It’s the start of the summer holidays, for another year! Are you beginning to wonder how you are going to fill the holidays with fun and excitement for your little ones without having to spend a fortune?
We are so lucky that we live in such a beautiful part of the country and although it does feel like North Devon becomes more expensive in the summer months, there is still lots of free and fun activities for families and children
Here we have compiled a list of some of the free summer holiday activities you can do with your child!
Affinity Devon: It’s popular due to the outlet shopping it provides, but Affinity also hosts a number of different activities for children (including under 5s) during the school holidays. This summer holiday is no exception, with an action-packed ‘Summer of Fun’ schedule of FREE activities, to suit every child’s interests. From 29
th July – 30
th August there will be live shows, science workshops, a climbing wall, activity schools (pirates, unicorns and more!) Visit their website to download the brochure and find out more:
https://www.affinitydevon.com/whats-on/summer-of-fun
Northam Burrows: This may not be the first beach that you think of when you think of North Devon beaches, but it is a fantastic beach for hosting activities for toddlers, children and families. As well as playing on the beach and splashing in the sea (both of which are free!) there is also a schedule of family-friendly activities that run throughout the year, and this summer there is lots on offer! From scavenger hunts, to beach games, trails, teddy bears’ picnic, guided walks, craft activities, sandcastle competitions and rockpool rambles – there is something for everyone! Check out the full summer holiday schedule here:
Barnstaple Library: Barnstaple library (as well as other local libraries) host an array of different activities for children throughout the year, but more so in the school holidays. Being a member of the library is free, so borrowing books is free, and children love to explore and read different books to the ones they have at home! There is also lots of FREE summer activities for children, including a summer reading challenge, Lego builder sessions, breakfast and craft sessions, story times, children’s first aid and much, much more! Visit their Facebook page for more information:
https://www.facebook.com/BarnstapleLibrary Rock Park: Another popular place to visit that won’t cost you a penny is Rock Park! The park is hugely popular with children due to the large children’s play area – there is even a flying fox! The park also has a nearby skate park, tennis club, football pitches, riverside footpath and green spaces. There are public toilets and a refreshments kiosk, so as the weather improves (we’ll keep our fingers crossed!) it’s a great place to spend the day and enjoy a family picnic! There are also special events on throughout the summer, including an inflatable fun park. And if your little one is full of energy, why not sign them up to do the Junior Park Run on Sunday mornings? It’s free, all you need to do is to sign them up!
https://www.barnstapletowncouncil.gov.uk/rock-park/ https://www.parkrun.org.uk/barnstaple-juniors/ We’d love to hear about any adventures you have in Barnstaple and across North Devon with your little ones – remember you can upload photos to the parent app for us to see!
Have a great summer holiday! 😊
