Here at MyFamilyUK, we know how essential family fun is to you, but you don't want to revisit tired old places, or spend a fortune on theme parks, or induce hours of whining in galleries and museums. It can seem hard to consider going out at all - but we want you to have fun this summer! So here are some little-known UK family friendly haunts that are great places to go for some refreshing, cost-effective entertainment.

1) Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Wraxall (nr Bristol)

www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk

Noah's Ark Zoo farm is a unique experience for all the family, with an amazing collection of fascinating, dangerous and deadly creatures, just 6 miles out of Bristol! We particularly like the newly-opened Tiger Territory, with its two female Bengal tigers, Tira and Kushkja. There's also petting zoo, with baby chicks, rabbits and guinea pigs that you can hold and feed - or, for the more adventurous, you can also feed deer and camels! Kids will love the huge adventure playgrounds, while you'll love relaxing in picnic spots with views across the Channel.

Right now (from Monday 27th July to Saturday 8th August) Noah's Ark Zoo Farm are hosting Reptile Week, an amazing chance to watch and learn about some of the most deadly creatures on earth - including a black mamba and cobra.

Open: 10:30am-5:00pm Monday to Saturday

Under 2s go free!

2) Kids' Summer Fun at Borde Hill, West Sussex

www.bordehill.co.uk

Widely renowned for its magnificent grounds and Grade II listed Heritage Garden, Borde Hill is also a wonderful place for children during the summer with a programme of fun activities, an exciting tree trail, a mesmerising maze, a magical adventure playground and vast areas of parkland and lakes with wildlife ponds to explore. The highlight is definately the Pirates Adventure Playground: a time machine taking children back to a magical time of buccaneers, pirates and castles, while parents can watch from nearby picnic benches.

Kids’ Summer Fun (Saturday 18th July to Friday 4th September) includes: Go Kart Party, 'Animazing' (featuring snakes, spiders and other creepy crawlies), Huxley birds of prey, Magic by Wacky the Wizard, & Splodge Arts & Crafts (making butterflies, insects and fish).

Open: 10am-6pm all week

Free entry for one adult with every 10 children!

3) Holywell Bay Fun Park, Newquay

www.holywellbay.co.uk

Holywell Bay Fun Park is well known as one of Cornwall’s friendliest attractions for action, thrills, brilliant value for money and family fun. Ride, slide, splash and spin – the huge variety of attractions for the whole family includes: 2-seater Kiddy Karts, Formula 1 Go-Karts, Star Cars (for potential world champions), thrilling 2-seater Battle Boats with turret guns, Merlin’s Maze (with its amazing magic waterfall), Bumper Boats, Orbitors, Adventure Golf, Panning for Gold, indoor play are and a beachside diner.

Open: 10:30am-6pm all week

Entry is totally free for adults and children.

4) Banham Zoo, Norfolk

www.banhamzoo.co.uk

Showcasing almost 1000 animals from around the world, Banham Zoo lets your and the kids get closer than every before. With a huge giraffe enclosure, adorable tiger cubs, a safari train and soft play areas for the under 5s, as well as fascinating talks on animal behaviour, animal feeding and birds of prey displays, Banham Zoo is bound to be a hit with everyone.

Our highlight is the bookable 15-minute slots each day where lucky visitors have the chance to get closer than ever before to the giraffes. You'll be able to join a fully-trained expert on the feeding platform and actually feed the giraffe by hand. Amazing.

Open: 10am-6pm (last admission 4.30pm)

Under 3s go free!

5) Life in Benjamin Franklin's London with Polly Hewson, (Tuesdays in August), London

www.benjaminfranklinhouse.org

The amazing house at 36 Craven Street has been incredibly well-preserved, and acts as an interactive museum of Benjamin Franklin's life, history, and hidden secrets. The house itself is a brilliant place to look around with the family, with hands-on experiments and the remains of an early anatomy school, as well as a wealth of historical remnants from the American Revolution and establishment of the first US embassy in Britain.

Every Tuesday this August you can have the chance to meet Mrs Polly Hewson, the daughter of Benjamin Franklin’s landlady, who reveals the intricacies of everyday life, as well as the stories and gossip behind the grander events in Franklin’s London household. You'll also be invited to re-create one of Franklin's most exciting and famous experiments in the very spot that he did.

House open: Wednesday-Sunday, 12pm-5pm

Polly Hewson talks: 11am and 2pm

£5 per child - accompanying adults go free!

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