Family Holiday Planning!
I have just been thinking about the forthcoming holiday with my twin grandchildren, who are visiting us during the school summer holidays, and thought it might be helpful to share with you just a few of the amazing range of activities I can choose from when planning their holiday itinerary!
They live in London and absolutely love coming to Newton Meadows. Well why wouldn’t they with all this lovely space to run about in and the amazing amount of activities on our doorstep or just a little further afield.
Like most kids the twins adore animals, birds and wildlife and luckily Shropshire is full of all of them! From our own chickens, ducks, pheasants, rabbits and wonderful bird life to the ducks at the Mere in Ellesmere to the pigs, ponies, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep, goats and alpacas at Parkhall Countryside Experience, just outside Oswestry! If your children, like our grandchildren also love a more exotic range of animals, Chester Zoo, with its 15,000 animals in 125 acres of zoological gardens, is less than 40 miles away and is an amazing day out!
If you do go to Ellesmere, as well as feeding the ducks and having a wonderful walk, why not hire a rowing board for a trip round the Mere. If you fancy a larger vessel you can sail from Victoria Quay on Sabrina, a triple-deck passenger boat, on a gentle 45-minute cruise of the River Severn. Victoria Quay is located next to the Welsh Bridge in Shrewsbury.
Two other “musts” to be included, and great for rainy days are, Climbing the Walls and trampolining at Go Jumpin’
The Ice Cream Farm is another great day out. The fun factory and JCB diggers are a great highlight and don’t forget the 50 different flavours of ice cream!
Doodle Alley, in Whitchurch is another superb indoor activity, which offers something for all the family and comes highly recommended……..just another suggestion for a wet day where you can try out your art skills, painting pottery and canvasses.
Blists Hill is one of 10 attractions, including four museums, based in an around Ironbridge which is the birthplace of the industrial revolution. Children get to experience an authentic 52-acre recreation of a Victorian town, complete with characters, cottages, shops and places of work.
Last but certainly not least is a new facility just 10 minutes away from Newton Meadows. It’s called Love2Stay and it offers a fantastic range of activities for young and old. 
There’s a natural swimming pool, hot tubs, sun beds, a separate heated pool and sandy area for the kids, bare foot sensory trail, bike track, adventure playground and lots, lots more which are free within the day pass cost. Some activities including fishing, water-sports and kayaking have an additional cost but it’s definitely a great dawn to dusk day out for all the family! There is also a picnic area around the sandy area and there is also a coffee and snack bar and pizzeria which offers a fairly extensive menu. Check with reception regarding day pass costs, which vary depending on time of year, on 01743 583124. A great day out when the weather is good!
Phew! ………….and that’s not it all but enough to be going on with I hope………..
But if not go to our information page to find even more things to do.
Happy Holiday Planning!
Janice McNicol
Manager