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

This is going to be an amazing musical theatre experience for all the family. Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka will all be beautifully brought to life before your eyes using full size costumes, enchanting music, magical puppets and breathtaking projections.

The dome will protect you from the elements and provide plenty of loos, baby changing facilities and buggy parking.

There are two different shows to choose from – each one lasts an hour and follows a different story starring all the main characters. You can choose which one to see – so will you catch the Ninky Nonk or the Pinky Ponk?

To book your tickets for this exciting summer event or find out more visit the special In The Night Garden Live Website

The Guardian Family Friendly Museum awards began in 2004, driven by the journalist Dea Birkett, who was horrified to be turfed out of the Royal Academy’s Aztec exhibition when her son pointed at a scary exhibit and shouted: “Monster!”. Now every year, undercover trips are made to a number of museums by a team of judges with their children.

The Herbert beat a shortlist that included the Great North Museum, in Newcastle, the National Trust’s Beningbrough Hall and Gardens, in York, the Highland Folk Museum, in Newtonmore, the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, in Stoke, and the St Nicholas Priory, in Exeter.

The Herbert has eight permanent galleries exploring local history, from Lady Godiva to the Blitz, natural history and art. Apparently, “It’s meeting families on an equal footing at the museum door that won the Herbert this award.”

Previous winners include the Killhope mining museum, in County Durham, some Oxford museums, the Falmouth Art Gallery and Weston Park, in Sheffield.

Ludo Keston, the chief executive of the Herbert, declared the win a vindication of the museum’s efforts to be as welcoming to families as possible.

Well done The Herbert! I will definitely be adding it to the main site when it is up and running again.

1. Alton Towers, Staffordshire

2. Eden Project, Cornwall

3. Legoland, Berkshire

4. Longleat, Wiltshire

5. Babbacombe Model Village, Devon

6. The Canterbury Tales, Kent

7. Jorvik the Viking City, York

8. London Dungeon, London

9. National Sea Life Centre, West Midlands

10. Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Shropshire

If you have already been to one of these attractions, do share your views and experiences.

1. Tate Modern , London
This famous Art Gallery has a huge hall and a variety of exhibitions so it is perfect for kids of all ages.

2. Sea Watch Centre, Suffolk
At this National Trust centre the kids can use high-powered telescopes to look for sea birds, porpoises, seals and if you are lucky, dolphins.

3. People’s Story, Edinburgh
Here you can find out all about the history and lives of the inhabitants of the Scottish capital from the eighteenth century to the present day.

3. Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester
This museum tells the story of the world’s first industrial city.

4. Blaise Castle Estate, Bristol
A small gothic castle dating from 1766 with large grounds and play areas for the kids.

5. World Museum, Liverpool
An interactive museum with treasures from around the globe. Each of the five floors has a different theme.

6. Monkwearmouth Station Museum, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
A Victorian Station with large collection of railway and second world war memorabilia. There is a dedicated Children’s Gallery with toys, books and dressing up clothes.

7. National Roman Legion Museum, Cardiff
Let your kids learn about the formidable force of the Romans. At weekends they are even allowed to try on replica armour.

8. Ecopark, Birmingham
Visit these lovely gardens and watch demonstrations about what you can do to become a bit greener.

9. Cheshire Farm Ice Cream, Cheshire
Watch cows being milked, let your kids run around the playbarn and be tempted by the delicious ice-creams.

10. St James City Farm, Gloucestershire
A city centre farm where children and adults can experience the sights, sounds and smells of the countryside.

Do let us know more of your favourite free places

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

If you have been to any of them, let others know whether or not they are worth visiting