The weather is finally improving and summer is nearly here. Hurrah! That of course means summer holidays for your little ones. But while your kids may be excited at the prospect of time off, it can be difficult for parents to come up with activities to keep children entertained during the long summer months. Here are some of our suggestions for fun days out that all the family will enjoy:
1) London Zoo
A perfect way to spend a lazy summer’s day is with a trip to the zoo. Kids will love the chance to get up close and personal with giraffes, pygmy hippos, monkeys and penguins, while adults can enjoy a peaceful stroll through the beautiful grounds. As well as this, visitors are in for an extra treat this summer with the recent birth of three Sumatran tiger cubs, which made their debut in the zoo this April. Take a picnic and make a day of it!
2) Harry Potter Studio Tour
Are your children crazy about Harry Potter? Then, why not follow in the footsteps of William and Kate and take a trip to see Harry Potter at Leavesden Studios, where all eight of the Harry Potter films were shot and produced. Die hard fans will love the opportunity to visit the authentic sets, such as Hogwarts Great Hall, magical Diagon Alley, Dumbledore’s office and the potions room. Kids will especially enjoy taking part in the green screen experience and learning to ride a broomstick – just like Harry Potter himself.
3) Sea Life London Aquarium
Home to one of Europe’s largest collections of global marine life, the Sea Life Aquarium provides a fun and interactive family day out. Take a stroll through the stunning glass walkway and feel as if you’re walking beneath a tropical ocean. There is also plenty for children to do, from feeding the rays, to touch pools and discovery zones. Sea life in the aquarium includes turtles, seahorses, octopuses, zebra sharks and clown fish. The true highlight however takes place in the new shark reef encounter, where guests can watch sixteen sharks swim below their feet from a floating glass platform. Enter if you dare!
4) The Natural History Museum, London
If you want your children to do something educational over the summer holidays, then a trip to the Natural History Museum is perfect. One of the UK’s top attractions, it is home to some of the nation’s finest natural history specimens and boasts over three million visitors each year. Highlights for children include the animatronic T. Rex in the Dinosaurs’ Gallery, travelling through a giant suspended globe and getting hands-on experience in the Investigate Centre. The National History Museum is the perfect day out for budding young scientists.
5) Madame Tussaud’s
Perhaps one for the older kids, as the Chamber of Horrors is not for the faint hearted. However, children will love getting to see their favourite celebrities in the flesh (or the wax, to be more specific). Popular exhibits include the boys from One Direction, Beyonce and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. There are also characters that will appeal to your younger ones such as Shrek, Spiderman and Tinkerbelle. A highlight for history enthusiasts is the Spirit of London ride, in which visitors can take a trip through London’s murky history in a black cab.
All brilliant. My kids loved Madame Tussauds, but my son also loves to be scared, so he would add the London Bridge Experience and London Dungeons…Harry Potter at Leavesden is absolutely brilliant. We wrote about it last year and thought it was a terrific day out. Also clueQuest is fantastic fun (we wrote about it recently too) and Churchill War Rooms for slightly older kids.
I loved Madame Tussauds, but my daughter also loves to be scared, so she would add the London Bridge Experience and London Dungeons