Summer Activities 2020 Solihull Family Information Service Call: 0800 389 8667 Email: [email protected] Web: www.solihull.gov.uk/familyinfo Places to visit Page 1 - 6 Stay active Page 7 - 9 Solihull libraries Page 10 Summer camps Page 11 - 13 Creative art Page 14 - 19 Fun at home Page 20 - 24 Please note: The activities and events listed in this booklet are not registered or regulated by the Family Information Service. It is your responsibility to ensure you are happy that the activities are safe and appropriate for your child. Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens Trust Chester Road, Castle Bromwich, Solihull B36 9BT We are really pleased to be able to welcome people back into the Gardens again. In order to open the Gardens safely, we have had to make some changes to how we welcome visitors. Everyone should book in advance, including Members. Please see website for further details including booking time slots and the differences you will notice when you now visit. Places to visit Dates: Throughout the summer Times: 10.30am to 4.30pm (Wednesdays to Sundays) Cost: £4.50 per adult, £1 per child (under 5s free) Free for Family Activities Annual Pass holders Contact: Pre-book your tickets online to guarantee entry or for more details call 0121 749 4100 Email: [email protected] Web: www.castlebromwichhallgardens.org.uk Warwick Castle Warwick, Warwickshire CV34 6AH Welcoming you back to Warwick Castle Warwick Castle is now fully open to the public for day visits, with the reopening of the Castle’s resident attractions and the Falconer’s Quest show. Visitors can now witness the critically-acclaimed and UK’s largest birds of prey show, the Falconer’s Quest, showcasing over 10 species of bird including the world’s largest, the Andean Condor, with a wingspan of a huge 9ft. Other outdoor activities include story time with a Princess and the Horrible Histories Maze, which has been adapted to a self-guided trail maintaining all of its entertaining and informative elements while keeping little explorers safe. The Castle’s spectacular interiors are have now reopened, giving guests the chance to rediscover the Great Hall, State Rooms and Royal Weekend Party (limited numbers permitted entry at any one time), as well as following the one-way route through the 1 Kingmaker sensory experience where sounds, sights and smells provide an immersive experience of life at the Castle in the 15th century. Alongside this the Castle Towers and Ramparts are available to explore, as well as 64 acres of rolling grounds and gardens including the Peacock Garden with its resident flock of colourful birds. Food and drink is available to takeaway from outlets including the Courtyard Café and Conservatory Tea House as well as a number of takeaway stands. The Castle has been awarded the VisitEngland 'We're Good to Go' charter mark demonstrating that all of the requisite health and safety processes are in place to ensure that visitors have a safe and enjoyable visit. As part of the Castle’s enhanced safety measures, all tickets and stays must be booked in advance online. Places to visit “We’re delighted to be able to offer the full Castle experience that we know our visitors love, in line with best practice advice on social distancing and hygiene and look forward to welcoming guests back throughout the summer.“ Age: All ages Dates: Throughout the summer holidays (see website) Times: 10am to 4pm (pre-booking online is essential) Cost: Please see website Contact: Check out our FAQs and live chat with us via our website Email: [email protected] Web: www.warwick-castle.com Baddesley Clinton Rising Lane, Knowle, Solihull B93 0DQ We have now re-opened the parkland, gardens and kiosk at Baddesley Clinton. You will need to book your visit in advance. We’ll be releasing tickets every Friday. Sadly, if you don’t book, you’ll be turned away, even if you’re a member. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back! Age: All ages Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: See website for timed-entry slots Cost: Non-member adult, £5 per ticket (18 years and above) Non-member child, £2.50 per ticket (5 to 17 years) Non-member family (2 adults, max 3 children), £12.50 per ticket Non-member family (1 adult, max 3 children), £7.50 per ticket Under 5s go free National Trust member (adult or child over 5 years) free Contact: Booking essential. See website or for booking details call 0344 249 1895 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/baddesley-clinton 2 West Midland Safari Park Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 1LF We are now back open! The walk-through areas of the Park will be opening, so you can now visit areas like Penguin Cove, Land of the Living Dinosaurs, Ice Age, Aquarium and Reptile House! Please note: The Twilight Cave, Lemur Woods, Lorikeet Landing and Goat Park will remain closed. The Theme Park will be open with new safety measures. Ride wristbands and tickets are charged extra. Booking is essential! All tickets must be booked in advance online with a Places to visit safari timeslot. Summer Safari Are you ready to go on Safari and get up close to incredible animals from around the world? Discover our amazing animals this summer. Age: All ages welcome Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: 10am to 6pm (last entry and safari 4pm) Cost: £24 per adult, £20 per child (under 3’s go free). Pre-booked tickets only. Includes a free return ticket. Contact: 01299 402114 Email: [email protected] Web: www.wmsp.co.uk Birmingham Botanical Gardens Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3TR We are so pleased to be able to announce the re-opening of the Gardens. The gardens, glasshouses, shops and plant sales will be open, although the tea room and children’s playground will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Cold drinks will be available to buy in the shops and visitors are more than welcome to take a picnic. To ensure there is effective social distancing, everyone must book a time slot in advance: non-members must buy tickets online to secure their 15-minute entry slot, while members must also book their entry time online, using their membership number. Please see website for further information on how to plan your visit while we re-open the gardens. 3 Age: All ages Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: 10am to 6pm (subject to change) Cost: See website for admission prices Contact: For ticket information call 0121 454 1860 or book online Email: [email protected] Web: www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden Castle Green, Off Castle Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 1NG From medieval fortress to Elizabethan palace, Kenilworth Castle has been at the centre of England’s affairs for much of its 900-year history. Today, you can scale the heights of the tower built to woo Queen Elizabeth I, marvel at the mighty Norman keep and walk in the Places to visit footsteps of the great Tudor queen through the beautiful gardens. Kenilworth Castle is now open to visit. You now need to book your timed tickets in advance. Tickets are available to book now. We have introduced limits on visitor numbers to help keep everyone safe, and you won’t be able to visit without your booking confirmation. If you’re a Member, your ticket will be free, but you still need to book in advance. Although things might be a little different when you visit, you’ll still be able to enjoy exploring the places where history really happened. And you’ll still be given a warm and safe welcome by our friendly – if socially distant – staff and volunteers. Please visit English Heritage’s website for more information about the safety measures you can expect when visiting. Age: All ages Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: Daily from 10am to 5pm. Please note: You now need to book timed-tickets in advance of your visit Cost: See website Contact: 0370 333 1181 Web: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle 4 Twycross Zoo East Midland Zoological Society, Burton Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 3PX We are excited to welcome you back for a safe day out at Twycross Zoo! Our zoo operation has changed in line with government guidance and for the foreseeable future we will only be accepting online ticket bookings. Please see website for further information. Places to visit Age: All ages Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: All visitors (Twycross Members included), will be asked to pre-book an online arrival timeslot Cost: £19.76 per adult ticket £15.26 per child ticket (2 to 16 years) Infant (under 2 years) free TZ Members free Blue Peter Badge Holders free* Contact: 0844 474 1777 Email: [email protected] Web: www.twycrosszoo.org Dudley Zoo and Castle Castle Hill, Dudley DY1 4QF We are back open! Pre-bookings and online admission tickets only. Age: All ages welcome Dates: Throughout the summer holidays Times: 10am to 5.30pm Cost: See website for daily admission prices Contact: 01384 215313 Email: [email protected] Web: www.dudleyzoo.org.uk 5 MonsterHero Safari in Solihull Solihull BID, Solihull Town Centre Join us for a monstrously super family day out this summer! Places to visit Solihull Business Improvement District is providing a family fun ‘Safari’, a High Street story-trail, to engage with our communities, support the NHS and give families a safe reason to return to the High Street. “We are delighted to join forces with Wild In Art again to engage safely with our younger visitors and their families, in line with our aim to ‘keep smiling through the crisis’.