Summer Holiday Activities for Children in and around Corbridge

Six weeks is a long time to fill, and the summer holidays can test the most organised parent. The good news is that Corbridge has plenty to offer within walking distance or a short drive, from Roman ruins and riverside walks to fruit picking, cricket and swimming. This guide covers the regular summer options that families come back to year after year.

Programmes and dates change from one summer to the next, so check with each place before you go. Most publish their summer plans in late spring or early summer.

Roman history on the doorstep

Corbridge Roman Town, run by English Heritage, is the village's star attraction and a natural first stop for the holidays. Children can walk along the original Roman main street and see finds in the museum, including the famous Corbridge Hoard.

English Heritage usually runs family activities here in the school holidays. Its family guide describes children rebuilding the Roman town with large, lightweight "Corbricks", and a trail round the museum follows the Corbridge Lion. The open space of the former forum has also been used for summer events. Opening days change through the year, so check the English Heritage website for summer opening times and the events programme. English Heritage members get in at no extra charge.

Dilston Physic Garden

A short drive south-west of the village, Dilston Physic Garden is a living science garden growing over 700 heritage flowers, herbs, vegetables and trees, each with a history in health and medicine. From April to October it opens Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, so it is a good option for a quieter summer day.

Children can explore the plant collections and learn how plants have been used for healing over the centuries. The garden is a registered charity with no central funding, and it sometimes runs events and workshops, so check its website for what is on during the holidays.

Pick your own at Brocksbushes

Just east of Corbridge off the A69, Brocksbushes Farm usually opens its pick your own fields in the summer, when strawberries and other soft fruit are in season. Picking times depend on the weather and the crop, so check the farm's website or social media before setting off. The farm has also held a summer fayre in past years.

Whatever the weather, there is the four-level indoor play barn and outdoor play area, along with the café and farm shop, which makes Brocksbushes a reliable standby on a rainy day too.

Cricket coaching at The Stanners

Summer is cricket season, and Corbridge Cricket Club at The Stanners has a lot going on. The club professional runs coaching courses during the school holidays, which are a good way for children to try the sport or build on what they learned in the season. The national All Stars programme for five to eight-year-olds usually runs through the early summer.

On match days, a picnic at The Stanners watching a game is one of the gentler pleasures of a Corbridge summer. Contact the club through its website for course dates and booking.

The Summer Reading Challenge

Corbridge Library on Hill Street is a branch of Northumberland's library service, and Northumberland libraries usually take part in the national Summer Reading Challenge. Children sign up at the library, read books over the holidays and collect rewards as they go, finishing with a certificate or medal.

It is a simple way to keep reading going over the break, and it costs nothing to join. The library opens on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, so plan visits around those days. Ask the library staff when this year's challenge starts.

Swimming and soft play in Hexham

About ten minutes' drive away, Wentworth Leisure Centre in Hexham is the go-to option for active days. Places Leisure, which runs the centre, usually puts on a holiday programme that includes family fun swims, soft play and racket sports such as badminton. In some holidays it has offered intensive swimming lessons, which can be a good way to make quick progress.

The centre also has a ten-pin bowling alley, which is handy on wet days. Holiday sessions can be busy, so book ahead where you can and check the Places Leisure website for the current timetable.

Free and low-cost ideas

Not every day needs to be planned or paid for. Some local favourites:

• The riverside. The Tyne runs along the south side of the village, and the riverside path is a good place for a stroll, a picnic or spotting wildlife. Keep a close eye on children near the water.
• The village itself. Walk across the 1674 bridge, explore the churchyard at St Andrew's and look for clues to the village's past. Our Corbridge heritage walking trail makes a good self-guided route.
• Bike rides and walks. Quiet lanes and paths around the village are good for family walks. See our guide to family activities in Corbridge for more ideas.

Planning tips

• Check dates each year. Holiday clubs, courses and events change from summer to summer. Confirm details with each organiser before booking.
• Book early. Popular courses and holiday sessions fill up quickly.
• Have a rainy-day plan. The play barn, the leisure centre and the Roman Town museum all work well when the weather turns.

With a mix of history, outdoor fun and sport, a Corbridge summer can be busy without being expensive.