Bedfordshire
Free Days Out
Houghton House,
Ampthill
Houghton House, widely
acclaimed as the inspiration for John Bunyan's 'House Beautiful' in 'Pilgrims
Progress' (Published in 1678), is located to the north east of the town.
It is contended that Bunyan used the landscape of Bedfordshire, as the
backdrop for his classic allegorical tale. Unfortunately, only ruins now
remain of this once great house. Further information can be gained by
visiting the following
Houghton House Web Page.
1 mile NE off A42
John Dony Field
Centre, Bushmead, Luton
The John Dony Field
Centre, in Bushmead Community Centre is the base for Luton Borough Council’s
Nature Conservation Service.
Inside the centre
visitors can find displays and information about the countryside sites
in and around Luton that are cared for by the Nature Conservation Service.
There are permanent
displays and temporary exhibitions relating to the natural history of
Luton, events for all ages and interests and opportunities for schools
and groups interested in lifelong learning.
The centre also provides
offices for Nature Conservation staff who can provide additional information.
If you would like to see a member of staff please phone for an appointment
to guarantee that someone will be there to help you as staff are often
working on the countryside sites.
Opening times for
the John
Dony Field Centre:
Monday – Friday
9.30am – 4.45pm
John Dony Field Centre,
Hancock Drive
Bushmead
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU2 7SF
Tel: 01582 486983
Stockwood Park
Museum, Luton, Bedfordshire.
Stockwood
Park Museum includes displays on rural Bedfordshire Crafts, the
Mossman Collection of horse-drawn vehicles, stunning Period Gardens and
events throughout the year.
Stockwood Park Museum is housed in tranquil parkland on the site of the
former Stockwood House around 2 miles to the south of Luton town centre,
close to junction 10 of the M1. Admission is free.
Stockwood Park Museum, Farley Hill
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 4BH
Tel: 01582 738714
Wardown Park Museum,
Luton, Bedfordshire
Discover displays,
objects and old photographs about the history of Luton and its people
as well as activities, events and exhibitions for all ages and interests.
Wardown Park Museum is situated in a beautiful landscaped park around
1.5 miles north from the centre of Luton.
Wardown
Park Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
Admission is free.
Priory Country
Park - Bedford
300 acres including lakes and bird watching, fishing and watersports.
Tel: 01234 211182
Berkshire
Free Days Out
West Berkshire
Museum
Historic Museum Buildings
The museum is housed
in two of Newbury's most historic buildings. The Cloth Hall was built
in 1626-1627 by Richard Emmes, a master carpenter of Speenhamland for
the Newbury Corporation as a cloth factory. Originally part of a larger
range of buildings with a courtyard in the centre, the building was subsequently
used as a workhouse, hospital and school before being used for storing
corn from 1829 until its conversion to a museum.
Admission is free
- see
opening times
West Berkshire Museum
The Wharf
Newbury
Berkshire
RG14 5AS
Tel: 01635 30511
Dinton Pastures Country
Park - Hurst, Berkshire
Rivers, meadows, lakes and woodland.
www.wokingham.gov.uk
Household Cavalry
Museum - Windsor
Collection of militaria relating to Royal mounted bodyguards.
www.householdcavalry.co.uk
Buckinghamshire Free Days Out
Wycombe Museum, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
A children's Discovery
Room, trails and special activities combine with imaginative displays
to make this a lively museum for visitors of all ages. Permanent exhibits,
videos and sound recordings tell the story of Wycombe, Marlow, Princes
Risborough and their villages, whilst the Special Exhibitions offers a
changing programme of displays about local history, furniture, art or
science, ensuring there is always something different to see.
Wycombe
Museum,
Priory Avenue,
High Wycombe,
Bucks HP13 6PX.
Tel: 01494 421895
Admission is free.
Small charge for some activities.
Hertfordshire
Free Days Out
Aldenham Country Park
- Elstree, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
Winnie the Pooh's 100 acre wood, 65 acre reservoir, 175 acres of meadows
& woodland.
www.hertsdirect.org/aldenham
Berkhamsted
Castle
It was outside the Saxon fort that became Berkhamsted castle that
William the Conqueror was finally handed the English crown in 1066. Still
remaining after a thousand years are the substantial earthworks on which
the Norman castle was built.
Open all year exc. Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Fairlands Valley Park
- Stevenage, Hertfordshire
120 acre park with lake for sailing and windsurfing. Courses available.
www.stevenage-leisure.co.uk/fairlands
Hertford Museum -
Hertford, Hertfordshire
Local History, Special events for children
www.hertfordshiremuseum.org
Letchworth
Museum & Art Gallery
Letchworth Museum & Art Gallery occupies an attractive Edwardian building
facing Kennedy Gardens, close to the centre of Letchworth Garden City.
The museum has four main galleries open all year Mon-Tues, Thurs - Sat.
10 - 5. Closed bank holidays .
Mill Green Museum
& Mill - Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Fully restored 18th century watermill - still producing flour.
01707 271362
Museum
of St.Albans
Founded as the Hertfordshire County Museum in 1898, the Museum of
St Albans tells the story of St Albans from the departure of the Romans
to the present day.
In the medieval gallery
you can find out about Alban, Britain's first Christian martyr, and the
Abbey that grew up around the site of his martyrdom. See objects used
by people in medieval St Albans and learn how they lived.
Monday - Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday 2.00 - 5.00pm
Open all year, except
between Christmas and New Year - please check with the museum for details.
Free Admission
Hatfield Road
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 3RR
Telephone 01727
819340
Walter
Rothschild Museum
The Museum covers a large site and has extensive facilities including
a café, a gift shop, a discovery room, two outdoor picnic areas
and free car parking.Step-free
access to the ground floor of the Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum
includes the shop, café, unisex toilet, Gallery 1, and The Rothschild
Room in which temporary exhibitions and special events are held.
Opening hours Monday
- Saturday 10.00 - 17.00. Sunday 14.00 - 17.00
The Museum is open every day of the year except 24, 25, 26 December. Entry
is free
Scotts
Grotto, Ware, Hertfordshire
You may be surprised to learn that tucked away in a street of modern
houses in Ware is the country's largest grotto. Most examples of these
eighteenth century garden buildings are in the grounds of stately homes
and several are presently the subject of restoration programmes. Scott's
Grotto was restored in 1990 by the Ware Society on behalf of the owners,
East herts District Council.
It is open to the
public from 2.00pm - 4.30 pm every Saturday and Bank Holiday from April
to September inclusive. Parties can also be shown round at other times
by appointment with the curator, Mrs Janet Watson (01920 464131). Entrance
is free but a donation of £1.00 is suggested from new visitors.
It is advisable to wear flat shoes and to bring a torch.
South
West of England. Children go free.
Denham Country Park
- Uxbridge
Rivers, woodlands and meadows.
www.buckscc.gov.uk/countryside/countryparks
Hanningfield Reservoir
Visitor Centre - Billericay, Essex
100 acre nature reserve on the shores of Hanningfield Reservoir
www.essexwt.org.uk
High Woods Country
Park - Colchester, Essex
woodland, wetland, grassland, farmland - fishing and horse-riding trail.
www.visitweb.com/hwcp
Lee Valley Park -
Waltham Abbey, Essex
Bird-watching, fishing and Walking.
www.leevalleypark.com
Weald Country Park
- Brentwood
Deer Paddock, two lakes, walks and nature trails.
Tel: 01277 216297
The Bear Museum- Petersfield,
Hampshire.
Antique teddy bears in Edwardian setting.
www.bearmuseum.co.uk
Fort Nelson - The
Royal Armouries - Fareham, Hampshire
Victorian fort fully restored set in 19 acres. Live firing daily.
www.armouries.org.uk
Southampton Maritime
Museum - Southampton
Medieval stone warehouse with exhibitions including Titanic and interactive
displays.
www.southampton.gov.uk/leisure/heritage
The Needles Park,
Totland Bay, Isle of Wight
Park with rides and attractions, chairlift to beach.
www.theneedles.co.uk
Capstone Farm Country
Park, Gillinham, Kent
280 acres of meadows and woodlands with childrens' play areas.
01634 812196
Bank of England Museum,
Threadneedle Street, London EC2
Museum within the Bank of England charting the history of money.
www.bankofengland.co.uk
Imperial War Museum,
Lambeth Road, London SE1
Interactive, sights and smells of wartime in London.
www.iwm.org.uk
Livesey Museum for
Children, Old Kent Road, London SE1
Interactive exhibitions for children up to 12
www.Liveseymuseum.org.uk
Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London SW7
Interactive exhibitions from dinosaurs onwards. Some exhibitions have
entrance fees.
www.nhm.ac.uk
Ragged School Museum,
Copperfield Road, London E3
On the site of the original Dr. Barnardo's Ragged School. Dedicated to
East End.
www.raggedschool.museum.org.uk
Royal Air Force Museum,
Hendon London NW9
Museum of aviation, interactive areas. Flying through the ages.
www.rafmuseum.com
Science Museum, Exhibition
Road, London SW7
Interactive exhibits from yesteryear to tomorrow's world.
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
Stepping Stones Farm,
Stepney High Street, London E1
Working farm, farming demonstrations, farm trail and play area.
www.stepneynews.com
Tate Britain, Millbank,
London SW1
National gallery of British art from 16th century to today.
www.tate.org.uk
Box Hill, Tadworth,
Surrey KT20
Woodland and downs with marked trails and strolls.
01306 885502
CherryTree Farm, Lingfield,
Surrey RH7
Stabling for rescue horses, donkeys, and ponies - guided tours.
www.ilph.org.uk
Harbour Park Family
Amusement Park - Littlehampton, West Sussex
Traditional family amusement park and fairground - individual fees for
rides.
01903 721200
Shpwreck Heritage
Centre, Hastings, East Sussex TN34
Collection of historic treasures salvaged from shipwrecks.
01424 437452
Tilgate Park &
Nature Reserve, Crawley, West Sussex RH10
Endangered species and breeds, wild and domestic animals.
www.crawley.gov.uk
[ kids
go free - South West England ]
|
