Summer 2026 has seen heatwaves, World Cup fever, and Wimbledon heroics. Now, the school holidays have arrived. With six weeks in which to keep your children or grandchildren entertained despite changeable weather and the draw of electronic devices, you might be looking for inspiration.
At Jane Smith, we’re on hand to help with a rundown of five perfect family-friendly days out in Olney and the surrounding area.
1. The Arches Theatre, Clifton Reynes
The Arches Theatre sits under four railway arches just outside Olney that were once part of the Midland Railway’s Bedford to Northampton line. The line was in operation for 90 years before closing to passengers in 1962.
Untouched for more than half a century, the site was later cleared of brambles, and the space reopened as an outdoor theatre venue. The first performance took place there in 2018.
This year, the summer line-up (the area is largely flooded in winter!) includes something for all the family.
Around the World in 80 Days will bring the adventures of Phileas Fogg to life on 1 August. The Wizard of Oz will be performed on the afternoon of Sunday 9 August, while Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland fills the same slot the following week.
For older children – or on those occasions you find yourself child-free – you can also enjoy Shakespeare, comedy, and music, plus a three-night run of PG Wodehouse’s Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense.
2. National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an English country house and estate in Milton Keynes. Famous as the home of second world war code breaking, it is principally associated with the Enigma machine and codebreakers including Alan Turing.
The main Bletchley Park site houses exhibitions – on the rise of AI, the early days of the codebreakers, and the part the house played in D-day. You’ll also find immersive videos, interactive displays, and be able to listen to the codebreakers in their own words.
There are also cafés and play areas on-site, ensuring that your children or grandchildren are energised and active and set for a full day of fun.
Within the Bletchley Park estate but separate to the main site (and so with its own admission fee and shorter opening hours) is the National Museum of Computing.
The museum documents the development of computing from the 1940s to the rise of PCs in the 1980s and beyond. It was named one of England’s Top 100 “irreplaceable places” in a 2017 Historic England campaign.
3. Ninja Warrior UK MK, Milton Keynes
The Ninja Warrior concept began in Japan and has since spawned versions worldwide.
In the UK, the programme is a Saturday night staple for ITV. It sees contestants take on a series of obstacle courses designed to test their speed, power, and endurance, either against fellow competitors or the clock.
There are now Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Parks across the UK, with the closest to Jane Smith’s Olney office situated in nearby Milton Keynes.
The supervised venue allows your loved ones to take on the Ninja Warrior challenge in safety. They’ll be able to climb, balance, and swing their way across multiple obstacles and inflatables before tackling the iconic Warped Wall.
4. Go Ape at Woburn Safari Park
Sticking to an exercise theme, Woburn Safari Park hosts a Go Ape Treetop Challenge. This is a high-ropes course with a safari twist that requires agility and bravery.
Not for the faint-hearted, the course features treetop crossings and fast zipwire descents and is suitable for those aged 10 and over.
Back on ground level, you’ll find an array of animal-based adventures, alongside keeper talks and regular demonstrations.
You might opt for a car or walking safari, allowing you to get up close to some of Woburn’s most charming residents.
Among the animals you’ll encounter are North American black bears, African lions and Barbary macaque monkeys.
5. Whipsnade Zoo, Dunstable
Also close by and perfect for a family day out is the UK’s largest zoo, Whipsnade.
The 240-hectare (600-acre) site houses everything from aardvarks to yaks, with daily talks and miles of incredible habitats to explore. Plus, there are indoor and outdoor play areas for the kids and the Great Whipsnade Railway, complete with its own steam train.
There are food and drink options aplenty, and digital fun to be had in the form of eight unique virtual reality experiences. These include the evolution of the dinosaurs, diving with sharks, and searching for the elusive mountain gorilla.
Whipsnade is in the middle of a baby boom, having welcomed – among others – a white rhino named Mick on New Year’s Eve and an Asian elephant calf that is so new to the zoo that it is yet to be named.
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