Sometimes you want soft play, sometimes you want the local playground, heck sometimes you just want wherever sells the best takeout coffee, and sometimes you want to treat yourself and the kids to the ultimate day out somewhere a bit special. And for those days, we’ve created this feature: the ultimate list of day trip places for families.
We’ve tried to get a good balance of places in the north and places in the south, as well as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. And, as well as potentially finding new places near you that are yet to be explored, we thought it might be a good post to bookmark in case of any UK-based adventures further down the line.
So, without further ado, these are the best places for a god tier day out for families and kids…
South Of England
Knockhatch (Hailsham, East Sussex) – Perfect for kids from about 2-12, it includes everything you need for a long afternoon even if it’s raining. There’s multiple playgrounds, bouncy cushions, soft play, a small farm, an owl sanctuary, water slides and outrageously high (and steep) slides in the Lost World Playbarn. More here.
Hobbledown (Epsom, Surrey) – With 50 acres of outdoor space dedicated to everything from animals and play villages to zip lines and mazes, there’s lots of magical-inspired adventure for kids to get involved in. Suitable for all ages, AND there’s a second Hobbledown opening in Hounslow this summer. More here.
Longleat (Wiltshire) – The ultimate drive-thru experience (and yes, better than Starbucks or McDonald’s) is Longleat which boasts safari animals in the wild. Keep ya windows rolled up as you look out for zebras, elephants, monkeys and more. You can also visit the Main Square for more cute animals and attractions such as a play area and maze. More here.
Fisher’s Farm (West Sussex) – As the name suggests, you’ll find farm animals and attractions aplenty here, plus there’s also an indoor soft play for rainy days. There’s also boats, quad bikes, swinging boats, mini golf and more! More here.
ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure (Norfolk) – The largest dinosaur-themed park in the whole of the UK, this East Anglian based adventure land features everything from dinosaur trails, to rides and theatre shows. You’ll also find plenty of dinosaur playgrounds and even a mini splash zone for hot days. More here.
Lappa Valley (Cornwall) – Train-lovers and kids alike will love this nostalgic trip into a world of fun and adventure. Aside from attractions like train rides, boats and glorious nature, there’s also outdoor playgrounds and soft play to explore. More here.
North of England
Sundown Adventureland (Nottinghamshire) – Pegged as the ultimate theme park for under 10s, this former farm now boasts over 20 different attractions. Aside from fairground-style rides, there’s also a toy town, a castle and plenty of play areas to explore. More here.
BeWILDerwood (Cheshire and Norfolk) – A glorious, magical forest of family fun based on the BeWILDerwood book by Tom Blofeld. The Norfolk park opened back in 2007, but the new Cheshire location only opened its doors during lockdown. The park is described as a ‘treehouse adventure and includes slides, wires, wooden play areas, mazes and a storytelling stage. More here.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park (Doncaster) – Aside from being a glorious walkthrough of animals for visitors of all ages, Yorkshire Wildlife Park also boasts a huge focus on dinosaurs, as well lots of indoor and outdoor playgrounds for little ones to explore. More here.
Eureka (Halifax) – The National Children’s Museum is unlike any museum you’ve visited before, it’s crammed with hundreds of interactive exhibits across six zones that are aimed at kids aged 0 to 11. More here.
Hesketh Farm Park (North Yorkshire) – This family run park is home to over 1,000 animals such as pigs and cattle. And, aside from checking out the residents, kids can take go-cart rides, explore the playground, dig in the sandpit or get lost in the straw maze. More here.
Ice Cream Farm (Chester) – A whole play park themed with ice cream? SIGN US UP. There’s a magical play garden, sand and water play, adventure golf, gemstone hunting and – of course – over 50 flavours of ice cream to feast on. More here.
Wales
Folly Farm (Pembrokeshire) – Not only is there over 750 animals in their zoo, but if you fancy turning your day trip into a two-day trip or more, there’s also lodges with HOT TUBS. Hello. Aside from the zoo attractions, you’ll find a fairground with 17 rides, and both indoor and outdoor playgrounds. More here.
Oakwood Theme Park (Narberth) – Introducing Wales’s largest theme park, Oakwood. You’ll find lots of brilliant rides for small kids as well as adrenaline-pumping rollercoasters for the bigger ones. There’s also the Lost Boys Adventure playground and Hooks House of Havocs (which is indoors). More here.
Scotland
Blair Drummond Safari Park (Stirling) – Aside from hundreds of animals to discover, there’s also a prehistoric forest with over 20 life-size dinosaur creations (which move and roar) ready to impress your kids. There’s also a safari drive-thru, as well as play areas, pirate ship, rope swings and a mini funfair. More here.
East Links Family Park (Dunbar) – Set across twenty acres of gorgeous Scottish countryside is this park which is home to animal enclosures, train rides, go-carts, a bouncy castle and trampolines. The train takes a 1km route past plenty of animals, plus there’s a huge fortress full of climbing nets and slides. More here.
Northern Ireland
Streamvale Open Farm (Belfast) – One of the only farms on this list with a huge focus on the animals themselves, guests are able to enjoy cuddle time with the animals as well as feeding time and milking time. There’s also other activities for kids and grown-ups to get involved in, such as an indoor play village, outdoor play zone and zip wire. More here.
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