where to go out?

A question about : where to go out?

Where do you go out for the day? We are having trouble finding places to go even with the Tripadvisor phone app.

There are Museums, National Trust Properties, Amusement Parks, Theatres and Cinemas, Walks and Days by the beach.

Is there anything else, have I missed something? Most of it seems geared up to summer too so we are feeling flat at this time of year.

I wouldn't mind even spending some money if the kids enjoyed themselves, just need to find somewhere.

Best answers:

• Farm parks? Swimming? Agree about most of them being summer time things!
• Lots of National Trust and theme parks places aren't fully open this time of year, but we often pick an interesting town or city and plan a day out there combining a bit of wandering round some shops or a market, walk along the riverside or any historic area (such as city walls, old town etc) and a visit to the church or cathedral. We have lunch out, which (depending on funds and weather) may be a simple as a bag of chips or a Greggs pasty on a park bench (we're dead classy, us!) or a proper lunch in a pub or restaurant. I always go on the town's own tourist info website and see if there are any events going on such as a craft or antiques fair, and we may pop into the local art gallery or museum for a few minutes.
  Not sure where you live but we're in the Midlands and have had fab winter days out in Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester, Chesterfield, Newark, Lincoln......gosh, too many to mention! Even the coldest day can be enjoyable if you wrap up warm and have a hot chocolate when the cold starts to get into your bones!
• We still go for walks - as long as it's not raining and we're wrapped up warm with decent shoes/boots then we always have a good time at minimal cost.
• I always preferred English Heritage sites to National Trust with my mob.
  If you're willing to pay, then Science Centres (eg @Bristol), Aquariums, nature centres (eg The Lookout Discovery Centre in Bracknell) and zoos and wildlife parks are worth looking at.
  If you find somewhere you really enjoy, consider a season ticket. We used to live close enough to Legoland to make it worth having a season ticket.
• Our library always does activities in half term.
• Bowling
  As well as swimming, do you have a 'waterworld' type place with indoor water slides and a wave pool?
  Gulliver's are theme parks, which are outdoors, but they have these 'nerf zone' things. Not sure what they are, but I think you have to shoot targets in the dark with foam 'bullets'.
  Indoor play areas
• A lot of places have 'town trails' - you pick up a leaflet from the tourist information office and head off to look for markers and information boards. And during school holidays there may be extra activities, eg Pirate Walks
  Actually the TIO for wherever you're near or want to visit will have lots of suggestions!
• We go to the library and the coffee shop.
  We visit everyone we know who is available!
  Swimming and ice skating is fun.
  A trip to the pond with a 'picnic'
  Westonbirt arboritum (sorry for spelling) is lovely if you can get there.
• Today I had lunch in a very nice cafe ... in one of the UK's largest cemeteries!
  There are definitely holiday activities for children, and visitor information for all.
  Three to check out: Arnos Vale in Bristol (easy to get to from Temple Meads station if you're travelling and LOTS of other fascinating stuff here), Brookwood near Woking in Surrey, and Highgate in London.
  Obviously it won't appeal to all, but a certain kind of child will love it!
• hi,
  Thank-you for all your wonderful suggestions.
  While I have been researching this subject. I have answered my own question as I have stumbled across DaysOutCo.Uk
  You can search by Postcode and distance you are prepared to travel. Or by what is on. It came up with 76 things to do within a 15 mile radius. A lot of the things are only open at certain times of the year so you need to research further.
  Now I want to visit Buckingham Palace, Bletchley Park and Tiggywinkles when they are open.
  Has anybody else come up with a good website?
• I've found a fair few ideas from the FB groups for parents in our local area - people tend to find a gem and then share it on there quite often.
• Tripadvisor has been quite good too. They do it by area rather than postcode distance. I think their app on the phone is better than the website. It has inspired me to visit things close by rather than going miles away. It will get better the more people review in future.
  Has anybody else come up with a good website?