Winning tip: Fantasy in Shropshire
Hawkstone Park Follies is a historic woodland fantasy with cliffs, crags, caves, deep woods and a series of extraordinary monuments built more than 200 years ago. After a period of neglect, the magical landscape has been lovingly restored. It is full of nooks and crannies, and it is recommended that you bring torches to explore the dark caves and tunnels, which adds a real sense of excitement. There’s a Swiss bridge to cross, a thrilling gorge walk and a labyrinth of tunnels. Children love finding the hobbit house. Intricate pathways, ravines, arches and bridges, the towering cliffs and follies, the hermit in his hermitage and King Arthur addressing his troops in the awesome caves combine to create a magical visit.
• Family of four £26, hawkstoneparkfollies.co.uk
ID4190696
East Sussex adventure park
The water slide is addictive at Knockhatch Adventure Park, which is also a great place for a day out or a long weekend – as it has its own campsite. There are lots of picnic areas, an amazing park, a boating lake, a huge trampoline, sand area, owl sanctuary, indoor play areas, food, ice-cream, snacks. You can get close to new-born chicks, and meet other farm animals. There are bird of prey displays throughout the day and you can even hold a tarantula and learn about insects and other creatures. If you book online up to midnight the day before you go you get an extra 20% off. I take my kids here every summer holiday.
• Family of four from £20.77, knockhatch.com
Corryne Bellone
Off with the fairies in south Wales
I have visited Margam country park, Port Talbot, so many times I have lost count. From picnics under the trees, historic walks through the ruins, to days out with the kids exploring the fairytale land and play areas. There is a fantastic walk along the lake and a farm trail to follow complete with ponies, goats and donkeys. Most times I have done this walk I have been able to photograph the beautiful herd of wild deer that live here. The castle is now offering tours led by enthusiastic volunteers. There is adventure, with the Go Ape zipline and assault course (for a fee). I have never tried it myself but enjoy watching the zipliners soar through the trees! Best of all is it [the park] is free. Hidden in the heart of Port Talbot this is a fantastic place to discover and revisit again and again.
• margamcountrypark.co.uk
Dawn Michelle Brodribb
Up the gangplank to Bristol’s great ship
Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain offers the chance to step back to the time of the man with the black hat and experience what it was like for anyone from a first- to a third-class passenger in the mid-19th century. Spot the rats in the kitchens, have a chat with Brunel in the first class dining room or swab the decks like a crew member. The ship is set in the heart of Bristol’s historic docks and the view down the Avon under the Clifton Suspension Bridge is second to none. If you get chance, spend a bit of time in the library where you can ask to see amazing artefacts from real passengers from 1843. The entrance ticket is valid for a year, so you can go back the next day if you want to do it all over again.
• Family ticket £37 (2 adults with 2 or 3 children), ssgreatbritain.org,
ErnieBB
Farm and crafts, West Sussex
Aldingbourne Trust Country Centre is run with and for learning-disabled adults. There’s an open farm with small animals to pet, play areas, ride-on tractors, woodland and hawk walks, furniture restoration and craft workshops, a plant nursery and brilliant-value cafe. It’s a truly happy, welcoming place. And it’s free to enter, with a small charge to access the farm and activities.
• aldingbournetrust.co.uk
lesleya2a
Magic in South Yorkshire
The Grimm & Co Apothecary of Magic, Rotherham, is a truly enchanting place to visit; with helpful shop elves who run wand-making and potion-mixing classes in a shop stocked with wonderfully bizarre gifts such as Goblin Mucus (toffee), Eternal Ugliness powder (bath salts), and Tins of Disappointment (socks in a can!). All proceeds go into running free workshops for schoolchildren as the whole enterprise is a charity to boost children’s imagination and literacy. Viewing the artefacts and reading the shop’s history gives adults plenty to laugh at too; the back story of the shop’s proprietor Graham Grimm comes from The League of Gentlemen’s Jeremy Dyson.
• grimmandco.co.uk
Danny Jones
Rainforest rendezvous, Berkshire
The Living Rainforest, near Newbury, is a brilliant all-weather, disability-friendly attraction for a multi-generational family. My young boys love to see who can be first to spot their favourite creatures: three glasshouses are home to butterflies, lizards, monkeys, toucans, a sloth and armadillo, and most recently, tree snakes. Their older cousins were fascinated by the “edible forest” and seeing where common foods such as coffee and bananas originate. Adults will find food for thought in exhibits highlighting the dangers of climate change, deforestation, and the trade in exotic pets. There’s a cafe and jungle-like play area. Tickets are valid for a year.
• Family of four, £34.25, livingrainforest.org
fionachaillier
Dot dot dash to Cornwall
At the Telegraph Museum at Porthcurno, there’s a dedicated morse and science games room for children. But the biggest bonus for us was that every complex adult display had complementary games to distract small children, allowing us to rewire our brains for the day. Then there are sculpture gardens, a fabulous beach on the doorstep (where young explorers can still excavate old cables) and the stunning Minack theatre just up the hill.
• telegraphmuseum.org
Lizzy Stroud
High art in North Yorkshire
The Coldstones Cut is a monumental public artwork 420 metres above sea level close to Pateley Bridge in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Visitors can freely explore the Cut – walk its winding paths, enjoy a range of vistas and see evidence of local industrial heritage. Children love looking into the working Coldstones Quarry (dumper truck alert!) and the whole family will enjoy the vast 360-degree views of the North Yorkshire landscape. After exploring, stop off in Pateley Bridge with its riverside walks, play area and great selection of shops and cafes. The Cut is always open, with free parking.
thecoldstonescut.org
Joanna Swiers
Alpacas in Warwickshire
By itself, Draycote Water in Warwickshire makes a fantastic day out, with a scenic five-mile circuit of the reservoir to enjoy by bike or on foot, watersport options galore, a bird hide and a restaurant serving tasty, locally sourced food. However, to make your day out more memorable, veer slightly off the path at the eastern end of the circuit and include a visit to Toft Alpaca Farm. You are free to wander around the site to visit the furry residents, or can pay to join a guided tour to learn a bit more about the individual cheeky characters. If you time your visit right, you may be able to join one of the regular craft workshops held in the coffee shop.
• thetoftalpacashop.co.uk
cr7364
Giants of industry, Manchester
When I told my nephew I was taking him to a museum as a holiday treat he didn’t look very impressed. His eyes lit up when he saw Manchester Museum of Science and Industry’s steam train outside and he continued to be enthusiastic as we toured the many exhibits and areas highlighting our industrial past and current scientific innovations. The museum makes a real effort to make things interactive and immersive for kids, with demonstrations, hands-on areas and, my nephew’s favourite, the walk through underground Manchester. It’s always free and there are lots of special activities planned every school holidays.
• Free entry, msimanchester.org.uk
temarispheres
Ice-cream and snow, Cheshire
My family has been going to the Ice Cream Farm in Tattenhall, near Chester, for a few years, and in the past 18 months it has totally transformed. It is now a wonderland for children. On entry there is a brightly coloured park for the children to play on, which is totally free. It has a huge treehouse with slide, a mushroom den, mini trampolines in the floor, plus much more, with the main attraction being a huge tree that counts down every 30 mins, then it “snows” (foam), which kids love. You have the option of paying per go for each of the other attractions (£3.75), or buying a play pass (four plays for £12, 10 for £25). The attractions for use with the play pass are a soft play, crazy golf, JCB Diggers to dig the sand, and an amazing sand and water play area with sand pits, some play houses, water pools, mills, things to twist and turn, etc. It has a reasonably priced cafe, and an ice-cream bar with more than 50 flavours to choose from. It gets busy at weekends and school holidays, but you can book slots for the attractions to avoid the queues. A great day out for all.
• Free entry, theicecreamfarm.co.uk
Nic Lynch
