Bodiam Castle in Sussex.Credit: Getty Images
From circuses to war museums, aquariums to castles, we suggest family summer days and stays.
Giffords Circus, Cotswolds
This is a small, traditional and utterly charming touring circus of a sort that would have once graced England's village greens in summer. This year the talented company of geese, tumbling pigeons, clowns and musicians is staging War and Peace at the Circus, a family show inspired by Tolstoy's novel, at five venues in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire until September 11.
Entry £20 ($30) adults, £12 children, phone +44 (0)845 459 7469, see giffordscircus.com.
Chatsworth, Derbyshire
Trailing around a historic house is likely to bore most children but the grounds of some contain excellent adventure playgrounds in which they can play. Chatsworth's woodland playground has dizzying slides, towers, rope bridges and giant sandpits - and there is a petting farm nearby. (Phone +44 (0)124 656 5300; see chatsworth.org).
There are also excellent playgrounds at Groombridge Place Gardens in Kent (www.groombridge.co.uk), Harewood House near Leeds (harewood.org), and Wilton House (wilton house.com) and Bowood (bowood.org), which are both in Wiltshire.
Drayton Manor Theme Park, Tamworth, Staffordshire
This is a good choice for families with big age gaps among the children. It has Thomas Land (yes, the tank engine) for younger children and satisfyingly gruesome rides, such as Apocalypse, for teenagers. For six more weeks, acrobatic divers will perform three shows a day, plunging from more than 25 metres in the air. Highlights include synchronised dives, clown dives and a fire dive.
Park entry £32 adults, £25 under-12s, phone +44 (0)844 472 1960, see draytonmanor.co.uk.
Imperial War Museum, London
The brilliant exhibition Once Upon a Wartime brings children's stories about war dramatically to life. Wander through life-size sets of scenes from books including War Horse and Carrie's War and explore their themes of loyalty, separation, survival and identity.
Entry £5.95 adults, £3.95 children, until October 30. On August 13-21 there will be a children's literature festival, phone +44 (0)20 7416 5320, see iwm.org.uk.
Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire
It might not seem like the most natural suggestion for responsible parents but one of the most exciting activities this summer has to be the Junior Shark Encounter at this aquarium, which has the largest collection of sharks in Europe. Children aged eight to 15 - if confident swimmers - can go nose-to-fin with some of the smaller residents. The experience, which costs £140 a child, includes full instruction, dive equipment and free entry for an accompanying adult. The minimum height is 1.25 metres.
Phone +44 (0)151 357 8804, see blueplanetaquarium.com.
Bodiam Castle, Sussex
Castles don't normally hold the interest of younger children for long but at this spectacular setting in East Sussex on August 13-14 there will be sieges, gruesome battles, mediaeval minstrels and a history encampment to hold their attention. The battles will include horseback jousting by the Knights of Arkley, a professional re-enactment group. The castle will be opened in mediaeval style with a procession of men-at-arms and the "Black Knight".
Entry £6.80 adults, £3.40 children, phone +44 (0)158 083 0196, see nationaltrust.org.uk/main /w-bodiamcastle.
Lee Valley White Water Centre, Hertfordshire
As the build-up grows to next year's London Olympics, there is a unique chance for teenagers aged 14 and over and their parents to get a taste of the Olympics at the site where the canoeing and kayaking events will take place. It is the only new London 2012 venue to open for public use. From tomorrow you can ride the rapids before the world's best athletes (the site is closed until then to allow preparations for the canoe slalom).
A White Water Rafting Adventure costs from £49, phone +44 (0)845 677 0606, see gowhitewater.co.uk /whitewaterrafting.
Conkers, National Forest
Set in the heart of the national forest, Conkers could be the ideal place in which to encourage a bit of self-sufficiency among children. Crafts being taught every day by rangers on the 45 hectares of land include shelter building, tracking and foraging.
Program runs until September 4, £8.50 adults, £6.95 children, phone +44 (0)128 321 6633, see visitconkers.com.
Royal Armouries, Leeds
There is an impressive range of summer events for children at the Royal Armouries, Britain's oldest museum, not least being Commando Kidz, an adventure zone with an inflatable assault course and magnetic climbing wall (£7.50 for a 60-minute session). Other highlights include a crossbow range and interactive displays showing what it would be like to ride into battle in full armour.
Entry to the museum is free. The summer program of events runs until September 4, phone +44 (0)113 220 1999, see royalarmouries.org.
Fine lodgings for families
Bedruthan Steps Hotel, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
Overlooking the sea and above a classic north Cornwall surf beach, the hotel is well set up for children, with indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a surf school, golf nearby, indoor and outdoor play areas, children's clubs and high tea.
From £365 ($545) a night for a family room sleeping four, including breakfast and dinner; +44 (0)163 786 0787; see bedruthan.com.
Guesthouse East, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Rent one of these stylishly decorated apartments, close to the beach, and you have the option of self-catering or bed and breakfast. There are farm visits, cycling in Seven Sisters Country Park and the wonderful Drusilla's Zoo Park nearby.
£84 a night, self-catering, for two people, plus £5 a night for children under six, £10 for children aged six to 16. Phone +44 (0)132 372 2774; see theguesthouseeast.co.uk.
Calcot Manor, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire
A very civilised Cotswolds hotel where just one night can work wonders for frazzled parents. The secret is the Playzone, a large, free and staffed indoor playroom with an adjoining creche. Other facilities include a superb spa with indoor pool, an outdoor pool and play area, a large garden, children's high tea and an excellent restaurant.
A family room sleeping four costs from £315 a night with breakfast, plus £30 a child. Phone +44 (0)166 689 0391; www.calcotmanor.co.uk.
Druidstone, Broad Haven, Pembrokeshire
A relaxed and friendly small hotel that is likely to be full of families during the school holidays. This is emphatically not a designer hotel, and not all rooms are en suite, but it is quirky and charming, with one of the best sea views in Wales. The food is also very good.
From £130 a night with breakfast for two adults and two children in adjoining rooms. Phone +44 (0)143 778 1221; see druidstone.co.uk.
Center Parcs, Whinfell Forest, Cumbria
This is a good all-weather option for families. If it's dry, rent bikes to cycle through the forest, or sign up for activities such as archery, falconry and sailing. If wet, there are indoor courses such as photography and free use of the large, subtropical "swimming paradise".
From £499 for a three-night weekend stay in a two-bedroom Woodland Lodge, sleeping four. See the website for similar breaks at Center Parcs in Sherwood, Longleat and Elveden forests. Phone +44 (0)844 826 7723; see centerparcs.co.uk.
Come to Good Farm, near Truro, Cornwall
Families are encouraged to feed chickens and collect eggs at this friendly bed-and-breakfast on a working farm. The Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan are nearby.
From £90 a night for a family of four, including breakfast. Phone +44 (0)187 286 3828; see cometogoodfarm.co.uk.
Landmark Trust, London
The trust rents out restored self-catering houses and apartments in historical settings, from follies to water towers. Properties include a Georgian house in Spitalfields, London, sleeping six (close to the Tower of London) from £905 for four nights, and an apartment in Hampton Court Palace, also sleeping six, from £1062 for three nights, with access to the public rooms and grounds.
Phone +44 (0)162 882 5925; see landmarktrust.org.uk.
The Lovestruck at Mohr, Lochearnhead, Perthshire
Set on the banks of Loch Voil and in the grounds of the Mohr Hotel, this charmingly renovated horse truck sleeping four looks like something from a Roald Dahl story. There is plenty of space for children and you can treat yourself at the Mohr's celebrated restaurant.
From £250 for two nights through Canopy &Stars (+44 [0]127 539 5447; canopyandstars .co.uk), which offers a variety of other summer breaks.
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