The £8 that will save your sanity this week
Effortlessly educational nature, a new bridge and some fairy tea rooms
So the kids are all back at school.
You should feel free, light, like a new person.
But instead, you’re standing in the kitchen, staring at the wall, realising that you’re now back to the daily grind of pick-ups, snack negotiations and “what are we doing this weekend?”
Don’t worry, I’ve got you.
Three places you’ll actually want to take them (and won’t cost the earth).
Kingswood Trust – Nature, But Make It Effortlessly Educational
If you love the idea of taking your kids into nature but don’t love the reality of chasing them through a muddy field while shouting, “Please don’t eat that!” then Kingswood Trust is your place.
For £8 per car (yes, per car, so fill it up like you’re smuggling people across a border), you can let them loose in nine acres of woods, fields and friendly animals.
They often do activities on each day such as campfires, crafts and other wholesome, nature-focused goodness.
Not only that but they do drop-off holiday clubs during half term so the kids can go crazy and you avoid it 😄
They think they’re just playing, (the true work of a child 💁🏼♀️) but, they’re also tiring themselves out so you can have a peaceful evening.
• Saturday Forest Fun (10 AM) – Pay your £8, get entry to the whole site, a free craft activity all connected to nature and what’s relevant in the world that week, and pat yourself on the back for being one of those parents who do wholesome, outdoorsy things
• Park & Play (Tuesdays, 10 AM – 1 PM, £6 per car) – Less structured, more “go run over there while I drink my tea”
• Owlets (for preschoolers, 10 AM) – Run by an experienced play leader, so it’s technically educational, perfect forest school type stay and play for kids up to 5
There’s parking, toilets and ‘Woody’s Snack Stop’, so you won’t have to ration out your emergency bag of Mini Cheddars.
Book ahead, though—it fills up.
📍 Kingswood Trust, Albrighton
Kepax Bridge Circular Walk – For When You Need to Trick Your Kids into Exercising
There’s a new(ish) bridge in Worcester, and before you say “A bridge? Is this really what my life has come to?” hear me out.
This perfectly paved route connects Gheluvelt Park and Sabrina Bridge in a scenic loop. It’s flat, smooth, and ideal for scooters, bikes, pushchairs, anything with wheels basically.
What’s great:
• You get river views, nature and a solid “We Did Something Today” feeling without an actual hike
• Cafés and snack stops nearby. Gheluvelt Park has a café for post-walk bribery
• No entrance fee = free entertainment (unless you count the cost of the snacks you’ll inevitably have to buy)
📍 Start at Gheluvelt Park, Worcester
Whitlenge Tea Rooms – Because Sometimes You Need Cake
You think you’re just going for tea and cake, but this place has so much more for kids.
The new nature-inspired outdoor play area is what gets the kids excited.
But for me?
It’s the fact that I can sit there with a cup of tea while they run around.
Also: the cake is actually good (not one of those places where it looks nice but tastes like disappointment).
• The outdoor play area is all wood and natural materials, so it blends in with the surroundings and makes you feel like a Pinterest mum just for being there
• There’s plenty of parking, toilets, and indoor seating—all the essentials for avoiding a meltdown.
• Fairy Trail – Because anything with the word “fairy” in it automatically becomes 100x more exciting for small children (does require an extra fee though)
• New wildlife area – Created by a forest school leader to show kids how to bring more wildlife into their own garden (translation: you’ll probably end up building a bug hotel at home)
• Children’s afternoon tea – Because if you’re treating yourself, they might as well get tiny sandwiches too and the crusts are usually already cut off which is a bonus
Basically, it’s a great mix of let them run wild, then bribe them with food—which, honestly, is my preferred parenting strategy.
So next time you find yourself accidentally promising the kids a “fun day out,” take them here. They’ll have a blast, and you’ll get to drink a hot drink while it’s still hot. Win-win.
📍 Whitlenge Gardens, Hartlebury
So there you go: Three places to get them out of the house, burn some energy, and maybe even enjoy yourself in the process.
Save this email. Future You will thank you.
Aimee x
P.S. Tag me (@gettingoutwest) if you visit any of these—I love seeing what you guys get up to!