Summer Adventures in Time: How to Keep the Kids Learning (and Entertained) This Holiday

As the school gates close and the long summer stretch begins, parents everywhere are on the lookout for activities that strike the perfect balance: thrilling enough to beat the holiday boredom, but engaging enough to keep young minds active.

Fortunately, a summer of discovery awaits at the UK’s grandest palaces. Following a spectacular year of inspiring school pupils, home educators, and teachers across the country, these historic sites are throwing open their doors for a season of immersive family adventures. Whether you are planning a grand day out or looking for rainy-day activities at home, here is how you can spark your children's curiosity this summer.

Step into the Living History of the Tudor Court

This summer, history is stepping off the textbook page and straight into the sunshine with interactive, live experiences designed to captivate children of all ages.

• Meet Queen Anne Boleyn at the Tower of London: Families can dive headfirst into the drama of the Tudor court with two lively summer events. Watch the frantic, fun preparations unfold for a royal celebration in A Tudor To-Do, before coming face-to-face with the Queen herself in Boleyn is Back. It is a brilliant opportunity for kids to ask questions about court life and even snap a royal selfie.

• Turn Up the Heat in Henry VIII's Kitchens at Hampton Court Palace: If you have an aspiring chef in the family, the palace's Historic Kitchens are a must-visit. Through Experimental History sessions, families can watch historic recipes and quirky cooking techniques brought to life. There are also live demonstrations and hands-on Historic Cookery activities to get the kids involved.

Parent Tip: Both of these immersive summer experiences are included in the standard price of palace admission, and members can entry entirely for free.

Rainy-Day Rescue: Free Interactive History at Home

We all know the British summer weather can be unpredictable. For those afternoons when the rain sets in, you can bring the magic of the palaces directly into your living room using a treasure trove of free online learning resources.

• Take a 360-Degree Virtual Tour: You can explore the Tower of London from the comfort of the sofa. A free interactive tour lets families step inside the historic Beauchamp Tower, where you can uncover centuries-old graffiti left behind by real prisoners and tackle fun challenges together.

• Play Interactive History Games: Keep screen time educational with online games inspired by Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London. Children can help the palace staff prepare a grand Tudor feast or unscramble famous mysteries from the Tower's past.

  
  

Making History Accessible for Every Child

Education should have no limits, which is why great strides have been made this year to ensure every child can connect with the past. For teenagers who find written text a barrier, a new series of Wordless Books has been launched. Free to download online, these books explore powerful themes of resilience, relationships, and loss through historic stories, making them a wonderful summer discussion starter for parents and teens.

Furthermore, for families who take the lead on their children's education full-time, the palaces offer brilliant home education opportunities throughout the year, featuring themed events, self-led trails, and tailored activities.

Whether you are exploring the ramparts in person or crackling a Tudor code online, there has never been a better time to take your family on a journey through time.

Plan Your Journey: To book your summer tickets, download the free Wordless Books, or explore the virtual games, head over to the official website to plan your ultimate family day out.

The information and photo in this article was kindly provided by Historic Royal Palaces.

Ollēdi © 2026

Reframe your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss a story.

We care about your data in our privacy policy.