Fun-filled family days out
Fun-filled family days out
Our pick of the top places within easy reach of south west London
Pictured: Brighton i360
A day beside the seaside
Brighton is ideal for a day trip with plenty for all ages, with shops and markets, the pier and the elaborate dome-topped Royal Pavilion. The Brighton i360 has a spacious glass-viewing pod which gives you panoramic views including the beautiful rolling South Downs National Park, and on a clear day you can see all the way along the coast to the Isle of Wight. Or you could head over to West Wittering with its stunning sandy beach. If the weather changes its mind on the day, head further along to Portsmouth for the wonderful Historic Dockyard where you can explore HMS Victory, Lord Nelson’s flagship during the Battle of Trafalgar, and the incredible story of the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s beloved ship which was brought back from the murky depths in an heroic conservation effort.
Head to Kent for castles
Whether it’s hunting for ghosts or jousting with knights, Kent has plenty of fortresses to discover. Leeds Castle is an impressive place, and once you have explored the castle itself, you can play mini golf, visit the maze and a birds of prey centre, and try the obstacle course. Perched above the famous White Cliffs, Dover Castle is an iconic landmark on the English coastline: trace the site’s history back to 1066. There’s also tours of tunnels used in WWII to explore. Hever Castle, once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, is full of history and hosts jousting tournaments over summer.
Leeds Castle
For the museum lovers
Greenwich has plenty of great attractions, including the Cutty Sark, once one of the fastest ships in the world. Families can explore the history of the ship, climb the rigging, see the helm or have afternoon tea on the deck. Head to the National Maritime Museum, which will be hosting creative events for families over the summer, and then visit the Royal Observatory planetarium for live astronomy experiences. Near Greenwich is Eltham Palace, once a Tudor palace and later an art deco mansion. There’s an adventure playground and you can explore the basement, which was used as a bomb shelter during the Blitz. If you’re in the area from 23 August until 8 September, you can catch a range of free performances with the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival.
For musical kids
Whatever their tastes, there is something to please. For classical music fans, the Royal Albert Hall is worth experiencing, whether you’re there to watch a performance or not. Every summer the Royal Albert Hall hosts the BBC Proms series of classical music concerts, with discounted prices for under 18s. Or if your child is more of a Swiftie, then try the Taylor Swift Bus Experience where you will see famous sights like Big Ben, whilst tucking into afternoon tea and singing along to classics like Shake it Off. In Kew, you’ll find the quirky Musical Museum, with self-playing pianos and violins, pipe organs, music boxes, and gramophones.
For planes, trains and automobiles
London Transport Museum in Covent Garden gives families the chance to uncover the stories of those who have travelled and worked in London over the past 200 years, and see how transport is predicted to change over the future. At the Science Museum you can explore iconic moments in aviation. For car lovers, the London Motor Museum in Haynes has a collection of American and European classics, as well as film stars such as a Batmobile. Head to Weybridge for the impressive Brooklands Motor Museum housing a vast range of cars, motorbikes and planes through the ages.
Animal magic in Hampshire
The New Forest has plenty for animal-loving kids. Go for a beautiful horse-ride, from heathland to the coast. There are lessons and hacks for all levels. Meanwhile, Marwell Zoo has giraffes, tigers, leopards, meerkats and penguins to admire, as well as adventure play areas and animal feeding tours and experiences. The New Forest Wildlife Park is a cute spot with otters, wild roaming deer and wallabies, wolves, lynx, and Scottish wildcats.
