This Art of Mine
London
Kent and London have a bit of a symbiotic relationship going on – crossing from one to the other is easy thanks to our fantastic rail network, and the buses too. You can even drive if you’ re feeling brave. However you get there, the fact that London isn’ t too far away and is packed full of exciting summer holiday activities and attractions to get involved with means that at least one day out of those six( or so) long weeks should be spent there.
There are probably very few children out there who don’ t enjoy a bit of arts and crafts time – and the same goes for the adults who care for them. Painting a pot or designing a t-shirt appeals to everyone because not only do you come away with something at the end of your day of making, but you’ ve used your creative muscles in a way that doesn’ t normally happen. Plus it’ s a relaxing way to spend some pure bonding time with the children.
Over the summer holidays, This Art of Mine studio in Thurnham( just off the A249) is holding a variety of excellent ways to keep the children entertained including a kids’ photography course, an animation workshop, young artists’ week, imaginary worlds day and clay week as well as a huge number of other fun and fabulous classes and workshops.
Down House
As well as all the fun – Madame Tussauds, the London Sealife Aquarium, Shrek’ s Adventure, the Tower of London, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, the Transport Museum, the Natural History Museum, London Zoo and a seemingly endless stream of other things – from 1st to 31st August it is Kids’ Week in London. Kids’ Week is when free child tickets for some of the best West End shows come up for grabs, and it can turn any day into something really rather wonderful.
© English Heritage
Down House, the home of Charles Darwin, has some fun yet educational events going on over the summer break. Learn how to be a butler, make sure your shoes are polished, your clothes are immaculate and you’ re standing up straight. Meet the Darwin’ s very own butler Joseph Parslow and learn about the etiquette of a Victorian house, from dressing a table to folding a napkin. But make sure you pay attention, as the master of the house won’ t keep sloppy butlers around for long! Or set sail on a nautical adventure as you learn the ropes of seafaring, 1800’ s style. Meet Captain Fitzroy and learn the art of knot tying and predicting the weather. Don’ t let him catch you slacking though or you’ ll be mopping the decks for a week! Anchors aweigh as you make your own ship to take home too.
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris is just a short( just under 3 hours) hop further down the line from London, and for a long weekend or even a full week away during summer, there is nothing quite like it. Climb on board the Eurostar at either Ebbsfleet or Ashford International stations, and you will be taken directly to the land of magic itself. And that’ s the key thing – the magic. You want to pick just the right time to go with your little ones; they need to be old enough to make the most of all( or at least the majority of) the rides on offer, but they also need to be young enough to experience that one of a kind magic. Just wait until you see the joy in their faces when Elsa, Belle or Buzz Lightyear make an appearance!
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