With the school half terms approaching, you're probably thinking of ways to keep the kids entertained.

If you live in the Essex area, Hadleigh Castle could make the perfect location for a fun-filled and inexpensive day out with the children. Visiting the castle you can enjoy a bit of history, open green space for the kids to play in and best of all - it's free of charge.

The castle itself is situated overlooking the Thames estuary, and is surrounded by rolling countryside. Arguably Essex's most historical website, it provides the perfect space to let your child's imagination run free. On your trip to the castle, why not even bring a picnic? If you'd like to spend the entire day out, why don't you make it an extra special day by inviting other families along? Bring some outdoor games, drinks and yummy food and you'll have a great day out with your nearest and dearest.

Even better still, the castle provides the ideal safe environment for children to play.

Some more great options for keeping your kids amused - Hadleigh Farm and the 2012 Olympic Mountain Biking track. If your children are excited by farm animals or interested in seeing a piece of Olympic history, these are also great options for a day out.

Run by the Salvation Army, Hadleigh Farm houses a variety of rare breeds. As a result, the farm is the perfect place for little ones to spend a carefree afternoon. The farm even boasts its own cafe. This charming and friendly establishment is great for adults looking to relax with a coffee and cake, or families looking to take a break out of their hectic day of animal-spotting.

Similarly to a lot of the many privately owned businesses in the area (see - SEO company in Hadleigh Essex ), Hadleigh farm has a lot to offer the local community. The commercial farm produces over 300 acres of organic grassland and cattle, as well as 600 acres of crops. Therefore, the farm is great for demonstrating to younger children how a conventional farm works and is important to the community.

This small Essex town has undergone a lot of exciting changes over the past year (see - events in Hadleigh ); the arrival of the Olympics and the mountain biking track was like a breath of fresh air, reminding people everywhere of what makes Hadleigh such an exciting place to visit.

So - if you are keen to keep the kids entertained this half term, why not pay Hadleigh a visit? With so many entertaining and inexpensive things to see and do, you can have a day out that both you and your children will enjoy.

For more information about things to see and do in Hadleigh, see - http://www.hadleigh.net .