Every year, summer rolls around, and I convince myself we’ll be that family. You know, the ones who picnic in matching outfits and have wholesome adventures involving binoculars and compost. But really, it’s a blur of half-eaten ice lollies stuck to the carpet, cries of “I’m booooored,” and someone always losing a flip-flop. Sidenote. Has anyone seen my flip-flop?
This year, however, our family summer will involve doing things differently (or at least trying to). I’ve rounded up a collection of summer fun for all ages – from laugh-out-loud games to crafty kits and proper good stuff for garden explorers. Whether you’re heading on a staycation, braving the great British beach, or just want something to keep the kids busy in the shade, there’s something here for every family. Let’s make this summer fantastic – mismatched flip-flops and all—additional sidenote. Seriously, has anyone seen my flip-flop?!
Crazy Tube Set – Edx Education
What Is It:
Like a marble run, but with water, this is a wild and wonderful water play set of flexible, bendy, connectable tubes, pumps, scoops and more that twist into endless shapes to make your own water system.
What We Thought:
A big sensory win and the perfect play to cool down in the garden! Really high quality, the girls loved designing different water systems, using the pump to push the water up and down before it spurted out. I loved the fact that it channelled their creativity and developed their maths skills with measuring and counting. A big win.
Where To Buy: £45.99 from https://www.shopedx.co.uk/collections/sand-water-play/products/crazy-tube-set
Nature Journal & Magnifying Glass – Rex London
What Is It:
A brilliant little explorer’s duo – a magnifying glass with a chunky, kid-friendly handle and an 80 page nature journal to draw, scribble and document all their garden discoveries. It’s got prompts, pages to fill, and that “I’m a scientist!” vibe kids love.
What We Thought:
Our girls immediately turned into tiny Attenboroughs, inspecting leaves and bugs and making serious-sounding notes. It sparked actual curiosity (and gave us a bit of peace) – a lovely screen-free way to encourage outdoor play.
RRP: £3.95 (Magnifying Glass), £4.95 (Journal)
https://www.rexlondon.com/nature-trail-magnifying-glass
https://www.rexlondon.com/nature-trail-journal
Hoddog Game
What Is It:
A fast-paced, party-style game of quick thinking and split-second decisions as you are challenged to make the longest hot dog possible. Expect fast-paced hilarity and glorious chaos.
What We Thought:
It’s one of those games that starts off calm and ends in people dramatically throwing themselves across the table. Great fun for kids and adults, and it doesn’t take hours to learn. Ideal for summer evenings, rainy days, or anywhere you want to make people shout “HODDOG!”
RRP: £7.99 from https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DJD9B6HC
Sosig Game
What Is It:
Another sausage-based family card game, ‘cause we all love a summer sausage. Sosig makes you build the tastiest, silliest sausage dog by matching cards. Yep. It’s weird, wonderful and fun.
What We Thought:
Weird in all the best ways. It’s creative, silly, and somehow makes you care deeply about your oddball sausage dog. My 7-year-old was giggling away with her silly dog, and the small cards mean it’s super simple to pop in the bag to kill some time on any day out.
RRP: £7.99 from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sosig-Joking-Hazard-Friendly-Players/dp/B0CP6GGBZN?th=1
The Gruffalo Paint Your Own Birdhouse & Plant Pot
What Is It:
Two different hands-on craft kits that bring a bit of The Gruffalo magic to your garden. Each set includes a wooden birdhouse or plant pot, paints, and a brush – all ready to decorate however your little wild thing sees fit.
What We Thought:
A brilliant combo of calm craft time and a lovely finished product. The girls loved choosing colours and painting in the details, and they’ve proudly installed the birdhouse and planted daisies in the pot. Simple, joyful, and surprisingly therapeutic.
RRP: £15 from https://www.robert-frederick.co.uk/collections/the-gruffalo/products/the-gruffalo-paint-your-own-bird-house-childrens-craft-kit-with-paints and https://www.robert-frederick.co.uk/collections/the-gruffalo/products/the-gruffalo-paint-your-own-plant-pot-childrens-craft-kit
Coral Reef Game – Smart Games
What Is It:
Play Hide & Seek underwater with Coral Reef, the ultimate subaquatic adventure! A classic Hide & Seek game reinvented, players 4+ must place all 4 magnetic pieces onto the board so only the challenge images are visible. Made portable and compact in notepad form, this handy little game is great for trips!
What We Thought:
A perfect quiet time activity, read, this gets them to shut up for a bit on a long journey!. It’s compact and well-made, and there’s something super satisfying about solving each of the 48 puzzles. A great option for travel, waiting rooms, or any time you need a peaceful pause from the madness.
RRP: £14.99 from https://smarttoysandgames.co.uk/
Summertime Reading – No I’m a… Flamingo and Fox and the Mystery Letter
What Is It:
Two standout picture books that deliver big on laughs, heart, and beautiful illustrations. No, I’m a… FLAMINGO! is a gloriously silly tale about a child who refuses to get dressed because — obviously — they’re a flamingo. It’s perfect for parents who know the daily battle of clothes vs imagination all too well. Meanwhile, Fox and the Mystery Letter is a thoughtful, gentle story about a solitary fox who follows a trail of clues through the forest, leading him back to a long-lost friend. Full of adventure, emotional depth and a few surprises, it’s a lovely reminder of the power of reconnection.
What We Thought:
Flamingo was an instant favourite with our 5-year-old, who fully committed to her new flamingo identity and refused shoes for the rest of the afternoon, while the 7-year-old turned into the “official flamingo wrangler.” It’s chaotic, colourful, and hilariously relatable.
Fox and the Mystery Letter brought the tempo down in the best way — calm, curious, and full of feeling. The girls loved following the clues, and it sparked some genuinely lovely chats about friendships and how it’s okay to make the first move in fixing one. Two very different books, both completely brilliant.
Where To Buy:
At your local bookseller RRP £7.99 or No I’m a….Flamingo https://amzn.eu/d/6WH5pAc and Fox and the Mystery Letter https://amzn.eu/d/4n3NMD6
Travel Scales With Tape Measure – Rex London
What Is It:
Sleek and surprisingly handy, these petrol-blue travel scales take the stress out of airport check-ins. Just hook your bag on, lift, and the old-fashioned scale readout tells you exactly how close you are to exceeding the luggage limit (aka how much room you’ve got left for snacks and souvenirs). No batteries needed!.
What We Thought:
A travel must-have I didn’t know I needed. No more doing the “weigh myself, then weigh myself holding the suitcase” dance. These scales are small enough to throw in your bag and accurate enough to save you from that humiliating airport-floor repack.
RRP: £6.95 from https://www.rexlondon.com/travel-scales-petrol-blue
Hyper Dash – Goliath Games
What Is It:
Hyper Dash is like a mini sports day meets memory challenge, all in one brilliantly energetic game. Kids race to tag flashing targets with a handheld ‘Tagger’ in the right order, testing speed, memory and coordination. It’s got three game modes, so you can switch it up depending on how much brainpower you’ve got left post-ice cream.
What We Thought:
This game is chaos in the best way. The kids were tearing round the garden like Olympians, shouting numbers and colours and loving every second. It’s active, educational, and honestly… quite a workout for adults too if you get roped in.
RRP: £24.99 from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyper-Dash-2623-Game-Multicolor/dp/B0DFQCDBPG
Balance Path – Edx Education
What Is It:
A set of textured, wavy paths you lay out on the floor and then try to walk across without wobbling off. Sounds simple, but for little legs (and big ones), it’s a surprisingly fun balance challenge that boosts coordination, motor skills and confidence.
What We Thought:
This is a product built to last, and it turned our garden into a ninja training ground. The girls made obstacle courses, played “the floor is lava,” and took turns judging each other’s balance skills like mini gymnastic coaches. Sturdy, safe (thanks to the non-slip properties), and loads of fun.
RRP: £137.99 from https://www.shopedx.co.uk/collections/active-play/products/balancing-path
Baker Ross Outdoor Arts & Crafts Fun
What Is It:
A treasure trove of crafty activities that are perfect for outdoor table time. We tried a whole mix – the Fruit Segment Fractions (a sneaky bit of maths), Burger & Kiwi Mix & Match kits (satisfyingly silly), Fairground Sticker Scenes (always a win), and even reusable water balls (like water balloons, but without the guilt or mess).
What We Thought:
We took these away with us and they were brilliant. Kept the kids entertained without needing a screen or 300 tiny plastic parts. The reusable water balls were a massive hit – endless garden soaking without the usual clean-up. It’s a yes from us.
RRP: Prices from £3.95 to £5.95 per kit from https://www.bakerross.co.uk/
Surf Clay – Ocean Freedom
What Is It:
A reef-safe, mineral-based clay sunscreen designed for surfers, beach lovers, and anyone who wants proper protection with a bit of style. It’s tinted, water-resistant and packed with natural ingredients, and comes in a dinky little tin that fits in any bag.
What We Thought:
This stuff is seriously cool. The kids loved the idea of face paint that doubles as sunblock, and it lasted through a whole messy beach day without any meltdowns (literal or emotional). It smells lovely and actually feels good on your skin.
RRP: £13 from https://bling2o.co.uk/collections/ocean-freedom
Family Summer Food and Drink
Because no family summer’s complete without a bit of indulgence…
Melt Chocolates – Pistachio & Kataifi Dubai Chocolate Bar and a Workshop
What Is It:
Artisan chocolate with a gourmet twist. Think, the tastiest Dubai Chocolate you’ve had, and if you’re bored of just eating it, this summer you can have a go at making it with their make your own chocolate workshops.
What We Thought:
Creator of our favourite Easter Egg, these aren’t your average sweet treats. The Dubai Chocolate pistachio bars are a thing of wonder. If you’re looking for a slightly different activity over the summer, they’re running workshops from their London store, allowing you to make your own Dubai Chocolate…. And then eat it. Obvs.
RRP: £14.99 for the bars, and the courses start from £54.99 https://meltchocolates.com/
Dorset Ginger Company – Gift Pack
What Is It:
The famous five of handcrafted, small-batch ginger drinks made in the heart of Dorset. You get five different flavours—which you can also pick yourself, including ginger, extra strong, rhubarb with a ginger kick, and more—perfect for sipping cold, mixing into mocktails, or spicing up a G&T.
What We Thought:
Beautifully packaged with a cute recipe book, this is the perfect gift to take to a summer BBQ. The drinks are totally refreshing, with just the right gingery kick. These felt properly grown-up and summery. My wife has become a die-hard lemon-and-gin convert.
RRP: £18.15 from https://www.dorsetginger.ltd/product/gift-pack
Chimmy’s – Trio Gift Box
What Is It:
Three gorgeous jars of Chimmy’s signature chilli sauces, 100% natural, vegan, gluten-free, no additives or preservatives. A blend of spices, herbs, oils and vinegars to form this incredible all-natural sauce. Choose from classic, smoky or spicy, and use it to jazz up everything from BBQs to cheese toasties.
What We Thought:
It went on everything. Eggs, chips, sandwiches, BBQ skewers—you name it. My personal favourite was the Original, which packs just enough heat without scaring the children. A spicy little gift for foodie friends or your own condiment stash.
RRP: £14.95 from https://chimmys.com/shop/
Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto
What Is It:
A stunning Italian aperitivo made with hand-picked Calabrian bergamot and Mediterranean botanicals. Light, floral, citrusy, and ideal for a summer spritz.
What We Thought:
So elegant. Mix it with Prosecco and garnish with olives for the Italicus Spritz—a proper grown-up drink that’s both zesty and refreshing. The bottle looks like something you’d keep on your bar cart forever.
RRP: £32.25 from https://rosolioitalicus.com/ or https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/34609/italicus-rosolio-bergamot-liqueur
Savoia Orancio – Aperitivo Italiano
What Is It:
A bold, bittersweet orange aperitivo made with orange wine is designed for mixing. Zingy, complex, and sunshine in a glass. It’s your Aperol alternative—only way more interesting.
What We Thought:
An instant hit. We served it as a Savoia Margarita (with tequila, lime juice and agave) and it disappeared in minutes. It’s the kind of drink that makes you feel like you’re on holiday, even if you’re just in the garden.
RRP: £21.95 from https://casa-savoia.com/ or https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/62805/savoia-americano-rosso-amaro-dolce
And if you’re wondering where might be a good destination to take your troupe for a family summer holiday, have a look at our family-friendly hotels and hideaways.
