Ah the great British summer – whilst the weather may not always be on our side, it can certainly make for some wonderful experiences. Whether getting out into the lush countryside with a picnic basket in hand or planning a family barbecue at home, there are memories to be made and they don’t have to cost the earth! Come rain or shine, we’ve got plenty of ideas for things to do in the summer that the whole family will love, so you can fill your diary and keep everyone entertained this July and August! 

10 things to do in the summer to keep the whole family entertained

1. Make scrapbooks

First on our list of things to do in the summer is making scrapbooks – one to start at the beginning of the summer holidays that you can turn into a tradition each year, and trust us, your little ones will love it!

We’ve created this handy scrapbook kit with everything you’ll need to get started! This is a great activity as you can sit down and work on your scrapbooks each week. For younger kids, include prompts such as ‘what was your favourite thing we did this week?’ and by the end of summer you’ll have a book full of lovely creative memories! 

2. Have a staycation

Booking a last-minute exotic getaway isn’t always possible, but we’re lucky to be blessed with so many gorgeous places right here on our doorstep! The UK is home to sandy beaches on the South coast to picturesque hills in the Lake District in the North, so if you’re looking to get away for a few days, it doesn’t have to break the bank or involve any flying whatsoever! Don’t forget to take along a travel journal to help plan and document your trip and note down all of your favourite moments from your summer adventure.

3. Go on a colour walk

Have you heard of a colour walk? It’s one of our favourite things to do in the summer, and it is completely free! All it involves is picking a colour, going on a walk in nature and trying to spot things in that colour. You can take a picture of everything you see and make a collage at the end, too!

Another fun way of doing a colour walk is doing a rainbow walk, where you try to find one thing in each colour. You can even take along an egg box and collect things in each colour, such as flowers, stones and leaves. It’s a fun way to get out and about, and maybe spot things you wouldn’t have otherwise!

4. Visit the library

Our local libraries are completely invaluable – when was the last time you visited yours? Take this as your reminder to go and sign up for your library card, and make a visit this summer. The trip to the library is an activity all on its own, but then you also have lots of reading to take you through the summer, too!

Why not set yourself a summer reading challenge? Grab a book journal, decide on your goal, and set aside some time each day to get lost in a world of words. It doesn’t matter where your summer adventures may take you, you can take your library books along with you, making it one of our favourite things to do in the summer. As Stephen King once said, ‘Books are a uniquely portable magic’. 

5. Camp in the garden

Who says a camping trip has to be somewhere away from home? If you’ve got a garden with some grass, you can set up camp right there! Pop up some twinkling fairy lights, sing some campfire songs and don’t forget to get the marshmallows in for roasting! The best part is that there’s no long travelling, you only have to walk as far as your own front door. 

6. Try one new recipe each week

We get it, filling the diary with things to do in the summer can feel like a never ending task, and one which feels like you never quite finish. A great boredom buster and something you can plan to do every week is trying out some new recipes. It’s a great way to mix up your meals and find your new mid-week favourite ready for when the kids go back to school. Everyone can get involved, and you can make a note of your favourites using a recipe journal so you can make them part of your regular menu!  

7. Go to the beach

If you’re lucky enough to live near the coast or don’t mind spending a couple of hours in the car, a trip to the beach is a staple when it comes to things to do in the summer. You can really make a day of it, and there’s so much to enjoy – lemon top ice creams, sandcastle building competitions, and feeling the cold waves lap around your toes. Being by the coast is a great way to reset and recharge, just make sure to check the weather forecast and the tide times before you go!

8. Have a picnic at home

You don’t need to live anywhere near a fancy park to enjoy a traditional picnic – all it takes is a blanket, some finger sandwiches and fresh fruit to make yourself a picnic anywhere you like! Set up in your garden or better yet, if the rain has reared its head, get the gingham blanket out right in your living room! It makes a regular summer lunch feel even more special – and by the end of the holidays may have even become a daily routine.

9. Movie night

Stick on a summer classic like Grease or The Parent Trap and make sure you have plenty of popcorn in! A movie night in the summer is the perfect way to spend an evening. Invite some friends around and you have the perfect low-key way to spend some time together (something we all need more of in the summer holidays!). If you want to go really fancy, you could even grab yourself a projector and have a movie night outdoors. How cool is that? 

10. Get crafty 

Finally on our list of things to do in the summer is trying our a new craft! Summer is the perfect time for crafting. Why? The colour and sunshine of the season can give you so much artistic inspiration, and you usually have a little more time to dedicate to it, too.

You could pick up a craft kit from a small business (some of our faves are Lauren Aston Designs, Caterpillar Cross Stitch and Sculpd) or just buy in some supplies and let your imaginations run wild! Whether you’re picking up a new skill like crochet or pottery, or just putting paintbrush to paper and seeing where it takes you, the summertime is a great opportunity to spend some time making and creating.

We hope this list of things to do in the summer has given you some ideas to help fill your diaries! Whether you’re looking for ideas to keep the kids occupied, or just wanted some fun inspiration for yourself, there’s so much fun to be had in one of the most beautiful seasons. Don’t forget to let us know if you try any of these in the comments! 

P.S. If our list of things to do in the summer has left you feeling inspired, we have lots of products to help you along on your summer of fun! Shop our favourites with up to 30% off in our Big Summer Sale.