Let’s face it, January can be a bit of a strange time when you’re parent.
With the frenzy of Christmas just a memory and the novelty of those lovingly-received gifts pretty much done with, inertia is the general vibe that tends to characterise the first month of the year.
Sitting around with your feet up, doing very little and going almost nowhere just feels like the right thing to be doing at this time of year.
And come on, don’t you deserve a little bit of down-time following your near-heroic efforts to make Christmas go with such a bang?
Of course you do. But will your kids see things the same way? Unlikely.
With this in mind, it’s almost inevitable that someone will pipe up and say “let’s have an afternoon out” at some point or another.
While this may seem like a huge amount of effort (“didn’t we go out last month?”), it can, and most likely will, do you a favour.
Do you all a favour, in fact; a change of pace and a bit of fresh air being an ideal way to shake you out of your selection box-induced malaise.But where to go, you ask? Well, with the weather being how it is at this time of year, it normally pays to keep things fairly local as you can always retreat to the car and get home quickly if/when winter starts biting hard.
With that, we’ve decided to draw up a list of some places that are within an easy drive (no more than an hour) of Peterborough city centre.
We’ve also decided to throw in a few indoor options, just to ensure you’ve got all bases covered.
5. Railworld Wildlife Haven (PE2 9NR)
There is so much to admire about Railworld that it's hard to distill the appeal of the place into just one or two sentences. The fact that a former coal storage yard has been transformed into an inner city wildlife haven is an impressive enough feat in itself. But when you consider this has been achieved by a small army of visionaries and volunteers who have also managed to conserve much of the region's railway heritage, you start to get an idea of just what a fabulous endeavour Railworld really is. The sheer variety of what's offered here: nature trails, full-size train exhibits, conservation awareness projects, heritage displays and - of course - being able to get so close to passing speeding trains, is enough to entertain visitors of all ages. It is perhaps the model train layouts which are the jewel in the crown for younger visitors though. Just check out out the look on your kid's face when they see the big indoor layout for the first time. Photo: David Lowndes
6. Ferry Meadows (PE2 5UU)
Like Rutland Water, Ferry Meadows is a beautiful spot to enjoy any time of the year. If you're hardy enough to venture out on to the water via a craft of some sort then more power to you - it's certainly a rewarding experience sharing that much winter water with ducks, swans and perhaps one or two other hardy souls. Your kids will no doubt enjoy the well maintained play areas as much as anything else, although there are plenty of den-building opportunities to be had, and even a few geocaches hidden here and there to keep digital treasure hunters on their toes. The cafes at each end of the Country Park make decent retreats for when the wind really starts whipping off the water, plus there's a cute little shop selling high-quality nik-naks. Cycling and strolling remain the key land-based draws here, although you may get to squeeze in a bit of kite-flying if you're really fortunate. Photo: David Lowndes
7. Hamerton Zoo Park (PE28 5RE)
Covering more than 20 acres of the Huntingdonshire Wolds, this delightful animal park near Sawtry is more of a full day drip than an afternoon out. It may not be big when compared with the likes of Whipsnade but, with more than 100 animal species to admire, you'll find the time soon flies by. Your kids will no doubt fall in love with the 'cuddly' looking brown bears, but it is the big cats, most notably the cheetahs and tigers which are the real stars of the show. The white tigers are, quite simply, stunningly beautiful. Mini railroad safaris are on hand via the Tiger Express Railroad (keep an eye out for dinosaurs) and keeper talks are held regularly. There's also a pretty cool adventure playground which you'd be well advised to save for the end of the day. Photo: David Lowndes
8. Belvior Castle (NG32 1PE)
Often described as a 'fairytale castle' this charming stately home on the outskirts of Grantham has the look and feel of a filming location. No surprise really when you consider everything from The Da Vinci Code and Young Victoria to Little Lord Fauntleroy and The Crown have all been filmed around here over the years. The big draw this January is that, from the 27th onwards (until 19 February, in fact), the castle and grounds will be bathed in a Spectacle of Light from 5.30pm every day. Explore the historic woodland and gardens and you'll discover stunning installations within the landscape providing something new around each corner from Curve, Fire Flow and Carpet of Colour to Tri-Lanterns, Chandeliers, Fountains and moving lights. Atmospheric sound and music will add to the experience. Log cabins by the castle will proffer freshly made doughnuts, cakes and sausage rolls alongside marshmallows toasted over a firepit. Mulled wine, cider and hot chocolate will also be on hand, along with Yorkshire pudding wraps and sausage and bacon baps. Tickets booked before 26 January qualify for a 10 per-cent discount. Photo: National World