Looking for a great day out with your toddler? Look no further with this list of favourites.
With the warm weather upon us, most will be after outdoor activities. But we are in the UK, after all!
So, on rainy days, I hope this list, including indoor activities, helps you, too.
Best for fruit-loving toddlers seeking independence
Pick Your Own days out offer guaranteed fun for the whole family. Nearest to us is Copas Farm. They have two fruit fields offering seasonal delights. Iver is closer to London, while Cookham is in Maidenhead. Strawberry & cherry season is my favourite!
Best for toddlers always on the move
A picnic in the park is a sure winner. Armed with a hamper of goodies and snacks, water, a fruit shoot, and plenty of fruit, we enjoy hours of fun in Windsor Great Park. As well as food, we take the balance bike, a football, bubble wands, and the rocket shooter and find a comfy spot near the playground and ice cream van. The Princess Diana Memorial Playground in London is beautiful and has everything needed to keep busy toddlers busy on a warm summer day!
Best for staying cool
Water play in a splash park is the one. Toddlers love splashing around, and excellent venues offering this are for the picking. Some, like Ruislip Lido, are within a spacious setting offering extras like a mini train ride around the park, a beach area, a large playground, and a delicious carvery lunch. Closer to home, there is Lammas Splash Park in Staines-Upon-Thames, offering tranquility and super views of picturesque houses and wildlife on the river.
Best for active toddlers full of beans
Adventure playgrounds like The Lookout in Bracknell, Surrey, and Hobbledown Heath Hounslow, in London, are huge and offer diverse activities for all ages and the whole family. Little Kickers and Jump Giants running nationwide are also fun ways to get all that toddler energy released and burnt for a couple of hours.
Best for animal-loving toddlers
Petting farms bring children closer to animals and provide many extras for a fun day out. I highly recommend Odds Farm, Hounslow Urban Farm, and Godstone Park.
But my absolute favourite is Chobham Adventure Farm for its attentiveness and care in catering to those with severe food allergies like my Son.
The cafe is delightful and offers a variety of food, including a BBQ.
Best for rainy days
All these are great, come rain or shine. But on a wet and dull day, Little Street, Toddler Sense, and The Little Gym offer the best indoor activities for toddlers to be active and creative, sparking movement, the right kind of stimulation, and imagination.
Best for water babies, toddlers, and hours of water fun
Coral Reef Waterworld is the best interactive pool I’ve been to. It boasts giant slides, wild water rapids, an erupting volcano, and an indoor splash park. You can spend a long time here and, like us, may struggle to convince your toddler to leave at home time.
Best for nature walks and bike rides
We love a riverside walk and/or bike ride and enjoy several routes in and around Staines-Upon-Thames, Egham, and Runnymede (Pleasure Grounds), close to the Magna Carta site.
Bracknell forest, right where The Lookout and Go Ape are situated, you can enjoy many cycling trails, too.
Pack a rucksack with all the essentials, not forgetting water, plenty of snacks, and sustenance, and you’re made up for 2-3 hours.
Best Soft Plays
We love Kidabulous in Sunbury, Snakes & Ladders in Syon Park, and various soft plays within Garden Centres. We love these because they are huge, offer many play zones for different age groups, and cater to indoor and outdoor play.
Best for sightseeing and an immersive experience
Recently, I took my Son on an excursion to London. First, we boarded a South Western train before jumping on the Overground at Clapham Junction, then hopping on the Central Line at Shepherd’s Bush to Queensway. Despite the overwhelmingly loud and noisy tube journey, he loved every minute and has since asked several times to travel on the trains again!
Looking for something not listed here? Have experiences and ideas to share? I would love to hear from you.
