Holidaying with children can be intense sometimes. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new place - boredom is boredom. They need occupying and gluing themselves to devices isn’t ideal.

We adults love idleness; reclining with a bunch of grapes, someone fanning us, etc. Children on the other hand, are fizzing balls of energy, raring to go. Sitting or lying still is their worst nightmare, whether they’re home or away.

If you’re planning a holiday in the East Midlands, it’s worth knowing the family days out. Luckily, you’ll be spoilt for choice. There’s everything from arts and crafts to go-karting, to water parks and petting zoos. There’s even space exploration.

Here are some the best family days out in the East Midlands.

Robin Hood's Wheelgate Park

Building on the legend of local Robin Hood, Wheelgate Park brings cutting edge excitement and adventure to the North East. Wheelgate is unapologetically fun. Explore a myriad of child-friendly adrenaline rides and attractions, with fantasy themes like 'Alien Galaxy Zone' and 'Black Diamond Mining Zone'. Between indoor areas, outdoor rides and attractions, and a fabulous waterpark, there is something for everyone. Even your littlest will be in raptures.

Twinlakes

This is the type of place that’ll make you feel nostalgic right away. A classic local theme park dedicated to giving children a fun day; bright, bold, and unpretentious. Twinlakes has more than enough roller coasters, rides, water parks, food outlets, and shops to keep your family busy. The Park is divided into areas with different, exciting themes such as pirates, dragons, and adventurers.

Twinlakes park is based just outside Melton Mowbray in the Leicestershire countryside and easily reachable from anywhere in the East Midlands.

Tropical Butterfly House

Iridescent butterflies are just one of the species you'll find at Tropical Butterfly House. Experience a wild family day out meeting lemurs, meerkats, owls, otters, snakes, lizards, a tarantula and much more. Venture to the tropics in the indoor rainforest, which is home to butterflies, birds, bats, crocodiles and creepy-crawlies. 

Some of the species here are rare and increasingly endangered in the wild. Tropical Butterfly House is a great place for children to begin learning about the natural world and the issues faced by wildlife in a passionate, informative environment.

If you get peckish, like a bird, there’s an accommodating tearoom and café serving all the usual fare. An affordable and thoroughly enjoyable day of for all.

 

Creswell Crags

The Grand Canyon; Yosemite's El Capitan. Nature does awe-inspiring best. Creswell Crags near Worksop is just as unique, only much more off-radar.

Step into the limestone cliffs and back in time, to Britain's last Ice Age between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. The ancient caves are a honeycombed labyrinth in the gorge. Very Flintstones. Have a nose around prehistoric homes and see the only Ice Age rock art to ever have been discovered in Britain.  

Sherwood Pines Forest Park

Dare to adventure at Sherwood Pines, an adventure-land for outdoor pursuits. The fresh air and beautiful forested countryside of Sherwood forest is the backdrop to a wonderful adventure playground. This is where Robin Hood and his merry men were said to live. The kids can play in giant nets strung between the trees or take it a step higher with a high zip line course that swings through the tree canopy. 

Memorable and feel good, Sherwood Pines offers the best of the Notts countryside in an exciting child-friendly day out.

The Pottery at Everton

Picture this: a rainy day, rain pitter-pattering on the windows. But you don't care. The kids are absorbed, getting stuck in playing with clay or painting pottery mementos to take home. The Pottery at Everton is a peaceful oasis where all the family can flex their creativity. 

This is mindfulness at its most engaging. Quieter kids will relish a bit of introspective time, and those with higher energy levels may just find their concentration skills improve with this hands-on, immersive activity. 

Go-Karting

The Nottingham area is a great place for thrill seekers, with a choice of go-kart tracks – though this is not suitable for younger children due to age and height restrictions. Older children, however, with an adventurous streak, will find it amazing putting the pedal to the metal. You never know, you might have the next Lewis Hamilton in the family? All the Formula one greats started off go-karting. 

Stay at Ye Olde Bell Hotel & Spa for your family staycation this Summer.

Family Staycation