27 Quirky Days Out This Bank Holiday Weekend
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The last Bank Holiday until Christmas rolls around... how will you and your family spend it?
With three, glorious days of sunshine on the horizon, the possibilities are endless.
Will you take this opportunity to bask in the sun, scoffing ice-cream, sit back in one of those luxurious, red velvet seats and watch some great theatre, whizz down slides and fly high in the sky on swings at one of London's many parks, explore decades of history at fascinating museums or make a splash at one of London's splash zones?
The choice is yours.
But to aid your Bank Holiday fun, we've rounded up twenty-seven family-oriented fun things to do to ensure this Bank Holiday Weekend is a good one.
1) Make some noise with Peppa at Peppa Pig: My First Concert
Oink! Join everyone’s favourite pig, Peppa, and her family at the Royal Festival Hall this Bank Holiday weekend.
Go on a musical journey with Daddy Pig and Mummy Pig, learn how to conduct an orchestra and even work together to create your very own Oinkestra! Perfect for younger piglets looking to venture into the world of Mozart and muddy puddles.
2) Don your dancing shoes and head to the Raver Tots Outdoor Bank Holiday Festival
Embrace the British sunshine, enjoy 40% off entry with Kidadl and head outdoors this Bank Holiday to break it down on the dance floor with your tots in a seaside festival like no other.
Prepare for 2 hours of letting loose to some old-school beats and non-stop, kid-friendly fun, including face painting, glitter art, huge confetti cannons, fun fair rides, inflatables and so much more.
Grab your glow sticks, show off your dad dancing and rave on down!
3) Be at one with nature at the Verulamium Park
What’s a Bank Holiday Weekend without a trip to the park? Bask in the sunshine, pack a picnic and explore the wonderful Verulamium Park.
Set over 100 acres, there’s plenty of room to go on adventures, have a kick-about and pitch up for a perfect picnic. And don’t forget your swimming trunks because no trip to the Verulamium Park is complete without a splash about in the infamous splash park.
4) Follow the Yellow Brick Road with Sally's Adventure Club
Come and join the whirlwind immersive experience with Sally as she takes you to Oz this August Bank Holiday. Go on the hunt for minibeasts and enjoy storytelling and singalongs in the great outdoors in this magical Wizard-of-Oz-themed adventure in Highgate Woods.
Perfect for under 5s, there's no place like home, but you'll definitely want to leave the house to go to this Sally's Adventure Club session.
5) Tuck into tea at The Painted Hall
Get your dose of history and tea and embrace the British culture this Bank Holiday Weekend. Head to The Painted Hall to tuck into some traditional afternoon tea; kids and adults alike will enjoy the selection of finger sandwiches, mini tartlets, scones, cakes and more!
And best of all, with Kidadl, when you book tickets for this afternoon tea and entry combo, you’ll get access to unlimited re-entry for an entire year!
6) Brush up at the British Dental Association Museum
Take this Bank Holiday Weekend as an opportunity to brush up your knowledge of dentistry at the free British Dental Association Museum. Perfect for a family fun day out, discover dentures from the Battle of Waterloo and even learn how to extract a tooth by yourself - ouch!
Featuring unexpectedly fun and unique exhibits, the BDA Museum will ensure you and your whole family leave with a toothy smile.
7) Scoff some of the cold stuff at Lewis of London
With this Bank Holiday Weekend set to be a scorcher, we can’t think of a better way to cool down other than scoffing some ice-cream at the Lewis of London dairy farm in Barnet. Stroll down to the free, local farm, lap up some delicious home-made ice cream and choose from a whole host of interesting and unique flavours.
Don’t forget to take advantage of Kidadl’s 15% off take-away ice cream tubs to continue the freeze all summer long. Deeeelicious.
8) Embrace the great outdoors at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Stroll on over to the heart of east London this Bank Holiday Weekend and explore the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Home to London’s 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, zigzag through the water fountains, climb the ArcelorMittal Orbit and soar down the world’s tallest tunnel slide.
And don’t forget your bike because there are over 560 acres of land just waiting to be cycled on!
9) Live like a King at Hampton Court Palace
Calling all mini historians! Stomp around King Henry VIII’s old stomping ground this Bank Holiday Weekend and spend the summer at Hampton Court Palace.
Join the Dragon Trail, explore the Magic Garden and find out if you'll come out on top in Henry VIII's Sporting Academy. Uncover the king's tyrannical traits in the Henry VIII exhibition, find the recreation of his crown in the Royal Pew and marvel at the Rembrandt, Holbein and Van Dyck's masterpieces - there’s something for all the family!
10) Go craft crazy with The Kids’ Table at Shackfest
There’s no iPads or tablets at this Kids’ Table, just paint, glitter, LEGO and felt-tips! At Shackfest, an awesome family day in Tadworth, let the folks at the Kids' Table entertain your little ones for free while you tuck into delicious food from Burger Shack and enjoy pop-up stalls and live music. Mmmm.
11) Let your imagination run wild at the Mega Maker Lab - Institute of Imagination
This Bank Holiday Weekend, you and your science-mad minis have to check out the Mega Maker Lab. Filled with 5 uniquely themed zones created especially for families to experience together, you'll wander around the lab and take part in epic experiments, play with awesome tech and science equipment, create your own inventions and learn about all things science!
Put your creative caps on and unleash your inner Einstein.
12) Stroll around the magnificent Richmond Park
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of central London and roam around the beautiful Richmond Park. Famous for its wild deer and royal history, bring along your nature-mad little ones to wander, race and roam around the endless parklands.
Explore the park to find King Henry's mound, head to the play area where the kids can climb, run and play or hire bikes and take one of the family bike trails around the park - you’ll be spoilt for entertainment!
13) Explore the best of London with the London Pass
Coming to London, hoping to make the most out of the three day weekend with your family? With London Pass, save over 50% while exploring London.
From sightseer essentials such as Tower Bridge and The View from the Shard, to hidden gems like the Old Operating Theatre and the Chelsea Physic Garden, you'll be hard-pressed to choose from the 80+ attractions that are included in the pass!
Cross off must-see landmarks from your bucket list and save time and money at the same time - woohoo!
14) Grab your stethoscope and head to Body Worlds' Junior Doctor
This Bank Holiday Weekend don your doctor’s coat, grab your clipboard, join a medical professional and learn about anatomy and physiology in a way you've never done before with Body Worlds' Junior Doctor.
Mini doctors will make their way around three floors of science, art and health education, getting to grips with the hidden beauty of the human body.
Your budding doctors will also get hands-on, interactive CPR training and even learn how to measure their blood pressure - if this doesn’t get your blood pumping, we don’t know what will!
15) Sing and dance at Notting Hill Carnival’s Family Day
This year, August Bank Holiday coincides with the Notting Hill Carnival and what better way to spend your Sunday than getting dressed up and heading to the colourful celebrations of the Notting Hill Carnival!
With an entire day devoted to families on Sunday 25th, where things are a little quieter, expect colourful parades, awesome street food and plenty of groovy tunes in a safe and fun environment.
16) Say hola and get stuck into some Spanish Cooking with Pencil & Fork
Hola! If you’re looking for quirky, you’ve definitely come to the right place. This Bank Holiday Weekend, enrich your beginner's knowledge of both the Spanish language and cuisine in this exciting 'Spanish for the Family' event where children under 12 will get the chance to interact and cook with the rest of their family, all in a new language!
17) Unleash your inner adventurer at The Nurture Barn
Perfect for your under five, The Nurture Barn in Braintree provides endless entertainment and is a great place to check out this Bank Holiday. This brilliant play centre is the perfect place for your tiny tots to play in a safe and loving environment.
From wooden climbing frames and dress-up to a baby den and a little garden for mini explorers, your little ones will never get bored. And with Kidadl, go back as often as you like with 40% off the unlimited summer pass!
18) Go on a voyage of discovery at the Barbican Centre
Get set and explore the Barbican Centre this Bank Holiday Weekend with this free, do-it-yourself trail specially designed with families in mind. Solve cryptic puzzles, create new drawings and play games while exploring the fascinating labyrinth that is the Barbican Centre. Those who manage to complete the trail can even redeem their very own prize. Get solving!
19) See what’s kicking off at Wembley Stadium
Hello Wembley! Ever wanted to peek inside the England dressing rooms or walk through the legendary Players’ Tunnel? Now you can - this Bank Holiday Weekend, head to Wembley Stadium and save 50% on adult tickets for this behind-the-scenes, award-winning tour with Kidadl. Relive some of England’s greatest moments and follow in the footsteps of legends.
20) Spend a day at sea at Southend Beach
Pack your buckets and spades and head to this firm family-favourite beach. Oozing with deck chairs, seagulls and slot machines - sit back, relax and try your chances at winning a few.
After you’ve dipped your toes in the water and skimmed a couple of rocks on the shore, cash in your winnings at Kidadler favourite Adventure Island; it’ll turn your world upside down - literally.
21) Meet everyone’s favourite caterpillar at Troubadour White City Theatre
If the heat is getting a little too much, head inside and take a trip to see The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Troubadour White City Theatre.
It’s the perfect way to introduce your littlest kids to the theatre, and with its colourful visuals and clear storytelling, they'll love the stories just as much on stage as on the page.
It'll be a treat for the grown-ups too, who no doubt will be feeling nostalgic as they remember these stories from back when they were learning to read.
22) Let off some steam at the London Museum of Water & Steam
If your kids are mad for machinery or wacky for water play, the London Museum of Water and Steam is where you should be headed this Bank Holiday Weekend! With Kidadl’s 43% off entry, there’s no better time to explore everything there is to learn about London's water supply history, the first steam engines and everything in between.
And now that it’s heating up, make sure you stop by the splash zone and splash about using gears, wheels, buckets, pumps and more.
23) Get some grub and walk the streets of London with a Jack the Ripper walking tour
What better way to end the three-day holiday than by getting spooked for 1/3 of the price with Kidadl on the Jack the Ripper tour of London, with a fish and chips pit stop.
Budding historians and spooky story fanatics alike will revel in this opportunity to travel back to the Victorian era and walk in the blood-soaked footsteps of the infamous murderer.
And if murderers aren’t entirely your thing, scoff some traditional fish and chips at Happy Days and call it a day!
24) Descend into space at the Science Museum
Thought you couldn’t get to space and back this Bank Holiday Weekend? Think again!
Go on an out-of-this-world virtual reality mission with a real astronaut at the Science Museum. This incredible VR experience guides you through an astronaut's 400km journey back to Earth from the International Space Station by real astronaut Tim Peake. You don’t want to miss this - it’s a blast!
25) Splash about in Granary Square
If you’re looking for the perfect way to cool down this Bank Holiday Weekend, head to Granary Square in Kings Cross and splash about in the fountains - completely free, just make sure you remember your swimming costume!
With over a thousand choreographed jets, squirting water in each and every direction, it’s the coolest way to cool off this summer right in the heart of London.
26) Try and escape The Crystal Maze in Manchester
Yes, you read that right. This Bank Holiday Weekend, round up the family and experience the thrills of the hit '90s television show in this immersive family-friendly adventure.
This a-maze-ing experience is the ultimate opportunity for you and your family to come together and complete as many challenges as possible to win that all important prize! Will you start the fans please?
27) Witness history, gore and more in Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain Part 4
If your kids are fascinated by history and are suckers for silly jokes, this is the show for them. With up to 57% off tickets, you'd be a fool to miss out on this Bank Holiday Weekend treat for all the family.
Based on the popular books, meet ruthless Romans; be shaken and stirred by Richard III; find out whether Queen Elizabeth I can endure her terrible toothache and mount a mutiny against King Henry VIII. Learning has never been so hilarious!
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English
Ellie SylvesterBachelor of Arts specializing in English
As a passionate Londoner, Ellie enjoys exploring the city's theaters and food markets with her younger siblings. She has a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Nottingham. She's particularly fond of Primrose Hill and the Natural History Museum, as well as the constantly changing Spitalfields Market. In addition to her love of theater, Ellie also enjoys trying new foods and dabbling in musical theater.
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2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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