Some cheap summer holiday ideas for Harpenden families

The summer holidays for Harpenden school children are fast approaching and many parents are now wondering how they are going to fill the long 6 week break. 

Below are a list of ideas for local days out which won't break the bank and may help us parents to maintain a little of our sanity while the kids are off school!  Enjoy the summer!

 

•    Dunstable Down's Visitor's Centre- perfect for flying a kite, watching the gliders or going for a walk

•    Stanborough Lakes- Welwyn Garden City.  A fabulous children's play area suitable for a wide range of ages with the added benefits of stunning walks around the lakes.  For the more adventurous there are opportunities to partake in water sports or you could just enjoy a picnic and an ice cream in the parkland!

•    Grove Farm Pick Your Own- situated between Ivanhoe and Leighton Buzzard.  You can pick berries and dig for vegetables.  Open from mid June with a season that lasts until October; there are also a couple of swings and an ice cream kiosk.  

•    Ashridge Estate- a great place for children let off steam with countess opportunities for running and climbing.  There is a cafe there if you want to make a day of it.

•    Natural History Museum, Tring- the museum houses the taxidermy collection of Sir Walter Rothschild.  It is accessible with buggies and there is a good picnic area.

•    Aldenham Country Park- a magical park which is well worth the £5 parking fee!  There is climbing equipment, a rare breeds farm and, best of all, an 100 Aker Wood with Pooh Corner, Eeyore's House and streams in which to play Pooh Sticks.

•    Verulamium Museum, Park and Splash Park, St.Albans- the Splash Park is excellent, but can get busy so try and get there early.   When the children have finished splashing you can walk around the lakes and watch the ducks, have a picnic next to the old Roman Wall or visit the Museum with its beautiful mosaics and costumes to dress up in.

•    Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton-   just ten minutes north of Harpenden, so why have so many local people (including myself  until very recently) never ventured there?  The Centre is free of charge and boasts a wide array of things to do; it has something for all ages and, best of all, it has both indoor and outdoor activities- a quality which so many 'days out' lack!  

And closer to home, don't forget Harpenden's parks:

•    Lydekker Park – there is plenty of space for children to run around in and the little paths, which weave around the park, are brilliant for chasing and hiding games. 

•    Rothamstead Park - a massive common land which is situated in the centre of Harpenden.  As well as all of the facilities which the park boasts (including football  and hockey pitches, tennis courts, a sports centre, swimming pool, a 5aside football court, a purpose built skate park and a playground for kids.)

•    Harpenden Common- stretches almost 2 miles from the centre of Harpenden southwards, is a place of beauty.  There is plenty of open space for running, kite flying, picnicking....  There is also the recently developed Southdown Ponds area, which is beautifully landscaped and the ducks never disappoint (the Town Hall sells food is you fancy feeding them) and a Nature Trail – there really is something for everyone and best of all, it's all free! 

Now all we need are some sunny days! 

If you have a favourite local day out which doesn't cost the earth please post it on here...six weeks is a lot of days to fill!