Bored kids? Fear not! This week sees the launch of the world’s only Wallace & Gromit ride, the Thrill-O-Matic at Blackpool Pleasure Beach - an excellent place for the whole family.

Parenting on Female First

Parenting on Female First

England has quite a characterful history when it comes to family fun attractions, it turns out: from rollercoasters made of LEGO to a real-life experience of Harry Potter’s witchcraft and wizardry.

Here, VisitEngland rounds up the country’s best attractions for tempting the kids away from the telly and getting them even closer to their favourite characters this summer.

Wallace & Gromit Thrill-O-Matic at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Now here’s a cracking idea for all Wallace & Gromit fans. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is getting ready to launch Thrill-O-Matic, the world’s only Wallace & Gromit ride. The dynamic duo has been working flat out to get their exciting new ride ready for its Grand Opening on 24 April. 

Thrill-O-Matic takes a trip through Wallace & Gromit’s adventures, from A Grand Day Out, trying out The Wrong Trousers, and having A Close Shave before dealing with A Matter of Loaf and Death and tackling The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. 

Up to four riders can step inside Wallace’s slippers for this adventure of a lifetime. Full wristbands to Blackpool Pleasure Beach cost £25 for adults (12 years plus), £20 for children, while a family wristband costs £86 (2 adults and 2 children).

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter

Potter fans and anyone interested in what's really involved in the making of movie magic will love Warner Brothers Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter.

The films’ wonderful special effects and amazing creatures have made this iconic series beloved to both young and old – and now the doors are open for everyone to explore at the studio where it first began. You'll have the chance to go behind-the-scenes and see beyond the camera’s scope.

From breathtakingly detailed sets to stunning costumes, props and animatronics, the attraction provides a unique showcase of the extraordinary British artistry, technology and talent that went into making the most successful film series of all time.

Admission costs £29 for adults, £21.50 for children and family tickets cost £80 (either 2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children).

Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park, Hampshire

Aimed at the younger market, Paultons Family Theme Park has more than 50 rides and attractions to keep everyone happy. But the big draw here is a certain pig: Paultons Park’s Peppa Pig World (try saying that three times in a row!).

Try out seven fun rides and play areas, and visit Peppa and her family in Peppa’s House. Outside Peppa Pig World, Paultons also offers a good selection of faster tempo rides in the form of the Edge - a giant spinning disc, Stinger rollercoaster and more. Admission costs £25.50 per person; £98 for a family of 4.

Thomas Land at Drayton Manor

Drayton Manor Park offers an action-packed day out for the whole family. With a zoo, theme park and kids’ favourite Thomas Land it certainly packs a punch. Set in 6,000 square metres of beautiful parkland, Thomas Land promises fun and adventure for the young and young at heart.

It boasts 12 wonderful themed ride and a  spectacular indoor play area. You can even ride on Thomas himself or go for a wild adventure on the Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster! Admission to Drayton Manor costs £20 for adults (12 years plus) and £13 for children.

LEGOLAND Windsor Resort

Putting together LEGOLAND Windsor Resort’s 55 million bricks must have taken some doing. Nowhere is the joy of Lego more apparent. The park is aimed at 3-12 year olds, but there is much for adults to marvel at too, especially in Miniland, where more than 40 million bricks have been used to recreate scenes from around the world.

The largest model is the Canary Wharf Tower, made of 200,000 Lego bricks. In addition, families can enjoy a mid-week splash and play stay at the LEGOLAND® Hotel at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort from just £99 with a special parent and toddlers offer. One day tickets costs £38 for adults, £30.50 for children and £137 for a family of 4 (plus VAT).

Merlin, Dragons and Horrible Histories at Warwick Castle

Have fun and learn at the same time with an electrifying day out at Britain's Ultimate Castle, where you can immerse yourselves in a thousand years of jaw-dropping history come rain or shine. Experience the excitement of Merlin: The Dragon Tower - an exhilarating and interactive experience inspired by the hit BBC One family drama, Merlin.

The castle is also home to another children’s classic, Horrible Histories, with celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2013. That’s 20 years of sharing the gory/best bits of history to grab the attention of young history lovers through the books of Terry Deary.

There are five Horrible Histories camps around the castle grounds where you can meet the Terrible Tudors, including Henry VIII and his royal executioner, visit the Vile Victorians classroom, meet The Stormin’ Normans and even encounter the Vicious Vikings.

England’s history has never been so fun! Admission costs £30.60 for adults, £25.80 for children and £107.40 for a family of 4.

Madagascar at Chessington World of Adventures

Join your favourite characters from Madagascar on more familiar shores as Alex, King Julien, Gloria, Mort and The Penguins sing and dance their way through a live show at Chessington World of Adventures (shows throughout the day). Before you even step onto your first ride there’s a whole zoo to visit.

Launched in March, Chessington’s new safari experience ‘ZUFARI’ enables visitors to ride in safari trucks through the extreme terrain to explore a new reserve with flamingos, giraffes and rhinos. One day park tickets cost £27 for adults (12 years plus), £19.50 for children and £75 for a family of 4 (plus VAT).

England’s Literary Greats

England offers a host of attractions dedicated the celebration of children’s literature. At Seven Stories in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, you'll find something for all the family, from great exhibitions to storytelling and talks with authors and illustrators.

It’s also home to an exciting and fascinating treasure trove of artwork and manuscripts from authors and illustrators (admission costs £6.50 for adults, £5.50 for children and £19 for families).

Meanwhile, The World of Beatrix Potter attraction allows visitors to hop-skip-jump into the garden of Peter Rabbit… Set in the Late District, the attractions explores the wonderful landscape where the tales were realised (admission costs £6.95 for adults, £3.65 for children and £18.50 for a family of 4). 

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre is situated in the very village where Roald Dahl lived and wrote for 36 years. The museum was created as a home for the author's unique archive and to inspire a love of stories and creative writing in visitors (admission costs £6.60 for adults, £4.40 for children and a family ticket costs £21).

Taking our favourite characters from page to stage, many of London’s West End musicals draw on literature for inspiration. L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz inspired Wicked while Roald Dahl’s classic Matilda has burst into life on stage as Matilda The Musical. 

This June will see the premier of Roald Dahl’s tastiest tale Charlie and the Chocolate Factory hit the stage of the London Palladium as a musical. The story follows a poor young boy called Charlie Bucket who gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit Willy Wonka’s famous Chocolate Factory. Ticket prices vary.

For more ideas on family friendly days out, check out www.visitengland.com

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