Summer is soon fast approaching, and do you know what that means? Summer holidays! For the kids, it’s a long 6-week break from school, a time to replenish their energy, free their minds off homework and… just be a kid. For you, it’s a period of quality time spent with your kids, making summer memories, unforgettable moments and long-lasting picture-perfect snapshots of your kids growing up. We bet you’re looking for things to do in the summer holidays now.
Don’t fret, we’ve made a list of all the fun-tastic and hilariously fun activities you can do with the kids this summer.
Things To Do In The Summer Holidays
Have Fun for Less at Wacky Warehouse!
Did you know they have a Summer Play Pass?!
This means you have 100% flexibility to enjoy a summer of fun without breaking the bank! Family memories shouldn’t have big price tags!
You can pick up your Play Pass for just £14.00 and your kiddies and tiny tots can enjoy 6 whole weeks of soft play fun during the summer holidays!
And the best part is, you can use the pass at any of their 70 venues nationwide So, your fun isn’t limited. Their summer deals just keep coming though, because with you can also grab 10% off food and drink, as well as loyalty rewards from their friends at Fruit Shoot!
Not forgetting messy and creative arts & crafts sessions! The adults can relax while the kids enjoy getting crafty with their hands. From soft play adventures and playtime like no other, your kids will have a memorable summer!
Psst…Wacky Warehouse are also running a competition in association with Butlins! You can be in the chance of winning a family holiday!
Nationwide
1st July - 3rd September 2023
Summer Play Pass for £14.00
Make Your Summer Magical at Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo
Introduce your kids to the animal kingdom in up-close animal encounters at the Zoo. Meet majestic giraffes, dazzling flamingos, strong African lions, cheeky meerkats, curious tapirs, bongos, monkeys, bats, sloths and so many more fascinating creatures. And it doesn’t end there… Head over to the Jolly Barn where you’ll find donkeys, goats, pigs and all your much-loved farm animals. Make sure you check out ‘Cwtch Corner’! Or how about a trip to their rare-breed paddocks?
Next up, we have a boatload of thrills on the menu in the Vintage Fairground! All family members will LOVE a nostalgic go-around on the 17 restored rides from the Golden Gallopers, Dodgems, Caterpillar, Chair-o-planes and the Twist! Not to mention there are indoor and outdoor adventure play areas too, including Black Bart’s Pirate Cove. Just grab a ride-all-day wristband or load up on tokens and away you gooooo!
When you’re all giggled out and your tummy starts to rumble, keep calm and sink your teeth into a juicy burger from the Carousel Woods Burger Bar! If it’s table service your after, rest up in The Hungry Farmer restaurant. Devour all your favourite meals whilst sitting in a large tractor tyre… OR eat at an animal-themed table or inside a Dutch Barn, either is a great Instagram opportunity, am I right?
Don’t want to leave? Then don’t… Seriously… The Folly Farm Holiday Park is the five-star getaway you need this Summer! Pick from a wide variety of accommodations to suit your tribe. Choose from 43 touring pitches, 16 camping pitches, 6 luxury fairground lodges and 4 Showman’s Wagons. We recommend stopping in the giraffe-themed Twiga tents or the luxury Simba and Kifaru lodges!
Make your Summer memorable this year with a beautiful trip to Folly Farm.
Begelly, Kilgetty SA68 0XA
Please see the website for full list of opening times.
2023 entry prices:
2023 day entry tickets
Adult - £23.95
Child (3-15 years) - £21.95
Toddler (aged 2) - £14.95
Under 2 - Free
Senior (60+) - £21.95
NEW! Family* - £88.00
Carer** - Free
Visit The Home of the Treble Winners this Summer
This summer, visit the iconic home of the Treble Winners! For the ultimate footballing experience and go behind the scenes at the Etihad Stadium on the Manchester City Stadium Tour!
Get closer to the team than ever before with this exciting and immersive tour experience. From exploring key areas like the Tunnel Club, where the excitement of a player’s arrival on a matchday is brought to life, to an epic 360 video! Not forgetting you can visit the home team dressing room where match tactics are discussed, find your favourite player’s shirt and sit where they do just before a BIG game!
As you walk through the glass tunnel, you can imagine what it’s like as the players line up before walking out in front of a full Etihad Stadium. Discover amazing panoramic views of the pitch and even sit in the dugouts! Using the latest technology, you can also sit alongside a virtual Pep in the press conference room!
Etihad Stadium,
Ashton New Rd,
Manchester,
M11 3FF
Tours operate from 09:30 - 17.00 on Monday to Saturday
Tours operate from 10.00 - 16.00 on Sunday
Timings on matchdays will vary
Adults £28.00
Concessions/Students £22.00
Under 16's £17.00
Under 5's FREE
Family package 1 (based on 2 adults, 2 under 16s) £72.00
Family packages 2 (based on 1 adult, 3 under 16s) £64.00
Please note the above prices are only available when booking online
Are You Ready For a Totally Roarsome Adventure?
Open every day until 4th September, you’ll be let loose on a 1km woodland walk that will fill your children’s wildest imaginations. From hearing the GROWLS and ROARS from their incredible dinosaurs and wild animals to finding magical unicorns!
But that’s not all – the adventure continues… Got big and brave superheroes? They’d like to see their superhero pose and LOTS of super cool figures to snap a selfie with! With loads of different figures and over 100 of their favourite themed props, it will be THE day trip of the summer!
Whatever the weather, the fun doesn’t stop at Totally Roarsome, so pack your wellies and raincoats or sunscreen and come on down. Escape the heatwave in the cool shade of the curious ancient woodland, it’s perfect for a day out – rain or shine! Your kiddies can also complete the quiz as they travel around the trail, from finding the names of their favourite creatures to learning about the dinosaurs or how wild animals like to spend their days.
What are you waiting for? Head on out for a Totally Roarsome adventure!
Hazlewood Castle,
Tadcaster Nr Leeds,
Yorkshire,
LS24 9NJ
From July 2023
Tickets are not on sale yet!
Deep Dive into the best of BBC Earth Experience
So, why not explore Earth in a whole new way with the BBC Earth Experience? An award-winning programme Planet Earth has been transformed into a 360-degree audio and visual spectacle. With the latest digital technology of all sorts of landscapes and animals projected on walls all around you.
It’s truly an amazing attraction to visit this summer and super educational in a clever way for the kids!
68A Redcliffe Square, London SW10 9BN
Friday to Saturday 10:00 - 21:00
Sunday to Thursday 10:00 - 19:00
Adult £32.50
Child £28.00
Become A Hero With The Tomb Raider: The LIVE Experience!
You’ll be dropped into the centre of the action in an interactive experience like no other, right in the heart of London’s Camden Stables Market. Begin your search in finding the powerful lost spheres of Costa Rica, that have the power to control the weather…and therefore the world.
You can’t let this energy fall into the wrong hands, so you and your team of student archaeologists must use your collective skills to solve the puzzles and retain as many relics as you can along the way to shift the balance of power.
Join Lara Croft, as you escape a sinking ship, explore the jungles of Costa Rica, discover an ancient tomb and battle a secret order… Phew, can you handle all of that?
This is your chance to become a hero at Tomb Raider: The LIVE Experience.
Are you ready, explorer?
The Stables Market, Lower Basement & Upper Basement Atrium NW1 8AH
Monday Closed
Tuesday to Thursday 15:00 - 19:00
Friday 13:00 - 19:00
Saturday 11:00 - 20:00
Sunday 11:00 - 17:00
Tickets from £42.00
Winnie The Pooh: The Musical
Come along on a journey that has been reinvented for a musical stage adaptation. The Classic Pooh Bear stories are told by magical puppets in a beautiful play. You’ll feel the same sense of warmth, happiness and nostalgia, but on the stage instead!
They’re touring across the UK throughout the summer, so grab your tickets!
All over the UK
All over the UK frpm 31st May 2023
Prices start from £13.00 and can reach up to £32.00 per person
GO Laser Tag London – Forest Laser Tag
This isn’t just any old laser tag arena – it’s out in the open forest! Play Fortnite-themed gaming with assault rifles, sniper rifles, and fan favourite Sub Machine Guns. GO Laser Tag London is one of the only venues in the world to offer 3 varied Laser Tag gun options for our players, based around Fortnite and Gaming. Follow varied missions, objects and game maps and cease your right to victory!
All sessions last 2 hours and include a FREE large Pizza Hut pizza, so no one goes home hungry. There are also no set numbers of players per game, so whatever your party size, suit up, grab your gun and head out into the wilderness.
If you are feeling nervous at the idea of guns, don’t worry, this is a no-impact game. You won’t feel any pain like you would in a paintballing session. Players of all ages can play together without the fear of any rough play too.
Are you ready, soldier?
4 Laser Tag Forest, Salmons Ln, Whyteleafe CR3 0HB
Monday to Sunday 09:00 - 18:00
Explore with Treasure Trails!
“Where can I go?” I hear you say…well Treasure Trails has an abundance of fantastic family trails around the UK, so you can literally pick anywhere. Whether you decide to spend a couple of hours exploring the Trail or decide to extend your adventure and pack it full with picnic spots and tons more exploring. The world is your oyster (or should I say the UK is your oyster).
Plus, your Trails can come with add-ons like Mini Club Packs for the little explorers and animated messages from either the Spy, Explorer HQ or Police for completing the Trail. And if you’re on their mailing list, you can access FREE puzzles for those who love to keep up with their puzzle-solving skills. A perfect activity to keep your kids busy on the days you need to relax!
All over the UK
Trails from £9.99
Bowl A Strike With Hollywood Bowl
But that’s not all, they have fabulous activities to keep kids entertained throughout the summer holidays! Their bowling alleys will be open from 10:00 so you can score some strikes before the clock strikes 12! You can grab your FREE copy of Beano Bowling Tips for Kids’ magazine inside.
With state-of-the-art bowling lanes, VIP lanes, American diners, freshly made thick shakes, pool tables, an incredible amusement area and fun dip prizes. You and the family will have the ultimate day out! It’s the perfect activity to make some striking memories and it’s great for the whole family! Let the good times roll and let Hollywood Bowl spare you from pricey tickets.
Bowling is one of many super fun activities for families! From family-friendly competitions to learning how to roll a good ball. And with a wide range of locations across the UK, you’ll definitely find one to visit during the school holidays!
All over the UK
Adult from £6.95
Child from £5.95
Visit Prospect Place Playground at Battersea Power Station
Best of all…the kid’s play area is FREE! They’ll have fun as they climb towers, clamber through tunnels, play on springers and so much more! It’s super colourful and fun.
It’s a great way for the adults to chill after a busy day in London – especially if the kids still have bounds of energy! Afterwards, grab a bite to eat before you head back on your journey. You’ll find Indian restaurants, Gordan Ramsey’s bottomless pizza restaurant and so much more!
Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd ,
London,
SW8 5BN
Summer Holiday Activities
Explore National Trust Sites
From Dyffryn Gardens with garden rooms, a 22-acre arboretum and a fascinating tree collection. To Fountain Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden! You’ll find an 800-acre land with an ancient deer park, a Victorian Gothic church, a manor house and a stunning garden with flourishing flora in all the seasons.
Did you know that a lot of these sites have a range of activities that the whole family can involved in? Summer is the perfect time to discover your favourite National Trust site!
Whether you enjoy a leisurely stroll, have a picnic or explore the magnificent grounds.
All over the UK
Family-friendly Festivals
Nowadays there are plenty of family-friendly festivals that you can enjoy all together. Attend fun and creative workshops, dance and sing to music, engage in face painting and much more!
Some have exciting activities for kids involving cool experiments, flower crown making, a balloon disco to boogie in and even a gaming zone!
Here are a few family-friendly festivals you can get tickets for!
- Deer Shed Festival – 28th – 31st July
- Camp Bestival Shropshire – 17th – 20th August
- Latitude Festival – 20th – 23rd July
- PennFest – 21st – 22nd July
Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
With Balloons over Britain, you can fulfil your dreams of flying high with your friends and family! You can fly for £129 per person, just pay a deposit of £45.00 and pay later. It’s a truly remarkable and unforgettable memory you make and a really cool thing to do this summer holidays.
Not only will you be treated with spectacular views, but with the perfect summer activity as you enjoy the light and bright skies!
Multiple locations. Please check the website
Prices start from £129 per person. Pay a deposit of £45.00 and pay the rest later
Spend Summer Days Fruit Picking
They can compete with who picks the juiciest and sweetest fruits. Whether it’s strawberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, cherries or even raspberries! Some farms where you can pick your fruit, also have fun-tastic family activities for kids. So, the fun never stops!
Because who can avoid the sweet smell and taste of fresh fruit, that you can pick yourself? It’ll make for a fantastic family day out and maybe you can make some fruity desserts after.
Multiple locations. Please check the link below for a fruit farm near you!
From June onwards
Most farms are pay for what you pick
Frolick in a Wildflower Meadow
Whether you find fields with carpets of daises, bluebells to flowers blossoming all around you! Bright yellows, pretty pinks, calming purples or any colour under the rainbow. It’s a tranquil activity that your kids will love to explore.
You can set up a picnic somewhere and enjoy the summer sun, cool air and the sound of bees buzzing by. Don’t forget to bring the frisbee or football!
Hey, why not check out a sunflower farm near you from July to September?! Their bright sun shining petals will welcome you whole-heartedly!
Multiple locations across the UK
During the summer
Free!
Get Lost in a Maize Maze
Grab the kids and head to Skylark Maize Maze & Funyard for a GIANT day filled with fun! What is it, I hear you ask? Well, it’s a giant-themed maize maze that you can spend all day running through – just don’t get lost and dizzy!
Each year they have a super cool theme, from Woody and Buzz to Thor and the Hulk! What will it be this year? You’ll find out soon…
But that’s not all they have there. You’ll also find special activities pig racing, go-karts, water wars, scarecrow smash and so many more amazing activities for kids! It’ll make for a fab day out this summer – you won’t regret it!
Check out the other cool mazes you’ll find across the UK!
Manea Road, Wimblington, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0PE
20th July to 3rd September
A Summer Season ticket starts from £85.49 for 3 people
Visit a Butterfly Farm
At the Tropical Butterfly House farm, you can escape to a place where exotic birds and butterflies roam free, over your head and even land on you. It’s the perfect experience for those who love animals and the beautiful effortless flight of butterflies.
You can even get involved with animal feedings and have lots of fun on the outdoor adventure playground! But that’s not the only thing you can do there – you’ll find so many more animals to discover and see! From magnificent mammals, and colourful critters to more!
The perfect family attraction and thing to do this summer holidays. They also hold special events throughout the year, so maybe you can catch a super cool activity for the family!
See what other butterfly farms there are near you.
Woodsetts Road, North Anston, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S25 4EQ
Monday to Friday 10:00 - 15:30
Saturday and Sunday 10:00 - 17:00
Child (under 2) free
Child (2-15) £15.99
Adult £16.99
Swim with Horses
Grab those reins and ride bareback as your horse walks in the shallow water before taking you further out. Whatever experience you have, you’ll be in safe hands with the instructors as you take in the picturesque Cornwall beach.
A truly unique experience to be had during the kid’s school summer holidays. And one they’ll remember for a long time!
At The Peep Out, Long Rock, Cornwall, TR20 8YJ
May till September - please pre-book online
£170 per person, per horse
2 people (1 adult and 1 child) sharing one horse is £200
Splash At A Water Park
Whether you choose to visit an indoor water park or an inflatable outdoor one, you’ll be sure to feel cooler while slipping and sliding your way to fun.
And hey, if you’re travelling to Tenerife in Spain this summer holidays, how about visiting Siam Water Park? It’s packed with family-fun, and incredible water slides and adds to the perfect trip away during the school holidays.
We have locations where you can find outdoor pools and lidos too if you don’t fancy a water park! Or even splash parks where you can find a park local to you, so your kids can stay cool without having to pay big prices for a water park!
Watch A Film Outdoors
At Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, you can laze on the grass and watch the classic anime film. With a few surprises in store, food, drink and hopefully the sun, the air will be filled with unparalleled energy – it’s a show not to miss!
Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Rd, Birmingham, B15 3TR
13th August at 19:00
Prices are not been released yet
Indulge at an Ice Cream Farm
If you’re heading to Cornwall, try Callestick for some cornish ice cream. Perfect for a treat after a beach trip.
Cornish Ice Cream, Callestick Farm, Callestick, Truro, TR4 9LL
Monday to Sunday 10:30 - 17:00
Please check the website for pricing
So, after taking in all these fantastically fun things to do in the summer holidays, are you ready to have the best summer yet? Whether you visit formal gardens and farm parks, explore castles and enjoy the beautiful scenery or have fun with creative activities!
Summer is the best time to do it..now we’ve just got to pray for sunny weather and we’re good!
Looking for more fun things to do? Check out our outdoor activities you can explore, zoos and wildlife attractions your kids will love or maybe go on a theme park break.