Latest news with #familyfun
The Sun
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
New FREE kids' beach club opens in UK city with real seaside smells – it's even sheltered from the rain
A BRAND new beach club has opened with immersive games, all for free - and it is in the middle of a major UK city. Located at Westfield London, in Shepherd's Bush, the Beach Club is free to all and features different interactive elements and areas. 2 Perfect for rainy days or those who can't get to a real beach, at the club families can enjoy a range of immersive games, interactive zones and photo opportunities. After entering through a sandcastle arch, families will be greeted with giant inflatables including iconic seaside items like beach balls and ice lollies. Other supersized beach props will include deck chairs and surfboards. Inside the beach club, kids can then experience a 'sensory sandcastle', complete with kinetic sand and the sights, sounds and even smells of the seaside. For parents who want to play with their children, there will also be some classic games such as Connect 4 and skittles. You can also make sure you don't forget the day by snapping some pics at the photo opportunities around the club, including a towering wave. Dubbed by Westfield as "a city staycation with a stylish twist", there will also be a number of events, activities and surprise pop ups at the Beach Club. Andrew Phillis, general manager, Westfield London, said: "We know that summer outings are about more than shopping — people want experiences that feel social, surprising and connected to the culture around them. "This summer at Westfield London, we are delivering exactly that with a diverse programme for all tastes: from discovering live sets by rising artists at Sounds of the Summer, to hands-on family fun at The Beach Club, or simply relaxing with great food and entertainment." The Westfield London Beach Club opens today and runs until August 13, but if you miss out then don't worry as a Beach Club will then open at Westfield Stratford from August 18 to August 31. Europe's Biggest Pleasure Pier is in the UK The beach club will be open each day from 12pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday and on Sundays between 12pm and 6pm. Westfield is also hosting 'Sounds of the Summer' over the coming weeks. The event includes roaming entertainment and live DJs every Friday from 5pm to 9pm between July 18 and August 26. Music events also take place each weekend. As part of the Sounds of the Summer event, there are also a number of offers including food deals. And if you are still looking for something to do, both Westfield London and Westfield Stratford have something for everyone. At Westfield London, for example, TOCA Social recently opened its biggest venue yet, where visitors can play immersive football games. Alternatively, at Westfield Stratford City, there is Gravity MAX - an immersive destination with e-karting, AR bowling and digital darts. Wetherspoon has also revealed plans to open 30 new pubs. Plus, the world's first 'amazement park' that fans say is like a dystopian Disney to open second site in the UK. 2
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sunflower Maze at Lyman Orchards opens Aug. 2 with new theme
Lyman Orchards' annual Sunflower Maze, featuring over 350,000 sunflowers, will open Aug. 2, according to a community announcement. The maze, celebrating its 19th year, will include familiar faces like Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster. Lyman Orchards has partnered with Connecticut Children's Foundation, donating $1 of each ticket purchase to the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. Over the past 18 years, $208,101 has been raised for Connecticut Children's through the annual maze. 'The Sunflower Maze is always the highlight of the summer for us, and this year's Sesame Street theme is sure to appeal to every age,' said Lyman Orchards Executive Vice President John Lyman. 'The beauty of a field full of sunflowers against the backdrop of the surrounding orchards will create an experience to long remember.' The 3-acre maze will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Aug. 24. Admission costs $12 for adults and $7 for children ages 4 to 12. Children under 3 will be admitted for free. Visitors can also cut their own sunflowers for $5 per stalk at a separate field. After completing the maze, guests are encouraged to partake in pick-your-own activities in the orchard and stop by the Apple Barrel Farm Market for fresh food, baked goods and soft-serve ice cream. Situated on 1,100 acres in Middlefield, Lyman Orchards is a year-round family destination. Established in 1741, Lyman Orchards offers a variety of recreational activities and venues for adults and children of all ages — including pick-your-own fruit orchards, a farm market, seasonal mazes, 36 holes of championship golf, a par-29 nine-hole course, one of the top golf-training facilities in the state of Connecticut, 1741 Pub & Grill, meeting and event space, and seasonal festivals. For more information, call Lyman Orchards at 860-349-1793 or visit This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Lyman Orchards' sunflower maze returns with a Sesame Street twist Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Smugglers' adventures: All the fun of the fair (and fresh air) at the seaside in Hastings
Is it possible to cope as a single parent in charge of three children for an entire weekend? And, what's more – to actually have fun while doing it? This was the challenge I set myself when I decided to take my eight-year-old son, my 13-year-old daughter and her best friend, who's also 13, away to the seaside. We decided to escape London's sticky heatwave for somewhere with a sea breeze and plenty of cold water to cool off in. Hastings, which I'd never been to before, seemed the perfect choice. Not only is there an ancient castle for the history buffs (that's me), there's penny arcades, a funfair, an aquarium and the crowning glory: a smugglers' adventure – that's dark caves carved out of rock with actual ghosts (apparently). Talk about spooky! Setting sail We were due to 'set sail' (metaphorically) from Charing Cross station at 10.15am – on 'a proper train' as my son described it, staring back at the cramped London Underground we'd just left behind. He was right to be pleased: once we were moving, Hastings-bound – with 15 packets of crisps, seven orange juices, what felt like 500 bags of sweets and my Family & Friends Railcard all displayed proudly on the train table like an artwork – the journey to the coast became part of the adventure. Where else can you spot world-famous landmarks from the comfort of your train seat? We saw the London Eye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Thames and Southwark Cathedral before anyone had even munched their way through a single snack. RDG HASTINGS ONE Carousel with one slide shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate between slides. Image 1 of 4 The girls settled into watching a movie on their iPads, my son was playing a game and I actually read a book – the last time I'd read a book was probably before I had the children. In fact, this journey was so revelatory that I don't think I will ever drive again. It's all about taking trains, now. I was so relaxed, it felt like being on a spa day. Where else can you spot world-famous landmarks from the comfort of your seat? We saw the London Eye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Thames and Southwark Cathedral before anyone had munched a single snack. Just an hour-and-a-half later, we arrived in Hastings and navigated our way to our guesthouse: Ruby's Rooms – an arty space just 10 minutes from the town centre. We had the entire ground floor sea-view apartment, with a continental breakfast included, free Wi-Fi and just a 30-second walk to the beach. What a win. Sea life We'd been in the apartment for five minutes, when the kids started whining about having to get into the sea IMMEDIATELY. Beach towels borrowed from Kate at Ruby's Rooms, we headed for the shore, where the children did something utterly unthinkable: they got straight in the sea. It takes me at least an hour to work up the nerve but they were straight in and under. Unbelievable. Once they were out and I could stop anxiously hovering in the shallows worrying about them, I laid my towel on the pebbles and closed my eyes, feeling like I was in Marbella. Hot sun, salt in the air, the girls making silly TikTok videos and my son burying himself in rocks. Everything was dreamy. Even better, was getting an ice cream from one of the many artisanal ice cream shops along the parade. Black treacle flavour with a black charcoal waffle cone? My goth heart was sated! The kids scoffed a weird combo of pistachio, peppermint and bubblegum ice-cream as we tackled an incredibly steep hill on the way to the 'Smugglers' Adventure. They were enjoying themselves so much – I didn't hear a single moan from them. RDG HASTINGS TWO Carousel with one slide shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate between slides. Once we we got to Smugglers' Adventure however, there was plenty of moaning. It was all ghostly though – so much that my son wrapped himself around my leg like a baby koala as soon as the eerie voice of Hairy Jack – a smuggler from the past, doubling as our tour guide ghost – boomed through the dark caverns. We had a lot of fun attempting to hoist an anchor and shouting 'boo!' at the waxworks. I laid my towel on the pebbles and closed my eyes, feeling like I was in Marbella. Hot sun, salt in the air, the girls making silly TikTok videos and my son burying himself in rocks. Everything was dreamy. Ahoy! It was time for pizza! I'd read about the 'best pizza in Hastings' online – and despite fierce competition, opted for Monellis sourdough gourmet pizza on George Street – and boy, was it worth it – if a little spicy! After another ice-cream for the walk home to cool our mouths down, we fell into the penny arcades, where we spent far too much money trying to win a dinosaur toy on the 2p slot machines. Historical Hastings The next morning, it was off to a castle to learn about history – I ignored the laments of, 'Do we have to?' And won them round by telling them about the Battle of Hastings in 1066, which I still remember even though I'm ancient. 10/10 for Mum. They got even more enthusiastic when I reminded them that according to the Bayeux Tapestry, King Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings by being shot in the eye with an arrow. Grisly. If there's one thing I'm learning about my children, this weekend, is that they are weird, wonderful – and grisly. So, off we headed up the very steep hill, into the castle entrance, and straight into the dungeons. RDG HASTINGS THREE Carousel with one slide shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate between slides. Image 1 of 4 They were a welcome break from the heat (that steep hill in 28-degree heat, carrying everyone's bags wasn't pleasant). I considered asking the man behind the counter if he would lock the kids up in the dungeons for a couple of hours, but sadly he looked too busy. Shame. Instead, we did what everyone should do when looking at the ruins of an ancient castle – cartwheels – as well as a comedy 'jump shot' through an archway; and marvelled at the genuinely stunning panoramic views. We could see right out across the bay; we could see people sailing, swimming – we could even see France, right there on the horizon, through the haze. C'est magnifique. It would be all too easy to lose track of time, but thankfully, I had a FitBit which told me we'd already done 26,000 steps (that would be the steep hill) – and our feet were aching, so we decided to grab the super-cute funicular railway lift back down the cliff to the old town. It was built in 1902, I told them. 'Was that when you were born?' my son said. Thank you, thank you… We did what everyone should do when looking at the ruins of an ancient castle – cartwheels – as well as a comedy 'jump shot' through an archway; and marvelled at the stunning panoramic views. We were really going for it now, trying to fit everything in during our final precious hours, so we made a pit-stop at the aquarium to see some cool sharks, wandered along the seafront where we discovered a truly gigantic anchor, had an incredible fish and chips meal at Maggie's and still had time for another ice-cream and a spot of shopping, before it was time to get the train home. We slumped tired but happy into our seats, knowing we could relax after all the action. What did I learn? Children are the best travel companions – funny, frank, eye-wateringly honest when something is going well… and when it isn't. They don't fake anything – when they're having fun, you know about it – and those are the sweetest moments of all. And as a bonus, Hairy Jack and the dungeons have given me great reasons to make them do their homework… Enjoy great value British adventures by train From stunning nature and the great outdoors, to culture, cuisine and incredible scenery, there's no doubt Britain has it all in spades, and these unmissable adventures are just a simple, enjoyable train ride away. So there's never been a better time to start planning some Great British getaways, from day trips to weekends away or a longer staycation. With Railcard, whether you're travelling solo or with a friend, on a couples weekend or off on holiday with the family, you can save on all sorts of train journeys around Great Britain. Railcard helps you save a third off rail travel and for just £35 for the year, it pays for itself in no time. With 9 different Railcards available, find the one for you at So make this your year to get out, experience and explore everything on your doorstep and enjoy truly great value getaways.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
TV show Taskmaster launches new free experiences across top UK attractions this summer
FANS of the comedy series Taskmaster, where comedians compete in a series of usually embarrassing and tricky tasks, need to check out this new experience. This summer, English Heritage and Taskmaster have joined forces to bring family fun and games to 17 historical sites across the UK - and it's absolutely free. 4 Taskmaster, the Channel 4 show, sees five comedians attempt a series of strange and hilarious tasks set by Alex Horne. The ultimate goal is to score the most points by impressing the Taskmaster himself, Greg Davies. By the end of the series, the winner is given a prize - a gold trophy of Greg's face. Now, families across the UK can give the TV show a go in their own way. Across various English Heritage sites like Audley End House, Carisbrooke Castle and Stonehenge, is the new Taskmaster challenge. These family-friendly tasks are full of laughs, and while the experience is suitable for all ages, it's likely they'll prove to be trickier than you think. After all, the tasks in the TV show are known for being much harder in real-life than in theory. Over the course of the experience there are six challenges in total. Each one takes up to five minutes, so you really can take your time in perfecting the task and beating your opponents. The challenges are spread out over each of the heritage sites and will be clearly marked so you won't miss them. Taskmaster viewers all say the same thing as series 15 winner is revealed - and next batch of celebrities are confirmed 4 While it's summer, make sure you dress for rain or shine as it will be outside. At the end, you can tot up your scores to reveal the winner. The only downside is that neither Alex nor Greg will be there give you a round of applause. The experience runs from now until August 31, 2025. The best bit is that the Taskmaster challenge is at no extra cost either - it's included in your entry ticket to each English Heritage property. The price of entry at each English Heritage site does vary, for example, entry to Osborne on the Isle of Wight costs £24.50 for adults and £15.50 for children (between 5 and 17). At Stonehenge, entry for adults start at £27.20 with children costing upwards from £17.20. For any English Heritage members, entry to each site is completely free. While you can't book ahead for the Taskmaster challenge, you can book a day ticket to the site online, and save 15 per cent if you book before the day of your visit. Or you can choose to buy a membership from £42 meaning you get free entry to over 400 sites across the UK. You can bring up to six children under 18 per adult for free and members' kids eat free this summer too at certain English Heritage cafes. Here are . Plus, this pub crawl is the best tourist experience in the UK according to Tripadvisor. Here's A List of Participating English Heritage Sites Dover Castle Osborne Walmer Castle Audley End Battle Abbey Beeston Castle Belsay Hall Bolsover Castle Brodsworth Hall Carisbrooke Castle Eltham Palace and Gardens Framlingham Castle Kenilworth Castle Pendennis Castle Scarborough Castle Stonehenge Wrest Park 4
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Founders of National Waterpark Day, Celebrates Ninth Annual Holiday July 28 Across All U.S. Locations
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis., July 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, home to America's Largest Indoor Waterparks, and the founders of National Waterpark Day, will celebrate the ninth annual holiday on July 28. The celebration will feature a fun-filled day of family-friendly festivities at all four of its award-winning resorts. Established in partnership with the National Day Calendar in 2017, this celebration spotlights the adventure, excitement and memory-making power of waterparks nationwide. "When we started National Waterpark Day, our goal was simple: inspire families to come together, unplug and enjoy some uninterrupted fun," said Travis Nelson, President of Kalahari Resorts. "Watching our guests embrace that spirit year after year reminds us why we created this celebration in the first place." On July 28, Kalahari resort locations in Wisconsin Dells, WI, Sandusky, Ohio, Pocono Mountains, PA and Round Rock, Texas will have on-site foam parties and live DJs spinning poolside tracks, exciting games and giveaways, foodie pop-ups, family poolside activities, meet-and-greets with everyone's favorite Kalahari characters, and more. On July 28 only, guests can also dive into a 24-hour flash sale offering up to 30% off overnight stays, $10 off waterpark day passes, 10% off cabana and bungalow rentals, and 30% off fall 2025 season passes when they use the promo code WATERPARK. "Whether it's our flagship Wisconsin Dells location or our newest resort in Texas, National Waterpark Day is the perfect time for families to dive into summer," added Nelson. "From the sun-drenched outdoor pools that lets guests soak up every ray to the mega slides in our indoor waterpark that keep the excitement flowing, Kalahari gives families the flexibility to craft their ultimate waterpark getaway." For more information on National Waterpark Day activities or to book your stay, please visit About Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Wisconsin Dells, WI, Sandusky, Ohio, the Pocono Mountains, PA, Round Rock, Texas, and opening soon in Spotsylvania, VA, deliver a beyond-expectations waterpark resort and conference experience all under one roof. The African-inspired Kalahari Resorts, privately owned by the Nelson family, are home to America's Largest Indoor Waterparks. Todd and Shari Nelson, the founders of Kalahari Resorts, were honored with an induction into the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame in 2023. All Kalahari Resorts feature well-appointed guest rooms and suites, the full-service Spa Kalahari, a fun-filled family entertainment center, on-site signature restaurants, unique retail shops and a state-of-the-art convention center. For more information, members of the media are encouraged to visit View source version on Contacts Alison HoesliVP, Director of PRMorning Walkprteam@ 630.733.9306
