Airport Chaos? No Problem With These No-Fly Summer Holiday Family Escapes!
Airport Chaos? No Problem With These No-Fly Summer Holiday Family Escapes!
Images of long queues and piled up suitcases at airports have unsurprisingly dominated headlines in recent weeks, much to the despair of those parents planning for a summer holiday getaway. Visions of restless children and screaming toddlers inching impatiently through security lines may well be a deciding factor in why many travellers are expected to ditch the airports this holiday season.
Fortunately for families, a flight isn’t a necessity in order to have a holiday of a lifetime. From UK city breaks to Nordic cruises and fairy tale theme parks, there are a wealth of experiences to choose from for a summer holiday break to remember.
Here are a few exciting no-fly holiday options to consider this year:
Explore Historical Lincoln
For those looking to see more of the UK, why not try Lincoln? A hidden gem located in the East Midlands, the fascinating city of Lincoln ticks all the boxes for a family day out. A centre of culture, history, leisure and nature, Lincoln’s rich and diverse attractions rival international destinations, surprising visitors with an exceptional city escape. Lincoln is a particular stand-out for a summer city destination as much of its heritage can be enjoyed outdoors.
Kids will love exploring iconic Lincoln Castle which is nearly 1,000 years old. Inside the Castle Walls, they can set foot in the Georgian and Victorian prisons, detailing historic crime and punishment in Lincoln. The castle’s Medieval wall walk is a particular highlight, giving visitors a chance to walk the whole circumference, enjoying the historic site and a stunning view over the city’s skyline. The castle also currently houses one of the only four surviving copies of the 1215 Magna Carta!
Across the way, is also the stunning Lincoln Cathedral, regarded as one of Europe’s finest Gothic Buildings. Ordered to be built by William the Conqueror, the cathedral is remembered as a constant during the changes to British rule over the last millennia. During their visit, children can spot the stone imp that has been engraved into the Cathedral. Now an emblem of the city, legend has it that young imps were once let loose on the cathedral, causing havoc. To put a stop to this, an angel appeared and turned them into stone.
Families can also enjoy a visit to the Cornhill Quarter, the city centre’s recent £70 million regeneration project. Now offering an experience, rich in history that’s combined with independent shops, great arts and a wealth of places to eat and drink such the glorious Everyman Cinema or the Cosy Club.
Via the LNER railway line, Lincoln is just a 1 hour and 55-minute trip away from London King’s Cross. Trains depart every two hours. Tickets start from £36 for a day return.
Kids Can Sail the Nordic Coast with Ambassador Cruise Line for £1!
Ambassador Cruise Line, the first British cruise line to launch in a decade, and prides itself on its premium value no-fly mantra. Offering nationwide coach pickups, Ambassador offers a range of exciting cruises from its home in London Tilbury. Although aimed at the over 50’s market, its debut ship Ambience will be sailing a special Hidden Nordic multi-generational cruise on 23 July.
The whole family will be able to soak up the style and scenic beauty of incredible Scandinavian capitals such as Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen. Children will also be able to enjoy the exhilarating world of the circus onboard too! As one of Ambassador’s many themed cruises this season, Ambience will host specialist performers from La Soiree, Blackpool Tower Circus, Hollywood`s Magic Castle and former Cirque Du Soleil aerialist, Renato Pires and more. Guests will also have the chance to get involved and develop their own circus skills with juggling, diablo, balancing, and illusion workshops running too.
Most exciting of all is that Ambassador are offering £1 child fares for the two-week sailing, meaning a family of four can cruise for 14 nights full board for only £1,400.
The Hidden Nordic Treasures cruise can be seen here. Ports of call include Copenhagen, Ronne, Tallinn, Helsinki, Stockholm, Visby and Skagen. Prices from £699 per adult (up to 57% Late Saver Discount, SAVE UP TO £920).
Family Holiday Island Hopping in Guernsey
Just a short ferry ride from Southampton or Poole, Guernsey feels a whole world away with its French influence, spectacular coastal scenery, fabulous beaches, and abundance of fresh food. Guernsey holidays focus on the outdoors meaning that families can spend quality time together. Families can walk the coastal paths, many of which are toddler friendly, go rock pooling or explore the many castles and forts along the coastline. Family favourites include the ‘fairy ring’ on Pleinmont Peninsula which is said to make wishes come true, and the iconic Castle Cornet in St Peter Port, where kids can dress up and learn about the castle’s history.
Guernsey is a great launch pad for exploring the smaller Channel Islands of Herm and Sark, a 20- and 45-minute boat ride from St Peter Port, which are car free and focus on preserving island life. Kids love the sense of adventure that comes with jumping on a ferry to another island and exploring the charms and peculiarities of a car-free destination.
The Islands of Guernsey also very much lead the way when it comes to outdoor holidays – with a huge range of options to suit the interests of the whole family, from slower paced activities such as kayaking and surfing to more adrenaline-fuelled coasteering and rock climbing.
Condor Ferries offer return sailings from Portsmouth to Guernsey from £418 for two adults, child and car travelling with a car between 1-3 July. For more details visit https://www.condorferries.co.uk/
A Family Day Out in the Capital with History, Culture, and Thrills
On this unique and bespoke tour, parents and children alike can choose from a range of activities as they embark on a fun-filled day around London. Families can mix things up with a blend of culture and adrenaline with their ToursByLocals guide. Why not ascend to the top of The Shard for a panoramic view of the city before heading to the UK's tallest sculpture tower and ride the world's longest, fastest and tallest tunnel slide.
Visitors can also take an exhilarating boat trip on the Thames to see the capital from new angles or learn about the history of money at the Bank of England and even hold an ingot of solid gold. There are plenty of other museum offerings too (many of which are free) including the Museum of Childhood, to see how children lived in times gone by, or a visit to the Grant Museum of Zoology. The tour is led by London local and professional Blue Badge Tourist Guide, Dawn and is the perfect mix of fun and culture.
ToursByLocals (www.toursbylocals.com) offers the eight-hour Kids, City and Culture - Customised London Tour for £395 per group, for up to six people. The tour includes guiding services. Extra costs include food and personal expenses.
Catch a Train to Efteling! Holland’s Fairytale Theme Park
Efteling, the fairytale theme park in the south of Holland, is just two train journeys away from the UK and is the ideal destination for families, where attractions, roller coasters, theatre shows, and gardens mean there are activities to suit all ages.
At the heart of the park, the Fairytale Forest is inspired by classic stories by the likes of Hans Christian Anderson, Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault. The Fairytale Forest brings family-favourite tales such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Pinocchio to life for all generations. High-thrill roller coasters will keep teens looking for an adrenaline rush occupied, such as the dive-coaster Baron 1898 which plunges 37.5m into a mineshaft, while there are also plenty of more gentle and scenic attractions, including Efteling’s beautiful gardens that can be seen via boat or steam train for those that want to experience the magic at a slower pace.
For its 70th anniversary, Efteling has added a very special temporary fairytale to its list of story-themed attractions, which is inspired by the children’s novel “Alice in Wonderland”. Visitors are invited to play an active role in the mad birthday tea party, hosted by the Mad Hatter and March Harewill. The temporary fairytale will be open until October. In addition, the park has prepared many fun activities and surprises for its visitors with party music played every day at 4 pm throughout the park.
A two-night stay for a family of four at Efteling Village Loonsche Land in a six-person themed room priced from £788 based on arriving 12 July 2022. The price includes breakfast and 3 days of unlimited access to Efteling park located 15 minutes away from the village. Book here
Return Eurostar tickets from London St. Pancras International to Amsterdam Centraal can be purchased for £227 per person (based on departing 12-14 July 2022). www.eurostar.com
Return NS tickets from Amsterdam Centraal to ‘s-Hertogenbosch can be purchased for £18 per person (based on departing 12-14 July 2022). www.ns.nl/en
Hop on the Bikes in the Cotwolds
This self-guided eight-day walking and cycling tour takes visitors through some of the most picturesque villages and some of the best scenery in the north Cotswolds. Guests will visit the Cotswolds’ scenic rolling hills and meadows and the wealth of quintessentially English villages of honey-coloured stone buildings such as world-famous Chipping Campden and the Slaughters. A day will be spent exploring Broadway Tower Country Park and Snowshill Manor, a National Trust property full of extraordinary treasures. They will stay in the ancient Saxon capital of Winchcombe and visit Sudeley Castle, Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's 6th wife’s last resting place.
Headwater’s eight-day trip Classic Cotswolds Activities is priced from £1,209 per person and includes all accommodation, all breakfasts, high quality bikes, Headwater navigation app, maps, management by local Headwater agent and luggage transfers. Departures every day from 24 June 2022. (Headwater.com, 01606 369121)
