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Rainy day summer holiday activities in the north of England Rainy day summer holiday activities in the north of England
(about 5 hours later)
Summer is here, apparently (if you see it, can you tell it April called and wants its weather back?) As a single parent of a four year old, entertaining an easily bored child through the summer holidays on those longer rainy days can be difficult. Summer clubs are often pricy and tearing kids away from screens can be a challenge. Here are 10 rainy day solutions in the north that won’t break the bank and will hopefully prevent you all from going slightly mad.Summer is here, apparently (if you see it, can you tell it April called and wants its weather back?) As a single parent of a four year old, entertaining an easily bored child through the summer holidays on those longer rainy days can be difficult. Summer clubs are often pricy and tearing kids away from screens can be a challenge. Here are 10 rainy day solutions in the north that won’t break the bank and will hopefully prevent you all from going slightly mad.
1. Tate Modern Liverpool – Action Stations 1. Tate Liverpool – Action Stations
The Tate Modern in Liverpool offers free family events all through the summer; Their Jackson Pollock inspired Action Stations looks like fun for any age. From paintball archery to mark making with catapults and trapdoors, it’s the ideal environment for your kids to go feral and unleash their wild artist, while the walls in your home stay crayon-free. The Tate gallery in Liverpool offers free family events all through the summer. Its Jackson Pollock-inspired Action Stations looks like fun for any age. From paintball archery to mark making with catapults and trapdoors, it’s the ideal environment for your kids to go feral and unleash their wild artist, while the walls in your home stay crayon-free.
2. National Railway Museum – York2. National Railway Museum – York
Despite heroic attempts at birthing a cool child, I produced a natural and avid train spotter. Obsessed to the point of recently looking wistfully at a horse and comparing its legs to “the shape of a bullet train.” He’s most at home with his “people”, wearing an anorak and frequenting model railway shops. If you too have begotten a transport enthusiast, why not form a support group and head to the National Railway Museum in York? Throughout the summer they have a series of free events going behind the scenes of York Theatre Royal and their production of The Railway Children.Despite heroic attempts at birthing a cool child, I produced a natural and avid train spotter. Obsessed to the point of recently looking wistfully at a horse and comparing its legs to “the shape of a bullet train.” He’s most at home with his “people”, wearing an anorak and frequenting model railway shops. If you too have begotten a transport enthusiast, why not form a support group and head to the National Railway Museum in York? Throughout the summer they have a series of free events going behind the scenes of York Theatre Royal and their production of The Railway Children.
3. Design and build a project at the Fab Labs — Manchester and Ellesmere Port3. Design and build a project at the Fab Labs — Manchester and Ellesmere Port
Fab Labs invite members of the public to use their fabrication machines including 3D printers, laser cutters and flatbed routers, absolutely free of charge. You must to attend a health and safety briefing prior to being able to book the machines, ensuring you don’t just turn up and start firing off laser beams everywhere or start 3D printing guns. Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult, but there are plenty of projects you and your offspring could get involved in together. Last week my son and I made a sign for a bug hotel. I did the design and setting up; my small human pressed the buttons. Then we both “oohed” and “aahhed” as the cool laser beam worked its magic on a piece of wood. It was very satisfying indeed.Fab Labs invite members of the public to use their fabrication machines including 3D printers, laser cutters and flatbed routers, absolutely free of charge. You must to attend a health and safety briefing prior to being able to book the machines, ensuring you don’t just turn up and start firing off laser beams everywhere or start 3D printing guns. Children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult, but there are plenty of projects you and your offspring could get involved in together. Last week my son and I made a sign for a bug hotel. I did the design and setting up; my small human pressed the buttons. Then we both “oohed” and “aahhed” as the cool laser beam worked its magic on a piece of wood. It was very satisfying indeed.
There are Fab Labs located all over the world; a list of the UK Fab Labs, including one in Manchester and Ellesmere Port, can be found here. As they are individually managed, ring ahead to see when they are open to the public and what you need to do to access the machines.There are Fab Labs located all over the world; a list of the UK Fab Labs, including one in Manchester and Ellesmere Port, can be found here. As they are individually managed, ring ahead to see when they are open to the public and what you need to do to access the machines.
4. The Summer Reading Challenge – Manchester4. The Summer Reading Challenge – Manchester
If you want to immerse yourself and your little one in some literature, get down to the recently refurbished Manchester Central library, which is championing the Summer Reading Record Breaking Challenge. Their children’s area is gorgeously cosy, interactive, and with a café and baby changing facilities at hand, you can easily pass the day curled up together surrounded by the Secret Garden themed book shelves getting lost with your imagination.If you want to immerse yourself and your little one in some literature, get down to the recently refurbished Manchester Central library, which is championing the Summer Reading Record Breaking Challenge. Their children’s area is gorgeously cosy, interactive, and with a café and baby changing facilities at hand, you can easily pass the day curled up together surrounded by the Secret Garden themed book shelves getting lost with your imagination.
5. Superheroes at the Royal Armouries – Leeds5. Superheroes at the Royal Armouries – Leeds
There is something different on every day at the Armouries this summer. From collection handling to storytelling and live combat performances, kids can learn about heroes and villains from history and popular culture. Apparently this does not include Katie Hopkins prancing around and smacking people with a copy of the Daily Mail she deems too poor or too northern. Trick missed there I think!There is something different on every day at the Armouries this summer. From collection handling to storytelling and live combat performances, kids can learn about heroes and villains from history and popular culture. Apparently this does not include Katie Hopkins prancing around and smacking people with a copy of the Daily Mail she deems too poor or too northern. Trick missed there I think!
The summer concludes with the Superheroes weekend on the August Bank Holiday, I’m not sure who is more excited about this, me or my son. As well as free talks on how to create your own comic book, for £2.50 you can get involved with a Superhero training session with foam weapons and a guidance from a Taekwon-Do expert. (Though if you have reached this point of the Summer holidays sound of mind and unscathed you are already a hero in my eyes.)The summer concludes with the Superheroes weekend on the August Bank Holiday, I’m not sure who is more excited about this, me or my son. As well as free talks on how to create your own comic book, for £2.50 you can get involved with a Superhero training session with foam weapons and a guidance from a Taekwon-Do expert. (Though if you have reached this point of the Summer holidays sound of mind and unscathed you are already a hero in my eyes.)
6. Get Wet - everywhere6. Get Wet - everywhere
Can you remember how much fun it was to just jump around in puddles, indulge in water fights and get absolutely soaking wet outside? Forget being a grown up for an hour. As the saying goes, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong equipment.” If you are reading this, you probably live in the north of England: if you don’t own wellies and waterproofs then you are missing vital equipment for getting through around 50% of the year. Get your water pistols, water balloons, and buckets and just get out there. Battle it out, laugh and get some exercise. The rain is going nowhere so you might as well get involved. Then come in, dry off and get cosy with some well-deserved hot chocolates and a film on the sofa.Can you remember how much fun it was to just jump around in puddles, indulge in water fights and get absolutely soaking wet outside? Forget being a grown up for an hour. As the saying goes, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong equipment.” If you are reading this, you probably live in the north of England: if you don’t own wellies and waterproofs then you are missing vital equipment for getting through around 50% of the year. Get your water pistols, water balloons, and buckets and just get out there. Battle it out, laugh and get some exercise. The rain is going nowhere so you might as well get involved. Then come in, dry off and get cosy with some well-deserved hot chocolates and a film on the sofa.
7. Get jazzy – Manchester7. Get jazzy – Manchester
We recently rediscovered the joys of playing vinyl records at different speeds, pulling out a few records that I don’t mind getting too scratched, and bouncing around the living room to some sped-up Madness. A lot of kids are fantastically open minded when it comes to discovering new music. If this applies to your spawned one, check out the free daily events on this year at Manchester Jazz Festival. Until 9 August.We recently rediscovered the joys of playing vinyl records at different speeds, pulling out a few records that I don’t mind getting too scratched, and bouncing around the living room to some sped-up Madness. A lot of kids are fantastically open minded when it comes to discovering new music. If this applies to your spawned one, check out the free daily events on this year at Manchester Jazz Festival. Until 9 August.
8. The Moor Market – Sheffield8. The Moor Market – Sheffield
A market may not be the first place that springs to mind when entertaining the kids, unless you plan to give them an entertaining yet historical overview of life before Tesco. But Sheffield’s Moor Market, soon to celebrate its first birthday, is well worth a visit on a rainy day. It has a series of events on throughout the summer to keep the kids entertained. From Mini Golf sessions, a ping pong table, puppet shows (Look child! Before our hands evolved into 2 slices of boiled ham simply to swipe screens, this is how our hands could entertain us!), balloon modelling and face painting. See their website for a full calendar of events that don’t just involve buying a pound of spuds and some new dusters.A market may not be the first place that springs to mind when entertaining the kids, unless you plan to give them an entertaining yet historical overview of life before Tesco. But Sheffield’s Moor Market, soon to celebrate its first birthday, is well worth a visit on a rainy day. It has a series of events on throughout the summer to keep the kids entertained. From Mini Golf sessions, a ping pong table, puppet shows (Look child! Before our hands evolved into 2 slices of boiled ham simply to swipe screens, this is how our hands could entertain us!), balloon modelling and face painting. See their website for a full calendar of events that don’t just involve buying a pound of spuds and some new dusters.
9. Build a massive marble run – Manchester9. Build a massive marble run – Manchester
Even when there are no specific events on, the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (Mosi) has been a godsend on many a rainy Sunday to get us out of a house in danger of turning into a scene from Lord Of The Flies. From planes to engines, to science floors with knobs and buttons to twiddle and press, it’s an amazing place for kids to accidentally learn stuff while having fun, absolutely free.Even when there are no specific events on, the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry (Mosi) has been a godsend on many a rainy Sunday to get us out of a house in danger of turning into a scene from Lord Of The Flies. From planes to engines, to science floors with knobs and buttons to twiddle and press, it’s an amazing place for kids to accidentally learn stuff while having fun, absolutely free.
On the 8 and 9 August, Mosi presents Make Fest, where families can go retro and explore giant Meccano machines, or get with the future and learn to code. If your child subscribes to this strange cubic hysteria that is Minecraft, there is the opportunity to learn how to build awesome new worlds. For offline creatives, there are tutorials in toy making, knitting and embroidery.On the 8 and 9 August, Mosi presents Make Fest, where families can go retro and explore giant Meccano machines, or get with the future and learn to code. If your child subscribes to this strange cubic hysteria that is Minecraft, there is the opportunity to learn how to build awesome new worlds. For offline creatives, there are tutorials in toy making, knitting and embroidery.
Most excitingly there is also the chance to get involved in the building of a massive marble run. Visit the A-Maze-Balls website to see how you and the kids can be part of the collaboration.Most excitingly there is also the chance to get involved in the building of a massive marble run. Visit the A-Maze-Balls website to see how you and the kids can be part of the collaboration.
10. Nottingham Castle – Kids go free10. Nottingham Castle – Kids go free
Although not free for adults, Nottingham castle is running a Kids Go Free offer throughout the whole holiday period. For little history buffs, there are free and paid for activities spanning the break, it’s just a case of checking their “What’s On” page to see which activities are free and indoors.Although not free for adults, Nottingham castle is running a Kids Go Free offer throughout the whole holiday period. For little history buffs, there are free and paid for activities spanning the break, it’s just a case of checking their “What’s On” page to see which activities are free and indoors.
There are also frequent dungeon tours to get their imagination running wild on life before the naughty step/withholding the wifi password.There are also frequent dungeon tours to get their imagination running wild on life before the naughty step/withholding the wifi password.
We’d love to hear your suggestions of free rainy summer holiday entertainment suggestions in the comments section.We’d love to hear your suggestions of free rainy summer holiday entertainment suggestions in the comments section.