Unique Summer Holiday Activities along the Great West Way

Start your Summer Holidays with a family trip along the Great West Way this month! Stretching from London to Bristol, expect to find a range of fun and unique activities, perfect for your first summer adventure!

Wake the Tiger

Based in creative heartland, Bristol is Wake the Tiger, the world’s first Amazement Park! Perfect for all ages, this multi-sensory attraction invites you to step inside each of its 27 unique spaces, all artistically dedicated to different themes of connection, innovation, inspiration, and discovery. With each experience lasting anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours, it’s the perfect way to kick start your summer holiday!

credit image: Paul Box

Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Stick around Bristol to the end of your summer holiday for your chance to experience the annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta! As Europe’s biggest hot air balloon event, the Fiesta is set to be one of the most exciting of the Summer! Be sure to wake up bright and early to see over 100 hot air balloons taking to the skies at dawn, as well as their magnificent display of Night Glows at dusk when each balloon lights up the sky, dancing in time to music over Ashton Court Estate.

Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein

Did you know that Mary Shelley wrote most of her novel, Frankenstein, whilst living in Bath? Now home to an award-winning multi-sensory museum, Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein allows visitors to learn more about the author’s unconventional tragic life and the lasting legacy of her world-famous creation. Extending over 4 floors, the museum is bursting with artefacts, history, and special effects. Here you can watch a screening of the first ever Frankenstein film or take part in a themed escape room with all your friends. For thrill seekers, why not head down to the haunted depths of the basement for a horror-filled walkthrough experience…

Original Wild

Take to Bath’s waters with Original Wild for the perfect adventure experience these summer holidays! From paddleboarding to kayaking, make the most of stunning city views as you tour up-stream with family and friends. Join the team for other unique activities including raft building, canoeing, abseiling and more!

Cotswold Water Park

Set in the stunning Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Cotswold Water Park offers 40 square miles of summer holiday fun! With over 150 lakes to explore, there are endless activities for all ages and abilities to enjoy including windsurfing, fishing, archery and even paint balling! With accommodation across the site, it’s easy to spend a weekend here!

Marlborough College Summer School

Taking place from July 9^th – August 5^th is Marlborough College Summer School in Wiltshire. With more than 500 courses offering a wealth of entertainment for all ages, this 4-week programme is one of the largest multi-generational learning experiences of its kind! Catering for students from 3 years to 90 years, there are plenty activities to enjoy from art and crafts to music and outdoor adventures.

Kennet Horse Boat Company

For a unique travelling experience along the Great West Way, why not enjoy a historic boat trip with Kennet Horse Boat Company. With very few left in the UK, these horse drawn canal cruises offer the perfect slow travel experience along one of the country’s famous waterways. Set in Berkshire’s beautiful countryside, near Hungerford, here you can soak up the summer sun as you relax along the Kennet and Avon Canal in traditional style canal boats dating back to the 17^th Century!

Reading Museum

No summer holiday is quite complete without a museum visit! Reading Museum allows you to discover a selection of historic and artistic galleries, as well as a wide collection of archaeology from Roman Silchester and Reading Abbey. Make sure to check out the latest exhibitions in the Art Gallery to see what’s new before your visit!

Windsor Great Park

Enjoy the great outdoors these summer holidays with a trip to Windsor Great Park. Part of the Windsor Estate, this historic park features 4,800 acres of royal landscape, forests, lakes, and picturesque gardens. With most of the grounds free to visit all-year-round, it’s the perfect setting to discover decades of British history as well as explore some of the prettiest parts of nature with the chance of spotting some wildlife too!

New for summer 2023 is an exciting Adventure Park hidden within the woodland next to Savill Garden! Keep an eye out on their social channels for more updates…

Plan your visit along the Great West Way these summer holidays and enjoy a range of unique activities with the whole family…