School’s Out: Five Fabulous Family Days Out This Summer

It’s a great time of year for getting out and about with your family as the schools break up for summer and the days are still long and warm. Here’s a look at the best days out to enjoy.

The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studio Tours, London

The Harry Potter books and films continue to enchant new generations of children and dedicated older fans alike. The Warner Bros Studio tours offer the fascinating opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of the familiar sets of the wizarding world, such as Diagon Alley, the Forbidden Forest and the Hogwarts Great Hall. 

There is the chance to learn about how the amazing special effects were created, and view a collection of the beautiful hand-made props and costumes. The Studio is running a ‘Discovering Hogwarts’ summer feature until the 4 September, which celebrates the early years of Harry at Hogwarts, and recreates some of the films’ best loved scenes. 

Alnwick Castle, Northumberland

Continuing the Harry Potter theme, Alnwick Castle in Northumberland was the setting for Hogwarts and has been used as a location for the Downton Abbey series. There’s plenty for HP fans to enjoy, with archery lessons and broomstick flying. Even if you are not a fan of the boy wizard and his pals, there is much to admire in the impressive house and gardens.

Clip ‘n Climb, centres nationwide

There are premier Clip ‘n Climb centres in Reading, Plymouth, Oldham, and Thanet, plus almost 60 more at locations throughout the country. They are child-friendly indoor climbing centres featuring colourful and fun climbing walls. There are trained staff on hand to supervise and no previous experience is required.

Kynren, Bishop Auckland

This is a 90-minute outdoor show set in the grounds of Auckland Castle, County Durham. with an ambitious take on British history. It’s certainly no dry enchantment of the facts, but packed with dazzling firework displays and stunning special effects. 

It plays on most Saturdays throughout the summer and features a cast of over 1,000 actors and volunteers, plus horses and a range of other animals. The past 2,000 years have never been so entertainingly brought to life in one show. 

Zip World, Snowdonia

The original Zip World in Penrhyn Quarry, near Bethesda, is set in a former slate quarry that was once the largest in the world. It now boasts the fastest and longest zip line in the world: you can reach speeds of up to 100mph as you soar for 1.5km over Penrhyn Lake with the dramatic mountains of Snowdonia towering on all sides. 

For the fastest Velocity zip wire, there’s a minimum height of 1.2 metres and a maximum weight of 130kg. There’s also a range of smaller rides and attractions to have a fun family day out.

Nearby at Llechwedd, Blaenau Ffestiniog, you can enjoy a range of underground adventures in renovated slate mines. One of the main attractions is Bounce Below, a huge subterranean cavern full of bouncy trampolines, slides, and tunnels. Perfect to tone up and burn off excess energy!

If you are inspired to book a coach hire, please talk to us today.