And if you and your kids are in need of an exciting day out, click here and scroll to the area that you live to read our latest suggestion for a place to visit near you.
Summer Holiday Resorts
Butlins
There are three Butlins resorts, which are situated in Minehead, Skegness and Bognor Regis and are open all year round. They have won several great awards for their British holiday destinations, including the “Family Resort of the Year” in Woman magazine.
Designed to entertain the whole family:
“Why do kids love Butlins? Is it the exciting funfair or the awesome sports activities, the new friends they make at Kids Clubs, or the thrill of meeting Bob the Builder? Or is it Pop Academy and X Factor, arts and crafts and dance lessons, live music and comedians – or even drenching mum and dad at Splash Waterworld! We know how to show kids a great time – and when the kids are happy, the whole family’s happy too!”
Kids love most:
The Junior Driving School, where they can drive a battery operated mini car around a mini town… and at the end of it they receive their very own driving certificate! It is only £2 for a session and is exclusive to the Minehead resort. Please note; height restrictions do apply.
Adult love Butlins too:
Entertainment for adults include a hot shots sports bar, spa treatments, a Jaks Bar (over 18’s only), wine tasting, archery and fencing amongst many other activities and bars.
Eating out:
There are lots of places to eat, including restaurants like Burger King, Finnigan’s and Skyline Café, as well as many others.
For prices and more details, please view www.butlins.com/kidsloveit or call 0870 998 2244.
Quotations sourced from the Butlins 'Kids love it' brochure
Disneyland Paris
“At Disneyland® Resort Paris the world of Disney comes alive. Conveniently located just outside Paris, it’s never been so easy, or affordable, to enjoy the legendary service, quality and entertainment so close to home.”
Take your family to “experience the world of make-believe for real and enjoy fantastical fun and thrilling attractions at Disneyland® Park. Who else but Disney could create such a magical place, where children can’t believe their eyes, teenagers can’t believe the thrills and adults can’t believe they’re having so much fun?”There are seven hotels to choose from, all in the heart of the magic:
Disneyland® Hotel
Disney’s Hotel New York®
Disney’s Newport Bay Club®
Disney’s Sequoia Lodge®
Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne®
Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe®
Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch®
The Disneyland® Paris Resort has an excellent choice of themed restaurants, many of which provide set menus for as little as £7 per adult and £4 for children.
What’s happening this summer?
“From May to September, fill your eyes, ears and hearts with the magic of Disney with their richest array of shows, parades and attractions ever!* Enter the poetic world of Hundred Acre Wood in the live stage show, Winnie the Pooh and Friends, Too, and discover the depths of the wild jungle in the Tarzan™ Encounter. Come celebrate the Hawaiian tradition of family and learn to dance the hula in the Lilo and Stitch Catch the Wave Party in Walt Disney Studios® Park. There are three daily parades including Disney’s Fantillusion, a twilight spectacular you have to see to believe.”
*Shows and parades on selected dates.
Kids
In addition to all the entertainment the resort provides, all children between three and eleven years of age will be given a special pack which will include various things for the children to do, as well as an autograph book so that they can get signatures from their favourite Disney characters!
Packs are subject to availability. Packs can be purchased for children over 3 or under 11 at an extra cost of £10 some inclusions in the packs may not be suitable for children younger than 3 years.
For prices and more details, please view www.tcsignature.com or call 0870 443 4490.
Quotations sourced from the 'Disneyland Resort Paris, Thomas Cook Signature' brochure
Hoseasons
“Fun with the family or a holiday with friends? Action packed for the children or a quiet break from it all? We have divided the parks into the different styles to help you choose.”
Holiday Styles
Fun and laughter
Fun, sports and entertainment for all the family
Lively and leisurely
A wide range of facilities as well as opportunities for quieter times. Lots of activities for the children too.
Relax and explore
Often scenic locations, close to touring attractions, and often a bar.
Peace and quiet.
Often in quiet rural or seaside surroundings. Great for fishing, walking and cycling holidays.
Holiday Locations
The company boasts a magnitude of over 370 locations throughout Britain and provides a brochure, which offers a grading system for their accommodation and graded holiday parks so you can make an informed decision on where you will stay.
Awards
They have won numerous awards, including “Best Domestic Holiday Company” 2002 and “Best Independent Tour Operator” 2003, from Travel trade Gazette British Travel Awards, as well as being awarded “Best Operator-UK Holidays” by Travel Weekly’s Globe Awards and many others.
Discounts
They offer a number of discounts for families, including free children’s tickets when you book a Hoseasons holiday to Cornwall or Devon:
Hoeseasons will send a voucher confirming your entitlement to one free child’s ticket per full price adult ticket purchased. This voucher must be presented at the time of ticket purchase. Vouchers are valid from 1 January to 31 December 2006.
For prices and more details, please view www.hoseasons.co.uk or call 0870 166 00 89
Quotations sourced from the Hoseasons 'Holiday Lodges and Parks Britain 2006' brochure
Great Days Out
Scotland
Our Dynamic Earth
Our Dynamic Earth is one of Edinburgh’s main attractions. You and your kids will be whisked back in time and be able to feel the phenomenal force of nature in The Restless Earth; then touch an iceberg and experience a tropical rainforest. You’ll travel through every environment on Earth and encounter creatures you never knew existed.
This action-packed adventure, with interactive exhibits and hands on experiences throughout, is a huge hit with kids. They can also join Dino's Dynamos free Children’s Club.
Getting there
One of the easiest way to get there is by train. The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley which is a main line station to all major destinations and a 15-20 minute walk from Our Dynamic Earth.
Opening times
Summer Opening 2004:
April to October open 10am - 5pm daily.
Last admission 3:50pm
July & August open 10am - 6pm daily.
Last admission 4:50pm
Prices
Adults £6.95
Children aged 5-15yrs £3.75
Children under 5 years £1.00
Student/Disabled/Unemployed £4.85
Senior Citizens £3.75
Wales
Greenacres Farm Park
Greenacre Farm Park is a favourite for children; here they can enjoy holding baby animals in a safe environment. Lamb and goat bottle-feeding, educational tractor tours, pony rides, bouncy castle, fun fair, play area, puppeteers and magicians are all popular attractions. All contact with animals is optional, but excellent washing facilities have been installed at each point. Tarmac pathways lead to each enclosure. Mother and baby room and disabled facilities are available.
Contact details
Greenacres Farm Park
Cottage Lane
Mancot
Deeside
Clwyd CH5 2AZ
North England
Alphabet Zoo Play Centres
Alphabet Zoo provides real enjoyment for children, with emphasis on purposeful play in a safe environment. Children must be accompanied by an adult, as although supervision is available on site, it is not a creche facility. It is also ideal for a party venue. Play centres are at Ashton-under-Lyne, Sale and Stockport.
Contact details
Alphabet Zoo (Play Centres) Limited
Bollin House, Riverside Park
Bollin Link
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 1DP
Tel: +44 (0) 1625 528895
Fax: +44 (0) 1625 528896
Opening times
Open all year, daily, 1000-1900. Closed 24,25 Dec, 1 Jan.
Central England
Sherwood Forest Fun Park
The Sherwood Forest Fun Park is an amusement park which caters for families and children of all ages. Located in the heart of Sherwood Forest, just 5 minutes walk from the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre and the famous Major Oak. Amusements include a ghost train, giant slippery slide, dodgems, games and prizes.
Prices
Admission to this attraction is free, but you pay as you go.
Contact details
Sherwood Forest Country Park, Edwinstowe, NG21 9QA
Tel: (01623) 823536
Fax:(01623) 823536
Opening times
Open 1 Mar-31 Oct, daily, 1000-dusk, weather permitting
South England
Drusillas Park
Drusillas Park has a reputation as the best small zoo in England. It has earned that reputation by creating an animal and child-friendly environment where the accent is on interactive involvement, conservation and fun. There are hundreds of fascinating creatures including meerkats, penguins, fruitbats and lemurs. Drusilla Playland, is one of the many other activities available to keep kids entertained. It is a paradise for anyone needing to let off steam, packed with slides and swings, ropes and climbable things. There are also masses of educational 'hands-on' activities and the chance to compete in the Zoolympics, together with Panning for Gold, Indoor Toddler Village, Wacky Workshop, Discovery Centre and Jungle Adventure Golf.
Opening Times
Drusillas is open every day of the year except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Summer opening is from 10am with last admissions at 5pm. Winter opening is from 10am with last admissions at 4pm.
Prices
Adults and Children over 12 years: £9.99
Children (2-12 yrs): £9.49
Babies and those not yet 2: Admitted Free
Senior Citizens: £8.99
Long Term Disabled: £8.49
Carers for the disabled: £8.49
Discount and season tickets are also available.
Contact details
Drusillas Park
Alfriston
East Sussex
BN26 5QS
t: 01323 874100
f: 01323 874101
e: info@drusillas.co.uk
Getting there
Drusillas is situated just off the A27 near Alfriston. It is approximately 7 miles from Eastbourne and 15 miles from Brighton. There is a shortage of brown directional tourist signs, so you will need to follow signs to Alfriston. It is located on Alfriston Road which is just off the A27.
London
The London Aquarium
Nowhere else in London can you come face-to-face with sabre-toothed sharks, encounter a frenzied piranha feed and stroke friendly rays and starfish.
The £25 million Aquarium is the only attraction of its kind in the capital and is one of Europe's largest exhibitions of global aquatic life. The London Aquarium combines education, relaxation and entertainment through a multi-sensory voyage through the rivers, lakes and oceans of the world.
Pre-school kids are invited to ‘Touchpool Sessions’, where they can explore the life around our coasts through touch and group discussion. They get the chance to touch crabs and starfish. These 20-minute sessions are targeted specifically at pre-school age children and cost an extra 50p per child, teachers / helpers are not charged for the session. Touchpool sessions cover: treating animals with care, animal movement, feeding, growth and senses.
There is also a selection of printed materials for 3-14 year olds, to supplement their visit.
Getting there
The Aquarium is situated on the southbank of the river Thames within the historic County Hall building. It is accessible by means listed on the following pages. We recommend that the London Aquarium be visited via public transport to avoid the inevitable traffic.
Opening times
10am - 6pm, with the last entry at 5pm, seven days a week with the following exceptions.
The Aquarium is open until 7pm (with admission at 6pm) on the following dates:
3rd April to 18th April
22nd May to 6th June
17th July to 5th September