If you have stumbled across this post, it is from last year. Please find the 2024 guide here.
Finally the Summer school holidays are here! 6 weeks of entertaining the kids can be daunting, so I’ve put together some ideas in the local area of Slough and Windsor here. But generally, in whichever area of the UK you live in, I recommend checking your local shopping centres, libraries, museums, leisure centres for what they are putting on this summer. Hop on a bus or train and have an adventure to a destination you haven’t been to before – it can be local, you don’t have to travel far. Find a new playground or splash park. Take colouring books and crayons so you can sit in a coffee shop and the kids won’t be bored. If it’s raining, have a look at my rainy day post for more ideas.
Free Playgrounds that are really good ones!
Lets start with playgrounds – there are loads in the area but these are our faves around Slough and Windsor:
★ Pirate Park playground – Clewer Memorial Recreation Ground, Dedworth Rd, Windsor SL4 5BD
Sandy playground with pirate ship play area, cafe and small free car park
★ Upton Court Park playground – Upton Road, Slough SL3 7LU
We like the newer playground at the Langley side. No cafe here though. Large free car park at the other end.
★ Black Park playground, Black Park Road, Wexham SL3 6DS
Lovely playground in the woods, with a cafe. You do have to pay about £4 for parking.
★ Langley Park playground, Billet Ln, Iver SL0 0LS
Again it’s a wooden playground, not huge but a beautiful location with a cafe too. About £4 parking, and very close to Copas Farm if you want to combine with fruit-picking
★ Batchelor’s Acre Playground, Batchelor’s Acre, Windsor SL4 1ER
This little playground is right behind the shopping streets of Windsor/Windsor Castle and sometimes they have fountains on so bring a change of clothes if your kids like running around in water! There’s a cafe and Windsor library is directly opposite for a chill after.
★ Lammas Recreation Ground, 115 Wraysbury Rd, Staines TW18 4UA
Well worth a little extra driving to get to Staines because the splashpark here is the best! And it’s free. Good playgrounds too. So colourful, riverside location – there’s a cafe, mini golf and you can also hire boats.
★ California Country Park Playground, Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, Wokingham RG40 4HU
Another one worth driving to get to – its quite new, great water features, beautiful location, paddling pool (extra fee for that) and a cafe. Parking was about £4 from what I remember.
★ Datchet Village Playground, Datchet, Slough SL3 9HR
A nice big playground, younger area separated from the older area. Not the newest equipment but it’s in a huge green space. There’s a tiny Costa a short walk from here and a little library. Small car park fee, but I think there are some free car parking spaces on the road.
★ Denham Country Park Playground, Denham Court Drive, Denham UB9 5PG
Worth driving a bit further to get here, lovely playground with sandpit, padding stream, cafe and woodland/canalside walks. Car parking is about £4.
★ Gerrards Cross Common Playground and Woods
Free on street parking (1 hour) and lots of cafes nearby
★ Ray Mill Island/Maidenhead Riverside
Ray Mill Island is beautiful, with a cafe and small aviary.
Maidenhead Riverside is a short walk away with a sandpit playground and mini golf.
Car park fees apply.
★ Ruislip Lido, Reservoir Road, Ruislip, HA4 7TY – this is our artificial beach – free entry. There’s a playground in the sand, a railway in the woods (fares apply), splashpark. It can get very busy though. Car park fees apply.
FREE Activities
★ Eton College Museums – open on Sundays
★ Maidenhead Fest, Kidwells Park 22/23 July
★ Snow Princess Parade, 3 Aug, starting at Burnham Park Hall at 12pm
★ Hillingdon Playday 2023, Hillingdon Athletics Stadium
2 Aug 10am-3pm – book free ticket
★ Summer of Fun Days
South Hill Park, Bracknell – 2 Aug 11am – 3pm
Braybrooke Recreation Ground, 30 Aug 11am – 3pm
★ Grays Farm PYO, Wokingham
Fruit/Veg picking plus Play Area, Picnic Areas & Farm Trail
Free entry, pay for what you pick
★ Birds of Prey, Crocus at Dorney Court 3 Aug 10am – 4pm
Free to watch, £2 fee to handle a bird
★ Come and Play, Iver Heath Pavilion – 10am – 12pm 25 July, 17 and 29 Aug
★ Teddy Bears Picnic, Iver Heath 1st Aug 10am – 12pm
★ Colour Run and Fun, Iver Jubilee Pavilion 24 Aug 10am – 12pm
Shopping Centre Activities – FREE/Small charge
I always recommend checking out what your local shopping centre has on, there’s usually free/low cost activities plus you can get your school supplies shopping done.
★ The Lexicon, Bracknell – Follow the Yellow Brick Road activities
24 July – 2 Sept
Yellow Brick Road Trail
Floral Rainbow with weekly photo competition
Make and Take Crafts – £2
Wizard of Oz Theatrical Experience £5
★ Queensmere Observatory, Slough
Summer of Fun Fridays in August with free crafting and Harmony Heart appearances
4th/11th/18th/25th August 11am – 4pm
★ Windsor Yards, Windsor
Discover the Beach – sand play area – 21 July – 4 Sept
Little Muddy Boots – free arts & crafts and storytelling – 22 July/ 5 Aug / 19 Aug
★ Eden, High Wycombe 24 July – 3 Sept
Pitch & Putt £1
★ The Oracle, Reading
– Roller Land roller skating (next to H&M on level 2)
Now until 6th Aug, from £6 including skate hire
– Mojito Beach Bar on the riverside, now until 3rd Sept
★ Two Rivers, Staines – Memorable Mondays – free
24 July 11-3 Crazy Hazy performances
31 July 11.30 – 3.30 Punch & Judy performances and Magic Shows
7 Aug All the Fun of the Fair- rides, face painting, Gilbert Giggles performances
14 Aug Dino Day
21 Aug Ritchie Rosson performances 11 – 3.30
28 Aug Peter Rabbit Meet and Greet
Plus Sandpit all summer
Under £5 Activities
★ Norden Farm Arts & Crafts, Maidenhead – Tickets £4
1 hour sessions at 1.30pm on these dates:
25-27 Jul and 2-3, 8-10,15-17 & 23-24 August
★ Burnham Beeches Woodland Explorers’ summer trail, 22 Jul – 3 Sep`
£2 per trail map – pick up from the Information Point. Bring a pencil
★ Black Park Mythical & Magical Trail – 22-24 Aug 11am – 2.30pm
Tickets £2.73
★ Copas Farm Iver or Cookham – Pick Your Own Fruit – Tickets £4
★ Reading Museum – various family activies, tickets £1 – £4
★ Norden Farm Underwater Gallery World Storytelling – Tickets £4
28 July – The Mermaid’s Tale, 1 Aug – How the Jelly Fish Lost His Bones, 4 Aug – The Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark, 11 Aug – Fire Flash and Fire Fade, 18 Aug – Arion and the Dolphin, 22 Aug – Why the Sea is Salt
★ Pinewood Miniature Railway, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ
20th Aug 1.30-4pm – fares £1.50, under 3s free
★ Jocks Lane Miniature Railway, off Binfield Road, Bracknell RG12 2BH
30 Jul/13 Aug/28 Aug – Fares £1
★ Prospect Park Miniature Railway, Reading
6 Aug – Fares 60p or 10 rides for £5
★ Ickenham Miniature Railway
5 Aug – Fares £1
★ Ocean Express Play Bus
★ Holtspur Scarecrow Trail 29 July – 6 Aug – maps £2.50
Under £12 activities
★ Black Park activities (only child tickets are required)
Kids Go Wild – 7th August 1-2pm, for age 2-10 Tickets £7.54
Wildlife Detectives – 9th August 10am/1pm, for age 5-10, Tickets £9.15
Dino Camp – 15th Aug 10am/1pm, for age 5-10 , Tickets £11.29
★ Salt Hill Activity Centre, Slough
Soft Play – £7.15
Bowling – from £7.65
Trampolining from £9.35
★ Slough Ice Arena
Public skating from £9.35, Ice Disco £3.80
Fun Climb from £5
★ Windsor Leisure Centre Pool
Tickets from £5.10
★ Teddy’s Playtown Softplay and Roleplay centre
Child 3-11 £10, Adult £1
★ Splash and Mash Carnival Messy Play, Farnham Common
Tickets £10 – 19 and 25 Aug
★ Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre, Great Missenden
Tickets £7.95, Under 5s free
★ Classic Bus Running Day – Beaconsfield Old Town 23 Jul – Programme £9
★ Wildway Wildlife Mini Zoo, Cookham – Tickets from £6, under 2s free
★ BCA Family Zoo Day, Maidenhead 29 July/26 Aug – Tickets from £8, under 2s free
★ Maidenhead Mini Golf – Dinosaur themed – Tickets from £6.50
★ Windsor Adventure Golf, Alexandra Gardens – tickets from £5.50
★ Spinners Reading, Indoor crazy golf and bowling, from £6.50
★ Slough Mela, Upton Court Park
6 Aug, Tickets – Adult £10, Child £8, under 5s free
★ River and Rowing Museum, Henley
Tickets from £3 (Child), from £5 (Adult), under 4s free
★ Clip n Climb Reading, tickets from £10.95
★ Chiltern Open Air Museum – Terrific Tuesdays during August 11am – 3.30pm
Tickets from £7.50, under 4s free
★ Kite Making Workshops, Norden Farm
5 & 18-19 Aug, Tickets £6
★ Vintage Transport Festival, Fawley Hill, Henley 25 – 28 Aug
Tickets from £8, under 12s free
★ Circus Skills Workshops, Crocus at Dorney Court, 4th and 25th Aug
Tickets £6 for age 4-14
★ Chai Cocoa Summer Play Sessions for age 0-7, Maidenhead
Tickets £5.50
Good for a treat outings
★ Odds Farm Festival of Fun, 22 Jul – 3 Sept
Tickets £17.95, under 2s free
★ Coral Reef Waterworld – Swimming + Water Slides
Tickets from £12.35 (Age 5+)
★ Buzz Bounce, Beaconsfield Rugby Club, Windsor End, Beaconsfield, HP9 2SQ, over 3s £12 – unlimited goes on inflatables for 2 hours
★ Jump In Slough, Trampolining, Dundee Road
Tickets from £13.50
★ Jump Giants, Heathrow, Trampolining
Tickets £14.75
★ Rush High Wycombe, Trampolining
Tickets from £13.50
★ Legoland Windsor Summer of Fun
Tickets from £34
★ Hobbledown Heath Hullabaloo 24 July – 3 Sep
3 Festival Themes; Carnival of Colours, Water Wowza, and Bubbles & Books
Tickets from £13
★ Bekonscot Summer Holidays Fun 25 July – 24 Aug
Magician on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Make and Take Crafts in the Education Centre every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
New immersive museum open 10am – 4.30pm
Tickets from £8.10, under 2s free
★ Chocolate Making Workshops, Dr Chocs Windsor
Tickets from £17.96
★ Windsor Duck Tours
Tickets from £19, Under 2s free
★ Windsor Great Park Adventure Play
Child £16, Adult £12, Under 2s free
★ Windsor Castle – George & The Dragon activities 22 Jul – 3 Sept
Tickets from £15.50, under 5s free
★ Chobham Adventure Farm
Tickets from £7.50, under 1s free
★ Wellington Country Park
5/6 Aug Spectacular Sports Weekend
12/13 Aug Summer Fun Weekend
17-19 Aug Dino Takeover
26-28 Aug Bouncy Castles in the Park
Tickets from £18.95, under 2s free
★ Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Aylesbury – General Steam Day Adults £12.50, Child £1
Peppa Day – tickets from £10.50, under 3s free
★ Theatre Tours at Windsor Theatre Royal
22 July, 17 Aug, 19 Aug – Tickets £12.50
★ Brick Adventures at Didcot Railway Centre, 19-20 Aug
Tickets from £13
★ Go Ape, Black Park
Tickets from £20
Local Cinemas
★ Maidenhead Odeon Luxe
★ Odeon Bracknell/Uxbridge
★ Cineworld Bracknell/High Wycombe
★ Vue Staines/Reading
★ Reading Biscuit Factory
★ Everyman Gerrards Cross/Wokingham
★ Norden Farm, Maidenhead
★ Showcase Cinema de Lux, Reading
★ Pinewood Cinema
★ Regal Picturehouse, Henley
★ Luna Outdoor Cinema – Ascot Racecourse, tickets from £18.50
15 Aug – Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone
16 Aug – Maverick
17 Aug – Mamma Mia
Theatre
★ Wizard of Oz outdoor theatre – Langley Park 27 July
Tickets from £12, under 3s free
★ Twelfth Night outdoor theatre Langley Park 28 July
Tickets from £10, under 3s free
★ Snug and Grub Catch a Bug, Norden Farm 29 July
Tickets from £10
★ Pigs and Bears Don’t Come in Pairs! Norden Farm 1-2 August
Tickets from £10
★ Sarah & Duck, Wycombe Swan 3-4 August
Tickets £16
★ Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain, Beck Theatre 9 Aug
Tickets from £20
★ Follow the Yellow Brick Road: A Wizard of Oz Experience
South Hill Park Arts Centre and The Lexicon, 17 – 27 August
Tickets £5 including parking at The Lexicon
★ WiFi Wars, Norden Farm 19 Aug
Tickets from £12 – 2pm show for age 6+, 8pm show for age 12+
★ Disney Winnie The Pooh, Wycombe Swan 29-30 August
Tickets from £18
★ Milkshake Live, Beck Theatre 30 Aug
Tickets from £19.50
London trips we recommend
★ London Transport Museum, Covent Garden
Tickets from £22, Under 18s free
★ Postal Museum, Farringdon
Tickets from £9, under 3s free
★ The SpongeBob Musical, Southbank Centre 26 July – 27 August
Tickets from £15
★ Perform in the Park, Coram’s Fields
London’s first ever festival of children’s theatre
Tickets from £17.50
★ Frameless, Marble Arch
Tickets from £15
★ BBC Earth Experience, Earls Court
Tickets from £15
★ London Museum of Water and Steam, Brentford
Tickets from £9.50, under 16s free
★ London Zoo, Regents Park
Tickets from £18.90, under 3s free
★ Inside Tower Bridge
Adult £12.30, Child £6.20, under 5s free
I hope this guide helps with your summer holiday planning. Please CHECK with the attraction/event you are interested in visiting BEFORE you travel (links included in this guide) – dates/times/prices may change after I have written this guide (hopefully not, but always best to check).
We have been to most of these places and can personally recommend them. If you’d like to see detailed reviews, photos and videos, do check my Instagram page @themummystylist – everything is there!
Share this guide with your friends and TAG me @themummystylist on socials with your adventures – I love seeing what you get up to, and it inspires others.
Have an amazing summer!
Sabrina x
