So the summer holidays are here again – is this year going fast or what?! I thought I’d check out what’s happening in the area to help you guys out.
Summer doesn’t have to be all about big days out. As I say each year, in whichever area of the UK you live in, check 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 new destination – 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.
The Best Playgrounds
Starting with our fave playgrounds 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
★ 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 playground too. So colourful, riverside location – there’s a cafe, mini golf and you can also hire boats.
★ Gerrards Cross Common Playground and Woods
My kids love this one, its very open, woods behind it and sometimes an ice cream truck. 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
★ California Country Park Playground, Nine Mile Ride, Finchampstead, Wokingham RG40 4HU
Another one worth driving to get to – great water features, beautiful location, paddling pool (extra fee for that) and a cafe. Parking fees apply.
★ Pinewood Centre Playground, Pinewood Centre, Old Wokingham Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 3AQ
This playground is a short drive from Bracknell so you can combine with a trip to The Lexicon. It’s set in the woodlands, with free parking and a cafe onsite. The playground is open everyday, but if you visit on the third Sunday of the month, you can also ride the Pinewood Miniature Railway.
★ Black Park playground, Black Park Road, Wexham SL3 6DS
Playground in the woods, with a cafe. Parking fees apply.
★ Langley Park playground, Billet Ln, Iver SL0 0LS
Wooden playground, not huge but a beautiful location with a cafe too. Parking fees apply, and very close to Copas Farm if you want to combine with fruit-picking
★ Upton Court Park playground – Upton Road, Slough SL3 7LU
Cute playground on the Langley end. No cafe here though, just a pretend play one. Large free car park at the other end.
★ Datchet Village Playground, Datchet, Slough SL3 9HR
A spread out 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, a little library and a level crossing if you like watching trains. 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, cafe and woodland/canalside walks. Car parking fee 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. Don’t go in the reservoir water, it is not safe. Car park fees apply.
FREE Activities
★ Petal Power family event
25 July 11am at The Curve, Slough
★ LEGO ® Build the Change at The Curve library, Slough
29 July 10am and 1.30pm – Book a slot
★ Eton College Museums – open on Sundays
★ IKEA Reading – free summer activities: Childrens Design Station in the showroom, BJÖRN bear trail, Family Sip n Paint (yes free canvas to paint! and a non-alcoholic drink) for age 6+ 31/07, 21/08 and 04/09, and of course there’s the free Småland creche for children age 3-10.
★ Reading Museum Summer Activities
24 July – 3 Sept Activity Cart: Throughout the holidays. No charge but donations welcome
★ The Maidenhead Beach at Norden Farm
25 July – 16 Aug and then 28 Aug – 6 Sept
★ Meet JJ from Cocomelon and Ladybird & Cat Noir
26 July at Smyths, Uxbridge
★ Antz Kids in Space – Free Science Event
28 – 31 July
★ Meet Birds of Prey at Crocus at Dorney Court, 28 July 10am-4pm
Free to watch, but if you’d like to handle a bird its £2
★ Braywick Nature Festival 28 July – 2 Aug
Held at Braywick Nature Centre, a week of inspiring sessions and activities with local experts, ending in a two-day showcase of nature-based family activities, stalls, food and live music.
★ Snow Princess Parade
31 July, Burnham Park Hall at 12-2pm
★ Design a Fairy Garden at Cippenham Library
31 July 1pm and 3pm Book a slot
★ Children’s Centre Picnics, Slough
Outdoor fun and games, bring your own picnic
6 Aug 10.30am – 2.30pm at Upton Court Park (National Play Day)
13 Aug: Monksfield Recreation Ground, 11.30am-1.30pm
20 Aug: Salt Hill Park, 11.30am-1.30pm
27 Aug: Upton Court Park – 11.30pm – 1.30pm
★ Sow and Grow – for age 3+
7 Aug at Britwell Library, 10.30am
★ Summer Fun Day at Holme Grange Craft Village, 16 Aug 11am-4pm
with kids entertainment and live music
★ Summer Fun Day at Dinton Pastures Country Park, 17 Aug 11am-4pm
Meet Mary Poppins & Bert (12-2)
★ Summer of Fun Days in the Bracknell area, 11am – 3pm
with inflatables, circus skills, balloon modelling, stall and more
Join South Hill Park at the creative gazebo for a variety of free visual arts and family crafts.
25 July Farley Wood Community Centre, Binfield
6 Aug Great Hollands Memorial Ground, Bracknell
8 Aug Sandhurst Memorial Ground
12 Aug Morgan Recreation Ground, Crowthorne
20 Aug Braybrooke Recreation Ground
★ Outdoor Theatre – Thursdays in Staines (book free tickets)
31 July: Mrs Armitage On Wheels (Memorial Gardens)
7 August: Dirt (Memorial Gardens)
14 August: The Twits (High Street)
21 August: Caspian’s Storm: The Great Crabtastrophe (Memorial Gardens)
28 August: Everywhere’s a Beach (Two Rivers)
★ Grays Farm PYO, Wokingham
Fruit/Veg picking plus Play Area, Picnic Areas & Farm Trail
Free entry, pay for what you pick
★ Moss End Garden Village Summer Fair, 31 Aug 11am – 4pm
Meet Bluey plus Bluey themed treasure trail
Games Stalls, Live Performances, Children’s Ride, Face-Painting, BBQ by JL Butchers, Craft Stalls
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.
★ Queensmere Observatory, Slough
29 – 31 July 12-5pm Dinosaur Mini Golf £2.50pp or £5 for a family of 4
★ Queensmere Observatory, Slough
Free Summer of Fun Kids Activities with Art Classes Group – Fridays in August
1st August – Sand Art Workshop
8th August – Sea Creature Crafting
15th August – Seashell Picture Frame Making
22nd August – Butterfly Decorating
★ Windsor Royal Shopping
16 Aug 10am-4pm Free Meet Trev the T-Rex and Baby Dinos plus meet Berkshire Birds of Prey
Dinosaur Trail, Crafts & Colouring, Giant Games
★ Eden, High Wycombe – Summer of Disco Weekdays 28 July – 22 August (Mon-Wed 11am-4pm, Thurs-Fri 12-7pm)
28 July – 10 August: Roller Disco £2pp including skate hire!
11 – 22 August: Silent Disco £2pp
★ Broad Street Mall and The Oracle, Reading – Shaun the Sheep trail, free, now until 31 Aug
Visit Reading this summer for Find the Flock – a fun, FREE family-friendly trail that turns a day out in Reading into an exciting hunt for 12 giant Shaun the Sheep sculptures.
Each colourful, 160cm-tall sculpture has been uniquely decorated by talented artists, and they’re waiting to be discovered in key spots all across the town centre, including two sculptures located at Broad Street Mall! It’s easy and free to take part – pick up a trail map from Broad Street Mall, The Oracle, Reading Station or Reading Museum to start your adventure.
★ Broad Street Mall, Reading
Sat 16 August – Broad Street Beats is back bringing the local community together through the power of music. Come to Central Square for a free day of live music from incredible local talent to mark Pride.
★ Riverbeats at The Oracle, Reading – 5-16 August
Live Music performances and over 40 Arts & Music Workshops
★ The Lexicon, Bracknell – Summer Safari 1-30 August – free
Animatronic Animals, Face Painting, Birds of Prey Encounter, Talking Reptiles and Safari Storytime. Safari train £1
★ Two Rivers, Staines – Memorable Mondays – free
28 July- Treasure Island. Hop aboard the pirate for arts and crafts
4 August – Crazy Hazy sessions
11 August – Design your own Charlie and the Chocolate Factory golden ticket and meet Willy Wonka
18 August – Meet the Gruffalo and Gruffalo’s Child and face painting
25 August – James and the Giant Peach story telling and face painting in the giant peach
Thurs 28 Aug 12pm and 2pm – Everywhere’s a Beach free theatre show
Plus Sandpit all summer
★ Elmsleigh Shopping Centre, Staines – Free, All for the love of…Summer Games
Drop-in sensory games. Choose from: Wolf Wander, Kangaroo Jump, and Nature Calls
On now until the end of summer.
Under £6 Activities
★ Holtspur Scarecrow Trail 26 July – 3 Aug – maps £3
★ Explore Kids Workshops, at The Curve Venue, Slough – book slots at £4
30 July workshops
Hama Beads Arts & Crafts: 9.15am age 5-7, 10.30am age 8-11
Singing: 9.15am age 11+, 10.30am age 5-7, 12pm age 8-11
VR: 1.30pm age 11+, 2.45pm age 8-11
Ukelele: 1.30pm age 8-11, 2.45pm age 11+
Filmmaking: 12pm age 11+
6 August workshops
Musical Theatre: 9.15am age 11+
Poetry: 9.15am age 5-7, 10.30am age 8-11
Henna: 10.30am age 11+, 12pm age 8-11
VR: 12pm age 11+
BhangraBollyfitjam: 1.30pm age 8-11, 2.45pm age 5-7
Stop Motion Animation: 1.30pm age 5-7, 2.45pm age 8-11
13 August workshops
Digital Animation: 9.15am age 8-11
Circus Skills: 9.15am age 5-7
VR: 12pm age 11+
Puffy Paint Canvas Arts & Crafts: 12pm age 5-7, 1.30pm age 8-11, 2.45pm age 11+
Drama: 1.30pm age 5-7, 2.45pm 8-11
★ Norden Farm, Maidenhead
Beach Crafts 26 July, 8-9 Aug,12-16 Aug and 28 Aug Tickets £6
Kite Making Workshops 26 July, 16, 23 and 29 Aug Tickets £6
★ Burnham Beeches Woodland Safari summer trail, 24 Jul – 3 Sep`
Pick up trail/activity booklet from Information Point. Suggested donation £3. Bring a pencil
★ Copas Farm Iver or Cookham – Pick Your Own Fruit – Tickets £4
★ Reading Museum Summer Activities 24 July – 3 Sept
Loads of activities going on, starting from £1, check them out here
★ Pinewood Miniature Railway, Old Wokingham Road RG40 3AQ
17 Aug, 1.30-4pm – fares £1.50, under 3s free
★ Jocks Lane Miniature Railway, off Binfield Road, Bracknell RG12 2BH
27 Jul/10 Aug/25 Aug, 1-4pm – Fares £1
★ Prospect Park Miniature Railway, Reading
3 Aug – Fares 60p or 10 rides for £5
★ Ickenham Miniature Railway
2 Aug – Fares £1
★ Brocas Park Funfair, Eton
19 July – 3 Aug
Under £13 activities
★ Trainmaster Berkshire track day Tickets for 1 child & 1 adult £7.50
3 Aug – Bracknell
★ Black Park activities for age 5-10 (only child tickets are required)
Kids Go Wild Dino Camp – 30 & 31 July, Tickets £12.38
Kids Go Wild Summer Special – 5 Aug, Tickets £12.38
**Everyone Active have an “Everyone is Family’ campaign where you can get £2 sessions all summer. I’m not sure how you get them, but have a look here. And below I’ve put the normal session prices.
★ Salt Hill Activity Centre, Slough
Soft Play from £8.15
Bowling – from £8.75
Trampolining from £11.40
VR, min age 8, £12
★ Slough Ice Arena
Public skating from £10, Ice Disco £8
Clip n Climb also at this location
★ Windsor Leisure Centre Pool
Family Swim Tickets from £5.50
★ Braywick Leisure Centre Summer Holiday Activities
Bounce n Play, every Monday in August at 1pm and 2pm : Bouncy Castle for all children under 8 years old and XXL obstacle course for ages 8+, tickets £5
Aqua Run, every Wednesday in August – jump, slide, and splash your way through our Aqua Run adventure! Fun for all ages, it’s the ultimate aquatic obstacle course, tickets £8pp including swimming in the general area
★ Teddy’s Playtown Softplay and Roleplay centre
Child age 4-11 £11.50, Adult £1
★ Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre, Great Missenden
Tickets from £9.95, Under 5s free
Matilda Summer Activities 24 July – 31 Aug, Meet Miss Trunchbull 24 July, 14 August & 23 August 10.30am and 1pm
★ High Score Arcades, Bracknell. Free-play arcade, Games Fest all summer, plus meet Mario & Luigi on 12th Aug. Tickets from £12.50
★ Globe Trotters Adventure Golf at Wexham Park Golf – Tickets from £10
★ Maidenhead Mini Golf – Dinosaur themed – Tickets from £7
★ Volcano Island Adventure Golf in Hounslow – Tickets from £9.95
★ Windsor Adventure Golf, Alexandra Gardens – tickets from £5.50
★ Spinners Reading, Indoor crazy golf and bowling, from £6.95 (children allowed in venue until 6pm)
★ Hollywood Bowl – Uxbridge and Reading. Bowling from £6.70
★ BCA Family Zoo Day, Maidenhead 26 July – Tickets £9, under 2s free (please note they are closed in August)
★ River and Rowing Museum, Henley – Summer Activities
This is your last summer that you can visit this museum, because they are sadly closing for good on 21st Sept. Don’t miss your last change to see their beautiful Wind in the Willow experience.
Tickets from £7. (Child), from £10 (Adult), under 4s free
★ Clip n Climb Reading, tickets from £12.95
★ Chiltern Open Air Museum – Terrific Tuesdays for families
29 July and Tuesdays in August 11am – 4pm
Ticnkets from £10, under 4s free
★ Norden Farm, Maidenhead
31 July 4.15pm Musical Theatre Workshops for age 7-14 – tickets £7.50
Just over £13 but wanted to share
★ Lush Reading Go Wild Party Workshop, 4-8 Aug, Tickets £15 per participant
Suitable for all ages. Make your own Luna’s Butterfly bath bomb,and learn how we protect the animals around us but also benefiting you. This event will run for 1 hour with a little party goodie bag to takeaway.
Good for a treat outings
★ Chobham Adventure Farm
Extra summer activities included in entry price: 4 x daily ‘Hawaiian bubble party’ | 3 x daily animal encounters | BBQ throughout the summer | plus on 21/28 July & 27/29 Aug meet Birds of Prey.
Tickets from £9.95, under 1s free
★ Odds Farm Festival of Fun, 24 Jul – 3 Sept
Live entertainment shows | Summertime Games Zone | Make your own festival flower crowns | 18-hole Mini Golf | Visit cute baby calves, kid goats and piglets | plus farmer-led activities including Rabbit Time, Goat Brushing, Cow Milking Demos and more
Tickets £19.95, under 2s free
★Tumblestone Hollow
A Summer’s Escape 18 July – 2 Sept: Interactive storytelling sessions daily in August 11am/1pm/3pm | One-of-a-kind playground | Den building activities in the woodland
Tickets from £8.50, under 92cm free
★ Hobbledown Heath Hullabaloo Summer 21 July – 2 Sep
Merrydown Festival: Foam fun, Costume characters, Paint throwing – all included in your general admission ticket
Tickets from £22.50 **Book by 27th July for visits until 3 Sept, and get 30% off with code SUMMER30**
★ Coral Reef Waterworld – Swimming + Water Slides
Tickets from £13.20 (Age 5+)
★ Birdworld
Opening in time for the school holidays in 2025 is a brand new, sustainably-sensitive play area! With wooden walkways and rope clamber-routes threaded between the trees. Full of interactive facts and fun, it’s also home to a mysterious family of sprites, The Spriglets, who can’t wait to share their love of birds with you.
Tickets from £15.95, under 3s free
★ Windsor Great Park Adventure Play
Child £16, Adult £12, Under 2s free
★ Wellington Country Park
Summer of Fun 1-25 Aug
skateboarding sessions | Splash Zone | BBQ | bouncy castles | summer-themed crafts, as well as the Park’s usual attractions.
Tickets from £22.45, under 2s free
★ Cliveden National Trust – Summer of Play
Tickets from £10.50
★ Young Driver – Driving Lessons for 10-17-year-olds
9 and 30 Aug – Surrey, Kempton Park
16 Aug – Hertfordshire County Showground
17 Aug – Uxbridge, The Chimes
17 Aug – Surrey, Lingfield Park
31 Aug – Reading, Mereoak Park
★ Car Chase Heroes – tweens/teens can drive a supercar. 2/3 August – Abingdon
★ The Little Gym Windsor – Summer Events. 25/07 and Fridays in August 2.30-3.30pm are special party sessions that non-members can attend. £20 per child (adults free)
★ Windsor Duck Tours
Tickets from £20, Under 2s free
★ Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Aylesbury
Summer Holiday Steaming Days 30 Jul – 31 Aug Adults £12.50, Child £1
★ Go Ape, Black Park
Treetop Challenge, Nets Adventure, Forest Biking, Mini Rovers
★ Jump In Air Hop Slough, Trampolining, Dundee Road
Tickets from £14.95
★ Oxygen Activeplay, Reading
Tickets from £15.50
★ Rush Air Hop High Wycombe, Trampolining
Tickets from £14.95
★ Windsor Castle
Tickets from £15.50, under 5s free
★ Bekonscot Model Village
Tickets from £9, under 2s free
★ Legoland Windsor Summer of Fun
Tickets from £39
★ Didcot Railway Centre
16 Aug – Paddington Bear at Didcot
27, 30/31 The Railway Children Shows
Tickets from £8.50 , under 3s free
★ Theatre Tours at Windsor Theatre Royal
Tours are available at midday on Thursdays and Saturdays – Tickets £12.50
Local Cinemas
★ Uxbridge & Maidenhead Odeon Luxe
★ Cineworld Bracknell/High Wycombe/South Ruislip
★ Vue Staines/Reading
★ Omniplex High Wycombe
★ Picturehouse Ealing
★ Reading Biscuit Factory
★ Everyman Gerrards Cross/Wokingham
★ Norden Farm, Maidenhead
★ Showcase Cinema de Lux, Reading
★ Pinewood Cinema
★ Regal Picturehouse, Henley
Theatre
★ Kids go FREE at London Theatre Shows
See participating shows here
★ The Wind in the Willows Outdoor Theatre, Black Park, 25 July
Tickets from £15.56
★ Professor Slug’s House of Bugs, Norden Farm 29-30 July 11.30am
Tickets from £10
★ Slough’s Got Talent, Venue at The Curve, 2 Aug 7pm
Tickets £5
★ Tom Gate’s Epic Stage Show, Beck Theatre, 2 Aug, 12.30pm/3.30pm
Tickets from £18.50
★ The Enormous Crocodile – The Musical, Theatre Royal Windsor, 8-10 August 11am/2pm
Tickets from £19.75
★ Mrs Armitage on Wheels, Venue at The Curve, 9 Aug 2pm
Tickets from £10
★ Science Museum – The Live Stage Show, Beck Theatre, 9 Aug 12.30pm
Tickets from £18.50
★ The Dragon Wagon outdoor theatre – Black Park 15 Aug
Tickets from £7.21, under 1s free
★ Milkshake Live On Holiday, Beck Theatre, 27 Aug 12.30pm
Tickets from £18.50
London trips we recommend
★ FREE London museums
eg Science Museum, Young V&A, Natural History Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Horniman Museum and Gardens, London Museum Docklands, Royal Airforce Museum.
★ FREE Outdoor Cinema – Canary Wharf Film Club and Kings Cross Everyman on the Canal
★ Paradox Museum* – Tickets from £21.50
★ Minecraft The Experience* – Tickets from £24
★ F1 Arcade
Formula 1 Simulator Racing for families
Tickets from £17.95
★ London Transport Museum, Covent Garden
Tickets from £22, Under 18s free
★ Postal Museum*, Farringdon
Tickets from £11, under 3s free
★ London Museum of Water and Steam, Brentford
Tickets from £4, under 16s free
★ London Zoo*, Regents Park
Tickets from £24.50, under 3s free
★ Kew Gardens*
Tickets from £6
★ Junkyard Golf
Cool indoor golf, children are welcome Sundays – Thursdays before 7pm
Tickets from £14
★ Twist Museum* – Tickets from £21
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.
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
*affiliate links
