30 things to do with your children over the holidays (for when you think you’ve done everything)

With six whole weeks to fill, it can be hard to dream up stuff to do over the summer holidays each year. There are parks aplenty, of course, and beaches to visit – and there’s always fun to be found at your local library. If the Euros have inspired the kids to get sporty, you might fancy making the most of your local parks or football clubs – not to mention the free-to-use tennis and basketball courts around the country. And let’s not ignore the timeless appeal of a bowling alley or mini golf course, either.

Still, if you’re looking to inject a little extra va-va-voom into your summer roster of activities, we’ve got you covered. Here’s our pick of the best days out to enjoy around the country over the next few weeks.

1. Help save the tigers at Woburn Safari Park

This summer, Woburn Safari Park have unveiled a new painting of one of their Amur tigers, Minerva (known as Vera) by artist Leah Wood. As well as spotting Vera out on safari, you can see the original painting and make a donation to the Wildcats Conservation Alliance. No visit is complete without a drive around the monkey enclosure – having a Barbary Macaques sit cross-legged on your mirror is a summer memory no child (or adult) will forget. Other highlights include the predator enclosure, lemur and wallaby walk-throughs, and multiple play areas throughout the park.

Visit Woburn’s website for more details and tickets.

2. Soft Studio by Hold at Tate Britain, London

Discover a sensory, tactile space for play originally inspired by the artist Dorothea Tanning. A soothing environment that encourages rest and play, you and your little ones are invited to slide and move to a dreamy soundscape specially composed to delight the senses.

Daily between 10am and 5pm, 23 July to 31 August 2025. Visit tate.org.uk for more details

3. Jurassic World: The Experience, London

Housed at Battersea Power Station, step through the iconic Jurassic World gates and begin a journey across 10 immersive zones that bring to life one of the biggest blockbuster franchises in cinema history.

Find out more at jurassicworldexperience.com

4. Ballie Ballerson, London

Ballie Ballerson has become known for providing adult fun in a series of ball pit-inspired (and boozy) activities, but this summer, it is making space for the kids, too.

Tickets are £17.50 for children (adults go for free). Book yours at ballieballerson.com/london/kids

5. Play Pavilion at The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Sport and art collide in this outdoor sensory play experience designed by artists Play Build Play. Running from 5 until 31 August, and inspired by the Paris 1924: Sport, Art And The Body exhibition, you’ll be able to take part in a sensory athletics field of play… for free!

Find out more at visitcambridge.org/event/play-pavilion

6. Escape Room Adventure at Tulley’s Farm, Sussex

Immerse yourselves for up to an hour in the worlds of pirates, cowboys, gangsters or wizards, working as a team (or a family!) to solve a series of fiendishly tricky puzzles and escape a locked room. Our favourite is Spellcraft, and not just because it involves a magical sweet shop…

Book tickets at tulleysescape.com now

7. The Paradox Museum, London

The UK’s first Paradox Museum opened its doors last year, and it’s positively brimming with Instagrammable opportunities.

Combining science, art and psychology, you can expect to float in a zero gravity zone, lose your balance in the paradox tunnel, play with perspective in the Ames Room and experience unreality at its finest with a whopping 50 interactive exhibits.

Tickets start at £18 (children under 4 go free). Book yours at paradoxmuseumlondon.com

8. Adventures In Wonderland, Manchester

An enchanting play experience that invites children and families to explore Wonderland, using imagination to create their own adventure.

Follow the White Rabbit into scenes from the beloved book, make friends with the Cheshire Cat, have tea as the Mad Hatter, play croquet with flamingos, get lost in a card maze, and wake up back on the riverbank, just in time for tea.

Tickets are £12 and can be booked via z-arts.org

9. Family days out with English Heritage, nationwide

This summer, you can take the kids on an extra-special quest for little adventurers through the grounds and gardens of some of the UK’s most iconic historical locations (think Eltham Palace, Whitby Abbey, Kenilworth Castle, and more).

Find out more at english-heritage.org.uk

10. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, Leicester and York

Have you ever dreamt of stepping into a painting? Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is a 360-degree experience in the universe of one of the greatest geniuses of the last century – which means you will feel every bit as inspired as the kids by the end of it.

Tickets are £17, and the experience is running from 23 July to 31 August 2025. Visit vangoghexpo.co.uk for more information

11. Matilda The Musical, London

If you’re trying to entertain some revolting children in these revolting times, you’re in luck; they will absolutely love Matilda The Musical, the multi-award-winning musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved book. 

Full to the brim with wit, warmth, and wonder, this gleefully ingenious production is guaranteed to spark imaginations and inspire miracles all over the place.

Book your tickets at matildathemusical.com now

12. Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh

Running 9–24 August, there’s plenty for kids to get stuck into at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, including a world of puzzles, storytelling sessions, art workshops, and talks by the likes of CBeebies’ George Webster and National Museums Scotland.

Explore the full line-up at edbookfest.co.uk

13. Family Sword Fighting Demonstration at The Globe, London

Did the fights on Shakespeare’s stage look anything like the fights people saw on the mean streets of 16th century London? Join a family sword fighting demonstration and find out for yourself at The Globe this summer – and don’t forget to make the most of that photo opportunity at the end of the 45-minute session, too.

Tickets cost £12 and can be booked at shakespearesglobe.com

14. Summer Family Activities at Natural History Museum, London

From pond dipping to nature-themed arts and crafts, the Natural History Museum is running a whole bunch of family activities this summer in its newly-refurbished gardens, and all for free!

Check out nhm.ac.uk to see what’s scheduled for each day during the summer

15. Six Weeks of Summer Fun at Eureka! Yorkshire

There have been a lot of rainy days this summer, so spend the next one at Eureka! and make it a day to remember. Designed for children aged 0–11, this space has planned 45 days of performers, workshops, and a whole lot of fun.

Running until 1 September, tickets start at £17.95 and can be booked via eureka.org.uk

16. The Great Woodland Adventure at RHS Gardens, nationwide

RHS Gardens is setting up a woodland basecamp at each of its sites, where you’ll find a whole programme of activities throughout the holidays. Explore, learn and create in the magical setting of the woodland, with different activities to come back and try, from forest school workshops, woodland crafts and tree climbing, to learning bushcraft survival skills and unlocking the secrets of trees on a woodland discovery trail.

Running across five UK locations, you can find all the details via rhs.org.uk

17. Summer of Play with the National Trust, nationwide

Once again, the National Trust is running a series of creative, engaging and playful summer holiday activities for kids of all ages; think natural obstacle courses, outdoor yoga sessions, traditional lawn games, sensory barefoot walks, arts and crafts sessions, and more.

Find a Summer of Play event near you via nationaltrust.org.uk

18. Space Across The World at National Space Centre, Leicester

And now for something completely different! The National Space Centre is running a series of activities this summer, all about moons, meteorites, and other space rocks. Expect hands-on experiments, STEM activity sessions, talks and a low Earth orbit cruise from the Tetrastar Spaceport, not to mention an award-winning planetarium show at no extra cost.

Book online at spacecentre.co.uk

19. Summer School Holiday at Young V&A, London

Join the Young V&A for a series of creative activities and play sessions at in Bethnal Green this summer – from Sound Explorers for under 3s, Summer Design Club for 11-14 years olds to Sensory Friendly Studio, there’s something for everyone.

Find out more at vam.ac.uk

20. Paddington Bear Experience, London

Grab yourself a marmalade sandwich (or two) and join in the fun at London South Bank’s Paddington Bear Experience this summer. The multi-room, immersive experience will take you into Paddington’s world as you help the Browns prepare for the Marmalade Day Festival. Which means, yes, embarking on a train journey across London, travelling through the magical jungles of Peru and joining in the celebrations at No. 32 Windsor Gardens.

Tickets start at £24 and can be booked at paddingtonbearexperience.com

20. Hamleys Teddy Bear Experience at London Marriott Hotel Park Lane, London

Staying in London this summer? Guests at the five-star Marriott Hotel Park Lane can add the teddy bear experience to their stay. It’s a luxury option, sure, but it means the smaller members of your party can choose a Hamleys bear from an in-room teddy bear menu (hand-delivered by a dedicated bear butler) before enjoying a themed in-room picnic with their new pal. Throw in the turndown service of milk, cookies and classic bear-themed books to read at bedtime, and you have everything you could possibly need to give them a magical city experience!

Book the experience at marriott.com

21. Gravity Max at Westfield Stratford, London

Ready for something different? This sprawling urban theme park is packed to the brim with incredible activities and VR immersive experiences; think terrifying zombie battles, The Voice-style karaoke battles, heart-pounding laser tag matches, electrifying go-karting races, digital darts, and plenty more to keep adrenaline junkies happy, too.

Age and height restrictions apply. Find out more at gravity-global.com

22. Summer at the Eden Project: Enchanted Earth, Cornwall

There’s plenty to get stuck into at the Eden Project’s gardens (and biomes) this summer, including a wild family trail, mud kitchen play area, shadow puppet shows, engaging craft activities, family games, interactive exhibitions, weird and wonderful plants and some seriously inventive play spaces. Plus, an extensive indoor rainforest to explore.

Running until 7 September, tickets for this one start at £12. Book yours at edenproject.com

23. Bounce Below, Wales

This truly unique attraction sees a disused mine transformed into the ultimate playground, with six trampoline-style nets built into an area the size of St Paul’s Cathedral. Jump, bounce and slide your way through a subterranean wonderland, and be sure to pay a visit to the beautiful Snowdonia while you’re in the area, too.

Tickets start at £25. Book yours at zipworld.co.uk

24. Horrible Histories: Terrible Thames, London 

A Horrible Histories boat trip? Oh yes! Ddive into the stories of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Julius Caesar, Queen Boudicca, Jack the Ripper and Captain Kidd on this fiendishly funny tour of the Thames. Let’s call it history with the nasty bits left in…

Tickets start at £15. Book yours at TerribleThames.com

25. Summertopia! at Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park, Bristol

If you’re on the hunt for an adventure park that’ll keep everyone entertained, look no further; you can enjoy an expedition through Dinosaur Valley, a giant slip ’n’ slide, a Tartan Titan obstacle course, animal interactions and more at Summertopia! this summer.

Tickets start at £14.95 if you book in advance. Find out more at avonvalley.co.uk

26. Nothe Fort, Weymouth

Perched on the Jurassic Coast, the award-winning Nothe Fort was recently named one of the UK’s best attractions. You’ll be pleased to learn it’s hosting a mouse hunt for younger visitors, where children are encouraged to track down the hidden mice in exhibits while parents and caregivers can read up on its rich history.

Tickets start at £4.50 and can be booked via nothefort.org.uk

27. Sandworld, Weymouth

The brilliantly quirky Sandworld (positioned in Weymouth’s Lodmoor Park) does exactly what it says on the tin; it’s an attraction entirely dedicated to the art of sand sculptures. It’s covered, which means it’s the perfect place to duck out of the rain for a few hours and learn a few new skills. Then, when the weather brightens back up, you can pop to the beach to try them out for yourself…

Tickets start at £7.50, and you can learn more at sandworld.co.uk

28. The Dream Fairies at Kew Gardens, London

Joining forces with the fairies from Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tinkerbell is here to take you and your little ones on a sparkling adventure to ‘Bubble Land’. Shows take place at select times so check the site for details on timings and ticket prices (but don’t worry; entry into Kew Gardens is included!)

Tickets from £17.90. Book via kew.org

29. bOing! at The Gulbenkian, Kent

Back for its 11th year, this weekend festival is packed with theatre, dance, films, VR games and fun for all the family (not to mention an array of Instagrammable immersive interactive installations, too). Most events are free, too, with only a handful of ticketed attractions, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Find out more at boingfestival.com

30. Roarr! Dinosaur Adventure, Norfolk

Set across 85 acres in Lenwade, the largest dinosaur-themed adventure park in the UK is hosting a ‘Dinos in the Dark’ adventure on 23 August. This means that – after a day of high ropes, crazy golf, archaeological digs, secret animal encounters, and mechanised rides, of course – you can stay after dark for live music, face painting, stargazing, street food vendors, and much more.

Book your £9.95 tickets at roarr.co.uk

Images: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience; Design Museum; Getty