Our Favourite Family-Friendly UK Holidays (And Where We’re Visiting Next)
Over the last few years, we’ve really fallen in love with family holidays here in the UK. While we still enjoy travelling abroad, there’s something wonderful about packing up the car and heading off for a few days without the stress of airports, passports or long flights. Plus, we can take our dog with us!
Travelling around the UK has reminded us that you don’t have to travel far to enjoy beautiful scenery, exciting days out and quality family time. Whether you’re exploring the coast, heading into the countryside or spending a long weekend in a pretty market town, there are so many fantastic places to discover with children.
One of the biggest advantages of UK family breaks is how much easier they can be with kids. You can stop whenever you need to, bring all those “just in case” essentials that somehow become necessary, and avoid the hassle of airports. From wellies and buckets and spades to favourite cuddly toys and enough snacks for the journey, everything fits in the car.
These are some of our favourite UK family destinations, along with a couple that are still high on our family travel wish list.
Cornwall – Our Favourite Coastal Escape
Cornwall is one of those places we never seem to tire of visiting. Every trip feels slightly different depending on the season, the weather and whereabouts we go, but it never disappoints.
Our daughter has always loved spending hours on the beach searching for shells, exploring rock pools and building sandcastles. Even on cooler days, we enjoy wrapping up in jumpers and waterproofs and walking along the coast, before warming up with a hot chocolate in a seaside café.
Beyond the beaches, there are charming fishing villages to wander around, spectacular coastal walks and plenty of family attractions to keep everyone entertained. It’s the sort of place where you can happily slow down and enjoy whatever the day brings.
Norfolk – Relaxed Seaside Holidays
Norfolk is another destination we’ve really enjoyed as a family. Its huge sandy beaches seem to go on forever, giving children plenty of space to run, play and explore without feeling crowded.
Some of our favourite days have combined mornings exploring nature reserves with afternoons at the beach, paddling in the sea, building sandcastles and enjoying fish and chips by the coast.
The slower pace is part of Norfolk’s charm. Rather than rushing from attraction to attraction, we’ve found ourselves simply enjoying being together, and those are often the holidays we remember most fondly.
The Yorkshire Dales – A Wonderful Place to Unwind
Whenever we feel like escaping busy everyday life, the Yorkshire Dales are one of those places that immediately come to mind.
Rolling hills, stone villages, waterfalls and cosy tea rooms make it the perfect place to switch off for a few days. Children don’t need expensive attractions to keep them entertained here. Ours has happily spent hours looking for sheep, paddling in streams, spotting wildflowers and exploring woodland paths.
It’s one of those destinations where everyone naturally slows down, and we always come home feeling refreshed.
The Lake District – High on Our Family Wish List
The Lake District is somewhere we’ve wanted to visit properly as a family for a long time, and it’s firmly on our list for a future UK holiday.
Although it’s famous for its mountains and hiking, there’s so much more that makes it ideal for families. Gentle lakeside walks, scenic boat trips, family-friendly cycling routes and picnic spots all sound perfect for exploring with children.
There are also plenty of attractions for rainy days, from visitor centres and cafés to museums and aquariums, making it a destination that works whatever the weather decides to do.
The New Forest – Paradise for Animal Lovers
The New Forest is another place we’d really like to visit together. The idea of spotting the famous free-roaming ponies is something we would absolutely love, and the gentle cycling routes and woodland walks sound ideal for a relaxed family holiday.
From everything we’ve read, it’s the sort of place where you don’t need an expensive itinerary. Simply packing a picnic, exploring the forest and seeing what wildlife you can find sounds like a brilliant way to spend a few days together.
Why Caravan Holidays Have Become One of Our Favourite Ways to Travel
We’ve stayed in hotels, holiday cottages, apartments and cabins over the years, but caravan holidays are something I’d love to do more of. I went on lots as a child, and they were always so much fun.
Having your own space makes everything feel much more relaxed. We can prepare meals whenever we like, avoid eating out for every meal and stick to our own routine instead of following hotel schedules. It also gives us somewhere comfortable to return to after busy days exploring.
Caravan holidays can also offer excellent value, particularly during the school holidays when accommodation prices are often at their highest. Being able to cook some meals ourselves helps keep costs down, while still enjoying everything the destination has to offer.
Before setting off, it’s always worth making sure you have the right caravan insurance in place. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but knowing you’re properly covered gives extra peace of mind and lets you focus on enjoying your holiday.
Our Favourite Family Travel Tips
Over the years we’ve picked up a few habits that make travelling with children much easier:
- Pack one bag that’s easy to reach with snacks, drinks, wipes, spare clothes and favourite toys.
- If you’re travelling a long distance, plan breaks around younger children’s nap times where possible.
- Always pack waterproofs, even if the forecast looks promising. British weather can change very quickly.
- Download films, audiobooks and playlists before you leave in case your mobile signal disappears.
- Book popular attractions in advance during weekends and school holidays.
- Keep a small first-aid kit in the car for minor bumps and scrapes.
- Double-check your accommodation booking, breakdown cover and any travel documents before you leave.
These little preparations only take a few minutes but can make the whole holiday run much more smoothly.
Every Family Will Find Their Own Favourite Destination
One thing we’ve learned is that there’s no single “best” family holiday destination.
Some families love busy seaside resorts with lots of attractions, while others prefer quiet countryside walks or peaceful beaches. As children grow older, the types of holidays they enjoy often change too.
That’s one of the reasons we continue exploring the UK. There are always new places to discover, and even returning to old favourites often brings completely new experiences.
Some of our happiest family memories have come from the simplest moments – sharing fish and chips by the sea, watching the waves on a Cornish beach, enjoying a picnic in the countryside or playing board games together in a caravan after a day of exploring.
The UK is full of fantastic family holiday destinations, whether you’re looking for dramatic coastlines, peaceful countryside or traditional seaside towns. You don’t always need a passport or a long-haul flight to make wonderful memories – sometimes the best adventures are waiting just a few hours from home.
This is a collaborative post.
