Great Britain is famous for a wealth of historic castles, stately homes, museums, art galleries, exquisite gardens, and many unique, even unusual attractions. At My Aging Parent, you’ll find suggestions for day trips and activities, including free days out, historical fun, museums, zoos, and gardens. Here are some of their suggestions:
- Alnwick Castle in Northumberland– Explore the beautiful 700-year-old castle, shown above, and enjoy lots of extra activities including a tour of the various castle locations used in movies, and some Harry Potter broomstick training.
- Snettisham Park Farm in Norfolk– Go on a deer safari and ride on tractors.
- Beamish Museum in County Durham– See how people lived and worked in the Victorian era with reconstructed houses, shops and buildings, plus a colliery (a coal mine and the buildings and equipment associated with it).
- The Yorkshire Sculpture Park– Explore 500 acres of historic landscape, near West Bretton, Wakefield, with artworks by international artists, plus five indoor galleries. Admission is free and it’s open almost every day. Parking charges apply.
Why not try something a bit different…
- A day at the races
How about going to the horse races? Amongst the various meets during August are the annual days of horse racing and family entertainment at fabulous Goodwood in Sussex. There is an annual theme and even recommendations for what to wear (From their style guide: “At Goodwood we want you to get the most from your day and encourage you to wear what makes you feel unique, but comfortable, whilst paying particular attention to what the day’s weather has in store.”) For details and online booking, go here.
- Ride on a steam train
There’s something about a ride on an old-fashioned steam train that appeals to everyone! Steam train enthusiasts around Britain work hard to keep the beautiful old trains running. To find out about any special events, start your search at the UK & Ireland Heritage website. To explore Scotland’s steam railways visit the Welcome to Scotland website.
- Afternoon tea with owls
Ever wanted to get up close and personal with an owl? How about handling and free flying a barn owl, tawny owl, or eagle owl at The Bird of Prey Centre, Wilstead, in Bedfordshire? Find information about where it’s located and what events are coming up here.
- Trees, Trees, Trees
The National Arboretum at Westonbirt is a remarkable place for people to enjoy and learn about trees – 15,000 specimens from all over the globe offer the perfect venue no matter the time of year. There’s always something exciting happening. The arboretum is managed by the Forestry Commission and is located in the Cotswolds, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Find information here.
- World Bogsnorkelling Championships
For something completely different (if you’re in Wales) how about attending the World Bog Snorkeling Championships? Held annually in Llanwrtyd Wells, in the United Kingdom, an event that Lonely Planet described as one of the top 50 “must do” things from around the world in 2014. Hundreds of participants from around the world and plenty of spectators attend. With refreshments, crafts, a bouncy castle, and live music – what’s not to like? A shuttle bus is also available to get you to the bog and back. Details can be found here.
If you’re looking for interesting things to do in London, check another article here. And if you’d like to share those interesting things, register at Senior Travel Buddies to find a compatible travel companion.