Zorbing, or Sphereing, is the new craze sweeping the country!  Participants get in a large plastic round inflatable ball protected by a massive cushion of air (something resembling a huge hamster ball) and then roll down a big hill, reaching speeds of up to 30mph!    Zorbing was invented in New Zealand but the sport can now be found across the world.  Orb360 is based at the top of Devils Dyke in Brighton, with fantastic views over the sea and countryside, and an orb run of a mile long. To find out more or to book your experience click on the Orb360 banner at the very top of this page.  Alternatively click here to go to the Orb360 banner at the top of the Pink Bubbly Home Page.

Kid’s Academy Mountain Boarding Summer Programme for 8-13 year olds with instruction from ATBA qualified instructors.  No previous experience is required and all equipment is provided.  Three hours tuition and supervision learning the fastest growing adventure sport in the UK.  Mountain boarding involves descending down grassy slopes and eventually can progress to jumps and slalom courses. The board is like a giant skateboard with big tyre wheels and foot straps. The size of the board and wheels makes it very stable and the foot straps help keep you in place.  The academy runs on the 28th July, 1st August and 4th August between 10am – 1pm. Further dates to be announced soon.  To find out more or book your place please click on the Orb360 banner at the top of this page. Alternatively click here to go to the banner at the top of the Pink Bubbly Home Page.

Set within 150 acres of traditional parkland, Borde Hill is a beautiful botanic heritage garden. Along with magnificent view of the Sussex High Weald, Borde Hill offers beautiful parkland walks, fishing and lake walks. Equestrian events held throughout the summer. 

School Holidays - Children's activities will take place throughout August in the parkland and playground areas.  Activities will include Splodge Arts & Crafts, Go-Kart Party, the Tree Spirit Man, Summer Hunts and painting. Children will each receive a lolly, and there will be a prize draw on a Monday & Friday to win a children's garden related prize such as a garden golf set, bubble machine or football set.

Leisure centre with ice skating rink, four indoor swimming pools and 32 lane ten pin bowling alley. For children under 10, there is a four storey softplay area.  Organised children's events usually take place during school holidays.

School Holidays - Spectrum are running an array of activities for children during the school holidays.  This includes "Xtreme Activiate" a programme of acitivities for 5-12 year olds that includes ice skating, bowling, swimming, bouncy castle, games, outdoor activities, crafts and more. Other activities include the Soccer Skills Course, in association with Chelsea F.C., that runs from 2-4 days on specific dates during the holidays, track athletics, martial arts, basketball camp and cheerleading. 

Originally the site of a manor for the Saxon Royal Family, the site of Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold, residence to six medieval Queens, the palace of Henry VIII and a 1920's country retreat. Visitors can journey through 1000 years of history in the Castle, and walk through the 500 acre parkland of gardens and attractions including a maze, grotto, falconry, and aviary, which is home to over 100 rare and endangered species.

School Holidays - Summer School at Leeds Castle from the 14th July to the 15th August. Qualified staff will provide action packed planned days of fun and adventure for children 8 to 11 years of age. On the agenda will be heritage, history, wildlife, birds, art and craft activities, games and play.  Please call Leeds Castle to book.

Moated castle dating back to the 13th century and childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Later acquired by William Waldorf Astor who created the spectacular gardens, and a house of beautiful furniture, paintings and tapestry. The Yew Maze, a miniature model house exhibition, and an adventure playground are other attractions at this historical castle.

Jousting Tournaments July & August

Jousting Tournaments performed by the “Knights of Royal England”, take place at Hever Castle throughout July and August.  July events take place on the 19th, 20th, 26th & 27th, and in August on the 2nd, 3rd, 16th, 17th and  23rd.

The New Forest & Hampshire County Show runs from the 29th -31st July. This amazing County Show, the highlight of Hampshire’s social calendar, brings together traditional country pursuits, new exhibitions and demonstrations.   Visitors can enjoy tasting the best in the food halls, flower shows, steam displays, terrier and ferret racing, livestock competitions and equestrian displays.  Over 600 stands provide plenty of shopping opportunities and the highlights for 2008 include the Shetland Pony Grand National, Christian Moullec and his Flying Geese, and International showjumping. The Show also hosts a major art exhibition, the Fine Crafted Wood National Competition to find the best trainee furniture maker in the UK and the David Beckham Academy to help budding footballers.

Family Fun Day at Newbury Racecourse on 3rd August.  The first race is at 1.40pm and under 18s are admitted free (when accompanied by a paying adult).  Children’s entertainment includes a circus workshop, bouncy castles, face painting, children’s story teller and camel racing!

Jousting and the Victorians featuring “The Knight of Royal England” on the 8th - 10th August.  Re-enactment of a jousting contest that took place at Earl’s Court in the early 20th century.  The event will take place on the South Lawn of Blenheim Palace where a brass band will welcome visitors and the Knight Marshall of the lists, the Judges and the Ladies of the Court will open the contest.  There will also be Birds of Prey displays and archery.  

Danson Park Summer Show on the 11th & 12th August.  Falconry, duck herding, historic re-enactments, working dogs, sheep, goats, horses, crafts, food stalls, funfair and inflatables are just some of what will be available during the course of the show.

The annual event of England’s Medieval Festival at Herstmonceux Castle takes place from the 23rd-25th August.  Staged in the beautiful setting of the 15th century moated castle, over 1,000 Knights, Bowmen and Men-at-Arms lay siege to the Castle.  Activities include falconry displays, longbow competition, archery, craft stalls, hog roast and much more.

Cobtree Country Fayre on the 24th & 25th August with arena displays including a heavy-horse demonstration, terrier racing, falconry displays, sheep dog demonstrations, a fun-dog competition, craft fair, bouncy castle and face painting. 

The Great British Duck Race takes place on the 31st August and they will be attempting to race 250,000 ducks one kilometre down the Thames.  Ducks will be released from Molesey Lock at 1.30pm, finishing their journey one kilometre, 2-3 hours later, at the Sherriff Boat Club at Albany Reach.  Buy a duck for just £2 for charity and you will be entered into a draw offering 30 prizes. In 2007 the race raised over £100,000 for 440 UK charities.

Chiltern District Council have a page on their website dedicated to The Chiltern Heritage Walking & Cycle Trails.  There are many different cycle routes and walks to take linking historic towns and parishes with routes through popular tourist attractions and historic places of interest.  Walks range from just over one mile to eight.  The cycling routes are divided into three loops, each covering around 25 miles, designed with the whole family in mind.  To find out more click here.

Alice Holt Woodland Park is beautiful ancient woodland known for its oak trees and run by the Forestry Commission.  Explore the park by foot or cycle, and at weekends hire a bicycle from the visitor centre.  There are a range of activities held throughout the year, particularly during school holidays by the adventure group who organise climbing, archery, shooting and family games.

Sports activity centre with courses in sailing, kayaking, canoeing, yachting and windsurfing. Courses for adults and juniors based on a lake at Mercers Country Park and the Solent in Hampshire.

School Holidays - Junior Wet ‘n’ Wild Week Summer Camps for children between 8 – 13 years of age.  Action packed camps with a mixture of activities on and off the water that children can attend for the week or on particular days.  Activities include dinghy sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, raft building and orienteering. A minimum qualification of RYA or BCU 1 in either dinghy sailing, windsurfing or kayaking is required to take part in summer camp, which can also be organised at Aqua Sports.

The Mid-Hants railway operates the Watercress Railway Line across ten miles of scenic Hampshire countryside.  As well as general rail journies, dining carriages run at certain times of years offering silver service dining.  For the younger enthusiasts, Thomas the Tank and friends will be visiting for rides, races and entertainment at selected dates throughout 2008.  

School Holidays - Thomas the Tank visits the Watercress Mid-Hants Railway Station from the 9th - 17th August.  Activies take place from 9.35pm - 4.30pm.

Plenty of activities for the whole family in this 350 acre park, including a 9-hole crazy golf course, adventure playgrounds, lakeside walks, nature trails and a miniature railway.

School Holidays - There are various children's events taking place in the park during the summer holidays including a Fairy & Pixie Party, and Summer Clown Fun in July.  In August Punch and Judy visit the park, there is Balloon Mania, Crazy Pedro Cowboy Show and a Treasure Hunt.  Please call the park for dates and details.

Family fun for all at this 400 acre farm with numerous attractions. As well as farm animals, including shire horses, there is an Aerial Sky Park with tight ropes and zip wires. For smaller children there is a soft play area, outdoor paddling pool and bouncy castle. A 9-hole golf course tests your putting ability and wartime vehicles on view in the museum.S

School Holidays - Children’s fun at the Hop Farm from the 26th July to Sunday 31st August with Barney the dinosaur and his friends Pingu, Angelina Ballerina, Fireman Sam and Bob the Builder. Every week Barney and a chum perform in their own sing-a-long show in the Big Top.

Fancy something a bit different?  Horizon Sea Safaris offer the amazing experience of watching seals in their natural environment. The rib boat takes visitors to one of two destinations for the Seal Encounter, either to Goodwin Sands or the Nature Reserve on the Stour Estuary. The boat is located at Ramsgate but also sails from Broadstairs and Margate during the summer months.

A couple of hours fun or a complete course in kayaking and canoeing, for adults and children.   For a bit of fun, after learning the basics of canoeing or kayaking you can explore the Beaulieu River by paddle power.  Alternatively, paddle to the pub at Buckler's Hard, or take a sunset paddle.  Full courses also available.

School Holidays - Kid's Kayaking for groups between 8-12 years and 12-16 years generally run on Saturdays but during the school holidays they also run on Wednesdays. 

Indoor climbing centre and skatepark.  The climbing walls are suitable for both novices and experienced climbers.  The Skatepark has an indoor street course, ramp room and an outdoor mini-street complex.

School Holidays - Summer Skate Camp 25th - 29th August 11am - 3pm.

26 acres of animals and landscaped gardens with three destinctive areas to visit. Birds, Gardens and   Underwater World.  Children can get up close to animals such as cows,  chipmunks and rabbits in the Jenny Wren Farm.

School Holidays - Teddy Bears' Picnic Fun Day on the 6th August from 11.30 - 4pm. Clowns, balloon modelling, races, games, music, dancing and bouncy castle.  Bring a teddy and possibly win a prize!

Painshill Park is set in 160 acres and dates back to the 18th century.  Activities for both adults and children, with park trails for children and families, and historic sights to see such as The Gothic Temple, Ruined Abbey, Chinese Bridge, Crystal Grotto and Giant Waterwheel. 

School Holidays - Fun activities for children on specific dates during the summer holidays including "Fishing Fun for Kids", "Bows & Arrows", "Summer Camp Hamilton for 8-12 years" and "Busy Buzzy Bees".

Steam railway running for five miles from Wootton to Smallbrook Junction, via Havenstreet and Ashey.  All the carriages and most to the locomotives have always been Isle of Wight based, and have been restored to pristine condition.  The oldest locomotive dates back to 1876, and oldest carriage back to 1864.

School Holidays - Day out with Thomas the Tank from the 25th - 29th July.

Mountain boarding centre in 20 acres of land.  Get a lift to the top of the hill on a tractor trailer before making your own way down.  Instruction and boards available.  Open to all ages.

School Holidays - Haredown is open Tuesday to Sunday in the month of August.  There is also a Children's Activity Camp running in July and August that consists mainly of mountainboarding but also includes football and team building games in the woods. 

The Rose Bowl is home to Hampshire County Cricket Club, with capacity for 20,000 people. The cricket season runs until the end of September, with the popular Twenty20 event taking place in June. One-to-one professional cricket coaching is available in the Indoor School, a large training facility located on the first floor of the Pavilion. During holidays, the Indoor School runs children’s courses. Whilst cricket is the core activity at the Rose Bowl, it has also staged concerts, holding up to 35,000 people, and a 9-hole golf course was established in the grounds in 1999, open to members and Visitors.

School Holidays

Three ski slopes with their own lifts and mist system and a ski shop with clothing and accessories.  Open all year offering ski and snowboard lessons for all ages, Donut sessions and holiday courses.

School Holidays - As well as seperate skiing, snowboarding and donut sessions, Alpine are also running three days activity days, one day and mini activity sessions.  The three day and one day activity days include skiing, snowboarding, donutting, a team challenge and balance & agility games.  The two hour session is aimed at 5-8 year olds and includes ski sledging and donutting.

Situated on the River Blackwater on the borders of Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey, this activity centre is set in 22 acres of sheltered waters, surrounded by woodland, offering varied activities that include windsurfing, canoeing, sailing, dragon boating, archery, orienteering, nature trails and beach volleyball.  Courses range from one day upwards.

School Holidays - Single activity courses over five days or five day multi-activity courses that include dinghy-sailing, windsurfing, canoe/kayaking, climbing, dragon boating, raft building, archery and orienteering.

The Bucks County Show takes place on Thursday 28th August with attractions that include the sheep show, dog & duck show, rural demonstrations, horse & livestock showing classes, show jumping, rural crafts, shopping marquee, home & garden marquee, vintage tractors, Bolddog Lings Moto Cross Team and over 200 trade stands.