When you are on holiday, taking a weekend break or even just a night away, the chances are you might want to do something while you're there or explore what's on in the area.  It could be booking a river trip, a visit to a museum or wildlife park, or it could be something a little more wild like white water rafting, axe throwing or a high wires course.  Whatever you fancy, jazz up your trip with something a bit different and have a look a the wide variety of experiences available near the accommodation.

Experiences

Weather is too nice to stay indoors? Want to stretch your legs? Children need to run wild?  Then head to one of the UK's fantastic parks and playgrounds on offer and breath in that fresh air!

Parks and Playgrounds

Whatever your child's age there is always something to enjoy. Get cracking in  a multi-level play area where kids can climb, clamber and slide over all sorts of adventurous obstacles. What’s next? What about a ball pond where your children can dip and dive in a pool full of colourful balls? All of the above would make for serious family fun. Of course parents are not forgotten either as a cafe is never far away. You can relax with a tasty coffee and a slice of cake. What more could you want?

Indoor and Soft Play Areas

Ever imagined galloping along a beach?  Maybe you're more of a fantasy fan or just enjoy spending time with animals, either way horse riding might be for you. A great outdoor activity for the whole family with children able to start from as young as 4. It is an amazing way to take in local scenery, connect with nature, have a little adventure or enjoy at a relaxing pace.   

Horse Riding

Spend the day creating your very own handcrafted pot, vase, or bowl. Or if you have less time on your hands why not try painting a premade version?  A relaxing, indoor family activity. Perfect for creatives and on a rainy day visit one of the many ceramic cafes for coffee, tea, cakes, and of course, crafting!   

Pottery Centres and Ceramic Cafes

If you decide to take a holiday in the UK to an area you don't know (or maybe you do but want to know more), an excellent way of seeing around and actually getting to see the "best bits" is by taking a tour with a local guide or someone in the know. Walking tours, cycling tours, boat tours, pogo-stick tours (ok maybe not the last one) - whatever suits your family best, can be booked online or at local visitor information centres and make a real difference to your stay.  You can find out the history of a place, local facts or even go on something weird and wonderful like a ghost walk or follow in the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes or Jack the Ripper.  Eek.  An open top bus journey can take away the hours pounding the pavement to look around a large city. Boat trips and river cruises are also a great way of seeing a lot of things in a small amount of time, giving you a completely different aspect of the town you are visiting.  Join a large boat or charter something smaller yourself and follow the river along to get a better look at all the surround countryside.  

Tours and River Cruises

There are a huge number of zoos, wildlife and safari parks all over the UK and most are well worth a visit and provide a really exciting and unique day out.  The broad difference between them is that Zoos tend to keep animals with their own species in smaller enclosures for a real up-close encounter, whereas a visit to a Safari Park usually involves driving around much larger enclosures to see groups of animals - maybe rhino, giraffe and gazelle all in one setting.  Some are self-drive (for a monkey snapping off your wing mirror type affair) or in others you are guided round in a truck, spotting lions and elephants from afar - similar to an African safari, just without the plus-size sunset, hot weather and flamboyant tribespeople (although lets not get too picky about this; most UK safari parks are just a couple of hours from home and do not involve remortgaging the house to go). Many zoos and parks now are great conservation pioneers and animal rescue centres, so by visiting, you are often contributing to real global issues, supporting endangered species or deforestation or other genuine threats to wildlife.  The parks usually have lots of information about these causes and it can be a great way to get the kids to learn about the world we live in, the animals from different continents and the dangers they face.

Zoos, Wildlife Parks and Safari Parks

Trying to find shelter on a rainy day or enjoy a fun evening filled with laughter and popcorn? Visit one of the 775 cinemas in the UK to catch up on the latest blockbuster film releases!  Or fancy watching some live theatre, a music concert, a ballet, or comedy act? Then head to one of the UK's 1300 theatres!  Whether the West End, London is where you want to enjoy some of the UK's finest productions on offer, or Shakespeare's Globe where you can experience incredible performances and actors. Maybe you want to head to the  Festival Theatre in Edinburgh which stages some of the finest operas and ballets. There is something for everyone and definitely not to be missed!    

Cinemas and theatres

Discover the trees like never before. Scramble, climb and jump through high rope assault courses, don't forget to bring your courage!  A great outdoor activity for families and adults alike, and dotted throughout the UK. Why not try the adventure for a day out on your next staycation?   

High Ropes Courses

These days you need to really hunt for a Lido.  They are out there but you need to know where to look.  And when you find one they really are worth it.  From Devon to Aberdeen to Yorkshire you can find magnificent outdoor swimming pools across the UK, and they combine exercise, mental wellbeing and the wonders of fresh air.  Don't believe me?  Give it a try.  The feeling of outdoor swimming really does wonders for the soul.  Plus some of them have really amazing views too. Most lidos are open in the warmer months only (how very, very sensible) but some are open all year round.  Brrr.  So in this instance pack a wetsuit, ice pick and Bear Grylls survival pack for when you drag yourself out.  Yes OK I'm a fair-weather Lido swimmer.  But this is to my detriment I'm sure.  Studies have actually proven that swimming in colder water helps you sleep better, improves circulation and boosts your immune system.  Plus, you feel like a total hero when you come out of the water and everyone is clapping.  Find a Lido near you and give it a go! 

Lidos

Learn to paint or refine your skills... Painting is a completely inclusive activity for the whole family!  Head to a pottery painting class with your friends and take away a keepsake from your holiday! Or let the kids express their creative side with some hand painting!  Maybe you're already proficient and want to polish your brush technique. Whatever the weather, there is something for everyone to enjoy. 

Painting workshops

Pottery is an ancient craft and great fun! Sometimes a little messy, anyone can have a go at either hand building a pot, or getting to grips with a throwing wheel. You can create something beautiful and uniquely yours in no time at all. Families can enjoy together and kids as young as 2 can play with clay, or have a go at painting a pre-made pot. It’s the perfect wet weather or winter activity.

Pottery

Hurrah, it's Autumn! That stunning time of year when the skies are blue, the air is crisp and the trees are turning that beautiful golden orange before-they all-drop-off colour.  Christmas is coming, Bake Off is on the telly and before we all hunker down for the long nights ahead, we have a month or two of wonderful outdoorsy stuff to get out of our system.  And most importantly, it is Pumpkin Season.  Woo Hoo! Who doesn't love those creepily carved orange globes popping up in every window ledge from now until Halloween. This year though, how about this: instead of grabbing a dodgy looking squash from the local supermarket, why not.....pick your own?!  There are hundreds (literally) of places to pick your own Pumpkins all over the UK and it is great fun.  Head off at half term for a rural outing with the kids; there are farms and nurseries everywhere with rows of delicious pumpkins just waiting to be chosen and taken back to their forever home (hmmm, ok, until they are made into a pie or have a spooky face carved into them). So find a farm near you and book in.   Once you've booked and are revved up to go, I've got some tips on how to select your perfect pumpkin: 1. check your pumpkin has a good strong green stem. 2. while we are on about stems, NEVER carry your pumpkin by the stem.  If you drop it, the whole thing will break and worse still, so might toes. 3. make sure it doesn't have any cuts in it or soft patches. 4. get a really lovely orangey one - all over....any green or brown bits might mean it is over or under ripe #carvingnightmare 5. looks aren't everything.  Yes, make sure it is orange but don't go for a perfect globe.  A slightly misshapen one adds way more character to your masterpiece and it won't taste any different. You now have your Squash Diploma Level 1.  Whether you are using your Pumpkin to make delicious wedges and cakes, or you just want to carve out a grotesque toothy face, picking your own is way more fun than buying one.   Check out the Pumpkin Picking farms near you today!       

Pumpkin Picking

The UK is the home of the amazing steam train! This integral part of our lives and history means we are lucky to still have many running steam railways and transport museums and attractions.  Why not experience the romance of a steam train ride in the Welsh mountains or across Bodmin and try out a railway or transport attraction on your next holiday.  

Railway and Transport 

The number of heritage buildings still standing proudly across the UK is quite remarkable. Most of the UK's stately homes have hosted kings and queens, prime ministers, actors and poets – all manner of illustrious guests. Why not visit Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire which was built for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and  explore 2,000 acres of gardens. It’s no wonder UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1987. Or Highclere Castle,  the backdrop to so many scenes of the Crawley family and their household in Downton Abbey!  Maybe Chatsworth takes your fancy? Better known to many as Pemberley in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley. Don't forget Longleat House in Wiltshire, and make a day of it visiting the incredible Longleat Safari Park!  Stately homes frequently provide tours throughout the day as well as audio guides and information packs. Of course, let's not forget the children! Many of these stately homes have prepared children's guides, packs and quizzes so be sure to ask on your way in!

Stately Homes and Gardens

Want to enjoy a leisurely swim or a splash with the family? You can find an array of incredibly fun activities for all the family at a Leisure Centre including tennis, badminton, roller skating, aerobics, gym, dance classes and many more! Whatever takes your fancy, they have it! 

Swimming Pools and Leisure Centres

Wakeboarding is like snowboarding on water. You are attached to a wakeboard sideways with both feet. You can wakeboard behind a boat and jump over the 'wake' the boat produces, or you can wakeboard at a cable wakeboard park. Cable Wakeboarding Cable wakeboarding is when you are pulled around the lake by a cable suspended overhead, very similar to a ski-lift, in fact most cable wakeboard manufacturers also make ski lifts. This is a fun way to wakeboard and allows up to 8 people to be attached at any one time. Cable wakeboard parks usually have obstacles you can go over when you get the hang of it such as jumps and sliders (plastic rails) that you can slide along, making it even more fun! Traditionally a cable requires a large amount of space and is quite expensive to get up and running, however more recently 2 way cable systems such as the System 2.0 be Seistec, and the Rixen Little Bro have launched which enable cables to be installed in small areas. The 2 way systems are for one rider at a time and are perfect for learning as the speed can be adjusted to suit the rider. Boat Wakeboarding Wakeboading behind a boat is when you are pulled by a line attached to the boat. Boat wakeboarding can be done on lakes inland or on the sea, but is best done when the water is flat.  Starting out It's easy to get started with wakeboarding and usually most people are able to stand on their first attempt. A usual boat wakeboard session lasts 15 minutes, and a cable session can last up to 2 hours and 2 hours on the cable is usually a similar price to 15 minutes behind a boat. Before trying wakeboarding you need to be a proficient swimmer as this is a water-based sport. 

Wakeboarding

Berkshire - or the Royal county of Berkshire as it is known due to its royal connections - is one of the Home counties and lies just to the west of London.  It is a beautiful county with many things to see, activites to do and places to explore. You can't visit Windsor without at trip to Windsor Castle - one of the oldest and largest occupied Castles in the world; a home and a fortress for the British Royal family for over 900 years.  Visitors can tour the grounds, look around the magnificent State Apartments and see some of the art in the Royal Collection.  You can also visit St. George's Chapel where Prince Harry married Megan Markle in 2018.  Princess Eugenie's beautiful backless wedding dress is currently on view in the Grand Reception room (although this display changes fairly regularly) following her wedding here in 2019. Windsor Great Park is also open to the public and completely free of charge.  There is over 4,800 acres of historic parkland to explore - ancient forests and trails, horticultural displays, historical monuments and lots of wildlife to see.  Well worth a trip. Berkshire is also home to some of Englands finest home and gardens; Basildon park in Reading, Cliveden in Taplow and Shaw House in Newbury - one of the best preserved Elizabethan mansions in England. 

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South East England is home to some of the most beautiful counties including Oxfordshire, Hampshire, East and West Sussex and Berkshire to name a few,  Encompassing glorious coastlines, stunning heathlands, breathtaking forests and National Parks, South East England is a superb place for a holiday at any time of year.

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England is a totally unique travel destination, well known for its history, natural beauty, vast range of attractions and beautiful countryside landscapes and coastlines. 

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England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make up the extraordinary United Kingdom; home to mountains, caves, rivers, dramatic coastlines, medieval villages and vibrant cities.

Discover Berkshire, South East England, UK
Berkshire - or the Royal county of Berkshire as it is known due to its royal connections - is one of the Home counties and lies just to the west of London. It is a beautiful county with many things to see, activites to do and places to explore.

Places nearby

brighton-and-hove

buckinghamshire

east-sussex

hampshire

isle-of-wight

kent

milton-keynes

oxfordshire

surrey

Things to do in berkshire

Experiences

Parks and Playgrounds

Indoor and Soft Play Areas

Horse Riding

Pottery Centres and Ceramic Cafes

Tours and River Cruises

Zoos, Wildlife Parks and Safari Parks

Cinemas and theatres

High Ropes Courses

Lidos

Painting workshops

Pottery

Pumpkin Picking

Railway and Transport

Stately Homes and Gardens

Swimming Pools and Leisure Centres

Wakeboarding

Sign up to our email to stay updated

Discover Berkshire, South East England, UKBerkshire - or the Royal county of Berkshire as it is known due to its royal connections - is one of the Home counties and lies just to the west of London. It is a beautiful county with many things to see, activites to do and places to explore.

Places nearby

brighton-and-hove

buckinghamshire

east-sussex

hampshire

isle-of-wight

kent

milton-keynes

oxfordshire

surrey

Things to do in berkshire

Experiences

Parks and Playgrounds

Indoor and Soft Play Areas

Horse Riding

Pottery Centres and Ceramic Cafes

Tours and River Cruises

Zoos, Wildlife Parks and Safari Parks

Cinemas and theatres

High Ropes Courses

Lidos

Painting workshops

Pottery

Pumpkin Picking

Railway and Transport

Stately Homes and Gardens

Swimming Pools and Leisure Centres

Wakeboarding

Sign up to our email to stay updated

Discover Berkshire, South East England, UK
Berkshire - or the Royal county of Berkshire as it is known due to its royal connections - is one of the Home counties and lies just to the west of London. It is a beautiful county with many things to see, activites to do and places to explore.