School Holidays: 25 Days of Adventure

After the initial excitement, for parents (and grandparents) the school holidays can stretch on endlessly.

It can be a struggle to find a way to keep everyone occupied.

Why not give your holidays a theme, like 25 Days of Adventure! Activities don’t have to cover every day – some days can be spent at home, but it’s an achievable number when you can enjoy a bit of ‘adventure’ each day even if it’s only for an hour or so.

Why not brainstorm as a family, do some research, and come up with your list of adventures.

Children will have fun thinking of exciting ideas to fill the days and adventures can be made realistic (and affordable!) too. The list you create will be unique to you, your locality and your interests, but we have put together a list with some ideas for everyone to have their own adventures. Have fun!

Find your nearest lido

This will be easier for those in the South as you have more to choose from, but some do exist up North too. For those local to Staffordshire, Nantwich Brine Pool – the only inland brine pool in the UK – might be an option, but there are also northern lidos in Yorkshire and the Peak District.

Antique ‘treasure’ hunt

Give everyone a small budget – £2 or £3 each is plenty. Peruse your local charity shops to find your own pre-loved ‘treasure’. It’s nice to explain to the children how the charity helps others as you exit each shop.

Explore a castle

Visit sites such as the National Trust or English Heritage, Cadw or Historic Scotland to choose where to go. Also, if you’re a member, you’ll go free.

Plan a local circular walk

Look at Ordnance Survey or online maps together and plan a local circular walk – stopping for a snack halfway.

Explore a local museum

Living history – peruse your local museum; indoor or out. Discuss what you see/hear; fuel their fervour for discovering the past. Historic UK has a map of all the museums in the UK for you to find a museum near you to visit!

Visit a beautiful garden

Wander around a beautiful garden and marvel at its colour and tranquillity. Great British Gardens have a tool for you to search your local area for a garden to visit. You can even search for dog-friendly gardens if you want to bring your furry friend along too!

Explore the brown tourist signs

Spot a brown sign? Is there one you have passed countless times, yet have no idea what it’s like? Maybe it’s time to finally discover it. Take note of tourist signs near you and follow.

Walk the river and canal paths

Stroll the paths of your nearest river or canal and see what passes you by. There are boats (with amusing names) to spot, wildlife to observe and the relaxing sounds of the water. Of course, a delightful beer garden along the way doesn’t go amiss either. Visit Canal & River Trust to find out more and discover your nearby canals and rivers.

Challenge yourselves in an escape room

This is a great idea for teenagers, who are often difficult to entertain. There are loads dotted around the country, and often money off vouchers on Groupon and other voucher sites.

Try something more adventurous

Maybe a high-ropes challenge, zipwire or perhaps a theme park. Take a look at cereal packets, your mobile phone site, or loyalty points websites, such as Tesco and Nectar. Many offer deals and discounts on theme parks and other attractions.

Create a ‘kindness project’ or two

Take a walk around your locality for inspiration – who and how could you help? It may be offering to replant the village flower boxes, mow the lawn for an elderly neighbour, make a cake for someone who needs a cheerful gesture, or help the local wildlife. Visit RSPB for information on how to help your wildlife.

Watch the sunset

Bake something delicious together and take your goodies with a flask of hot chocolate to a lovely vantage point from where you can watch the sun go down. This may mean a later bedtime than usual, but it may also mean a lie-in the next day!