10 family friendly counties to put on the UK summer staycation list

If you’re thinking about a UK summer staycation this year and looking for ideas, here are 10 of England’s family friendly counties which always score high on atmosphere, places to stay and plenty to see and do with kids.

10| Norfolk

Norfolk’s known for its impressive medieval churches, navigable rivers and manmade broads. It’s also the county for traditional seaside resorts like Great Yarmouth and Cromer. And of course it’s home to Norwich with its historic cathedral, street markets and great family restaurants. So if you want coast, country and city in one summer staycation, put Norfolk on the list.

9 | Cheshire

Choose Cheshire for its mix of traditional English countryside and fun places to explore with kids. Just south of Manchester, it’s incredibly accessible. And even if you’re planning to make your UK staycation a collection of great days out this summer, the fascinating city of Chester alone gives Cheshire an edge.

Suffolk is where to find one of England’s loveliest coasts

8 | Suffolk

Located on England’s east coast, this is the county for the wildly beautiful Suffolk Coast. It’s also where you’ll find historic Bury St Edmunds and some of England’s most charming 15th century wool towns, all very well cared for and wonderfully welcoming to families.

7 | Cornwall

Occupying the south-west corner of the UK, Cornwall isn’t a newcomer to the UK staycation list. In fact many families choose to holiday here every summer rather than go abroad, and you only have to look at the beautiful beaches, quaint harbour towns and gorgeous countryside to understand why.

6 | Hampshire

Typical seaside towns might define Hampshire, but it’s also the county for lively harbours, waterfront restaurants and fascinating naval history. Put it on your UK staycation list for Plymouth alone and kids will be thrilled.

5 | Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire gives you time-stood-still Cotswolds’ villages, lush English countryside, seemingly endless history and grand towns like Cheltenham. And if your heart’s set on some wild exploring with kids, quite a bit of the Wye Valley is in this county too.

4 | North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire has a remarkable coastline, friendly cities and some of the most unusual and lovely countryside in England. It’s a county that actively engages kids on a minute-by-minute basis which is exactly what you need on a summer staycation.

3 | Cumbria

Rolling green hills alongside craggy peaks and dramatic skies are part of what makes Cumbria one of the most enduringly popular English counties for a summer staycation. But of course the main attraction is the Lake District National Park; once inspiration to the likes of Beatrix Potter and now home to more outdoor activity centres than anywhere else in England.

2 | Devon

Devon’s a magnet for surfers and a classic for traditional English seaside holidays. It’s the county where California cool sits comfortably with tearooms, wetsuits are streetwear in little fishing villages and everyone loves the ice cream, because it’s fresh, local and tastes better in Devon than anywhere else on earth.

1 | London

London is always a great choice for families thanks to free museums, acres of green space, world famous landmarks and amazing restaurants. You might not be thinking of a city as the focus of your entire UK summer staycation this year, but even just a day out in London can feel like a holiday for kids.

Looking for more UK summer staycation ideas? Find 12 magical places to add enchantment to your UK holiday plans. And don’t forget to follow Family Traveller on Instagram and Facebook and tell us where your family wants to go when we can all go anywhere again.