The nine counties that make up the South East of England are the perfect place for a family break this summer. Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire are packed with a number of enjoyable events and activities, designed to provide maximum fun for the summer holidays.
This summer visitors to the South East can pick up some skiing and snowboarding skills in Milton Keynes; learn the secrets of the human body in Bracknell; take part in the record-breaking Great British Duck Race in Surrey; celebrate Roald Dahl’s birthday in Buckinghamshire; meet the Royal Navy in Portsmouth; and experience Chinese acrobatics and Kung Fu demonstrations at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire.
Viking vigour at Legoland Windsor, Berkshire, throughout the summer holidays
This 150-acre family theme park has opened a whole new area for 2008. The Land of the Vikings features seven brand new rides and attractions for families to enjoy, including the park’s biggest and wettest ride to date – the Viking’s River Splash.
The new £7m area also boasts the exciting Longboat Invader that defies riders to test their sea worthiness as they sway back and forth on a rotating Viking Longboat. A one-day adult ticket to Legoland Windsor costs £35 and a child ticket costs £26.
Drive-through safari at Woburn Safari Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, throughout the summer holidays
From the comfort of a car, families can spot a number of rare and exotic wildlife roaming the 350 acres of land at Worburn Safari Park this summer.
Animals at the park include tigers, bears, wolves, giraffe, rhino, elephants and zebra and children can also enjoy keeper talks and feeding times.
Adult tickets cost £17.50 and children tickets cost £13.50.
Learn about the human body at The Look Out Discovery Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, 24th July – 4th September 2008
It’s going to be a gross and gory summer at Berkshire’s interactive science exhibition, The Look Out Discovery Centre.
It’s new family show – ‘Yucky You and Gross Goo!’ – will show adults and children alike just why their bodies are so sweaty and snotty.
The show is being held four times daily over the summer holidays and costs £1.75, in addition to the normal exhibition admission charges – adult tickets cost £5.70 and children tickets cost £3.80.
Meet Your Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Hampshire, 25th July – 27th July 2008
This summer, adults and children can discover the past, present and future of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Families can board current serving naval vessels and meet their crews; watch demonstrations, drills and firing displays; and experience a striking display from the Red Arrows.
Adult tickets cost £15 and children tickets cost £10.
Hong Kong Day at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, 27th July 2008
This summer, adults and children can discover the past, present and future of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Families can board current serving naval vessels and meet their crews; watch demonstrations, drills and firing displays; and experience a striking display from the Red Arrows.
Adult tickets cost £15 and children tickets cost £10.
Hong Kong Day at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, 27th July 2008
This summer’s family-themed Hong Kong Day offers plenty for the whole family to see and do at Ascot.
As well as horse racing, families can enjoy dragon and lion dancing, Chinese acrobatics and Kung Fu demonstrations.
Entry costs from £15 per adult and accompanied children under 16 go free.
Learn to ski and snowboard at the SNO!Zone’s SNO!camp, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, 28th July – 29th August 2008
Children who fancy picking up some skiing and snowboarding skills this summer can head to the SNO!Zone at Xscape.
There will be SNO!camps for children aged 7-15, who want to try skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing for the first time or for those who want to brush up on their on skills.
Expert tuition with qualified instructors takes place on 1,500 tonnes of fresh snow and a 170 metro long main slope.
Days start from £65 and weeks start from £210.
River Thames Great British Duck Race, Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, 31st August 2008
Flock to Surrey this summer and watch one quarter of a million yellow rubber ducks race down the River Thames in the World’s Biggest Charity Duck Race.
This fun event aims to smash The Guinness World Record they set in 2007, whilst raising money for charity.
Thousands of spectators are expected to bask in the sunshine, cheer on their duck and have a fun family outing.
Riverside racing at the River Thames Cookham Regatta, Berkshire, 6th September 2008
The best of the River Thames regatta traditions come alive at the Cookham Regatta this summer.
Families can enjoy a wide range of waterside activities, including dragon boat racing, canoeing challenges, volleyball and tug of war.
There will also be a number of landside activities for the whole family to take part in, such as archery, trampolining, bungee jumping and a classic car display.
Adult entry to the event costs £5 and children cost £1.
Roald Dahl Day, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, 13th September 2008
To coincide with Roald Dahl’s birthday, families can join The Roald Dahl Museum’s guided tours of Great Missenden with ‘reading stops’ at locations featured in Roald Dahl’s books.
As well as visiting Matilda’s library and Sophie’s ‘norphanage’ from The BFG, the tour will stop at the author’s grave and Gipsy House where he lived.
There will also be story telling, arts and crafts, magicians and competitions to keep the little ones entertained.
Big fun at the Littlehampton Town Show and Family Funday, East Sussex, 13th September 2008
The Littlehampton Town Show and Family Funday offers fun for everyone, with the chance to get up close and personal to piglets, lamb and many more animals in the Pet Farm marquee.
You can also sample food from around the world, including Portuguese sardines and hog roast; view the enormous vegetables and unusual flowers and creations in the Town Show marquee.
Why not try to scale the professional climbing frame. Entry to this event is free. The Harbour Park, a free entry adventure village, is located nearby on the seafront offering fun for visitors of all ages.
South West Trains railway discounts to the South East Region, throughout the summer holidays
Families visiting the South East region this half-term can save money on rail fares with South West Trains Family Railcard.
A Family Railcard costs £24 equating to saving a third off adult fares and 60% off kids’ fares for the year.
Up to four adults and four children can travel on one card and they don’t even have to be related. A Family Railcard can be used for long and short trips to the South East, including visits to Legoland Windsor in Berkshire and Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey.
It can be used at almost any time during the week, weekends and public holidays and can be purchased online or at a South West Trains staffed station ticket office.
The nine counties that make up the South East of England are the perfect place for a family break this summer. Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire are packed with a number of enjoyable events and activities, designed to provide maximum fun for the summer holidays.
This summer visitors to the South East can pick up some skiing and snowboarding skills in Milton Keynes; learn the secrets of the human body in Bracknell; take part in the record-breaking Great British Duck Race in Surrey; celebrate Roald Dahl’s birthday in Buckinghamshire; meet the Royal Navy in Portsmouth; and experience Chinese acrobatics and Kung Fu demonstrations at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire.
Viking vigour at Legoland Windsor, Berkshire, throughout the summer holidays
This 150-acre family theme park has opened a whole new area for 2008. The Land of the Vikings features seven brand new rides and attractions for families to enjoy, including the park’s biggest and wettest ride to date – the Viking’s River Splash.
The new £7m area also boasts the exciting Longboat Invader that defies riders to test their sea worthiness as they sway back and forth on a rotating Viking Longboat. A one-day adult ticket to Legoland Windsor costs £35 and a child ticket costs £26.
Drive-through safari at Woburn Safari Park, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, throughout the summer holidays
From the comfort of a car, families can spot a number of rare and exotic wildlife roaming the 350 acres of land at Worburn Safari Park this summer.
Animals at the park include tigers, bears, wolves, giraffe, rhino, elephants and zebra and children can also enjoy keeper talks and feeding times.
Adult tickets cost £17.50 and children tickets cost £13.50.
Learn about the human body at The Look Out Discovery Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, 24th July – 4th September 2008
It’s going to be a gross and gory summer at Berkshire’s interactive science exhibition, The Look Out Discovery Centre.
It’s new family show – ‘Yucky You and Gross Goo!’ – will show adults and children alike just why their bodies are so sweaty and snotty.
The show is being held four times daily over the summer holidays and costs £1.75, in addition to the normal exhibition admission charges – adult tickets cost £5.70 and children tickets cost £3.80.
Meet Your Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Hampshire, 25th July – 27th July 2008This summer, adults and children can discover the past, present and future of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Families can board current serving naval vessels and meet their crews; watch demonstrations, drills and firing displays; and experience a striking display from the Red Arrows.
Adult tickets cost £15 and children tickets cost £10.
Hong Kong Day at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, 27th July 2008
This summer, adults and children can discover the past, present and future of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Families can board current serving naval vessels and meet their crews; watch demonstrations, drills and firing displays; and experience a striking display from the Red Arrows.
Adult tickets cost £15 and children tickets cost £10.
Hong Kong Day at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, 27th July 2008
This summer’s family-themed Hong Kong Day offers plenty for the whole family to see and do at Ascot.
As well as horse racing, families can enjoy dragon and lion dancing, Chinese acrobatics and Kung Fu demonstrations.
Entry costs from £15 per adult and accompanied children under 16 go free.
Learn to ski and snowboard at the SNO!Zone’s SNO!camp, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, 28th July – 29th August 2008
Children who fancy picking up some skiing and snowboarding skills this summer can head to the SNO!Zone at Xscape.
There will be SNO!camps for children aged 7-15, who want to try skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing for the first time or for those who want to brush up on their on skills.
Expert tuition with qualified instructors takes place on 1,500 tonnes of fresh snow and a 170 metro long main slope.
Days start from £65 and weeks start from £210.
River Thames Great British Duck Race, Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, 31st August 2008
Flock to Surrey this summer and watch one quarter of a million yellow rubber ducks race down the River Thames in the World’s Biggest Charity Duck Race.