10 of the best UK family activities led by local experts

Experiences led by knowledgable locals are often the ones that stick in both young and old minds. The authors of a new guide to slow travel family breaks pick their favourites

Brockwell Park is one of London’s essential green lungs and part of the lifeblood of the Brixton/Herne Hill area. After your kids have run around the park, tried out the BMX track and the brilliant lido, head up the hill to Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses, where unsupervised activities include a mud kitchen, a sound trail, an orchard, vegetable and herb gardens and fern gulley. In school holidays there are kids’ workshops on everything from twig weaving to berry ink writing (October half-term sessions include Bonkers about Birds and Luscious Leaves - Why do they fall? for ages six to 10). Or rock up for Story Stompers, where preschoolers are invited to enjoy storytelling sessions and let the garden inspire them to create.
Entry to Community Greenhouses free; other events from £4, brockwellgreenhouses.org.uk