Is your family concerned about the threat of climate change? You should be. It threatens our very existence.

If you want to live an eco-friendlier lifestyle, then you will need to confront a harsh reality – your carbon footprint is probably a lot higher than you think. This means that you will need to make some significant changes to protect the environment.

My friend John, the editor of The Holistic Millennial, has researched and shared insights from some trends, as well as tips for families trying to lower their carbon footprint. Some of his findings are listed below.

Your Household Probably Needs to Do a Lot More to Fight Climate Change

The existential threat that climate change poses cannot be overstated. Fortunately, a growing number of Americans are starting to take it seriously.

A 2015 study by Pew Research showed that 66% of Americans want to take steps towards more environmentally friendly lifestyles. A more recent survey showed that 70% of households consider themselves to be eco-friendly.

The bad news is that their stated desire to lower their environmental impact doesn’t seem to match up with their actions. The average individual has a carbon footprint of 16 tons. This makes America one of the worst offenders against our planet on a per capita basis. The average American produces around three times as much carbon as the global average.

How is the average household’s carbon footprint changing as environmentalism becomes more of a priority? We have moved in the right direction in some ways, while increasing our carbon footprint in others. On a positive note, the average household decreased home energy used by 50% between 1993 and 2009. Part of this trend could be caused by the shift towards urbanization, but some of the change could be attributed to the growing use of more efficient EnergyStar heating and cooling products.

On the other hand, the average household used almost 50% more energy to power home appliances in the same timeframe. This is probably due to households using more unnecessary appliances to make their lives more convenient.

The harsh reality is that the average family is not doing enough to lower their carbon footprint. We need to collectively change our lifestyle to lower our energy use.

How Can Your Family Lower Its Carbon Footprint?

There are plenty of ways that you can cut your family’s carbon footprint. Some proven tips are listed below.

Eat more poultry, fish and plant foods

Your family might not want to live by a vegan diet. However, a less meat-centric diet can significantly reduce your carbon footprint. Meat is responsible for almost 15% of all carbon emissions. You can probably get your spouse and kids on board if you find the right meals.

You don’t have to give meat up entirely, but it is a good idea to cut back on it. You should also shift towards eating more fish and poultry. These types of meat don’t have as much of a carbon footprint as beef, pork and mutton.

Recycle more

Recycling is obviously important for preserving our natural resources. However, most families don’t realize that it also plays an important role in reducing their carbon footprint. Landfills require a lot of energy to operate. They use a lot more energy than recycling plants.

You should make it a priority to recycle as much of your waste as possible. Find out what materials can be recycled and always separate them.

Go paperless

There is really no reason to get documents from your bank or other institutions in the mail. You should try to get digital documents instead. Paper requires a lot of energy to process and the mail service transportation system is certainly not green either.

Avoid buying the latest fashion fads

Many people insist on buying the latest fads. They are unwittingly leaving a huge carbon footprint in their wake. Instead, you should wear your clothes until they are starting to fade or deteriorate.

Try to buy items that don’t have as much packaging. Companies often use bulkier packaging to trick consumers into thinking that they are getting more value, when in actuality they are just leaving a larger carbon footprint instead.

Identify energy sinks in your home

There might be a number of places in your home causing energy loss. The biggest sources of energy loss come from your heating and cooling systems, since cracks, drafts and other inefficiencies can cause energy consumption to skyrocket.

However, there may be more subtle sources of energy waste that warrant investigation. Your Internet router might be working harder than it needs to if you are keeping it far away from your computers. This change might not seem significant, but it is a small thing that you can do to cut your carbon footprint.

Lower your thermostat when you are away

There is no reason to keep your thermostat cranked up when you are at work or away for the weekend. You should set it just high enough to keep your pipes from freezing. You can program it to increase the temperature an hour or two before you get home, so your heating system has enough time to work to keep the temperature comfortable by the time you arrive.

Limited space in one of the rooms in your property does not necessarily mean that you cannot add some great looking furniture to make the most of it. With this being said however there are many homeowners who do struggle with small spaces, and feel that there isn’t much they can do with it. Not only can small spaces be furnished with style, but they can also be furnished in such a way which offers the feeling of a wider and more amplified room than it was before you started.

There are many businesses which specialize in great looking furniture for such a room, and if you visit Papaya and other retailers like it you can get some real inspiration as to what works best. In terms of general rules when furnishing a small area, here are some things to bear in mind.

Light and Dark

The way in which we perceive space is often dictated by how our eyes and brains receive dark and light colors. It is for this reason that light colored furniture, with a darker floor color, will be the perfect way to add the sense of more space in the room. You can compliment the darkness with cushions on sofas or ornaments on light colored tables, to strike the balance between the tones.

 Consider Transforming Furniture

Once upon a time transforming furniture would have consisted of a collapsable table which had to be stored away, these days we have much greater options to play with. A sofa which turns into a bed in your living room, a washer/drier combo in the laundry room to provide extra space or stackable chairs which seamlessly fold into one another to create a single seat. These are great space saving ideas which add functionality to any room.

Modern Furniture

Generally speaking modern furniture is built in a more sleek and stylish way, which focuses harder on style than size. You may find that when it comes to a sofa for example, a modern design will take up far less space than a chunky, overstuffed version which we would have once seen in  home stores.

All Purposeful

A great rule of thumb when you are buying items for a small room is whether or not it actually has a purpose. It is easy to fall into the trap of buying too much stuff, even for a small room, and this thought process may help you to avoid buying unnecessary items for this room in particular. Make sure that everything in the room is fulfilling a purpose.

Wasted Space

Finally it is important that you aim to avoid wasted space. This is something which we often see in the corners of rooms or surrounding an awkwardly placed table. You have to approach this in a way that maximizes space, and this means there is no room for dead space at all.

Take your time picking items for a smaller room as it requires a great deal more thought and planning than if you were to buy furniture for a large space.

Given that the majority of us have been indoors for a lot more time this year than we usually would, those AC units have really been put through their paces. It is for this reason why AC maintenance is more important than ever before, to ensure that our systems are firing on all cylinders and giving us cool and clean air for the home. The risk of failing to maintain your AC unit is that you could end up costing yourself more money on. A damaged system could result in a visit ActronAir for new parts and systems, and costs which you hadn’t planned for.

A smart approach to caring for your AC unit will prevent these problems from taking place, and here is how to go about it.

Checking Your Air Filters

The air filters in your system are of great importance, they will take the impurities and the dirt out of the air to ensure that your home is filled with clean and cool air. If you have a reusable filter then be sure to check this every month, to clean off the dirt and debris which has accumulated. If you do not have a reusable filter then you should look to place a new filter in the system at least once every 6 weeks. If the filter is overloaded then not only will it struggle to remove pollutants from the air, but it will block airflow and cause your system to work harder than it needs to.

Cleaning the Outside Unit

Never forget about the importance of clearing the surrounding area of the outside unit. Naturally, being outside, your system runs the risk of having foliage growing around it, moss, debris, leaves and even some insects who think that they’ve found a nice new home. Any of these issues could result in an impact on the airflow coming into your system, and again this means that it is working harder than it should be. Avoid power washing in case you cause damage to the unit, instead wash the unit with a garden hose and give troublesome areas a good scrub.

Check the Wiring

If you don’t feel confident popping the outdoor unit wiring then always ensure that you get some help from a professional who will know what to do. In reality however the check is simple, as you are looking for signs of overheating. Overheating means that there is an issue with the connections, and the signs will be burnt wires, blackened marks inside the box or melted insulation tape. Check the tightness of the connections and if you have an electrical test meter, ensure that you test the unit’s capacitors.

If you are in any doubt about the functionality of your AC unit then it will always be best to ask for some support. There are many things which you can do to maintain the system, such as the fans, the electrics and the general cleanliness of the system, but if you are concerned about performance or the sound of the system, get the pros in to check.

Renovating your house can be exciting, but the one thing homeowners dread is having to acquire planning permission. But do you need it, and how can you acquire it?

We’ve all heard stories from friends and neighbours about the difficulty of securing planning permission. In the UK, getting planning permission for a renovation involves a whole lot of red tape and can take several months to be approved, if at all.

Thankfully, some home renovations don’t require planning permission at all, so you might be off the hook. That’s where this article will come in handy. The first thing we’ll tackle is whether you need permission at all and, if you do, how to get it.

We’ll then be detailing some problems you might face getting planning permission. This way, you’ll know when to contact litigation solicitors in London, Somerset, Manchester, or wherever you live in the UK, to appeal a refusal. So, for all your planning queries, read on…

What Kinds of Renovations Need Planning Permission?

Before we get into the nitty gritty of how to get planning permission in the UK, we’re going to help you means test whether you need it or not.

If you’re planning on building something new or you’re going to make a major change to your house, you’ll likely need planning permission. If you choose to do the work without getting permission, you could be served with an enforcement notice ordering you to undo the work, so frankly, it’s not worth the risk.

Here’s a quick list of the types of renovations you’re likely to make and whether they’re considered permitted development, or they require planning permission:

• Garages, sheds and other outbuildings: these can be considered permitted development, as long as they’re of reasonable size (no higher than 4 metres). It also shouldn’t take up more than half the land around the original property.
• Paving over the front garden: if the material you’re using is porous you don’t need planning permission, but if it’s impermeable you can’t pave any more than 5 square metres with it.
• Windows and doors: the only time you’ll need permission to repair or replace windows is if your building is listed, in which case you’ll need to acquire listed building consent.
• External walls and roof: minor maintenance work, painting your house or inserting a skylight doesn’t require planning permission, unless your building is listed of course.
• Wind turbines and solar panels: if your turbines are temporary, you’re good to go. If they’re permanent, however, you’ll need permission. Solar panels are also fine unless, again, you live in a listed property.
• Fences, gates, and walls: planning permission is needed for any fence, gate, or wall that’s next to a road and over 1 metre high. It’s also necessary if it’s not next to a road but over 2 metres, if your house is listed, or the wall forms a boundary with a listed property. (The fence for your garden is included in the planning permission too.)
• Trees and hedges: lots of trees are protected by tree preservation orders and you’ll need permission to prune them (you’ll have to ask the council to find out). Hedges can be any height, just make sure to keep them out of the way of your neighbours.
• Indoors: anything you do indoors, such as loft conversions, garage conversions, new staircases, bathrooms, kitchens, rewiring, etc. doesn’t require planning permission. As always, the rules change if you live in a listed building.

How to Get Planning Permission

Based on the list above you should have a decent idea of whether you need planning permission or not. If you do need it, it’s time to tell you how to get it.

Most of us aren’t builders, contractors or planning experts, so if you’re building something you might need permission for, getting a good planning consultant on board is key. They can help ensure your project meets the requirements needed to be granted permission by your local council.

The first thing the consultant will do is suggest you meet with your local planning authority (LPA) before you submit your application. Some LPAs charge for this service and some don’t. If you get in there before you submit your application, it can speed the process along and help you get permission.

You have to go into this meeting ready to describe your proposal and show your designs to the LPA if possible. That includes floor plans and a proposed new design. The planning permission portal suggest that you should:

• Ask the LPA whether there’s a reasonable chance of permission being granted based on what you’ve told/shown them;
• Discuss any site issues, such as footpaths, roads, sewers, telephone lines and power cables;
• Ask if there are any conditions they want to impose related to the noise and traffic of the work, instead of them refusing planning permission based on this later.

Once you’ve gotten this meeting out of the way, and you have a better picture of whether planning permission will be granted for your project or not, you can simply apply online or have your consultant do it for you.

The Issues You Might Face Getting Planning Permission and How to Appeal

So, at this point you’ve taken the necessary precautions. You’ve also decided whether your work needed planning permission, and met with the LPA to make sure you have the best chance of being granted permission. That said, you might still be refused, and these reasons might be why:

Material Considerations & Neighbours

The LPA might refuse you permission based on what’re known as ‘material considerations’, which can include:

• Overlooking/loss of privacy
• Loss of light or overshadowing
• Parking
• Highway safety
• Traffic
• Noise
• Impact on listed building and Conservation Area
• Layout and density of building
• Design, appearance and materials
• Government policy
• Disabled access
• Proposals in the development plan
• Previous planning decisions
• Nature conservation

Once you’ve submitted a plan for permission, it basically becomes an open forum for neighbours to leave their comments on. If their complaints fit into any of the categories above, they will be taken into account by the LPA and play a factor in whether you get permission or not.

Whether you like it or not, whenever you build something it can risk upsetting your neighbours. These neighbours can be irrational and easily upset by change they believe will affect them, but there’s not much you can do about their comments.

The only thing you can do is be polite, show the plans to the neighbours who are unhappy, and accommodate any minor changes that might help you get planning permission.

If there are enough objections, however, or if the application is called into a committee by a local councillor, the decision will be made by a majority vote by the LPA. At the planning meeting you have the opportunity to address the planning committee and make your case. At this point you either win or lose, but if you lose, the fight isn’t over yet.

Planning Disputes and Appeals

In England, around 75 percent of planning applications are granted. That said, if you fall into that 25 percent, you can either amend the application to deal with reasons for refusal or you can make an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

The good news is, around 40 percent of householder planning applications that are refused are later granted at appeal without any changes being needed. You only have 12 weeks to make your appeal, unless you’ve received an enforcement notice (because you’ve breached planning control), in which case you only have 28 days.

You can send your appeal to the Planning Inspectorate online and send a copy of it, including supporting documents, to the LPA. The planning inspectorate will look over your appeal to make sure it’s valid, tell you what happens next and how long your appeal might take (usually between 20 and 41 weeks).

Disagreeing with the Appeal Decision

Just when you thought it might be over, statistically you still have a 60 percent chance of losing your appeal. If you’re unfortunate enough to be in this position, after everything you’ve already been through, it’s time to call in the solicitors.

The LPA and Planning Inspectorate have messed you around for months and you finally get to take your case to high court. The solicitors will be able to tell you if the Planning Inspectorate made a legal mistake, and help you challenge your appeal.

Should I Give up on My Renovation?

In this post, we’ve done our best to help you understand how difficult getting planning permission can be. But, we’ve also showed you what steps you should take before submitting your application to ensure you don’t have your plans refused.

Some of you will be lucky enough to not even need permission, others will be part of the 75 percent whose plans are granted. Others will have to make amendments, appeal or contest a lost appeal. No matter what category you fall into, you’ve decided to make these renovations for a reason, and you should see them through.

Thank you for reading this post, and good luck renovating your house. Feel free to leave your own experiences in the comments down below!

A ready-to-eat prep meal kit subscription service is not some kind of fancy luxury but an actual necessity for a busy mummy. This type of service has been around for a while, but it really took off only during the pandemic. But as the awareness of meal kit subscription boxes has grown, it’s sure they will retain their popularity. Every busy parent out there definitely can appreciate the value of a healthy ready-to-eat meal delivered to their home. For a single mom, who faces dozens of challenges every day, this kind of kit might be the only thing that gives her a few precious minutes for self-care.

Ready-to-Eat Prep Meal Kit: What is It and Who Offers It?

Meal kits subscription services are rather straightforward. This is a type of service that delivers a meal kit to your door several times a week. The frequency of deliveries depends on the plan you choose. The kit contains a number of ingredients as well as cooking instructions and tips. The point is to use the box to make a healthy balanced meal within about 30 minutes. However, ready-to-eat prep meal services are a bit different. This type of service delivers not a bunch of ingredients but a fully-cooked meal. Therefore, the preparation process takes 5-10 minutes instead of half an hour.

Please note that companies, which offer regular meal kits (uncooked) usually don’t offer prep meal kit services. For example, leading meal kit (ready-to-cook) companies are HelloFresh, Blue Apron, and GoodFood. But for an affordable ready-to-eat kit you should look up Mealpro, Fit Menu, or Power Kitchen. The majority of these companies are local. Therefore, you should search for an affordable prep meal kit delivery in your area.

The meal can be freshly-cooked and ready to eat right from the box or frozen. In either case, you’ll need but a moment to serve a healthy lunch or dinner for yourself and your baby. Considering that the average parent of a child under 18 has about 20-40 minutes of free time a day, cutting down on cooking time definitely makes the service worth it, right?

To answer this question, you’ll need to take a close look at the benefits the kits offer. You’ll also need to consider the limitations and disadvantages of using this service.

Benefits of Using a Prep Meal Kit Delivery Service for a Busy Mummy

You get to save time

Without a doubt, the most important benefit of ordering meal kits is the time you save on cooking. Every mother out there knows that sometimes making that dinner after a crazy day is just too much. With a meal kit, you won’t have to worry about this at all.

The time you save can be used for self-care or just spending time with your kid. This alone is worth its weight in gold for a single overworked parent.

Note that by subscribing to a prep meal kit delivery service you won’t have to waste time at all. You’ll be confident that the food is always at your door at the exact time you need it. This means that you won’t have to wait for that takeout or pizza delivery and have your kid go hungry until it arrives.

Also, you don’t have to set up a million reminders for buying groceries or ordering the aforementioned takeout. You only need to sing up for a meal kit box once and those meals will be coming regularly until you cancel the subscription.

You can enjoy a healthy balanced meal

Everyone should understand the importance of a healthy and balanced diet for health. However, being a crazy-busy single parent, you definitely know how hard it is to stick to that diet. Moreover, can you honestly say that you ensure your children eat healthy all the time too?

UNICEF’s latest report shows that one in every three children on the planet has some issues with nutrition. They are either malnourished or overweight. Overall, they clearly show that they aren’t receiving the healthy and balanced nutrition they require to grow up healthy.

And it’s not only a problem for developing countries where hunger is an everyday reality. No, this is the state of health report for children of the world. Adults aren’t faring much better there either.

It’s true that cooking balanced and healthy meals three times a day is impossible for the majority of us. This is why prep meal kit services are so useful. They take off a part of this burden by making sure that you regularly get healthy meals delivered to your door. This means the next time you consider eating greasy fastfood for dinner, there will be a healthy alternative to that.

Kits might make it easier to comply with dietary restrictions

If you or your children have dietary restrictions, a prep meal kit can be a great help. Note that only a few companies offer kits for specialized diets, like keto or vegan. However, they do exist, so if you need one, you’ll be able to use a delivery service to help you avoid breaking the diet.

You are saving some money too

The average price per serving for a ready-to-eat prep meal kit is $15. This is more expensive than buying groceries and cooking from scratch. But it’s cheaper than the average restaurant takeout.

However, did you consider the cost of the time you spend both on cooking and grocery shopping? Did you account for the cost of gas to do that shopping? Did you consider the energy costs of cooking a meal?

If you take all these numbers into account, you might see that you may be saving money by ordering a prep meal kit delivery. This is especially true for those who live in remote areas and need to spend a while to get to the better shops.

And you need to consider the better shops because ready-to-eat kits contain top-quality fresh ingredients. In fact, those ingredients might be too expensive to buy on your own. For example, if you live in a rural area, there might be none available in your local shops. Therefore, you’ll have to order overpriced delivery from food stores.

But with a prep meal kit, the delicacies become affordable and accessible for everyone.

Bottom Line: Are Ready-to-Eat Prep Meal Kits Worth It?

Being a single parent is expensive, there is no arguing that. Therefore, it’s only natural that the cost of signing up for a prep meal kit delivery will require a lot of consideration. It’s a fact that these things aren’t as cheap as making the meal yourself. However, they aren’t overly expensive either.

In the end, the answer to whether meal kits of any kind are worth it can be decided only by you. What is your personal situation like? Can you fit this service into your budget? Is the time saved worth the average $15 per serving that goes into a meal kit?

There is no denying the convenience of these kits, especially now during the pandemic. Therefore, signing up for this service can be very helpful for a single parent.

The only question is whether this value is sufficient for you personally?

It’s okay if you can’t answer right away. The majority of prep meal kit services offer great discounts or even free first packages. Therefore, you can have a test run for cheap to see how useful this service will be for your family.

Beyond being trustworthy, a babysitter should be dependable, reliable, and affordable. She should interact with your child well. She should be agreeable and communicative.

It really seems like too much to ask from one person. At any rate, trustworthiness is not something you can compromise on. This is where background checks prove indispensable.

You can check the National Sex Offender Public Website and other free resources for statistics, facts, and registered offenders. You can also comb through your state registry. You don’t have to do this manually; you can use a service like CheckPeople. Below, we discuss how to find someone you can trust with your dearest and most precious person.

Ask Around

Your community is a rich resource, particularly if it has a local youth group, and you don’t mind a younger person watching your child. If the child goes swimming or does another sport, ask if you can leave a card at the local YMCA branch for coaches.

Parents can ask for professional references, LinkedIn profiles, and resumes. Inquire whether the sitter has done CPR or emergency skill training from places like Blue Guard Middle East, or taken a babysitting class. Where possible and applicable, both parents should be present for the interview. Ideally, introduce your child to the sitter while one or both of you are at home. This way, you can see how they will interact.

Trustworthy Organizations

Reach out to organizations like the Red Cross or Safesitter, which also offer classes for babysitters nationwide. Some parents hire sitters or daycare teachers through religious organizations because of many of these run background checks. Moreover, they make sure their service providers have undergone specific training.

Personal Recommendations

These are a great place to start. Ask relatives, friends, or coworkers about babysitters they have or continue to use. Before calling anyone that they’ve recommended, ask lots of questions about this person. A sitter who has worked for your bestie might not necessarily work for you.

Eventually, you’ll narrow your choices down to a few people. Then, proceed to interview them to see who’d be most suitable for your child. Signs that the sitter will make a good hire include good references, punctuality, and training. We’ll go into each one of these separately.

Good References

The candidate sitter should be able to provide at least three references. Being unwilling or unable to do so raises a red flag. When it comes to your child’s safety, no question is off-limits. Call these references and ask them what they liked and didn’t like about the person.

Punctuality

If they show up late for the interview, it’s clearly a bad sign. It does more than make a poor first impression. The last thing a parent wants to do before a big night out is sit around at home waiting for the babysitter. Lack of punctuality may signal a lack of interest or irresponsibility.

The Right Training

If your children are very small, knowledge of infant CPR and first aid is a big plus. If there is an emergency, you want them to be in good hands, right? You might even pay for the sitter’s CPR classes if she is willing to take them.

The Last Step

Speaking of payment: this is something to be discussed up front. Your location, the age of your child, the number of children, and the sitter’s experience are among the factors that will determine payment. You can ask people you know how much they pay or consult a babysitting app for this information. Many sitters also check such apps to see what rate they can command. On average, the rate for babysitters in the US is just under $12 an hour. Some sites help you determine the rate by assessing the number of children and the sitter’s age and experience.

Watching animals go about their day makes for a fun weekend plan, especially with kids in the family. If this idea has been on your mind for a while, we may be able to help you out.

In this article, we’ll recommend our favourite animal-themed days out for families in the UK.

1.   London Zoo

London Zoo is a must-see for all animal-loving families in the UK. Whether you reside in London or are just a visitor, taking your kids to the London Zoo can be a worthwhile experience.

Because it’s the world’s oldest scientific zoo, you’ll find 712 species and more than 20,000 animals within its walls.

Little children can take a look at the magnificent lions at the Land of the Lions facility, visit the Bugs exhibit, or watch penguins at Penguin Beach. In addition, you’ll get to witness llamas and cute GB alpacas.

Also, the family should have the time of their lives at the Animal Adventure Zone. It features low barriers where little kids can interact with smaller animals such as mongooses and porcupines.

With its interesting animals and cool activities, a day at the ZSL London Zoo should be unforgettable.

2.   Paradise Wildlife Park

Another destination that every family member will probably like is Paradise Wildlife Park. Located in Hertfordshire, it boasts a wide array of animal-related activities to the point of being the most interactive zoo in the UK.

Your kids can enjoy watching different sorts of animals, going on fun rides, or witnessing informative shows. Other attractions include:

• Safari Adventure Golf
• The National Speedway Museum
• The World of Dinosaurs
• Adventure playgrounds
• Tumble Jungle

From little family members to adults, your day at the Paradise Wildlife Park should be memorable.

3.   Willows Activity Farm

If you’re interested in farm animals, we suggest that you pay the Willows Activity Farm a visit. It’s one of the best animal-themed attractions in Hertfordshire.

Here, the kids can feed and handle different farm animals. Furthermore, they can enjoy their time in playgrounds, go on tractor or trailer rides, or participate in more events and activities.

There are numerous food options that the whole family should find satisfactory, from the Farmhouse BBQ to Curly Tail’s Cafe.

Longing for the authentic taste of the countryside? Visiting Willows Farm might be a great idea to fulfil this urge.

4.   London Wetland Centre

For bird enthusiasts out there, the London Wetland Centre could be your opportunity to expand your knowledge. It gives you the chance to see and learn about a wide variety of bird species and other wildlife.

Here, you’ll become almost face-to-face with otters, beautiful swans, butterflies, dragonflies, frogs, and ducks. Also, if your kids ever need to get some of their energy out, they can enjoy themselves at the indoor discovery zone.

5.   Chessington World of Adventures Resort

Looking for a nice combination of a zoo and an amusement park? The Chessington World of Adventures includes both to ensure the entertainment of all ages.

It boasts a large walk-through ocean tank where eight sharks swim around. Also, the park includes other animal-themed attractions to satisfy anyone curious enough.

There are more than 40 rides across the park and two hotels if you wish to make your visit more glamorous.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, there are plenty of options for animal-themed days out for families in the UK.

All you have to do is look for your family’s favourite theme, pack your bags, get into your car, and join the fun!