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School’s out for summer

Pack your bags, fill up the car and hit the road! If you’re going near or far this summer holiday, there is plenty across the UK for your family to enjoy. Children will love all the great special events, shows and experiences on offer. Whether they love animals, want to giggle at a show or enjoy hands-on experiences, there is something for kids of all ages. With plenty of things to do with the children for the whole of summer, start planning your days out now. Travel to London for a journey across the capital aboard one of the great Big Bus Tours, stop off at Southbank Centre to enjoy Adventures in Moominland and book tickets to see Horrible Histories – More Best of Barmy Britain at the Garrick Theatre.

Across the country head to Hertfordshire to meet Paradise Wildlife Park’s latest addition, visit West Yorkshire for a summer of fun at the National Coal Mining Museum, and head down to Buckinghamshire, home to Roald Dahl, and discover more about his life and home.


jaguar cub

Save at Paradise Wildlife Park with an EXTRA 10% off online tickets with code LGWC10

Meet Keira this summer, currently the only jaguar cub in the UK and the first jaguar cub born at Paradise Wildlife Park. She is now out enjoying her new enclosure on view to the public. Keira was born on 2nd April 2017 as Paradise celebrated the launch of its new charity, the Zoological Society of Hertfordshire.

Home to over 500 exotic wild animals including tigers, monkeys, zebras, lemurs, meerkats, red pandas, tapirs, penguins, white lions, wallabies, emus, birds of prey, parrots, reptiles and snow leopards. It also offers a full programme of daily animal shows and events perfect for the whole family, plus On Safari Adventure Golf, National Speedway Museum, Animal Resource Centre, the Jungle Theatre, Woodland Railway, three adventure playgrounds, Tumble Jungle and Paradise Lagoon!

Save an EXTRA 10% off online tickets (20% in total) to Paradise Wildlife Park when you enter discount code LGWC10 at the checkout pwpark.com

Paradise Wildlife Park & Zoological Society of Hertfordshire is voted Hertfordshire’s No.1 Outdoor Attraction by Trip Advisor and set in the beautiful surrounding of Broxbourne Woods in the Heart of the Hertfordshire Countryside. It is also the only UK zoo to have five different big cat breeds with white lions, tigers, snow leopards, jaguars and a white tiger. More…


field in Angling Spring Wood

A Buzzyhumming Summer at the Roald Dahl Museum 

This Summer, the Museum is celebrating Roald Dahl’s love of nature in a programme packed with creepy-crawlies, animals and birds, together with walks following his footsteps around the village and into the woods…

Every Tuesday you can enjoy guided Village and Countryside Trails, which take in sights such as the author’s grave and Angling Spring Wood, where The Minpins live. Join in a Draw ‘n’ Walk with artist Sue Pownall, where you can sketch in the wood that inspired Fantastic Mr Fox or a Swishwiffling Storytelling Walk, featuring local folklore and traditional tales.

Listen to some animal-tastic tales; hear about Dave the Pigeon’s adventures from authors Swapna Haddow and Sheena Dempsey and Fables from the Stables with Gavin Puckett. Brush up on your bird spotting with Mike Langman, illustrator of the National Trust’s Complete Bird Spotter’s Kit, and Meet the Minibeasts with the Natural World Experience.

Make some crackling crafts including Paw Print Plates, Buzzwangling Bird Feeders, and Chocolate Cattypiddlers and find out about Roald Dahl’s passion for growing plants in the Science-y Seeds workshops.

For full Buzzyhumming Summer listings, visit www.roalddahl.com/museum/whats-on


horrible histories stage show

Horrible Histories – More Best of Barmy Britain

We all want to meet people from history. The trouble is everyone is dead! This summer it’s time to prepare yourselves for a special production of Horrible Histories featuring MORE of your favourite characters from our barmy past – and a brand new scene with wordy Will Shakespeare! Children will love these live performances, finding them not only hilarious but equally educational.

Find out why the Romans were revolting! Could you survive the vicious Vikings? Can evil Elizabeth entertain England? Would you party with the Puritans? Clap along with crazy King Charles! Vomit with the vile Victorians and prepare to do battle in the frightful First World war! It’s history with the nasty bits left in!

Win a family ticket to see Horrible Histories – More Best of Barmy Britain

More Best of Barmy Britain will be playing at the Garrick Theatre from 4th August – 2nd September. For more information and to book your tickets visit barmybritain.com/ or call 0330 333 4811.

open top bus driving past Tower bridge

Big Bus Tours London

A great and unforgettable day out with the family this summer should include a sightseeing tour of London with Big Bus Tours. Join the Big Bus Sightseeing Tour and discover all of London’s key landmarks. The stories and history of London are revealed on this entertaining and educational tour, and with buses running at regular intervals, you have the option to hop on and off at places of interest.

Included are over 50 locations where you are able to leave the bus to visit attractions or explore places that may be of interest. There is a live English guide on board the red route or the choice of a recorded commentary in several languages on the blue and green routes. There is also an included walking tour from the Trafalgar Square stop at 11am every day which explores the history of the Royal Family and its relevance in today’s Britain.

Save 10% at Big Bus London! No voucher code needed – simply visit the site for discount.

Ticket must be purchased online at www.bigbustours.com/en/london/london-bus-tours to receive the 10% discount from their on-street price.


seaside at Pit

Seaside @ Pit: A Summer of Fun at the National Coal Mining Museum

From Saturday 22nd July – Sunday 3rd September join in the summer fun at the Museum as we commemorate seaside holidays of yesteryear with a FREE giant beach throughout summer. Visit this summer and travel 140m underground with a miner as your guide on one of the unique tours. Stay awhile longer in the Museum & visit the Hope Pit site. Take the ‘Seaside Special’ train ride to Hope Pit and visit the beach! A FREE giant sandpit with deckchairs and buckets and spades is waiting for you, plus fairground rides (fee applies) and different seaside themes each weekend throughout the summer.

5th/6th August: Punch & Judy shows (free)

12th/13th August: 1940s Re-enactment weekend

19th/20th August: Crazy Golf (fee applies)

Bank Holiday 26th/27th/28th August: Funfair

2nd/3rd September: Circus Skills (fee applies)

During the summer School Holidays join in the FREE seaside-themed family craft activities Monday – Friday, the Beach Hut @ Hope Pit selling delicious summer treats & ice cream, plus the Blacksmith’s Forge is open Wednesday to Sunday.

Around the Museum you might also meet one of the Living History Characters & learn more about the coalmining heritage. National Coal Mining Museum are also excited to reveal the brand NEW Adventure Playground with lots to do for all ages including a Pit Wheel Zip Wire!

FREE entry + Free Parking for everyone. More…


Southbank Centre girls
Image: Vic Frankowski

Adventures in Moominland at Southbank Centre

Climb into and get lost inside the eccentric world of Moominland as we explore the internationally renowned Moomin stories through the life of its author, Tove Jansson.

Created in Finland, the Moomin stories are set in the fictional land of Moominvalley and centre around several oddly-shaped characters, including Moominpappa, Moominmamma, little Moomintroll and their friends.

Join an enthralling journey through the wondrous Moominland – clamber through forests, huddle in caves or set sail on the high seas to try and find the Moomin family. Along the way you can learn how Tove Jansson created these unique landscapes, characters and stories, while uncovering some special original drawings. More…


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