Are you ready to discover some great locations for a family day out? Check out our list below to discover a whole host of things to do with your foster children during the school holidays!
How to keep your kids active and entertained during the school summer holidays
If you’re looking for things to do with your kids this summer in the Midlands, we’re highlighting some fantastic local parks which you can enjoy together as a family.
Gheluvelt Park, Worcester
Just a short work from Worcester city centre, Gheluvelt Park is a beautiful spot and the perfect place to take your little ones during the summer. Be sure to pack the kids’ swimming costumes, as the park’s biggest attraction is its splash pad zone, an area filled with fountains where kids can cool off before grabbing a sweet treat from the ever-reliable ice cream van.
The park also has two playgrounds which cater separately to little children and older kids, as well as plenty of picnic benches, space to play ballgames and tables for table tennis. The park is only a five-minute walk from the Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, where you can enjoy their ‘Dinosaurs on the Doorstep’ exhibition this summer. The exhibition will be hosting fun events such as arts and crafts sessions, the opportunity to explore fossils up close and even a Dino Disco!
Arrow Valley Country Park, Redditch
There is so much fun stuff to do in England, especially when we appreciate the beauty of our abundant nature spots. Arrow Valley Country Park is a scenic treasure just waiting to be discovered. The park boasts a gigantic lake where you can feed the geese, spend some time learning how to fish, or just relax and take in the beautiful views. There’s a family art trail to follow, as well as orienteering courses for all ages. At 900 acres, there’s plenty of space to explore and play during the summer holidays.
There’s a large play area for the kids with a zip wire and a fantastic curly slide, as well as an amphitheatre where you can sit and enjoy your lunch. If you and the family love to get active, you could sign up for Arrow Valley’s weekly free Parkrun event every Saturday at 9:00 AM, where you can run, jog or walk a friendly 5k route with members of the local community.
Weston Park, Shifnal
Weston Park is an incredible place to visit with your kids during the summer holidays with 1,000 acres of land to explore. The site boasts a picture-perfect Roman bridge, an enormous Georgian mansion, and a beautiful Victorian-inspired garden. In a space so large, it’s easy to feel like the only people in the world when you explore the woodlands and greenery of Weston Park as a family.
Marvel at the size of the park’s enormous oak trees, take a ride on the mini train, enjoy the play area and pick up a fun memento at the gift shop. The park also holds various events throughout the year including festivals, fairs and exhibitions at the art gallery, making it the perfect place for a family day out.
Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham
Image from: http://www.cannonhillpark.co.uk/
Cannon Hill is full of things to do, making it a great spot to visit with your family during the year’s summer holidays. It sits alongside the main Birmingham bus route and serves as a hub of fun activities. With a mini funfair, sports courts, a play area and a surprisingly challenging crazy golf course, there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained all day long. You could also enjoy a tour on the land train, cruise on the lake in swan-shaped boats, or could explore some of the free art exhibitions at the MAC theatre.
We recommend a visit to the onsite Wildlife Conservation Park, where you can meet a range of wonderful animals including meerkats, otters, red pandas and the unusual binturongs. If you forget your picnic, don’t worry— there’s a gorgeous tearoom on site and a supermarket within a five-minute walking distance if you fancy a yummy meal deal picnic!
Sander’s Park, Bromsgrove
Sander’s Park is an incredibly picturesque and quiet spot in the heart of Bromsgrove, perfect for families with children looking for ideas of what to do in the school summer holidays. You and your little ones can enjoy picnics by the duck pond, cooling ice creams at the café on the pavilion, and hours of fun in the large play area. There’s also a skate park for big kids of all ages, and good access to countryside walks throughout the park.
The beautiful bandstand is the crowning jewel of the Sander’s Park, having been commissioned for the late Queen’s golden jubilee. It makes for a beautiful family photo opportunity and hosts free live music events every Sunday throughout the summer.
Lido Park, Droitwich
Lido Park boasts a range of free sports facilities where the whole family can burn off some energy over the long summer days. The park’s biggest attraction is its heated outdoor pool, where you can take a dip, sunbathe or cheer the kids on as they splash around in the interactive fountain zone. The pool is filled with water from Droitwich’s natural brine springs— the only place in the world where you’ll find saltier water is the Dead Sea!
The park’s free sports courts allow you to take part in a game of tennis, football or basketball, and there’s a small play area as well as a café so you can all grab a treat after a hard day’s play.
Telford Town Park, Telford
This lovely spot has plenty of activities for the whole family. Perhaps its most unique attraction is its high ropes obstacle course, where you can get strapped into your safety gear and experience an exciting adventure walking through the treetops. There’s also a climbing wall and a free fall experience for adventurous family members to try.
The park offers a crazy golf course and a ‘disc golf’ course, where you use a Frisbee instead of a golf ball. You can also enjoy cycling routes, a water play area, and a fantastic playground which includes an impressive rocket slide and accessible play equipment designed for children with disabilities, including a wheelchair-accessible climbing frame.
Celebrating our local area
There are so many amazing spots to explore in the West Midlands, and we hope that our recommendations can help you and your family to have some fantastic days out this summer.
All of the parks on our list are free to enter, though we recommend checking out their websites to see which of their services and activities are free to access.
Are you looking for more ideas on how you and your foster family can spend those lazy summer days? Check out our guide to the best walking routes across the West Midlands.