England

20 UK attractions to take kids to before they become teens

Last updated 1st August 2019

Once your kids hit their teens they might not be so keen on spending time with mum and dad – here are the 20 best days out to enjoy with your kids before they grow up.

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1/20 The Slide at ArcelorMittal Orbit, London, England

Created for the 2012 Olympic games, this construction is made from enough steel to make 264 double-decker buses! The viewing platforms offer a panorama of London as well as interactive screens displaying facts about the city and the Orbit structure. The slide is made from London’s longest tunnel and circles the Orbit 12 times. You can go up to simply admire the skyline or you can opt to head down via the Olympic-sized slide.

Price: Adults are £16.50; Children are £10.50; Families (2 adults, 2 children) are £34

Best for: Only children over 8 are permitted.

For more information visit arcelormittalorbit.com

2/20 Go Ape & Segway Adventure, Cheshire, England

Bring out your wild side with a trip to the Go Ape trail and Segway forest adventure. Show off your climbing prowess on the treetop activity course with zip wires, tightropes and Tarzan swings before scooting through the trees on a classic Segway for the ultimate activity day!

Price: Prices vary depending on the activity.

Best for: Ages 8+

For more information visit goape.co.uk

3/20 West of England Falconry, Wiltshire, England

Bird lovers will revel in a visit to this impressive falconry and bird rehabilitation centre. You will meet the resident birds and experience a familiarisation session with a trained falconer. Then go out to the open fields for the flying session, where you can expect the great creatures to feed from your hand and even take a rest on your head! They’ve recently opened up an owlery to rehabilitate hurt owls found in the area. If you plan on summoning falcons or owls, be sure to wear long-sleeved clothes to protect your arms.

Price: Prices vary according to group size; start at £105 for one person

Best for: All ages

For more information visit westofenglandfalconry.org.uk

4/20 Eyemouth Rib Coastal Exploration, Eyemouth, Scotland

Voyage through the Berwickshire coast on the Eyemouth Rib boat trip to see first-hand the abundance of sea life in the conservation area off of St. Abb’s Head with thousands of seabirds soaring above. As you coast through, you will spot much more than sea life: the Burnmouth sea caves, Coldingham Sands, beautiful beach huts, the St. Abb’s Harbour, and Fastcastle Point. On the horizon, you can spot May Island and Bass Rock. This jam-packed boat ride will keep you and your family excited at every turn! The hour-long ride offers stunning views of the coast and the skipper can inform you about the history and geography of the attraction in front of you. Enjoy the gorgeous views Scotland has to offer from a different perspective.

Price: Adults are £20; Children (under 14) are £15; Families (2 adults, 2 children) are £60

Best for: Ages +4

For more information visit eyemouthribtrips.co.uk/

5/20 Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, Isle of Wight

This well-kept centre cares for different kinds of donkey in the heart of the Isle of Wight. As well as finding a safe and loving home, the resident donkeys provide animal therapy for people in care homes and hospices. Though admission is free, they encourage any kind of donation. The site features a café and gift shop that help keep the centre running as it does important work. You can even adopt a donkey for £25 to receive a twice-yearly newsletter, a picture of him or her, and a certificate.

Price: Free

Best for: All ages, children with disabilities

For more information visit iowdonkeysanctuary.org

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6/20 Snowdon Mountain Railway, Snowdonia, Wales

Journey back in time as you take in the breathtaking scenery of the Snowdonian mountains from a 19th-century steam train. The ride to the summit is only an hour with a 30 minute stop at the peak; perfect for kids who want to get out and explore! Bring a children’s guide to UK wildlife and see how many you can tick off the list. To complement the stunning views, download the Snowdon Mountain Railway App to access information, trivia, photos, and an audio guide.

Prices: Adults are £39; children are £24; under 3’s are free

Best for: All ages, adventurers

Find out more about Snowdon Mountain Railway

Welsh-Mountain-Zoo-uk

7/20 Welsh Mountain Zoo, Conwy, North Wales

Animal-mad children will love the Welsh Mountain Zoo, taking in the delights of cheeky chimps, perky penguins and leaping lemurs. There are shows throughout the day to display the animal residents from a ‘zoonique’ primate encounter to the ‘winged wonder’ bird display. Watch sea-lions being fed or discover furry friends at the children’s farm meet ‘n’ greet.

You can also visit the botanical garden designed by renowned Victorian landscape artist Thomas Mawson. The garden is stretched over 37 acres of land next to the zoo with flora originating from all over the world.

Prices: Adults are £13.06; children are £9.83; under 2’s are free; families are £45.26

Best for: All ages, animal lovers

For more information visit welshmountainzoo.org

8/20 GreenWood Forest Park, Gwynedd, North Wales

Voted North Wales’ Best Family Attraction for 6 years running, GreenWood Forest Park is a haven of nature-themed amusements. In school holidays visitors can choose from a programme of extra treats including bug-themed crafts and donkey rides. The term time offerings include archery, a people-powered rollercoaster and the UK’s only solar-powered rollercoaster!

Prices: Adults are £16.75; children are £16.20; under 3’s are free

Best for: All ages

For more information visit greenwoodforestpark.co.uk

9/20 Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Edinburgh, Scotland

Blow your little ones away with the mind-bending attractions housed in the six floors of this museum. Let them have a go in their maze of mirrors or the discombobulating vortex tunnel. The rooftop offers a 360º view of Edinburgh including The Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and the Firth of Forth. Take delight in their camera obscura show in which an orb of light shows you real people walking down the streets of Edinburgh and you can pick them up, squash them, and even build bridges for them.

Prices: Adults are £16, children are £12, and under 5’s are free

Best for: All ages, magic lovers

For more information visit camera-obscura.co.uk

10/20 The Silver Mountain Experience, Aberystwyth, Wales

‘A place where history, myth and legend collide’, the Silver Mountain Experience brings history to life. Forget textbooks and timelines, the live-action show teaches visitors all about the grim history of the coal mines. Fearless adventurers can take on the Black Chasm Experience, one of Wales’ scariest attractions, whilst younger guests will love exploring WooHoo Wood.

Prices: Adults are £13.50; children are £9.95; under 3’s are free

Best for: All ages

For more information visit silvermountainexperience.co.uk

11/20 Blair Castle Off Road Safaris, Perthshire, Scotland

What better way to discover nature with children than to take the road less travelled? Blair Castle’s Off-Road Safaris give you the chance to explore the vast hills in the area from the comfort of a Land Rover. Your driver will be a knowledgeable guide who lives on the premises and can give you detailed information about the area, including its abundant wildlife. Take a trip off the beaten track to experience Scotland in its most authentic form.

Prices: Adults are £40; children are £20

Best for: Ages 4+

For more information visit atholl-estates.co.uk

12/20 Caithness Glass Factory, Crieff, Scotland

Aside from the free entry, there are many things to love about a trip to Caithness Glass Factory. Visitors can see the glassblowers at work in their studio creating superb works of art, and even have a go at making their very own paperweight. The kids can take a stab at painting their very own decorative glass to take home. There is also an antique store on-site so you can browse through retro and antique jewellery, silverware, timepieces, trinkets, and ceramics.

Prices: Free entry; Glassblowing: £49

Best for: Glassblowing: 16+; Glass painting: all ages

For more information visit crieff.co.uk

13/20 Llama Trekking at Ecocamp, Blairgowrie, Scotland

For a novel experience why not take the kids to learn all about these fascinating creatures at Ecocamp Glenshee? Visitors can learn about llama psychology and their heritage before helping put on their halters for a walk. Lead your new llama friends on a trek through beautiful scenery, stopping for hot chocolate and delicious cake on the way!

Prices: £100 for four people and £15 for each additional person

Best for: Ages 6+

For more information visit ecocampglenshee.co.uk

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14/20 Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore, Scotland

This open-air museum of rural life is the perfect way for families to discover the traditions of Scotland. With buildings recreated from the 1700s, visitors get a taste of how people lived hundreds of years ago. There is a brilliant children’s playground, café and gift shop and it is easy to see how the museum earned its Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence.

Prices: Free entry

Best for: All ages

For more information visit highlifehighland.com

© Benjamin White

15/20 Working Sheepdogs, Kingussie, Scotland

Based out of Leault Farm in Kincraig, the working sheepdog demonstrations are set in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Kids can experience life as a farmer as they bottle-feed lambs, meet collie puppies and even try their hand at shearing a sheep. The highlight of the visit will surely be watching in wonder as a team of eight working sheepdogs respond to commands, herding sheep and ducks around an obstacle course.

Prices: Adults are £6; children are £3

Best for: All ages

For more information visit leaultworkingsheepdogs.co.uk

16/20 Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

Kids will be enthralled to hear of the giant that built this causeway between Northern Ireland and Scotland. Now a UNESCO heritage site, the ‘giant’s stepping stones’ are over 40,000 basalt columns, creating a picture-perfect landscape. There is a café and gift shop nearby and parking is free for National Trust members.

The nearby visitor centre’s architecture is the result of an international architecture; the building seamlessly blends into the landscape and has won several awards for sustainability. Explore the centre’s interactive features and watch Finn McCool explain the science behind these rock formations.

Prices: Adults are £12.50; Children are £6.75; Under 5’s are free; Families (2 adults, 3 children) are £31.25

Best for: Ages 5+

Find out more at nationaltrust.org.uk

17/20 Carfunnock Family Fun Zone, Larne, Northern Ireland

You’ll need more than a day to get around all the amazing activities at Carnfunnock Family Fun Zone. Kids can choose from riding a miniature railway; bouncing in a water-zorb; bouncing on bungee trampolines or racing remote control trucks. This is a day out for parents who are young at heart!

Prices: Pay per ride rather than entry; varied

Best for: All ages

For more information visit carnfunnock.com

18/20 Warner Brothers Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, Watford, England

They grew up reading the books and watching the movies, and now they have the chance to see where it all happened. Discover original props and sets that made up the legendary scenes from the blockbuster franchise. Enter the Forbidden Forest and ride the Hogwarts Express during your visit! Finish up your tour with a refreshing pint of butterbeer (which tastes like butterscotch) that your child will be rhapsodising about for hours.

Prices: Adults are £45; children are £37; families (2 adults and 2 children) are £148; under 4s free

Best for: Harry Potter fans over 5; filmmaking enthusiasts

For more information visit wbstudiotour.co.uk

19/20 Warwick Castle, England

Standing for over a millennium, this castle holds an incredible amount of history that is waiting to be discovered by your family. Though historical sites typically to not gauge the attention of young visitors, Warwick Castle puts in the effort to keep children entertained with their many activities. Cautiously walk through different eras at the Horrible Histories Maze to uncover history’s best-kept secrets. Moreover, watch in awe as two horseback knights joust for victory at the Wars of the Roses.

Prices: £21; Parents with toddlers are £12

Best for: All ages

For more information visit warwick-castle.com

20/20 Armagh Planetarium, Armagh, Northern Ireland

A favourite with budding astronomers, Armagh Planetarium offers cosmic education for all ages. Make a space-themed craft, examine meteorites or check out one of the many exhibits around the building. During school holidays children can even build their own rocket! Learn about the stars, astronauts, and the universe during their immersive shows.

Prices: Adults are £8; Children are £5.75; Family (2 adults, 3 children) are £25

Best for: All ages

For more information visit armaghplanet.com