Planning a big family day out, but worried about March mizzle, April showers or even May monsoons? At the National Trust, we’ve been hard at work thinking up great family activities to keep the kids happy during the wet weather. Don’t let rain ruin a day out; celebrate the chance to do something different.
From indoor activities to outdoor adventures, here are our top ten ideas for having fun if the weather turns bad:
Wild about nature
The rain brings all sorts of amazing creatures out of hiding, so brave the weather and you never know what you might find! From animal tracks to sticks and shells, be a wildlife detective and see what natural wonders you can discover.
Top spot: Calke Abbey, Derbyshire – Find the weirs and ponds in the middle of the park, home to all kinds of wildlife, plus look for deer, mini-beasts or much more.
Puddle jumping
Get your wellies on and make a splash! See how many splashes it takes to get the water out of a puddle, or throw in leaves, twigs and pebbles and see what effect they have – run wild and have fun while everyone else is hiding away!
Top spot: Speke Hall, Liverpool – Splash through puddles and get lost in Speke’s amazing maze!
Time for tea!
A sudden downpour is the perfect excuse to pop into one of our tea rooms or restaurants. Eat a delicious home-cooked lunch, stop for a cup of tea, or give in to the urge to eat a big slice of cake!
Top spot: Kingston Lacy, Dorset – Stop off for great fresh, local food and produce, including prize-winning scones. Anyone for a cream tea?
Indoor activities
We’ve got loads of great stuff going on inside our houses when you come to visit. Escape the wet weather and pick up an indoor activity pack, play I-Spy or see what strange things you can find in our collections.
Top spot: Sutton Hoo, Suffolk – Be transported to a world of Anglo-Saxon kings, craftsmen and poets as you discover the incredible story and burial of a king.
Going underground
Hide away even further from the rain by heading deeper underground! From crypts and cellars to tunnels and mines, explore our hidden places and you’ll forget all about the weather outside.
Top spot: Dolaucothi Gold Mines, Carmarthenshire – Experience 2,000 years of gold mining in this Welsh valley with a guided tour of these unique mines.
Travel back in time
Take your mind off the present day and discover what life and clothes were like in years gone by. Get dressed up in medieval armour at a castle, play with Victorian toys and games or discover if you’d survive the workhouse – what will you find?
Top spot: Castle Ward, Co. Down – Visit the Victorian Past Times centre, where Children can step back in time and enjoy toys and dressing up in the Victorian Era.
Shelters to shelter in
Some of our glorious gardens have loads of temples, grottos and caves to find and explore – why not jump from shelter to shelter as you discover each one?
Top spot: Stowe, Buckinghamshire – With over 40 temples to choose from, stretch your legs in style as you guess their hidden meanings and choose your favourite one.
Wild water
Embrace the wet weather and discover how it makes such spectacular water! From cascading waterfalls to rushing rivers, or even bubbling puddles, watch out for the wild water!
Top spot: Hardcastle Crags, West Yorkshire – Explore this beautiful wooded valley with its deep ravines, tumbling streams and glorious waterfalls.
Fantastic photos
Get a waterproof camera out and capture the weather on camera. See if you can find the biggest puddle, the muddiest wellies, or even the wettest one of your friends or family – and take a photo!
Top spot: Stourhead, Wiltshire – Climb the tower, hide in a temple, or cross a bridge – find the best angle to snap a photo in this spectacular landscape garden.
Looking up
You call tell a lot from watching the sky – keep your eyes peeled and see if the rain is stopping anytime soon, what clouds are floating by, or even keep an eye out for a rainbow!
Top spot: Lindisfarne Castle, Northumberland – Get great views on all sides of this stunning castle, dramatically perched on a rocky crag at sea.
Similar Stories
The Severnside MVT Military Show - 14 May 2012
Jubilee 4 day Weekend Saturday 2nd – Tuesday 4th June 2012 with English Heritage - 04 May 2012
Why not take a bank holiday breather with the National Trust? - 30 April 2012
It's a kind of magic - 12 April 2012
Top 10 Easter activities in Windermere, Lake District - 14 March 2012
Campaigns & Issues
New research shows pensioners have no confidence in politicians to solve social care crisis
Britain’s biggest pensioner organisation, the National Pensioners Convention (NPC) has welcomed the latest research from the charity Anchor which shows more than two thirds of those aged over 55 (67 per cent) believe the Coalition Government has not paid enough attention to social care and only 14 per cent are confident that the Government will find a solution to failures within the social care system.
News
Millions being lost to sophisticated new card fraud phone scam
A sophisticated type of fraud – where people are telephoned by fraudsters and duped into revealing their PIN and handing over their bank card to a courier – is on the rise.
Pay Your Way, the Payments Council’s education campaign, is working with The UK Cards Association and Financial Fraud Action UK, to raise awareness of how to avoid becoming a victim of this type of crime.
Competitions & Fun
Win a bundle of Little Miss goodies including Little Miss Princess and the Very Special Party
Hang out the union jack bunting, roll out the red carpet and sound the trumpets for the arrival of Little Miss Princess and her canine friend at this very British street party.
She made her debut in time for the Royal Wedding last year, now, to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, she stars in Little Miss Princess and the Very Special Party.
Reader Offers
You could win one of three superb weekend breaks in Silver Travel Advisor’s “Best of British” Diamond Jubilee celebration this month
Silver Travel Advisor is a friendly website packed with advice, tips, information and honest reviews written by and for silver travellers (aged over 50).
A team of advisors are on hand to answer queries (for free), and you can share your own experiences too.
It’s time to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee this month with an amazing British prize draw:
Win a two night stay for two people at Flackley Ash Hotel , Rye, East Sussex
Health & Wellbeing
New pill gives hope on strokes
The first one-a-day pill for patients with an irregular heartbeat has been given the green light for use on the NHS.
Rivaroxaban is as effective as warfarin - the popular 1950s drug based on rat poison - but has fewer side effects.
Doctors say 900,000 patients with atrial fibrillation, known as AF, could qualify for rivaroxaban - causing a change in stroke prevention options.
Property & Finance
Falling Inflation Is Good News For UK Savers
The announcement by The Bank of England that inflation has fallen to 3.0 per cent, from 3.5 per cent in April, is a welcome boost for UK savers as 46 saving accounts now on offer beat inflation, according to MoneySupermarket.com.
Lifestyle
Painting of the Month entry by John O'Boyle
This gorgeous painting has been entered by John O'Boyle and is titled "Lola in the Garden"
We are running a competition for Painting of the Month, so please do send us your photographs of your painting by post to Highwood House, Winters Lane, Redhill, Bristol BS40 5SH (please include a stamped, addressed envelope if you would like them returned), or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The winner will receive a Mature Times pen set.
Closing date for this competition is 26th May 2012
Travel & Leisure
Bletchley Park brings the 1940's to life
The World War Two Home Of The Codebreakers Goes Back In time With Its Annual Forties Family Festival
Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May
Join in the family fun at Bletchley Park on for its annual ‘Forties Family Festival’. In 2011, the event attracted over 3,500 visitors and over 250 World War Two (WW2) re-enactors who had Bletchley Park teeming with Forties activity.
Again no paper to beat Mature Times from day one of first publication all inside we need - thanks to all!