Of course no parents ever get it right which is why it’s best to leave it up to the likes of Merlin Entertainments to magic up family fun on the English summer holidays.
Our English neighbours have their little darlings that little bit longer than parents further north.
Whose kids are back at school this week.
Or west, on my other island of Ireland.
Of course, hotfooting it to the airport or the boats and Chunnel is an option.
England’s attractions
But easier still is to explore the country around you.
And we know too that the English have been shouting all summer about getting their country back.
So with only English kids still being on holiday this is your chance.
Particularly with the added benefit for parents of 50% off for kids for star attractions.
At Madame Tussauds London, Shrek’s Adventure! London, Sea Life London, The London Dungeon and lastminute.com London Eye.
Waxing lyrical
A word to the wise though when you do make it through the queues to get face to face with the lifelike waxworks.
Because amid the famous and the freaky exhibits the cheeky curators at the museum have dotted around everyday statues.
So that you can have some randommer sitting on a bench reading a newspaper.
Or an inscrutable Chinese man in the Dungeons.
Only he was real much to my embarrassment when I tapped him on the shoulder to satisfy my curiosity.
And we all jumped out of our skin.
Ogre the moon
No danger of that at the new Shrek attraction… that’s enough Donkey!
The attraction is sited at County Hall alongside Merlin’s other leading attractions in the South Bank cluster.
The 2,000sqm experience is based on a brand new adventure written by the DreamWorks team.
It also features a Shrek interactive walkthrough adventure, a character courtyard.
Where visitors will be able to meet Shrek and his swamp friends.
Along with characters from Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon.
Played in England
Of course, as much as London likes to project that nothing ever happens anywhere else Merlin casts his wand far and wide.
So as well as Sea Lifes in the major towns and cities.
Every parent who wants to occupy their kiddies’ attention should visit Cadbury World in Birmingham.
Or you could be in with the bricks with Legoland in England’s Second City or Manchester.
Of the LEGOLAND Windsor resort where kids’ tickets come in at £19.
As is the case with Alton Towers Resort, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park and Warwick Castle.
Phew… that should tire them out. And we’re just happy it’s all behind us.
And yes you’re welcome that we’ve been able to magic up family fun on the English summer holidays.