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 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.
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The best UK holiday destinations include a range of activities for the whole family, so whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly holiday, want to explore a new area of the UK, or don’t have time for a longer getaway, these could be the perfect solution for a great family break.
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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 onto a film set. 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 books of your youth in Corfe (Blyton regularly visited the area, and the castle is said to have inspired Kirrin Castle), then stop at the local shop for lashings of ginger beer all round.
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 remains one of the most popular counties for family holidays and staycations alike.
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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 counts as a trip ‘abroad’.
The Isle of Wight is a lovely family getaway, and you’ll see why as soon as you step off the ferry. Beach lovers get vast stretches of sandy coast, plus rocky beaches ideal for paddling, and the whole island has a charming, old-fashioned feel.
There’s plenty to do — follow in the footsteps of Charles I and Henry VIII at 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, plus a good number of family-friendly restaurants.
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Norfolk
Norfolk is a firm family favourite, with gorgeous 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 — piers and arcades — head to Great Yarmouth’s Golden Mile. Most beaches are easily accessible, though it’s worth arriving early during peak summer.
For less sandy pursuits, try 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 Bewilderwood adventure park with its 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.
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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, proper castles with battlements and portcullises, ghostly ruins guarding endless sandy beaches. 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 several scenes from the Harry Potter films were shot, for your young enthusiasts.
There’s plenty in Northumberland for history fans, hikers, mountain bikers and romantics alike, but one of the best places of all is the Farne Islands, where dozens of puffins await.
The county gets rave reviews for its beautiful, clean beaches. You can take a boat from Seahouses out 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.
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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, complete 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 in Yorkshire is simply amble around historic York, with its gothic York Minster cathedral decked out in stained glass. Get lost in the 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 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. Watch for buzzards sweeping across the hilltops, or get a closer look at species like barn owls and Harris hawks at the local bird parks. Leave time to browse the farmers’ markets for local treats 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 — as the “cultural centre for the Cotswolds,” it also makes for a great family break. Nestled in the Gloucestershire countryside, Cheltenham is also not 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 lively cities to explore, including Newcastle and Gateshead, where heritage, culture and art combine in a heady mix of Roman history and modern Geordie life. Head to Sunderland for shopping and landscaped Victorian parks, or Washington to visit its 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 tucking into some award-winning 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.
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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 of beautiful trails, this stunning part of the country is perfect for an active family break.
Be inspired by the majestic mountains, or take 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 dolphins off the Moray Coast, walk in the shadow of Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, or simply take in the stunning 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 if you’re travelling with energetic kids and teenagers. With a coastline that regularly wins awards, Pembrokeshire is heaven for swimmers, beachcombers, wildlife-watchers, walkers and outdoor adventurers. Explore the coastline on its traditional paths, or try coasteering (a seaside mix of free-running and 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 like the Preseli Hills (where the stones used to build Stonehenge were quarried) and family favourites such as Oakwood Theme Park, with its rollercoasters and rides.
Budding historians will love the many 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 sights.
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Cornwall
A UK holiday round-up without Cornwall? Impossible. A perennial family favourite, 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 take surfing lessons, while younger kids can explore shallower water and go rock pooling. Be prepared for plenty of sky and no shortage of attractions, days out and family trips to make the most of the 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 around one of Cornwall’s lush gardens, found at rambling stately homes across the county?
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.
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Lancashire
In the heart of England’s North West, Lancashire is a county of contrasting landscapes, diverse heritage, great 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 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 a great family holiday. There are pretty villages packed with tea shops, cafes and boutique hotels, while more outdoorsy types will find plenty of cycling routes, walking trails and bird-watching spots.
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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, the cobbled streets of Clovelly, and the vast expanse of Exmoor to explore, while down south there’s 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 it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best UK holiday destinations. Home to England’s largest lakes, it offers incredible scenery alongside 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 for all ages. Popular attractions include the Grizedale sculpture trail, a steamer cruise along Ullswater, and a visit to Beatrix Potter’s home in Ambleside. For something more strenuous, there’s mountain biking, climbing, walking, kayaking and canoeing. Or for a spot of 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 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 for a weekend visit. It’s a great place for old-fashioned fun — pond-dipping, blackberry-picking or leaf-collecting, or just 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 everything from bumblebees to birds — a lovely fit for a family holiday.
There are more than enough museums and attractions in the area to keep everyone happy on rainy days, plus plenty of summer entertainment for a 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.
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Peak District
There’s a huge variety of family-friendly things to do in the Peak District and Derbyshire. Hop aboard a cable car on The Heights of Abraham in Matlock Bath, with sweeping views you won’t forget all the way to the top. Once on the summit, there’s plenty 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 and a go on 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 walk on the wild side with lemurs, wallabies and penguins at Peak Wildlife Park. For a taste of farm life, 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 above Matlock Bath, is perfect for toddlers to big kids, with dozens of rides and attractions to choose from, while more adventurous families will love the exciting rides at Alton Towers. 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best UK holiday destinations for families?
There’s no single “best” — it depends on what your family enjoys. Coastal counties like Dorset, Cornwall, Devon and Norfolk are ideal for classic seaside holidays, while the Lake District, Peak District and Scottish Highlands suit families who love the outdoors and active days out.
Which UK destinations are best for younger children?
Dorset, the Isle of Wight and Norfolk are particularly good choices for families with younger children, thanks to their gentle, shallow beaches, rock pooling spots and relaxed, old-fashioned seaside atmosphere.
Which destinations suit older kids and teens who want more adventure?
The Scottish Highlands, Pembrokeshire and the Peak District all offer plenty for older children and teenagers, including zip wires, coasteering, high-wire courses and quad biking.
Do I need a car to get around these destinations?
A car makes it easiest to explore most of these areas at your own pace, though some, like the Isle of Wight, are easily reached by ferry, and cities such as York and Newcastle are well served by train.
More Family Travel Inspiration
Once you’ve chosen your destination, keep the planning going with a few more of our favourite reads:
- 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
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