The UK has a unique selection of cities, towns and villages, each with its own architecture, atmosphere and landscape to make every trip different from the last. We’ve picked 15 of the best UK holiday destinations for families, ranging from historical villages packed with hidden cultural gems to coastal towns with spectacular views and cities with plenty of entertainment on tap for the whole family.
Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly break, want to explore a new corner of the UK, or don’t have time for a longer getaway, these destinations could be the perfect solution for a great family break.
At a glance, our picks are:
- Dorset
- Isle of Wight
- Norfolk
- Northumberland
- Yorkshire
- The Cotswolds
- Tyne & Wear
- Scottish Highlands
- Pembrokeshire
- Cornwall
- Lancashire
- Devon
- Lake District
- Eastbourne and South Downs
- Peak District
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Our Pick of the Best UK Holiday Destinations
Dorset
If you’re holidaying with small children, Dorset is a great spot, and its old-fashioned seaside resorts offer plenty of beach fun. Take the kids to paddle in Weymouth and Swanage, visit the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, run free on a wide open beach at Studland, or go fossil-hunting on Chesil Beach. And don’t forget the aquariums, Monkey World, and the many National Trust and English Heritage properties nearby.
The picturesque Dorset countryside feels like stepping behind the scenes of a period film. Beaches sprinkled with fossils and smuggler’s caves offer plenty of adventure, or trace Thomas Hardy’s novels across open heaths and vales. You can relive the Enid Blyton books of your childhood in Corfe (Blyton regularly visited the area, and the castle is said to have inspired Kirrin Castle) and stop at the pop shop in town for lashings of ginger beer all round.
The southwest county’s dramatic coastline is an outdoor sculpture gallery of arches, stacks and coves, Bronze Age burial mounds and castle ruins. With so many incredible places to visit, you’ll leave Dorset knowing exactly why it’s so popular for family holidays and staycations alike.
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Isle of Wight
With chalky white stacks stretching out into the English Channel, secluded sandy beaches with clear water, and timeless villages, the Isle of Wight is picture perfect. And with the added bonus of being reached via ferry, it very nearly counts as a trip “abroad”!
As soon as you step off the Solent ferry crossing from the mainland, you’ll see why families love it here. Beach lovers get vast stretches of sandy coast, plus rocky beaches ideal for paddling, and the whole island has a lovely old-fashioned feel.
There’s plenty to do — follow the royal footsteps of Charles I and Henry VIII to the island’s castles, or travel back two millennia to Roman villa ruins. Visit the private beach once used by Queen Victoria, or take in one of the island’s array of festivals covering pop, jazz and sailing. There are walking and cycling opportunities galore, and a surprisingly good spread of family-friendly restaurants.
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Norfolk
Norfolk is a firm family favourite, with gasp-worthy beaches and traditional seaside resorts offering plenty of quayside seafood (that’s fish and chips) opportunities. Popular spots along the coast include Cromer, Wells-next-the-Sea and Hunstanton. For classic British seaside fun like piers and arcades, head to Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile. The beaches are generally very accessible, so it’s worth arriving early on busy summer days to bag a good spot.
For other, less sandy things to do, try your hand at crewing a barge on the Norfolk Broads, walk through fenlands teeming with wildlife, visit the life-sized dinosaur trail at Dinosaur World, or explore the treehouses and marsh walks at BeWILDerwood. There are plenty of English Heritage and National Trust properties nearby too, so you can enjoy some of the finest stately homes England has to offer.
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Northumberland
Historical sites to take you back through time, vast landscapes to explore, and wildlife to make you go “aw” — that’s Northumberland. Countless castles jostle for attention here, and we mean proper castles with battlements and portcullises: ghostly ruins guarding endless sandy beaches, and ones that echo with ancient footsteps. Bamburgh’s imposing castle, dramatically positioned next to the sea, is perfect for imagining “the olden days” of knights and queens with your little ones. And don’t forget Alnwick Castle, familiar to Harry Potter fans young and old thanks to its film appearances.
There are countless things to do in Northumberland for history fans, hikers, mountain bikers and romantics alike, but one of the best of all is a trip to the Farne Islands, where dozens of puffins await.
The county gets rave reviews for its beautiful clean beaches, and you can take a boat from Seahouses to the Farne Islands, or drive over the causeway to Holy Island. At night, look up to see Northumberland’s famously dark skies pinpricked with stars.
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Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a brilliant bet for something every family member will enjoy — dales and moors, peaks, national parks and a breathtaking coastline. For water babies, there’s a Sea Life centre at Scarborough, penny arcades and a wide array of family-friendly beaches. Pack your swimmers for a visit to one of Yorkshire’s water park attractions, with slides, a water playground, heated outdoor pool and a spa area.
When you visit Yorkshire, you can’t help but embrace the great outdoors. Bring your walking shoes for uphill climbs across the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors to castles and abbey ruins that frame the landscape. Afterwards, recharge in spa town tearooms and family-friendly pubs.
One of the best things to do in Yorkshire of all is to amble round historic York, with its gothic York Minster cathedral decked out in stained glass. Get lost in cobbled passages, or take in ancient forts and bridges on a River Ouse cruise.
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The Cotswolds
How could the whole family not be charmed by the yellow-stone Cotswold hamlets, chocolate-box cottages, and stately manors perched on rolling emerald hills?
If you like the great outdoors, these west-central hills are a real treat for walking. Watch for buzzards sweeping across the hilltops, or get a bird’s-eye view of species like barn owls and Harris hawks at the bird parks. Leave time to browse the farmers’ markets for local delights like crumbly single Gloucester cheese, local trout and heady ales.
Cheltenham is a refined Regency-era town crammed with elegant boutiques and tea shops. But it’s not all grown-up glamour — this “cultural centre for the Cotswolds” also makes for a great family break, and it’s not too far from the Cotswold Farm Park.
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Tyne & Wear
The North East county of Tyne and Wear is brimming with cultural quayside cities and sandy North Sea beaches like Tynemouth Longsands, where the surf is almost always up.
There are several cosmopolitan cities to visit, including Newcastle and Gateshead, where heritage, culture and art mix Roman history with trendy Geordie life. Head to Sunderland for shopping and landscaped Victorian parks, or Washington to visit the unique wetlands.
If action is on the agenda, you can learn to surf, go on a kayak safari, and play on Blue Flag beaches before indulging in some award-winning ice cream and fish and chips. Culture fans can explore the lighthouse, aquarium, World Heritage Roman site, waterpark and castles — not to mention the bustling weekend markets and events like the Mouth of the Tyne Festival.
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Scottish Highlands
“There’s nothing to do” said no one on holiday in the Scottish Highlands, ever! With wildlife parks, a mountain railway, outdoor adventure parks (think zip wires, quad biking, climbing walls, archery, clay pigeon shooting, gorge walking and kayaking), plus fishing, grass sledging, an indoor “fun house”, and miles and miles of beautiful trails, this stunning part of the country is perfect for an active family break.
Be inspired by the majestic mountains or hit the slopes at Aviemore. Take in the mysterious lochs and search for Nessie, explore Britain’s largest National Park in the Cairngorms, watch for dolphins off the Moray Coast, walk in the shadow of Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, or simply take in the stunning views and vast stretches of coastline.
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Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire, tucked away in South West Wales, is a remote but beautiful corner of the UK, with spectacular coastlines on three sides and gorgeous countryside alongside picturesque towns such as Tenby, Fishguard and Haverfordwest.
Home to the UK’s only coastal national park, it’s a great spot for an active family break, especially with kids and teenagers who have bags of energy. With awards and accolades for the quality of its coastline, Pembrokeshire is heaven for swimmers, beachcombers, wildlife-watchers, walkers and outdoor adventurers. You can explore the coastline on traditional paths, or try a little coasteering (the seaside equivalent of free-running, only with more swimming) around St David’s.
Towns and villages are ripe for exploring, and numerous campsites and family-friendly accommodation make planning easy. Tenby is a top place to stay, with its fantastic beach, National Trust properties, boat trips and a dinosaur park, plus plenty of wet-weather options. Elsewhere there are sights like the Preseli Hills (where the stones used to build Stonehenge were quarried) and more universally appealing attractions like Oakwood Theme Park, with rollercoasters and rides galore.
Budding historians will love the huge number of castles that litter the county in various states of repair, particularly the imposing Pembroke Castle, whose walls sit on a site occupied since Roman times.
And Pembrokeshire was also a filming location for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — chances are your children will recognise some of the familiar sights.
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Cornwall
A UK holiday round-up which doesn’t mention Cornwall? Impossible. A perennial favourite for families, Cornwall has breathtaking coastline, family-friendly beaches and attractions like Land’s End, the Minack open-air theatre, St Michael’s Mount, and the Eden Project.
Hayle is a popular destination, with its miles of sandy beaches. There are surfing lessons for older children, while younger kids can explore shallower water and do some rock pooling. Expect plenty of sky and lots of attractions, days out and family trips that make the most of Cornwall’s often stunning weather.
Work up an appetite surfing off Atlantic coves, ambling across granite moors, or striding out on the South West Coast Path across sandy beaches and wildflower-strewn clifftops. If your family has green rather than sandy fingers, why not potter round the lush gardens found at Cornwall’s rambling stately homes?
Whatever you do, make sure to work up an appetite, because let’s not forget the cream teas, pasties and ice cream Cornwall is famous for — it really is a foodie’s paradise.
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Lancashire
In the heart of England’s North West, Lancashire is a county of contrasting landscapes, diverse heritage, plentiful food and drink, and a stunning coastline.
The contrast is clear when you compare the unique wildlife of Morecambe Bay in the north with the flat, fertile coastal plains around Ormskirk and the Ribble Estuary to the south. Or travel from the world-famous seaside town of Blackpool in the west to the undulating fells and moorland of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the famous Pendle Hill in the east.
Just a stone’s throw from Blackpool and Preston, the Fylde area has everything you need for the ultimate family holiday. There are pretty villages packed with tea shops, cafes and boutique hotels, while the more outdoorsy types will have plenty of activities to choose from thanks to cycling routes, walking trails and bird-watching hotspots.
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Devon
Devon is a stunning county with two beautiful coastlines, two National Parks and five official Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Up north, you’ve got the stunning beaches of Woolacombe and Ilfracombe, plus the cobbled streets of Clovelly and the vast expanse of Exmoor to explore, while down south there are the considerable, and varied, attractions of Dartmoor, Plymouth, Exeter, Salcombe and Blackpool Sands. Thankfully, cream teas are served north, south and everywhere in between!
Such natural beauty attracts walkers, artists, camping enthusiasts and those who just like to sit and gaze. Families love the amusements too, from large adventure parks and farm attractions to traditional seaside fun.
Whether you and your family like to surf, kayak, walk, cycle, paddleboard, sail or fish, you’ll have a great time doing it in Devon.
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Lake District
The Lake District is always popular, and undoubtedly one of the best UK holiday destinations. Home to the largest lakes in England, it offers not only incredible scenery but also some fantastic family days out.
Whether you base yourself in the Lake District itself or the surrounding Cumbria area, there’s a wealth of things to do and see, with something to suit all ages. Popular attractions include the Grizedale sculpture trail, a steamer cruise along Ullswater, and a visit to Beatrix Potter’s home in Ambleside. If you’re up for something a little more strenuous, there’s mountain biking, climbing, walking, kayaking and canoeing readily available. Or if you’re after some downtime, take a cruise on Derwentwater — and don’t forget the Kendal Mint Cake!
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Eastbourne and South Downs
Nature never falls short of providing things to do with kids, from hunting for creepy crawlies to spotting wildlife. So if your family loves nature or is in search of some fresh air, one of the best UK holiday destinations could be the South Downs.
There’s something about the South Downs National Park that puts you in a holiday mood, even if you’re just dipping in for a weekend. It’s a great place for old-fashioned fun, from pond-dipping, blackberry-picking or leaf-collecting to just galumphing along a peaceful riverbank with the family dog.
The Sussex Wildlife Trust offers experiences at Friston Forest throughout the year, with wildlife courses, events and talks on topics ranging from bumblebees to birds, fitting in perfectly with family holidays.
There are more than enough museums and attractions in the area to keep everyone smiling on rainy days, and plenty of entertainment throughout the summer to suit a wide range of tastes. Music lovers should head to Eastbourne, historians will want to check out the Redoubt Fortress, and art lovers should spend a few hours in the Towner Art Gallery.
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Peak District
There’s a huge variety of family-friendly things to do in the Peak District and Derbyshire. Hop on board a cable car ride on The Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath, with sweeping views you’ll never forget all the way to the top. Once on the summit, there’s plenty of fun for the whole family to explore, from amazing caverns and the prospect tower to a great kids’ playground and a café with views to die for.
For more fun that leaves you dangling on a wire, your family might enjoy a visit to Go Ape for a high wire adventure, then take a spectacular subterranean journey into the famous Pooles Cavern. Animal-lovers can spot elusive otters and owls at the Chestnut Centre, or take a walk on the wild side with lemurs, wallabies, penguins and more at Peak Wildlife Park. For a taste of life down on the farm, check out Matlock Farm Park or Chatsworth Farmyard, packed with extras to keep the kids happy.
Thrill-seekers will love the theme parks on offer. Gulliver’s, on the hillside of Matlock Bath, is perfect for toddlers to big kids, with over 60 rides and attractions to choose from, while more adventurous families will love the exciting, white-knuckle rides at Alton Towers. Younger kids can also meet their favourite characters in CBeebies Land, and there are even several acres of beautiful landscape gardens, a rare treat in a theme park.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best UK destination for a family holiday?
It really depends on what your family enjoys. Coastal counties like Dorset, Cornwall and Norfolk are brilliant for beach days and rock pooling, while the Lake District, Peak District and Scottish Highlands suit families who love walking and outdoor adventure. Cities and quayside towns like Newcastle and Gateshead in Tyne & Wear offer more culture and entertainment on tap.
Which UK destinations are best for young children?
Gentle, old-fashioned seaside resorts tend to work well with toddlers and younger children — think Dorset’s Weymouth and Swanage, the Isle of Wight’s sandy beaches, or Tenby in Pembrokeshire, all of which have shallow paddling spots and family-friendly amenities close by.
Are these UK destinations budget-friendly for a family holiday?
Many of the destinations on this list, particularly the coastal counties, offer free or low-cost activities such as beaches, coastal walks and nature trails alongside paid attractions, so you can mix and match to suit your budget.
Do I need a car to explore these destinations?
A car is helpful for reaching some of the more rural spots, such as the Scottish Highlands, Pembrokeshire and parts of the Peak District, but many coastal towns and cities are well served by train and local bus routes.
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