Days out near Cambridge

[BendingSpoons]

We are staying South of Cambridge in the summer holidays. I would like recommendations of active days out nearby (ideally up to 45 mins drive). DC are 9 & 6. 9yo likes being active e.g. swimming, adventure playgrounds etc and will moan if we are 'just' walking. 6yo easier to please and particularly enjoys digging in the sand, swimming. I would prefer outdoor places rather than indoor climbing walls etc although useful to have a mixture in case the weather is not in our favour.

I saw the beach at Bury Lane garden centre that could be an option, and I know there is sometimes a funfair in central Cambridge. I am also considering Grafton Water. Thanks for your help!

Hannam's wake hub up the A10 is great - kids can do knee boarding and there is also an inflatable water park. Depends on your budget though.

High Lodge Thetford Forest:

has go ape
adventure playground
bike trails in the woods (bike hire shop)

Not come across this so thank you. We are staying with family instead of having a holiday this year, so happy to spend a decent amount in activities/days out.

Whereabouts are you staying?

IWM Duxford is a good place to go for the day.

Bury Lane Fun Barn is basically just a soft play with a large outdoor area that they open up in the summer - it's fun for the children. For the adults the best bit is the farm shop and cafe!

Assume you're planning to go to Cambridge itself. If the weather's good you could go to Jesus Lane outdoor pool which is fun, but not heated so definitely better in warm weather. For indoor pools I'd say Abbey Pool is probably the best one, it has a medium size double slide and it's decent for a public pool.

Do you have NT membership? Anglesey Abbey has a good play area and massive treehouse.

I'll have a look at this thanks. We're previously been to the Center Parcs near there. Would be nice to go back and explore the forest.

YY to high lodge if not too far from where OP is staying.

If you have NT membership, Wimpole has a farm and play area,

I'd say Anglesey is better for a 9yo

There is the midsummer fair on midsummer common for a week over the summer, Google to check dates.

There is often a children's fair on Parker's piece for several weeks over the holidays too.

Inflatabounce near Huntingdon

Wimpole hall farm and gardens

Bury lane fun barn near Royston, massive sand pit, go carts, soft play, giant pillow trampoline.

Minton country park, walking, playground and watersports.

Ben's yard shops, small playground and fun fair. Usually includes an artificial beach, paddling pool and funfair with small rollercoaster, fun house. The wrist bands are good value, unlimited rides for £10 and £3 entry.

We'll be staying quite near Duxford. We will go into Cambridge, but it's to stay with family who we see regularly and every time we go the only plan seems to be to go into Cambridge for a coffee and browse the shops. Cambridge itself is lovely, but I'm ready for something different! I'm planning a list for the summer.

I'll have a look at Anglesey Abbey and the other places mentioned too.

Paddle boarding at lynford arboretum.

lots of people also swim there. There’s a hut in the summer that does coffee and pizza.

It's GrafHAM Water OP. Just don't want you to get lost! Not much to do there in my opinion but there might be prebookable activities.
You can't swim there, for example. In fact swimming isn't easy anywhere sadly. If Letchworth is nearish, they have a good lido.

Woburn is fun.

Can get the train down to white water rafting at the Olympic place in Waltham abbey. Needs pre booking

There are a lot of wild swimming spots around Cambridge. Obviously the Cam itself.
in hot weather a lot of people swim at Upware from the five miles from anywhere pub. There’s also a boat launch site and many people paddle board or canoe from there. No hire so you’d need to have your own.

Lammas Land playground and (shallow) pool is also good. Cafe there sells ice creams and coffee and inflatables for the pool. The parking gets very busy in summer.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will browse them all and get planning. And thanks for making sure I don't get lost if I go to Grafham Water!

Great Notley Country Park is about 40-45 mins from Duxford and would definitely suit your 9 year old.

Is there anywhere just to paddle Octavia? Either your feet that is! I have spent my kids' entire childhoods trying to find a nice paddling spot! I live in Beds and The Great Ouse is rubbish for this!

@Piggywaspushed Try houghton mill near St Ives for paddling.

Milton Country Park for paddle boarding, kayaking, axe throwing and laser tag.
Graham Water (bike rides, laser tag)
High Lodge in Thetford Forest
Aqua Park in Wyboston
Liquid Skillz in Hemingford Grey for wakeboarding and water tubing

So a friend of mine has this website which keeps track of all her swims and swimming spots.

best places for paddling that I know of are Lynford Arboretum (has a very shallow section with a sandy bit leading into it so it’s like a beach) or Houghton Mill.

you’d want water shoes at houghton mill - usually Lidl or Aldi have them.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cambridgeshire/houghton-mill-and-waterclose-meadows

Cambridge area:
https://www.imogensriverswims.co.uk/blog/places/locations-for-saturday-cambs-swims/

great Ouse:
https://www.imogensriverswims.co.uk/blog/places/locations-for-friday-cambs-swims/

Houghton Mill rings a bell! Thank you !

Santon Downham is lovely for paddling.
Also Cherry Hinton Hall park in Cambridge which has a little brook for paddling (by the duck pond) as well as an actual paddling pool at the other end of the park.

Don't know if your kids would enjoy this - 9 is probably a bit old but 6 should still like it
https://audley-end-railway.co.uk/seasonal-event/summer-festival/

The Playground out towards Bury St.Edmunds https://www.theplaygrounduk.com/

Grafham Water is good for cycling round if you have the bikes, I don't think there is any bike hire now, the DC might find it a bit boring walking, it's about 9 miles round. DH and I go a lot and people with children are generally on their bikes.