Days out in and around the Reading area. What are you going to do during the holidays?

[HookADuck]

I think there is quite a few of us on Mn in or aroun d this area so i thought a list may help.

So far on my list:

California park
Wellington country park
Coral Reef
Child Beale
The prom (by the river)
Odds Farm

What have I missed?

Does anyone know of any fun days or events that are being held?

Dinton Pastures

The Lookout (park if it's nice. Inside if it's wet.)

SurreyHeath: Places to go - this is my list, not all places are local as I like to travel a bit.

nannynick your blog is fantastic and a great list - thanks for linking

Thanks Ladyintheradiator - off to google

Definitely The Lookout but take a picnic, cafe is crap. Bucklebury Farm is fun too.

Millers Ark are visiting Museum of English Rural Life on 16th August
(MERL website has various other bits and bobs for younger children)

REME museum has some activities

Also there are craft/hands-on sessions at Reading Museum - good for a couple of hours, and Forbury Gardens nearby is lovely for a picnic

Dinton Pastures has a water activities centre now - not sure of the proper title, but my impression is it's more family oriented than the previous set-up (wish I hadn't missed the recent open day)

Story time at Reading Museum is always fab too. Drawing stuff for the kids that get bored too.

Great suggestions

Just googled a few of these suggestions. Fantastic information - have organised so much, thank you

The libraries have loads of free activities, had a look at MERL. Most of the activities are age 2 years +, which seems daft as I can't go because of my 8 month old so dd1 has to miss out - but if you do just have the older ones they have some fun stuff going on.

Reading Museum has a craft activity and tales for tots! So that's a morning activity and lunch in the forbury is a great idea!

Reme is for ages 5+ so no good for us, but looks a lot of fun for those old enough - there is a summer treasure hunt amongst other things

I know DD1 will love the Millers Ark!

off to google the new water centre at Dinton!

Oh and the Thatcham discovery centre has 'I'm a surviour' type activites for the older ones which looks like something very different for the kids - has to be booked and is £4.50

I care for a 9 month old, 3yr old and 6yr old and last year it was easier finding things to do. Now with there being a baby involved it is harder.

We go to Reading by train... it's part of the fun - museum and JohnLewis are the usual haunts. Sometimes we might eat sandwiches down by the canal near Jamies Italian, or head over towards Caversham to the playground.

The older two children quite liked the Cole Museum at Reading Uni. It's very small though.

They also liked going around the garden at Englefield House.

The Look Out in Bracknell Forest
Cliveden
Bucklebury Farm
Henley River and Rowing Museum
Boulters Lock

dd1 really enjoys the caversham play area, sep. the swimming pool. Although it does get really busy on hot days. Really appreciate the playground suggestions on your blog nannynick,always good to hear of a decent playground as they are by far dd1's best thing to do. Thinking of going to either Sandhurst or the one in Ascot tomorrow morning.

Never heard of the cole meuseum so going to take a look at that now.

Pretttycandles iwhat is there at Boulters Lock? is Cliveden good for the kids?

The Living Rainforest if it's a rainy day. Nr Beale Park.

Sandhurst memorial park is great, take bucket and spade though as there's sand to dig in. Camberley M & S is five mins in car and good for lunch for kids.

Sand is dd1's favourite tihng in the whole world so I think we'll head there this weekend!

I think the libary is fine Ladyintheradiator, it was just the MERL website which, IMHO made it clear they didn't want yonger children there, but I could be reading it wrong. Be nice if it was because I would like to go and do a few of those activities with dd1.

Does anyone know whether the 'beach' has been set up at the Oracle in Reading? I haven't been to Reading at all this summer hols.

The Beach .. had forgotten all about that!!

Her's the times and activities!

Boulters Lock - good for watching boats go through the lock.
On the island there are grass areas for picnics, a cafe, Aviary and Guinea Pigs enclosure.

Ray Mill Island

There is a playground a bit further down the road and mini-golf.

Only drawback to Boulters Lock is that you need to remember that you are on an island - be vigilant with toddlers. Otherwise, lovely.

Playground is called Jennets Park. Has recently been refurbished, good range of toys, including sandpit. Carpark is a sort of pay and display, buy ticket in the cafe.

Cliveden is essentially gardens. Great variety: water garden, maze, lawns, woodland, meadows. Also a playground. They often have events such as historical re-enactments or classic car rallies.