Last days of summer: how to get the most from your weekends



The sun certainly had its hat on for us this summer, but now the kids are settled back into school, you’re back at work, and normality has been restored.

But summer doesn’t have to be over just yet! With rumours of a ‘BBQ Autumn’ and the Met Office reporting we’re eight times more likely to have temperatures well-above average than well-below, here are some ideas on what you could get up to...

Did someone say ‘beach’?!


 Summer is synonymous with lazy beach days, so why not fit in one more before the colder temperatures kick in? Load up the car the night before so you can set off early, pack a simple picnic for lunch, then a portable BBQ for a seafront grill as the sun sets. It might end up being a late one, but with all that sea air you can guarantee the kids will doze off in the car! Here are some items for your packing list:

●     Weber Go-Anywhere charcoal BBQ (£79.99) to cook your sausages and burgers in next to no time.
●     Pop-up beach tent (£21.99) to shelter you whatever the weather – sun, wind or rain!
●     GP PowerBank Mobile Charger (£14.99) to keep your devices topped-up for taking photos and videos of the sea, sandcastles and the sunset.
●     GP beam torch (£79.99) for when you need to pack up after the sun’s gone down.
●     Dock & Bay beach towel (£15), which is lightweight, quick-dry, and made using a fabric which sand doesn’t stick to – bonus!

Camping trip


 If you didn’t manage to pitch up this summer, or you can’t get enough of the simple life, why not organise a one-night family camping trip? It’ll be a great way to de-stress after a week at school and in the office – you could always give one of GP’s top camping hotspots a go.

Don’t fancy a car journey? A campout can be just as fun in your back garden, plus you’ve got the benefit of having all of your home comforts close by!

Festival fun


 The UK’s main festivals might be over for another year, but there are plenty of smaller-scale events yet to take place that are well worth a visit. Take London, for example: this September the capital plays host to the Underbelly Festival in Southbank (great fun for kids); Totally Thames, which celebrates the famous waterway with art, live performances and boat races; and for the evening, Luna Cinema, which puts on themed flicks in the grounds of famous landmarks.

Family bike ride


True, you can enjoy a family ride any time of the year. But it’s only really during the warmer months that you can comfortably enjoy a picnic lunch, surrounded by nature (without having to pack a hot flask or wear gloves!). Why not try a route you’ve never been on before? Use Sustrans to find a trail suitable for all the family, and don’t forget to read our top tips in advance of your cycling adventure.

Once summer’s gone, it’s gone (at least until next year)! These four, family-friendly ideas will help you make the very most of the sunny days we have left. Just make sure you share stories and snaps of your adventures with us over on our Facebook page!

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