From the infamous to the downright unusual, we’ve picked out some of the quirkiest and coolest attractions the UK has to offer. Fun is guaranteed with these 20 unusual places to visit with the kids — which one will be your favourite?
We’ve put together a list of some of the most fun, most innovative and most unusual days out around, guaranteed to test brains, coordination and the odd bit of organised mayhem that all children need now and again. Magnificent and awe-inspiring — parents won’t be able to help getting swept up in it too.
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Unusual Places to Visit in the UK
Eden Project, Cornwall
Kids of all ages can journey into landscaped worlds within futuristic domes and get immersed in botany along the way. One of the best bits is the Canopy Walkway, a raised platform high among the treetops of the rainforest biome, where you can spot cashew, rubber, banana and cocoa plants.
For younger thrill-seekers, there’s a zip line over the biomes, a rock climbing wall and plenty of interactive gadgets in the Core Building. There are also play areas dotted around the site, including willow mazes, giant instruments, a wooden ship to climb, a sandpit and a huge nutcracker to wind. You can walk the winding paths or hop on the land train. Visits often last several hours, so it’s worth checking the website in advance to plan your day.
The Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Dumfries, Scotland
If history isn’t your thing, that’s okay — you’re sure to be mesmerised by one of Scotland’s most unusual places, a 30-acre garden inspired by modern physics.
Across five main areas you’ll find snail-shaped grass mounds, twisting DNA helix sculptures and undulating waves of rhododendrons, all forming a landscape of bridges, sculptures and unique architecture. Let the kids loose to explore the highs and lows of this curious garden and get some well-earned fresh air. Alice in Wonderland, eat your heart out.
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Stonehenge, Wiltshire
One of the UK’s most special locations will seem even more magical through a child’s eyes.
Kids are trivia sponges, and the facts and figures behind this site will blow young minds of all ages. It’s remarkable to think what was achieved 5,000 years ago with just man- and ox-power, ropes and stones. The sheer sight of the monument makes a big impression on children, setting them pondering an era that’s mysterious even for grown-ups.
Stonehenge’s Visitor Centre and exhibition space includes a 360-degree virtual experience and hundreds of objects of international importance, including the reconstructed face of an Early Neolithic man. If you haven’t visited since you were a child yourself, it’s well worth another look.
Imperial War Museum, Cambridgeshire
Full of activity, excitement and nostalgia, the Imperial War Museum at Duxford has over six hectares of indoor and outdoor displays to explore whatever the weather.
With a collection of more than 200 aircraft, tanks, military vehicles and naval exhibits, there’s something here for everyone. The museum also runs family activities during school holidays, making it a dream day out for kids who love big machines and feats of daring.
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The Gnome Reserve, Devon
Looking for somewhere that gnome man has ever gone before? For a brilliantly bizarre day out, journey through the enchanted wood, home to over 1,000 gnomes and pixies, and wander the four acres of the reserve wearing your very own gnome hat.
With multiple television appearances and a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, this attraction is a firm favourite. Gnomes and pixies hide in unusual places along the pathway and peek out from behind the trees — can your little ones spot them all?
In your phe-gnomenal outfits, you’ll have plenty of chances for photos to remember. Walk through a picturesque wood, discover hundreds of little gnomes, tuck into a Devon cream tea, and enjoy a quirky, low-key adventure.
The Slide at The Orbit, Stratford, London
If it’s extreme thrills you’re after, The Slide is the place to be. The ArcelorMittal Orbit stands as the UK’s tallest public art display — travel 80m to the top, then down the longest tunnel slide in the country.
Enjoy panoramic views of London on the way up, spotting landmarks like the Gherkin, Big Ben and The Shard, plus a few of the capital’s famous football grounds. Take your time at the top with interactive storytelling screens, then flip the world upside down in one of the concave mirrors.
The ride itself packs a lot into a short trip, looping around the tower before a straight drop back to the ground. There are height and age restrictions for riders, so it’s worth checking the current details before you go.
Camera Obscura, Edinburgh
Get ready for six floors of puzzles, special effects, games and interactive craziness at one of Britain’s oldest attractions. It all started in 1835 with the Camera Obscura itself — a live projection of a bird’s-eye view of Edinburgh from the top of a tower.
Become a giant as you spy on passers-by below, then “pick them up” thanks to live moving images projected onto a viewing table. The rooftop terrace gives 360-degree views of the city, with high-power telescopes and binoculars to help you take it all in.
In Bewilderworld, step into a vortex tunnel and see if you can stay on your feet while it spins around you. Catch your shadow in the Magic Gallery, then watch yourself shrink, grow and morph in the Puzzling Zone.
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Forbidden Corner, North Yorkshire
For a spooky, offbeat, brain-teasing afternoon of discovery, a visit to the Forbidden Corner is a must — four acres of all-out weirdness, and one of our favourite unusual places on this list.
Little adventurers are encouraged to explore tunnels, mazes, a creepy mausoleum and hidden passages in a garden where getting completely lost is part of the fun. You’ll get a checklist of things to track down, but no map — just keep an eye out for the secret brass circles that reveal hidden markings and point you on your way. Expect a few tricky challenges along the route, including the occasional spray of water!
Children will have a whale of a time solving problems, and grown-ups will fall for the garden’s wit and imagination just as easily.
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BeWILDerwood, Norfolk
Great for under-12s, this gem has all the energy-burning fun of a soft play park, spread across 50 acres of whimsical woodland. Expect interactive storytelling and puppet shows for toddlers, plus mazes, zip-lines and rope bridges for bigger kids.
Like an Ewok village for children, BeWILDerwood makes the most of mature woodland, offering a natural, active alternative to indoor play centres. Glide along an enchanted river on a Bewilderboat, or join a daily special event like a puppet show or storytelling session. It’s all the brainchild of children’s author Tom Blofeld, whose book characters show up to make things even more fun.
This award-winning forest adventure actively encourages parents to play alongside their children — just because you’re grown up doesn’t mean you should miss out on the magic.
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Giant’s Causeway, Antrim, Northern Ireland
Image © Tourism Ireland photographed by Christopher Hill Photographic
The name alone will spark kids’ imaginations, but seeing the causeway in person sends their sense of awe off the charts.
Take in the geology, flora and fauna of international importance at this UNESCO World Heritage site as you walk the causeway and pick out the wishing chair, the harp and the organ — three collections of curious rock columns. Clamber over the stones, spotting the weird and wonderful formations and seeing if they match their old nicknames.
Park at the visitor centre and reach the site via the shuttle, which has reduced rates for kids. The centre offers an exhibition and a short audio-visual presentation on the causeway’s origins, and is the ideal starting point for walks along the coastal and clifftop paths, with guided walks, a gift shop and visitor facilities on site.
Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland
Hadrian’s Wall marks the northern boundary of the Roman Empire — a titanic barrier between the “civilised” world and the northern tribes, and the largest single Roman artefact anywhere in the world. Its length was once marked with mile-castles and forts every five miles.
One of these, Housesteads Fort, invites children to dip into the ancient past by clambering over evocative ruins. From here you can walk down to Sycamore Gap, a spectacular valley made famous on screen. Use the stone walls as a guide around the village south of the fort as you try to picture the different chambers and rooms.
All around is Crag Lough, home to an array of wildlife and birds. You’re also on three National Cycle Network routes here, so choose your route carefully if you’ve got young or inexperienced riders — what goes down must also come back up again.
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Loch Ness, Inverness, Scotland
One of the UK’s most unusual places has to be the famed Loch Ness. The legend of the Loch Ness Monster dates back to 500AD, when drawings of a serpent-like creature were carved into rocks along the loch — and it remains one of the quirkiest and most intriguing spots on this list.
Take your young adventurers out on a Loch Ness cruise for some Nessie-spotting. You never know your luck — and in the meantime, there’s plenty of other wildlife to enjoy, including leaping trout and salmon, indigenous and migrating birds, and even otters and deer along the shores.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Hertfordshire
For a Harry Potter fan, what could be more exciting than stepping into the Great Hall or boarding the Hogwarts Express? Go behind the scenes to learn the secrets of the special effects and animatronics, and browse a decade’s worth of costumes, sets and iconic props.
The tour also features Platform 9¾ — will you make it through the wall?
Beware the gift shop, where wands, butterbeers, Marauder’s Maps and Honeydukes treats await as souvenirs of your day.
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Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
While you’re in Harry Potter mode, why not let the kids tell their friends they’ve been to the “real Hogwarts”? Investigate one of the few medieval British castles that has remained habitable to this day.
Since the castle’s exterior and interior featured in the Harry Potter films, Alnwick has embraced younger visitors with gusto. Courageous kids can join the Knight’s Quest, dressing up in chivalric gear and winding through a labyrinth to try to defeat the mythical dragon at the end. There’s also a Lost Cellars experience for over-13s, drawing on grimmer local history with holograms and sound effects — not for the faint-hearted.
Look out for special events too, including longbow and falconry demonstrations, traditional musical performances and a visit from Peterkin, the court jester, whose fire-eating and stilt-walking antics will have you laughing and gasping in equal measure.
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The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland
Just down the road from the castle, The Alnwick Garden is home to one of the world’s largest wooden treehouses, complete with sky-high walkways, rope bridges and a treetop restaurant, as well as the Woodland Walk.
The garden also features the Grand Cascade, a tumbling mass of water with shooting jets, plus the Rose and Ornamental Gardens. The Serpent Garden has interactive water sculptures, and there’s also the Bamboo Labyrinth and the Poison Garden, home to dangerous plants and their gruesome stories.
The Pavilion and Visitor Centre offer good indoor and sheltered space, but the garden is predominantly an outdoor attraction, so dress for the weather — and pack a change of clothes if you fancy braving the Grand Cascade’s jets.
Zip World, Gwynedd, Wales
This former slate quarry is now a fantasy-like subterranean space, its bottomless sheer walls fitted with zip lines, rope bridges, climbing grips and even a massive bouncy net.
This activity centre is thrilling, awe-inspiring and thoroughly exhausting all at once, and includes one of the longest multi-person zip lines in Europe. Recommended for over-10s.
Chester Rows, Chester
The medieval town of Chester is famous for its unique two-tier high street, which looks like the shops have been sandwiched together. The Rows are covered walkways with a second level of shopfronts above, dating back to the 11th century.
Even though many of the units are now occupied by familiar retailers and chains, the shopping experience still feels different, thanks to the varying height, style and appearance of The Rows, which give the whole city a wonderfully quirky look.
Greenwich Foot Tunnel, London
Did you know there’s a sort-of secret tunnel running under the River Thames? Take the family for a day trip to Greenwich, where there’s plenty to see, and make sure you leave time for a quick trip through the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.
The tunnel first opened in 1902 and runs 50 feet below the surface. Enter it beside the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, descend via stairs or lift, and cross to Island Gardens on the Isle of Dogs. It’s free to walk through, and one of the easiest unusual places on our list to tick off.
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Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge was built by salmon fishermen in 1755 to link the mainland with Carrick-a-Rede Island and its one building, a small fisherman’s cottage. Suspended 100 feet above sea level, the bridge is now a unique attraction for those brave enough to cross it.
As you cross, look down at the caverns below and keep an eye out for wildlife in the area — you may spot basking sharks, porpoises, dolphins, puffins, razorbills, oystercatchers and other seabirds.
A timed ticketing system is in place, so it’s worth checking the current booking details before you visit. Once you’re across, there’s a bracing clifftop or coastal walk along the Ulster Way to enjoy too.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales
Yes, you read that right — Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is the name of a real Welsh town on the Isle of Anglesey. Have a go at pronouncing it; the kids will love this one.
Originally known simply as Llanfairpwll, the town gained its extended, tongue-twisting name in the 1880s, dreamed up by a local merchant to help turn it into a tourist attraction. Translated, it means “St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the red cave”.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What makes somewhere a “quirky and cool” place to visit with kids?
It usually comes down to a mix of surprise, hands-on fun and a bit of wonder — places where children can explore, discover something unusual, or take part in an activity they won’t find on an everyday day out.
Are these unusual places suitable for younger children?
Many are, though a few — like the Lost Cellars at Alnwick Castle or Zip World — have age or height guidelines. Always check the details for the specific attraction before you travel, especially for anything involving heights, ziplines or more intense experiences.
Do I need to book ahead for any of these attractions?
Some, such as Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, use timed ticketing, and popular attractions can get busy during school holidays. It’s a good idea to check each attraction’s own website for current booking arrangements before setting off.
Can I visit several of these unusual places in one trip?
Yes — several are close together, such as Alnwick Castle and The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, or Hadrian’s Wall sites along the same stretch of countryside. Grouping nearby attractions is a great way to build a themed family day out or short break.
Related Articles
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- Have a Real Adventure with 15 of the Best Mazes in the UK
- 30 Magical Harry Potter Places to Visit
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