England Family-Friendly Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities

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


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  • nature
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herbaceous borders, over 80 heritage pear and apple trees, over 100 varieties of snowdrops, display of antique garden equipment, children's garden and a garden trail for younger visitors. Truly, something for everyone

Longleat House

Warminster

  • art gallery
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  • film/tv location
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  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • guided tours
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  • virtual tours
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  • shop
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  • visitor centre
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  • antiques
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  • art
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  • history
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  • local history
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  • social history
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lose yourself in the world's longest hedge maze, visit the Elizabethan stately home or drive through the world famous safari park

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • antiques
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  • history
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  • local history
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  • social history
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  • nature
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  • TV
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set in a magnificent deer park, the ancestral home of the Russell family for nearly 400 years has many attractions, including a famous wild life reserve

  • leisure facility
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  • open year round
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  • cycling
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Suffolk's largest reservoir offers a whole host of activities. Sailing, Windsurfing, fishing, walking & cycling are the most popular. Camping is also offered

  • battlefield
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  • place of worship
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  • viewpoint
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • English Heritage
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  • history
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  • military history
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  • nature
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  • royalty
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  • walking

ruins of Norman abbey, built on the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings, with battlefield views, visitor centre and Victorian walled garden

Croome

Worcester

  • historic house
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  • garden
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  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • National Trust
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  • café
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  • visitor centre
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  • antiques
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  • architecture
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  • nature
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  • transport
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  • aviation
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  • wildlife

a secret, wartime airbase now a museum and visitor centre, restored parkland great for walking and with the 18th Century mansion at its centre

Housesteads Fort

near Bardon Mill

  • archeological site
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  • fortress
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  • ruin
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • National Trust
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  • World Heritage Site
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  • café
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  • archeology
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the most remarkable Roman remains in the country, a real insight into Roman military life and discover the past behind the archaeological remains

Jesmond Dene

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • visitor centre
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  • nature
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an historic park in the heart of suburban Newcastle. It is a peaceful haven for residents, visitors and wildlife alike

  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • visitor centre
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  • cycling
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Kielder Castle is the visitor centre for Britain's biggest forest with over 250 square miles to explore with exhibitions about forestry and conservation

Richmond Park

Richmond-upon-Thames

  • park
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  • family-friendly
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • virtual tours
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  • visitor centre
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  • nature
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covering 2500 acres, escape to the great outdoors with wide open spaces, grasslands and deer herds, just a stone’s throw from central London

  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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  • nature
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spot kingfishers, hand feed geese at World Wetlands and stroll gentle, quiet paths to watch wildlife. Stunning views and children's play area

  • nature reserve
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  • open year round
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  • visitor centre
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  • nature
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internationally important wetland site, with up to 40,000 ducks, geese and swans visiting each year with five hides on the site for watching the wide range of wildlife that visit the reservoir

Albert Park

Middlesbrough

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  • park
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • nature
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  • sport
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facilities include children and teenage play area, boating lake, roller skating rink, visitor centre and cafe, fishing platforms and sports facilities

  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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185 acres of extensive conifer woods and moorland with forest walks and viewpoints including a summit of 266m above sea leavel

  • leisure facility
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  • natural landscape
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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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

  • nature reserve
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  • open year round
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79 acres woodland reserve five miles north of Kingsbridge - mainly composed of oak, birch & beech trees - diverse flora of bilberry & ferns - supports a good bird population - also large numbers of dormice - two circular way-marked trails

  • viewpoint
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  • industrial heritage
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lauded as "Britain's most beautiful waterway", the canal runs through unspoilt countryside in the heart of North Hampshire. The Visitor Centre provides a history exhibition & information point

  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • open year round
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with something for everyone and boasting an outstanding collection of conifers, this large pinetum is a beautiful setting for family picnics

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  • free admission
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850 acres of natural parkland surrounding the ruins of Bradgate house, home of Lady Jane Grey, the 9 day Queen of England. Also featuring extensive wildlife

  • natural landscape
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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

Go Ape

Buxton

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  • nature reserve
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set in the beautiful Peak District National Park, this leafy course is beautiful in all seasons – a lush green tunnel high up in the tree tops

  • natural landscape
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  • family-friendly
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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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

  • nature reserve
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • visitor centre
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  • nature
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largest area of woodland in West Cornwall with 9 miles of paths from easy going to more challenging set in 250 acres of peaceful woods and lakes. Picnic area

  • nature reserve
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home to a variety of wildlife with 500 plant species and 200 species fo birds set on a limestone promontory with 200 feet high cliffs

  • nature reserve
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over 40 different species, from tiny field mice to magnificent red deer including badgers and hedgehogs. All the natural wild life to be found in Britain, with informative displays and a conservation project to visit

  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • visitor centre
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  • nature
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this country park includes a picnic area, forest walks & wildlife observation.

  • natural landscape
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  • nature reserve
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  • family-friendly
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • National Trust
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  • visitor centre
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  • cycling
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  • walking
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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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