Don’t break the Bank... Holiday!
Forget DIY. Make the most of the long weekend in late August by having fun instead – for less than £50
BEST FOR FAMILIES
GO Fg to ride, head to Burley Villa School Of Riding in New Milton, Hampshire. A family of four can enjoy a one-hour session - suitable for beginners over seven - for £25 per person. You'll go out into the New Forest National Park where you can enjoy stunning scenery from the saddle. Burley Villa also has options for experienced riders and has excursions every day over the Bank Holiday (you must book in advance). See Burleyvilla.co.uk for more information. For other activities in the New Forest, visit Thenewforest.co.uk.
HAVE A TEA PARTY
The Mad Hatter's Tea Party, a trail of clues to find the Cheshire Cat, and a croquet game with the Queen of Hearts are all part of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland at Blists Hill Victorian Town in Ironbridge, Shropshire, from August 29-31. Fabulous readers can get a free child's passport, worth £12.95, when they buy an adult one (£19.95). Valid for a year, it gives you repeat access to all 10 Ironbridge Gorge Museums. Visit Ironbridge.org.uk/fabulous to download your voucher.
ENJOY A FISH FEST (IT'S FREE!)
Fish, fish and er... more fish
are the stars of the show at Northern Ireland's Festival Of Fish &
Gourmet Seafood Trail throughout August and September. The four fishing
villages in County Down - Kilkeel, Annalong, Ardglass and Portavogie - all
host events, including cookery masterclasses, seafood tasting and oyster
eating competitions. But it's not all about food - there's live
entertainment, wine sampling and craft stalls to browse, and it's free to
attend! For more information, check out the websites Visitkilkeel.com or
Discoverireland.com.
DIG UP THE PAST
Indiana Jones wannabes will love The Big Dig
at the Museum of London Docklands. Armed with a trowel, you can search for
artefacts in your own trench and get expert opinions on your finds. It costs
£18 for a family ticket (two adults and up to three kids) for an hour,
including museum admission. Book at 020 7001 9844/Museumindocklands.org.uk.
Ends September 6.
BEST FOR COUPLES
MAKE A SPLASH (IT'S FREE!)
Have a splashing time - for free -
with a wild swim (weather permitting, of course). The picturesque Sharrah
Pool on Dartmoor, Devon, is a popular location with swimmers wanting to
enjoy the great outdoors. This 100m stretch of the River Dart can only be
reached on foot, which takes around 40 minutes through ancient woodland. For
a more accessible spot on the River Dart, head for Spitwich Common, a
gorgeous picnic area with a waterfall at one end and a natural whirlpool
bath. For more information on wild swimming and locations, visit Outdoor
swimmingsociety.com.
BE A-MAZE-D!
Get lost in the awesome Mega Maze at Cairnie
Fruit Farm (Cairniefruitfarm.co.uk) in Cupar, Fife. Extending over six
acres, this labyrinth of pathways and blind alleys grows at an astonishing
average rate of an inch a day - reaching over 8ft at its tallest! There's a
farm shop, tea room, and you can pick your own fruit on site too. August 31
isn't a Bank Holiday in Scotland, so it won't be packed either. Prices start
from £4.25 - a family ticket costs £15.
ON YOUR BIKE
Around 5,000 scooters are expected at the Isle of Wight's annual International Scooter Rally, August 28-31 (Vfmscoot.co.uk). The highlight of the weekend is the ride around the island, plus there are bands and DJs playing at Ryde Ice Arena in the evenings. Weekend tickets cost £25 each in advance. Red Funnel has cut the cost of a return crossing from Southampton to Cowes for motorcycles and scooters when booked online at least one day in advance. For fare information and ferry times, visit Redfunnel.co.uk. To find out more about the Isle of Wight, including places to stay and eat, visit Islandbreaks.co.uk.
BEST FOR FRIENDS
JAZZ IT UP
Enjoy summer brews and blues overlooking the River
Thames at the Hampton Court Palace Beer and Jazz Festival in Surrey from
August 27-31. Traditional jazz, funk, Latin and blues will be performed by
the likes of Courtney Pine and the James Taylor Quartet. Plus a new Hampton
Court Palace beer, brewed in honour of former owner Henry VIII's 500-year
anniversary, will make its debut. A visit costs from
£7 per adult, per day. Visit Hrp.org.uk for details.
HIT THE SLOPES
If you're into cool sports, head for Sheffield
Ski Village in South Yorkshire, which has one-third of a mile of artificial
alpine slopes and the only half-pipe in the UK. As well as skiing and
snowboarding, you can go tobogganing, snow tubing and there's also a bowling
alley. Prices start at £8.70 per hour, but you can save money by registering
for discount vouchers at Sheffieldskivillage.co.uk. There are slopes in
Tamworth and Milton Keynes, too.
FLY A KITE (IT'S FREE!)
Be a high-flyer at the Portsmouth
International Kite Festival on Southsea Common, Hampshire, from August
29-31. Inflatable kites - from giant salamanders to colourful jesters and
devils - will take to the skies under the control of display teams and
champion kite-flyers. Kids can also have a go at making their own kites.
Visit Portsmouthkitefestival.org.uk to find out more.
PHOTOGRAPHY: CORBIS, CAMERA PRESS, PHOTOLIBRARY.COM
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