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.
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Get on your bike with the epic Viking Coastal Trail
Enjoy spectacular chalk cliffs, sandy shores and quiet country villages on unforgettable, pedal-powered discoveries.
Location: Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, Kent
Take a wander around Brotherswater
The Lake District in Cumbria is famous for its stunning landscapes of lakes and fells and is the perfect place for family walks of all ages.
Location: Ambleside, Cumbria
Enjoy a classic holiday by the seaside
When the sun shines there is only one place to be – beside the sea.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
Head off-road on two wheels in Sherwood Forest
From family cycle trails to extreme mountain biking, Sherwood Pines Forest offers the best when it comes to getting active on two wheels.
Location: Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire
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
Rainy Day Activities: Sunderland Museum
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens is a great place for the whole family to spend the day – and it’s free.
Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
July events: Sunderland International Airshow
Pack a picnic, head to the beach and lie back for dazzling aerial acrobatics, classic aircraft, live music, fireworks and traditional seaside fun.
Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Savour family fun in sandy Scarborough
If you’re looking for good old-fashioned fun that's easy on the wallet, you might want to consider Scarborough beach, also known as the “St Tropez of the North”.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Picnic within the walls of Portchester Castle
Surround yourself with thousands of years of history as you enjoy a picnic in the grounds of Portchester Castle.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire
Find yourself on a farm in the heart of Nottingham
Stonebridge City Farm is a slice of the countryside in the heart of a city centre.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Explore, learn and discover on the Dinosaur Coast
Find your own fossils and discover what it was like to live 180 million years ago.
Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Go wild camping on Dartmoor
When it comes to experiencing the unspoiled and unique environment of the wilds of Dartmoor, nothing compares to wild camping.
Location: Dartmoor, Devon
Explore an island of discovery
Explore Portland’s rugged landscape and breathtaking views and discover its history, heritage and natural assets.
Location: Portland, Dorset
Take a dip in Bude Sea Pool
Take the whole family to this part man-made, part natural sea pool which nestles under the cliffs at Summerleaze beach in Bude.
Location: Bude, Cornwall
Rainy Day Activities: Explore Earth and space at Liverpool’s World Museum
Need ideas on things to do when it rains? Visit one of North West England’s oldest museums and get a hands-on look at our planet from the oceans to the stars.
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside
Bag some bon bons at England’s Oldest Sweet Shop
Evoke happy childhood memories with hundreds of retro sweets at The Oldest Sweet Shop in England.
Location: Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Rainy Day Activities: Get spooked at Tudor World
Delve into Tudor life with a series of rainy day activities at this interactive indoor museum, found in one of England's most haunted buildings.
Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire
November events: Watch an illuminated parade at Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival
Experience the West Country tradition of ‘squibbing’ at the UK’s largest winter carnival.
Location: Bridgwater, Somerset
Head to St Michael's Mount
It’s not often you get to follow in a giant’s footsteps...
Location: Marazion, Cornwall
Watch history come to life at Morwellham Quay in Devon
Take a living history lesson from the team at Morwellham Quay, a beautifully preserved Victorian village in the Devon countryside.
Location: Morwellham Quay, Devon
Dive into the deep blue sea at Oceanarium
Bournemouth's Oceanarium is a great indoor attraction that allows you to discover the secrets of the deep.
Location: Bournemouth, Dorset
