Are you stuck for an idea of where to take the kids on holiday this year? We know just the place, and with our themed short breaks for families, you will fall in love with this holiday destination too! Suffolk is a great place for kids, full of history, magic and exciting activities.
Exciting history
In Suffolk, kids can get a taste of the history of Britain, from spending a day with Tudors at Kentwell Hall, encountering ghosts at Sutton Hoo, learning how to defend the realm at West Stow or walking in the footsteps of Mary Tudor at Framlingham Castle. Suffolk has a rich and varied history, and many historical attractions in the region cater to families, especially those with younger children. They can travel like an Edwardian on the Mid Suffolk Light Railway and meet servants from the 1930s at Ickworth House & Gardens.
Adventure and magic
Suffolk has many fairy tales to discover, and even a whole village has become a fantasy playground. In the 1920’s, Thorpeness was transformed into a fantasy land, with mock Tudor houses, a floating House in the Clouds, a golf course and a Peter Pan Boating Lake complete with islands and hideouts. There is also the Emporium full of trinkets and treasures to buy as souvenirs.
You can also travel back in time at the village of Lavenham, one of England’s best preserved medieval wool towns. You can explore lots of the old buildings in the picturesque village. Lavenham was also the inspiration for a famous village in Harry Potter – Godric’s Hollow. If you and your kids are fans of the books and films, visit De Vere House, the home of the Potters.
Adventure and magic of a different kind can also be found at Southwold Pier. The brilliant arcade features many traditional and classic arcade games for the kids to try out, along with some newer versions too.
Wonderful wildlife
Suffolk is home to all manner of creatures, the small and feathered or the big and antlered. Any budding wildlife fan will find great enjoyment in Suffolk visiting nature reserves and conservation centres.
Lackford Lakes has the flashy blue kingfisher, which you can see swooping down into the water, and huge flocks of starlings dancing at dusk. You can pick up a wildlife explorer backpack, especially put together for little explorers who are ready to discover a new species. Another must see, is RSPB Minsmere, the headquarters of BBC Springwatch. This incredible nature reserve has some of the country’s rarest birds, majestic red deer and cute – but very shy – otters!
The wonderful zoo and conservation centre Africa Alive! allows kids to get close to some of the amazing African animals such as lions, chimpanzees, giraffes and lemurs. If you want to see some less exotic animals, at the Suffolk Punch Trust, you can meet native Suffolk Punches, gorgeous horses. At the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, your kids can admire over 80 owls and other birds of prey, then at Easton Farm Park, there are several farm animals like pigs, sheep, horses, cows, rabbits and chickens.
Great outdoors
With nature reserves, the Broads and plenty of beaches, kids will love to ditch the gadgets and gizmos and head outdoors in Suffolk. Be sure to bring sunscreen and a bucket and spade when you visit Suffolk on your short break with the family and let the kids roam free. Try building the biggest sandcastle you can, take a dip in the sea, or even try out bodyboarding in a wetsuit when you hit the beach. On the Broads, you can hire out a canoe and see the wildlife which have their home among the waterways up-close.
If the weather isn’t quite hot enough for the beach, then stay inland and hire out bikes to explore the local countryside around our holiday parks. There are many fantastic cycle routes in Suffolk which are suitable for children, and why not pack up a picnic to take out with you, and you can make a whole day of it?
With the many activities and attractions available for kids in Suffolk, why not book your holiday now to not miss out?