10 Things to do with the kids this Half Term

10 Things to do with the kids this Half Term in and Around Bristol, Bath and the South West

I actually heard one of the mums at our kids school say the other day "I can't wait until Half Term". Now I don't know about you, but it's not a phrase I or a lot of parents use. True, you do get to spend time with the kids and it is an excuse to go out, but for many, it's juggling jobs and child care or worse still, struggling to find them something to do.

I'm guessing by the way, that the mum in question was more stressed over getting the kids to school and the long walks four times a day, given that one of the children is in my daughters nursery class and so only does mornings.

So, with half term approaching fast, we are already putting our thinking caps on to how to entertain 2 young kids, without spending a fortune and thought I would share this with you. Do feel free to add your own suggestions on twitter

1. Visit Wells
   OK, so it is my surname, but that's not the reason. The smallest city in England, location to Hot Fuzz the movie and has a lot of history. My 6 year old loved the cathedral, which only asks a donation for entry, so doesn't cost the earth to go in. Get there on Market day and Bag a bargain, plus don't forget the Fudge Shop on the Corner.
   Visit Somerset tourism site for Wells
   
   
2. If you go to the woods today...
   There are so many different things to do in the woods, from going for a simple stroll, spotting wildlife or even meditating or painting/photographing the ever-changing scenery. The Woodlands trust even have some activity packs on their web site for the kids, along with a searchable Database so that you can find your local woods.
   Go to Woodland trust Web Site
   
   
3. The Roman Baths
   We have recently been back to the Roman Baths in Bath and they have made a lot of improvements, so you can spend a lot of time there, including detailed audio commentary by Dr Alice Roberts for the adults and special characters for the Kids. The great thing too if you are a resident of B&NES, you can get in FREE with the Free Residents card
   Roman Baths Website
   Discovery Card Website
   
   
4. Royal Victoria Park, Bath
   I have always loved this place and love taking the kids there. The Botanic Gardens are beautiful, the Dell a nice quiet stroll, The Children's play area, which keeps on getting better, the Fish and duck pond and several geocache's to guide you around.
   More Information on The Royal Victoria Park
   
   
5. Go Geocaching
   If you are stuck with somewhere to go or something to do, Geocaching often takes you there. My Kids love it. What is it? Geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing) is a worldwide game of hiding and seeking treasure. A geocacher can place a geocache in the world, pinpoint its location using GPS technology and then share the geocache's existence and location online. Anyone with a GPS device can then try to locate the geocache. Best of all, it's Free and most modern smartphones have a built in GPS to use
   More details on Geocaching Website
   
   
6. Visit a Museum or two
   There are lots of Museums out there, most are now free and most are also interactive, so great for the kids. Here are just a few I found, but a quick search on Google will bring up more.
   Bristol Museum and Art Gallery - Queen's Road
   At Bristol - Harbourside, Bristol
   The Georgian House - 7 Great George Street, Bristol
   Fashion Museum, Bath (Free with Residents Discovery Card)
   
   
7. Discover Bristol's Pirate Past
   Discover Bristol's pirate past with a tour around the city's ancient harbour. Discover Bristol's famous people, places and buildings which are said to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson to pen his classic tale Treasure Island. You can walk at your own pace with their free MP3 audio tours. These are a unique way of exploring Bristol where you can save the tours to your MP3 player or smartphone and let them guide you through our incredible city. The kids will love it
   More details and other Tours with Free MP3 download
   
   
8. Blaise Castle Estate, Bristol
   An historic park of romantic splendour and intrigue. You can catch a glimpse of the folly castle, have a picnic on the grasslands or explore the dramatic gorge and woodlands around Hazel Brook. Blaise Castle House Museum is also open at weekends in the winter months, plus is Free Entry at the moment.
   View Blaise Castle Estate Web Site for more details
   
   
9. Monkey around at Bristol Zoo
   Step into an amazing world of exotic and endangered animals where you can enjoy a safe, child-friendly environment. There’s always something new to see, and plenty of undercover exhibits for a great day out with the family whatever the weather. This Half term, the meerkats move into their new all-weather exhibit, so see it first. Yes, there is an entry fee, but it is a great day out and is on my list of places to visit (armed with camera of course)
   Bristol Zoo Gardens Website
   
   
10. Lifestyle Family Portraiture
    The great thing about many of the above locations, they are as ideal for some lifestyle portraiture. This half term you can take advantage of our limited time offer: Save over 50% off our standard Lifestyle Portrait Sittings, plus receive a complimentary 10" x 8" mounted print. Prices start at just £45.00
    View details of this offer

I hope you have a great half term, but what ever you do, have fun.

Andrew

Visit us online:
Official Facebook Page
Main Web Site - ajwphoto.co.uk
View our Flickr page
Join in and Follow me on twitter





Please note that this is just ideas that I have put together and would do with my family. I have no affiliation with any of the above companies apart from AJW Photgraphy, who are Fab :)