5 Of The Best School Holiday Day Trips In And Around Bath

21 July 2016

It’s nearly that time again…school holidays! The kids love it, but parents can end up dreading the long weeks spent struggling to keep their little ones entertained.

A visit to Bath is a great way to spend a couple of weeks in the summer holidays, as there’s plenty to do in the city itself – from picnics in its many parks and green spaces to boat trips down the River Avon. If you want to venture further afield from your Bath base camp, you’re in luck. The city is conveniently located within a short driving distance from many family-friendly attractions. Here are 5 must-visit day out ideas to add to your itinerary:

1. Longleat Safari and Adventure Park. Your children may have visited a zoo before, but the Longleat experience is something else! A 25-minute drive brings you to the UK’s best safari park, where a wild day out awaits. This historic park lets visitors get up close and personal with giraffes, penguins and lots of other animals, as well as offering an Adventure Park, Deadly Safari and some seriously stunning grounds and gardens.

2. Wookey Hole Caves and Attractions. The caves, around 45-50 minutes from many Bath Holiday Rentals properties in the heart of the city, are a much-loved tourist attraction in the area. The limestone caverns offer around 20 great attractions, including guided cave walks, special events and even a ‘Sci-Fi Circus’.

3. Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park. A fraction closer to Bath than Longleat is Avon Valley Wildlife Park, which focuses on British breeds and wildlife. The kids can make friends with some rare black pigs and Shire horses, learn all about the animals, splash about on the Boating Lake and enjoy both outdoor adventure play and indoor soft play.

4. Avon Valley Railway. Adults and children alike love this restored and revived steam engine line in Bristol, just 20 minutes away from Bath. Step back in time and take a ride in a beautiful steam-powered train carriage, with food and drink served on-board and some great scenery to enjoy. The Avon Valley Railway does special events for kids on certain days of the year too (always worth checking what’s on before visiting), including a Teddy Bear’s Picnic. Even adults get a special treat, with the chance to learn how to drive a real-life steam train!

5. Cheddar Gorge. Under an hour’s drive from Bath is Britain’s biggest gorge, a world-famous landmark with cliffs rising up to 450 feet and a network of caverns and caves below. This spot offers lots of fantastic attractions for all the family, from stunning views and fascinating natural history for the grown-ups to the special audio guides, stories and characters for the kids. The caves are cleverly lit and each has its own story, with the day topped off by a steep but rewarding climb to the lookout tower, with its breath-taking views across the valley to the Mendip Hills.

Wherever your summer holiday day trip may take you, make sure you’ve got a lovely comfy bed to come back to! Bath Holiday Rentals has properties perfect for families all over the city, many of which come with parking.