What to do this (partially) sunny bank holiday weekend
It is going to be at least partially sunny this bank holiday weekend around much of Britain. There you go. I’ve jinxed it.
If you’re not going away, here’s what you should be doing to get outside and entertain the children:
For the day
Britain's 50 greatest days out
A guide to family days out in Britain, including information on theme parks, National Trust properties, museums, and zoos.
24 UK attractions you must take your kids to before they turn 16
If your children think they've seen it all, they're wrong. From rollercoasters to adventure trails, performances to experiments, there are plenty of exciting attractions out there. Here is our pick of the best attractions that your family must visit before the children grow up.
20 family days out in London for £5 or less
This list features 20 London outings that won’t cost more than £5 a head in tickets for kids and which we’ve found to be more fun than quite a few tourist traps. It’s up to you to rein in what you spend on lunch, ice creams and souvenirs.
Britain's 20 best beaches
Some of the nominations are deservedly popular spots along the south and western coast of Britain, while others are of the wild and unspoilt variety, where even at the height of summer you can find a secluded spot beneath cliffs or among dunes. (If you are looking for more suggestions for wild, out of the way places, see our guide to the UK's 20 best hidden beaches).
Some of the shorelines here – those in Scotland and the Isles of Scilly, for instance – are so remote that you will need to find a base for a night or two. So for each destination we have suggested somewhere to stay locally, and – where it exists – somewhere to eat on or near your stretch of sand.
Britain's 20 best woodland walks
From London to County Down, you’ll find something within reach to help your family hit the trails. The National Trust has also compiled an excellent list of summer walks.
Nights away
City break
You may think you’ve left it a bit late, but cities are glorious in the sun, and have ample availability in hotels: why not change the scene with an in-town break?
When you peer down at the snaking Thames from the window of a helicopter, you get a thrilling sense of the chaos of London. The capital is a city made for families. From a visit to the Tower of London to a tour through the Cabinet War Rooms, history will come alive for people of all ages.
But you will also find family fun in Bath, York, Edinburgh or Brighton.
Farm stays
Staying on a working farm can offer a real education to children - as well as the chance to pet their favourite animals. Farm Stay UK, a farmer-owned group covering self-catering, B&B, camping and glamping sites on farms across the country, is a great way to get out into the countryside.
Hotel breaks
The best country house hotels for families
Every now and again, you need to just relax – a drive and drop trip to a country house is perfect for this sort of mood. Availability is tight for the bank holiday weekend - but it’s worth checking, and you could always book ahead, for a term-time weekend break.
My favourite is Lucknam Park, in Wiltshire, where children or parents can have top-notch riding lessons or hacks (my three-year-old was trotting within five minutes of his very first lesson).
You could also try Lime Wood, in the New Forest. It offers a real treat for parents and welcomes children, too.
Also in the New Forest, Chewton Glen’s facilities are legion: a lavish spa, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, and more. And if fine dining is high on your agenda, head to Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, for one of Britain's most sophisticated and appealing children’s menus at Raymond Blanc’s restaurant (spoiler: don't tell the kids, but Blanc instructs staff to let children sneak into the kitchen to choose a scoop of their favourite ice cream. That's right: one meal, two puddings - and a tour of a professional kitchen). Much of the produce is sourced from the beautiful on-site garden: a visit here is both relaxing and instructive.
The Luxury Family Hotels group offers pretty houses and good childcare for children aged up to about six – Woolley Grange, Ickworth and Fowey Hall are our reviewers' favourites - the food is of a good standard - and the listening service means you can leave children sleeping in your room while you dine a deux downstairs.
...And if you don’t actually like your family
You could bring them to a few of Britain’s most boring days out (think best roundabouts; lawnmower museum).
