10 best things to do in England with kids
England is very kid-friendly and you will be able to find fun things to do no matter where you travel. Here are some ideas to help get you started on your trip!
London
There are so many museums, parks, zoos, shop, and old churches to explore in London. One fun place to visit is the Natural History Museum. Or you can get a birds eye view of London with a trip in the London Eye (basically a giant ferris wheel), see the statues in Trafalgar Square, take a tour on one of the famous red double-decker buses, see Big Ben, try to make the Beefeater guards laugh at Buckingham palace, explore the Tower of London, take a walk in one of the many public gardens, take a boat tour of the Thames, or browse through one of the thousands of shops you will see as you walk along the busy streets.
Cornwall
Cornwall is at the southwest corner of England. It is known for its rugged coastlines, beaches and surfing. There is also a ton of unique things to see here! Eden Project has giant biomes that contains the world’s largest indoor rain forest and many interactive exhibits. The Minack Theatre is an open-air theatre that is carved into a Cornish hilltop. Tintagel Castle is the supposed birthplace of King Arthur and is set on a dramatic cliff. There are also several museums like the Shipwreck Centre, National Maritime Museum, Royal Cornwall Museum, Telegraph Museum, and the Charlestown Shipwreck and Heritage Centre.
Jurassic Coast
The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is on England southcoast. It stretches from Exmouth to Studland Bay in Dorset. This area contains remains from over 185 million years of geological history. Over these 185 millions years, this area has been desert, shallow tropical sea, and marsh. The fossilized remains of the various creatures that lived here have been preserved in the rocks and have been exposed when the land has eroded. Keep your eyes peeled for ammonites, belemnites (fossilized squid), crinoids and even fossilized dinosaur poop and bones (like from an Ichthyosaurus). You can explore on your own, or take tours that show you how to find your own prehistoric fossils.
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest (and most famous) Christian structures in England. It is also part of a World Heritage Site. It is built in the Gothic style and it towers over the surrounding city. It has magnificent ceilings and stained glass windows. When you get to the Welcome Centre, ask for the free “Tomb Trail” or “Creatures Great and Small” leaflet. You can also purchase a kids guide to the cathedral.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is the most famous stone circle in England. It was built in 2800 BC and is older than the pyramids! No one really knows how Stonehenge was built. The stones came from hundreds of miles away! When visiting today, you can catch a bus from the visitor’s center to see Stonehenge.
Bourton-on-the-Water, Costswolds
Bourton-on-the-Water is a quaint Cotswolds village with lots to do. There is Birdland - here there are around 500 birds contained within more than 150 open aviaries. There is also the Model Village, which is a one-ninth scale replica of the heart of the beautiful Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water. It contains all the buildings from the Old Water Mill (now the Motoring Museum) down to the Old New Inn and the ford, all built in Cotswold stone. There is also the Motoring Museum, and lots of places to walk, picnic, and enjoy the beautiful countryside.
Yorkshire
When in Yorkshire, explore the natural beauty in the North York Moors, the Yorkshire Dales National Parks, and the Peak District National Park. The Brimham Rocks on the Yorkshire Moors is especially amazing...the balancing rock formations have been slowly created over centuries as the rock was eroded by water, glaciers, and wind. Try to find the Sphinx and the Dancing Bear rock formations! Or visit the City of York to see the National Railway Museum, the Viking Center, or the York Dungeon Center if you are brave! If you need a sweet treat, stop at the York's Chocolate Story to learn about the history of chocolate brands, watch chocolatiers make delicious treats, and sample some chocolate.
Peak District
The Peak District National Park is full of beautiful rolling hills, gorges, lakes, stone villages, and rivers. There are trails that go through the park that you can ride your bikes along. One great places to visit with kids is the Chatsworth House. You can take a tour of the beautiful house. And on top of the beautiful gardens and grounds there is also an adventure playground that is suitable for all ages. You can also visit the nearby Chatsworth Farm.
Lake District
The Lake District is a national park located in county of Cumbria. This area is a very popular place for families to vacation because there are so many beautiful lakes and mountains (or fells) to explore. The largest lake in the UK is here (Windermere) and so is the wettest place in Britain... Seathwaite receives about 140 inches of rain per year! There are so many places to hike and lakes to explore, with beautiful scenes around every turn. You can also visit the World of Beatrix Potter in the Bowness-on-Windermere. You can visit the Beatrix Potter attraction to meet all 23 of her characters, including Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny and Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.
Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s Wall is one of the most famous Roman ruins. The wall was once the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. When it was built, it had forts all along the wall. Much of the wall still stands today.