12 of the best family days out in the UK: From Alton Towers to London Zoo
School’s out for summer, so here's where to spend a day out with the children close to home
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This internationally award-winning adventure park spans 18 acres of enchanted tree houses, zip wires, steep slides and marsh walks. Based on a fantastical tale by local children’s author Tom Blofeld, there’s also a maze, boat ride and jungle bridges, as well as some brilliant storytelling and free face-painting. The locally sourced and produced food is great and there’s an emphasis on getting parents to play alongside their children in the great outdoors.
Adults £16.50, anyone under 92cm free
Among the white knuckle ride highlights at this 500-acre resort are Nemesis, Rita, TH13TEEN, Oblivion and Galactica, the first “virtual reality” rollercoaster where riders use headsets to experience a space adventure. There’s plenty for younger kids too, with the Furchester Hotel Live Show and Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom new for this year, joining the existing line-up in CBeebies Land, which has just opened its first hotel. It’s a more leisurely pace than other British theme parks, with a green space to take a break never far away.
Adults from £32, children from £27.50 (under-threes go free)
This 14th-century crenellated castle stands out as being one of the locations for the Harry Potter films (as well as Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves). There’s a long and fascinating history to discover through visiting the staterooms and exhibitions, and resident “witches and wizards” offer daily broomstick training sessions on the very spot Harry Potter learned to fly. Don’t miss the Knight’s Quest, where children get to dress up, try their hand at medieval craft and take part in medieval games. Meanwhile, brave teenagers will love the Lost Cellars experience.
Adults from £13.95, children from £7.20 (under-fours go free)
Don’t let the word “museum” put the kids off – this is more of a living tableau, with demonstrations by craftsmen revealing the skills and artistry of quarry workers through the centuries. Located next to Dinorwig quarry in Elidir mountain, young visitors will love the original Victorian workshops including foundries and forges, and there are also reconstructions of four quarrymen’s cottages and the Chief Engineer’s House. This summer there are all-new “decorate a slate” sessions. Check out the specially constructed sandpit too, where you can try making patterns in the sand just as the moulders would have done. There’s a good play area too, complete with zip wire.
Free entry
With 200 acres of historical gardens, the Lost Gardens of Heligan are bliss for outdoorsy and adventurous families with kids who like exploring. Restored after years of neglect, they have everything from walled gardens and glasshouses to peaceful woodland. A beautiful and atmospheric place to learn about nature and unwind, Heligan also has the UK’s only outdoor sub-tropical “jungle”, which is home to a mass of exotic plants and foliage, including tunnels of towering bamboo and a Burmese rope bridge nestled high above the canopy. Best of all, you can bring the dog, provided you keep it on a lead.
Adults from £14.50, children from £6.50 (under-fives go free)
If it’s enchantment and nostalgia you’re after, look no further than the world’s oldest and most original model village, which started out as a hobby in the 1930s and which has now developed into over an acre of finely detailed homes, shops, farms, lakes and more – all connected by a model railway which winds through the beautifully kept gardens. There are over 200 buildings, 3,000 inhabitants and 1,000 animals within the six tiny towns and you can easily make a day of it by taking a picnic along and using the playground after lunch, as well as taking the children on the train ride. Profits go to charity.
Adults £10, children from £6 (under-twos go free)
The last remaining Tudor palace was home to Henry VIII and the scene of many of the highs and lows of his reign. Today you can visit the Great Hall, Tudor kitchens, William III’s state apartments and the gardens designed by Capability Brown, including the world-famous maze and 240-year-old grape vine. There’s live interpretation every day, with Henry VIII wandering around, and Tudor cooking taking place during summer holidays. While older kids can soak up the history, there’s a family room for under-fives, full of large blocks, toys, books and fancy dress.
Adults from £18.40, children from £9.20 (under-fives free)
Home to more than 750 different species ranging from tiny Partula snails to towering giraffes, London Zoo has plenty of new and exciting things going on this summer, including Zoorasic Park, in which visitors are taken back in time to a prehistoric world where they come face to face with moving dinosaurs. With 36 acres to walk around, highlights include Land of the Lions, Tiger Territory, Penguin Beach and Rainforest Life, and you can even spend the night alongside the lions in the Gir Lion Lodge. Best of all, your money goes to a good place – the zoo is run by ZSL (Zoological Society of London), the international charity devoted to the conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
Adults from £20.45, children from £15.95 (under-threes go free)
This safari drive takes you really close to the animals, with highlights including the rhinoceros, camels, lions, tigers and wolves. If you’ve got any time left, head to the 16th-century house and take a walking safari through the “African Village” to meet giraffes and zebra, as well as hopping on the jungle cruise on the lake to see sea lions and feed lorikeets. There are daily shows, a maze and miniature train.
Adults from £33.95, children from £24.95 (under-threes free)
Spread across two sites – one in York, the other in Shildon – this museum offers the ultimate day out for families and railway enthusiasts. It’s free to enter and the best bits include Queen Victoria’s railway carriage, the only bullet train outside Japan, and Mallard, still the fastest steam engine in the world. There are interactive, educational shows and events running throughout the summer as well as play and picnic areas and miniature railway rides.
Free entry
These prehistoric caves are magnificent. Choose either the family friendly cave tour or (for an extra £50) the new Wild Wookey adventure caving course – an experience that sees participants climb, crawl, abseil and traverse over water through mysterious passageways and tunnels deep beneath the Mendip Hills. Families with small children shouldn’t miss the themed areas such as Dinosaur Valley (with its life-size dinosaurs) and the Paper Mill, where you can produce your own paper.
Adults from £17.10, children from £13.50 (under-threes free)
This used to be a working farm, but now provides a delightful animal-themed day out for families, especially those with younger kids. Enjoy farmyard animal attractions, indoor and outdoor adventure play, funfair rides, children’s shows and more. During summer, there’s also a maze, goat racing and sports day activities – as well as a new Peter Rabbit Adventure Playground, where Peter Rabbit, Lily Bobtail and Benjamin Bunny meet and greets every day. If the heavens open, you can always pop into the large barn with its soft play area.
Adults from £16.50, children from £17.50 (under-twos free)
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