Dream days out for kids and big kids alike

With six weeks of summer holidays stretching in front of us, parents needn’t feel daunted about how to fill these magical moments with their kids. Get inspired with three dream days out as seen through the eyes of families using Boundless membership deals and discounts

Britain truly is Boundless. Unfold your map and there’s something to do in just about every corner of the UK with the help of your Boundless membership. Don’t believe us? Well, we put this to the test, sending out three families to capture the kind of memorable family days out you can enjoy this summer and beyond.

And it isn’t all about entertaining the kids, either. From West Midlands Safari Park to Hampton Court Palace, there’s something to entertain, educate, and get completely lost in for the kids and big kids alike.

Most important of all, you can benefit from excellent savings in the process with two great membership options  gaining you unlimited entry to Historic Royal Palaces  with Boundless Plus, and up to 56% off days out at theme parks with Kids Pass.

Walk on the wild side at West Midlands Safari Park this summer

Katy, Stan, and Ralph grinning at West Midlands Safari ParkKaty took her son, five-year-old Stan, and her nine-year-old nephew Ralph on a fun-filled day trip to West Midlands Safari Park.

“We were only 90 minutes from home, yet somehow we’d turned off the M5 and arrived in the Serengeti.”

Here the trio ticked off sightings of lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and hundreds of other species you wouldn’t otherwise expect to see near Birmingham.

Journeying along the four-mile safari drive, Katy was relieved not to come across mischievous monkeys with a taste for windscreen wipers and other miscellaneous car parts.

They also experienced creepy crawlies and slithery sleuths in the walk-around areas. One of Katy’s highlights? “Watching the newborn tiger cubs annoying their mum (I know the feeling).”

Tiger cubs playing at West Midlands Safari ParkAs well as seeing the wondrous creatures of the world, “The boys made the most of their ride wristbands on the rollercoasters, carousels, jungle jeeps and other amusements. Our only regret was not staying for longer – there’s so much to explore it’s hard to fit it all into a day.”

But what did Stan and Ralph think?

“It was fun driving close to the animals – it took ages so we had a picnic in the car, but mummy said to keep the windows up in case the lions tried to eat our sandwiches. Our favourite ride was the log flume because it made our tummies feel funny and we got very wet. Then we saw some big dinosaurs, but they weren’t alive anymore. We also saw hippos and a piranha, but our favourites were the giraffes and the lions."

How to get West Midlands Safari Park discounts with Boundless

With a Boundless membership, you can enjoy a 12 months of Kids Pass for free. Kids Pass gets you huge discounts of up to 56% off a number of days out and attractions, including West Midlands Safari Park, where you can save up to 32% off your bookings.

Hampton Court Palace offers a slice of English history for families

San and his family enjoy ice creams at Hampton Court PalaceJust outside of London in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames, San took his two daughters Winnie and Meri for a day out at Hampton Court Palace, “home of the world’s worst husband, Henry VIII, and one of the Family activities London.”

While San and his family took part in the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt for Easter this year, Hampton Court Palace runs seasonal events all year round, including its annual Food Festival, garden tours, and classic car exhibitions.

Entrenched in history, San found “Inside the palace itself, there was plenty of art and history for us all: from the 500-year-old tapestries to a gallery haunted by Henry VIII’s fifth queen, Catherine Howard, and a Tudor kitchen that once made over 800 meals a day.”

Actors dressed up in traditional Tudor costumes as historical figures at Hampton Court PalaceAs well as getting lost in the world’s oldest hedge maze and running around the Magic Garden, the family enjoyed sandwiches and ice cream on the lawn. “We could have come back to Hampton Court Palace for seconds, as there was so much more to see.”

Winnie's verdict?

“I liked the bunny hunt – we found seven – and got to keep a chocolate one to eat. It was really fun running around the gardens. I loved the funny shaped trees the best. The maze was lots of fun too, but very hard. When I go back to school, I’ll tell my friends about the ghost in the palace. We didn’t see it, but we heard some creaking. My sister Meri said she liked the ice cream best. She got it all over her face. I think we should go back and see if we can find more bunnies.”

How to save on visits to Hampton Court Palace with Boundless

Boundless Plus members get unlimited access to any Historic Royal Palaces including Hampton Court Palace, as well as the Tower of London and Kensington Palace. Membership also allows you to bring one additional child. You can also make use of a 10% discount across Historic Royal Palaces shops and cafes.

Fill your day with animal sightings and theme park rides at Chessington

Don’t worry, Boundless have got you covered for days out with your teens, too, with Chessington World of Adventures managing to pull Adrian and Mark’s teenage boys Callum and Jakub out of bed and out the door by 7.30am.

With an intensive briefing in the car from the two boys deciding what rides they wanted to go on first, Mark took on the responsibility of chief bag holder for the day while Adrian braved the rollercoasters.

“This wasn’t our first trip to Chessington, but there were plenty of new things – and new rides – to check out, like Mandrill Mayhem in the World of Jumanji, which flings you around like mad monkeys in the treetops.”

Chessington World of Adventure's Mandrill Mayhem rollercoasterIt wasn’t all thrill seeking, though. The family of four also wandered through the Sea Life Centre (the clownfish were a standout sighting), as well as the zoo where they spotted penguins, lions, gorillas, giraffes, zebras, and rhinos.

Reflecting on their day out at Chessington World of Adventures, Mark said, “Despite all the thrills, spills and smiles, the highlight of the day for us was seeing the boys reconnect. With one in college and the other about to start GCSEs, it was a much-needed break from the pressures of revision. Watching them laugh, chat and enjoy themselves was truly special – and a wonderful reminder of how valuable family time really is.”

What did 19-year-old Callum and 16-year-old Jakub think?

“We had such a great time. The best ride was definitely Vampire – it felt even faster than the last time we went on it. Mandrill Mayhem was really exciting too, the faster the better… We’ll definitely tell our friends about the new Jumanji area too. The food was delicious, especially the pulled pork and fries. The Tiger Rock log flume was amazing, but we weren’t thrilled about getting wet, though thankfully we didn’t get as soaked as Dad!”

Get deals on Chessington World of Adventures with Boundless

You can save on your visit to Chessington through Kids Pass, which you get access to for free for 12 months, or save 20% on bookings with Boundless partner Virgin Experience Days.

Boundless members can attend one of our Member’s Day events. On the 13th September, Chessington World of Adventures Member’s Day sees the whole theme park, zoo, and aquarium open exclusively to members.

^{This article was accurate at the time of publication. Please note information and offers shown may change over time.}