Museums will be unrolling an imaginative array of activities across the country. From candle-lit readings, paranormal investigations, sleepovers, night-time tours, musical events and much, much more.

This year’s programme sees the return of firm favourites, like Cabinet War Rooms sleepover and the Old Operating Theatre at St Thomas Church, plus exciting new additions such as the; Helicopter Museum’s ‘Back to the Blitz’ experience, follow a night shift at Cornwall’s Geevor Tin Mine and the chance to see a ‘Light in the Night’ at Cromer’s Lifeboat Museum.

You can find up to date listings at the Culture 24 Website

What the newspaper calls “Residential activity weeks” I call “Holiday Camp”, but whatever the name, they can be a great form of entertainment for the kids during half-term and the school holidays. Not only will they learn new skills but also they will make friends and generally discover a bit of independence.

These activity weeks do not come cheap with prices ranging from £350 and £600 per week, which includes full board and activities (but not necessarily insurance). However, for working parents or those with very energetic children these camps are fantastic.

The most important thing to do when choosing which camp to sent your child to is to choose a centre that offers activities that interest your son/daughter. It is also key that there will be other children of the same age so try to find this out before you make your booking.

Not all centres have to be licensed but members of the British Activity Holiday Association (www.baha.org.uk) must adhere to a code of practice. Companies providing certain adventurous activities, however, have to be licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority.

So, the Telegraph name the best Summer Camps for Kids as:

Best family-run centre: Mill on the Brue Outdoor Centre
(01749 812307; www.millonthebrue.co.uk)
Set in 20 acres of Somerset countryside, offering more than 40 activities for children from eight to 15 years of age.

Best for range of activities: PGL
(08700 50750; www.pgl.co.uk)
13 centres around the UK for seven to 17 year-olds, offering competitively priced half term and summer camps.

Best for watersports:Rockley Point
(01202 677272; www.rockleywatersports.com)
Well-run centre in Poole Harbour with five-day courses for children aged eight years old and over.

Best for shorter breaks: Adventure & Computer Holidays
(01306 711005; www.holiday-adventure.com)
Based in Surrey this centre offers technical, riding and outdoor holidays to children of six and over. Three-day breaks in May half-term also available.

Best for sports:Exsportise Limited
(01444 444777; www.exsportise.co.uk)
Sports coaching using public school facilities in Sussex, Dorset and Northamptonshire offering eight activities including football, tennis, golf and rugby for 10 to 16 year-olds.

Best for seaside fun: Wickedly Wonderful Holidays for Children
(0794 123 1168; www.wickedlywonderful.com)
Coastal centre in Sussex offering multi-activity, sailing or pony camps for children aged six to 13 years old.

A NEW DAY OUT Bewilderwood, Norfolk
ADRENALINE RUSH Dalby Forest biking trails, Yorkshire
ALFRESCO BATH The Samling, Cumbria
ANIMAL ENCOUNTER Monkey Forest, Staffordshire
BANDSTAND Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Birmingham
BEACH CAFE East Beach Café, Littlehampton, Sussex
BEACH FOR KIDS Crantock, Cornwall

BOATING The Thames at Richmond, Surrey
BREEZY HILLTOP Great Hetha, Northumberland
CAMP SITE Budemeadows Holiday Park, Cornwall
CLIFFTOP COTTAGE Whitby lighthouse, Yorkshire
COASTAL WALK Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim, Ireland
CREAM TEA Southern Cross tearoom, Devon

DEGUSTATION Valley Farm Vineyards, Suffolk
DONKEY RIDE Maggie’s beach donkeys, Weymouth, Dorset
DRIFT DOWNSTREAM River Wye, Wales
FAMILY CYCLE Loch Katrine, Trossachs, Scotland
FAMILY HOTEL Fowey Hall, Cornwall
FISH AND CHIPS Ben Ledi Cafe, Callander, Stirling, Scotland
FLYING International Kite Festival, Portsmouth, Hampshire
ICE CREAM Morelli’s, Broadstairs, Kent
LAKESIDE PICNIC Buttermere, Cumbria

MOONLIT WALK Seven Sisters, East Sussex
PICNIC CONCERT Battle Abbey, East Sussex
PUNCH AND JUDY MAN Codman’s, Llandudno, Wales
RIVERSIDE PUB The King’s Head, Northamptonshire
ROCKPOOLING Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset
SAFARI Cairngorms, Highlands, Scotland
SEA BREEZE Yachting on the Solent, Isle of Wight
SEAKAYAKING Beara Peninsula, Co Cork, Ireland

SEAL BOAT TRIP Searles, Hunstanton, Norfolk
SEASIDE PIER Southwold Pier, Suffolk
SEA-VIEW ROOM Mullion Cove Hotel, Cornwall
SECRET GARDEN Hawkstone Park Follies, Shropshire
SOLAR-POWERED STAY Mesmear, Cornwall

SOLITUDE Sandwood Bay, Sutherland, Scotland
STRIP Morfa Dyffryn Beach, Snowdonia, Wales
TOPLESS DRIVE A686, Penrith to Haydon Bridge, Cumbria
VILLAGE CRICKET Hambledon, Hampshire
WOODIE Oakwood Theme Park, Pembrokeshire, Wales
WILD SWIM Angle Tarn, Cumbria