Things to Do with Kids – Ultimate UK Family Guide

Families across the UK are discovering that the best memories often come from simple days out together. Whether searching for UK attractions for families or planning a weekend adventure closer to home, the options are more diverse than ever. From zoos and museums to coastal piers and woodland trails, the country offers activities to suit every age, interest, and budget.

This guide brings together practical information about family days out, covering both popular destinations and lesser-known experiences worth exploring. The aim is to help parents and caregivers find activities that work for their specific circumstances, whether that means keeping costs down, finding something unusual, or simply knowing what is available nearby.

The sections below organise information by type of experience, making it easier to navigate based on what matters most to each family.

Fun Things to Do with Kids

When it comes to keeping children entertained, certain types of attractions consistently stand out. Zoos, adventure parks, and interactive museums tend to appeal across age groups, offering hands-on experiences that children remember long after the visit ends.

Top Categories for Family Fun

• Animal encounters — Zoos, aquariums, and farm parks where children can observe and sometimes interact with animals
• Adventure activities — Climbing walls, trampoline parks, zip lines, and soft play centres
• Interactive museums — Science centres, transport museums, and cultural institutions with hands-on exhibits
• Creative workshops — Art studios, pottery places, and craft sessions designed for families

Key Insights on Family Days Out

• Zoos and safari parks remain among the most searched family attractions, with Chester Zoo consistently appearing in family travel planning
• Interactive museums have grown in popularity, particularly those offering workshops or child-specific exhibit zones
• Adventure parks with climbing and aerial elements appeal strongly to older children and teenagers
• Themed experiences such as LEGOLAND continue to attract repeat visitors due to regular content updates
• Many families now combine paid attractions with free activities in the same day out
• Seasonal events and temporary exhibitions drive visits to venues that might otherwise be overlooked
• Online reviews and ratings play an increasing role in how families select their destinations

Free Things to Do with Kids

Free activities often provide some of the most memorable experiences for families. Museums, parks, and community events offer educational value without requiring a ticket price, making them accessible regardless of budget constraints.

Free UK Museums and Galleries

Many museums across the UK operate free entry policies or offer specific free periods. Manchester Museum covers art, culture, and natural history across four floors, making it a comprehensive option for families interested in multiple subjects. The Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery features exhibits including Sherlock Holmes memorabilia and displays on Portsmouth FC history, appealing to sports fans and mystery enthusiasts alike.

Portsmouth Natural History Museum at Cumberland House introduces children to dinosaurs and maintains a Butterfly House, providing close encounters with nature within an indoor setting. These venues often host temporary exhibitions that add fresh reasons to return throughout the year.

Free Outdoor Activities

Parks and open spaces remain a reliable choice for free family entertainment. Adventure playgrounds across Portsmouth provide free access for children aged 6–13, featuring climbing structures, splash pools, and arts and crafts areas. Weekly Parkruns at locations including Lakeside, Great Salterns, and Southsea welcome families, with 5k routes that children can join alongside adults.

Public libraries in Portsmouth host free events throughout the week, ranging from story sessions for younger children to craft workshops for older kids. Free swimming sessions for under 12s are available at select leisure centres, offering an active alternative during inclement weather.

Creative and Cultural Activities

Family Saturdays at Aspex Gallery at Gunwharf Quays offer free creative workshops every Saturday from 11am to 1pm. Sessions include painting, model making, and other activities designed to engage children in artistic expression. These workshops require no advance booking in most cases, making them an easy option for spontaneous family days out.

Things to Do with Kids Near Me in the UK

Location-based searching is one of the most common ways families discover activities. Two UK cities that offer particularly diverse options are Manchester and Portsmouth, each providing distinct experiences for visiting families.

Manchester Family Attractions

Manchester presents a broad spectrum of family attractions. For those interested in wildlife, Chester Zoo and SEA LIFE Manchester provide extensive animal collections and conservation-focused exhibits. Those looking for things to do in Manchester can explore the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, where children can play with over two million LEGO bricks across multiple themed zones.

The Manchester Science and Industry Museum covers 250 years of global innovations through interactive exhibitions, appealing to children curious about how things work. For families seeking physical activities, options include Zip World Manchester, Rock Up Manchester with its climbing challenges, Oxygen Activeplay MediaCity with trampolines and climbing walls, and Inflata Nation for inflatable obstacle courses.

Additional Manchester attractions include the PAC-MAN Experience, the Crystal Maze Experience, and Lapland Manchester, which opened as a new seasonal destination in 2025. Cockfields Farm offers free entry for children alongside lambing experiences and toddler-friendly barnyard activities.

Portsmouth Family Attractions

Portsmouth combines coastal charm with historical significance. The Portsmouth Historic Dockyard explores Royal Navy history and includes free indoor exhibitions such as “HMS Victory: The Nation’s Flagship.” The Spinnaker Tower offers panoramic coastal views from its viewing platforms, providing a different perspective on the city for visitors.

South Parade Pier and Clarence Pier fun fair on Southsea Beach deliver traditional seaside entertainment, while Southsea Model Village provides a miniature recreation of the local area that children often find fascinating. For families exploring on foot, the city offers walking routes connecting attractions, allowing parents to structure visits around their children’s energy levels and attention spans.

Finding Activities Across the UK

The National Trust manages numerous family-friendly properties throughout the UK, from historic houses with adventure gardens to coastal paths and countryside trails. VisitBritain provides consolidated information about family activities across Britain, including regional guides and event listings that help families plan multi-day trips.

English Heritage properties offer another avenue for family exploration, with many sites featuring costumed interpreters, hands-on activities, and themed events during school holidays. Regional tourist boards increasingly publish free digital guides that highlight both well-known attractions and hidden gems in their areas.

Unusual Things to Do with Kids

Beyond the standard zoo and museum visits, families can access experiences that break from the ordinary. These activities often generate the most discussion among parents and tend to be shared widely in online forums and social media groups.

Interactive and Immersive Experiences

The Crystal Maze Experience in Manchester immerses families in challenges inspired by the classic television show, with physical and mental puzzles suited to different age groups. The PAC-MAN Experience brings arcade nostalgia into an interactive family format, combining gaming history with collaborative play.

Adventure playgrounds in Portsmouth, with their climbing structures and splash pools, offer more varied physical play than standard park equipment. The Cumberland House Butterfly House provides an unusual indoor environment where children can observe tropical butterflies in a controlled setting, adding an element of discovery that differs from typical museum visits.

Creative and Craft-Based Activities

Family workshops at Aspex Gallery allow children to experiment with different materials and techniques under guided instruction. These sessions introduce children to artistic processes that they rarely encounter in school settings, fostering creativity through hands-on experience rather than passive observation.

Cockfields Farm’s lambing experiences connect children with seasonal farming activities, providing insight into food production and animal care that many urban families never otherwise access. These encounters often prove particularly memorable for younger children who have limited exposure to rural environments.

Historic and Naval Experiences

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard provides access to real naval vessels and maritime history, offering educational value that extends beyond standard museum visits. Children can explore the practical details of life at sea while learning about historical events that shaped the country.

The Southsea Model Village presents a miniature world that appeals to children’s natural curiosity about small-scale representations of familiar environments. Walking through scaled streets and buildings encourages observation skills and often sparks conversations about architecture and urban planning.

When to Visit: A Seasonal Overview

The type of activities most suitable for families often depends on the time of year. Planning visits around seasonal conditions helps ensure that outdoor activities remain enjoyable rather than uncomfortable.

1. Spring (March–May) — Lambing experiences at farms, Easter holiday events at major attractions, gradually warming weather for park visits
2. Summer (June–August) — Peak season for outdoor attractions, beach visits, adventure playgrounds, and coastal walks; longer daylight hours allow extended days out
3. Autumn (September–November) — Harvest events at farms, half-term activities, indoor attractions become more attractive as temperatures drop
4. Winter (December–February) — Christmas-themed events such as Lapland Manchester, indoor venues appeal strongly, free museum visits increase during school holidays

Many attractions adjust their programming throughout the year, adding special exhibitions or events during school holiday periods. Checking venue websites before travelling helps families make informed decisions based on current offerings rather than relying on information from previous visits.

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

Families researching activities should be aware of both established information and areas where details may vary.

Why Family Days Out Matter

The shift towards local days out accelerated following pandemic-related restrictions, with many families discovering attractions in their own regions that they had previously overlooked. This change in behaviour appears to have persisted, with parents increasingly valuing the combination of convenience and variety that nearby destinations offer.

The mix of paid and free activities available in most UK cities allows families to structure visits around their budgets without sacrificing the quality of the experience. A morning at a free museum can easily be followed by an afternoon at a paid adventure park, spreading costs across the day while keeping children engaged.

Interactive attractions and hands-on exhibits continue to grow in popularity as parents seek experiences that do more than passively entertain. Activities that encourage curiosity, physical activity, or creative expression tend to receive positive feedback from families and generate repeat visits.

Sources and Further Information

Information in this guide draws from official venue websites, local authority resources, and established family activity directories. The following sources provide additional detail on specific types of attractions:

• National Trust — Family Days Out
• VisitBritain — Family Activities
• English Heritage — Family History Days Out

Local authority websites, particularly those for Manchester and Portsmouth, publish comprehensive guides to free and low-cost activities in their areas. These resources are updated regularly and represent reliable starting points for families planning local days out.

Making the Most of Family Days Out

Families looking for UK attractions for families have access to more options than ever before. Whether seeking paid adventures or free community activities, urban attractions or coastal walks, the diversity of available experiences means that most families can find something suited to their circumstances.

The most successful family days out typically combine planning with flexibility. Knowing which attractions to visit beforehand allows families to manage time and budgets effectively, while remaining open to spontaneous discoveries enriches the experience. Reading reviews, checking current opening information, and matching activities to children’s ages and interests all contribute to visits that families remember positively.