From world-class cities to sandy coves, and lush countryside to meandering canals, the United Kingdom makes for beautiful family vacations. Often, American families looking to travel abroad will start with a visit to England, where history and language unite us, making it easier on families nervous to travel aboard with kids. London, in fact, is one of the most visited cities in the world, and rightfully so with its historical sites, museums, attractions, bustling theater district, sporting events, and shopping.
London’s subway, the Underground, also makes it very easy for families to get outside of the city to visit other wonderful destinations, such as Oxford, where the esteemed university and quaint town make for a relaxing day trip, and just a boat ride up the river Thames awaits Greenwich, home of the International Date Line and the Royal Naval College, with museum and fun photo ops. An easy drive to the south awaits the iconic Stonehenge, and just beyond are the seaside towns of Brighton, with its pebbled beaches, and Portsmouth, where Admiral Nelson and Henry the VIII’s ships are available for tour. Of course, the English and Welsh countrysides are famed from literature; drive through the Lake District and discover its calming allure.
Scotland also provides a scenic backdrop for road trips, although the capital city of Edinburgh is enough to please families who don’t want to drive but want to immerse themselves in Scottish history and charm. Many families from America visit the country on kinsmen trips, aiming to learn more about their own Scottish heritage, as they also do in Northern Ireland, with its vastly green countryside and thriving city of Belfast. (Note: Ireland, where Dublin, Cork, Galway, Ring of Kerry and other popular destinations is not a part of the United Kingdom and its own country.)
The United Kingdom is also easy to get to from the states, with direct flights offered between most major cities, and from New York City short a trans-Atlantic flight. Read on to discover more great reasons to visit the U.K.
The United Kingdom has more than 50 theme parks, countless museums and castles, a thriving theater and arts scene, and a host of activities for all ages.
The United Kingdom’s public museums and art galleries are free and often have inventive kids’ programs, giveaway goodie bags and excellent guides.
There are 15 National Parks across the United Kingdom, including Loch Lomond & the Trossachs, the Lake District and Snowdonia in Wales.
From Latitude in Suffolk to the New Forest’s Curious Arts, there are dozens of family-friendly summer festivals all over the country to add to your visit. Explore the cities, and then head out to the festivals and meet the locals.
Although not the warm beaches of Florida or the Caribbean, the United Kingdom offers more than 60 coastal areas, from the remote Outer Hebrides to the tip of Cornwall, with thousands of incredible, unspoiled beaches.
You can visit more than 400 National Trust properties throughout the United Kingdom, and many parks, gardens and forests are free to explore.
Many of England’s most famous attractions are in London, but the capital is far from the only place to discover. The south coast is trimmed with pretty seaside towns, dramatic ports and enormous stretches of sand to run wild on. In the countryside, mythical forests like Dean and Sherwood are made real for kids. From the Yorkshire Dales to the Lake District, moors, mountains and sky collide in vast landscapes just waiting to be explored. The country’s chocolate-box villages and Victorian pleasure piers are just as much fun, in their own way, as dozens of theme parks, waterparks and world-class zoos the country offers.
Families can camp, glamp and eco-lodge in National Parks, choose five-star luxury or good-value self-catering in cities, and enjoy everything from cozy cottages to stately homes, guesthouses, gorgeous hotels and cute B&Bs on the coast and in the country.
Take me to England Take me to London
Sightings of the Aurora Borealis can be as spectacular on tiny Fair Isle as in the remote north of Sweden. That’s Scotland for you. The land of unsung marvels also has some of the world’s oldest, most bloodthirsty and romantic castles. Cities with personality are a national speciality – much as they like to compete, you can’t compare Edinburgh and Glasgow, so you have to do both. And then, of course, there are all the accessible wildernesses, enormous glens and mountains, lochs that cross regions and islands so remote, the next stop is Newfoundland.
Whether you want Edinburgh’s Waldorf Astoria or an energy-efficient chalet on Skye, Scotland offers as many family accommodation choices as experiences.
Take me to Scotland
The Giant’s Causeway alone is enough to put Northern Ireland on the family-holiday wishlist. Add in friendly, exuberant and exciting Belfast, beautiful walled Derry and the enchanting Mountains of Mourne and you could fill several lifetimes with enchantment and still leave plenty unseen. So, if you haven’t discovered Northern Ireland’s all-drama coastline, gorgeous green wilds and entertainment-packed towns and cities yet, you should.
The country does exquisite hotels to family-friendly hostels and everything in between. Each area is different, but a warm Irish welcome is standard.
Take me to Northern Ireland
Wales never fails to surprise. The country has some of the UK’s prettiest seaside resorts and astonishing beaches. It’s also home to the dark skies over the Brecon Beacons – stargazing holidays with kids are unforgettable. Snowdonia National Park is like a small, action-packed nation in its own right. And from Cardiff to Swansea, Welsh cities are just the right size to be fascinating and comfortable for kids at the same time.
Manageable Wales is great for touring, and staying anywhere from hill farms in the wilds to holiday homes on the coast and five-star city-centre hotels is possible here.
Take me to Wales
The United Kingdom is teeming with enchanting, educational and fun places for families to explore.
The perfect size for travelling around, the United Kingdom has an excellent road network and car ferries connect the mainland to the most isolated islands.
Trains cover most of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
And buses, underground trams, boats and taxis get you everywhere you want to go in most British cities.
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