Many parents often struggle to find enough ways to keep their children occupied and out of trouble during those long summer holidays off school. With many schools and community centres only offering limited holiday programs, it can be difficult to find the right activities to keep your kids amused. So why not take the whole family away for a long weekend or a week trip to the beautiful Cotswolds countryside, where there are an endless number of indoor and outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy.

If the weather’s good, then you’ll most definitely want to make the most of it by getting the kids involved in some outdoor activities. The good old traditional walking and cycling are still as popular today, with lots of trails and paths allowing you take in the picturesque countryside. The nearby Lemington Lakes are a great location for taking the kids on a day fishing trip. And for dad, there are lots of golf courses in the surrounding cities of Cheltenham and Cirencester, not to mention the beautiful 18 hole golf course located directly in the Cotswolds hills.

However, the typical British summer means you often have to have a back-up plan at the ready. The indoor rock climbing centre provides a great place to escape away from the rain as well as a great climbing experience for all ages. If your family isn’t the sporting type, then the Cotswolds also offers plenty of fun and educational activities for them to get involved in. Why not take them to some pottery lessons where they can take home their very own hand-made pots or plates the same day? Or what about taking them to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Statford-upon-Avon? Performances here are suitable for children aged 5 and over. In addition to the performances, the theatre also offers the “Play Cart” which is free to use and lets children get involved in activities like making their own crowns or masks. Children are also welcome in the theatre’s cafe.

County Durham is situated in North East England, just South of Newcastle and North of Darlington. It is surrounded by many well known regions such as the Lake District and the scenic Yorkshire Dales. The city, the settlement of which can be clearly traced back to the Middle Stone Age, is steeped in a wealth of history. The mining industry which at one point employed all of the county’s non-agricultural workers was the heart of the county’s economy. The majority of the produce obtained from the mines was exported, primarily from the Port of Sunderland which, at the time, was the fourth largest port in Britain. Sunderland was also a main shipbuilding location.

County Durham is known as a beautifully picturesque city, with claims that it is built upon seven hills. It is home to low-lying farmland with fresh green moors and an impressive, rugged coastline. This “jewel in the crown of North England” is a city is full of character, with its quiet countryside cycling and walking routes as well as its friendly pubs and restaurants offering warm and delicious locally sourced food. One of the main natural tourist attractions in the city is the High Force waterfall, located in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Pennines. There is also the famous Durham Cathedral, which is known to be one of the greatest Norman buildings in England and as a result, is visited by more than 600,000 visitors each year. County Durham’s Raby castle is also a magnet for tourists, with its impressive gatehouse and nine towers.

With a range of luxury hotels and warm, friendly bed and breakfasts, tourists are also sure to find the accommodation they are looking for in County Durham. In fact, over the last decade the hotels have not only been popular amongst tourists but also as wedding venues. With an increasing number of couples moving away from the traditional church wedding, many are choosing to hold their special day in wedding venues in Darlington or in the city centre of County Durham.