I don’t know about you – but I am always thinking about our next break away? As much as I would love to be taking our boys abroad it can get extremely expensive. I often find myself looking for child-friendly holidays in the UK – places that won’t blow the budget but also have plenty going on to keep the whole family entertained.
I’ve listed a fair few here including favourites such as Bluestone in Wales (you know how much I love the place), family classics such as Butlins and Haven and then something a little different including a safari park lodge and a stay in a treehouse. All brilliant child-friendly holidays to consider.
Whether you’re looking for a cheap and fun staycation in the UK or something a little more quirky, hopefully you will get some inspiration for child-friendly holidays that the whole family will love.
Some of the best child-friendly holidays in the UK
Forest Holidays
12 locations in the UK
Forest Holidays aim for their guests to experience nature and reconnect with forests and they have 12 resorts across the UK to choose from. As a family you will enjoy wild adventures, lazy afternoons and plenty of time in the great outdoors. You can stay in accommodation that has a hot tub, a barbecue and plenty of space for a bit of al fresco dining and chilling with a glass of wine. The kids can discover local wildlife with the Forest Ranger or play in the playground, which is all on the doorstep of your cabin. You could go pond dipping in Cornwall, try archery in Nottingham or sail out onto a Scottish loch for a big family adventure. There’s bound to be at least one of these child-friendly holidays that’s in reach, and they look awesome!
Bluestone
Canaston Wood, The Grange, Narberth SA67 8DE
Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire, south west Wales is a favourite of ours. Bluestone provides so much for the kids such as outdoor adventures and plenty of that fresh country air. Their luxury lodges offer a spacious and modern place for you to retreat and relax with your family. There are 300 eco-friendly lodges that have been designed to complement the landscape and make the most of the tranquil countryside setting. Inside, the lodges are equipped with everything you might need during your stay, including little extras for families, to help make things easier. I’ve written lots about Bluestone before, including our first stay when we got snowed in, a Christmasland break, how it’s a perfect holiday with another family and everything you need to know about the place. You might have guessed we love it!
Parkdean Resort
66 locations throughout the UK
With 66 parks found in coastal and countryside locations up and down the UK, Parkdean Resorts offer great short breaks and child-friendly holidays in England, Scotland and Wales. From caravan holidays to lodge holidays with hot tubs, touring and camping to glamping, there is a good set of options to suit all budgets and needs. These holidays cater for families of all shapes and sizes plus they are also dog-friendly. There are kids clubs, swimming pools and evening entertainment for the family to enjoy.
Port Lympne Safari Park
Aldington Rd, Lympne, Hythe CT21 4LR
I’ve always fancied going to Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent. It is home to over 900 animals across 75 species, including giraffes, zebras, lions, tigers, gorillas and monkeys and you can also take short breaks ranging from their luxurious 4* boutique hotel stays, to bubble pods, lodges and safari tents. Lion Lodge is the most luxurious overnight accommodation literally giving guests the chance to sleep with the lions! You could also choose a safari tent for the whole family and enjoy the feeling of being in the Serengeti instead of Kent. The kids will love visiting the safari park and seeing the animals close up then spending a night under the stars.
Butlins
Locations include Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness
Butlin’s is another classic British institution that was originally founded by Billy Butlin to provide affordable holidays for ordinary British families. Butlin’s offers a range of accommodation to suit all budgets and needs. Nowhere else does entertainment quite like Butlin’s either! You will enjoy unlimited fairground rides, from dodgems and waltzers to trampolines. There are water parks with chutes and slides and rapids and pools for the little ones. During the day there are plenty of activities for the kids and in the evening lots of cabarets and entertainment for the whole family. We went on one of their Just For Tots Breaks for under 5s when my boys were smaller, and they loved it. You can read my review of it here.
Center Parcs
Five locations across the UK
Probably not the cheapest of child-friendly holidays options out there, but Center Parcs is a favourite among us Brits for a staycation. There are five locations across the UK – each one is unique in its own way. Everything at Center Parcs is made for families with so many activities for the whole family to enjoy such as cycling and watersports. Many families choose to go as a large group including grandparents – it probably works out cheaper if a lot of you are sharing the cost. There are water parks, restaurants or you could even have a takeaway delivered to your lodge. There is a supermarket onsite or you could dine out in one of the restaurants. Read this blogpost if you’re wondering which is the best Center Parcs – Elveden or Woburn?
Trecan Farm Cottages
Lanreath, Looe, Cornwall PL13 2PF
If your children love animals and being outdoors then a Trecan Farm Cottages would make the perfect child-friendly holiday. Located in South East Cornwall, there are 6 barn conversion cottages to choose from. All surrounded by acres of stunning Cornish countryside. Children can take part in animal feeding and meet ponies Fudge and Grace, goats Twix and Mars, and feed the chickens and ducks. There is also a play area for them to enjoy and a indoor games room for when the weather isn’t so great. Tucked away down a tree-lined drive, you really feel like you’re away from it all. But it’s perfectly located to explore the nearby seaside towns and stunning coastline. Read my review of Trecan here.
Coombe Mill Lodges
Coombe Mill, St Breward, Bodmin PL30 4LZ
Coombe Mill is a family-run farm holiday in North Cornwall, just off the beautiful Bodmin Moor. Their secluded 30-acre farm offers family self-catering family holidays. The kids will love staying on a farm where they will get to enjoy tractor rides and experience hands-on and supervised opportunities to feed the animals. The site has meadows, lakes, a river, woodlands and gardens and lot of outdoor play areas for the children. The lodges are spacious and there is an emphasis on child-friendly design with access to a range of indoor and outdoor play areas. Many of the lodges have their own playrooms filled with toys too.
Corffe Cottages
Corffe Hill, Tawstock EX31 3NZ
The Corffe estate nestles on the outskirts of the village of Tawstock, a short drive from Barnstaple in North Devon. Nearby are amazing beaches and plenty of child-friendly attractions. Corffe really does provide the peace of the countryside with
five acres of private land. The accommodation has an indoor heated swimming pool, toddler pool and hot tub. There is also an all-weather tennis court and a barbecue in the central courtyard. The kids can also go wild in the adventure play area. Or return to nature and explore the woodland and lawns. Sounds like one of those perfect child-friendly holidays to me!
Haven
41 locations throughout the UK
I am sure you have all heard of Haven? They are one of your typical British caravan holidays that we all went on as kids. There are holiday parks dotted around the British coastline, many of which also offer touring. From the rugged shores of Scotland to pretty Devon and Cornwall, most of their parks are only a 2 to 3 hour drive away from your home. The caravans provide an excellent self-catering option, so it works if you are on a budget. Plus they offer plenty of day time and evening entertainment as well as swimming pools which the kids will love. Read my review of Haven’s Rockley Park in Dorset here.
West Lexham Treehouses
West Lexham, King’s Lynn PE32 2QN
Imagine sleeping amongst the branches of a huge tree, that sounds pretty cosy and magical to me. With six treehouses to accommodate groups of all sizes, you could take the whole family for a treehouse experience at West Lexham. Each treehouse is different. Some have stained glass windows and a terrace for relaxing into the evening with views across the meadows. The largest has three separate sleeping areas, with living trees that grow through the floor and out of the roof. They also offer dog friendly treehouse holidays in Norfolk. But dogs must be kept on leads around the campsite and communal areas.
Have you planned any holidays yet this year? We have already had a little break away in the half term which was amazing. I can’t wait to get something else booked and in the diary! If you have any recommendations please let me know in the comments.
*This post contains Bluestone affiliate links.
How did I do?
Did you enjoy this post? Then why not check out a few of my other travel reviews. Here a few of the places I have reviews on:
- Tredethick Farm Cottages
- Glynn Barton Cottages
- Polurrian on the Lizard Hotel
- The Park
- The Esplanade Hotel in Newquay
- Dog friendly Gwelmor
- Glynn Barton
- Sands Resort
- Trevornick Campsite
If you still want more, head to my Travel Section. You’ll find packing tips, how to keep kids entertained on car journeys and travel essentials for twins. If camping is your thing, then read my Best Campsites for Families in the UK. And if you fancy reading more of my usual kind of stuff, head over to my Mum Life section. You’ll find all things parenting with a tongue-in-cheek twist. In fact, on the subject of travel, you’ll like this one Five Ways A Holiday Is Never The Same After Kids.
If you like a bit of social media madness, pop over to my Facebook page. You’ll be able to have a laugh at what ridiculousness goes on in my house with three very small boys on a daily basis. Warning – there is often sarcasm, and usually swearing. There are also great travel reviews and some awesome giveaways. Feel free to join my Twins, Tantrums and Cold Coffee – Shits and Giggles Parenting Group too, where everyone shares their hilarious stories.
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