⛱️ Rushden Lakes Beach 2026
Time: 10:00 - 19:00
🗓 OPENING TIMES (Weather Permitting)
▪️Monday - Friday: 10am - 7pm
▪️Saturday: 10am - 8pm
▪️Sunday: 10am - 7pm
🧒 RESTRICTIONS
Up to 30 children on each beach at any one time.
🦆GAMES
It's not just the beach you'll find here; we've rolled back the years with a Hook a Duck stall, Alley Can game and Darts. Try your best and win prizes!
🍓 SUMMER TREATS
Summer holidays wouldn't be complete without delicious goodies. Enjoy Chocolate strawberries, Greek wraps, Churros, Slush, Eton Mess and Sweets!
🐶 Dog Information
Dogs are welcome at Rushden Lakes, whilst on a lead, but pets are not permitted within the sand play area.
♿️ Is the beach wheelchair and pushchair accessible?
The surrounding event area is accessible, although movement on sand may be more difficult for some wheelchairs and pushchairs.
10 other events on this day
⛱️ Hitchin Beach 2026
Time: 10:00 - 16:00
🤩 WHAT TO EXPECT
Sands, buckets and spades, music and deck chairs will turn this part of Hitchin into the seaside!
🎨 THURSDAY'S IN AUGUST 2026
Also, every Thursday in August, Cutie Mark Face Painting, will be there to add to the fun atmosphere (they accept both cash and cards).
📖 FRIDAY'S IN JULY & AUGUST 2026
We have an exciting addition to this year’s Hitchin Beach. Please join us for our free Hitchin Beach Time Stories sessions every Friday morning!
These interactive story sessions are perfect for pre-school children to enjoy with their parent/carer and will be delivered by the wonderful teams from Hitchin Library and Next Page Books.
The beach is supported by Brookers and Sponsored by Cloud Nine Baby and The Puppet Company.
💦 WHAT ELSE TO DO?
There is a Free Splash Park & play park at Bancroft Recreation Ground, Hitchin.
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🦁 Johnsons of Old Hurst Zoo (An affordable zoo)
Time: 10:00 - 16:30
🕙 OPENING TIMES
▪️Tuesday - Friday: 10am to 5.30pm
▪️Saturday: 10am to 5.30pm
▪️Sunday: 10am to 4.30pm
Last entry is 30 minutes before closing time.
🐊 Please note, our tropical house will close 30 minutes prior to the zoo closing.
WHAT TO EXPECT
✅️ Zoo animals
✅️ Play park onsite
✅️ Restaurant
✅️ Tea room
✅️ Farm shop
🐶 DOGS
For all you dog lovers and owners... yes! we do accept dogs at Johnsons, though we ask for you to keep them on a lead at all times.
🥪 NO PICNICS ALLOWED
To maintain affordable zoo prices and ensure the well-being of our animals, we encourage customers to dine in our tea room or steakhouse during their visit. Keeping our zoo prices low is essential to make it accessible to families with lower incomes.
♿️ ACCESSIBILITY
We strive to be wheelchair accessible. We provide disabled parking next to our farm shop and in front of the steakhouse entrance. Accessible toilets are available in both the steakhouse and tea room. Additionally, we have gravel paths throughout our zoo and woodland walk to facilitate wheelchair access.
💷 PAY AT THE DOOR - NO BOOKING REQUIRED (CASH OR CARD)
▪️Adult: £6.50
▪️Child: £5.50
▪️3 & under go free
ℹ️ ENQUIRIES
☎️ Phone: 01487 824658
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⚽️ Summer Games Trail 2026 - Jordans Mill, Broom
Time: 09:30 - 15:30
Bring the whole family along to Jordans Mill and join our Summer Games Trail this 2026. A fun challenge that turns your visit into a playful quest around our beautiful grounds.
🗓 2026 DATES
▪️Saturday 18th July – Wednesday 2nd September 2026 (Open 7 days a week)
⏰ Time: 9:30am – 3:30pm
🤩 WHAT TO EXPECT
Take on 10 exciting games and activities along the trail, including a 50m sprint, football shootout, limbo challenge, pinball game, obstacle course and more. Record your scores as you go and see if you can become the ultimate Summer Games champion!
☕️ THE RIVERSIDE CAFE
Details & menus can be seen here.
💷 COST: £4 per child
Includes trail sheet and a prize. No booking required. Pay on entry.
👀 HAVEN'T BEEN BEFORE?
Check out Whatsup Bedfordshire's Facebook Post from a previous visit here.
🌸 Waresley Garden Centre - The LAWN, relax, play & eat
Time: 09:00 - 16:45
🗓 2026 DATES
▪️1st August - 31st August 2026
🤩 WHAT TO EXPECT
Dive into affordable family fun with an array of lawn games and activities perfect for children!
Savour our special summer menu & tuck in to delicious ice creams. Picnic blankets will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own. No booking is required - just bring your loved ones and enjoy the sunshine!
📖 MENU
You can view the menus here.
🥪 CAFE OPENING TIMES
▪️Mon - Sat: 9.00am - 4.45pm
▪️Sun: 9.30am - 3.30pm
Although dogs are welcome throughout the shop, our Café is a dog free area (except assistance dogs). Dogs are allowed on our outdoor patio, which can be accessed via the plant canopy.
♿️ ACCESSIBILITY
ℹ️ ENQUIRIES
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us: 01767 650249 or info@waresley.co.uk
💦 Aqua Park Session (ages 6+) - Box End Park, Kempston
Time: 12:00 - 17:00
🗓 SUMMER 2026 TIMES
▪️Monday - Friday: 12pm - 5pm
▪️Saturday- Sunday: 11am - 4pm
👨👦👦AGE & HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
Must be aged 6yrs + and over 1.1m tall (110cm+)
🤩 WHAT TO EXPECT
Our Aqua Park is suitable for all ages 6yrs+ and over 1.1m tall. The ultimate outdoor watersports experience for families & groups - climb, leap, bounce & splash your way around both inflatable courses packed with fun obstacles. Explore 2 giant courses during your session (rotating after 30-mins) - twice the fun for the same price! How long will you stay dry?
🧦 Grip socks (or soft-sole water shoes): Optional, but recommended for extra comfort and grip. Socks are available to buy on the day. Wetsuits are also optional, but recommended & can hired on the day or pre-booked.
🏊♂️ Participants must be able to swim at least 50 metres while wearing a buoyancy aid and be comfortable falling into open water.
👨👧👦 Children aged 6-9yrs:
Must be accompanied by an adult on the Aqua Park aged 17yrs+ (1 adult : 3 kids ratio).
👨👦Child Supervision Policy:
For the safety and wellbeing of all guests, children aged 16 years and under must remain under the supervision of a responsible adult (aged 17 years or over) at all times while on site.
🕙 Arrival Times:
Please check-in at least 45 minutes before your session. This gives you time to check-in at reception, kit up & attend the group safety briefing (10-mins before). If you’re running late, we’ll do our best to get you onto your booked session, but this may require re-scheduling to the next available session or day.
🌧 Cancellations & Weather:
All bookings are non-refundable. However, if you notify us more than 7 working days prior to your scheduled session, we’ll be happy to discuss rescheduling your booking or issuing a credit for future use.
In the event of extreme weather conditions - such as lightning, high winds or flooding - Box End Park may need to cancel sessions for safety reasons. Should this occur, we will offer the option to reschedule your booking or provide a credit.
🎟 TICKET COST
▪️Individual Ticket: £17.50
▪️4-Person Ticket: £60.00
🎫 OPTIONAL COSTS
▪️Wetsuit Hire: £5.00
▪️Grip Socks: £2.50
ℹ️ ENQUIRIES
📧 Email: info@boxendpark.com
🎉 Schools Out Bounce Fridays! - The Kings Reach
Time: 16:00 - 20:00
🗓 2026 DATES
▪️Friday 17th July
▪️Friday 31st July
▪️Friday 14th August
▪️Friday 21st August
▪️Friday 28th August
🏰 EVENT DETAILS
FREE bouncy castles with A. T Amusements.
Perfect for the kids, stress-free for the grown-ups. Grab a drink, let the little ones burn off some energy, and enjoy a proper family Friday.
😋 FEELING HUNGRY?
Check the menu on the website here.
ℹ️ CONTACT DETAILS
☎️ Phone: 01767 667000
🎉 Ashton Square Evening & Street Food - August 2026
Time: 16:00 - 21:00
✨️ EVENT DETAILS
Something for everyone, from Mexican bites and sweet chimney cakes to hearty jacket potatoes, refreshing drinks, and irresistible crepes. But it’s not just about the food...Enjoy LIVE performances on stage throughout the evening.
🎨 FREE For Kids
keep the little ones entertained with FREE face painting and FREE soft play, and soak up the fantastic community atmosphere.
🎮 FREE Retro Games
Step into some nostalgia with FREE retro arcade games, challenge your friends on our 4-player Mario Kart setup, or take the wheel in our original Fast & Furious driving simulator!
🎤 Performers:
✨️Silas Shaul – 5:00pm
✨️Tony Vocals – 6:00pm
✨️Fizzy Lizzy – 7:00pm
✨️Forevercol – 8:00pm
Bring your friends, bring your appetite, and make a night of it — great food, live entertainment, games, family fun, and a buzzing community atmosphere await.
Don’t miss out… we’ll see you there!
🎨 Messy Play at Frosts Garden Centre - Woburn Sands
Time: 10:00 - 14:00 Price: £4.00
🕚 SESSION TIMES
▪️10:00am - 11:00am
▪️11:30am -12:30pm
▪️13:00pm - 14:00pm
🤩 WHAT TO EXPECT
With a variety of different themes on offer each week, these sessions are all about getting stuck in and making as much mess as possible.
Designed for curious minds and busy little hands, these fun-filled sessions encourage children to explore, create, squish, splash, and play in a safe and stimulating environment- while you leave the clean-up to us.
Watch as your child discovers new textures, develops confidence, and lets their imagination run wild in an experience that’s as educational as it is exciting.
Come dressed for mess and get ready for a wonderfully squishy adventure.
🎡 Willen Lake Fun Fair 2026 - Milton Keynes
Time: 13:00 - 21:00
🗓 OPENING DATES & TIMES
▪️Saturday 18th July everyday until Sunday 16th August 2026.
🕐 1pm - 9pm: Weekdays
🕛 12pm -10pm: Saturdays and Sundays
💷 FREE ENTRY
Pay as you go. Rides costs between £2.50 - £5.00.
🤩 WHAT TO EXPECT
Adult rides - kids rides - stalls with prizes and so much more…..
🏕 Big Camp 2026 - Dunstable Downs
Time: 12:00 Price: £110.00
🗓 2026 DATE
Friday 14 August – Sunday 16 August 2026. Entry 12pm-3pm on Friday. Exit by 2pm on Sunday.
🌌 WHAT TO EXPECT
Spend the weekend exploring the beautiful, rolling landscape and losing yourself in the vast night-time skies.
⛺️ CAMPING INFO
Tents only please. As with previous year's, we aren't able to provide showers, so please bring a flannel. A suggested kit list and welcome pack will be sent out the week before.
ℹ️ IMPORTANT INFO
Toilets and drinking water will be available on the campsite. Only one dog per pitch permitted, to be kept under close control at all times. At 6.00pm gates into Dunstable Downs will be locked so no cars will be able to enter or leave after this point.
♿️ ACCESSIBILITY
Accessible to all. Please get in touch to discuss any specific accessibility needs.
💳 CAMPING COST
☎️ Phone: 0344 249 1895