With lockdown ending or easing across the country, family days out are a possibility once more — and attractions have been seizing the opportunity to catch the end of the school holidays in April as well as weekends in early May.
And while guidance is to minimise travel and stay local where possible, some overnight stays are permitted once travel restrictions relax, so here’s what’s on if you’re looking for a day out with the kids this spring.
Zog at Warwick Castle
There’s a new inhabitant at Warwick Castle when it lifts the portcullis once again on April 12 — Zog, the dragon from Julia Donaldson’s book of the same name, will be waiting to greet visitors as part of a new family attraction.
Kids can collect stamps as part of the 3D interactive trail, Zog and the Quest for the Golden Star, as they complete challenges ranging from princess capturing to flying for novices and practising their best spine-chilling roars.
The castle’s indoor attractions will remain closed for the time being, but the 64 acres of grounds are open, including the Horrible Histories Maze and birds of prey show, plus princesses and knights telling stories (and attempting to avoid small wannabe dragons).
Dennis the Menace at Kew
There’s mischief afoot at Kew Gardens, with Dennis and Gnasher’s Big Bonzana, an interactive story trail through the botanic gardens with a chance to meet Dennis the Menace and other characters from the Beano.
Along the way, you can learn about the cunning tricks played by some of the plant kingdom, including the flame-repelling Giant Redwood and an orchid that looks like a bee, attempt to protect the banana from extinction and be rewarded with banana cake.
The event takes place from March 31 to April 18, included in timed entry tickets which must be prebooked.
Dragon hunting with English Heritage
Kids can hone their dragon hunting skills around the country, with a special trail to search for dragon eggs at various English Heritage sites. There are Adventure Quest boards dotted around the grounds of 24 different sites, with clues to crack to win a sweet reward.
Dates vary from site to site, but the trails are taking place between March 29 and April 18 at locations including Dover Castle in Kent, Battle in East Sussex, Audley End in Essex, Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire, plus Eltham Palace and Kenwood in London.
And over 60 English Heritage sites will be starting to open from March 29 for more ideas of days out, including Stonehenge from April 12.
Tornado Springs at Paultons Park
A brand new area is opening at Paultons Park theme park in Hampshire on April 12 — the biggest new area opening at a UK theme park this year. The four-acre Tornado Springs is themed around a Midwest desert town in the 1950s, with eight new rides and experiences.
Storm Chaser is a free-spinning rollercoaster, which swirls passengers around over 20m above the ground, while the Cylonator spinning pendulum ride rises to around 25m, along with gentler options for younger kids (or those looking for a milder adrenaline rush).
RHS Garden Bridgewater, Salford
The long-awaited RHS Garden Bridgewater is opening in the grounds of Worsley New Hall in Salford on May 11, the Royal Horticultural Society’s first new garden in 17 years. As well as the chance to take a different walk or two in the 154-acre garden, there’ll also be a new wild adventure play area within the woodland.
There are a series of play spaces planned along the Long Walk, which will be inspired by plants and nature, featuring everything from swings, ropes and obstacle courses to creative play, including sculpture, as well as exploring nature, with trails, pond dipping, tunnels, mazes and dens.
Family adventure walk, Yorkshire
If you’ve developed a love of walking over lockdown, there’s a new series of guided discovery walks aimed at families in Yorkshire. Muddy Boots Walking Holidays are adding half-day and full-day walks from March 29, aimed at getting parents and kids to work together to plan and find routes through the countryside.
Starting from Kettlewell, around an hour from Leeds, the half-day Family Adventure Walk covers around 4.5 miles, including map reading and the chance to use a storm shelter, along with paddling and stone skimming across the River Wharfe.
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