Best boredom-busting family days out across the country that won’t cost a penny from art classes to magic shows
HALF term can be a tricky time for cash-strapped families.
With parents desperate to find purse-friendly ways to keep kids occupied, low-cost days out can be a lifesaver.
Kirsten Jones reveals the best boredom-busting family days out around the country – and they needn’t cost you a penny.
Plus The Sun’s garden guru gives you ideas for getting kids involved with nature and the outdoors.
SOUTH
Roskilly’s Farm, St Keverne, Cornwall: The ultimate day out for animal lovers, this organic farm invites kids to meet furry friends, watch cow milking and explore 20 acres of open farmland. See roskillys.co.uk.
Cumberland House Natural History Museum, Portsmouth: Watch a colony of 9,000 bees at work behind glass, get up close to the butterflies and walk through the A to Z of natural history, where you can marvel at a huge dinosaur. See portsmouthnaturalhistory.co.uk
Pooh Corner, Sussex: Ashdown Forest was author AA Milne’s inspiration for the 100 Acre Wood, so play on the real-life Poohsticks Bridge and see book locations like Eeyore’s Sad And Gloomy Place. See poohcorner.co.uk
Devon flapjack trail, Plymouth: Feeling sweet? Grab a free map from the Flapjackery shop in Plymouth’s Barbican, follow the historic trail to learn about ancient seafarers and return your completed quiz for a delicious prize . . . See visitplymouth.co.uk.
Natural History Museum, London: Home to 80million specimens, it’s a classic but worth it.
Some exhibitions are paid for but the majority are free. Book in advance and for more info see nhm.ac.uk.
MIDLANDS
RAF Museum Midlands, Cosford, Shrops: Kids will spend hours ogling vintage aircraft, trucks and tanks.
There is a themed playground and, from tomorrow, it’s Second World War Week. Expect costumes, kids’ trails and more. See rafmuseum.org.uk.
Sheldon Country Park and Old Rectory Farm, Birmingham: Explore 300 acres of parkland, meet farm animals, collect insects and watch planes take off from Birmingham Airport. See birmingham.gov.uk/sheldonpark
St Nicholas Park, Warwick: Become an Eco-Detective from 1pm-3pm on May 29.
Kids and adults can try water marbling art and being a river scientist while learning about water pollution with the Mizuiku Family Workshop. Free to join, see eventbrite.co.uk.
Medieval Legends Weekend, Nottingham Castle: A three-day celebration begins tomorrow with cave tours, a medieval encampment, archery and a meet and greet with Robin Hood.
Kids under 15 go free (three per paid adult, £15). nottinghamcastle.org.uk.
Victoria Park, Ilkeston: Half term fun sees Mr Magic take the stage on Monday at the Barefeet in the Park Kiosk, while Paw Patrol arrive Tuesday. See facebook.com/ilkestonvictoriapark.
EAST
Ashford Outlet Adventure Playground: Shop and let kids explore this augmented reality play area, climb tree house towers and use a phone to see fairytale characters magically appear. See mcarthurglen.com.
Barsham Brewery, Norfolk: Bring the whole family on May 31 for an evening of local brews, bands and street food.
Kids and dogs welcome. It kicks off at 4pm. See barshambrewery.co.uk.
Norwich Games Festival: From May 30 to June 1, all ages can enter an interactive zone inspired by classic arcade games – and play them for real. Open from 10am to 4pm. See norwichgamesfestival.co.uk.
IBCC Evacuee free family activity day, Lincoln: All ages are invited to the International Bomber Command Centre to step into the shoes of a 1940s evacuee.
Dress in wartime clothes and take part in craft and activities. There are prizes for the best dressed. See internationalbcc.co.uk.
Colchester Roman and Medieval Festival: June 1 and 2 sees brave knights and Roman soldiers roaming the grounds.
Kids under 14 go free, £10 per day per adult, for a full day of silent disco, mini history tours, costume competitions and exciting reenactments. See visit colchester.com.
NORTH
Freight Island, Manchester: Step inside the city’s historic former train station each weekend for free family crafting stalls, Xbox stations, games and movies.
Mayfield Park is right next door with a kids’ play zone and six slides. See escapetofreightisland.com.
National Railway Museum, York: All aboard, train fans. Find plenty of vintage engines to peek inside, plus a road train to ride, a Flying Scotsman exhibit and workshops for budding scientists. See railwaymuseum.org.uk.
Durham Cathedral: Kids can climb the cathedral’s 325-step tower to enjoy views over the city for free with a paying adult. Keep an eye on the website for free activities including wizard spotting and silent discos. See durhamcathedral.co.uk.
Gruffalo Trail, Lake District: This popular sculpture trail in Keswick is pram friendly, but prepare for hills.
See the characters from the books plus there is an adventure playground and water splash park on warm days. See forestryengland.uk.
Ouseburn Farm, Newcastle: It’s free to enter this city farm with an orchard, grazing animals and play spaces.
For a small fee kids can join in the gardeners’ club, guinea pig petting and reptile bathing, too. See ouseburnfarm.org.uk.
WALES
St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff: Blacksmith demos to ancient crafts and a real-life historic street, this open-air museum will keep kids entertained for hours.
Stick around for the farm animals and huge play area on sunny days. See museum.wales/stfagans.
Margam International Kite Festival, Port Talbot: Kites of all shapes and sizes will fill the sky from Saturday to Monday – and you can watch for free.
Visitors can fly their own kites or just bring a picnic to enjoy the spectacle. See margamcountrypark.co.uk.
Canton Library, Cardiff: Drop by at 11am on Saturdays for a free Lego club where children from age three can show off what they can make and give mum and dad a spot of quiet time.
Keep an eye on the website for regular free activities including story and rhyme time, creative writing and even a homework club. See cardiffhubs.co.uk.
RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve: Kids aged three to eight are invited on May 31 for FunPlay Friday, a full day of den building, chalk drawing, badge making and more.
It is free to play, with a small charge for some activities. 11am to 3pm, weather permitting. See events.rspb.org.uk.
SCOTLAND
The Potter Trail, Edinburgh: Don your Hogwarts capes and grab a wand for a free Harry Potter walking tour.
See locations that inspired the books, learn about real witches and wizards and discover the final resting place of Lord Voldemort. Daily tours begin at 12pm on Victoria Street. See pottertrail.com.
Fullarton Fairy Trail, Troon: Challenge toddlers to find all the fairy doors and carvings. They will love the adventure playpark, too.
The sweeping, sandy Troon Beach is a five minute drive away. For info see southayrshirelifeline.org.
Camperdown Country Park, Dundee: There’s a wildlife centre filled with bears and an enchanting array of birds (at £6 per head) plus a free pirate-themed play complex with slides, climbing nets and bridges. See dundeecity.gov.uk.
Ness Islands, Inverness: Head to this scenic spot and challenge kids to spot the wooden statue of the Loch Ness Monster.
Whin Park is a short stroll away with playgrounds, climbing frames and slides. See visitinvernesslochness.com.
Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow: Kids aged five to 12 can join the free Saturday Art Club for two hours of drawing and more. See glasgowlife.org.uk.
EASY TIPS TO GET ’EM GARDENING
By Veronica Lorraine, Gardening Editor
BEING in nature makes 87 per cent of children and young people “very happy”, a government survey found.
While a King’s Fund report on the health benefits of gardening has uncovered a string of other positives, including reductions in depression and anxiety as well as improved social functioning.
Royal Horticultural Society Children’s Gardening Ambassador Lee Connelly, aka Skinny Jeans Gardener, who was a CBBC Blue Peter Gardener, said: “If you think back to your childhood, what do you remember most? Climbing trees, making dens, playing hide and seek.
“Very rarely do I sit down and talk about that great episode of Chucklevision that I watched in 1998.
“Getting kids gardening is great for them mentally and physically and is vital for the future of our planet.”
With the start of National Children’s Gardening Week tomorrow, here are Lee’s top tasks to get kids outside, taken from his book How To Get Kids Gardening.
Mini allotment bowl: Drill drainage holes in the bottom of a washing up bowl. Add compost to the bowl to just a few centimetres from the top.
Plant tomato and pepper plants to one side of the bowl, then sow salad seeds in a line on the other side and water carefully.
Leave your new allotment outside in an easy-to-get-to place and to ensure the plans are watered and cared for.
FROG POND: Get a washing up bowl then dig a hole in the garden for the bowl so the rim is level with the ground.
Place a brick in the bowl as an easy way for frogs to get in and out and so hedgehogs won’t get trapped.
Use a roof tile or slate to put over the top, leaving gaps for the frogs to enter and exit.
Finally, fill with water and add plants around the sides to make the frogs feel more secure.
WILDFLOWER SEED BALLS: Put a handful of compost, a pinch of red clay, a sprinkle of chilli powder (to stop other animals taking them) and your wildflower seeds in a bowl then mix together. Slowly add water to the mix, turning it into a doughy mixture.
Roll the mixture into little balls on a tray and place on a window sill to dry out.
Weed the area you want the flowers to grow so the seed balls don’t have too much growing competition, then simply throw your seed balls on to the soil, sit back and watch them grow.
BUG HOTEL: Get a small cardboard box and decorate it by colouring in. Then find an area you’re happy to have insects and away from seedlings etc.
Fill it with leaves and twigs from the garden or park, then check back in a couple of weeks to see who has moved in and make a list.
BUTTERFLY BOTTLE: Attach string to the bottom of a plastic bottle with sticky tape then quarter-fill the bottle with water and a teaspoonful of sugar and give it a good shake.
Cut the corner off a piece of sponge, then push this piece of sponge into the spout of the bottle and hang in the garden so the sponge is damp with the butterfly fizzy pop. Then watch the butterflies appear.
HEDGEHOG SUPER HIGHWAY: Make sure hedgehogs can roam from one garden to another with a hole at the bottom of your fence.