For parents, managing holidays can mean having to find new childcare arrangements or activities to keep children busy, but there are local resources and initiatives that can help.

Playschemes

Holiday playschemes are an affordable way to find holiday childcare. The schemes are for children aged 5 to 11, though some also cater for older children. The playschemes offer groups of children activities like arts and crafts and outings.

Here are just a few of the playschemes available in the King’s Lynn area:

St Augustines Nursery Columbia Way Info
Kings Lynn & District Holiday Playgroup, Church Lane Info
Tom Thumb Day Care – Holiday Club Reffley Lane Info
Mr Bee’s – Family Centre Hamburg Way Info
St Michaels Family Centre – Holiday Scheme Saddlebow Road Info
West Winch Windmills West Winch Info
Phoenix Montessori Nursery (West Norfolk) Terrington St. Clement Info
Gayton Goslings Holiday Scheme Gayton Info

Other playschemes in Norfolk can be found on the Norfolk County Council Holiday Playscheme Finder.

Interesting Places to Visit

Museums and galleries have on-going activities for children and during the holidays many run special events or programmes. Most major museums and galleries have free entry, and many offer special activities on a daily basis to help children enjoy and get the most out of their visit.

Days out at the beach, in the country, or visiting heritage sites, can be affordable and enjoyable for both adults and children. Trips to amusement parks and adventure playgrounds could be another option to consider during the holidays.

Here’s just a few ideas for interesting places to visit locally:

Bircham Windmill
Great Bircham, King’s Lynn, PE31 6SJ
A Norfolk windmill with working machinery and a working bakery. There are also tearooms, ponies, cycle hire, a gift shop and garden. Regular events throughout the season.

African Violet Centre
Station Road, Terrington St Clement, PE34 4PL
Cultivation and display of a unique collection of African Violets, a selection of seasonal garden plants. Winners of 10 Chelsea gold medals.

Caithness Crystal Visitor Centre
Grianac, King’s Lynn, PE30 4NE
See glass making at close quarters, watching the skill of our glass makers as they shape and blow the glass in the manner used for centuries. The factory shop sells giftware.

Castle Acre Castle
Castle Acre, Castle Acre, PE30
The remains of a Norman manor-house which became a castle with earthworks, set by the side of a village.

Castle Rising Castle
Castle Rising, Castle Rising, PE31 6AH
Castle Rising Castle is a fine example of a Norman castle. The rectangular keep, one of the largest, was built around 1140 by William D’Albini.

Congham Hall Herb Garden
Lynn Road, Grimston, PE32 1AH
Garden with over 650 varieties of herbs in formal beds with wild flowers and a potager garden. Over 250 varieties of herbs for sale in pots.

Fenland and West Norfolk Aviation Museum: Bambers Garden Centre
Old Lynn Road, West Walton, PE14 7DA
Vampire T11, Lightning aircraft, uniforms, aero engines, aircraft components, artefacts, memorabilia, radio equipment, souvenirs, models and replica Spitfire.

Guildhall of St George
27-29 King Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1HA
A regional arts centre, the medieval guildhall now houses a theatre with a regular programme of daytime and evening events. Film, concerts and galleries.

Houghton Hall
Houghton, Houghton, PE31 6UE
A hall built in the early 18thC with superb state rooms, a collection of 20,000 model soldiers, a picnic area, gift shop and a newly-restored walled garden.

Lynn Museum
Market Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1NL
Housed in a Victorian church. Lynn Museum has displays on natural history, archaeology and local history.

You can find even more places to visit and things to do in our Things to Do section.

Lynnsport

Lynnsport offers a variety of activities for children during school time and a comprehensive programme during the holidays. In addition to those detailed, various courses take place throughout the year.

Below is a list of the activities included in the junior programme at Lynnsport:

Soccer Skills Studio
Lynnsport Karate Club
Roller Skating
Junior Bodyworks
Gymnastics & Trampolining
Children’s Birthday Parties
King’s Lynn Junior Badminton Club
The Shed Skatepark
King’s Lynn Table Tennis Club
The Hangar Climbing Centre

More Info can be found on the Lynnsport page at www.west-norfolk.gov.uk

True’s Yard

There are several events organised throughout August which are ideal for livening up bored kids including Smugglers Quest, Pirate Skool, Wash Day, Find the Fish and Evacuee Day… All the events run from 10am to 12 noon with afternoon runs if the demand is there. It only costs £1.50 per child with accompanying adults free (event only) Book early to avoid disapointment.For more details go to www.truesyard.co.uk
Contact: Holly 01553 771200

North Lynn Discovery Centre

The North Lynn Discovery Centre offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities – Sport, Arts & Craft, Music Workshops etc.

www.northlynndiscoverycentre.co.uk

Circus Stars 2011

Join ‘the greatest show on earth’ at all Norfolk libraries and mobile libraries.

The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to read and collect stickers – offering families a free activity to help make learning fun during the summer holidays.

The challenge is for children of all ages. They can read any books they like – fact books, stories, joke books, picture books – it’s up to them. As long as you’re borrowing them from the library, they all count. More Info …

More Holiday Ideas …

Why not check out our constantly updated Things to Do section for more holiday ideas.