BEST DAYS OUT FOR FAMILIES ON THE GREAT WEST WAY

Bringing the kids on a Great West Way adventure? You’ll want some ideas for things to do that will keep everyone happy. Don't worry, there’s plenty of choice along the Great West Way for them too, from splish-splashy water parks to wonderfully wild safari parks, for unforgettable family fun.

Of all the wow-worthy family attractions, there are a few big ones you should be aware of. Not far out of London is Legoland Windsor Resort. The colourful block-built land dreams are made of. This is probably one all kids everywhere will enjoy. In fact, it may well bring back happy memories for adults, too. You can visit just for the day to explore the amazing attractions, from Miniland – a lego replica of the world – to a Lego reef where you can build your own digital fish. There are some great rides sure to ramp up excitement too, like the Pirate Falls Treasure Quest, the Spinning Spider and the Vikings’ River Splash. You can also stay overnight in one of the resort’s fantastical hotels - check out The Castle with its fairytalethemed rooms.

If you’re looking for things to do with kids in Swindon, the Museum of the Great Western Railway is a must. There’s plenty to enthral children, including a steam train simulator where they can get behind the controls and a 1930s platform, reconstructed to give a sense for the old glamour of train travel. Grown-ups can get to grips with some Great Western Railway history while kids go goggle-eyed over the locomotives. You might think the figures you see around the museum feel a little too life-like – that’s because they were cast from real Swindon folk, including ex-railway workers. After perusing the gift shop, you’ll find more shopping at the Swindon Designer Outlet next door.

At Longleat, a little south of the Great West Way, you can take your little lions on a wild drive through a safari park. From the madness of the monkey drive-through to the awe-inspiring sight of real-life rhinos in the Big Game Park – it’s sure to be a lasting memory all-round.

Buckle them in to see their faces light up over those enigmatic macaques, who aren’t shy, so make sure you wind up the windows – unless you want an extra cheeky monkey in the backseat.

Elsewhere there’s lions, tigers, a pack of wolves, zebras, ostriches and much more. For those that want to get hands-on with the animals, there are various feeding opportunities – extend a branch off the pier for the giraffe, hand-feed deer from your car window, throw fish to the sea lions from the boat on the lake, hold cups of nectar for rainbow lorikeets. Cute!

EDUCATIONAL & ENJOYABLE

Who remembers being dragged kicking and screaming round a so-called ‘educational’ attraction as a child? Well, no need for any of that along the Great West Way.

In Bath, kids will love meeting the soldiers at The Roman Baths. Or playing Postman Pat at the Bath Postal Museum, or cowboys at the American Museum.

In Bristol, there’s Aerospace Bristol, M Shed, Bristol Aquarium as well as REME Museum and the Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum. Schedule plenty of time for a visit to Brunel’s restored SS Great Britain. Its evocative cabins are filled with the sights, sounds and smells of its first journeys across the seas, from steerage to first class. Brave hearts can also climb the ship’s mast, as sailors once did, and get a grand view over Bristol’s floating harbour and toward the colourful houses of Clifton Wood. Included in the price of the ticket is entry to the new Being Brunel museum, where you enter the genius mind of the Victorian engineer. The gift shop’s pretty great too: who doesn’t need a bath duck dressed as Brunel?

Brunel's SS Great Britain

And don’t forget We The Curious, where children are invited to make their own discoveries through hands-on science experiments including running on a giant hamster wheel, dressing up like a bee to collect pollen and even having a go at making your own animation, inspired by stopmotion Aardman hits like Morph and Wallace and Gromit. (Watch out for cool new exhibitions coming soon as the museum is in the midst of an exciting revamp.) There’s also a planetarium where you can all don special 3D specs for a seasonal adventure in the night sky.

Little green fingers will love a day out at The University of Bristol Botanic Garden exploring some 4,500 plant species from over 200 plant families within its five-acre site. This diversity of plants is unique and not found anywhere else in the Bristol area.

University of Bristol Botanic Garden

A castle always goes down well, too. From the grandeur of Hampton Court Palace, with the maze that featured in ‘Three Men in a Boat’ by Jerome K Jerome, Windsor Castle and Berkeley Castle to the evocative ruins of Old Wardour Castle, young imaginations are sure to be entertained.

Stonehenge and Avebury are also natural choices – both allowing them to get a glimpse of history while roaming free like pint-sized prehistoric warriors.

ACTION AND ADVENTURE

Kids won’t believe their eyes when they enter the tropical glasshouses at The Living Rainforest near Newbury – home to over 850 types of rainforest plants and animals including Cinnamon the sloth, primary-coloured toucans and blue poison dart frogs. Wannabe-keepers can even try a Keeper Experience, where they’ll get behind-the-scenes access to the animals and find out what it takes to care for them day-to-day. Neatly situated in-between Bath and Bristol Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park is full of farmyard favourites including a zoo, children's playground, mini train and go-karts. Alternatively, take them for a splash about at Cotswold Water Park, a short detour from the Great West Way. The term ‘water park’ doesn’t convey the magnitude of this place – it’s a complete holiday destination with lots of lovely lakeside accommodation ranging from camping to swish self-catering villas. The park encompasses a whopping 150 lakes – and there’s even a beach, not quite what you’d expect in the Cotswolds countryside! There’s plenty to keep kids and grown-ups busy including archery, fishing, golf, horse riding, kayaking, wakeboarding and bird watching. And when you’re not picnicking on cheese and pickle sandwiches by one of the lakes, there are family-friendly places to eat and drink.

Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park

Plus, check out Active England’s Family Adventures for ideas and try a boat trip with Bristol Packet Boat Trips, Jubilee Boat Trips and Barbara McLellan Canal Boat.

SOME WILD CARDS

Family Raceday at Ascot is packed full of memory making activities for all the family to enjoy from dog agility performers and Ferret Racing to adventurous treasure hunts and pony rides. You might enjoy taking the kids to meet red panda Lady Hilary at Bristol Zoo Gardens, visit Janu the elephant at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, pet ponies and piggies at Roves Farm Visitor Centre or to take a walk in the tree canopy at Westonbirt Arboretum.

Just north of the Great West Way, Westonbirt is well set up for young naturalists. The nice clear paths and new Treetop Walkway make arboretum adventures easy, whatever the season. Keep an eye out for special events and activities, too. Their Enchanted Christmas never fails to ignite the imaginations of little ones with its twinkly tree lights and magical trails – Mr & Mrs Christmas also like to attend.

Ascot Racecourse

Spring and autumn are also natural highlights, with a confetti of golden leaves or pink blossoms bound to put a bounce in your tiny tot’s steps.

At WWF wildlife reserves like Blakehill Farm, Lower Moor and Jones’s Mill they can don a pair of baby binos and spot their first birds. And they’ll also be captivated by the pretty spectacle at Studley Grange Butterfly World - also home to meerkats, otters and terrapins. Finally, if they just need to run around for a bit, Windsor Great Park has more space than they could ever need.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY STAYS

If you’re not camping or glamping at one of the idyllic countryside camps along the Great West Way, there are some excellent hotels well-suited to families. At both Cricklade House and Woolley Grange Hotel, on the edge of the Cotswolds, you’ll be delighted to find mum and dad delights, like spas and bars, alongside lots of child-friendly activities. And for every night you stay at Woolley Grange, you get two hours of complimentary childcare in the Ofsted Registered Woolley Bears Den crèche, allowing parents to have a fun and relaxing time too!

FAMILY-FRIENDLY PLACES TO EAT

The Great West Way incorporates lots of amazing family days out along its route with plenty of places to eat and drink with children of all ages.

Take the kids for a trip on a narrowboat, and stop at a friendly canal-side café for a bite to eat. Spend the day exploring a castle, meeting animals at the zoo, or watching children’s theatre – then relax in the sunshine in an unpretentious pub garden. Enjoy a lovely family meal at a welcoming restaurant after a tiring day of adventurous activities like cycling, learning to surf or rock climbing.

There are welcoming family-friendly cafés at many of the attractions along the Great West Way – perfect for picking up lunch during a family day out. Aerospace Bristol Café, Westonbirt Restaurant and the Pump Room at The Roman Baths will all happily welcome children. At Bowood House and Gardens, the Stables Restaurant and Treehouse Café are two great options for the whole family, not to mention the ever-popular Ice Cream Kiosk in the middle of the adventure playground! From toddlers to teenagers, keep the whole family happy at the many family-friendly restaurants, pubs, hotels and cafés along the Great West Way. You can expect sunny, welcoming service and tasty food to suit fussy eaters (both adults and children!)

There are even lots of dog-friendly places to eat and drink along the Way to keep the whole family happy. For a fun family day out, head to Longleat Food and Music Festival in the summer, or stop off at welcoming Cobbs Farm Shop & Kitchen, Hungerford for a bite to eat as you travel the route.

At Cobbs you can sit on the garden terrace to enjoy a meal and a drink, with a clear view over the children’s play area - so the whole family will be happy!