20 most beautiful places in the UK to visit on family vacations

We’ve picked 20 most beautiful places in the UK for a day out, a family road trip or a longer vacation with kids. Here they are – in no particular order of loveliness – take a look.

1/20 Isle of Skye, Scotland

The Isle of Skye is home to the Black Cuillin – the UK’s most challenging mountain range – and impossibly lovely beaches like Rubha Shlèite and Claigan Coral.

See more of the most beautiful places in Scotland to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in the Isle of Skye

2/20 Tenby, Wales

The harbour town of Tenby on the Pembrokeshire coast mixes up a fascinating history with award-winning, golden sand beaches.

See more of the most beautiful places in Wales to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in Tenby

3/20 Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

Little Eilean Donan is the island where three sea lochs meet and the setting for 13th century Eilean Donan Castle – one of the most photographed castles in the world.

See more of the most beautiful places in Scotland to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in on Little Eilean Donan

4/20 St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall

Even walking across the granite causeway from Marazion to St Michael’s Mount feels like an adventure.

See more of the most beautiful places in Cornwall to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in on St Michael’s Mount

5/20 Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales has some of the darkest Dark Skies in Europe and some of England’s best cycling routes.

See more of the most beautiful national parks in England to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in the Yorkshire Dales

6/20 Cotswolds

The Cotswolds covers five counties and lays claim to Bilbury – ‘the most beautiful village in England’.

See more of the most beautiful counties in England for staycations this year, or check our curated list of family stays in the Cotswolds

7/20 Edinburgh

It’s very easy to see why Edinburgh is regularly named the most beautiful city in the UK.

See more of the most beautiful places in Scotland to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in Edinburgh

8/20 Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland

Between the Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, the Antrim Coast is as exciting as it is lovely.

See more of the most beautiful places in Northern Ireland to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in County Antrim

9/20 Bath, Somerset

Don’t take our word for the beauty of Bath, it’s been a World Heritage Site since 1987.

Find things to do in Bath on family days out this year, or check our curated list of family stays in Bath

10/20 Isle of Mull, Scotland

The Isle of Mull is stunning in its own right and also a near neighbour to the spellbinding little island of Iona.

See more of the most beautiful places in Scotland to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays on the Isle of Mull

11/20 Cheddar Gorge, Somerset

Driving through Cheddar Gorge is astounding, but for the real views, lace up your boots and go for a walk.

See more of the most beautiful places in England to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in Cheddar

12/20 Wester Ross, Scotland

If the North Coast 500 is on your family road trip bucket list, Wester Ross is reason alone to shift it up to the top as soon as you can.

See more of the most beautiful places in Scotland to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in the North West Highlands

Devon to visit this year, or check

13/20 Clovelly, Devon

The loveliest village in Devon, Clovelly was also named the most Instagramable Village in Britain 2020.

See more of the most beautiful places in Devon to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in Devon

14/20 Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland

Not only does enormous Bamburgh Castle have views of the Farne Islands it holds pole position on the magnificently wild Northumberland Coast.

See more of the most beautiful places in England to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in Northumberland

15/20 Kynance Cove, Cornwall

It isn’t the largest beach in Cornwall, but Kynance Cove almost always lists as one of the loveliest – and it  has explorable sea caves.

See more of the most beautiful places in Cornwall to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in Cornwall

16/20 Anglesey, North West Wales

A holiday in Anglesey involves crossing the Menai Bridge, as if the island wasn’t quite enchanting enough all by itself.

Find out more about Snowdonia360 for family road trips this summer, or check our curated list of family stays in North Wales

17/20 Holkham Beach, North Norfolk

Walk on vast Holkham Beach at low tide and it’s easy to see why it’s known as one of the most unspoilt stretches of sand in England.

See more of the most beautiful places in England to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in Norfolk

18/20 Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is one of those rare places you visit on holiday and never want to leave – you’ve been warned.

Find things to see and do on Isle of Wight with kids this year, or check our curated list of family stays on the Isle of Wight

19/20 Plockton, Scotland

They call Plockton the ‘jewel of the Highlands’, it sits on Loch Carron in Lochalsh if you want to make up your own mind.

See more of the most beautiful places in Scotland to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays in Plockton

20/20 Jurassic Coast

The Jurassic Coast is famous for fossils, Durdle Door, Old Harry Rocks and some of the most spectacular coastal walks on earth.

See more of the most beautiful places in England to visit this year, or check our curated list of family stays on the Jurassic Coast

Looking for more beautiful places to visit in 2022? Check out the new Family Traveller Winter Magazine, out 6 January. Order your copy now and UK postage is free. Don’t forget to follow Family Traveller on Instagram and Facebook for travel updates and ideas – or just to say ‘hi’.