Family friendly days in East Devon
East Devon is full of fascinating fossils and some of Devon’s top attractions, whatever your budget, here are some suggestions to help your plan your week!
Option 1 - Days on a budget
Holidays can be expensive and finding a few things to do that can ease the pennies always helps. We have pulled together a day that will help your pocket whilst keeping the children entertained.
Start off in Sidmouth, where you can get close to the donkeys at The Donkey Sanctuary, which has free entry. During the school holidays, there are additional trails and activities to enjoy and even your dog is welcome. The sanctuary also has the very popular Sanctuary Kitchen, where you can grab something to eat.
Then why not let the children burn off some energy with a trip to the beach. One option is Budleigh Salterton Beach, where you can find some of the more interesting pebbles in the region, as well as 3 Beach Cafes and a Children’s Play area. Or alternatively, if you want to stay in Sidmouth, Sidmouth Town Beach is a great option. This whole area of Devon is great for rock pooling, so get your nets and start searching. Rock Pooling is a wonderful free thing to do together as a family and won't feel too educational!
Once they have run out of steam, pop over to Honiton where you can visit Thelma Hulbert Gallery and let the creative juices flow. The Creative Cabin at the gallery is a space to create, explore, learn and discover while the All Hallows Museum is the home of Honiton lace and is a fascinating look at this forgotten industry.
Option 2 - Rainy Days
As much as we wished the sun would shine all the time in Devon - we do sometimes have a little wet weather! Of course, this doesn't mean you have to stop play and hide indoors all day. To help you plan a rainy day out, we've pulled together a few things to do to keep the kids entertained on a dull day.
You could start the day at Planet Play in Honiton an award-winning indoor children’s soft play centres and cafés, it's perfect for kids aged 0-11 and is guaranteed to keep them entertained for hours! Once you've finished there and enjoyed a spot of lunch, head back to Sidmouth where you can visit the town's museum for a touch of history and then let your creative juices flow by painting some pottery at Something Lovely, which you can find in Sidmouth's Libra Court. Finish off your day with a meal for the whole family at Otterton Mill in nearby Ottery St Mary.
Option 3 - Nature Lovers
Do your children love nature and animals? Then you are in the right place! There is so much they can see and do in East Devon, not only do you have an abundance of wildlife but also a host of natural attractions and even an animal park! Why not fill your day dedicated to nature with our choices below.
You can start off in Ottery St Mary at Wildwood Devon. Members get free admission all year around, which is great if you don't manage to fit it all in. The site not only has a host of fascinating animals for you to befriend, but also a Saxon village to explore and lots of other activities to keep you entertained. If you want more nature, spend some time at Ottery Estuary Nature Reserve and then on to Seaton Wetlands. Free to enter and full of hides where you can get close to the birdlife that call the wetlands home. Later you can visit Fire Beacon Hill on your way back to Sidmouth, where you can enjoy sweeping views over the Lyme Bay.
Option 4 - The Adventurous
For those of you who like to get the blood pumping, why not spend the day visiting nearby Crealy Theme Park and Resort, home to some of the best rides in the South West. There is something for everyone at Crealy, including a soft play area for the smaller kids and plenty for the grownups to do too. Or if the weather is good, grab your wetsuits and book a session with Sea Kayak Exmouth!
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