As more places are starting to open up I thought it would be useful to share some ideas for places to visit this August in Bucks and surrounding areas.

Wellington Country Park

This place is incredible!! It’s definitely one of the best places we’ve visited with our little one. It has everything – a farm, adventure playgrounds, a miniature train, giant sand pits, dinosaur trail, amazing toddler playgrounds, a splash park and more!

For more information and to book tickets visit www.wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk

Blenheim Palace

There is so much to do at Blenheim Palace from walks around the huge grounds, to exploring the beautiful gardens. They have now also reopened the Palace itself as well as the miniature railway and the Pleasure Gardens so there is loads for your little ones to explore.

A bonus with your tickets is that after your first visit you get to visit again as many times as you like for free for the next 12 months! They also have an offer running for the whole of August that all children go free AND they can convert those free tickets into an annual pass so will get 12 months free.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.blenheimpalace.com

The Story Museum

The museum are opening a brand new Small Worlds gallery on 6th August. Small Worlds is a story-play gallery particularly designed for pre-school children and sounds amazing!

Your little ones will collect their very own story cart and set off to a land of picture books, nursery rhymes and traditional tales for the very young. With your family group you will explore five story-themed zones where you can go on a Bear Hunt, discover Traction Man’s under-sink world, relax in the Night Safe, ride on the Story Bus and enjoy Winnie and Wilbur’s miniature theatre. Then settle on your rug to listen to a book read by one of our Story Guides from their giant bed.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.storymuseum.org.uk/explore/small-worlds

Rush Trampoline Park

Rush is reopening on 1st August and they will be running reduced capacity jump sessions. They will also be operating a 30 minute deep clean in between every session to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Children aged 4 and under can only jump during a dedicated toddler session on Sundays at 10am.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.rushuk.com

Odds Farm

Now is a great time to visit Odds Farm and will probably be the only opportunity you’ll ever get (I really hope so anyway!) to visit during the summer holidays when it’s this quiet. They have limited numbers and you must pre-book tickets online for a timed entry slot. We visited at the end of July and had so much space, most things were open and we loved it. They have opened the water play zone since we visited as well!

Read our review here.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.oddsfarm.co.uk

Missenden Abbey

Explore the Bluebell Rise Fairy Woodland, play pitch and putt and enjoy a delicious BBQ in the grounds on Missenden Abbey. Their opening date on 7th August is already sold out but tickets are available for Friday 14th, Wednesday 19th and Friday 28th August.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.missendenabbey.co.uk/whats-on

Buckinghamshire Rail Centre

If you have a little train spotter then book a trip to ride on a steam train and explore the centre which covers 25 acres and has one of the largest collections of steam locomotives and other railway vehicles in the UK.

They are reopening on 2nd August and will be running steaming days on Wednesdays and Sundays throughout August.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.bucksrailcentre.org

Chobham Adventure Farm

For amazing adventure playgrounds, jumping pillows and giant sand pits head to Chobham Adventure Farm. We had so much fun here and it was lovely and quiet, even on a very sunny day in the school holidays. They also have a small animal barn with pigs, sheep, cows, goats, chickens and more.

Read our review here.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.chobhamadventurefarm.co.uk

Mayflower Lavender

Explore the beautiful lavender fields in full bloom and enjoy some cake or lunch in their al fresco cafe. The fields do get busy so it’s worth trying to get their early to beat the crowds, they open at 9am. They also recommend going on a weekday if possible as the weekends are busier.

Tickets do not need to be pre-booked. For more information visit www.mayfieldlavender.com

Chiltern Open Air Museum

Tickets are just £5 throughout August for the museum and free for under . The museum aims to tell the story of the Chilterns through buildings, landscapes and culture. Onsite they have 37 rescued historic buildings that were the workplaces or homes of ordinary people. Inside the buildings are set up to show different periods of time and what life was like. Whilst you can’t walk through the buildings at the moment, the doors are open so you can still see inside.

The Museum also has a working historic farm with livestock that includes sheep, goats, cows and chickens. Plus they have a great playground which was of course the biggest hit of the day with my little one.

If like me you have a toddler with zero interest in the buildings themselves then now is a great time to go and take advantage of the cheap entry fee. It’s a lovely cheap place to visit, have a wander round to see the animals and go for a play.

The cafe is closed at the moment but they do have a kiosk open selling snacks and drinks. Plus loads of picnic benches so take lunch with you, or pop down the road Muddy Boots Cafe at Rowan Garden Centre (closed Mon & Tues).

For more information and to book tickets visit www.coam.org.uk

Eat Out to Help Out

Treat yourself to a meal or even just coffee and cake at one of your favourite local restaurants or cafes. Use the scheme with restaurants that have registered:

• to get a 50% discount on food or non-alcoholic drinks to eat or drink in (up to a maximum of £10 discount per diner)
• every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 3 and 31 August
• as many times as you like

Find out which restaurants near you have registered with the scheme by clicking here.

I have also saved my favourite local restaurants taking part in a highlight on my Instagram page @babyinbucks

 

Free (or nearly free)

Ray Mill Island

Ray Mill Island is a great place to spend a sunny afternoon, enjoy a picnic and let your little ones play and make new friends with the guinea pigs and birds. Located in Maidenhead at Boulters Lock this is a brilliant freebie!

For more details read our review here.

Wendover Woods

They have just reopened the play trail and playgrounds at Wendover Woods. The play trail is a really fun way to go for a walk with your little one as there are loads of fun stops along the way from an amazing mud kitchen to climbing walls and tunnels. There are 2 routes, a long and short option, but even the long route is a good length for little legs to walk. The last time we did it with a push-a-long trike which was fine but on a muddy day that might be tricky.

Plus they’ve reopened the Gruffalo trail so you can hunt in the deep, dark wood for the Gruffalo! There’s a charge of £1.50 for a Gruffalo orienteering map, or you can just do it without the map.

For more information and parking charges visit www.forestryengland.uk/wendover-woods

Alpacas Walk

There is a lovely short walk you can take through the alpaca fields in Great Missenden which you can combine with cake and coffee (or prosecco and ice cream!) at Peterley Manor Farm for the perfect afternoon!

For more details read our review here.

RAF Museum

Visit the RAF Museum in Edgware, London and let your little plane spotter explore hanger after hanger of amazing RAF planes. One of the highlights is of course the incredible playground with RAF helicopters to climb in, planes to slide down and airplane wings to walk on. The museum is free to visit (you just pay £4.50 for parking) but there are points to make a donation dotted around the building so please do this if you can afford to.

Whilst it’s free you do need to book an entry time online. For more information and to book your slot visit ww.rafmuseum.org.uk/london

Holtspur Scarecrow Trail

Holtspur School in Beaconsfield have organised a scarecrow trail around Holtspur from 1st – 8th August. Maps are available for £2 from Thist4Coffee, Holtspur Top Lane HP9 1DN, or Londis Newsagent, Mayflower Way, HP9 1UG

 

This is by no means an exhaustive list but I hope this gives you some inspiration and ideas on things to do. There are loads more ideas for days out on the blog so take a look.