Top 50 things to do in summer

Enjoy a memorable family day out with us this summer. Plan your own nature adventures and see how many of our '50 things to do before you’re 11¾' activities you can try out.

Families on a camping holiday at Low Wray Campsite at Ambleside, Lake District, Cumbria

No. 3 Camp outdoors 

Grab your tent, torch, sleeping bag – and of course, lots of tasty snacks – and head outdoors to camp outside surrounded by nature. Whether you're away from home or in your own back garden, we've got lots of ideas for camping, including inspiration for what you can do to keep yourself entertained and what wildlife you could spot.

Set up your tent
Den building at Dunwich Heath and Beach, Suffolk

No. 4 Build a den 

Build the best den ever with our tips and tricks. All you need are some sturdy sticks, leaves that you've found on your wild adventures and some mud to secure it all together.

Build a top secret den
Playing in the mud kitchen at Kedleston, Derbyshire

No. 13 Make a mud creation 

The great thing about mud is that you can find it anywhere, and some of our places have huge quantities of it just waiting to be made into mud creations of all sorts. We've gathered some top tips on how to make the best mud creation. You might be surprised at what you can create with mud – you could even make a bug hotel.

How to make a squelchy mud creation
A group of teenagers dam the river at Wasdale, Cumbria

No. 14 Dam a stream 

What could be better on a hot day than getting into a stream and trying to dam it? Once you're done, see what creatures you come across in the water, such as fish, frogs and crayfish.

Learn how to dam a stream
A girl holding up a pebble with a fossil in it on a beach in Yorkshire

No. 26 Hunt for fossils and bones 

Journey back in time when you search for fossils, which tell us all about animals and plants from the past. Fossil and bone hunting is mammoth fun for all the family – and it's no. 26 of our '50 things to do before you're 11¾’.

Seek out those fossils
People stargazing

No. 27 Go stargazing 

The big, open skies of the countryside let you see thousands of stars sparkling at night, and summer's a great time to check out the sky above you. Take a look at our top tips for stargazing.

Discover clear skies for stargazing
Two young children looking through binoculars at Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire

No. 30 Go on a scavenger hunt 

Going on a scavenger hunt is a great way to get outside, explore nature and see what you can find during summer. You can do a scavenger hunt anywhere – gardens, woodlands, parks or beaches. What wild treasures will you find?

See what you can discover
A girl looking at a ladybird at Polesden Lacey, Surrey

No. 31 Make friends with a bug 

Ladybirds, spiders, caterpillars, woodlice – there are all kinds of creepy crawlies hiding at the places we look after, and you can have a go at no. 31 on our '50 things to do before you're 11¾' – making friends with a bug.

Look for bugs
Visitors in a rowing boat at Fell Foot Park, Cumbria

No. 32 Float in a boat 

Floating in a boat – no. 32 of our ’50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ activities – can be as slow and dreamy or as fast and exhilarating an experience as you make it.

Explore the water with a boat
Children jumping on the limestone pavement at Upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire

No. 46 Clamber over rocks 

Whether you like to set yourself a challenge or if you're instead after a more gentle activity, clambering over rocks has many possibilities for everyone. There are all sorts of different terrains to explore and conquer.

Tips for clambering over rocks