Will delight and inspire
Adults £13.90, children £8, children five and under free. Camping £20pppn, glamping in bell tent
(sleeps four), £150 for two nights (dogstival. co.uk).
BLOSSOM AND FLOURISH
The team of gardeners at
Trentham Gardens, Stoke-on-trent, have been busy throughout autumn adding 130,000 extra bulbs for this year’s Spring Bulbs Festival, with more than 1,000 added to Trentham’s famous
Fairy Trail.
Other highlights include new displays in the Rose Border and Trellis Walk, sweetly scented narcissus and hyacinths in the balustrade borders and floral displays adding colour to the platforms of the Trentham Fern’s railway stations. Adults £12, concessions £10, children £9, (trentham.co.uk).
Meanwhile, in the short window between the end of April and the beginning of May, the 329 Taihaku cherry trees at Alnwick Garden,
Northumberland, display their beautiful blooms and visitors can sit on the swinging benches to admire the fluttering white blossom. From £8.09 (alnwick garden.com).
ECO-FRIENDLY FUN
Greenwood Family Park in Felinheli, North Wales, was voted best family day out inwales for seven years running – and all the attractions are eco-friendly. Along with a ‘people-powered’ roller coaster, Solar Splash is the UK’S first solar-powered ride and visitors can pull themselves along a canal using ropes and a paddle on the Enchanted River Ride.
There is also the Barefoot Trail, a sensory experience of walking barefoot across different terrains including sand, bark, straw and timber, plus the Forest Theatre, woodland crafts and the chance to learn circus skills.advance online peak season bookings from £16.20 (greenwoodfamilypark.co.uk).
INTO THE FLYING PAN
Moat Brae House and
Garden in Dumfries, Scotland, is where Peter Pan author JM Barrie found his inspiration for the wonders of Neverland as a child. The Georgian townhouse was saved from demolition, restored and opened as a tourist attraction last spring.visitors can discover the heritage and secrets of the lovely house and gardens by the River Nith, then relax in the cafe.
Fittingly, it is the National Centre for Children’s Literature and Storytelling.
Closed Mondays in term time. Adult £6.50, child £5. (peterpanmoatbrae.org).