The UK has a unique selection of cities, towns and villages, with architecture, atmosphere and landscape to make every trip different from the last. We’ve chosen 15 of the best UK holiday destinations for families, ranging from historic villages packed with hidden cultural gems to coastal towns with spectacular views and cities with plenty of entertainment on tap for the whole family.
Sign up for our free newsletter, full of ideas, competitions and offers. And yes, it really is free.
The best UK holiday destinations offer a range of activities for the whole family, so whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly holiday, want to explore a new corner of the UK, or don’t have time for a longer getaway, one of these destinations could be the perfect fit.
You May Also Enjoy Take a Trip to the Seaside! 20 of the Best Beaches in UK
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 National Trust and English Heritage properties nearby.
The picturesque Dorset countryside feels like stepping behind the scenes of a period drama. Beaches sprinkled with fossils and smugglers’ caves offer plenty of adventure, or trace Thomas Hardy’s novels across open heaths and vales. You can relive the Enid Blyton stories of your own 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 a taste of ginger beer.
The southwest county’s dramatic coastline is like an outdoor sculpture gallery, with arches, stacks and coves, Bronze Age burial mounds and castle ruins. With so many incredible places to visit, Dorset makes clear why it’s so popular for family holidays and staycations alike.
You May Also Enjoy Adventure is Waiting: Go Glamping in the UK For Your Next Family Trip
Isle of Wight
With chalky white stacks stretching 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 arriving by ferry, it very nearly feels like a trip abroad.
The Isle of Wight is a great family getaway, and as soon as you step off the ferry from the mainland, you’ll see why. 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 footsteps of Charles I and Henry VIII around 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 festivals covering pop, jazz and sailing. There are walking and cycling routes galore, and a good number of family-friendly restaurants.
You May Also Enjoy Summer Fun Guaranteed! 13 Unique Residential Summer Camps in the UK
Norfolk
Norfolk is a firm family favourite, with impressive beaches and traditional seaside resorts offering plenty of quayside fish and chips. 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. Most beaches are easy to reach – just try to arrive at the car parks early in peak summer.
For less sandy adventures, try crewing a barge on the Norfolk Broads, walk through fenlands teeming with wildlife, visit a dinosaur trail, or explore an adventure park with treehouses and marsh walks. There are also plenty of English Heritage and National Trust properties to explore, so you can enjoy some of the finest stately homes England has to offer.
You May Also Enjoy Terrific Tree Top Adventures in Ireland and the UK for Families
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, and we mean proper castles with battlements and portcullises: ghostly ruins guarding endless sandy beaches, and walls that echo with ancient footsteps. Bamburgh’s imposing castle, dramatically positioned next to the sea, is perfect for imagining “the olden days” with your little ones. And don’t forget Alnwick Castle, where scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot, a treat for enthusiasts young and old.
There’s plenty for history fans, hikers, mountain bikers and romantics alike, but one of the best spots of all is the Farne Islands, where dozens of puffins await.
The county is known 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, star-filled skies.
You May Also Enjoy 30 Magical Harry Potter Places To Visit
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a brilliant bet for something every member of the family 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 and head to one of Yorkshire’s water parks, with slides, a water playground, a heated outdoor pool and a spa area.
When you visit Yorkshire, it’s hard not to 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 of all is amble around 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.
You May Also Enjoy Make Science Fun with a Visit to the Best Science Attractions in the UK
The Cotswolds
How could the whole family not be charmed by yellow-stone Cotswold hamlets, chocolate-box cottages, and stately manors perched on rolling emerald hills?
If you love the great outdoors, these west-central hills are a real treat for walking. Look out 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 traditional 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. Nestled in the Gloucestershire countryside, Cheltenham is also not too far from the Cotswold Farm Park.
You May Also Enjoy Magical Fairy Trails in the UK for an Amazing Family Day Out
Tyne & Wear
The North East county of Tyne and Wear is brimming with cultural quayside cities and sandy North Sea beaches like Tynemouth Longsands, popular with surfers.
There are several cosmopolitan cities to visit, including Newcastle and Gateshead, where heritage, culture and art make for a heady mix of Roman history and contemporary 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 ice cream and fish and chips. Culture lovers 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.
You May Also Enjoy Quirky and Cool: 20 Unusual Places to Visit in the UK
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, kayaking and more), 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 head to the slopes at Aviemore. Take in the mysterious lochs and search for Nessie, pass through 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.
You May Also Enjoy Hop On! Exciting Train Rides in the UK For a Fun Day Out
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 if you’re travelling with energetic kids and teenagers. Praised for the quality of its coastline, Pembrokeshire is a treat for swimmers, beachcombers, wildlife-watchers, walkers and outdoor adventurers. Explore the coastline along 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 plenty of 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 such as 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 scattered across the county in various states of repair, particularly the imposing Pembroke Castle, whose walls sit on a site occupied since Roman times.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Pembrokeshire was also a filming location for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – chances are your children will recognise some of the familiar sights.
You May Also Enjoy Go Explore! 25 Legendary Castles in England, Scotland and Wales
Cornwall
A UK holiday round-up that 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 miles of sandy beach. Older children can try surfing lessons, while younger kids can explore shallower water and go rock pooling. Be prepared for plenty of sky and lots of attractions, days out and family trips to take advantage of often glorious 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 one of Cornwall’s lush gardens at a rambling stately home?
Whatever you do, make sure to save room for the cream teas, pasties and ice cream Cornwall is famous for – it really is a foodie’s paradise.
You May Also Enjoy Make this Years Holiday a Family Staycation in South West England
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 famous seaside town of Blackpool in the west to the rolling 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 more outdoorsy types will find plenty to choose from thanks to the cycling routes, walking trails and bird-watching hotspots.
You May Also Enjoy Have a Real Adventure! 15 of the Best Mazes in the UK
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, the cobbled streets of Clovelly, and the vast expanse of Exmoor to explore, while down south there’s 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 simply like to sit and gaze. Families love the range of things to do 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.
You May Also Enjoy 20 Outstanding Places to See Dinosaurs in the UK
Lake District
The Lake District is always popular, and it’s undoubtedly one of the best UK holiday destinations. Home to England’s largest lakes, 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 after something more strenuous, there’s mountain biking, climbing, walking, kayaking and canoeing readily available. Or for a spot of downtime, take a cruise on Derwentwater, and don’t forget the Kendal Mint Cake!
You May Also Enjoy Animal Parks in the UK You Need to Visit for a Wild Day Out!
Eastbourne and South Downs
Nature never runs short of things to do with kids, from hunting for creepy crawlies to spotting wildlife. So if your family loves the outdoors, one of the best UK holiday destinations for you 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 and leaf-collecting to simply wandering along a peaceful riverbank with the family dog.
Sussex Wildlife Trust runs experiences at Friston Forest throughout the year, with wildlife courses, events and talks on topics ranging from bumblebees to birds, all fitting neatly into a family holiday.
There are plenty of museums and attractions in the area to keep everyone smiling on rainy days, and lots of entertainment throughout the summer catering to 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 at the Towner Art Gallery.
You May Also Enjoy Get Some Fresh Air! 10 Fun Family Walks Around the UK
Peak District
There’s a huge variety of family-friendly things to do in the Peak District and Derbyshire. Hop aboard 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 at the summit there’s plenty of fun for the whole family, from amazing caverns and the prospect tower to a great kids’ playground and a café with views to die for.
For more fun on a wire, your family might enjoy a visit to Go Ape for a high-wire adventure, then take a spectacular underground 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 at Matlock Bath, is perfect for toddlers through to big kids, with dozens of rides and attractions to choose from. More adventurous families will love the exciting rides at Alton Towers, where younger kids can also meet their favourite characters in CBeebies Land, and there are several acres of beautiful landscaped gardens too, a rare treat in a theme park.
You May Also Enjoy 50 Fabulous Places To Take Kids In The UK This Summer
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best UK holiday destination for families with young children?
Dorset and Norfolk are both excellent choices for families with younger children, thanks to their gentle, sandy beaches, shallow paddling spots and plenty of easy, low-key attractions nearby.
Which UK destination is best for outdoor adventure with older kids and teens?
The Scottish Highlands and Pembrokeshire are great picks for more active families, with everything from coasteering and kayaking to zip wires, climbing and quad biking on offer.
Where can we go for a UK family holiday with castles and history?
Northumberland and Pembrokeshire are packed with dramatic castles, while Yorkshire offers historic York and its stunning cathedral for families who love a bit of history with their holiday.
Is the Lake District good for a family holiday, or is it more for couples?
The Lake District suits families really well. Alongside the scenery, there are gentle lake cruises, sculpture trails, and outdoor activities pitched at a range of ages and energy levels.
Related Articles
- Take a Trip to the Seaside! 20 of the Best Beaches in UK
- Go Explore! 25 Legendary Castles in England, Scotland and Wales
- Animal Parks in the UK You Need to Visit for a Wild Day Out!
- 50 Fabulous Places To Take Kids In The UK This Summer
Save This For Later
Not ready to book just yet? Save this guide and come back to it when you’re planning your next family trip, or browse our full collection of UK travel ideas for more inspiration.
Want more days-out ideas like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to our free newsletter for weekly family activity ideas, competitions and offers.
