I’m always looking out for new places to explore with Monkey; even better if there is a good mix of outdoor space, educational aspects and lots of fun to be had. We certainly found all of those elements recently when we were enjoying a day out at Avoncroft Museum.
Avoncroft Museum of Historic buildings can be found 2 miles south of Bromsgrove and is easily reached from the A38. It took us exactly one hour to drive there from North Oxfordshire. Set in the Worcestershire countryside, the museum showcases buildings which cover 700 years of history. It makes it a great place to really bring history alive for children. From the phone boxes of my own childhood to a wonderful Tudor house, there is all sorts to explore and inspire.
The National Telephone Kiosk Collection is great fun to explore. The children had great fun ringing each other and it gave Monkey his first experience of the telephones I remember from my own childhood.
We even got to see a ‘Tardis’ style phone. It’s so hard for children to understand a life without mobile phones and instant access to anyone at any time.
The various buildings have all been saved from various locations across the country and have been carefully restored at Avoncroft so we can all enjoy them. There are information points across the site explaining the history of each building,
Some buildings have helpers on hand and we got the chance to write with a quill pen – a first for us both. Everyone was very friendly and happy to answer questions.
There’s something about a windmill isn’t there. The windmill at Avoncroft does work on specific days during the year, but was undergoing some TLC whilst we visited. It didn’t stop us admiring it and just enjoying the scenery. One of our ancestors was a Miller in Buckinghamshire in the 1700’s so it was lovely to get up close to one and explain the process to Monkey.
There is a wonderful feeling of space at Avoncroft and Monkey and his Redpeffer buddies ran free and had a great time exploring.
There were pony rides available for a small charge but the lure of the Miniature Railway was too much for us all. Tickets cost 50p each and you can see the model railway from a distance too.
During the school holidays there are different free activities running each day at Avoncroft. Tuesday is Forest School day, we booked in at the main entrance when we arrived and joined the 11am session. Putting our bush craft skills from our trip to Conkers to good use, we set to work building a den and imaginary fire.
You know you are having fun when the playground doesn’t even spark a moment of interest. It looked lovely, but we just had too much else to do.
There are picnic tables spread out across the grounds although the only toilets are close to the entrance. I hadn’t been very organised so we enjoyed lunch in the Edwardian Tea Room. Freshly made sandwiches and a lovely coffee in relaxed surroundings.
The Back to Blighty exhibition showcases life at home during the First World War and panels can be found across Avoncroft explaining the impact the war had on every aspect of life.
The Anderson shelter and air raid siren brought us to the Second World War and the prefab house showed us how life could have been lived.
We really did have an actioned packed day out enjoying the day at Avoncroft Museum, and it’s somewhere I can see us returning to again in the future. We certainly can recommend the museum as a good family day out, with lots of educational content.
disclaimer: we have been given an annual family pass in exchange for an honest review
Looks like a great day out. The phone box made me smile my girls just understand that people used yo phone from boxes
It’s a really different day out
I’ve not been there since I was a child, but I do recognise some of the buildings. Must take my tribe there some time. Great place. #CountryKids
It is really unusual isn’t it
I like the idea of a national phone box collection. My kids think I come from the dinosaur age when I point out things like phone boxes and are always asking if x was invented when I was young! (When x is usually something like cars or electricity). #countrykids
Same here, but then so do some of the mums!
We are so looking forward to visiting soon. It looks so interesting with loads to do x
You will love it I’m sure
Mary this looks like my idea of a perfect family day out, The mix of interest history doing things and the outdoors is spot on. Monkey looks like he is having an amazing time on every activity here. So funny to think of the phones as something from a past generation I’m glad we still have an old phone box at Coombe Mill. Thank you for sharing your lovely day on country kids.
It was great, we really had a wonderful time
What an incredible place to explore and see so much history of these various buildings. Looks like a great way to spend the day.
It was really interesting
Wow! This looks like a perfect day out. Your photos says it all-they are beautiful and looks fun. I’d love to take my boss toddler there too. 🙂 x #countrykids
This looks like a great day out. It looks like it’s quite close to us, so thanks for the inspiration for a new place to visit!
This place is so amazing! I want to see! The machines, the architecture and the vibe is so amazing! #countrykids
I’ve never been here, looks like a cool place to visit 🙂
This place looks amazing! So much to do!
It looks great. so much more there than I’d thought. Can’t wait to take N.
It looks like the perfect day out for kids, do you recommend it for adults as well ?
Yes, I enjoyed it as much as he did to be honest. Lots to learn and explore for all ages
This looks amazing, I would love it, never mind the kids 🙂 So much to do, and it sounds fascinating x #countrykids
It was a really different experience for us both.
Such a fun adventure. I love the variety of old buildings to check out, they look like something that would keep the kids busy for hours!
It really did keep Monkey amused all day.
I LOVE these places, this one looks fantastic! We have quite a few here in Bavaria, but my favourite is still the one we had up the road from us in Copenhagen, I used to go there a lot! 😀
I love he fact that they saved the phone cabins from many places 😀
It must be hard for the kids to understand life without a mobile phone, it will be the same for the next generations. Life was totally different without mobile phone 😀
Thank you for linking up with #MondayEscapes
Looks like a great day out and brilliant photos, bit far from us in Sussex but if we are ever up your way then I will be adding it to our bucket list, thank you for sharing #MondayEscapes.
Definitely worth it if you are 🙂
This looks like so much fun! The windmill looks beautiful although it’s a shame it wasn’t working on the day you visited. Thanks for inking up with #WHWH
Yes I also share your passion for a windmill – perhaps it’s because my hubby is half Dutch! Great old building shots!
Oh So Gawjess
#WHWH
I haven’t heard of this place before but will put it on our list of places to visit, it looks great! #busydoinglife
It’s well worth a visit
This looks a great place to visit. My Dad lives in Bromsgrove so we will definitely be visiting soon. I had no idea it was there! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m sure you’ll have a great time if you do visit.
0h wow what an amazing historic day out. i really want to go here. My mums a teacher so I’ve managed to rope her into a road trip. I love exploring places like this and learning about the old buildings and histories. I’d love to try writing with a quill. It’s so cool that there are bushcraft activities too. What an incredible day out. Thank you so much for linking up to #whatevertheweather x
This looks like an amazing place to visit! So many things to do and the children seemed to have loved it all. A great learning experience and fun too!
I love seeing all the historic buildings and learning about past ways of life. it’s definitely hard for little ones to remember that life wasn’t always as easy to communicate with each other!
Thanks for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x