The school holidays are a chance to spend quality time together, but finding activities that both adults and kids will enjoy can be a challenge. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need a big budget or a jam-packed itinerary to make the school holidays memorable, but you don’t. From exciting days out to creative projects to try at home, here are five family-friendly activities to add to your plans.
Visit a Theme Park
Theme parks are a classic school holiday activity, with rides, attractions and entertainment to suit different ages. For something a little different, why not try Diggerland? Designed around construction machinery, Diggerland lets children get behind the controls of real diggers, dumper trucks and other construction-themed rides and attractions, for a fun, educational day out.
It’s a particularly fun choice for children who love vehicles and getting hands-on. Before visiting, check the height and age requirements for individual rides, and plan your day around the attractions your children are most excited to try.
Have an Outdoorsy Adventure
The great outdoors provides endless opportunities for family adventures. Head to a botanical garden (Kew is a great option for all ages), explore a local park, visit the beach or find a new walking route together close to home.
For a fun, family-friendly challenge, you could encourage your children to find different types of leaves, spot particular birds, collect interesting natural objects or take pictures of unusual things they discover. You could also take a football, frisbee or kite along for something more active.
Let the children help choose the destination and activities, and remember to check the weather before heading out.
Watch a Theatre Performance
A trip to the theatre can make the school holidays feel extra special. Look out for family-friendly productions, children’s shows, musicals and local performances taking place during the holidays.
To build excitement, find out a little about the story beforehand with your children. Younger children could draw their favourite character, while older children might enjoy reading the original book or learning more about the production.
If a full theatre trip isn’t practical or within the budget, check local libraries, community centres and theatres for workshops, performances and other holiday activities.
Start an Arts and Crafts Project
Consider setting aside an afternoon for a creative project or something else that children can work on throughout the holidays. You could make a scrapbook of your adventures, build a cardboard model, design your own board game or create decorations for their bedroom.
Rather than worrying about making something perfect, encourage them to experiment with different ideas, colours and materials. Keeping a box of recyclable materials like cardboard, paper, magazines and empty boxes can provide plenty of inspiration, and is also an opportunity to discuss environmental issues in an age-appropriate way.
Go Sightseeing
Whether you’re staying home or heading abroad for the holidays, there will be some sights you haven’t seen before. If you’re exploring close to home, you could try taking a different route than usual, or visiting some nearby attractions you haven’t gotten around to yet.
You could also choose a few landmarks, interesting buildings, statues, bridges or examples of street art and create a checklist for your children. You could turn it into a treasure hunt, challenge them to take photographs or ask them to research the history of somewhere you visit.
With a little imagination, even familiar places can be exciting. The key is to choose activities that get everyone involved and leave plenty of room for spontaneous adventures along the way.
Plan your Family Day Out to Diggerland UK Today!
If a day out at Diggerland is on your to-do list, make sure you pre-book your tickets before the October school holidays!
Not only can you save money by booking in advance, but you’ll also have the peace of mind of securing entry for your chosen date.
Visit our website today and get your Diggerland adventure booked. We look forward to welcoming you to Diggerland!
PRE-BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO VISIT DIGGERLAND HEREAll information correct as of: 4th September 2026.
Guest blog post written by: Elisha Adams.
