10 Ideas for Summer Days Out with the Kids

Now we’ve reached the Easter holidays, it’s nearing the time to think about how you might fill those long six weeks of summer. Thankfully there are now tons of great ways to entertain the kids, wherever you are in the UK. So whether they’re into something active, a bit of thrill seeking or something truly magical, don’t worry, we’ve got some suggestions to help.

Check out our 10 ideas for summer days out with the kids:

Climb the O2
When you tell kids to “look at the view”, you don’t normally get a great response but this might be a little different. Up At The O2 is a 90 minute guided tour across the roof of the O2 in London on a fabric walkway. You’ll be secured with a harness and kitted out in a special suit, before heading 175 feet above the ground, getting spectacular views of London.

See the making of Harry Potter
Head to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour at the Leavesden Studios near Watford, and let the kids experience something truly magical. They can walk on the very sets where the Harry Potter films were made, see an incredible 3D model of Hogwarts and even have a go at flying on a broomstick. A must for any Harry Potter fan, young or old!

Get a soaking at Hever Castle’s Water Maze
If the summer really warms up, what better way to cool down than the Water Maze at Hever Castle in Kent? Situated in the castle’s beautiful gardens, the maze is a series of stepping stones with hidden water jets, just waiting to soak the unsuspecting.

Take a zip wire
If you want to wear the kids out, why not head to an adventure centre like Adrenaline Quarry in Cornwall? It’s home to the UK’s highest and fastest zip wire and is guaranteed to get the kids excited, taking riders to speeds of 40mph.

Explore the cliffs in Cumbria
Take the old miners’ tracks along the cliff face of Honister Slate Mine in Cumbria for a really thrilling walk. Visitors are attached to a harness and then can climb along a system of iron rungs and supports. All trips along the track are led by guides and no climbing experience is necessary.

Sail away on a wheel-boat
The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating bridge that links the Union and the Forth and Clyde canals in Scotland, lifting and lowering boats over 150 feet from one canal to another. You can take a boat ride on the Wheel, experiencing a 50 minute lift over to the other canal.

Paint china in Stoke
If you fancy something a little gentler, try a tour of the Emma Bridgewater china factory near Stoke-on-Trent. Child-friendly tours are included, meaning the kids can get a shot at decorating their own pottery.

Ride the London Emirates
Take Britain’s first-ever urban cable car for a ride over the Thames. Fantastic views along the river make this a must-do if you’re in London.

Enjoy the seaside at Leigh-on-Sea
Small and quintessentially English, Leigh-on-Sea is a quiet seaside just to the east of London, packed with cheerful cafés and cockle sheds. The small beach is a sandy haven for kids of all ages.

Build sandcastles on Camber Sands
Hidden behind a mountain of sand dunes, the beach at Camber Sands in Sussex is a vast seven-mile sweep of soft sand that’s half a mile wide at low tide. The perfect place for sandcastle-building and Dad-burying.

So there’s our rundown of ideas for family days out. There are tons of things to do in the UK this summer, so get out and enjoy!