Full Throttle: 40 active half term days out
February is the worst. It’s cold and damp outside, you’re still paying off Christmas – and you and the kids are stuck inside. Everyone knows active kids are healthy, and that exercise at a young age builds strong bones and muscles.
They’re happier, too, said a study of 800 children by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) last week. “Being active, getting sweaty and roughhousing offer more than just physical health benefits. They also protect against depression,” said Tonje Zahl of NTNU.
So, here you’ll find our list of 40 all-action, all-weather activities – on a scale of extreme to sedate – to ensure big smiles and awesome family memories.
1. Leap like a squirrel
High ropes course, Devon
Traverse treetop platforms a breathtaking 50ft above the forest floor. Tree Surfers’ complex of ladders, rope bridges, zip wires and walkways gives you the freedom to explore the broad-leaf woodland from the top down. Junior Tree Surfers is suitable for ages four and up.
From £24, treesurfers.co.uk
Active rating: 3/5
2. Ride the waves
White-water rafting, South Wales
The water level and speed of the rapids at Cardiff International White Water are lowered so that younger visitors (aged six and up) can enjoy rafting on the white-water course. Ideal for those looking for a more chilled-out rafting experience. Up to six people in one raft.
£22.50-£25pp, ciww.com
Active rating: 4/5
3. Scale the city
Urban mountaineering, London
For an exhilarating urban mountaineering experience, summit the peak of the O2 Arena. After a 90-minute climb you will be rewarded with spectacular 360-degree panoramic views across the capital. For children aged 10 and up.
£28, theo2.co.uk
Active rating: 4/5
4. Ride and glide
Segway rally, across the UK
Get to grips with these super-fun electric steeds. Undertake a short training session before taking on the twists and turns of the rally track. A fun-filled 60-minute experience, Segway Events has 12 locations across the UK. Minimum height 4ft 5in and weight 45kg.
£99 for family of four, virginexperiencedays.co.uk
Active rating: 3/5
5. Do a bunny hop
BMX biking, Lee Valley
Ramp up your child’s cycling skills with a BMX half-term workshop. Riders will improve their skills, learn new techniques and gain bags of confidence on the London 2012 Olympics BMX track. Sessions available are suitable for young thrill-seekers aged from seven to 16 years.
£27pp, visitleevalley.org.uk
Active rating: 4/5
6. Leap into the blue
Coasteering, Devon and Cornwall
Explore the coast by jumping straight in. Coasteering is an adventurous combination of swimming, climbing and jumping. Three-hour family sessions are available throughout the half-term break for those aged from seven to 70. Look out for seals!
Prices from £20pp, gocoasteering.com
Active rating: 5/5
7. Stir up some mud
Mountain biking, Kent
Bedgebury Pinetum, near Goudhurst, has a network of challenging mountain bike routes from novice to thrilling. Take a map and a mobile phone as it is not unknown for people to get lost on the trails. On-site bike hire available from quenchuk.co.uk from £14.
Active rating: 3/5
8. X marks the spot
Geocaching, Loughborough
Discover hidden treasures using a phone GPS and app. On Monday, Charnwood Borough Council has organised a two-hour session for five to 16-year-olds at the Outwoods Woodland. Many more UK geocaching sites can be found at geocaching.co.uk.
Prices from £1.40, charnwood.gov.uk
Active rating: 2/5
9. Carve up the sea
Surfing, Cornwall
Hit the waves with Perranporth Surf School. Beginners aged seven and up can get a taster surf session under the guidance of experienced qualified instructors.
Costs from £80 for a family of four, perranporthsurfschool.co.uk
Active rating: 5/5
10. Saddle up
Horse riding, Warwickshire
Those passionate about ponies should check out Willow Farm’s half-term activities. On Wednesday, it is holding a Pony Club Rally Day for all ages and abilities. Bring your lunch with you.
£30, willow-farm-equestrian-centre.co.uk
Active rating: 5/5
11. Sledge your friends
Tobogganing, Suffolk
Suffolk Ski Centre’s Swiss Bob toboggans run on a safe, carpeted slope, making this a fun experience for kids aged from four. Groups of four or more are advised to book in advance. Bring some gloves!
From £8, suffolkskicentre.co.uk
Active rating: 3/5
12. Splash out
Puddle jumping, various
Little ones are guaranteed a splashing time as The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust holds Puddle Jumping Championships with Dusty Duck across its nine wetland centres. Just remember the wellies. Every contestant will receive a Splashtastic sticker to acknowledge their puddle-jumping skills.
Admission price to centres varies, wwt.org.uk/puddles
Active rating: 1/5
13. Roll with it
Zorbing, Surrey
If you’ve ever fantasised about bouncing down a hill in a giant, see-through ball, this is your chance. Those with sensitive dispositions should avoid “the Black Hole” – the same experience, but the ball is opaque. A free paintballing session comes with each ticket. Players must be at least seven years old to take part.
Two rides for two people £74.99, zorbing.co.uk
Active rating: 5/5
14. Run free
Parkour, London
Parkour Generations is holding youth training camps for children aged seven to 15. Sign up online for a discounted rate of £100 for the week. Or you can drop in on the day for a £25 taster of free running.
Active rating: 4/5
15. Zip it up
Zip wire, North Wales
Attempt to take in the views as you whizz at up to 100mph down the world’s fastest zip line. At 500 metres high, Zip World Velocity in Bethesda is the closest you can get to flying.
For ages 10-plus. From £60, zipworld.co.uk
Active rating: 4/5
16. Steady your aim
Archery, Leicester
Make like Robin Hood and learn to use a bow and arrow. Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre holds 90-minute archery classes for up to eight people, including those aged over five.
From £9, lopc.co.uk
Active rating: 3/5
17. Take the plunge
Gorge walking, Wales
Get out of the city and mini adventurers can explore the waterfalls and caves of the Sychryd and Mellte rivers in Glyn Neath on February 24. The day course is open to those aged eight to 12.
£25 per child, parcbrynbach.co.uk
Active rating: 3/5
18. Prepare to paddle
Kayaking, Staffordshire
For a more gentle water sport, head to Tittesworth Water where its experts will have you paddling in no time. A 90-minute session can involve up to six people and will be suitable for all ages from eight years and upwards.
£20pp, tittesworthwater.co.uk
Active rating: 3/5
19. Walk the Andes
Llama trekking, Northamptonshire
Lead your very own llama on a trek through the Northamptonshire countryside. Treks last up to half a day and go at a gentle pace. While the llamas won’t carry you, they’ll happily carry your backpack.
Children under 14 free – must be accompanied. Adults from £35,
Active rating: 1/5
20. Sink or swim
Raft building, Exeter
Work as a family to design and construct your very own raft before taking to the water in your improvised vessel. Extra points to those who manage not to get wet!
From £8 pp, haven-banks.co.uk
Active rating: 4/5
INDOORS
21. Get boxed in
Escape gaming, London
Trapped in a room, your team must work together, racing against the clock to solve a series of puzzles. Suitable for all ages, though children under nine years old may struggle.
£112 for a team of four, cluequest.co.uk
Active rating: 3/5
22. Loop the loop
Indoor waterpark, Blackpool
One for thrill-seeking water babies, Sandcastle Waterpark is the UK’s largest indoor waterpark, with more than 18 slides and attractions including fun pools, a wave machine and water chutes.
From £12.50 for children three-plus, sandcastle-waterpark.co.uk
Active rating: 3/5
23. Explore the two-wheeled world
Cycling, London
The London Bike Show at the ExCeL Centre once again plays host to Street Velodrome, a mini velodrome where kids can get a taste for competing on the track, receive one-to-one coaching from a pro rider and embark on their dream to become the next Laura or Jason Kenny. There’s a 500m Test Track to try out the latest road and electric bikes. See competition right.
Children under eight go free, family ticket from £35, thelondonbikeshow.co.uk
Active rating: 2/5
24. Feel the fall
Indoor skydiving, various
Try falling from the sky – but with none of the fear factor. iFLY’S centres in Milton Keynes, Basingstoke and Manchester are running half-term Kidz Camps where as well as indoor skydiving, your mini adrenalin junkies can try brush-boarding, skiing and climbing.
From £29.99, iflyworld.co.uk
Active rating: 4/5
25. Be a cool climber
Indoor ice-climbing, Highlands, Scotland
Get a taste of the real thing at the Ice Factor’s indoor ice-climbing wall. 500 tonnes of real snow and ice reach a height of 12m, with grades from beginner to expert making the indoor ice-climbing experience a must. Advisory age of 12-plus.
Beginners taster session £25 per child, ice-factor.co.uk
Active rating: 5/5
26. Swing when you’re winning
Bouldering, Sheffield
Little monkeys can roam the Mini Works, an expansion of The Climbing Works, the UK’s biggest bouldering centre. The kid-friendly space allows non-climbing parents and adults to supervise children as they climb.
From £4, climbingworks.com
Active rating: 4/5
27. Go round in circles
Indoor cycling, Manchester
Is your child Britain’s next Olympic champion on two wheels? Find out at the home of Team GB Cycling with an hour on the Velodrome track alongside two expert coaches. A one-lap time trial will be rewarded with a certificate. For those aged between nine and 15.
Costs £8 for Manchester residents, including bike and helmet hire, nationalcyclingcentre.com
Active rating: 4/5
28. Jump around
Trampolining, various locations
Stop them bouncing off the ceiling at home and head to Jump Giants with its 100 interconnecting trampolines, including the famous angled wall trampolines, launching decks, foam pits with launch pads, extreme dodgeball courts, Slam Dunk Basketball and junior jump zones.
Suitable for ages three-plus, jumpgiants.com
Active rating: 3/5
29. Grind your wheels
Indoor skateboarding, Warrington
Old and young skateboarders will be impressed by the ramps and jumps available at Ramp1 in Cheshire. The park is home to the UK’s only indoor airbag; perfect for new air tricks.
From £6.50, ramp1.co.uk
Active rating: 4/5
30. Keep your powder dry
Indoor ski and snowboarding, Glasgow
Snow Factor is Scotland’s only indoor real snow slope open 364 days a year. Thrill-seekers can get their fix on the 168m long run. Ages three-plus.
Ski lessons from £25pp, snowfactor.com
Active rating: 4/5
31. Go with the flow
Indoor surfing, Bedfordshire
Flowrider in Bedford is the UK’s first indoor surf spot. Flowboarding combines elements from surfing, wakeboarding, skateboarding and snowboarding.
From £21.99, twinwoodsadventure.com
Active rating: 5/5
32. Plunge into history
Digital adventure, Hampton Court Palace, Surrey
Meet Henry VIII and his wives as you explore Hampton Court, solve problems and win badges. Download the free Time Explorers app to your iOS or Android device before your visit to prepare for an interactive adventure back in time.
Entry from £8.60 for under-16s, hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace
Active rating: 1/5
33. Be a hot shot
Laser tag, various
Think paintball but with lasers; hit someone in the right place for points. Mazes, scenery and fog make this an engrossing game. Players must be at least seven years old.
Prices between £5 and £10 for two short games for one person, laserquest.co.uk
Active rating: 3/5
34. Make some shapes
Ice skating, London
For some family figure-skating in impressive surroundings, scoot over to Alexandra Palace. The iconic ice rink is open year round but online booking is recommended.
From £8 for ages 15 and under, alexandrapalace.com/ice-rink
Active rating: 3/5
35. Take the high road
Aerial assault course, Bournemouth
Kings and queens of the swingers can test their mettle on Rock Reef’s indoor HighLine assault course. Minimum height restriction on the HighLine of 1.1m.
From £10, rockreef.co.uk/high-line
Active rating: 3/5
36. Fancy footwork
Dancing, London
Get those tiny feet moving, as the biggest and best family rave fest hits the capital.
Rave-A-Roo is a brand-new clubbing mash-up of festival fun for the whole family – and the ultimate party for kids.
From £13, rave-a-roo.com
Active rating: 2/5
37. Don your head torch
Indoor caving, Hertfordshire
Twist and turn your body as you challenge yourself physically and mentally in XC’s indoor caving complex. The centre in Hemel Hempstead is one of the largest in the world, comprising 160m of intricate tunnels.
For ages six-plus, from £7.20 an hour, thexc.co.uk
Active rating: 3/5
38. Become a ringmaster
Circus skills, Newcastle
Turn your amateur clowns into professionals with the help of Circus Central, which is running sessions with juggling, diabolo, acrobalance and acrobatics on the curriculum.
£35 per day, circuscentral.co.uk
Active rating: 2/5
39. Roll the dice
Boardgaming, London
Experience East London’s Museum of Childhood like a giant board game to celebrate Game Plan: Board Games Rediscovered. A series of free and paid for workshops and activities invite you to view the museum’s collection and building playfully and differently.
Active rating: 1/5
40. Throw some rocks
Ice curling, Kent
A brush with greatness… go for gold like a Winter Olympic champion and give ice curling a go. Fenton’s Rink in Tunbridge Wells offers two-hour sessions for two teams of four. All equipment, shoes and
coaching are provided.
Lane hire is £160 for two hours – £20 per person, fentonsrink.co.uk
Active rating: 2/5