10 Best Places to Travel With Kids in the UK
Travel with children is a completely different experience from travelling with a spouse or travelling alone. The good news is that the UK is a fantastic place for families. From fairytale castles to sandy beaches to wildlife parks and interactive museums, there is no shortage of places that are uniquely designed to cater to children. If you are considering a family vacation and are unsure of where to go, here are some of the best places to travel with kids in the UK. Each of them is ranked according to the variety of activity and accessibility, and that all-important “Are we having fun?” factor.
1. London — A Big City With Big Adventures
Though many will not immediately consider London to be a destination for their family’s next holiday, in reality, it is one of the UK’s best family-friendly cities! The variety offered by London is truly incredible! There are many wonderful attractions to visit across the city, but there are also numerous parks where you can spend time relaxing and unwinding, street markets, and free museums throughout the city.
There are fantastic museums for children to visit such as the Natural History Museum, where dinosaurs take centre stage, and the Science Museum, whose galleries promote hands-on exploration and experimentation for younger visitors. The London Transport Museum is an excellent place for those children who are obsessed with busing and train rides.
Once your family has completed an exhausting day of tourist activities, there are plenty of open spaces available for a fresh air adventure, including Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and Greenwich Park. These parks all provide an excellent setting for your family to have a picnic, ride scooters, and allow their children to run free.
2. Cornwall – Beaches, Ice Cream and Coastal Activities
Cornwall is ‘Family Friendly’ and has a slower pace in general, and as it’s by the coast, it makes families feel good. Inexpensive and popular with Families are all the Cornish Beaches. Most Cornish Beaches have 3 things in common with Families: Gentle Waves, Rock Pools and soft sandy beaches to play on for long hours at a time! Perranporth, St Ives and Polzeath are especially popular with families.
Cornwall offers plenty of other family attractions that will encourage learning and exploration too! The Eden Project offers a very informative yet fun experience for the entire Family, with the Huge Biomes and hands-on exhibits. Additionally, Newquay Zoo and Blue Reef Aquarium provide fun options when the weather is not the best.
Cornwall also provides many types of Family Accommodation options, such as relaxing seaside Cottages, to Holiday Parks with built in entertainment, which allows parents to enjoy their own relaxation time!
3. Edinburgh – A City Filled With History That Read Like a Book
The city of Edinburgh makes history fun rather than daunting for children. The compact feel of the city, walking distance, and all the stories contained in it, inspire children’s imaginations.
Firstly, you cannot miss the Edinburgh Castle, located on top of a rocky cliff. Walking around the grounds, viewing the cannons, and hearing the stories of the kings and queens of Scotland makes the experience more real and memorable, as it allows for a physical connection to the history.
Secondly, the National Museum of Scotland is a must-see when visiting Edinburgh. The museum is free, family-friendly, and features a wide variety of exhibitions, ranging from ancient to futuristic. Your children will not become bored and can easily pass several hours here.
Lastly, if you want to experience a different kind of walking tour, try the Royal Mile Street. You will feel as though you are in a different age here with the many street performers who line this street, adding to the atmosphere. If your children want to hear scary stories, Edinburgh has some very gentle ghost tours that your children will likely enjoy more than fear.
4. Lake District: Freedom, Outdoor Recreation, and Fresh Air
If you like to spend time outside with your family, the Lake District will exceed your expectations. The Lakes provide an alternate environment to that which exists in our commercialized cities, with fewer distractions and noise from modern technology. The Lakes are also scenic and are ideal for families, regardless of hiking experience, as the area provides ample opportunities for idyllic walks near lakes, easy short hikes along woodlands, as well as boat trips which allow younger children to be included. Visiting Lake Windermere by boat provides many families with magnificent views of the area, without requiring strenuous effort to obtain those views; however, the Lakes also feature adventure parks as well as extensive bike paths and many picnic areas.
Families who appreciate literary history will find a special connection to the works of Beatrix Potter, and many of her original stories still appeal to children today. A visit to Hill Top (the home of Beatrix Potter) presents an additional advantage to a family trip to the Lakes – the opportunity to tell stories using visual images.
5. Wales – Castles, Countryside and Adventure
Although Wales is frequently overlooked, it provides families with a perfect travel destination within the UK. It has the combination of spectacular scenery and interactive types of activities children enjoy.
Wales has an abundance of castles, of which there are over 600, and most of them are well preserved. The castles of Caernarfon and Cardiff provide children with wonderful opportunities for imaginative play (pretending to be knights, etc.).
For adventurous families, Snowdonia National Park offers easy-to-follow pathways for walking, scenic train rides to the top of Snowdon and outdoor centres aimed at children.
Another reason to love Wales includes its coastline, as many of Wales’ beaches are located in areas with fewer visitors than beaches along southern England’s coast—making them perfect for relaxing with your family.
6. Isle of Wight
Just off England’s south coast, the Isle of Wight is like a family theme park island. Travel with kids or not, it’s a relaxed, scenic, and packed with child-friendly spots.
On this Island, you will find beaches with sand, waves and rock pools. The kids can visit the Dinosaur Museum, a themed amusement park. You can hire a bike and visit the coastal beauty of the island. The visitors can visit by train, which is a fun ride for train riders. There are ferries available from mainland England to this island.
7. The City of York – An Ideal Combination of Play and Education
York is an excellent choice for families who are looking for a balance of education and fun. The city is small enough that you can easily explore it with children but is filled with many exciting places to visit.
Walking on the historic city walls is a wonderful experience; your kids will love being active and adventurous while enjoying the beautiful views.
One of the best family-friendly attractions in York is the National Railway Museum. This attraction is free to enter, interactive, and filled with incredible vintage trains. There are so many toys and games available for children of all ages, so you can be sure that your child will have fun at this location.
York is also rich in history when it comes to chocolate and confectionery, so families will find lots of unique experiences for their kids in York. There are many ways to keep your child entertained from boat trips along the River Ouse to the fun and exciting chocolate-themed activities available throughout York.
8. The Cotswolds – CALM, COUNTRYSIDE AND CLASSICAL ENGLAND.
If you want to relax and unwind over the weekend and not rush anywhere, then the Cotswolds will give you that. Located in a very scenic area, it has all the characteristics of a fairy tale with many picturesque little villages (some are famous), and rolling hills. The scenery is something you wouldn’t expect when you think of “kids” unless you know about the charm of the Cotswold region.
Farm parks, wildlife centres, and outdoor attractions are all located around the Cotswolds, making them family-friendly. For instance, Cotswold Farm Park has a farm environment where you can go and pet the animals. You can fall in love with the beautiful countryside and listen to the quietness in the after-hours.
The Cotswolds are ideal if you have young children who do not need a lot of constant stimulation. They enjoy the open space, nature, and relaxed environment of a calm holiday retreat.
9. Blackpool: Our Classic Family Seaside Resort!
When looking for different activities for the family, especially for family with younger kids, look no further than Blackpool. For older children there is plenty to do; while this may not always be the calmest environment, you will certainly find plenty of entertainment! The Pleasure Beach at Blackpool has some of the best and largest rides available to everyone! For the very young family members, the Blackpool Zoo and Sandcastle Water Park are great alternatives.
Looking for the traditional beach experience of being on the beach? Blackpool Oceanfront is one of the largest beach fronts in the UK. In addition to that, you have a variety of classic beach experiences such as arcade games, fish and chips, donkey rides, and many other fun things to do! When considering where to spend time with your family, Blackpool is one of the more cost-effective options versus lots of other destinations!
Conclusion
Traveling as a family within the United Kingdom shouldn’t involve a great deal of difficulty or expense, since there is a wide variety of destinations throughout the UK that will appeal to children of all ages, interests and budgets.
Kids generally do not remember luxury hotels or perfectly planned itineraries. What they remember are the days that they climbed up a castle tower, fed the animals at a farm, or were in stitches of laughter on the pier at the beach. These types of memories are prevalent throughout the UK and await you.
