Family activities
Getting outside with kids can be challenging, but encouraging them at a young age can give them an appreciation that lasts a lifetime
PADDINGTON’S NEXT ADVENTURE: MAKE YOUR TOWN HIS HOME
Paddington's next big adventure! Find out how to get a Paddington Statue in your home town!
The Benefits of Joining a Group
Need Motivation to Get Outside? Find out all the amazing benefits of joining a group to help motivate you to get outside more!
Fun Outdoor Kids Activities: Route Planning & Navigation Challenge
Set your kids a fun navigation challenge with their own personalised Ordnance Survey Map! Get kids outdoors and having fun learning about their environment in this fun kids outdoor activity idea.
Nature Walk Bingo Free Printable
Challenge your kids to spot everything on our OS Nature Walk Bingo sheet. This is great for keeping younger kids interested in going a little further on your next walk.
Upcycling Old Maps – DIY BAG with FREE TEMPLATE!
Upcycling Old Maps: Watch Lou Collins transform an old Ordnance Survey Map into a stylish personalised bag, ideal as a gift for a loved one
Stunning Sunrise Views in Yorkshire
Yorkshire's best sunrise views and dawn adventures, recommended by Ordnance Survey and Taylors of Harrogate.
Map Puzzles for Adults & Children with Free Download
Download your free Map Puzzle samples and test yourself and your family on your map reading skills!
Paddle Boarding Tips – A beginner’s guide to stand-up paddle boarding
Looking for Paddle Boarding Tips? Read our complete beginners guide to SUP and SUP Essentials for safety on rivers, lakes and by the sea
Breeding Bird Surveys – Mapping the story of birds
Bird Breeding Survey and Methodology - OS Analyst Nichaphat Sukontason writes about running a Breeding Bird Survey around Ordnance Survey HQ and shows you how you can get involved.
Mappy Christmas Crafts
The count down is on for Christmas! So get crafty with your old paper maps with these 10 festive ideas.
Learn to cycle
Cycling is brilliant for all ages – it’s fun, great physical exercise and provides an opportunity for family adventures outside. This useful learn to cycle guide will help you teach someone to ride for the first time.
20 activities to try in autumn
Keep your children busy in autumn with these 20 ideas for fun outdoor activities suitable for all ages.
Top tips to get children using paper maps
Find top tips on how to teach children to map read and make it fun with 'Get Out With The Kids'.
Countryside Code walks with Shaun the Sheep
Shaun the Sheep is the champion of Natural England’s Countryside Code. Shaun shares some of his favourite short walks suitable for the whole family.
Best wild ruins for families to visit in the Midlands
Nikki Squires, author of Wild Guide Central England, shares her favourite wild ruins in the Midlands area and tips on how to visit. From the White Ladies Priory in Wolverhampton to the The Elephant Stone in Worcestershire, all these family-friendly locations make a great day out.
Map reading skills for children
Find out why you should get maps for kids and encourage them to improve their map reading skills. These guides will show you how to make map reading for kids of all ages both fun and educational.
25 island adventures in Britain for families
Having explored over 600 islands in Britain, Lisa Drewe shares some of her top family-friendly island adventures in Britain, plus recommended walking routes. Whether you are a hiker, sand-castle maker, beach lover, wildlife watcher or just have a curious mind, these family-friendly adventures will help make a great tip.
Den building: family activity ideas
Den building is a rite of childhood - it's cheap, you can do it anytime of year, it’s universal and it’s fun for all ages. Heading outside to build a den will keep the kids entertained during the school holidays. The Den Kit Co. explore the art of den building and offer some tips on how to plan a great day out.
Teaching younger children about maps
Teaching children to map read from a young age will help them understand the world around them and set them up for future adventures. We look at how you can introduce younger children to map reading and teach them to create their own simple maps.
Homemade Christmas decorations
Get crafty this Christmas with these festive decoration ideas made from things you'd find outside. These natural Christmas decks are suitable for the whole family to make!
Best UK locations to fossil hunt and spot wildlife
There are many fantastic locations in the UK for you to discover the fossilised remains of those that came before us, or admire the beauty of today's wildlife in its natural environment. Here are a few of our favourites.
7 top tips for getting outside in the rain
When it's damp and dreary outside there's still so much fun to be had! Here are 7 top tips for enjoying the outdoors when the weather's not playing ball. Pull on your wellies, put on your waterproofs and get outside in the rain!
How to have the perfect picnic
OS GetOutside Champion and Fell Foodie, Harrison Ward, reveals his top tips on how to have the perfect picnic including what to take and where to go.
Five fantastic walks with kids
GetOutside Champions Jen & Sim Benson are massive advocates of an outdoor family lifestyle in the Great British outdoors. Their fantastic new book '100 Great Walks with Kids' is packed with woodland adventures, tasty treks, trails through time, mini mountains and wildlife wanders for the whole family to enjoy!
8 tips for getting outside with a baby
GetOutside Champion Suzanne lives on the edge of the Peak District and has been hiking with her five- and one-year-old boys since they were babies. Here are her 8 top tips for getting outside with a baby.
Join the getoutside challenge!
Getting outside every day during winters will do wonders for our physical and mental wellbeing. Wrap up warm and explore from your doorstep with these ideas from the free GetOutside Challenge Calendar.
Great british outdoor quiz
Test your outdoor knowledge with The Great British Outdoor Quiz, in collaboration with Go Outdoors and Blacks. Set up a virtual campfire with a mug of hot chocolate and watch the sun go down. Whether you set up camp indoors or out, it’s time to get cosy and test your outdoor knowledge.
Getoutside with great outdoor games
Rain or shine, round up your friends and family and challenge them to an outdoor game. Whether you’re looking for something for the summer BBQ, a picnic in the park, or a day out to the countryside — we’ve got you covered.
Free maps to colour in
Looking for something stress-busting? These maps for colouring in are available as a free PDF download to print at home or use on a digital device app such as Procreate or Photoshop.
7 unusual sports played in great britain
When you consider the quintessential British summer, it probably involves garden parties, canapés and…bog snorkelling? Fancy trying something new this year?
How to build a winning raft
Want to spend some time on the water this summer? Read our how to guide to help you create your own raft.
Beginners’ guide to fossil hunting
This beginner's guide to fossil hunting takes a look at the best places to find fossils in the UK and explains how and when to find them. Get some advice from a professional and find out what you need to start searching for fossils near you.
A beginner’s guide to orienteering
Get started with orienteering. Blog by John Warren of Wimborne Orienteers,
A beginner’s guide to geocaching
Combining exploring with treasure hunting, geocaching is a great way for families to #GetOutside. Learn how to get started with this beginners guide.
Top 5 Dark Sky locations in Great Britain
There are many dark sky locations across the UK, with most being publicly accessible and recognised as some of the best in the world. Here are our top five locations to go stargazing. So, grab your camera and enjoy the view!