Ready, Set.... Summer

Check out 24Seven Lifestyle's 50 Fun Things to Do During the Summer Holidays.

Summer holidays are the perfect time to break out of routine and dive into fun. Whether you're looking for outdoor adventures, creative projects, or tasty treats, we've got you covered. Here are 50 fun ideas split into five easy-to-follow sections to make your summer shine.

Days Out — Adventure Awaits!

1. Visit a local aquarium, farm or zoo — Get up close with your favourite sea creatures or animals. If that is a little out of your budget, pets at home hold FREE pet pals workshops.

Click HERE for more details on how to book and availability in your area.

2. Have a beach day — Pack a picnic, build sandcastles, and dip your toes in the sea. If you are located more inland and can't make a trip to the coast, lots of city centres, parks and shopping centres are now hosting, giant sand pits for you to come along and enjoy for FREE. Look out for details of any popping up in your local area!

3. Explore a new hiking trail — Discover local countryside or woodlands. National Trust care for many sites across the UK which offer Walking and Hiking trails for all abilities. You could even treat yourself to a visit to the National Trust property and gardens of the location you are visiting for a small cost or FREE if you managed to bag yourself a free pass in the recent give away. Parking charges may apply.

4. Go fruit or flower picking — Strawberries, raspberries, or Sunflowers — sweet and fun! Lots of farms now offer this event, offering wide ranges of experiences, from basic field picking to full on festivals with Photo opportunities. FREE alternative? Forage for Blackberries or wild flowers, which are often found growing in the wild.

5. Check out an outdoor cinema — Movies under the stars feel extra special. There are lots of outdoors cinemas popping up across the country, we found this one with lots of locations across the UK. Indoor cinema more your thing? Cineworld are currently offering £1 family movies across the summer. Click HERE

to find out more.

6. Take a boat trip — From paddleboats to river cruises, enjoy life on the water. Lots of parks hosting lakes now offer small family friendly boats or Pedalos to hire for a reasonable price. Alternatively, take a walk down your local canal - check out canal river trust for FREE downloadable activity booklets HERE

7. Visit a splash park or local paddling spot — Perfect for cooling off on a hot day. A decent park may have a FREE splash park or take advantage of nature and paddle in a small stream. Check out North-Leeds Mumblers guide to splash parks and safe paddling areas HERE

*Please note some of the recommendations involve open water, and whilst recommended as safe places for paddling - please ensure you conduct your own research and a responsible adult is present at all times.

8. Visit a new park — Try somewhere you’ve never been before. Take a picnic, fly a kite or take a ride on a scooter!

9. Take a city walking tour — Discover hidden gems and cool facts or devise a scavenger hunt specific for your local area!

10. Head to a local festival or fair — Music, food, and games galore! Does your local area have a local summer fayre or gala? Many offer FREE activities and live entertainment. Take a picnic along and make a day of it.

Food — Tasty Treats to Make & Try

11. Make homemade ice lollies — Blend your favourite fruits for a refreshing snack or pop a lolly stick into a banana and cover with chocolate and sprinkles for a tasty nutritious treat!

12. Host a garden BBQ — Invite friends or family for a summer feast, make some homemade decorations and play some garden games!

13. Try a new summer smoothie recipe — Experiment with tropical flavours or try your hand at making a slush puppy, great way to cool down!

14. Bake a summer fruit tart — A sweet way to enjoy seasonal produce and an amazing way to use any fruit you may have picked yourself (activity 4).

15. Make s’mores over a fire pit — Classic and delicious (or try a microwave version). Eat them around the fire pit whilst sharing tales or songs! Click HERE for a failed proof microwave smores recipe.

16. Create a DIY lemonade stand — Fun for the kids and refreshing for everyone. Make a makeshift stand outside for passers by. Check out this child friendly printable recipe from Rainy Day Mum HERE

17. Make your own pizza night — Everyone gets to pick their toppings. Design them in the style of your favourite animals or funny faces for added amusement!

18. Have an ice cream sundae party — Don’t forget the sprinkles and cherries! Great fun and a fab way to cool down!

19. Try making your own jam — Perfect for toast or gifting. Another great way of using any picked or foraged fruit (activity 4)

20. Experiment with no-bake summer treats — Like fridge cakes or energy bites. Children seem to have an additional stomach when it comes to snacks - keep them busy and full by getting them involved in making some nutritious treats. Click HERE for some great recipe ideas.

Garden — Outdoor Fun at Home

21. Set up a tent for backyard camping — No travel required! Stay up late and look up at the stars, can you spot any constellations?

22. Create a mini wildlife haven — Bird feeders, bug hotels, or butterfly-friendly plants. Great fun, looks pretty and great for the environment too!

23. Have a water balloon fight — Classic fun for all ages. Use old sponges for a cost effective, environmentally friendly versions and kitchen pans when the competition really heats up.

24. Make a DIY obstacle course — Get creative with garden toys and household items.

25. Plant some vegetables or flowers, have a Sunflower race — See whose sunflower grows the tallest or make a yummy fruit cocktail with some homegrown fruit!

26. Host a garden treasure hunt — Hide small treats or toys around the yard and leave clues to where they are, let's see who can find them all the fastest.

27. Build a fairy or gnome garden — Use pebbles, tiny plants, and a sprinkle of imagination.

28. Chalk art on the patio or pavement — Let your creativity run wild. Hopscotch anyone?

29. Play garden games like swing ball or giant Jenga — Perfect for family competitions or get some family, friends and neighbours together for a giant game of rounders!

30. Slow down and soak it all in - a sensory garden adventure! From feeling textured leaves to listening to nature’s sounds and finding shapes in the clouds that drift by, it’s the perfect way for children to connect, calm, and explore with all their senses.

Arts & Crafts — Get Creative Indoors or Out

31. Make tie-dye T-shirts, shoes or bags — Bright, bold, and totally unique. Host a mini fashion show for your family to show off your summer collection. Click HERE for easy instructions on how to get started.

32. Create nature collages with leaves and flowers — A lovely keepsake of summer. Use sticky back plastic or poke holes through card to make a super special piece of art. Or just go old school and make daisy chains, bracelets, rings and hair accessories.

33. Try air-dry clay modelling — Make pots, trinkets, or mini sculptures. Pair with activity 40 and display them in your very own art show.

34. Paint rocks or shells and hide them in your local area — A kindness project for the community.

35. Make friendship bracelets — Colourful and meaningful. You could paint some pasta and use this if you don't have any beads to hand.

36. Create a summer scrapbook — Stick in photos, tickets, and souvenirs, a reminder of all the amazing activities you have done or places you have visited. A great way to winde down towards the end of the holidays, the kids could even take it in to school to share with their teachers and friends.

37. DIY wind chimes with beads, shells or even old cutlery — Pretty and musical. Or use items from around the house to put together your own Rock Band, put on a show for friends and family.

38. Learn simple origami — Start with animals or summer shapes. Click HERE for easy guide to get you started.

39. Make your own sun catchers with tissue paper — Brighten up your windows.

40.Get creative and create your own art work. Pin it up around the house and host a mini art show at home — Display everyone's creations for family and friends.

DIY Play — Build, Make & Invent

41. Build a fort or castle — the bigger the better! Use old cardboard boxes or bedsheets and table clothes.

42. Create your own board game — Make up rules, design cards, and play it together with friends and family.

43. Make a puppet theatre with sock puppets or get siblings involved and put on a show for family.

44. DIY water wall or mud kitchen with plastic bottles, tubes and old kitchenware — Great for messy play in the garden.

45. Invent a new sport using household items — The wackier, the better. Don't forget to create a warm up and cool down to go with it, get the whole family involved.

46. Make a marble run from cardboard tubes — See how long you can make it. No marbles? No problem, use cars, footballs or even round fruit!

47. Create a town from Lego/Magnetic tiles or even play dough! Get creative and make up a story for your little world.

48. Build a bird feeder or bug hotel from recycled materials — Help out local wildlife and do a spot of bird or bug watching.

49. Make your own musical instruments — Drums, shakers, or guitars with rubber bands. Perform for family and friends.

50. Host a mini Olympics with homemade medals — Challenge friends or family to fun games or obstacle courses.

Ready, Set… Summer!

Whether you pick a handful of these ideas or challenge yourself to do them all, the most important thing is to have fun and make memories. Happy summer holidays!