If you need a break somewhere far-flung and exotic (but without all the travelling, packing and expense), then go for a sensory adventure instead. The perfect place to do this is in the greenhouse network at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

.birmingham-rep.co.ukWho could resist the chance to step inside a secret oasis, hidden from the world? Protus Theatre company's reworking of the classic tale, The Secret Garden, features circus skills, puppetry, film and music to magical effect. Step inside at Lincoln Centre

plastic tea set will keep your toddler busy for hours (and will be good training for later life).Give large paint brushes and a ‘paint pot’ of water, then let her paint the garden fence or outside of your house.Let her water your flowers. Give a big bucket

, The Mad Hatter, Cinderella and others in a new show blending illusions with magic moments from Disney films. Garden Pots And Seed BombsJuly 14The new gardens at Museum Of Edinburgh will be in full summer bloom in time for this green-fingered workshop where

for this kite festival at Downhill Demesne in Castlerock. Children can enjoy watching hundreds of windborne wonders take to the skies and join by flying a kite of their very own. Family Garden WorkshopAugust 11The gardens at Mount Stewart House will be in full

the summer, they are also showing lots of art around the gardens, in an exhibition called Expressions Of Movement.On my visit, they were also holding a special sculptor masterclass with one of the artisits, Stephen Charlton, who gave us some handy tips

of a cook, housekeeper, gardener and use of tennis courts and concierge. Explore our Travel section for lots of other ideas for Perfect Villa Holidays and our pick of the best beaches for kids in the Caribbean.

Residence Terme di Sorano is a cluster of villas and apartments set atop a hill in the Maremma area of Southern Tuscany, where you can imagine you’re in your own Tuscan village. Surrounded by woods and lawns, just relax in the picturesque gardens

husband Stephen, and our five children Calvin, 12, Ezra, nine, Adelaide, seven, Harper, four, and baby Annabel, whose one – and would include home, gardening, walking, playing, creating together, and ending with a visit to the lake. Oh, and ice cream – a

and drinking rose in the garden, to children the summer holidays represent freedom, independence and family days out, awash with activities laid on for their pleasure.So, in honour of this most pleasant of seasons, and in recognition of the fact that those