What do to with the children around Cambridge this Summer
So, the children have just broken up, they are thrilled to have the summer away from the daily grind of school, parents however, may be staring down the next six weeks wondering what to do to entertain them! Several of us here at Instant Home have children so we have put our heads together and created a what’s on guide for kids this summer. We also help to move a lot of families over the summer, so if you have just arrived in Cambridge and have kids to entertain over the holidays, we hope this will help.
Take a dip:
Summer wouldn’t be summer in Cambridge without a dip in the wonderful lido at Jesus Green. It opened in 1923 and is one of the last few remaining lidos built in the 1920s – so not only is it great fun, but provides a bit of history as well!
Go wild:
And there’s absolutely loads going on at the Wicken Fen nature reserve for 8+ year olds with their Go Wild activities. Kids can have a go at geocache puzzles, learn how to make a fire, get woodcraft skills and go owl spotting. Plus there’s a family camp out on 23rd August, so the whole family can enjoy a night of wild camping.
Adventure and discovery:
There are lots of family events and activities going on over the summer at Cambridge’s many museums. Enter the world of the bee at Cambridge University’s Botanic Garden with a giant flower and games and crafts galore. Discover the science that goes into making toys exciting with the Whipple Museum of the History of Science. Go on a quest for gargoyles and even sculpt your own gruesome creature at Great St Mary’s Church. And adventure to India with the India Unboxed Festival at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology – get hands on with a large scale artwork and enjoy music and performances throughout the day. These and loads of other activities are taking place throughout the summer and best of all are either free or very low cost. Click here for the full listings.
The joy of books:
The Summer Reading Challenge takes place every summer and is a great way to get kids reading more over the summer holidays and let them wander of on endless adventures in the pages of a book. It’s completely free, just sign up at your local library and there are rewards to collect along the way.
Get active:
How about getting them playing some sports this summer? Try the popular tennis camps for all ages at the Trinity College Sports Ground. Or, as Cambridge is the birthplace of football, why not get them on the pitch? Go to the Cambridgeshire FA site for lists of local clubs.
Fill them up:
And don’t forget those all important pitstops to fuel up! We’ve actually created a little guide to our favourite places to eat in Cambridge – many of them are family friendly, check out our recommendations here.
And most importantly, remember that you don’t need to plan activities every day, don’t burden yourself with guilt that your child is sometimes bored over the summer holidays. Research has shown that it is good for children to be allowed the space to be bored in order for their creativity to flourish. Remember that when you enjoy a well-earned rest with your feet up in the garden!