The excitement has been building – at least for the kids – as the long school summer break arrives at last.
It is one thing thinking of those seemingly endless days of fun rolling out ahead of everyone; it is another thing altogether deciding how to keep everyone entertained over the six weeks until the start of the new school year.
Days out can prove costly, with all the extras added in, with food and drink, admission costs and more besides to consider. Fortunately in and around Grimsby and northern Lincolnshire there are places to visit and things to do that won’t cost the earth – plenty of options are free, which will be a blessing for cash-strapped families contending with the cost of living and making sure there is enough in the pot for new school uniforms.
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With a variety of things to do in the region, from craft clubs to sporting activities, Grimsby Live has compiled a handy guide to what’s on – with ideas for indoor entertainment if the weather does take a turn – until it’s time to return to lessons.
1 Great Grub Fest
Get down to Cleethorpes prom for a food and art festival by the sea. The Great Grub Fest is back from Friday to Sunday, July 19 to 21, with local food and art at its core.
You’ll find local stalls, beer gardens, local makers and live entertainment. It’s all about keeping it local, with a huge variety of North East Lincolnshire food and art businesses taking the spotlight.
2 Animal encounters
Nunny’s Farm, in Wootton Road, Grimsby, is a community petting farm set up for the enjoyment of everyone, being inclusive, accessible and friendly. The aim is to provide a day out for all the family where experiences with over a dozen different species of animal – from highland cows to alpacas and rabbits – are central to the visit.
Most of the animals have come to Nunny’s by donation or have been rescued and are cared for by the farm owners like their own family pets. Founders Neil and Jo said: “All our animals love to meet new people and take food out of even the smallest of hands!”
3 Woodland walks
Weelsby Woods is an open space featuring natural areas to explore, as well as open grassland, and has large play facilities and car parking. In the summer, families can enjoy the café/ice cream parlour as an added treat.
The Friends of Weelsby Woods hold regular litter picks that the whole family can get involved in – a chance to get out into the open air and help preserve a beautiful place for everyone to enjoy, and to meet the famous Weelsby lions!
4 Pigs and more
There is a whole world of indoor and outdoor play at Pink Pig Farm – and summer brings the added attraction of foam parties on the farm! This award-winning visitor attraction is based on a traditional family-run farm and includes an animal trail and a café for when hunger pangs kick in.
Visitors report spending hours at Pink Pig Farm, to get the most of everything that’s on offer. They suggest bringing a change of clothes because the outdoor mucky play can get just that.
5 All aboard
Enjoy a ride on one of Britain’s oldest seaside miniature railways this summer. Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway has been delighting generations of visitors since 1948.
The train ride is a two-mile return journey around Cleethorpes Boating Lake, joining the seafront path with views of the picturesque Lincolnshire Coast before winding inland over a splendid viaduct – children can grab a free copy of Harry the Cat’s activity sheet, spotting landmarks along the way. A visit to this attraction is not just about trains, however; you can also try your hand at crazy golf on the nine-hole course (there is a new Putt and Ride ticket offer for summer) and refreshments are available.
6 Take to the hills
Hubbard’s Hills is about a 30-minute drive from Grimsby and well worth a visit for free enjoyment of the beautiful green space that maintains its traditional rural charm. The naturally formed landscape includes mature trees on the sloping sides of the valley, with lovely viewpoints to discover.
You will probably be in the company of curious ducks and swans as you take to the stepping stones across the lake. This parkland features an Edwardian pleasure garden and country park, as well as the scenic lake.
7 Get out on the water
No visit to Cleethorpes is complete without a visit to its iconic Boating Lake, at the southern end of the resort and next to the local nature reserve. Take a stroll around the lake, feed the ducks or take a row boat, canoe, kayak or pedalo onto the water in the summer season.
The site includes two lakes – the south lake is where you can get out onto the water in a boat, the north lake is open for fishing – and set in the middle is a fountain. Young visitors will also enjoy the outdoor sandpit play area.
8 Paddle time
The paddling pool on the seafront in Cleethorpes is a great space for children to play and splash around in safe, shallow water. Families can relax and enjoy the fresh sea air, with plenty of amenities nearby, including cafes and changing facilities.
9 Holiday clubs
Lincs Inspire has a host of amazing clubs, groups and activities for you to try during the summer break, running from July 21 to August 31. As Paris prepares to host the 2024 Olympic Games, youngsters can enjoy their own Mini Olympics, for example.
Among the sessions on offer are family roller skating, a summer football course, a musical theatre workshop and one-to-one cycle coaching. Attendance needs to be booked and, with the return of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, you could be entitled to free places with food provided.
10 Go Ape
There has never been a better time to visit Normanby Hall, with the region’s first Go Ape, two new playground areas and a programme of events planned. As well as the Hall itself, there is a farming museum, a gift shop and a café on site.
Families can stretch their legs in the historic woodland or with a leisurely stroll around the pretty walled garden.
11 Day at the museum
North Lincolnshire Museum, in Scunthorpe, is free to visit and open daily. A programme of special events is running throughout the summer to interest children and young people.
You can try out artefact handling, enjoy board games and puzzles, immerse yourself in some storytelling or get creative with make and take crafts.
12 At the water’s edge
For a free family day out packed with wildlife and nature, Waters’ Edge Country Park and Visitor Centre offers the lot. Explore 110 acres of country park and nature reserve, discover how green you are with the interactive displays or just chill out by the ponds and feed the ducks.
Little ones will love the reading corner and giant games and can burn off energy in the outdoor play areas. The Visitor Centre includes a gift shop and a café.
13 Street Sport
Street Sport is back, for young people aged eight to 18 years and with activities in and around Scunthorpe. There are afternoon and early evening sessions running into August, with the likes of dodgeball and sport and fitness on the timetable.
Each child requires an adult to complete the registration form on their first session. For further information please call 01724 297270.
14 Get in the swim
Children can swim for free this summer with North Lincolnshire Council’s Summer Daze programme. Summer Daze SEND sessions are also being held at Axholme North Leisure Centre, Baysgarth Community Hub and The Pods (these sessions need to be booked in advance).
NL Active summer holiday sessions include half-price racket sports, giant pool inflatables and junior gym.
15 Picnics and gardens
A day out at Elsham Hall includes one of the country’s biggest 18th century walled gardens, a picnic area, an adventure playground, a sensory garden and woodland and lake areas to explore. On August 4, the visitor attraction is playing host to Chapterhouse Theatre Company’s evening open-air production of Little Women, on the Hall’s lawns (or in a barn if wet).
16 Role play
Little people, big adventures at Play Avenue, in Messingham. This spacious indoor role play setting is designed to fuel imaginations.
Youngsters can explore life as a builder, an actor, a doctor or a shop assistant – or any other direction the bespoke centre inspires them to take. A café with drinks and snacks will help to recharge little batteries.
17 Fishing history relived
Discover the fascinating story of Grimsby’s maritime past with authentic sights, sounds and smells among a range of immersive interactive displays, at Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre. You can also step aboard and be given a guided tour of the Ross Tiger, an ex-working 1950s trawler.
This multi-award winning attraction will transport you back in time to the heyday of this famous port, with carefully crafted sets and original preserved trawler interiors. There is a café and gift shop on site.
18 Park life
A short stroll from Grimsby town centre is the late 19th century park, People’s Park. The 23-acre Victorian park features a double avenue of trees surrounding the park, a bandstand and a central lake with a fountain.
The park has two bowling greens and a croquet lawn along with a cafe. People’s Park plays host to various music and family events during the summer months.
19 Farm fun for families
At Hall Farm Park, South Kelsey, there are lots of friendly animals and fun indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family to discover. From rabbits and goats to pigs and ponies and donkeys and ducks, everyone can enjoy the animal encounters, plus there are play areas, go-karts, soft play, swings and sandpits among the variety of fun things to do.
20 Showing you the ropes
The Ropewalk Museum pays tribute to the history of the rope making factory, Hall’s Barton Ropery, which opened in 1767 and its workers. The grade two listed building stretches for a quarter of a mile along the length of Barton Haven and contains displays, artefacts and other memorabilia associated with the history of the factory and its workforce.
There is an on-site coffee shop and baby changing.
21 Fun at the mill
From 1666 to the present day there has always been a mill in the village of Waltham; the present one, which was built in 1878 – 1880, is fully restored and operational as a six sail working windmill. It’s not just about grinding grain here, though – there is a miniature railway and the Museum of Rural Life on site.
During August, Waltham Windmill will be hosting children’s events, including a visit by Nunny’s Farm, football and Taiko drumming activities.
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