This summer holidays is going to be a bit different this year aren’t they? A lot of the activities we do aren’t running. For example the Bracknell fun days, which we try to go to every week are going to be really missed. The library is running it’s reading challenge online and any activities that we do will have to be socially distanced.
I’ve put together my usual list of activities in the local area, it did make me sad how many weren’t running and those that had closed too. Please note that for a lot of places you need to book tickets in advance as only a certain amount of people are allowed in at a time. So I would recommend that you check online first before going. This also applies in most places if you have a season ticket, so please do check save having disappointed children. Where I can I have also listed below the places that are closed, so this hopefully saves you a job researching and keeps everything all in one place.
This list is my no means exhaustive, so if you want add something to the list or want to share a great event with others then please drop me a line – lovelylaurasblog@gmail.com.
Please note, details and dates are correct to the best of my ability. Like everyone I am susceptible to the odd typo. Where possible I have included website links to every activity listed below. Please check before you go as I would hate to have made a mistake and someone to have disappointed children because of it.
Summer Holiday Events
Aldershot Lido
Closed for the summer of 2020 due to the pandemic.
Aldershot Military Museum
A museum for the military going back to 1854. Family activities, talks and picnic area. Please book tickets in advance.
All details on their website.
Alice Holt
Open, but with limited facilities. Gruffalo and Highway Rat trails. Cafe and activity centre.
Beales Country Park
Outdoor wildlife park and gardens, you can view their website here.
You currently cannot book tickets in advance, entry into the park is on a first come and first served basis, so it is probably a good idea to get there early.
Bocketts Farm, Leatherhead
Pre-booked tickers only. Due to social distancing some activities may be amended or closed. All outdoor play is open, soft play is closed, but trampolines have been relocated outside.
Great fun, we had a lovely time when we went there. Lots of animals to pet and feed, play area, soft play, ride-on tractors, loads of fun. Visit the website here.
Bracknell Lawn Tennis Club, Summer Tennis Club
Tennis camp for 6-10 year olds, 1 and 3 day courses available. Full details and booking form on their website.
Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road
Currently closed until the 25th July, at the moment no details on inflatable activities that they usually run. I will check back after they open and update.
Visit their Bracknell Leisure centre website.
Bracknell Libraries – Summer Events
Due to Covid, all events are the library have been cancelled until further notice. You can order books to collect online and view a few selected shelves when visiting. At the moment on Bracknell, Crowthorne, Binfield and Great Hollands are open. Opening times are on their website.
The summer reading challenge is running online this year instead of in the libraries. You can sign up here.
Brickies, Wokingham
Currently closed, awaiting government guidance.
Located at Holme Grange Craft Village. Lego building workshops. We attended a birthday party here earlier in the year and my children loved it.
Buckleberry Farm, Reading
Now re-open to our general public. Our opening times are 09:30am – 5:00pm, 7 days a week. No pre-booking is required, please arrive to the main barn for payment and entry.
Children’s farm with indoor and outdoor play. More details on their website.
California Country Park, Wokingham
Paddling Pool is currently closed.
Children’s play area, cafe and paddling pool. There is a fee per child free to enter the paddling pool, plus you need to pay for parking. Great when the weather’s warm. Pool open 10.30am-5.30pm. Full details on their website.
Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfonts
Open air museum based in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire. We reviewed Chiltern Open Air Museum a couple of years ago, you can read my review here.
Currently ground and garden admissions only. Tickets needs to be booked in advance on their website. We went on 21st July and it was really good for social distancing and lots of hand sanitiser stations available.
Terrific Tuesdays will run on every Tuesday and Thursday throughout August. To ensure that these can run safely they will be different to previous years. They will all focus on a Great Outdoors theme.
4th & 6th August
Take part in a trail, have a go at natural art and listen to some storytelling.
11th & 13th August
Take part in a trail and have a go at natural art.
Tuesday 18th & 20th August
Take part in a trail, have a go at natural art and listen to some storytelling.
Tuesday 25th & 27th August
Take part in a trail and have a go at natural art.
Terrific Tuesdays general info
- Activities run from 11am – 3.30pm
- Village Kitchen open with drinks, cakes and ice creams
- Plenty of space for picnics (and indoor picnics)
- Baby changing facilities
- Adventure playground
- Small working farm
- Ample free car parking
Full details on the Chiltern Open Air Museum website.
Cineworld Bracknell
Bracknell Cineworld does not appear to be fully open yet and there is no juniors club running, this may potentially change in August. On their website they are offering children’s tickets of £5 and a family ticket of £20 which is a good deal. So keep checking back on the Cineworld website.
Coral Reef Waterworld
Currently closed, but planning on opening soon. Online booking only. Some facilities may be closed for social distancing.
Most local people will have heard of Coral Reef Waterworld and the massive renovations and new slides that took place over the past year. It can get very busy in the summer holidays but you are able to book in advance online.
Coral Reef Waterworld website.
Cow Castles
Stuck in self isolation or just need something new to entertain your children? Hire a bouncy castle! Currently running a special offer on weekday bouncy castle hires. All castles thoroughly cleaned between use.
Feather and Fur Falconry Centre
Free to visit falconry centre in Reading. The heart and soul of the centre is education and environment, with a large portion of the birds being British. The collection includes Peregrines, Kestrels, Barn Owls, European Eagle Owls, Buzzards and Hawks.
Get Fit Berkshire
Boot camp fitness classes for all ages, children welcome. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
Gravity Force, Camberley
Not currently open, but working towards opening on the 25th July. Pre-bookings now available.
A trampolining centre in Camberley. They run different sessions aimed at different age groups. Looks like great fun and a great way to burn energy.
Go Ape, The Lookout
Open! For tree top fun and forest Segway adventures. There are courses available for all ages and group packages available, have a look on the Go Ape website. Although for the Segway you need to be over 10 and weigh at least 7 stone.
Grays Farm, Wokingham
I know a few friends who have done this recently and have said it’s a great outdoor activity for social distancing. Pick your own fruit and vegetables. Also includes soft play, picnic area and farm trail. Visit the website here.
Hollywood Bowl, The Peel Centre
All sites will be opening on the 1st August with changes – less lanes in use due to social distancing.
Bowling and amusements.
Prices vary, so best to check out their website for full details.
Holme Grange Craft Village – Wokingham
Holme Grange is a craft village and coffee shop is open but due to current covid restrictions a lot of the shops are running on an appointment only basis. Unfortunately this means their events are not running for obvious reasons. Visit their website for opening times and details. You can visit their website here.
Jakes Soft Play and Mini Farm – Sandhurst
Open for pre-booked tickets only. Indoor barn is currently closed.
For children up to 11 years old. Soft play, outdoor playground, farm, fishing and restaurant.
Legoland Windsor
Open, prebook tickets. Masks are required on a small number of rides for children and adults over the age of 6 and in gift shops. Temperature checked on the way in. Cashless payment, social distancing and limited entry.
The Lego themed theme park in Windsor is great fun for all ages. We have had a season ticket for several years and love it. Although it gets super busy and can be expensive in the holidays. Top tips you can get tickets for much cheaper if you have Tesco clubcard points.
The Lexicon
18th July – 5th September – Monster Hero Safari.
10 monster superheroes have been spotted in these parts and it’s your job to find them! Families visiting The Lexicon are invited to take part in MonsterHero Safari 2020, helping to bring family fun and entertainment back to the high street.
More details on the Lexicon events page.
Little Muddy Boots
We love Little Muddy Boots and have been to several of their classes. They are running an online forest school throughout the summer holidays. Full of creative activities to do with your children and creative play. All for just £10.
Little Street, Camberley
Currently closed.
Open 7 days per week. Quite literally a little street with shops, a doctors, supermarket, cafe, fire engine, beauty salon and dress up. We went for my daughter’s birthday and it was great fun. Suitable for young children. Pre-booking recommended.
Living Rainforest, Newbury
Open, all tickets must be pre-booked.
The Living Rainforest is an indoor rainforest complete with wildlife and plant life. Great for rainy days, I like to take my children in the winter too as the rainforests are always warm! A day’s pass gives you access for a year. Visit the website here.
Lookout Discovery Centre, Bracknell
Currently closed.
A science discovery centre located in Swinley Forest. You do have to pay for parking there, but can get the cost discounted from your ticket. Lots of things to do there to help children how things work, as well as a little play shop, very small soft play pit and water play. Great for rainy days and it keeps my small children entertained for ages, but there is more for older children upstairs.
Lookout Discovery centre website.
Milestones Museum, Hampshire
Book tickets in advance. Contactless payment and high contact displays and attractions have been removed.
We’ve been here quite a few times and again in January last year (read my review) and my son is always up for visiting again. On a rainy day there’s lots to do. It’s all about the past, from room sets up from different eras, old transport, a sweet shop when you can buy a rations amount of sweets. My son has asked to go back again this summer even though the dinosaurs aren’t there. They have an interactive mystery adventure going on this summer holidays.
Music with Mummy
Online summer sessions. Teddy Bears’ picnic, Teddies go to the Beach, Dinosaur party, Fun at the playground and more. Only £10 for 4 weeks.
www.facebook.com/musicwithmummybracknell or email emmamusicwithmummy@gmail.com for more information or to book.
Nutritional Ninjas
Fun and easy baking boxes for children with online cookery classes. Sign up and get the first month free.
Odd’s Farm, High Wycombe
The farm is open for summer holiday visits, but is available through pre-book tickets online only. Details on how to do this are here.
We’ve been here several times as always have a fantastic time, farm animals, feeding and petting, sheep racing, tractor rides, outdoor adventure area, indoor soft play, play diggers and tractors. They have also added a new outside water play area.
Odeon Kids – Bracknell, The Peel Centre
It doesn’t look like Bracknell Odeon is open looking at their website at the time of writing this article. This could change though as things move so quickly at the moment, so keeping checking back.
Details on Odeon website.
Pinewood Football Club
Summer soccer school. Three weeks of summer football club. A 2 hour session is £12 and 3 days is £30.
Details on their Facebook page.
Pop Up Play Village Wokingham
Hire a Pop Up Play Village Mini Kit!
A Mini Kit is a small, convenient version of role play zones for your little one to play with at home! A great way to keep your little ones entertained, celebrate a birthday at home or just a change of toys to freshen things up!
Cost £19.50-£24.50 per hire for either a Mon-Fri booking or a Fri-Mon booking. This includes delivery and collection within approx. 10 miles of Gillingham. Do still get in touch if you are a little further away, as there may still be availability with an additional delivery charge.
There is a £50 indemnity deposit which is payable by bank transfer and will be returned as soon as the Mini Kit has been collected and checked.
All contact via email or telephone and delivery will be made wearing gloves and a face mask. Box left on your doorstep, knock and move back. On collection, just put all the kit back in the box and leave in the safe place at pre-arranged time.
The kits will be thoroughly cleaned between hires and with a minimum of 4 days in between hire.
Kits available: Baby Play Area, Baby Nursery, Construction, Library, Café, Veterinary Centre, Outdoor Explorers
Visit Facebook page or email hello@popupplayvillage.co.uk
RHS Wisley
Pre-booked admissions only, they are also offering 25% off season tickets at the moment.
Full details on their website.
Roald Dahl Museum, Great Missenden, Bucks
Museum currently closed.
A museum dedicated to all things Roald Dahl. Galleries and activities, aimed at 6-12 year olds.
Robyn’s Nest Afternoon Teas
Takeaway afternoon teas for adults and children. Children’s are themed – unicorns, mermaids, pirates and dinosaurs. From August pre-book to have afternoon tea in the cafe. We had these on my birthday and they were awesome!
Starting School Classes
Classes to help children starting school in September.
4th, 7th, 11th & 14th August
Tiny Talk Online Signing Course for Babies
Baby signing classes streamed to your home. Running on 24th July, 31st July, 7th and 14th August. £5.50 per week. To book email michellew@tinytalk.co.uk
Top of the Pots (formerly Leap Frog Ceramics), Warfield
Open for pottery collection and drop-off at the moment. So you can buy a pottery kit, take it home and decorate it and then return it to be fired in the kiln.
Wellington Country Park
As with a lot of places during the Covid pandemic, all tickets need to be booked in advance online. A maximum of 6 tickets per household, with staggered entry times. Full details on their website.
Outdoor park with play areas, go-karts, camping, dinosaurs, nature trails, animal petting farm and play sand and diggers. My advice, it’s not great on a rainy day and take a picnic as the I found the cafe pretty expensive.
Windsor Castle
Who doesn’t love a castle? Private guided tours are available. You can only go if you buy tickets in advance with times entry.
The Changing of the Guard is currently suspended due to the pandemic.
Details on their website.
Whoosh Play Centre
Currently closed.
A soft play centre located within Bracknell Leisure centre on the Bagshot Road. Also has air con and a cafe
Windsor Leisure Centre
Opening with limited facilities and pre-booked sessions very soon.
There is a pool with flumes in Windsor. You can have a look here.
WWF The Living Planet Centre, Woking
Their website isn’t very clear, but it does say all of their offices are closed, so I think this means The Living Planet Centre is currently closed.
One of the greenest buildings in the UK, also education and visitor centre. Learn about the environment and wildlife.
FREE Places To Go and Parks
Don’t miss some of the activities I have listed above that are free. We’re going to miss the fun days this year and I think because of this we will be visiting a lot more parks.
Dinton Pastures Country Park
Nice adventure park with a sand pit too. View the website here.
Finchampstead Baptist Church Park
Park, nature walks, plenty of space for picnics and a children’s centre.
Finchampstead Baptist Church Park website.
Frimley Lodge Park
Re-opened on the 4th July.
A 24 hectare site that boasts a range of facilities for all ages and hosts events for all the family including lots of open space and woodland, picnic areas, two children’s playgrounds, a trim trail, miniature railway and meadows.
More details on their website.
Great Hollands Recreation Ground
Splash pad currently closed.
With new splash pad.
Jock’s Lane Park
My understanding at the moment is splash pads are currently closed.
Another fab park with a splash pad, lots of things to play with, cafe, picnic area and tennis courts.
Lily Hill Park
Lily Hill park is great for walks, picnics and cycle rides.
Lock’s Ride Recreation Ground
Currently closed.
Another place my children and I love. A park with a huge sandpit, splash pad and zip wires. It’s a fab sun trap too. Highly recommended for picnics.
The Lookout
Play park currently closed, and limited parking. Forest is open for walking.
I have mentioned the Lookout Discovery centre above, but outside of the centre is an adventure playground. There also walks, hiking and cycling trails.
South Hill Park
Atrium and bar now open, outdoors open. No event or indoor activities until at least 31st August.
I love South Hill park, it’s so picturesque. There’s a big playing field, two parks, one with a sandpit. A place for feed the ducks. It’s a fab place for picnics and also has a cafe.
West Morland Park, Warfield
A 8 hectar site in Warfield, Bracknell. With a pavilion, three tennis courts, football pitches, basketball hoop, play areas suitable for children aged 2-14 years. And a balancing pond. The tennis lawns are for members only for details on the Bracknell website can be found here.
Sweet Treats
There are couple of local business who also offer sweets and treats which you can get some goodies to enjoy throughout the summer holidays.
Masters Sweet Treats
Local run Bracknell business, sweet boxes, sweet jars and cones which can be ordered online. Their 2kg boxes looks pretty amazing too!
Not Just Sweets
They create fully bespoke sweet items for any occasion whether it’s gifts, weddings, baby showers, parties or for a business to give to customers. A huge range from sweet bags, jars, boxes and much more! As well as a new subscription box.
Details on their Facebook page.
I hope you all have a fantastic summer!
Thank you! Having only moved to the area recently and also having a 2yr old, this is super helpful! All the information I need in a logical order and all in one place 🙂