Have you exhausted all the usual options for activities in the school holidays? Movies for Juniors at Cineworld, swimming at the Aquasplash and Fort Regent Jungle Gym when it’s raining. Beach walks, scooting around Quennevais track and numerous playgrounds when it’s not. But we still have another week! So what now?!
We are extremely lucky in Jersey in that there are new activity options emerging all the time. The entrepreneurial spirit coupled with a great family-centric lifestyle means that Jersey caters for children very well.
Some new activities include :
Waste Not, Want Not (at Fort Regent)
Offers junk modelling workshops. Kids can create all manner of wonderful things using everyday recycled materials. For only £2.50 per 30 mins they can make desk organisers, name signs for their room, their favourite animal or even a Minecraft sword. Once they have finished, explore the heritage trail Fort Regent – it’s amazing what you might learn.
Nest Art Studio (at Jersey War Tunnels)
Choose from a range of blank ceramics and let your child loose with paint and see their creativity emerge! Prices start from £5.00.
Tamba Park (at the old Lion Park site in St Lawrence)
(Now with indoor area too)
This is currently my favourite! You can walk through an indoor jungle which has been transformed with a leafy canopy, green grass under foot and background jungle noises. A zip wire (YES, Indoor!), swings, slides, baby sensory room, ball pit and roundabout keep the children amused. You can keep a watchful eye on their shenanigans on the security TVs while you have a cuppa in the café.
If you can manage to manoeuvre the children through the indoor area and café, there is a big park to run around. First you go past the birds of prey which you can get up close to if the time is right. Birds include falcons and owls plus some more exotic varieties with one bird looking very like a vulture to my untrained eye! Survive the birds and then you can take the path past the dangerous (and very life like looking) dinosaurs! Survive the dinosaurs and you arrive at the outdoor playground with ANOTHER zip wire, swings, slides, climbing wall and trim trails.
Start the journey back to the car park and you will pass the boats. If you would like a relaxed end to your visit, hop into a boat and gently glide over the lake – your children can drive and you sit back!
Tamba Park is great value for money at £3 entry fee each plus there are membership options.
Along with the above, don’t forget the plethora of cafes with indoor play areas:
- Stanley’s at Holme Grown, St Clements
- The Tree House, St Peters
- The Farm House, St John
- The Priory Inn, St John (at Devil’s Hole) – also good for older children who like the PlayStation or movies
- The Portelet, Noirmont – Pirate Pete has turned Italian!
Less obvious places with some activities or books for children include:
- The Royal, St Martin with a small outdoor area
- Classic Herd Tea Shop, St Peters with books and toys plus calves for petting
- Café des Sports, Quennevais Sports Centre – you don’t have to be doing anything in the centre to use the café
- Plus Ransoms and St Peter’s Garden Centres – always good for cakes!
The list goes on and I’m sure during the next school hols, there will be something new to do too! If you want to know more about life in Jersey and Guernsey, subscribe to our email list for monthly updates.
