Fun family days out with kids in the UK

Since my daughter has been born, we’ve been discovering far more corners of our home country than I ever seemed to manage beforehand – but there are so many fun family days out with kids in the UK that we’ve still got plenty on the list.

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So I’ve gathered together the highlights of our visits around England, Wales and Scotland (plus my own pregnant trip to Northern Ireland) as well as some more ideas to inspire UK days out with kids.

As well as family days out in London where we live, there are ideas from Glasgow in the north to St Ives in the south, Pembrokeshire in the west and East Anglia to the east, all places we’ve visited on family holidays in the UK. I’ve split them up in approximate geographical order so if you’re wondering ‘what are the good family days out near me?’, just hop to that section.

Family days out for film (and book) fans

Sometimes it’s not where you are that inspires your day out, it’s what you love. And that goes double if you and your kids are fans of a particular film or book series.

So if you fancy theming some of your next UK family days out around your favourite stories, try these posts to start you off.

For Harry Potter fans, I’ve got 37 of the best UK days out if you love Harry Potter, dotted all around the country, as well as the best Harry Potter locations in London.

Or there’s more inspiration of places to go with kids who love books, whether that’s Roald Dahl, the Gruffalo, Peter Rabbit or Winnie the Pooh (for starters).

If it’s movies that are their favourite, check out this round-up of the best kids film locations including Paddington and Cinderella. Not to mention plenty of chances to follow in Paddington’s pawprints.

Family days out in London 

Despite living in the city for decades and visiting for even longer, there are still plenty of London family days out on my wishlist.

But we’ve ticked off quite a few of the capital’s best days out – check out my top 59 days out in London with kids, as well as ideas if you’re visiting London with a toddler, preschooler or primary school aged child, and things to do in the evening in London with older kids.

For starters, here are my top ways to cut your costs and save money on a family trip to London, some ideas for seeing London on a budget, as well as completely free things to do in London with kids, including some of London’s best viewpoints.

There are tips for exploring London in the rain with kids, some unusual things to do in London with kids once you’ve ticked off the main sights, not to mention ideas if you’re visiting South Kensington, the South Bank, Tower Bridge & Tower Hill, Camden and Greenwich.

But there are also tips on finding the best playgrounds with kids in London, a chance to treat yourself to London’s best desserts and hot chocolate – and because you’ll probably need to take the underground at some point, check out my London tube tips with kids too.

Not forgetting some great London bus tours with kids and boat trips in London for families.

London museums with kids

The museums are favourites for most families – who doesn’t love the Natural History Museum dinosaurs? But that’s only the start. This guide to London museums with toddlers and kids has information on all the main ones and several of the smaller ones too.

If you’re planning a trip to a specific museum, check out my tips on visiting the best-known free ones, including the Science Museum with a toddler, exploring the Natural History Museum, the V&A and the British Museum with kids.

Or for another child favourite, the London Transport Museum has great activities and exhibitions as well as the main displays, plus several times a year you can see behind the scenes at the London Transport Museum Depot in Acton.

Towards Canary Wharf, you can explore how the river has played its part in London’s history at the London Museum Docklands, while slightly further out, The Horniman Museum is perfect with younger kids as there’s a little bit of everything including a small aquarium.

London history with kids

If your kids love history, there are centuries of it to discover in London – start with my ideas of how to spend one day in London with kids who love history.

You could also retrace some of the key locations in a Great Fire of London walk from Pudding Lane to St Paul’s (and beyond). Or venture back even further in time to explore Roman London with kids.

For more tips on Roman places in the UK to visit, check out these tips, along with the best UK castles with kids

Or I never tire of taking a walk along the South Bank plus you could follow this route to spot some of London’s major landmarks – for me, the river is the heart of London, so it’s easy to theme a dozen days out around it including these ideas of things to do along the Thames.

London is home to its share of historic homes as well, although you’ll need to venture a bit beyond the centre.

It’s only a short train ride from Waterloo to the wonderful Hampton Court, which my daughter has seen from her buggy, as well as scampering around in borrowed velvet robes as a pre-schooler, checking out the Hampton Court ice rink and countless special holiday activities, joining Henry VIII’s sporting academy and following several Christmas light trails.

Also in Richmond, Ham House is another of my favourite days out with kids – somehow the sun always seems to be shining there, and there are great craft activities for kids in the house as well as different trails to follow.

Osterley House has a great natural play area and lovely gardens to explore, while Gunnersbury Park Museum, former mansion home of the Rothschilds gives an insight into what their life was like.

The Hall at Morden Hall Park is no more, but the National Trust property has some great activities for kids and it’s a lovely place to get outside.

Or step back in time as you board a historic ship. The Golden Hinde in Southwark is a replica of the ship which Sir Francis Drake sailed around the world in – you can visit by day, or get special tickets for a Golden Hinde sleepover for an evening experience and chance to sleep aboard.

In Greenwich, the restored Cutty Sark is one of the fastest tea clippers, sailing around the world in the 19th century, with some great kids’ activities and exhibits to show what life on board would have been like – just one of the fantastic things to do in Greenwich with kids.

London for animal lovers

For small animal lovers, there’s plenty to discover in London too – here are my suggestions of how to spend one day in London with kids who love animals.

Top of that list has to be London Zoo – check out my tips on visiting London Zoo with kids. Younger kids will also enjoy Battersea Park Children’s Zoo – it’s much smaller (although also cheaper) and has play areas among the animals.

London has an unexpected number of littler zoos dotted around as well – Hanwell Zoo in west London is another cheap day out with kids (plus there’s a play area and a maze) or the London Wetland Centre in Barnes is a perfect place to explore at any time of year, not least because of a pair of very cute otters.

Or in central London, Coram’s Fields is somewhere you’re only allowed to visit if you have kids. As well as play areas there’s a small area with farm animals to discover – it’s a good one to pair with the British Museum.

Another alternative if you want to get outside are the beautiful botanic gardens at Kew – somewhere else with regular temporary exhibitions and events, often aimed at kids during the school holidays. There’s also a fabulous children’s playground. Check out my tips for visiting Kew Gardens with kids.

Festive London and more London family days out

For a rather more adrenaline-fuelled outing, you can test your nerve and head for heights at several Go Ape courses around London including Go Ape Battersea, suspended above Battersea Park. Or how about a view with a difference on a Big Ben tour.

And if you’re visiting London at Christmas, there are festive family days galore – visit London’s best Christmas markets with kids or take to the ice on one of London’s best festive rinks as well as some fun light trails which take place before Christmas and into the New Year. There’s great theatre in London at Christmas, the fantastic London Christmas lights, plenty of chances to see Santa in London.

Last but not least: The Harry Potter tour – aka the Warner Bros studio tour London: the Making of Harry Potter – is officially in Hertfordshire, but it’s easy to do as a day out from London whether you drive, take the train or a special bus up.

I’ve been three times, including to see Gringotts Bank, but there’s always something new and often themed during the year, including for Halloween or winter.

For more ideas, tips and advice on visiting London with Kids, check out the Facebook group I co-host 

Family days out in Kent

With friends living in Kent (and not too long a journey time from our home), it’s somewhere we often visit for days out – check out my top picks for the best things to do in Kent with kids as well as ideas for Kent in the rain with kids.

The Garden of England is as tempting for its countryside as well as the coast, historic spot and family attractions: basically whether your kids love castles, the seaside, animals or theme parks, there’s something to suit for a Kent family day out.

Hever Castle is one of my own favourites with Henry VIII swaggering around, jousting, the house, maze and gardens to discover and more than enough to entertain everyone all day.

Or you can discover wartime history alongside the medieval sort at Dover Castle including views of the white cliffs, while Leeds Castle is one of the prettiest I’ve come across, with its own long historic pedigree.

I’ve got a list of National Trust properties as long as my arm that I’d like to see too. So far we’ve explored Scotney Castle – a stately home and the remains of the older castle – and Ightham Mote with its old timbered mansion at the heart.

If you fancy a day by the seaside, there are some fantastic spots in Kent to explore. Whitstable is one of my own personal favourites, where I’ve whiled away days hunting for shells on the shingle beach, wandering the pretty streets, eating fish and chips and spotting street art.

Broadstairs is another more traditional seaside spot with some of the country’s best ice cream at Morelli’s – and also where my daughter had one of her first experiences of the English seaside playing on the sand.

For animal lovers, there’s everything from the Rare Breeds Centre with its farm animals – perfect for toddlers – right up to the wildlife at Port Lympne animal reserve. We stayed over in Rhino Cottage, one of several places to stay on the site, including the chance to pootle around after most visitors had gone home before a private tour.

And one of my most unexpectedly fun days out in Kent with kids was our visit to Diggerland where there are rides for little ones and the chance to play with huge diggers too. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!

Family days out in Sussex

There’s more to Sussex than the coast – in both East Sussex and West Sussex, which I’ve combined in this post on the best things to do in Sussex with kids – but it’s always a good place to start.

The coastline has a lot of shingle and pebble beaches but you can still find some great sandy beaches in Sussex which are ideal with kids. West Wittering is one we’ve been visiting since my daughter was a baby: not exactly a hidden gem but worth the crowds – and you can find quieter sandy spots on the coast too.

Camber Sands is another of my favourites, with its dunes lining the long stretch of sand – and plenty of things to do in Camber Sands with kids (or nearby, at least).

But you’ll also find historic towns, the gorgeous Downs and family-friendly days out in Brighton, as well as some great things to do in Sussex in the rain with kids if it’s not beach weather.

Exploring the gorgeous village of Rye was another highlight when we stayed in East Sussex as well as some of the family attractions in Hastings: the Blue Reef Aquarium is ideal on a rainy day in Sussex.

A little way inland, gorgeous Bodiam Castle is great fun for kids to visit – not only does it look like a ‘proper’ castle, there are activities and dressing up to entertain. If your kids love history, there are some great castles in Sussex for families, as well as historic houses like Nymans and Petworth.

In West Sussex, Brighton is one of my favourite places for a day out with kids and there’s so much to discover – check out my top things to do in Brighton with kids, including the Sea Life Centre right on the waterfront.

Further along the coast, we’ve also stayed at Goodwood – best known for the Revival and Festival of Speed events, it’s probably best for older kids than toddlers.

For more things to do in Sussex with kids, check out my top picks

Surrey days out with kids

Despite living close to the border with Surrey, it’s somewhere I’d love to explore more – although we’ve visited Kew Gardens more times than I can count, I’ve still yet to get to RHS Wisley, for example, although we did tick the glorious Winkworth Arboretum off our list.

Or Polesden Lacey has its own fascinating history and a lovely natural play trail for kids, as well as plenty of walks to follow.

I love this ultimate guide to the National Trust in Surrey from my friend Ting who blogs at My Travel Monkey for more of the county’s historic houses

If you’ve got kids who love cars, a day out at Brooklands Museum is unbeatable. Set at the old race course, there are lots of vintage touches but also the chance to sit inside a racing car.

At nearby Mercedes Benz world, my daughter also got a ‘driving licence’ on their mini indoor kids track when we stayed at Brooklands Hotel (with proper driving experiences for big kids).

And for an unforgettable stay in the Surrey Hills, we took a llama walk as part of a weekend break at The Merry Harriers in Hambledon.

Family days out in Hampshire

The Isle of Wight is one of my favourite places for a UK family holiday – hopping on the ferry feels so much more like you’re escaping than simply heading down the motorway, and I always relax almost instantly.

But with the New Forest and other family attractions, including a few in and around Winchester, there are some great days out in Hampshire with kids throughout the county.

Discover two of the south coast’s cities, with a stay in Southampton or Portsmouth – far more than just ports to catch a cruise or ferry onwards, there’s lots here for families, including the Spinnaker Tower and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

If you do fancy an island escape, I’ve collected all my posts together in this guide to the Isle of Wight (including places to eat with kids) or start by looking at my top things to do on the Isle of Wight with kids.

You could theme your trip around an Isle of Wight bear hunt, go searching for dinosaurs on the Isle of Wight (including a visit to Dinosaur Isle) or make the most of exploring the Isle of Wight coast.

For animal lovers, there’s the Amazon World Zoo and Isle of Wight Monkey Haven, or spotting the donkeys at Carisbrooke Castle, as well as climbing the walls and discovering the exhibitions there.

Back on the mainland, there are more animals in the New Forest – as well as the New Forest Wildlife Park, we visited Longdown Farm when my daughter was a toddler as well as seeing the wild horses and donkeys which roam through the forest.

There are some great activities to try in the New Forest with kids as well, including cycling trails and kayaking on the river, as well as Hurst Castle, which you can only reach by boat or a walk along the shingle spit.

Nearby, it’s a pig that’ll be the highlight for toddlers and preschoolers – Peppa Pig to be precise, at Paultons Park. Check out my tips for visiting Peppa Pig World.

Or spy big cats and other wildlife at Marwell Zoo with trails for kids to complete. They regularly have other events on as well, including the Brickosaurs trail we saw – huge Lego dinosaur models.

Not far away is Winchester, home to one of my favourite Christmas markets and centuries of history including a chance to see a Tudor recreation of King Arthur’s round table and the astonishing cathedral.

Just outside the city itself is the fantastic Winchester Science Centre, revamped in 2020 with more than 100 hands-on displays – check out my review of a day at the Winchester Science Centre here.

And between Winchester and the New Forest is the gorgeous National Trust property of Mottisfont – we visited while they were running a special Lauren Child exhibition, including Charlie & Lola, but it’s a lovely place for a family day out at any time.

For my top things to do in Hampshire with kids, click here to see the complete list.

Berkshire family days out

One of my favourite days out in Berkshire is a visit to Windsor – getting a look inside a castle that’s still home to the royal family is a rare experience.

We’ve combined it with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Windsor, visiting the surrounding villages including Eton and Datchet, before wandering around the streets of the town, feeding the swans as well as watching the changing of the guard.

Just across the border of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire is Cliveden – the National Trust site is easy to reach whichever county you’re in (officially it’s Buckinghamshire, so it’s worth checking that section too for more ideas of family days out).

I’ve visited several times, including with a friend’s toddler, and each time the sun has shone as we’ve worked out way through the maze, gardens and grounds galore and the fabulous storybook playground, not to mention extra activities and trails during the year such as the Easter Egg hunt.

Family days out in Wiltshire

Writing this post, I’ve realised that a lot of our family days out in Wiltshire have been on the way to or from somewhere else – a bit unfair to Wiltshire as there’s plenty to discover here with kids.

Stonehenge is one of the most famous Wiltshire attractions, although we’ve also stopped at the smaller and more accessible Avebury on our trip along the Great West Way as well as Lacock and Bowood House on the way to Gloucestershire.

For more great Unesco World Heritage sites in the UK with kids, check out this post

Near Wiltshire’s border with Somerset, one day out is the minimum you need at Longleat between driving around the safari park (including the very cheeky monkeys), seeing the animals, exploring the house and grounds, and other activities.

Stourhead, with its lovely lakefront setting and story trail around the grounds for children, made another fantastic place to break out journey to Devon although you could very easily spend the whole day exploring.

And there’s plenty of days out in Salisbury with kids including a visit to Salisbury Cathedral where we saw one of the original copies of the Magna Carta as well as exploring the medieval streets.

Not forgetting iconic Stonehenge nearby: fascinating for pretty much any age, my daughter’s Year 2 lessons on the Stone Age helped bring the Neolithic site to life for her when we visited.

Dorset with kids

Dorset is one county I constantly seem to be visiting – often when passing through on the way to Devon and Cornwall or as we nip over the border from Hampshire, but plenty of times as a destination in its own right.

So I’ve build up quite a list of family days out in Dorset including these tempting things to do in Dorset with kids and some great ideas for rainy days in Dorset with kids.

When the weather is good, there’s so much to do outside – hunting for fossils on the Jurassic Coast, exploring castle ruins at Corfe and comparing beaches to find our favourite. The miles of sand at Bournemouth is always a contender.

Plus there’s a chance to see red squirrels on lovely Brownsea Island and monkeys at Monkey World Dorset.

Even if – like us – you have a drizzly day in lovely Lyme Regis – it’s great with kids, finding fossils on the ammonite pavement, visiting the aquarium and checking out the beaches if you have better weather.

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to Dorset aquariums, with the Bournemouth Oceanarium and the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth to choose from too.

Family days out in Devon

One of my favourite counties for family days out, Devon has so many things to do with kids that I created an entire guide – you can check out my round-up of all the best family attractions and ideas for where to visit in my ultimate guide to Devon with kids.

For more inspiration, I’ve also picked my top things to do in Devon with kids, as well as ideas for things to do in Devon in the rain and free days out in Devon if you’re looking for family days out on a budget. Plus my pick of the best beaches in Devon with kids, because I never visit without at least one trip to the beach.

It’s not just about summer holidays either, there are some great places to visit with kids in Devon in winter plus year-round attractions like the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth which is well worth seeing even if it’s glorious sun outside (or pouring with rain as it was when we went).

For more things to do in Plymouth with kids, check out my top picks

We’ve stayed in pretty Brixham where we explored the Golden Hind – England’s second replica of the ship Sir Francis Drake sailed round the world in (the other is in London if you want to complete the set as we did) – went rockpooling and wandered around Berry Head Nature Reserve. Or not far away is equally pretty Dartmouth.

Further up the coast, there’s the English Riviera for more Devon family days out – our day out in Torquay included the prehistoric Kents Cavern.

Nearby, we split another day out between Teignmouth and Shaldon, finding another small zoo, a smuggler’s tunnel to the beach, hopped on one of England’s oldest ferries and checked out an art trail along the seafront.

Not forgetting beautiful Dartmoor – there’s plenty to do on Dartmoor with kids, including family attractions, spotting wild ponies and some easy walks to try as a family.

Around 20 minutes from Exeter, you can look inside the home of the Earl of Devon at Powderham Castle, with a deer park, play area, little farm and lots of family activities. The lovely National Trust property of Killerton is also around 20 minutes from the city.

Plus there are masses of things to do in Exeter with kids, from canoeing to history (not to mention nearby beaches at Exmouth) as we discovered when we stayed in the city.

Or discover a sleepier spot in Topsham, where a treasure trail took us through centuries of maritime history and through the picturesque streets.

And that’s not forgetting all the reasons to visit North Devon with kids as well

Family days out in Cornwall

My other favourite contender for best family days out (and family holidays in general), Cornwall is deservedly one of the most popular places in the UK to visit with kids – it’s somewhere I visited as a child, and I never tire of discovering new corners of the county including the beautiful Isles of Scilly (scroll down for more things to do in Scilly).

I’ve pulled together all my tips and more into my ultimate guide to Cornwall with kids with ideas of days out, things to do, places to stay and how to plan.

If you’re not sure where to start – and there are a lot of tempting Cornwall family days out – I’ve picked my top things to do in Cornwall with kids as well as ideas for things to do in Cornwall in the rain and ideas for free days out in Cornwall. Needless to say, there’s also a long list of the best beaches in Cornwall with kids.

The wilder north coast is my favourite – my daughter’s first trip was to Newquay where we visited the Blue Reef Aquarium and started what’s probably a lifetime challenge of finding our favourite beach in Cornwall.

That’s only the start of my list of north Cornwall family days out – there are more ideas of things to do with kids in north Cornwall here.

And you can’t talk about days out in Cornwall for families without mentioning the Eden Project with its incredible biomes.

Or further south in the country (though still on the north coast), St Ives is a fantastic place to visit with kids – from surfing and art to family attractions, plus its own beaches and coastal walks.

Not that you’ll be short of things to do on the south coast either, as we found during a short stay in Falmouth with a visit to the National Maritime Museum.

Isles of Scilly

To reach the Isles of Scilly, you either need to fly (usually from Newquay or Land’s End, although you can also go from Exeter in Devon) or to take the ferry from Penzance.

Realistically it’s more a holiday than a day out, but if you get the chance for even the shortest visit, it’s one of the loveliest places in the UK.

Check out my top things to do in Scilly with kids including some great boat tours – we took a glass bottomed boat trip to see seals as well as another boat tour visiting three other islands while we were staying on St Mary’s.

Check out my complete guide to the Isles of Scilly with kids here

Somerset and Bristol family days out

I spent a year living in Bristol during my 20s but after revisiting several times with my daughter more recently, the city has changed dramatically and it’s one of my favourite cities to visit with kids in the UK. Nearby Bath and the Somerset coast and countryside are easy day trips too.

Keep an eye out for the regular sculpture trails around Bristol – we several of the Gromit trails, which are a really fun way to explore, taking us all around the city from the suspension bridge to M Shed, through the city centre and past other hidden spots we might not otherwise have visited.

My daughter’s absolute favourite is We The Curious, Bristol’s Science Centre – I normally get asked for a return visit before we even get off the M32 and she’s been known to skip lunch to get inside faster. 

If you’ve got equally curious kids, our ‘curious’ weekend in Bristol also took us to the Being Brunel exhibition at SS Great Britain, saw us trying stencil spray street art, visiting the aquarium and more.

For more ideas of the best things to do in Bristol with kids, check out my top picks

Not far from the city itself is the National Trust property of Tyntesfield, with play areas and sculptures in the ground as well as the Gothic Revival house itself.

A close-run second favourite is the beautiful city of Bath where we visited the Roman Baths as well as following some of the Bath skyline walk before refuelling with a fabulous pizza (another essential element of most of our family days out).

Check out my tips for the best things to do in Bath with kids, along with more inspiration if you’re visiting Somerset with kids.

If you’re visiting Bath as part of a trip along the Great West Way with its string of family days out, Longleat is just near the border of Wiltshire and Somerset, so it’s an easy one to fit into a Somerset trip.

Family days out in Gloucestershire

I’ve explored more of Gloucestershire while I was living in Bristol in my 20s than I’ve managed to with my daughter so far – I’d love to take her to Berkeley Castle or explore more of the Cotswolds with her.

There are so many things to do with kids in Cheltenham, you could easily spend a couple of days exploring, as well as using it as a base to venture further afield.

But if you want to get beyond the town – even if you visit no other part of the county – make it the Forest of Dean.

It’s somehow overlooked compared to other woodland like the New Forest but there’s lots to do – my top things to do in the Forest of Dean with kids has enough to fill a couple of family days out in Gloucestershire.

Puzzlewood in particular is unmissable, whether your kids are fans of Star Wars, Doctor Who or other shows filmed in the woodland, or simply fancy exploring a wild and otherworldly part of the country.

You also have Wales just across the border and a string of castles constructed to guard it – we visited Goodrich Castle and could see into the neighbouring country from its towers.

Oxfordshire family days out

Beyond the dreaming spires and the picture postcard villages of the Cotswolds, there are plenty of family days out in Oxfordshire, starting with Oxford itself and centuries of history at Oxford Castle.

It’s somewhere I lived for years and ideal for kids who love books, whether that’s reliving a bit of Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland or His Dark Materials – don’t miss The Story Museum while you’re there, while you can also take a Harry Potter walking tour.

There are also some great free days out in Oxford with kids, especially the Museum of Natural History with its dodo model, strokeable rocks and dinosaur skeletons. The Pitt Rivers museum, attached, is a treasure trove of strange and interesting things too, while the Ashmolean Museum has some great trails for kids of all ages.

Check out some more of my favourite things to do in Oxford with kids here.

The Oxford botanic gardens are a lovely place for a wander, especially in good weather, but just outside the city, Harcourt Arboretum is another lovely option to let off steam.

We also discovered a gorgeous family-friendly walk in the Chilterns, just outside Henley – one of many in the area.

Not forgetting the spectacular Blenheim Palace, with its gardens and adventure playground as well as a chance to look inside England’s only non-royal palace.

Buckinghamshire family days out

I’m very faithful to my favourite spots for a family day out in Buckinghamshire – all the ones on my list are places we’ve visited more than once, and they’re all ones which are brilliant with kids.

Wendover Woods is our failsafe for a chance to get outside and go for a family-friendly walk – they’ve hosted a string of Forestry England trails, including several from the Julia Donaldson books (The Gruffalo, Superworm, Stick Man and Zog for starters) as well as the Shaun the Sheep Farmageddon trail, which ends at a Gruffalo statue.

For another gloriumptious day out with kids, the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden is perfect for learning more about the author, inspiring their own creativity or just enjoying his stories. It might seem small but you can while away hours visiting, as well as following a Dahl-themed trail around the village.

Or for a distinctly glamorous spot, there’s Cliveden – whenever I’ve visited, including with a friend’s toddler and for an Easter Egg hunt, the sun has shone. And with a maze, gardens galore and the fabulous storybook playground, quite apart from activities and trails during the year, we never run out of things to do here.

Cliveden itself is right on the border with Berkshire so it’s worth checking that section too for more ideas of family days out.

Family days out in Hertfordshire

Despite being right on my doorstep in London, Hertfordshire is another county I need to make more time to visit. But I do have a couple of fantastic spots for days out in Hertfordshire with kids.

Topping the list is the Harry Potter studio tour at the Warner Bros studios in Leavesden – I’ve included it in the London category too, as it’s an easy day out from London, but officially you’re into Hertfordshire. 

Check out my tips for visiting the Harry Potter studios with kids

I’ve been multiple times, including to see Gringotts Bank, but there’s always something new and often themed during the year, including for Halloween or winter.

Another fun Christmas activity was seeing the Santa Spectacular at Willows Activity Farm: its fantastic Peter Rabbit playground, as well as farm animals and plenty of other activities, mean it’s a brilliant day out with younger kids at any time of year.

Or if your kids love all things Roman, St Albans is one of the best Roman places to visit in the UK and easy day trip from London with kids.

Bedfordshire family days out

Bedfordshire always has a special place in my heart as I got married in Woburn Abbey – and because I’ve had a lemur perch on my shoulder at Woburn Safari Park on a very fun day out there with my daughter.

Also on my list for Bedfordshire family days out is a visit to Whipsnade Zoo, the sister site of London Zoo).

Family days out in East Anglia: Suffolk, Norfolk & Cambridgeshire

One of the best parts of England for a proper old-fashioned seaside holiday, East Anglia also has some fantastic wildlife and history, as well as art and culture to discover between beaches.

I’ve grouped Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire together here – not because there aren’t enough family days out in East Anglia but because it’s so easy to combine stops in several counties in one trip, so you could well be planning a family day out in Suffolk even if you’re in Norfolk (and vice versa).

Check out my top picks for days out in Norfolk alone, with ideas for every family travel style, including ideas for things to do in Norfolk in the rain with kids and some of the best beaches in Norfolk with kids.

For starters, you could follow in our footsteps exploring the Deep History Coast, discover some of the best things to do in Norwich with kids, plus visits to National Trust sites Oxburgh Hall and Blickling Estate.

We spent a long weekend crossing county borders on our East Anglia road trip including stops at the Saxon burial mounds of Sutton Hoo, the dramatic hilltop castle at Orford built by the first Plantagenet king, medieval villages and Wimpole Hall.

After only having time for the briefest stop in Cambridge on that trip, I knew we had to return to explore more so we also found time for a fantastic weekend break to discover Cambridge with kids, as well as a return trip to Cambridgeshire with another short stop in Ely with kids.

Along with more than a few trips to Suffolk – with so many great things to do in Suffolk with kids, including rainy days in Suffolk for families.

One of my favourite places along the way was gorgeous Aldeburgh – not just a lovely place to stay, it’s got its own musical links and sculpture, award-winning fish and chips, plus a small museum.

We’ve also visited other beaches along the Suffolk coastline, as well as more fish and chips at Lowestoft.

And just inland from Aldeburgh is Easton Park Farm which is a great day out with a toddler – and, as we discovered, a very good spot on a rainy day in Suffolk with kids.

It’s just one of the animal attractions in the county, alongside some fantastic castles, including Framlingham Castle, and great places to get outdoors.

Things to do in Essex with kids

Despite being just one county over from my home in London, Essex is somewhere I need to explore a lot more – look beyond some of the stereotypes and there are family attractions, fascinating history and some gorgeous coast too.

Colchester was high on my wishlist for a while, and our visit has only whetted my appetite for more – if you do nothing else, head to Colchester Castle Museum to discover the Roman history.

But as I found, there are so many things to do in Colchester with kids, that you’ll want a longer stay.

We also explored the pretty town of Saffron Walden, as well as some of the surrounding Essex countryside, including the lovely English Heritage site of Audley End.

For more things to do in Essex with kids, check out my top picks

Lincolnshire family days out

Lincolnshire itself is best known for its coastline – including a lot of family-friendly places to stay – as well as for the city of Lincoln itself. My daughter and I spent a weekend in Lincoln and there’s simply loads to do in Lincoln with kids.

The castle and the cathedral are two of the biggest draws – make sure you walk the castle walls and spot the cathedral imp for starters. When we visited there was a sculpture trail to help you explore around the twisting medieval streets and up the well-named Steep Hill, and you can still follow the Battle of Lincoln Fair trail.

We also took a little cruise along the river on the Brayford Belle and discovered some of the area’s long history at the Collection archaeology museum.

Family days out in Warwickshire

Warwickshire is another county where there’s one particular attraction we return to over and over again – the fabulous Warwick Castle, one of my top UK castles to visit with kids.

I’ve been heading to Warwickshire for family days out since my daughter was a toddler, on her first visit to Warwick Castle and a Christmas visit to see Santa as well as the other attractions.

It’s somewhere with so much to do that a single day out really isn’t enough – happily you can stay in the grounds overnight which is a fantastic experience with kids in itself.

Check out my review of the Knight’s Village lodges or if you’ve only got one day to spend, here are my tips on making the most of a day at Warwick Castle with kids

If you can drag yourself away from the castle and lovely Warwick itself – well worth a bit of a wander – then there are some lovely National Trust properties to discover too.

Packwood House is somewhere else we discovered as a motorway stop-off with a fun trail for kids through the house spotting dalmatians, as well as a teddy bear’s picnic in the gardens when we visited.

Days out in Herefordshire with kids

This often overlooked corner of England, on the border with Wales, Herefordshire deserves to be visited far more than it is – but if you go sooner rather than later, you’ll miss the crowds too.

We had a fantastic long weekend exploring the beautiful countryside, canoeing along the river Wye, discovering Hereford itself, including the cathedral, Mappa Mundi and Chained Library, along with the fascinating Hellens Manor house and Eastnor castle.

For more ideas of things to do in Herefordshire with kids, check out my post, as well as my review of our stay at Holly Lodge at Arboyne House.

Family days out in Birmingham

Growing up around an hour from Birmingham, it’s somewhere I feel I ought to know better than I do – so I’ve started to rectify that with several trips to the city in the last few years, including a city break with my daughter.

We’ve visited before Christmas to check out the German Christmas market in Birmingham but there’s lots to do year-round.

As well as the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, we stopped off at Sea Life Birmingham during our weekend away.

I wished we’d had another day at least to visit Think Tank, another of the attractions on my wishlist of things to do in Birmingham with kids.

Staffordshire family days out

I spent my own childhood in Staffordshire, growing up on the edges of Stoke-on-Trent – and I’m loving the chance to show my daughter some of the places I remember visiting as a child.

We go back to visit family every year, gradually working our way through more and more of Staffordshire’s family days out.

Topping the list has to be the Monkey Forest next to Trentham Gardens on the Trentham estate – always a favourite with my little monkey.

The fairy trail in the gardens is another hit too and on our last visit, we managed to see almost all of them.

The area’s industrial history might not immediately sound like something to explore with kids, but many of the old sites producing the pottery which gives the area its name have been converted into hands-on heritage attractions.

I spent a day exploring Stoke’s pottery history which saw my daughter learning how to throw a pot, venturing inside the old bottle kilns, decorating a plate and Christmas bauble and seeing some of the exquisite ceramics made in the area.

Visit Staffordshire and you’re also on the edge of the Peak District – check out my top things to do in the Peak District with kids and things to do in the Peak District with young kids for ideas, as it’s an easy day trip across the border to Derbyshire.

In Staffordshire itself, up on the moorlands, is the little Peak Wildlife Park which is fabulous with younger kids – and while it might not be a huge site, we happily filled a whole day watching the animals including penguin feeding.

Family days out in Shropshire

Growing up in Staffordshire, I’ve got fond memories of family days out in Shropshire, especially at Ironbridge Gorge.

There’s a group of museums here but easily the most family-friendly, and my own favourite, is Blists Hill Victorian town, a living museum created just as the Victorian town here might once have been.

You can still buy sweets in the sweet shop, investigate the pharmacy and other shops, wander through the industrial areas and peek inside old cottages.

Best of all, you can change everyday money into Victorian coins to spend on the site, which adds an extra fun touch.

Right on the border with Wales, Ludlow is another lovely place to spend a family day out – wandering the old streets with their black and white timbered buildings and exploring the ruins of the castle.

For more ideas, check out my tips for the best things to do with kids in Shropshire.

Family days out in Manchester

The capital of the north always has its own buzz, and it’s no surprise you’ll find loads of things to do in Manchester with kids, from great free museums to football galore, plus some very fun interactive family attractions.

Not far away, there’s some great ways to get outdoors with kids in Manchester too, including the new RHS Bridgewater and lovely Heaton Park.

Check out my top picks for days out with kids in Manchester

Cheshire family days out

Home to the fabulous Chester Zoo as well as Gulliver’s World and sites like Tatton park, there’s no shortage of fun family days out in Cheshire.

But if your kids love history – or are studying the Romans at school (perfect for Y3!) – Chester is a perfect place to explore.

I’ve rounded up some of my favourite things to do in Chester with kids, or check out these tips for other Roman sites in the UK.

We spent a day discovering more of Roman Chester including Deva Roman Experience and walking the old city walls, with a treasure trail to help find some of the easily missed details along the way.

Family days out: Liverpool

Another fantastic city break destination, there’s a huge amount to do in Liverpool with kids – quite apart from football galore and the Beatles if you’ve got music loving teens.

For preschoolers, we headed straight to Albert Dock for Mattel Play with Thomas the tank engine, Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam (sadly now closed).

There are family activities here throughout the year, plus the big wheel and a traditional carousel.

And it’s also home to a couple of museums if you visit with older kids, including the Merseyside Maritime Museum or Tate Liverpool – check out more of my top things to do in Liverpool with kids.

Family days out in Lancashire

Lancashire sometimes gets overlooked when it comes to planning family holidays but there’s an impressive array of days out to tempt you to visit.

For starters, it’s the home of Blackpool – packed with family attractions, as well as that lovely beach, you won’t be short of things to do in Blackpool with kids.

Check out my Gruffalo Clubhouse review to learn more about one of the town’s newest family attractions, as well as Blackpool zoo and Blackpool Sea Life Centre for kids who love animals, plus Madame Tussauds Blackpool.

But the county is also home to parts of the Lake District, for a complete contrast to the glitz of the seaside at Blackpool.

Days out in Cumbria with kids

One of the most popular places in the UK for a holiday, a day trip barely scratches the surface of all the things to do in the Lake District with kids.

With some lovely family attractions, walks galore, plenty of chances to get out on the water and some quirky things to do, this is somewhere to visit again and again.

Family days out in Derbyshire

There’s more to Derbyshire than the Peak District but if you’re visiting with kids, that’s always where I’d start.

From caves to cable cars over the gorgeous scenery, the chance to ride an old tram or visit a theme park, as well as a couple of little zoos, it’s packed with fun family days out.

Check out my tips on the best family days out in the Peak District for more inspiration.

Family days out in Yorkshire

York is one of my favourite cities in the UK – whether it’s family attractions like the Jorvik Viking Centre (and Jorvik Dig), York Castle Museum or the National Railway museum, or getting to wander through the old streets of York itself.

Harry Potter fans should head straight to the Shambles which looks like Diagon Alley’s twin (and sells memorabilia galore too), among other fun options in York for Harry Potter fans.

For another great family city break, Leeds is home to some great days out – child-friendly museums which are bit out of the ordinary such as the Thackray Museum, street art, street food and historic houses like Harewood House.

But there’s lots for all ages across the whole area – one of my favourite family days out in Yorkshire with younger kids is visiting Eureka National Children’s Museum in Halifax (with plenty for primary age children too).

And while you’ll find Julia Donaldson themed trails popping up in Forestry England sites on a regular basis, the only place you’ll find the Room on the Broom trail is at Anglers Country Park.

If you’re looking for other family days out in Wakefield and the surrounding area, Nostell Priory is a lovely National Trust property with gardens and grounds, plus the usual family activities.

Or head over to the lovely Yorkshire coast – a great base for a family holiday is Whitby, with so many things to do in Whitby with kids.

For ideas of more things to do in Yorkshire with kids, check out my top picks from across the whole area.

If you’re visiting the Yorkshire Dales, you’re not far from the Cumbria border so check out some of my top ideas if you’re visiting the Lake District with kids

Days out in Northumberland with kids

Packed with castles and beaches – two of my favourite things – as well as plenty more family attractions, Northumberland is a fantastic place for a family holiday.

Check out some of my top things to do in Northumberland with kids, including some of the UK’s best castles like Bamburgh Castle, as well as Dunstanburgh Castle and Warkworth Castle.

And plenty for fans of Harry Potter at Alnwick Castle, not to mention Roman history galore at Hadrian’s Wall, fascinating Lindisfarne and a chance to spot puffins at the Farne Islands.

For more great Unesco World Heritage sites in the UK with kids, check out this post

You’ll find haunted houses as well as gorgeous gardens – there’s loads to discover at the Alnwick Garden with kids, or the county is perfect for a spring walk as the snowdrops emerge.

Wales family days out

Wonderful Wales… Growing up in Staffordshire, the north Wales coast was our nearest stretch of seaside so we used to visit most years for family holidays.

I’ve got fond memories of castles galore, staying on pretty Anglesey and making our way to the top of Snowdon.

Living in London, it’s now easier to reach south Wales than the wild north coast, and so far my daughter and I have fitted in a few breaks.

The far west is another of my favourite parts of Wales and there are plenty of ideas for family days out in Pembrokeshire – we travelled back to the Iron Age at Castell Henlyss, as well as exploring Tenby and Manor House wildlife park on just a few days out in Pembrokeshire with kids.

Harry Potter fans will recognise Pembrokeshire’s wild sweeping coast from the final films, although Shell Cottage, created for the scenes filmed here, has since been removed.

For a great place to stay in Pembrokeshire with kids, both Bluestone and Clydey Cottages have plenty for young kids as well as lovely accommodation.

The boy who lived isn’t the only hero to discover here – we retraced some of the tales of King Arthur as well as other myths and legends on a journey along the south coast, in between visiting the Gower Heritage Centre near Swansea and Rhossili beach.

Welsh capital Cardiff is another UK city break that’s on my family travel wishlist to go back and spend more time exploring.

I love the fact that the castle is right in the heart of the city and there’s loads to discover with kids at Cardiff Bay – older ones will love whizzing around on the water at speed on a Cardiff Sea Safari.

Family days out: Scotland

My daughter had her first trip to Scotland before she was two years old, with a city break to Glasgow – but it goes without saying that that barely scratches the surface of all the family days out in Scotland you can find.

There’s Edinburgh too, a city I love and have a long list of great things for families to do – check out my picks for the best things to do in Edinburgh with kids.

Not to mention planning an escape to the beautiful Highlands and islands – I’ve been to Skye but the Shetland Isles and Hebrides have been tempting me for years – as well as exploring elsewhere, including one of the best safari parks in the UK at Blair Drummond.

Family days out: Glasgow

Glasgow is a great city break for all ages though – if you’re visiting Glasgow with toddlers, start with my top things to do for inspiration, great ideas for all ages in Glasgow with kids, or my guide to the city.

Topping my daughter’s list is the Glasgow Science Centre which is basically heaven for toddlers – to the extent that she didn’t even want to stop for lunch (and there was no question she was having a nap).

We visited with friends who had slightly older kids, who could get more hands on, plus there are activities tailored for different ages, so really, I don’t think you can go wrong with a visit here at any age. If it’s good weather, take a wander along the Clyde to get there, but the science centre is also a fantastic option if you’re visiting Glasgow in the rain.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is another good one for rain or shine – the museum itself is packed with different collections from animals (including an elephant) in the natural history collection to fossils, a Spitfire, mummies in the Ancient Egypt section, not to mention the art gallery.

It’s also set within parkland, so you can wander along the paths before or after – and the museum itself is free, ideal if you’re looking for a cheap day out in Glasgow.

When the sun shines, the Glasgow Botanic Gardens are another unbeatable spot – there’s a wee garden for kids as well as trails, play areas and plenty of green space to run around.

And older kids will enjoy a visit to St Kentigerns cathedral, including the unusual Victorian necropolis nearby.

Edinburgh with kids

There’s plenty to entertain in Scotland’s capital as well – from historic palaces to extinct volcanoes, some fantastic family-friendly attractions and a tour that Harry Potter fans will love, I’ve found some of the best things to to in Edinburgh with kids.

Northern Ireland family days out

So far, my one and only visit to Northern Ireland has coincided with pregnancy – so I have yet to visit with an actual child, but family days out were definitely at the forefront of my mind when I was exploring Belfast.

The black cab tours I tried would be ideal for older kids to get a taste of the city: Belfast’s troubled history means that some stories and murals would be hard for younger children to understand.

There’s more than political divisions to discover, and the tours are tailored, so you can also find the site of the UK’s biggest bank robbery and see where Led Zeppelin first played Stairway to Heaven. If you’re visiting with a baby who’ll doze through the tour, it’s another great way to see the city and save your feet.

I visited before Titanic Belfast was open, but that’s another great option for a family day out, along with Belfast Zoo, the hop-on hop-off bus tour and  plenty of museums (including HMS Caroline).

Beyond the city there are also dramatic sites like the Giant’s Causeway and the chance to drive along the Causeway coastal route or venture across the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge to see Dunluce Castle.

PIN FOR LATER: THE BEST FAMILY DAYS OUT WITH KIDS IN THE UK

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