The summer holidays are right around the corner!
It’s no secret that the best way to spend the summer holidays is by making memories as a family whilst enjoying the glorious sunshine. While it lasts, anyway!
So, If you’re interested in discovering new family-friendly activities that’ll keep the kids thoroughly entertained this summer, you’re in the right place.Â
Read on to discover the best child-friendly outdoor activities to enjoy throughout the summer holidays…
This one may seem obvious, but we couldn’t not include a good old-fashioned trip to the seaside as one of the best outdoor activities in the summer for kids! Plus, on a nice day – you’ll feel like you’re abroad!
The obvious way to spend a day at the seaside is to relax with a good book and swim in the ocean. However, there’s much more to do on the beach to ensure your kids have a blast.
Building sand castles and exploring for seashells usually go down well with kids. Be sure to check if there are any family-friendly activities, such as boat rides, pedalo rentals or children’s play areas.Â
Our advice would be to get there early and make a whole day out of the occasion. Grab a great spot and bring a picnic and cool box filled with the kid’s favourites to ensure you’re all fed and hydrated throughout the day.Â
However, for mum and dad’s sake – bring along a few colouring books for the kids once you’re all feeling a little worn out!
Every year, the National Trust puts in place a variety of pavilions of play throughout its gardens in the UK – for the entire duration of the summer holidays.Â
The great thing about the pavilions of play is you’ll be able to revisit them anytime you like, and each one allows little ones to spot and listen to nearby wildlife. They also offer lookout points and information boards about their surroundings.Â
These play spaces are a great way of getting your children involved in something active outdoors – and they’ll also get the chance to meet new, like-minded little adventurers!
And, even if your nearest National Trust park doesn’t offer a pavilion of play – we’d recommend going anyway!Â
The National Trust grants outdoor enthusiasts access to some of the best public gardens the UK has to offer, which are a particular delight over the summer months.Â
If you’d like to visit one of these superb spots, click here to be taken directly to the National Trust’s pavilions of play page.
This one is a no-brainer! If you’re planning to stay in the UK this summer, why not plan a family camping adventure?
Lucky for us, the UK has so many natural places to visit, with each location offering its own unique experience. So, whether a coastal camping trip sounds like a dream to you or you’re more of a forest camper – there’s no shortage of breathtaking new places to discover in the UK.Â
We’ve recently published an article on some of the best places to enjoy a summer camping trip. To check this out, click here.
What better way to enjoy a summer’s night with the kids than by cooking up a storm outdoors? After all, it’s no secret that campfire food always seems to taste better!
It doesn’t matter whether you plan on cooking out in the back garden or somewhere new – kids who love being outdoors will likely find the experience of dining alfresco quite exciting! Especially if it’s not a regular occurrence.Â
Plus, you’ll be able to use this activity as an educational opportunity where they can learn how to cook safely outdoors.
Our advice would be to ask them what they would like to cook. For example, popular campfire favourites that go down a treat with kids are s’mores, BBQ favourites – or, if you have your own camping stove, why not make fresh pizzas?Â
If an outdoor pizza party sounds like a winner to you, we’d recommend checking out our selection of outdoor portable pizza ovens by Ooni. Click here for more information!
Similar to a treasure hunt, but in a language the kids of today are more likely to understand! To start geocaching, you’ll need to download the official app before you do anything else.Â
Described as the world’s most popular pre-existing treasure hunt, you can choose a location that suits you as there are no limits on where you can geocache with the kids.Â
If you find one of the ‘treasures’, it’ll simply be a little container labelled as a geocache – but it’ll certainly leave your kids with a sense of achievement after working together to find it!Â
The app will provide fun clues to keep the kids entertained, and there’s also an in-app log book where you can document all of your finds.
If you’ve ever organised an Easter egg hunt for your children, you’ll likely be well acquainted with how their eyes light up when they find the chocolate eggs after working with the clues to find them!Â
So, this summer, we’d definitely recommend doing a few outdoor treasure hunts to keep them entertained. Geocaching and treasure hunts are similar – but you’ll be in control of what the treasure is and where the clues are!
Another great thing about treasure hunts is that it’s a relatively low-cost outdoor activity, and it will give the kids a chance to explore the great outdoors in a location that suits you and your family.Â
Simply plant your treasure in any spot you like, and let the hunt begin!
Venturing out on a day trip to your favourite zoo is a great way to connect to nature and wildlife.Â
Your kids will have the opportunity to learn about different species found in the wild, and it’s also a great way of spending quality time with the kids, bonding over a shared experience and learning about nature.Â
You’ll likely be able to spend the whole day at a zoo, simply because there’s plenty to do! We recommend packing a day bag and taking time to enjoy the experience, as these attractions can get pretty busy during the summertime.
Open-air pop-up cinemas are super popular over the summer months, so there’s bound to be one either local or nearby.Â
Experiencing an open-air cinema will likely feel like a refreshing change of scenery from your regular cinema visit, and the kids will adore the novelty experience.Â
If you’re not sure how to go about finding what’s on near you, take Sundown Cinema as a perfect example.Â
Described as a family day out to remember, their pop-up cinema events take place in spacious outdoor settings, with locations across London, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.Â
All you’ll need to do is take your favourite picnic blanket and camping chairs along with you, grab a great spot and ensure you’ve brought along your favourite sweet treats.
It’s no secret that there’s no shortage of outdoor activity centres to take advantage of in the British summertime!
For inspiration, we’ll recommend a few superb outdoor activity suggestions across the UK that are perfect for keeping the kids happy this summer.
Go Ape is the UK’s leading outdoor adventure company, perfect for families.Â
From cycle paths, child-friendly challenges, walking trails and activity areas to ziplining, treetop exploring and segway adventures, Go Ape offers plenty of outdoor activities within its woodland locations!
What’s more, the good news is that there are multiple Go Ape locations across the UK, so you’ll likely have no problem finding a Go Ape near you.Â
We would wholeheartedly recommend visiting the official Go Ape website to learn more. Alternatively, see below for more information on where you can find a Go Ape centre:Â
BeWILDerwood is a similar concept to Go Ape and an all-time favourite in the UK, with locations in both the south (Norfolk) and north (Cheshire) of England. So, if you live close to a Bewidlerwood location, we definitely recommend visiting with the kids this summer!Â
There are plenty of activities to get stuck into at Bewilderwood, including forest treehouses, boat trips, marsh walks, jungle bridges and even zip wire experiences. Perfect for adventurous little cubs who are bursting with energy!Â
If you’re a family who loves to go exploring new places together, a visit down to Alnwick Castle would make for a great day trip.
Located in Northumberland, the Alnwick Castle has appeared in the likes of Harry Potter, so your kids may find this experience particularly exciting – plus, it’s a superb photo opportunity!
Expect lots of fun activities, such as adventure golf, a variety of educational gardens, walking trails, and, depending on when you go – they even host outdoor theatre productions, the most recent being Shakespeare.Â
What’s more, because of its feature in Harry Potter, there are a variety of children-friendly activities around this location – which include ‘broomstick flying’ and archery (depending on age).
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Need a little inspiration this Valentine’s Day? Read the Winfield’s guide on some of the best activities for couples in the UK.
