The Local Living team has some fab ideas for those long, sunny days with the children
60 acres of action designed to appeal to children of all ages, with a huge variety of activities and multiple play zones indoors and outdoors. Attractions include assault courses, a large soft play area, indy pedal karts and rollercoasters for thrill seekers, with a farmyard and rowing boats for those wanting to take things a bit slower.
Cost: Adults and Children £9.49 (under 92cm FREE)
Twin Lakes, Melton Spinney Road, Melton Mowbray, LE14 4SB Tel: 01664 567777 www.twinlakespark.co.uk
Enjoy Rutland Water from every angle by cycling around the 23 miles of waterside track. If you don’t have you own bike, Rutland Cycling has the biggest hire fleet in Europe, with a huge range of models to choose from, as well as ex-hire and new bikes for sale. The friendly staff say you should be able to cycle all the way round, AND stop for a pub lunch in three hours!
Cost: Adult cycle hire starts from £7.99 for two hours Child from £5.99 for two hours
Rutland Cycling, Whitwell Leisure Car Park, Rutland Water, Oakham, LE15 8BL
Tel: 01780 460705 www.rutlandcycling.com
Enjoy all the fun of a farm. Explore the 18th century working watermill, feed the friendly farm animals, and enjoy a tractor ride. Sacrewell Farm, located off the A47/A1 junction at Wansford,Tel: 01780 782254 www.sacrewell.org.uk
A combination of country park and leisure park, Wicksteed prides itself on having one of the biggest free playgrounds in Europe! You will also find an 18 hole crazy golf course along with a fairground at the top of the Park..
Cost: £6 per car (although there are additional costs for some attractions)
Wicksteed Park, Barton Road, Kettering, NN15 6NJ Tel: 01536 512475 www.wicksteedpark.co.uk
The Farm is home to the largest tropical house in the area, with over 5,000 square feet of jungle paradise with hundreds of free-flying beautifully coloured butterflies. You will also find parrots and other tropical birds, along with Iguanas and Giant African Land Snails. For those with an interest in all things creepy-crawly, visit the ‘Twilight Zone Insect Cave’ which is full of mini-beasts!
Cost: Adults £5.50 Children £3.50
Rutland Butterfly Farm and Aquatic Centre, Sykes Lane Car Park, North Shore Rutland Water, Empingham, LE15 8PX Tel: 01780 460515 www.rutlandwaterbutterflyfarm.co.uk
Celebrating twenty five years of Flag Fen, there are various special events throughout the summer including… National Archaeological Week
Events take place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 July between 10am and 4pm. Families are invited to take part in excavation open days, hands-on activities, guided tours, exhibitions, lectures, ancient art and craft workshops and much, much more.
Weapons Weekend. Taking place on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August between 10am and 4pm and examining weaponry used in the Bronze Age with supporting workshops and activities for children. Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre, The Droveway, Northey Road, Peterborough. PE6 7QJ
Tel: 0844 414 0646 www.flagfen.com Admission (standard – special events may vary) adult £5, child £3.75
Oundle Maize As well as the featured maze, there is now also a smaller ‘toddler maze’ and a range of pedal go carts for older children and a variety of ball games. The Maize Maze is at Armston Lodge two miles east of Oundle. It is marked from the Oundle roundabout on the A605. It opens on Friday July 18th and continues until Sunday Sept 1st. Opening hours are 10.00am-6.00pm. For more information ring the Maze hotline on 07786 124307, or 07702 159870, or visit the website at: www.oundlemaze.co.uk
Wistow Maize, located between Leicester and Market Harborough, has an Egyptian theme this year. The Wistow Maze will be open seven days a week from Saturday 19th July – Sunday 31st August (then weekends only until Sept 21st). 10am – 6pm (last admission 4.30pm). Free Parking. Admission charges: Adults £4.95 Children £3.95 Family Ticket (2+2) £16.00. For more details visit www.wistow.com or ring 07884 403889. The Wistow Rural Centre opposite is also a big attraction, wit a cafe/bistro, farm shop, model village and lots of shops
What better than a picnic with the family in the grounds of this ‘unfinished’ house with tales of the Gunpowder Plot and a glorious rural feel about the place? Just S of Oundle Open Wed-Sun 10.30am-5pm Call 01832 205358 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lyvden
A whole range of activities including dancing, arts and crafts classes, drama, robotics workshop, film-making. Something, in fact for everyone.
For more information & bookings phone the box office on 01780 763203