 which cover a site larger than a football pitch. You can even get a little Thomas the Tank Engine themed train from the castle and back again if their little legs can't quite take the trek. On some days, the tickets are timed, but you can book in advance to prevent any queue meltdowns – and bear in mind you could easily spend a day at this beast. There's everything you need inside the playground – apart from shelter from the rain – including an on-site cafe and decent toilets. And because it's designed and created for children aged two to 12, it has everything from a super zipwire section to a dedicated toddler area. There'){kind=link}
ONE of the first rules of holiday parenting? Compromise.
And when you fancy an historical outing, but your children couldn’t care less, there’s a perfect place where you both can win.
Blenheim Palace – royal favourite and seat of the Duke of Marlborough – sits at the edge of the chocolate-box village Woodstock, and just 20 minutes from the centre of Oxford.
It’s close enough to the dreaming spires that you could fit in a trip during a weekend away, but there were more than enough outdoorsy adventures here to keep any child happy.
First stop is the new adventure playground hidden behind the walled garden in the grounds of the imposing 16th-century palace.