As parents, we are always on the lookout for great places to visit, that are truly child-friendly. So here is our pick of 50 Fabulous Places To Take Kids In The UK This Summer! You’ll find a mixture of paid for and free places to visit, indoors and outdoors venues, old historical places and fun modern attractions. So what are you waiting for?!
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Places to Take Kids in Scotland
#1. Camera Obscura, Edinburgh
The Camera Obscura museum on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh offers amazing views of the city as well as 5 quirky floors full of a range of optical experiences which have been amusing visitors of all ages and nationalities since 1853.
It is a little on the pricey side but your ticket lasts all day so you could go in for a bit, out for lunch and back again.
#2. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in the West End of Glasgow is free to visit and is one of Scotland’s most popular attractions. I think it’s particularly fun for kids because as well as the art collection, it has displays covering e.g. mummies from Ancient Egypt, natural history with wildlife, birds, fossils and dinosaurs.
#3. Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park, Stirling
- daily sea lion presentations,
- birds of prey flying demos,
- boat safaris,
- driving through African Asian reserves,
- petting farm,
- Adventure play area with pirate ship, climbing frames and buried treasure.
#4. Dalkeith Country Park, Midlothian
We visited Dalkeith Country Park with 5 children of various ages and there was plenty for everyone to enjoy. The park has walking and cycling trails, and offers fun things to do such as bushcraft, archery and ranger activities but the highlight is probably Fort Douglas (small entry fee for kids), a fantastic adventure playground with turreted treehouses, suspension bridges, slides, climbing walls and secret tunnels.
Adults will enjoy browsing the shop and cafe at Restoration Yard, we picked up sandwiches and drinks in there and enjoyed them in the courtyard but you could also bring a picnic with you and enjoy the various picnic areas throughout the park.
#5. Cocoabean Company, Dumfries & Galloway
The Cocoabean Company, aka the Chocolate Museum, is a fun place to visit with kids. When you arrive, book the kids in for the next available workshop where they will have fun making chocolate creations in a special factory section with glass walls so Mum and Dad can watch. Then enjoy lunch in the cafe or pick up some yummy treats in their factory chocolate shop. The other fun thing is they have created indoor play areas, outdoor play areas and soft play so the kids can work off some of that chocolate afterwards!
And immediately next door is the David Coultard Museum for any Formula 1 fans where you can browse memorabilia and try out their full scale, full motion Formula 1 simulator – as used by Formula 1 Drivers before a race weekend.
Places to Take Kids in the North West
#6. Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester documents 250 years of discoveries and innovations that began in Manchester and went on to influence the world.
The museum is very child-friendly with lots of activities for kids of all ages. For younger kids, they can pick up a Blanket Bag, Treasure Basket or Power Pack and explore soft play areas while for kids aged 5+ there are shows, demonstrations and special events taking place all the time.
#7. Quarry Bank Mill
We visited Quarry Bank Mill with friends for an afternoon and we could easily have spent a whole day at the Mill. Quarry Bank Mill, in Wilmslow in Cheshire is a National Trust property and a working mill.
As well as extensive gardens that you can explore and picnic in, you can visit the Mill which walks you through the evolution of textile and manufacturing in the area, the culmination is entering the long rooms with ancient machines and clattering sounds giving you an idea of what it must have been like. Book in for a tour of the Apprentice House where you will find out how the pauper children who worked in the mill lived and were educated. This really brings history to life.
#8. Chester Zoo
No visit to the North West of England with kids is complete without a day out at Chester Zoo. Book your tickets online as they are cheaper booked in advance. With over 500 species of animals and 125 acres of habitats to explore it is a full day to see everything so plan your visit with the help of their interactive map before you go and avail of the plentiful rest stops, play areas and cafes to break up the day too.
And with a heap of events and workshops taking place, do check what’s going to be happening on the day of your visit.
#9. Thompson Park Railway
The Thompson Park Railway in Burnley is a fun place to take the kids as it has a Miniature Railway operated at weekends and Bank holidays, as well as Wednesdays in the school holidays from April to October (weather permitting). Rides cost £1. There are also special events during the year like the Teddy Bears Picnic in July and Santa Specials in the run up to Christmas.
As well as the railway, there’s a boating lake, river with bridges and walking paths. There’s also a children’s adventure play area and sandpit. In nicer weather, bring towels as the kids will enjoy the outdoor paddling pool which is filled at weekends and school holidays between April and September on days when the weather is warm and sunny. If you want to check if the pool is full please call the Ranger Service on 01282 831053.
#10. World Museum Liverpool
The World Museum in Liverpool is a fun place where you can discover treasures from around the world, explore outer space and meet live creatures. From ancient Egyptian mummies to the Bug House to the Planetarium, this is definitely a fun museum for kids to explore. Follow their Dinosaur or World Culture trails and enjoy a heap of fun events throughout the year. Best of all, admission is free.
Places to Take Kids in the North East
#11. Alnwick
You should plan to spend a day in Alnwick as there are 3 very fun attractions there: Alnwick Castle, The Alnwick Gardens and Barter Books.
Alnwick Castle may be familiar to you as it was Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films. Visit the Castle and enjoy a tour of the Castle, then stop by the special area in the Castle Grounds for kids which offers medieval and Harry Potter themed activities, events and workshops.
Save 10% on tickets by buying them online and you can also buy combined tickets to visit the nearby Alnwick Garden, one of the world’s most contemporary gardens and home to one of the world’s largest wooden tree houses and the unique Poison Garden – you can take one of the regular tours of the Poison Garden where they will show you and tell you about all sorts of fascinating and poisonous plants.
Finally, don’t miss Barter Books, one of England’s largest second hand bookshops; it’s a converted Victorian train station and a welcoming wonderful place with open fires in the winter and a model train railway running up on tracks up above the bookshelves. There are plenty of cosy nooks and seats to sit and enjoy the books on offer, as well as a children’s room with enough toys to allow parents and grandparents to browse elsewhere in peace – provided one guardian is left to look after the children!
#12. Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle, nicknamed the King of Castles is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country, positioned high on the cliffs above the sea on the Northumberland coast. Here you’ll discover stories of mystery, intrigue and betrayal and enjoy the stunning views. You can download a fun activity pack before you visit the Castle, with challenges and a quiz. There are regular events throughout the year so check what’s on before you go.
#13. Discovery Museum Newcastle
Enjoy discovering both science and local history at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle, where kids will love their PLAY + INVENT space where kids can let their imagination run wild in a special space for designing, inventing and making.
On the first floor you can find out all about Tyneside’s industrial and maritime past and you’ll also find the under 7s water play area called Play Tyne. On the 2nd floor have fun exploring the world of science in the interactive Science Maze.
#14. National Science and Media Museum
At the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, visitors can explore the science and culture of light and sound technologies. There’s plenty to see what with 8 floors to explore, 3 cinemas, and the amazing Wonderlab where you can touch, try and photograph your experience as you navigate your way through more than 20 mind-bending exhibits:
- Hear your voice echo through a 15m-long tube
- get lost in a mirror maze
- make art using light, and
- travel through a laser tunnel.
It’s free to visit Wonderlab, but booking in advance is recommended.
#15. Haworth and Bolton Abbey
The village of Haworth in West Yorkshire makes a fun destination with kids. It’s a picturesque village which feels a bit like stepping back in time, with cobbled streets and cute little shops and cafes. We had lunch in the Cobbles and Clay, a café and pottery painting studio at the top of Haworth’s Main Street, where the kids enjoyed painting pottery ornaments.
It is also home to the Brontë Museum in the actual parsonage where the Bronte sisters lived. It’s interesting to wander around and find out a little about their lives and it also has a good shop with plenty of merchandise and books.
Bolton Abbey is also not far from Haworth and fun to take the kids to where they will enjoy building sandcastles on the beach, and having picnics then explore the woods and paths by the river, playing ball games or just generally running around!
Places to Take Kids in the Midlands
#16. Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle is one of England’s most famous medieval castles, which promises history, magic, myth and adventure when you visit. At the Castle you’ll enjoy seeing battlements, towers, turrets, and visiting the Great Hall. There are interactive attractions and walk-through adventures including their Horrible Histories Maze where you have to choose your path through time to unravel history while facing fun challenges such as invading a Viking ship, uncovering evil plots and escaping the maze before things go horribly wrong!
There are extensive grounds, daily shows and activities with birds of prey displays and more. And if you dare to visit The Castle Dungeon you will find out about some of the darkest, bloodiest and most frightening times in the Castle’s history.
#17. Twycross Zoo
Twycross Zoo located between Birmingham and Leicester hosts over 500 animals, from over 100 different species, including some of the most endangered on our planet. It has the largest collection of monkeys and apes in the Western World, and is now known as “Twycross Zoo – The World Primate Centre”
At the Zoo, you can walk with ring-tailed lemurs in their walk-through enclosure; see the troop of emperor tamarins leap above your head in their treetop exhibit, and watch Humboldt penguins take their daily walk. The Zoo’s keepers present regular talks and feeds where you can learn a bit more about animals such as the chimpanzees, Asian elephants and South American coatis, as well as about their conservation projects.
#18. Cadbury World
Any chocolate fans in the house? then head for Cadbury World in Bournville, near Birmingham, where you’ll enjoy the self-guided exhibition tour going through a variety of zones including 4D Chocolate Adventure, Purple Planet, Aztec Jungle and Chocolate Making of course. You can book online to ensure entry (and save 5%).
Bournville Village itself is worth a wander, the Cadbury brothers not only built their factory but also improved the lives of their workers by building houses, a school, and a hospital. Selly Manor Museum, in a 700 year old timber framed building offers events all year, children’s workshops, exhibitions, a lovely Tudor garden, games to play and armour to try on. You’ll get 20% off entry to the Museum by showing your Cadbury World tickets.
#19. Nottingham Castle
Was Robin Hood a heroic outlaw? Man in Tights? Highly skilled archer and swordsman? Find out more about Robin and his Merry band when you visit Nottingham Castle. For centuries the castle served as one of the most important in England for nobles and royalty alike.
As well as finding out about this history at the Nottingham Castle Museum there’s an Art Gallery with touring exhibitions, and at the Museum Of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard you can step back in time and discover over 300 years of Nottingham’s history, find out how houses and shops would have looked like in the early 1900s and see a huge variety of items from toys to tools that span the years.
#20. Gulliver’s Kingdom
If you have younger and older kids, then you might like Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock, Derbyshire, which offers fun for families with children aged between the years of 2 and 13. With a wide range of rides and attractions and play areas, it caters for all ages. There’s free parking and families are welcome to bring their own picnics into the park.
The park is set on a hillside, so you get great views at the same time as enjoying the rides. Good news there’s a travelator and a chairlift (both buggy-friendly) to help transport you from the bottom to the top of the park quickly.
Places to Take Kids in the South East
#21. Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens really does offer the chance to get closer to wildlife; it’s like a cross between a Zoo and a Safari park. You pay whilst in your car at the Pay Kiosk at the end of the drive into the Park. You then park your car (for free) and walk around the grounds. There are spacious animal enclosures which means you can ‘closer to wildlife’ than in many other zoological collections giving the Park the feel of a ‘walking safari’.
There are picnic shelters around the Park, or you can enjoy your picnic on one of the spacious lawns which overlook the enclosures for Rhinos, Zebras, Giraffes and Camels. The Park is 99% accessible for both wheelchairs and pushchairs, kids will enjoy discovering the 260 species of animals, the fantastic adventure play area, sky maze and Bella the train:
#22. Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is the home of British codebreaking and a birthplace of modern information technology. It played a major role in World War Two, producing secret intelligence which had a direct and profound influence on the outcome of the conflict.
- Start at the Visitor Centre in Block C for a welcoming entry into Bletchley Park with a coffee shop, gift shop and an engaging multimedia, interactive introductory exhibition.
- Then visit the restored Codebreaking Huts 3 and 6, where Enigma messages sent by the German Army and Air Force were decrypted, translated and analysed for vital intelligence. In these iconic huts, the atmosphere is recreated with rooms dressed to resemble what they once were when Codebreakers worked there.
- Visit further Huts for more insights into life during the war and the efforts that went on there.
- Finish with a visit to the Museum in Block B to see Hitler’s “Unbreakable” Cipher Machine.
#23. Emirates Spinnaker Tower
Did you know that The Emirates Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth is taller than the London Eye, Blackpool Tower and Big Ben? Take the high speed lift to the Tower’s view deck at 100 metres, where you’ll see the South Coast’s most spectacular views, do some ship spotting with their Shipfinder tool and find out the stories behind the view with interpretation touch screens.
Then if you dare (!) cross the glass Sky Walk and feel the wind blowing on the highest viewing deck, the Sky Deck at 110m high! Book in advance online to save 15% on tickets.
#24. Dinosaur Isle, Isle of Wight
If you have Dinosaur fans in the house, then head to the Isle of Wight for a visit to Dinosaur Isle, home to dinosaurs and other fossils housed in a purpose built interactive museum. Walk back through time, from the Ice Age of the recent past, back to the Cretaceous period when dinosaurs lived. Then be amazed in the large dinosaur gallery, with exciting displays including real fossils, skeletal reconstructions, life sized fleshed re-constructions and two animatronic dinosaurs. The Museum also holds regular fossil and landscape walks, these book up quickly so do book well ahead for those.
#25. Wakehurst, Sussex
Wakehurst is a country estate with formal and ornamental gardens, woodlands, wildlife and a nature reserve. It is also home to the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world., part of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew properties. There’s plenty to see and do at Wakehurst, Whether you want to have an adventurous journey through woods and gardens, or find out more about plants and nature, there are lots of family-friendly features, with fun festivals and family events run throughout the year.
Kids can pick up a passport from the Visitor Centre and fill it in as they travel around 8 specially designed outdoor play spaces on Adventurous Journeys. And during summer months kids will love the Wild Kids woodland adventures with activities, games and crafts encouraging outdoor discovery.
Places to Take Kids in the South West
#26. Eden Project, Cornwall
You’ve probably seen pictures of the famous Eden Project with its two large geodesic domes, the Rainforest Biome where you can explore the largest indoor rainforest in the world and the Mediterranean Biome where you can discover the amazing variety of plants growing in the Mediterranean, South Africa, California and Western Australia.
There are plenty of other things here to make for a great family day out. Enjoy
- the Rainforest Canopy Walkway
- SkyWire: England’s longest zip wire
- The Nest climbing frame
- sculptures in the outdoor gardens
- fun trails including the Discovery trail for kids
- and fun seasonal events
#27. National Maritime Museum, Falmouth
At the family friendly National Maritime Museum you’ll find 15 fun galleries where kids can jump aboard a Viking ship, go under the sea without getting wet, learn how to sail & more. , There’s the National Small Boat Collection, a 100 foot Look Out Tower, and arriving in 2017, the Under the Sea Tidal Zone.
Kids will enjoy the Adventurers Playzone and there are regular fun events during holiday periods, as well as exhibitions about maritime history and famous people.
#28. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall
Twenty-five years ago, Heligan’s historic gardens were unknown and unseen; lost under a tangle of weeds. It was only the chance discovery of a door in the ruins that led to the restoration of this once great estate. Today, The Lost Gardens are among the finest gardens in Cornwall and they provide families with possibly the best natural playground ever, making them one of the top family days out in Cornwall!
From The Jungle with its acres of raised boardwalks, giant exotic plants, pools, wildlife and one of the longest Burmese Rope Bridge in Britain, to The Insect Hotel where you can discover a host of insect and invertebrate life, kids will have a ball here. And with plenty of seasonal events to enjoy, this really is super day out.
#29. Fashion Museum, Bath
We had a great time visiting the Fashion Museum in Bath, a surprisingly family friendly museum with plenty of activities for kids. As well as creative activities during the school holidays, they have drawing cards in the galleries and children can also take part in a sticker trail, ask at reception when you buy your ticket.
There’s an interactive lace game to try your hand at creating and sharing your own lace pattern, and the highlight for my kids was the chance to dress up! At the heart of the Fashion Museum, half-way through a visit, you can find out what it’s like to wear ‘make-believe’ Georgian and Victorian fashions. There are replica historical dresses, coats, hats and bonnets for adults and children to try on. And you can take your photograph in the dress up fashions from the past against a backdrop image of Bath’s Royal Crescent.
#30. South Devon Railway
The South Devon Railway, or SDR, is a seven mile former Great Western Railway branch line, built in 1872, which runs along the stunning valley of the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes (Riverside). Steam trains offer a fabulous chance to go back in time and it doesn’t matter the weather, you’ll have a great time riding the trains. You can also combine the Railway with two other family friendly attractions: Totnes Rare Breeds Farm and Dartmoor Otters & Buckfast Butterflies: 3 Great Attractions, 1 Amazing Day.
See otters from around the world and stunning tropical butterflies, enjoy a one hour’s round trip along the beautiful valley of the River Dart behind a Great Western Railway steam engine and stroke the owls, feed the red squirrels, meet the hedgehogs, what’s not to like?!
You can visit each tourist attraction separately or purchase great value joint tickets for all three; the Otters & Butterflies and Railway; or Rare Breeds and Railway.
Places to Take Kids in Wales
#31. St Fagans National Museum of History
Enjoy one of Europe’s leading open-air museums, St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff, where you’ll discover over forty original buildings from different historical periods within a 100-acre parkland, among them houses, a farm, a school, a chapel and a splendid Workmen’s Institute.
- See traditional crafts and activities and find out about farming and animals.
- You’ll also enjoy regular events with music and dance celebrating Welsh traditions and lifestyles.
- For nature lovers, their beech woodland is great place to enjoy the outdoors and learn about nature.
- Kids will have fun with the activity trail packs (pick these up at the gift shop £3.50), you have to follow the map around the Museum to find some special hands on activities such as grinding some grain, spotting farm animals and taking home a special recipe to try in your own kitchen.
#32. Pembroke Castle
Pembroke Castle, birthplace of Henry VII, is a medieval fortress steeped in history, in a natural defensive position overlooking Milford Haven with spectacular views from the top. Kids will love exploring the labyrinth of passageways and towers, climbing the 75ft high Great Keep, descending into Wogan Cavern and enjoying the Great Map of Wales (at time of writing undergoing renovation).
In addition to regular family fun activities such as Knight School, Dragon Days and Living History Days, there is plenty to see at the Castle. There are five “Earl” rooms in which you can learn about the lives of the Earls of Pembroke, each room containing a larger than life Earl figure that will tell you their story. You can also meet the Castle Staff and characters who would have lived and worked in the castle walls in hundreds of years ago. These colourful figures are hidden in tricky to find areas of the castle, but once you discover them you will be able to use your smartphone or tablet to access their story and learn about their lives.
#33. Greenwood Forest Park
Voted Best Family Attraction in North Wales, Greenwood Forest Park offers heaps of fun for kids in the Park including:
- the UK’s only solar powered water ride
- the world’s first people powered roller coaster
- the longest sledge run in Wales
- the super bouncy Giant Jumper
- TreeTop Towers
