Peppa Pig World at Paulton’s Park. Copyright Kate Milner
This week’s #familydays post is by writer and mum of two Kate Milner who blogs at London With a Toddler. If you’d like to share your family days out then go to the Linky at the bottom of the post.
We were in Richmond Park a year or so ago, and my then 3-year-old visibly shuddered at the sight of “the countryside.” He asked me “Mummy, what dya do inna countyside?” and I confess I didn’t have much to tell him. I’m not much good in the countryside either, after traumatic treks in the rain over the Yorkshire Dales with my parents when I was in my teens (apparently I complained so much that I was never allowed to go to Yorkshire with them again)
But I’m not about to pass my countryside phobia onto my kids, so I’ve been making an effort to take them on holiday to rural places. Their lungs get a bit of oxygen and they learn how to cross a road without a green man. And there are some really cool things to do with small children once you cross the M25. So, here are my pick of countryside places to take city kids:
World of Country Life, Exmouth
It’s in the name – this theme park is all about life in the countryside. But it’s also great value, at £32.50 for a family ticket, and lots of fun! There are outdoor play areas, with tractor-shaped climbing frames and trampolines, but there are also three separate soft play areas and indoor karting. You can meet animals and watch falconry displays and visit the most exciting bit of all – a giant play pirate ship, complete with its own pirate jail!
Finkley Down Farm Park, Andover
Another very rural-themed day out, this time in Hampshire. Kids can pet rabbits, ride ponies and feed pigs using a special pulley system. My 4-year-old suggested we leave his baby sister there among the piglets because “she’d be happy here”, but her suspicious look at the horses suggests she might not! Also has a huge outdoor play area, with a zip line and massive slide and an indoor play barn with soft play and air cannons to fire “eggs” across the room. Very affordable at £31.00 for a family ticket and don’t miss the sheep racing!
Dinosaur Adventure, Lenwade
Deep in the Norfolk countryside, you’ll find this exciting dino-themed park. The models are to scale, so are absolutely huge, and one of the highlights is a fiberglass dinosaur climbing frame that (I’m told) you can lose a 3-year-old in for hours. Also contains a soft play with massive and very fast slides and lots of outdoor activities. There’s even a small farm and zoo, with everything from hamsters to snakes! No family ticket price, but it works out around £38.00 if you have one child that’s under three.
‘Bad Wolf Bay’, Southerndown. Copyright Kate Milner.
“Bad Wolf Bay”, Southerndown
One thing you’ll struggle to find anywhere near London is a wild and beautiful beach. But head west from Cardiff and you’ll find Southerndown, an expanse of sand framed by craggy cliffs. You can park at the bottom of the cliffs, so don’t do what we did (assume you can’t, park at the top and end up pushing a buggy back up a steep hill). It’s a lovely beach, and geeks will get a special thrill from recognizing it as “Bad Wolf Bay” from Doctor Who.
Paultons Park, Romsey
A must for preschoolers, thanks to Peppa Pig World, Paultons has a lot to offer everyone. There are tropical birds, dinosaurs, a 4D cinema and rollercoasters. Quite a lot more expensive than the others, at £65.00 for a family of three (children under 1m go free) but it’s worth it – the rides on Peppa Pig World are as exciting as any small child can handle and they get to meet Peppa too. A good one to save for a special occasion.
So have you had a great day out with the kids recently? Wherever you’ve been, tell us all about it and inspire us by joining in with #familydays Linky below. Here’s what to do.
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Thanks for sharing! I hadn’t heard of any of these except Paultons Park. I too am a city girl but I’d like my kids to be a bit more nature-oriented than I am. I still remember the toddler in our mum-baby group who screamed his head off when he stood on grass for the first time (we’d met at a park for the first time since it was a nice day). He didn’t like the texture of grass on his bare feet.
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I guess it does feel a bit tickly – I hope he got used to it.