Days out with Kids in Essex

Web: www.colnevalleyrailway.co.uk

THE LARGEST AND FASTEST GO KART CIRCUITS IN ESSEX

Lakeside and Brentwood Karting offer outdoor go karting race tracks that are suitable for adults and junior karting enthusiasts of all skill levels.

The perfect place for a family outing and birthday party. We are the ONLY CIRCUIT to offer mixed age family sessions.

• Perfect for all ages 8yrs+
• Full Kart and Safety instruction provided
• All racewear and safety equipment supplied
• Laptime Reports for every driver
• 70mph Prokart Upgrade Available

SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR A TWO FOR ONE VOUCHER TO USE AT EITHER CIRCUIT

With centres all over the UK, a fun time of bowling with friends and family is waiting for you. Our centres all offer a wide range of facilities and dining options to make your experience a great one for the whole family.

If you'd like to throw a fantastic party this year, head for Megabowl & Tenpin. We've got a terrific party package that is available for groups of six adults or more and for children aged 5 years and over, our Birthday Party packages are great fun!

Check our website regularly for our latest news as well as to join our online club so you can be the first to hear about our exclusive offers, events and promotions.

Enjoy a fantastic family day out at Hedingham Castle, a Norman Castle with one of the finest Keeps in England. Visit the beautiful gardens ideal for a summer picnic. Take a walk through the extensive woodland and around the lake.

Visit the website to see full details and dates for special events throughout the year including jousting, archery and re-enactment battles.

Web: www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk

(ADJACENT TO MOUNTFITCHET CASTLE) Three attractions for the price of one. Visit the toy museum which has over 50,000 toys making it the largest toy museum in the world. See the vintage amusement and slot machine zone encounter where you can play the machines of yesteryear. Also see memorabilia of your favourite stars at the legends of rock and roll, film, TV & theatre experience. Open daily 10am-4pm. Situated 2 miles from junction 8 of the M11.

Kids days out in Southend-on-Sea

Web: www.adventureisland.co.uk

UKClimbing.com offers a comprehensive list of local climbing centres throughout the UK.

Web: www.ukclimbing.com/databases/listings/clubs.html

Formerly an Iron Age hill fort, this historic site was also a Roman signals fort and later a Saxon and Viking settlement before being attacked in 1066 by William the Conqueror who built a wooden motte and bailey castle here.

Web: www.mountfitchetcastle.com/

Web: www.secretnuclearbunker.co.uk

Web: www.royalgunpowdermills.com

TopGolf is an innovative sports entertainment facility that’s fast becoming a favourite destination for all occasions.

It’s great fun, competitive, totally interactive and best of all you don’t need to be a golfer! Microchips in each ball record individuals’ performances and scores are instantly displayed on screen in your all-weather bay.

Play with family, friends, colleagues… whatever your age and ability, we’ll get you started and guarantee you’ll be hooked.

Locations: Addlestone, Chigwell and Watford

The National Cycle Network is 5000 miles of safe, signed, attractive cycle routes, open and mapped in June 2000. It is made up of traffic-free sections and traffic-calmed road and minor roads, running right through urban centres and reaching all parts of the UK.

Sustrans is the charity co-ordinating the project and will continue to work with local authorities to expand the Network to a target of 10,000 miles by 2005.

For more information on the National Cycle Network and Sustrans and a copy of their free catalogue of maps, information sheets and technical publications please call the number above or visit their website.

E-Mail: info@nationalcyclenetwork.org.uk

Traditional outdoor adventures for children and families

The Exploration Society is one of London’s leading adventurous education providers. During term time we deliver outdoor activity days and exciting residential trips to many of the top independent schools in the capital.

During the holidays we run camping, sailing and canoeing expeditions for both children and whole families in the UK and overseas.

Stretching between Waltham Abbey in Essex and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire this 1,000 acre park has been transformed from old gravel pits to an inspiring country park for all the family to enjoy.

There’s miles of surfaced pathways making it the ideal place to enjoy an invigorating walk or cycle ride (cycle hire available) amongst picturesque surroundings. You can hop on an electric pleasure boat, pedalo or rowing boat at Lee Valley Boat Centre and navigate the River Lee, let the kids go wild in miles of open space while sitting back and watching the wildlife go by, or simply relax and unwind with a picnic.

If you’re an adrenalin enthusiast, a trip to the brand new Lee Valley White Water Centre (host to the London 2012 Canoe Slalom events) is a must. Whether you fancy riding the rapids yourself, or simply want to watch the action from the café terrace, it’s well worth a trip!

Car parks: Fishers Green car park, Stubbins Hall Lane, Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 2EF (no public transport)

Pindar car park, Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire EN9 1XQ

For more information and inspiration for your visit, go to www.leevalleypark.org.uk

Orginally built by the first Earl of Suffolk between 1603-1616 this country mansion remains one of the most significant Jacobean houses in England. Successive owners have left their stylistic imprint, both inside this wonderful house and in the surrounding parkland.

The gardens are ‘Capability’ Brown’s most successful pastoral landscapes and remain substantially as they were when first created. Later features include a restored Parterre garden, a rose garden and fountains, and the restored 19th century walled kitchen garden now in use as a working organic kitchen garden. Attractions thoroughout the year include open-air concerts, craft and garden shows and landscaped garden walks.

Kids days out in Walden in Essex

Tumble Tots is The UK’s Leading Physical Play Programme for Children from 6 Months to 7 Years.

Since 1979 we have been helping children develop their essential skills for life through our structure physical programme. Taking part in our fun-filled regular weekly sessions, using our colourful, specifically designed wooden and foam equipment, children are encouraged to enhance their skills in:

Agility		Language		Co-ordination
Listening		Social skills		Self-confidence
Balance		Self-esteem		Gross motor skills
Climbing		Fine motor skills

Parents with children under three actively participate in sessions. The Tumble Tots Programmes are carefully structured in five age groups according to your child’s age and stage of development:

6 months - walking
Walking - 2 years
2 - 3 years
3 Years - school age
Gymbobs (School age - 7 years)

To find your nearest centre and to book a class on-line, please visit our website.

Toddler activity groups in Altrincham, Amersham, Bath, Chippenham, Trowbridge, Warminster, Battersea, Dulwich, Blackheath, Bolton, Braintree, Dunmow, Bishops Stortford, Notley Green, Bramhall, Cheadle, The Heatons, Brighton, Seaford, Bromley, Cambridge, Cherry Hinton, Comberton, Milton, Cambourn, Chelmsford, Brentwood, Chester, Chigwell, Crewe, Northwich, Alsager, Holmes Chapel, Congleton, Croydon, Doncaster, Eastbourne, Uckfield, Hastings, Hampden Park and Heathfield, Edinburgh West, Cramond, Murrayfield, Corstorphine, Stockbridge, Ely, Newmarket, Epsom, Gloucester, Grays, Harlow, High Ongar, Bishops Stortford, Haywards Heath, Hertford, Huddersfield, North Sheffield, West Sheffield, Lancaster, Kendal, Leicester East, Liverpool, Loughborough, Ashby, Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Marlow, Medway, West Maidstone, Meopham, Newark, Mansfield, South Lincoln, Newcastle, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, Orpington, Oxford, Palmers Green, Penrith, Keswick, Carlisle, Peterborough, Reading, Wokingham, Redditch, Solihull, Sefton, Southport, Formby, Ormskirk, Crosby, Southend , St Albans, St Helens, Wigan, Rainhill, Widnes, Rowe Green, Stourbridge, Kidderminster, Sutton Coldfield, Burntwood, Lichfield, Tamworth, Swindon, Telford, Wakefield, Waltham Forest, Warrington, Waveney, Weybridge, Winchester, Wirral, Witney, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Cannock, Worthing, York, Winchester

Web: www.oldmacdonaldsfarm.org.uk

Web: www.colchester-zoo.co.uk

Log on for full information on the museums found in Colchester including the Colchester Castle museum with it's 2000 years of history dating back to Roman times.

Web: www.colchestermuseums.org.uk

Acres of Magical Fun for everyone!

This fabulous Farm Attraction is situated in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex.

Meet all your farmyard friends, Tractor & Trailer Rides, Indoor and Outdoor Play, Animal Interactions, Pesky Pet Show, Birds of Prey, Pet Barn, Milking Demonstrations and much more

Web: www.rollerworld.co.uk

Web: www.molehall.co.uk

The Toy barn is a family run business specialising in play equipment. We are on a working farm with the largest display of play equipment in the south west. We run out door birthday parties in our Orchard playground and Pedal Go Kart parties in the barn and yard.

• Toy Shop: traditional wooden toys, games, puzzles, dolls houses, castles, farms and figures.
• Outdoor Climbing frames: A wide selection of wooden and metal swings, frames sandpits
• Outdoors: Croquet, ball games, Kites, Hammocks, Cocoons and bean bags.
• Play houses. We manufacture our own range of wooden cottages & sell fabric play houses.
• Ride on toys: Tractors to Go-karts, trikes and scooters. Wooden sit on toys for toddlers.
• Parties: Hire our Go-Karts and our play orchard for birthday parties.
• Commercial: We supply and install play equipment in schools, parks and pubs.
• We can do site visits and we install residential play frames and trampolines.

The Toy Barn is a great shop to bring your kids to. Try out our ranges of trampolines and climbing frames. Our years of experience can help you make a sound decision and answer questions about options and quality. For special events see our web site and newsletter.

The Toy Barn Outdoor Display is at Blackmarsh Farm, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4JX 01935 815040