Alternative Village Fete, London
The National Theatre is bringing a country fair with an urban twist to London's South Bank this weekend. Artists and theatrical performers will reinterpret the traditional British village fete, with contemporary barn dancing, craftmaking, alternative folk music and story-telling sessions. And of course, no village fete would be complete without tea and cake stalls.
• 1pm-5.30pm Sunday 28 August and 1pm-4pm Monday 29 August, National Theatre Square, facebook.com/watchthispace, homeliveart.com
Rock pooling, Goodrington Sands, Devon
If the sun is shining, pack up your bucket and spade and your fishing nets and head for Goodrington Sands. With its golden stretch of sand, beach huts and seaside amusements, it's one of Devon's most family-friendly beaches. At low tide kids can explore the marine life in the many rock pools before examining their finds at the nearby Seashore Centre which has seawater tanks with marine life, interactive seashore displays and microscopes. On bank holiday Monday the centre's marine rangers will be hosting a Beach Club Discovery Tent with activities such as fossil hunting, plankton catching and beach crafts available at a cost of £1 per activity.
• Seashore Centre, Tanners Road, 01803 528841, countryside-trust.org.uk
Family Cycle Trail, Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is home to some of Britain's most ancient oak trees. Explore this atmospheric woodland on a waymarked Family Cycle Trail. The 11-mile circular trail starts at the Cannop Cycle Centre near Coleford, where you can hire bikes if you don't have your own, and follows the route of the old Severn and Wye railway line passing former stations and the remnants of old coal mines, with plenty of picnic spots en route. Allow two hours to complete the trail.
• Cannop Cycle Centre, 01594 833057, forestry.gov.uk/forestofdean, three hours' cycle hire for adults £10, children from £7
Brecon Beacons Summer Fayre, Wales
The Brecon Beacons national park will be showcasing the best of Welsh food, drink, arts and crafts at its annual Summer Fayre. There will be 70 stalls selling local crafts and produce at the National Park Visitor Centre near Libanus and a packed programme of child-friendly activities including Punch and Judy shows, face-painting, badge-making and pottery turning. They even have a 1950s double decker bus to play in. Adults can try their hand at archery, paintballing, and the traditional sport of welly wanging, all set against the spectacular backdrop of Pen-y-Fan, the highest peak in south Wales.
• 10am-5pm, 27-29 August, National Park Visitor Centre, Libanus, 01874 624979, breconbeacons.org
Rayleigh Family Fun Day, Essex
This free event is a great way to inspire kids to get more active, with skateboarding and fencing displays, football skills sessions, dance shows and go-karting. Rides and games will keep younger children happy. There will also be rescued exotic animals, classic trucks and fire engines, live music and lots of food stalls. All proceeds go to charity.
• 10am-4.30pm, Monday 29 August, rayleighfunday.co.uk
Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow
A perfect destination for a rainy day (and there's no shortage of them in Glasgow) the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is Scotland's most visited free attraction. Its 22 galleries display some 8,000 objects covering art, natural history, arms and armour, but a range of hands-on exhibits and discovery centres ensures it never feels too much like homework. Don't miss the dinosaur skeleton, Spitfire aircraft and Egyptian mummies. There's a free film screening of the Incredible Hulk (12 certificate) on Saturday 27 August at 1pm, as part of the six-week-long Saturday Movies at Kelvingrove – call 0141-276 9509 to book. Older children (aged between 12 and 17) can also sign up for one of the regular creative workshops. On Sunday 28 August, there will be a workshop focusing on Graphic Novel Design and Techniques. It's free, but booking is essential – call 0141-276 9506.
• 0141-276 9599, glasgowlife.org.uk/museums
Newquay Harbour Sports Day, Cornwall
Newquay's annual aquatic contest takes place on Saturday 27 August with entries being accepted on the day from noon until 2pm. Races take place within the historic harbour and include surfboard paddling, swimming and sculling for children and adults. The day culminates in a fun but frantic game of water polo. Visitors go head-to-head with locals in all events, but the emphasis is on entertainment rather than serious sporting rivalry.
• 2.15pm onwards, Saturday 27 August, newquay.co.uk, free
Wildlife watching at Ham Wall, Somerset
Water voles, otters, kingfishers and bittern are just a few of the creatures you might be lucky enough to spot at this newly created RSPB-managed wetland near Glastonbury. The reedbeds are alive with birdsong and the sounds of marsh frogs, while dragonflies and butterflies flit along the waterways. At dawn or dusk you might even spot a barn owl hunting for voles and mice. There are 360m of walkways that are suitable for pushchairs and a couple of viewing areas.
• 01458 860494, rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/h/hamwall/about.aspx
Walking in North Yorkshire
The Moors National Park Centre, set in an idyllic spot on the banks of the river Esk, makes a great base for a family day out on the North York Moors. The centre features hands-on exhibitions on the area's wildlife, an indoor climbing wall and outdoor play area and a programme of daily events and activities. There are dozens of short, circular walks from the doorstep, including one up to Danby Beacon, which has great views of the surrounding moorland (pick up a leaflet from the centre) and reluctant hikers can be motivated with the promise of a visit to the gift shop and tea room at the end of the walk. In the summer months it's easy to get to the Centre using either the Moorsbus Network or the Esk Valley Railway.
• 01439 772737, northyorkmoors.org.uk/the-moors-centre
Durham Streets of … Summer Festival
Durham's city centre will be taken over by acrobats, jugglers, contortionists, magicians and musicians this weekend as part of its annual Streets of … Summer Festival. Open-air stages set up in the Market Place and Millennium Place will play host to some of the world's finest street performers during this two-day free festival.
• Friday 26 and Saturday 27 August, durhamstreetsof.co.uk
