To ask your favourite places to take your DC?

[Onthescrounge]

I’m trying to create a list of places to go or activities to do around the country. I’d love to know your favourites, especially if they’re educational or do special events.

I’m based in the South East, home educating and have covered most places within an 2-3 hour radius and googled what I can for the bigger options (National Trust, Zoos and the London Museums) around the country, but would love to hear recommendations for the little local places that are great but no one seems to know about!

What have your DC and yourselves really enjoyed?

Anyone?

Hi OP, have you tried Staunton country park? (Havant) Skypark farm? (Near Petersfield)

Big Pit is good in S.Wales.

In London Museum of Childhood and London Transport Museum are my favourites.

How old are your children?

I’ve just been looking at the transport museum, funnily enough! I’d forgotten that one! Also not heard of Childhood museum, thank you!

DC is 8.

Biggin Hill is wonderful. We practically lived there when DD was younger. There's an interesting airport cafe where there are often plane spotters and air crew, a WW2 museum and chapel, some lovely walks and a friendly pool/library/playground complex with free parking.

The WW2 airfield was of course very significant to Britain's history.

More excellent plane, car and bus spotting is also available at Brooklands in Surrey along with the incredible Stratospheric chamber.

I also love the heraldic hedge beasts at Hall Place in Bexley, which is owned and run by the local authority.

Coombe mill, Blenheim. It’s the old saw mill and workshop for the estate, you can have a go at blacksmithing.

I’ve heard of it, but not made it there yet!

Thank you for the suggestions!

Snorkeling in Dorset. Surfing in Cornwall

Oh Big Pit!! Happy to hear it's still going. I went there on my year 6 residential in 1984...

In the spirit of underground stuff, Chislehurst Caves is fun.

Young V&A in Bethnal Green followed by a trip to Victoria Park (bonus if it’s sunny and you can use the splash park at the same time).

If you’re near Bedfordshire, you could combine Stockwood Park Discovery Centre and Wardown Museum in one day (Luton doesn’t have much going for it, but these are both total gems!).

Shepton Mallet Prison - fab tour (and escape room).

• Mallett (blimmin' autocorrect!)

Leeds castle
Hever castle
Hampton court

Slimbridge was also a great day out - and maybe a bit commercial - but my son and I really enjoyed Cadbury World.

The Gdcs (now 10, 9, 5) always love Bocketts Farm. We’ve been taking them for a few years now. They make a great effort for Halloween. IMO it’s a brilliant day out with kids - lots of energetic activities, loads of space, indoor activities if it’s wet, animals to feed. The 2 Gdds really enjoyed the Craft Corner this time, but for most of the time they’re all busy with the active things.

Once you’ve paid the entrance fees, there are small charges for just a few things, £3 a head for the pony rides, and IIRC £1 for the go-karts.

National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth

Thank you everyone!

Some great ideas, that I’d never have known to look for!

Fleet Air Arm Museum
Cheddar Gorge
Birdworld (Farnham)
Aldershot Lido
Legoland
Monkey World

I’d never heard of Birdworld!

Thank you!

Does anyone have any other recommendations or suggestions?

If you're looking for something a bit educational, this is niche but the Frogmore Paper Mill in Hemel Hempstead. Oldest mechanical paper mill in the world and still producing today. One to keep on a list as they are re-opening next year after a devastating fire to the museum/visitor centre.

Could team it up with a trip to the Snow Centre for some indoor skiing/sledding!

Actually if you came to this neck of the woods there's also the natural history museum in Tring

Another educational one but enjoyable is Stoke Bruerne for the Canal Museum, lots of social history, how locks work etc and I think you can have a trip out on a narrow boat.

Stoke Bruerne is beautiful but the London Canal Museum is also good and it's kind of fun to find a small quirky place in an area of massive buildings. The ice House tour is also v interesting. Do both I say!!

Blists Hill - fabulous open air museum near Ironbridge

Wookey Hole, Somerset - caves and general quirkiness

Heights of Abraham, Derbyshire - cable car, caves and play

Bounce Below, Snowdonia - underground trampolining like nothing else!

Falmouth Maritime Museum, Glendurgan Maze & Gweek Seal Sanctuary in Cornwall

Pickering to Scarborough Steam Train and day in Scarborough, Yorkshire

York Castle Museum & Yorvik

in terms if bigger attractions, Eden Project, Longleat, Kew and Chester Zoo are really top days out.