Days Out News

Keepers ask public for help to name baby François’ langur    

Get to know the planet’s most mysterious creatures this Easter at London Zoo, as the world-famous conservation zoo unveils a brand-new experience – the Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians.

 The nocturnal mammals (Tamandua tetradactyla), part of the anteater family and native to South America, are impressive climbers - holding on to mum will enable the infant to build up the valuable muscles needed to climb easily through the tree-top branches of London’s only living rainforest.  

Scotland’s largest conservation charity has welcomed a recommendation from the Highland Council, a planning officer is to refuse planning permission for Coul Links golf development, which goes before the Highland Council Planning Committee on 5th June.

The 1745 Association (a voluntary association established in 1946 to research the Jacobite period, record and preserve the memory of those who partaken in it) strongly objects to the Tree Tops development proposals which would change a small equestrian centre at Culloden into a major holiday, leisure and hospitality development including 13 lodges, a cafe, shop, laundry and even a restaurant.

The young Scots love their castles, according to the nation’s top heritage organisations. The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and the Historic Houses have been offering £1 access for the holders of “Young Scot cards” during the Year of Young People.

As part of Longleat's huge celebration of the wonderful and peculiar world of predators, visitors are being invited to get up-close-and-personal with the most famous prehistoric beast of them all - the powerful Tyrannosaurus rex. The eye-popping Predators: a killer animatronic exhibition, opened at Longleat this Easter, allowing visitors to the Wiltshire estate to come face-to-face with some of the planet's most astonishing predators by utilising animatronic technology.  A total of 13 different species are already on display including a deep-sea anglerfish, a polar bear, a giant saltwater crocodile, a Komodo dragon and a spitting cobra.

Paignton Zoo Curator of Birds Jo Gregson flew to Vietnam last year to discuss plans that include reintroducing Edwards’s pheasant into the forests of Vietnam as these little bundles of fluff represent hope for a species that hasn’t been seen in the wild in nearly 20 years.

It’s Spring! - a time for births and new beginnings. At Paignton Zoo, bird keepers are busy overseeing a whole clutch of hatchings.

 The first UK Museum to be allowed to exhibit in France’s most impressive location - Les Invalides, Central Paris.

Imagine having your whole home refurbished, with an indoor pool, hi-tech heating and the best interior design. Well, the Aldabran giant tortoises at Paignton Zoo had all this done – and they love it.

With every new year, we dedicate to bettering ourselves and our health. Whilst gym memberships are great, nothing can beat the benefits of exercising in nature. As 2018 kicks off, Hadleigh Country Park launches its campaign ‘Fitter – Healthier – Stronger You!’ to get families out there and being active.

In the coldest nights in January, we like to snuggle up in our favourite pyjamas at home, but for the latest fishy friend at Bristol Aquarium, they’re just settling in to their new home. The Pajama Cardinalfish family have arrived.

The Eden Project has long been a staple of Cornwall, but the rich Cornish history is being celebrated between in January. Yes, the folk songs and puppet shows are just some of the celebrations being undertaken over the weekend of January 13th & 14th.

Brooklands Museum’s restoration of the original Brooklands Finishing Straight and the re-instatement of the Paddock Scoreboard was awarded a rare Special Commendation at the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), annual gala and prize giving ceremony on December 8th at the Palace of Versailles near Paris. The Special Commendation was the first ever awarded by the FIA Founding Members' Club, whose annual Members’ Heritage Cup was won this year by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Pensinsula (SCRAMP) for its annual historic race meeting at Laguna Seca, California.

After a 10-year, £32.7million project, Chatsworth House and Garden will be restored to full glory in 2018! The project is due for completion this March, after having a huge clean over winter. It is one of the largest renovation projects to the house since 1828, and the restored house will reveal all the work that has taken place over the years. Showcasing everyone who has put in the work, to make sure the house is preserved for many years to come.

Blackpool’s Grand Theatre is offering an exclusive opportunity to 20 children (between the ages of 8 and 15). The Russian State Ballet of Siberia will be teaching an exclusive ballet class on 12th January at 3pm.

Happy New Year everyone! As promised, the team are now back in the office (battling our collective New Year’s hangover). We hope you all had a lovely festive period and enjoyed the new year! We’ve got loads of new stuff to bring you in 2018 – from new attractions, events to all the latest days out news.

Sorry if we go quiet for the next week or so - we’ll be out of Office enjoying the festive period! From all of us at DOUK, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year and any other winter holidays out there! We’ll be returning to the office on January 2nd, to bring a whole New Years’ worth of events and exciting new attractions in 2018.

The Thackray Medical Museum, in Leeds, has received a confirmed grant of £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards its £3.7 million development project, A Healthy Future, it was announced today. The museum has also been awarded £1 million from Welcome, the global charitable foundation which has a mission to improve health.