Family Adventures: 9 Fun Things to Do with the Kids in 2024
Cuckooland HQ is located in Dorset, on the south coast of the UK, and whilst we may be a teeny bit biased, we think it’s one of the best places in the world.
We know we’re lucky to live here, and when we’re not busy designing and selling our kid’s beds, we love nothing more than exploring our beautiful Jurassic Coast, getting out in nature and going on adventures with our little ones (trying to tire them out for bedtime!)
If you’re busy making plans for 2024, here are some of our favourite family days out and activities you can do with the kids this year. These are all places the Cuckooland team have been and loved, and they’re all in the UK. We say the staycation is here to stay!
1. Best free day out: Natural History Museum
As far as free days out for families go, the Natural History Museum is hard to beat.
Located in South Kensington, London, this world-class museum covers 4.6 billion years of our planet’s history, with exhibitions on everything from the first life on earth to the dinosaurs, to humans.
This is the perfect educational-but-fun family day out for science, animal and nature lovers. Our little monkeys loved it, and we’re sure yours will too!
2. Best family-friendly festival: Camp Bestival
Described by the organisers as a ‘Festi-Holiday’, Camp Bestival takes place in July at Lulworth Castle in Dorset and in August at Weston Park, Shropshire.
This is one of the best festivals for families, with plenty of kid-friendly entertainment and activities on offer. Previous acts have included Rag’n’Bone Man, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Craig David.
There are camping and glamping options available, or you can book a pitch for your campervan and recover from your day of family fun in style!
3. Best day out for toddlers: Peppa Pig World
Is your little one Peppa Pig mad? Then a day out to Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park Theme Park in Hampshire should be on the cards this year!
Based on the hugely popular television series, Peppa Pig World is packed with all kinds of fun for youngsters, including 9 fabulous Peppa-themed rides, a splash zone and an indoor play area.
Children under 1 metre in height get in free, making this a great, affordable day out for families with toddlers.
4. Best wildlife experience: Longleat Safari Park
What could be more exciting than driving through an enclosure of mischievous monkeys, just waiting to jump all over your car? How about driving through a field of lions?
These are the experiences that await you at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire. There are over 120 species of animals at Longleat, and you can see them up close by car, boat, train, bus or on foot (not the lions!)
Note: If you’re worried about your car, you can opt to avoid the monkey drive – although, in our experience, this is one of the best bits!
5. Best day out for book lovers: Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour
If you’re like many of us who grew up with Harry Potter and have passed a love of the wizarding world onto our children, then a trip to the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour has to be at the top of your list this year.
The Studio Tour takes you behind the scenes of the making of the films, showcasing the sets, props and costumes, as well as providing interactive experiences that are sure to captivate every young witch or wizard.
The Making of Harry Potter is located in Leavesden, Watford and is easily accessible from London, if you’re stopping off at the Leaky Cauldron first!
6. Best for thrill-seekers: Alton Towers Resort
Are you a family of adrenaline-junkies? Then you need a trip to Alton Towers in 2024!
The UK’s biggest theme park boasts over 40 rides and attractions, with something for all the family, from thrilling rollercoasters to the little ones’ favourite, CBeebies Land.
The resort is located in Alton, Staffordshire, and is open from March to November. It gets busy during the summer holidays – we recommend downloading the app for up-to-date queue times so you can fit more in and maximise your trip.
7. Best activity for nature lovers: Fossil hunting
If your little one is obsessed with dinosaurs or desperate to be the next David Attenborough, they’ll love fossil hunting!
The Jurassic Coast, which stretches from East Devon to Dorset, is one of the best places in the UK to find fossils. Head to Charmouth or Lyme Regis and keep your eyes peeled for ammonites and fossilised fish as you roam the shores – who knows, you might even discover a new species! That would definitely earn you an ice cream…
Note: Make sure to keep away from the cliffs and beware of tides while fossil hunting to stay safe.
8. Best indoor activity for kids: Trampoline parks
Looking for a fun rainy-day activity to do with the kids this year?
Why not head to your local trampoline park and bounce around with them (or enjoy a coffee in the café while they bounce!) Parks such as Gravity, AirHop and Flip Out have multiple locations around the country, and many offer obstacle courses and play areas for toddlers too.
Not only is trampolining a whole lot of fun, but it’s also great exercise for kids and, in our experience, very effective at tiring them out, so you get a bit of peace and quiet on the car ride home!
9. Best summer camp for families: Camp Kindling
Wishing your kids could experience the escapism of ‘summer camp’? Then head to Camp Kindling, an innovative weekend event held in a forest retreat in Sevenoaks each August.
Designed exclusively for families, Camp Kindling offers a range of fun activities during the day, including everything from aerial bungee to origami, as well as music, games and talks.
Need a break? There’s also an adults-only area with hot tubs, so you can enjoy some well-deserved relaxation time, once the kids are (finally!) in bed.
Ready for an Adventure?
We hope we’ve inspired you to get out and about with the kids this year. And when you get home after a day of adventuring, a Cuckooland kid’s bed will ensure they get the rest they need for more exploring! If you have any questions about our kid’s beds or furniture (or you’d like us to help you plan your next adventure!), get in touch at customerservice@cuckooland.com.
