9 of the most memorable UK family days out

Family days out don’t have to be the same old walk followed by a pub, and a roast; although there is nothing wrong with this format, sometimes a bit of change does us some good. 

The UK is packed with experiences, trips, locations, attractions and quirky spots where you can enjoy a memorable family bonding session that goes well beyond the everyday.

Proper fun family days out create more than memories; you’ll get a strengthened lifelong bond and memories that you can all look back on with great fondness for years to come.

Whether you’re after action packed adventure, cultural excursions, or a solid dose of the great outdoors, you’re in great hands with this list of the very best places to go with family, suited to all ages, budgets and energy levels. 

Let’s take a look at where you and your family can spend your next family day together in style.

1. Race Across a City in Cinematic Excitement

For those looking to expand their teamwork, solve some serious puzzles and compete in the ultimate team-based competition, the Race Across the World Experience is the one for you.

We’re all familiar with the well-loved TV show, and now it’s your chance to join the fun.

You and your unit will be solving on-location puzzles, dashing between checkpoints, and uncovering hidden gems you might otherwise stroll right past, in the heart of either London or Manchester.

It’s the perfect choice for families who love a challenge and want something a little more heart-pounding than an ordinary walking tour, with a bit of competition thrown in for good measure.

2. Explore a Living History Museum

This is the perfect activity for anyone with kids who love history, and are excited to get hands-on and learn. 

Step back in time at an open-air heritage site, a living museum that quite literally brings our past to life. The UK have some of the best living museums to explore:

• Highland Folk Museum, Cairngorms
• Beamish Museum, County Durham
• Skye Museum of Island Life, Isle of Skye
• Blists Hill Victorian Town, Shropshire
• Weald and Downland Museum, Sussex
• Cosmeston Medieval Village, Vale of Glamorgan

Kids can don period accurate costumes and try out historic tools, watch blacksmiths work in traditionally designed workshops, and even churn butter to slather on home-made bread. 

These living museums are the perfect places to spark curiosity, learn a few new things and engage kids in the past that helped to form the present. There are very few locations that offer better and more unique family days out, UK wide, than these living museums.

3. Woodland Adventure Parks

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One thing the UK does extremely well is a good old woodland adventure. 

Swapping screens for tree top thrills, devices for paper maps, and packed lunches for a baked potato in a gorgeous cafe is surely one of the very best ways to spend a day. 

These activity centres can be found in woodlands across the UK have something for everyone; mountain bike on purpose built trails, explore nature with Wallace & Gromit and many other well-loved kids’ characters, enjoy yoga amongst the leaves, trail run in some glorious single track, and learn how to care for the country’s ancient woodlands. 

These locations prove that things to do with kids don’t need to involve technology and can instil a love for the great outdoors.

4. Seaside Rock-Pooling and Coastal Trails

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We’ve all spent many a day at the beach, eating sandy sandwiches, getting a bit too much sun, and avoiding the freezing cold water. Maybe it’s time to mix it up a bit.

The UK’s coastline is largely rugged, cliffed and rocky, making it something of a natural playground, if you’re in the right hands. Coasteering is one the latest trends sweeping rocky faces that encircle the country, and it’s truly a special activity to enjoy with the family. 

Don a wetsuit, life jacket, rock shoes and helmet before heading on to the coast to learn about indigenous wildlife, climb rocks, swim in caves, jump from high ledges and have an all round superb time. 

It’s the perfect day at the beach for an adventurous family.

5. Creative City Workshops

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One thing that crops up more and more across the country are fantastic creative workshops that suit all ages and interests. 

If you and the kids are feeling the need to express some creative energy, then take a look at some of the incredible workshops and sessions that are being held in London and other major cities. 

Try everything from pottery or street art, to portrait painting and metal work. Each is an incredible way to allow your kids to express themselves creatively, learn a new skill, and who knows, maybe pick up a new passion. 

Urban areas are becoming the new hotspots for fun family days out, you can soak up a good bit of culture and get your hands dirty all in one place.

6. Farm Stays and Animal Encounters

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Agritourism is becoming super popular, and with good reason. 

There is no better way to connect with nature, teach your kids about animal welfare, and learn about the responsibilities of farm life. Feed the lambs in the spring, collect eggs from the hens, learn about sustainable farming, and even milk cows to make your own cheese! 

Many farms will hold hands-on sessions where kids can see for themselves where food really comes from, get hands-on with farmlife jobs, and many will even offer incredible accommodations, making farm stays one of the best places to go with family.  

7. Canal Boat Adventures  

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The UK has a long and fascinating history with its canals, and it is a lot more interesting and exciting than you may imagine. 

Hiring a boat for the day and cruising through glorious countryside, stopping at a riverside pub for a spot of lunch, learning to use the awesome locks to traverse up and down hills, and mooring up for the night beneath an ancient oak tree is surely one of the best ways you can spend a day with your family. 

Take it in turns to captain the boat, enjoy the views and spend the day as a family unit exploring one of the world’s finest canal networks on your family’s own boat!

8. Starry Night Camping

The UK is packed with stunning national parks, gorgeous scenery and some of the best camping spots in Europe, so why not take advantage and sleep under the stars? 

Pitch a tent in a park like Snowdonia, or the Lake District, leave those screens behind and make the most of the wildest parts of the country. Toast marshmallows, tell ghost stories and let the night sky put on a real show. 

Your kids will love the adventure and you can use it as an opportunity to teach practical skills and bond over shared experiences. It can be the ultimate low cost, fun family day out that stretches into a night of unforgettable stargazing.

9. Science & Discovery Centres

Kids have explorative minds, so why not indulge their curiosity and take them to one of the UK’s many science and discovery centres for the ultimate dose of learning and excitement? 

Spots like the Glasgow Science Centre, the National Science Museum, the National Space Centre, and many more locations will entrance and engage your kids like never before. 

Hands-on experiments, mind blowing science, interactive exhibits, and space exploration will inspire passion, give them life-long memories and could set them on a path to following new interests.

There are centres of all kinds, catering to multiple interests, so your kids can find their passions and engage with them in the real world.

Making It Count

So there you have it, a wide variety of incredible activities you can enjoy as a family and remember fondly for a long time to come. 

No matter the ability level, these inclusive and exciting activities, whether they’re urban, rural, high energy or laid back, will be sure to bring you closer as a family unit and teach you all something new. 

Choosing shared experiences over screen time is what really matters. 

So, be it a woodland zipline or a historical escapade, these family days out, UK wide, prove that there is plentiful opportunity for adventures packed with family fun, adventure and opportunities to strengthen bonds and create lasting memories.