Things do with kids in Herefordshire

There’s no shortage of things to do with kids in Herefordshire. Ditch the doom scrolling, reject the Roblox and give the kids wild adventures, and freedom to roam! 

Kids! Step away from the screen and open the door! Words usually met with grunts or stares in your house? You need a dose of Herefordshire and Discover Parks to help ditch the devices and make some IRL memories. Replace swiping and scrolling with swings and swashbuckling! 

Here’s 13 kids activities in Herefordshire to keep them entertained including what’s on offer whilst staying at Discover Parks.  

Activities for kids at Discover Parks  

1. Activities at Pearl Lake

At Pearl Lake Country Holiday Park there’s heaps of activities to keep kids of all ages entertained.  

There’s the ancient Pearl Lake which you can fish from the bank. For more adventure, take out your Stand-Up Paddle Board (SUP). If you have a rigid rowing dinghy, launch from the jetty and see the park from a different (and chilled) perspective! It’s not Swallows and Amazons, so children must be supervised by adults at all times when using the lake! 

The lake is surrounded by extensive woodlands with walks. There’s a nature hide with binoculars and information about what you can spot. As dusk falls spot hedgehogs, field mice, frogs, toads, foxes and badgers – an ideal way to keep the kids quiet! We’ve got a footy field by the Lakeside Bar & Bistro, so budding Haaland’s and Raya’s can have a good old kick about whilst the grown-ups have a swift half!

There’s a giant chess set, a petanque court (you can hire boules from reception), and a putting green if there’s a junior Rory McIlroy in the family.  

We’ve also got a BMX track for riders aged from 4 to 11, a climbing wall for kids aged 4 upwards and a zip wire for youngsters who have the need for speed. 

2. Activities at Arrow Bank 

(Image Visit Herefordshire)

At Arrow Bank there’s a great space for playing football and other ball games. We’ve set up goalposts so make sure you pack a ball. Why not play a family game of rounders – we’ve got the space! 

Arrow Bank has woodland to wander in, and a nature hide to get up close to wildlife. It’s by Jennifer’s Pool, a fishing pool which attracts lots of birds. Grab bug kits from reception and then take a wander by the River Arrow for a bit of stone skimming. In the summer when the waters are clear and not so fast flowing you can spot fish swimming along and maybe even a kingfisher. 

3. Activities at Rockbridge    

Rockbridge really comes alive after dark, because it’s in Wales’s first Dark Skies Community. There’s very little light pollution, so the planets and stars shine bright. We’ve got a viewing dome with super strong telescopes for some family stargazing. During the day the River Lugg is a great play space provided kids are supervised. Paddling, stone skimming and wildlife watching while away a few hours and keeps kids off their screens!  

There’s lots of great family bike rides from Pearl Lake, Arrow Bank and Rockbridge – details here

Indoor kids activities in Herefordshire

(Image Shutterstock)

4. Play Planet 

Play Planet is the largest soft play emporium in Herefordshire. Close to the centre of town, with lots of parking, it caters for kids from under 2 to 12 in various zones. There are tunnels and slides, spider webs to climb and a 4-lane wavy slide for racing! 

It’s got air con too, so the kids don’t get too sweaty! There’s an on-site cafe that serves snacks, lunches, cold and hot drinks.  Play Planet is open 9am-5pm during the school holidays and sessions need to be booked as it gets busy at peak times. 

The centre is close to the centre of Hereford – 35 minutes drive from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and 45 minutes from Rockbridge 

Play Planet

5. Flip Out  

On the edge of the city not far from the Leisure Centre is Flip Out. With bags of free parking, this is an inflatable and trampoline park where kids can literally bounce off the walls! 

It’s a great family because grown-ups can use the equipment too. There are drop slides, free fall experiences onto a giant airbag, a travelator, and climbing walls plus lots of zones with quirky little bouncing experiences.   

The Park View cafe looks down on the bouncing area which sells hand stretched pizzas, paninis, filled jackets and waffles.  You need to book in advance, and you’ll also have to buy a pair of socks for the first time you bounce.  

Flip out is around 35 minutes from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and 45 minutes from Rockbridge. 

Flip Out

6. Paint your own Pottery experiences  

(Image Shutterstock)

Get creative and make your own mugs, plates and bowls that nobody else in the world will have! 

There are three studios to visit, two in Hereford city and one in Ledbury.  

• The Hive Makerspace is a studio in Hereford where you can book a seat and get a tutorial on pottery painting. 
• Manic Ceramic, also in Hereford  offers a pick and paint service. You choose your pottery, take it away with your painting kit, paint at your leisure, then return for firing.  
• Glazy Dayz in Ledbury is a sit in studio where you get a tutorial on painting, create your masterpiece and then collect a week later once it’s been fired.  

Ledbury is roughly an hour’s drive from Pearl Lake, Arrow Bank and Rockbridge 

7. Swimming pools  

(Image Shutterstock)

There are three swimming pools within striking distance of all three Discover Parks.  

Hereford Leisure Pool  

A great facility with all the fun stuff for a family swim session. Sloped entry into the water, wave machine, flume slide, toddle slide and water jets. There’s a cafe on site serving sandwiches and wraps, kids snacks and drinks and hot drinks. 

It’s a short walk into Hereford city and it’s on the Bishops Meadows with more activities available.

Hereford is about 35 minutes from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and 45 from Rockbridge. 

Hereford Leisure Pool

Leominster Swimming Pool and Presteigne Swimming Pool  

Both of these pools host family fun sessions and various classes but aren’t leisure pools. Check websites for session details and times.  

Leominster is 15 minutes from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and half an hour from Rockbridge. 

Presteigne is a 2-minute drive from Rockbridge and 15 minutes from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank  

Leominster Pool

Presteigne Pool

8. Bowling  

Discobowl Hereford 

Hi-tech bowling lanes, an arcade with new and classic games and lazer quest all under one roof. Bowling ramps for smaller players.  

A good day out and there’s generally deals on offer via the website. It’s a 5-minute walk from the Old Market Shopping Centre in Hereford. 

Discobowl Hereford

Grove Golf and Bowl  

Situated on the A49 between Leominster and Herefordshire, it’s part of Grove Golf. The 10-pin bowling lanes have all the latest computer tech to ensure competitive games. Bowling ramps and automated bumpers means everyone can enjoy the experience.  

If bowling’s not your thing, then you can nip outside and have a go at the 18-hole mini golf course. You’ll get stunning views of the 1^st fairway of the main Grove golf course from here too.  

No need to book mini golf, but you do need to book the bowling.  

The Grove is a 20-minute drive from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and just over half an hour from Rockbridge.

Bowling at the Grove

9. Wye Valley Butterfly Zoo  

This is an indoor attraction, so if it’s a rainy day in Herefordshire (unlikely of course!), it’s an ideal way to spend a few hours in a warm and humid environment! The zoo is housed in a large glasshouse-style building.  

There are butterflies from all over the world, and you’ll be walking around as they fly about and even land on you! There’s also lots of information to discover about the lifecycle of  butterflies, countries of origin and all sorts.  Kids love it here and close by there’s mini-golf and a cafe.  

The Butterfly Zoo at Symonds Yat West is about an hour and half drive from all Discover Parks…for bearings, it’s not far from Ross on Wye.   

Butterfly Zoo

Outdoor kids activities in Herefordshire 

10. Bishops Meadows Hereford 

(Image Shutterstock)

With plenty of parking nearby and close to the Hereford Leisure Pool complex, this area has recently expanded offering plenty of outdoor activities.  

There are outdoor tennis and pickle-ball courts, 18-hole mini golf, mini football pitches, free table tennis and lawn games. A cafe on site provides hot and cold food and drink.  

Situated right by the banks of the River Wye, there’s plenty of walks close by, plus the historic Castle Green and plenty of riverside eateries.  

Sports at the Bishops Meadows

11. Oaker Wood Leisure  

Oaker Wood is the ultimate outdoor activity centre where you can have adventures as a family. Quad biking, high ropes, low ropes, escape room, woodland krypton challenge, clay pigeon shooting, lazer clays, paintballing and rafting.  

Booking is a must.  

Around 15 minutes from Arrow Bank and Pearl Lake and half an hour from Rockbridge 

Oaker Wood

12. Paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking on the River Wye 

(Image Visit Herefordshire)

The River Wye is one of the best UK rivers for a bit of paddling. The river around Ross-on-Wye, Symonds Yat, Kerne Bridge and Hoarwithy are the best stretches. Canoe companies offer transport from the end of your paddle back to where your car is, which is what most people tend to do.  

If it’s your first time afloat, then a Canadian canoe may be the best way to go. It’s the traditional looking canoe where youngsters can sit safely between adults. But most companies offer tuition to make sure your trip goes well on whatever form of watery transport you fancy. 

Ross-on-Wye is about an hour’s drive from all Discover Parks

River Wye Kayak Hire Canoe Hire | Hereford Kayak Canoe

Canoe Hire on the River Wye – Canoe the Wye Ltd.

Canoe Hire & Adventure Specialists | Wyedean Canoe Hire

13. Kington Small Breeds Farm  

Kids of all ages will love it here – it’s very hands on! The vibe is small(ish) animals and lots of owls. There are familiar furry creatures like guinea pigs and rabbits and less familiar ones like degus and chinchillas. You’ll find goats from pygmy to Angora, alpacas, micro pigs, sheep and donkeys.  

The owl collection is amazing and is one of the best breeding collections in Europe! As well as owls familiar to us in the UK, there’s strange ones from all over the globe. Owls from India, South America, Japan and Australia all now call Kington home.  

There’s a great tearoom which caters really well for kids and bags of outside seating.  

This is a not-to-be missed venue and is just a 15-minute drive from Pearl Lake and Arrow Bank and about half an hour from Rockbridge.  

Kington Small Breeds Farm

Come and stay at Discover Parks – a great base for families!

With two parks in North Herefordshire and one just over the Powys border in Wales, Discover Parks is a great base for families to explore the local area.

There’s touring and tenting pitches, all sorts of self catering options and holiday homes to buy – there’s plenty of choice. With just a 10 minute drive between all our parks – stay at one but use the facilities at the others! There’s no time for the kids to get bored, which is good for them and great for you!