The Tiger Who Came To Tea, London

Judith Kerr's book has sold more than 4 million copies since it was published in 1968, so the stage version of this classic will no doubt appeal as much to children of the 1960s and 70s, as their kids. Produced by the company behind the live shows of the Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and We're Going On A Bear Hunt, it features music and lyrics by David Wood who has written more than 70 plays for children.
• The show runs until 4 September at the Vaudeville Theatre, The Strand (0844 412 4663, vaudeville-theatre.co.uk). Tickets cost £12.50-£15.50 with a selected number of premium seats at £19.50. Suitable for children aged three and above

Imperial War Museum, Manchester

Any budding journalists in your family? Children can come here to learn how to get the big scoop – without phone hacking. Coinciding with new exhibition, War Correspondent: reporting under fire since 1914, the museum is running two-day masterclasses for teenagers at the new BBC Learning Studio opposite the museum from 11-26 August (sign up now to get a free place). This month younger children can join in craft activities such as composing a front page or decorating a journalist's jotter, every day from 1-4pm until 31 July, and on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, the What a Performance shows will bring to life the tale of a reporter during wartime (until 30 July).
• The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road (0161-836 4000, iwm.org.uk/north)

Just So festival, Staffordshire

Most festivals offer family-friendly activities these days but few are aimed solely at small children. Now in its second year, Just So is a mini festival for mini festival goers with music, art, cinema and dance in 65 acres of ancient woodland. Meet children's authors including David Lucas, illustrator of Halibut Jackson picture books, and the Etherington Brothers, creators of Monkey Nuts, and dance in the woods to Polly and the Billets Doux and the Zen Hussies.
• 19-21 August at Barnswood, near Leek (justsofestival.org.uk). Weekend tickets, including three nights' camping, £80 adults and £35 children, under-3s free)

Festival of Surprises, Lincolnshire

A treasure hunt, magic show, face painting and walkabout entertainers are among the fun and japes on offer as part of the festival of surprises in the grounds of Elizabethan Burghley House. The theme is Magic, Myths and Legends and events will take place every day for two weeks from 30 July-12 August, although the main events will be at weekends.
• Burghley House, Stamford (01780 752451 burghley.co.uk). Activities free with entry: adults £12.20, children (3–15 years) £6, family of four £31.50

Via Ferrata, the Lake District

A great summer outing for any daredevils in your family, this is a hair-raising route via metal ladders, hand rungs and bridges bolted into a cliff face to a viewpoint overlooking Buttermere. Participants are attached to harnesses and watched over by trained mountaineers. If that's not enough of an adrenaline kick, there's a zip wire too. The via ferrata is at Honister Slate Mine, which is more than 300m up a mountain pass on the third highest road in England. The path was used by Victorian miners as a route to get to and from work.
• Honister Pass, Borrowdale, Keswick, Cumbria (017687 77230, honister-slate-mine.co.uk). Adults £35, children (must be over 10 and a minimum height of 1.30m) £20

Summer Camp, nationwide

If you're trying to juggle work and school hols or simply like the idea of packing the kids off for a week while you rest, then book them onto a YHA Summer Camp. Running throughout the six-week period in the Lake District, Midlands, Peak District and Surrey, they are aimed at 10- 19-year-olds.
• Summer camps from £249 for five nights or £99 for two, including all activities, meals and accommodation (01629 592530, doit4real.co.uk)

Butterfly World, Hertfordshire

It might give parents the creeps but the new Ant World attraction at Butterfly World in St Albans will entrance nature-loving children. Hissing cockroaches, stick insects, fat caterpillars, ant colonies, African snails and leaf cutter ants will all be on view at the Insect Study Centre, which is being opened this Sunday by David Bellamy, when children arriving with an adult and bringing a cut-out leaf enter for free. Outside the meadows are in full bloom and there are willow tunnels to run through and slides and swings to play on, and of course, 600 tropical butterflies to admire.
• Miriam Lane, Off Noke Lane, Chiswell Green (01727 869203, butterflyworldproject.com). Adults £7.50, children under 16 £5.50, family of four £20, under-3s and Blue Peter badge holders go free

Wild Child, nationwide

Mucking about outside – that's what summer holidays are for. If that's your thinking, then sign up the messy pups for one of the National Trust's Wild Child events, running all this summer. There's tree climbing at Hidcote in Gloucestershire (24 July, 10-4pm) with expert instruction (from, er, expert tree climbers), den building on Brownsea Island in Devon (25 July and 15 August, 11-4pm) and at Ightham Mote, Kent (5 August, 12-3pm), pond dipping on the Jurassic coast in Devon (3 August, 2-4pm) and twilight walks at Colby Woodland Garden in Pembrokeshire (24-25 August, 7-9pm) and many more trips encouraging children to get up close to nature.
• nationaltrust.org.uk. Prices vary

Wind in the Willows outdoors, nationwide

Join Ratty, Toad and friends at various spectacular outdoor venues across the country, starting tomorrow (23 July) at the National Trust's Basildon Park and running until the end of August. The Cambridge Touring Theatre's energetic musical of Wind in the Willows takes place outdoors, so bring a picnic and a rug. Expect to get involved – audience participation is strongly encouraged – fingers crossed it doesn't rain.
• cambridgetouringtheatre.co.uk. Adults around £12, children £8 but prices may vary slightly Three-day drama workshops for 7- 11-year-olds (£90), and pre-show workshops for 5- 11-year-olds (free) will be running at select venues (book early, places limited)

Cookery and gardening workshops, Carmarthenshire

Once upon a time, cooking for kids meant chocolate Rice Krispie cakes at home, but these days things are a whole lot more sophisticated. The Pumpkin Patch Kitchen & Garden, in Whitemill, Carmarthenshire, is running cookery and gardening workshops for children from 26 July, and then every Tuesday in August. After preparing breakfast (e.g. pancakes, sausage and tomato kebabs), children head out into the garden to feed the animals before returning to the kitchen to prepare lunch. After lunch it's time for gardening or blackberry picking.
• 01267 290312, thepumpkinpatch.org.uk. Classes run from 10am-3.30pm and cost £35 per child (over 8 years old)