances as the next James Bond? Then be sure to check out Spyscape, a brand new immersive experience that has just arrived in London. With a range of ways to test your undercover skills this cool attraction is packed with challenges that include agility, surveillance and memory. Dodge lasers, break cryptic codes and take part in a covert mission as you learn how to be a secret agent. All the ‘spy games’ are really well thought out, having been created with CIA and Special Ops operatives to test collaboration, agility, and communication across high-adrenaline, field-inspired missions. The whole place is dedicated to spy life with a gadget gallery, lie detector and surveillance equipment, real life stories from former spies and even the chance to discover how governments track agents and how hackers work. Once you have completed all your challenges each participant receives a unique profile that has been designed by top spies and psychologists to reveal your attributes and talents and the spy role that would suit you most. An exciting, unusual day out that older kids and teens will really enjoy.
The Young V&A
Photo: © David Parry/ V&A
It’s been two years since the Young V&A museum in Bethnal Green opened its doors to inquisitive little visitors and since then it has become a firm favourite day out for families in London. With exhibitions, displays and plenty of opportunities to get hands on and play with the many interactive games and challenges, it’s a great place for kids of all ages. There’s plenty going on all summer with a packed programme including arts and crafts workshops and Sound Explorer sessions for making music. Some are drop-in, and lots are free.
Disney Winnie The Pooh Hunny Hunt At Hampton Court Palace
The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace is one of the best playgrounds to visit for a day out from London. So much more than swings and a slide, this outstanding space is bursting with cool ways to explore and have adventures. The entire space is a huge, interactive play garden and will keep kids entertained for hours as they hunt for mythical beasts, climb the battlements and discover the secret grotto. Each element is a nod to Tudor life with a touch of magic thrown in; expect to find Henry VIII’s encampment, a giant crown to play inside, and a huge dragon to marvel at. The picnic tables, sand pits and water features are ideal spaces to run around in on hot sunny days. If you want to make a day of it, visit the Royal Palace, once home to the famous King and his tricky maze. Plus this summer the Disney Winnie the Pooh Hunny Hunt transforms the 100‑acre gardens of Hillsborough Castle into a magical Hundred Acre Wood, where families embark on a treasure-filled trail to help Pooh find 10 missing hunny pots, encountering themed stops such as Rabbit’s Garden, Christopher Robin’s Thinking Spot, Eeyore’s Quiet Cabin and Piglet’s Cosy Burrow.
The Baddies
Julia Donaldson is one of the children’s authors of our time with countless now-classic tales that kids can’t get enough of. And once they have read (or been read) the books, what better way to bring these much-loved stories to life than seeing the live stage productions at the theatre. From the superstar team behind such adaptations of The Gruffalo, Zog, and Stick Man, The Baddies arrives on stage in London this summer and will delight very young audiences. It features a trio of hilariously inept villains who are trying (and failing) to be bad. Mischievous mayhem with catchy songs and plenty of laughs, this is the ideal show to see with preschoolers.
Bocketts Farm
Escape the city and head off on an outing to Bocketts Farm. Just 45 minutes from central London, near Junction nine of the M25, this award-winning working farm is packed with animals to see, pet and learn about. Watch the pig race, cuddle one of the adorable rabbits or hop on a tractor ride for a taste of rural life. Kids can also feed many of the farm’s residents such as lambs, chickens and horses. Once you’ve had a good look at the animals, check out the excellent play area with trampolines, giant slides, a bouncy pillow, and two large indoor play barns – ideal if the rain makes an appearance. Bring a picnic or enjoy some lovely homemade grub at the Old Barn Tearoom. Kids of all ages will enjoy the farm, and it’s easy to push a buggy around the whole site. With plenty of parking, changing facilities and shady spots to relax in, it’s easy to see why Bocketts Farm is consistently voted one of the best family attractions in the south east.
Roller Nation
While we’d all love the sun to shine during every day of the summer holidays, rainy days can be fun too. Especially at Roller Nation. With dedicated family sessions, kids aged five to 14 can whizz around the rink with an adult, and there are also open sessions for all ages. You don’t need to have any experience (they offer lessons if you’re interested) and skates of all sizes are provided, along with full sets of wrist, elbow and knee pads. As you skate around the rink (complete with glitter ball), the DJ keeps the well-known hits coming, and there’s a café for snacks once you’re done. This is a great spot to hang out with tweens and teens; under-fives are not allowed entry, and no prams or buggies are allowed in either.
Lead Image Credit: The Young V&A
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