Things to do: Half Term in Warwickshire
Half-term is fast approaching, and although the kids are getting excited for the holidays, it can be a long half-term for the parents looking to entertain little ones. Whether you’re local to Warwickshire & looking for some half-term inspiration, or planning a visit to Ardencote and looking for fun things to do, read on as we have done all of the hard work for you!
Visit Britain’s Ultimate Castle
Ardencote is just 10 minutes down the road from Warwick, home to Warwick Castle. The picturesque market town of Warwick is steeped in history and makes for a great, educational day out. Warwick Castle always has great events & shows taking place, engaging for both adults and the kids. This half term they will be hosting their spectacular birds of prey show, meet your favourite characters from Horrible Histories in their interactive maze, or explore their Towers, Ramparts and 64 acres of beautiful Grounds and Gardens, including the Pageant Field, Peacock Garden and Conqueror’s Fortress.
Stopping with us and want to visit? Warwick Castle Tickets are available for families to purchase directly from Ardencote. Speak to our team to find out more…
Take a trip to Hatton Adventure World
Hatton Adventure World offers the ultimate day out for families with kids. Located less than 10 minutes away from Ardencote, the resort offers an unforgettable day of fun and action!
Why not get up close and personal with your farmyard favourites, milk Bluebell the cow, visit the 250+ resident guinea pigs in their furry village or handle hawks and stick insects at the falconry centre.
Younger kids will love the tractor safari, spotting the animals as they travel through the countryside before enjoying Snorty’s Superslide Mania and fun fair rides in the indoor play area. This half-term Hatton are even putting on their very own Jack and the Beanstalk Panto! Be sure to book your tickets in advance.
Visit The UK’s largest tropical butterfly paradise.
Stratford Butterfly Farm, located just 9 miles from Ardencote, is the UK’s largest tropical butterfly paradise. The farm takes you through a series of specially designed habitats and displays. In the Rainforest Flight Area you will find over 250 different species of tropical butterfly sourced from 20 different countries. The Minibeast Metropolis is teeming with life and houses one of the largest insect collections in the UK. It is also home to snakes, reptiles, amphibians and others.
The Butterfly Farm is the perfect way to keep the kids engaged and inquisitive, come rain or shine.
Take a trip to the British Motor Museum
Located just half an hour from Ardencote, in Gaydon, The British Motor Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of historic British cars. Explore over 400 British classic cars from their vehicle collection, take part in themed trails, experience their highly interactive touch screen exhibits. Head over to their Interactive Zone to understand how a car works, or enjoy a costumed guided tour that gives the family an insight to the British motor industry in a fun and relaxed way.
They also have a cafe, free car parking and an on-site play area, making it the ideal family day out.
Visit the MAD Museum
Stratford’s MAD Museum, The Museum of Mechanical Art and Design, is just 20 minutes away from Ardencote by car, and is the UK’s only permanent venue for mechanical art. If you’re not sure what mechanical art is all about, think of the machines and gizmos used in Wallace and Gromit, Scrapheap Challenge and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The MAD Museum promotes Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, Art and Design & is super interactive for the kids. Pre-booked tickets only required for Warwickshire School holidays. They operate on a ‘pay on the day’ scheme any other time. Find out more here
Take a rollercoaster ride at Drayton Manor
Need more adrenaline? Drayton Manor Theme Park is just 40 minutes by car from Ardencote and makes for a great family day out. Home to over 100 rides and attractions, with choices for the big and little kids. Alongside a 15 acre Zoo, with over 500 animals and endangered species, as well as Europe’s only Thomas Land! There promises to be something for everyone at Drayton Manor. Find out more here and be sure to check out their ‘useful info page’ bursting with great tips to maximise your time at the park.
Indulge at Cadbury World
Chocolate lovers in your life? A visit to Cadbury World is an absolute must. Located in Bournville, just 30 minutes from Ardencote, Cadbury World is an immersive exhibition into the journey of Cadbury’s Chocolate.
From learning how your favourite confectionery is made, to playing in chocolate rain, they even have a 4D Chocolate Adventure zone; a 4D cinema experience featuring Cadbury’s most popular characters. You can even book Character Dining for a truly unforgettable experience.
Visit the Animals at West Midlands Safari Park
Animal lovers listen up! Less than an hour by car, near Bewdley, lies West Midlands Safari Park. From Elephants to African Lions and Tigers, the drive-through safari will bring you close encounters with wildlife from across the globe.
It doesn’t stop there at the Safari Park, park the car up and head over to the Park area to see a spectacular Sea Lion Show, explore the Penguin Cove & come face to face with their endangered Red Panda, Mei Lin. If that somehow isn’t enough, The Adventure Theme Park is the ideal adrenaline fix for the kids (and the big kids, too!)
Take a family break at Ardencote
Situated in 83 acres of gardens, Ardencote is the perfect choice for a family getaway. Located just 4 miles from Warwick we think we are in an ideal location, close to the centre of all the action.
Picture it, start your day off with a hearty restaurant breakfast, steadily make your way over to our leisure club where you will have full access to the indoor pool, steam room, sauna, and sports courts.
Fill up your day however you fancy, go for a family swim, challenge the kids to a game of tennis or ping pong… once the kids have used up their energy, why not sneak off and book yourself in for a relaxing spa treatment at Destination Spa?
However you decide to use your time here, you will leave feeling refreshed and reset. If you are interested in booking our Half-Term Family Break at Ardencote, you can find out more information here.
Ardencote’s Grounds, Indoor Swimming Pool and Family Bedroom
We look forward to welcoming you soon! If you have any Top Tips for places to visit in Warwickshire, please do let us know by sending us a message on Facebook or Twitter.