England Family-Friendly Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities

recommended places to visit and things to do with children in England


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stunning scenery and natural beauty at Cornwall's most westerly point with cliff top walks, the First & Last House, famous signpost

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miles of trails in this mixed woodland, popular with dog walkers, cyclists and horse riders with stunning viewpoints, picnic and BBQ areas

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dramatic section of the coast with spectacular views across Bedruthan Beach, rock stacks and walks along the coastal path. Steep cliff staircase

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  • open year round
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set on the edge of the Black Country, a green oasis with panoramic views, geocaching, and perfect picnic spots

Cragside

Rothbury

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • natural landscape
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • National Trust
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • furniture
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the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity crammed full of ingenious gadgets – most of them still working and with one of the largest rock gardens in Europe

Gunwalloe

Penrose

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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • National Trust
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  • archeology
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a site of archaeological importance surrounded by dunes, beaches, a medieval church and a reedbed rich in wildlife

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the park is packed with activities, from cycle trails to an adventure playground - fun for all ages

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  • boats
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historic harbour and short canal, now a regeneration project with visitor centre. Rowing boats for hire and a great place for a leisurely walk

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  • all-weather attraction
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underground journey through former slate mine, with three underground caverns of cathedral proportions and a crystal clear subterranean lake

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  • free admission
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a sensational survivor of ‘the wildwood’ that once covered much of Britain, where post-glacial melt waters have carved out some spectacular limestone cliffs and gorges

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  • free admission
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from majestic reservoirs, quiet forests and wild open spaces there is something for everyone to explore in the Upper Derwent Valley

Flatford

East Bergholt

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  • limited opening
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this charming hamlet was the inspiration for many of Constable's paintings, famously 'The Hay Wain' and 'Flatford Mill'

Godrevy

Gwithian

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awe-inspiring coastal views of St Ives Bay and the sheltered coves and sandy beaches, including a view of Godrevy Lighthouse

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beauty spot on the edge of Bodmin Moor with spectacular cascades and a number of well defined walking trails and teeming with wildlife

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beautifully preserved railway with Victorian and Edwardian steam engines. There is also a children's playground and woodland walks

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with a nature trail and waterfalls, which is illuminated during the summer evenings, this gorge has been a popular visitor attraction for over 200 years

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  • nature reserve
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  • free admission
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admire the panoramic vista across the water and the wide variety of wildlife from the Wildlife Centre reached by a boardwalk

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  • World Heritage Site
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explore the forest on two wheels, foot or horse back, discovering the unique sculptures dotted throughout the forest on the way

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  • something different!
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discover surprisingly cosy homes carved into the rock. Walk across Kinver Edge, buzzing with wildlife. Quirky tea room inside a rock house

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spanning some 450 acres, and home of the legendary Robin Hood, the forest offers something for everyone of all ages and abilities

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commanding views across the Fal estuary and beyond. Famed for its military history for centuries, there are big guns, batteries and fortifications to discover. With level paths from the car park to the headland

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18 mile largely traffic free, surfaced and virtually level multi use trail which provides access to the beautiful Cornish countryside along a disused railway line between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow

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provided stone for 24 cathedrals and thus over the centuries a vast man-made complex of underground caverns have been created

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located in a Methodist chapel, the centre contains a selection of natural history displays covering a range of topics, including geology, archaeology, vegetation & wildlife

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ancient woodland, at least a thousand years old, with an unusual soil mixture, giving rise to this unique forest with mosses, fungi & insects.

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Step back in time to an authentic Fen, to one of the oldest nature reserves in the country, virtually the last of its kind left in Britain

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