Ideas for great days out
Get out and about and have some fun with your extended family.
Just visiting friends and family, or organising a picnic can be fun, but if you want to do something a bit different, there are loads of events taking place over the bank holiday weekend. And the good news is that even if you don’t fancy spending most of your time stuck in a traffic jam on one of Britain’s notoriously congested roads, then there’s sure to be something nearby.
If you’re wondering about the sort of activities which might suit family members of all ages – including your older parents – then we’ve got some ideas for you to consider.
Gardens
Visiting a beautiful garden can be a very enjoyable experience for all the family – as long as the kids can run around to burn off some energy.
The National Trust has 200 gardens and parks to explore and many hold special events throughout the summer. Check here to see what’s on in your area.
Throughout the summer the National Garden Scheme (NGS) has around 500 wonderful gardens to visit across England and Wales, many of which are free to children under 16. And by visiting an NGS garden, you’ll be helping to support many nursing and caring charities. Since it began in 1927, the NGS has donated more than £45 million to charities such as Marie Curie and Carers Trust. You can check here to find an NGS garden near you.
Another option is to visit one of the many gardens participating in the The Open Garden Scheme, which provides a fantastic opportunity to see the fruits of many green-thumbed amateur gardeners who are happy to open up their gardens for the visiting public. You can check to see which are nearest to where you live on the online directory here.
Stately homes, heritage and museums
Great Britain is rightly famous for its wealth of historic castles, stately homes, museums, art galleries and other unique attractions. In previous articles on myageingparent,we’ve made suggestions for day trips and activities to do with older parents, including Free days out for you and your older parent, Historical fun days out, Top museums for fun days out, Top zoos and gardens.
Ideas include:
• Alnwick Castle in Northumberland – This August bank holiday you can explore this beautiful 700-year-old castle and enjoy lots of extra activities including a tour of the various castle locations used in movies, and some Harry Potter broomstick training.
• Snettisham Park Farm in Norfolk – children can feed lambs and the whole family can go on a deer safari and ride on tractors.
• Beamish Museum in County Durham – step back in time to see how people lived and worked in the Victorian era with reconstructed houses, shops and buildings, plus a colliery village.
• The Yorkshire Sculpture Park – Explore 500 acres of historic landscape, near West Bretton, Wakefield, with artworks by international artists, plus five indoor galleries. Admission is free, although there are parking charges and it’s open almost every day.
Why not try something a bit different…
A day at the races
How about going to the races? Amongst the various meets this August bank holiday is the annual three days of horse racing and family entertainment at fabulous Goodwood in Sussex. This year the there is a 1950s theme with live music ranging from rock n’ roll to jazz. Tickets start from £10 and under 18s go free. There’s also a free shuttle bus fro Chicester Railway Station each day. For details and online booking, click here.
Ride on a steam train
There’s something about a ride on an old-fashioned steam train that appeals to kids of all ages! We’re fortunate that steam train enthusiasts around Britain work hard to keep these beautiful old trains running. To find out about any special events on August bank holiday near you, the UK & Ireland Heritage website is a good start. To explore Scotland’s steam railways visit the Welcome To Scotland website.
Afternoon tea with owls
Ever wanted to get up close and personal with an owl? Is someone in the family a Harry Potter fan? Then how about handling and free flying a barn owl, tawny owl, or eagle owl at The Bird of Prey Centre, Wilstead, in Bedfordshire? Sessions last an hour and a half followed by afternoon tea and cakes. Tickets cost £15 and include entry into the bird of prey centre for the whole day.
Tree Fest
The National Arboretum at Westonbirt is the venue for TreeFest – an August bank holiday weekend for families to celebrate nature, trees and woodcraft. There are camping facilities, live music, food and many activities for all the family. The arboretum is managed by the Forestry Commission and is located in the Cotswolds, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Children can enter for free and you can get a 33% discount if you book tickets online by 28 August.
World Bogsnorkelling Championships
For something completely different (if you’re in Wales) how about attending the 30th World Bog Snorkelling Championships on The Sunday 30th August 2015? Held in at Waen Rhydd bog on the outskirts of Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales, this annual event attracts hundreds of participants and spectators from all over the world. With refreshments, crafts, a bouncy castle, and live music – what’s not to like? A shuttle bus is also available to get you to the bog and back. Details can be found here.
Here’s to a relaxing, fun bank holiday – whatever you end up doing!
Other useful myageingparent articles:
Free days out for you and your older parent
Top zoos and gardens for fun days out
Historical fun days out
Useful links:
The National Trust
The National Garden Scheme
Open Gardens UK Directory
Goodwood racing weekend
UK & Ireland Heritage Railways
The Bird of Prey Centre
TreeFest at the Westonbirt Arboretum
