Family holidays
Walk among dinosaurs on a fossil hunting tour or put nerves to the test at a thrilling theme park. Get close to nature and camp in protected woodland or stay aboard a lighthouse or a barge on your family holidays. Bike rides and picnics in a national park, long afternoons at the beach exploring rockpools, baffling mazes and hide and seek in the grounds of a stately home: England is packed with inspiring child friendly holidays and activities. If you think learning is for stuffy school rooms, think again. Discover the secrets of the Tudors and Victorians, marvel at Roman remains and re-live bloody battles and beheadings on days out with the kids.
Take a bargain break with all the trimmings at Totland
On the west coast of the Isle of Wight, YHA Totland has the beach, heaps of countryside walks and great local attractions on its doorstep.
Location: Totland, Isle of Wight
Trip-trap along the Red Squirrel Trail
This family-friendly cycle and walking path encompasses an exciting trail of artwork, sculpture and trolls under bridges.
Location: Newport, Isle of Wight
Pedal along 100 miles of off-road cycling tracks
Pedal the extensive, year-round network of cycling routes criss-crossing the woodland, heathland and quiet country roads of the New Forest.
Location: New Forest, Hampshire
Discover 2,000 years of history for free on a guided tour
Discover one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in England on a free Red Coat Guided Tour.
Location: Exeter, Devon
Walk in Roman footsteps at Arbeia Roman Fort
Britain’s biggest and best reconstruction of a Roman fort is the perfect place to immerse yourself in an ancient way of life.
Location: South Shields, South Tyneside
Free fun for the family at Monkwearmouth Station Museum
Monkwearmouth Station Museum has received national commendations for work with young children and provides fun and education for the whole family.
Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
See aviation history come alive at RAF Manston
Manston, Kent is home to not one but two museums dedicated to aviation history and one of the few remaining wartime Spitfires
Location: Manston, near Ramsgate, Kent
Hog the top deck on a bus tour of Lincoln
Plan a family holiday day out and discover the historic city of Lincoln by open-top bus.
Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Trot over to meet Redwings Horse Sanctuary's rescued residents
Come nose to nose with some of Redwings Horse Sanctuary's most delightful residents at Redwings Ada Cole Rescue Centre in Essex.
Location: Nazeing, Essex
Stay in your very own hobbit hole in the Lake District
Escape on a budget break to the Quiet Site in Cumbria, a family-run site overlooking Ullswater in the north of the Lake District.
Location: Ullswater, Cumbria
Pay homage to the written word in South Shields
Step inside The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, a state-of-the-art venue in South Shields.
Location: South Shields, South Tyneside
