Visit Jersey Zoo – and stay the night

It’s easy to sell glamping with animals to the kids but a more sceptical dad is also won over – particularly by the ‘deep connection’ with other species

10 of the best UK and European theme parks: readers’ tips

From Moomins in Finland to zooming down slides in the Pyrenees, our readers pick thrilling parks across Europe

Take the kids to … Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

This free art gallery and museum celebrates Sheffield steel along with big-name artists, including the work – and cats – of John Ruskin

Take the kids to … We The Curious, Bristol – review

Kids’ science questions are answered in fun, interactive ways at an attraction where brains light up, ice forms and the planetarium is a stellar treat

Action stations: a family activity break in the French Pyrenees

Tree climbing, ziplining, rafting and hiking, plus many more activities from a flexible menu, make a fun-packed family holiday

Summer fun on Portugal’s riverbanks

Exploring the pristine rivers running through forested mountains proves a great alternative to the country’s golden coastline for this young family

Take the kids to … Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales

Woodland trails, a river straddled by stepping stones and the ruins of a 12th-century priory make this beautiful swathe of countryside a brilliant adventure playground

20 of the UK’s best free half-term activities and attractions

Take in all the fun of fairs and festivals, beaches, farms and museums with this pick of family events around the country

World Cup warm-up: a family city break in football-mad Lyon

With a month until the Women’s World Cup kicks off in France, a mum and daughter visit Lyon – host for semi-finals and the final – to watch Europe’s best team

Canal and river boat holidays in Europe: readers’ travel tips

From navigating quiet forest rivers in Germany to chugging along France’s canals fuelled by cheese and wine, our tipsters explore idyllic waterways

Off-grid family holidays: Tim Dowling’s rules for survival

‘So there’s really no wifi? Kids, I’m as gutted as you are …’

15 of the best off-grid places to stay in the UK

The complexities of modern life will recede into the distance with a wifi-free stay at these remote cottages and huts

Pastures new: a family farmstay in Austrian Tirol

Our writer thinks her family are not really ‘animal people’ but a stay on an organic farm, with rabbits, ponies, llamas and hens, could just change her mind