England Family-Friendly Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities

the world's oldest and largest continuously occupied fortress, one of the Queen's main residences, with impressive state rooms and chapels

Europe's best preserved medieval fortress, inextricably linked with centuries of British history and home to the British crown jewels

The Eden Project is an ecological wonder, featuring massive biomes housing diverse global plant species, educational exhibits, and sustainability-focused initiatives.

magnificent building housing 80 million specimens from across the natural world, arranged in four zones around a giant central hall

major family-friendly attraction with walk-through historic street scenes, theme park rides and special exhibitions

set on a rocky promontory next to the Castle, one of the great Norman buildings of Europe, boasting a magnificent rose window

well-presented railway museum, largest in the world, with a wide-ranging appeal beyond the railway enthusiast

famous for its interactive exhibits, this museum has seven floors of exhibits covering the development of science and technology

walk in the footsteps of Harry Potter and explore the wonders of the Wizarding World

packed with over 1000 years of history and set in splendid grounds, there is plenty to see and do including State Rooms, dungeons and falconry

the most visited theme park in the UK with thrilling rides, an indoor and outdoor waterpark, 2 nine hole themed crazy golf courses and much more

set just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, the world famous cottage, with much original furniture, where Shakespeare courted Anne Hathaway

spectacular setting atop the White Cliffs of Dover, this large fortress includes a Roman lighthouse and secret wartime tunnels

multi-media ride through a realistic reconstruction of the sights, sounds and smells of the 10th century Viking settlement on this site

magnificent late Victorian country house, with the feel of a wealthy but unpretentious family home, including a rare book collection

famous waxwork museum, displaying effigies of celebrities, royalty, historic figures and sports stars, with photo-ops alongside your favourites

diverse collections, mainly relating to Cornwall's heritage including the Rashleigh mineral collection

Imaginatively displayed with interaction exhibits telling the story of this favourite ship of Henry Vlllth, featuring weapons, tools and possessions of the men who sailed her

series of dioramas showing scenes from all the famous children's books, including Peter Rabbit's garden and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle's Laundry

with over 40 naturally themed habitats, an underwater tunnel and interactive educational displays, this is the ultimate underseas safari

with over 50 interactive rides, building workshops and much more! Children 2-12 can take to the road, soar through the skies and sail the seas in complete safety

lose yourself in the world's longest hedge maze, visit the Elizabethan stately home or drive through the world famous safari park

beautifully restored first world class ocean liner with First Class Dining Saloon, steerage quarters, Engine Room and audio visual exhibits of passengers' lives

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

set in 90 acres with a variety of rides and attractions to suit all ages with a large indoor play centre, wildlife sanctuary, falconry centre and big fun farm

Victorian international telegraph cable hub, once the largest telegraph station in the world, now a communications technology museum

former dock at the heart of Liverpool, now rejuvenated with shops and restaurants as well as The Tate Liverpool, The Beatles Story and Merseyside Maritime Museum

dating back to the fourteenth century and closely associated with many historical events. Now best known as one of the locations for the Harry Potter films

ancestral home of the Spencer family since the sixteenth century with a fine collection of antiques. Diana, Princess of Wales was laid to rest here

Cromford Mills is the home of Sir Richard Arkwright’s first mill complex. Boasting powered machinery, a large workforce and factory village, this site became the model for others throughout Britain and abroad

open for over 35 years, this ever popular farm park invites children to help feed the animals and can hold a newly hatched chick or duckling

one of the UK's leading science and discovery centres. The hands-on science centre Explore, and its planetarium, offer an amazing world of hands-on discovery - where exploration and education go hand in hand with an unforgettable, fun day

former home of The Priors of Nostell and Mayor of York - rediscovered behind modern facade in 1980s - restored to original 15th century splendour - magnificent Great Hall

maintained by the RAF, visitors can admire the only flying Lancaster Bomber in Europe, as well as Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Douglas Dakota

a living working experience of life as it was in the early 1800s and 1900s complete with shops, pubs and horse drawn carriages and trams

experience an evocative and intimate insight into living in Back to Back housing from the1840s to the 19790s

part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, where all the staff dress in period costume, with a host of restored Victorian buildings including shops, factories and schools

mentioned as far back as 300BC and is strongly woven into the lives of the Cornish people. This is the sole tin mine still producing tin items

13 mile steam heritage railway through beautiful countryside creating the atmosphere of a 1950s Cornish branch line

fascinating displays of military weapons, uniforms, medals, badges. The collections ranging from the Battle of Waterloo to the Berlin Wall

from minerals and fossils to a representation of a Cornish kitchen, WWII, the fire service, wildlife and law and order

designed by the creators of The London Eye, glide up to 450' in this futuristic glass viewing pod for a birds' eye view of Brighton and the South Coast

containing an impressive collection of art deco, art nouveau and fine art paintings with many historical artefacts from around the world. The museum also hosts a wide range of temporary exhibitions

with 5,500 varieties of marine life housed in restored Victorian buildings, offering from the curious and the rescued, to the rare and the enigmatic

the home of the famous Brontë family containing the world's most comprehensive collection of Brontë manuscripts, letters, early editions of the novels and poetry

Uncover a world of chocolate delights and enjoy a fascinating, fun-packed family day out dedicated to the story of Cadbury and chocolate

a great fun filled family day out with over 100 acres and a variety of rides to suit all ages with indoor and outdoor activities

a formidable fortress spanning some 900 years of conflicts and sieges. Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned here for some 19 years

the only science centre, including museum solely devoted to chemistry and how the products of chemistry are used in every day life - from medicines to meccano, with 4 interactive galleries with over 100 different exhibits to tug, tease and test

celebrates the history of a long lost industry and the stories of the everyday people involved in mining

visit this modern masterpiece designed by Sir Basil Spence with the iconic tapestry by Graham Sutherland and the magnificent stained glass windows by John Piper

opened in 1980, the current collection of vehicles is acknowledged as one of the finest in the world, and the largest in public ownership

the mills date from the eighteenth century and the story of how cotton changed our lives is told through interactive displays

with events, demonstrations of traditional crafts and changing exhibitions telling the story of the Yorkshire Dales, landscape and people, past and present

all aboard for a spectacular journey operating between Kingswear and Paignton along a picturesque route bordering the Dart Estuary

local graphite mining led to the growth of the pencil industry. The museum gives an in depth guide to pencils and pencil making down the centuries

a 45,000 square foot indoor attraction of the National Fairground Collection of vintage exhibits, rides and engineering and artwork displays

UK's only double track, main line heritage railway. It’s the only place in the world where full size steam engines can be seen passing each other

carefully crafted sets and original preserved trawler interiors capture the atmosphere and essence of a remarkable way of life

a classic lat 18th Century mansion with political, wall paintings by Sir Jame Thornhill and extensive, relaxed gardens and parkland

explore the rich seam of local railway history and discover how the railways have changed all our lives, with a model railway to please all enthusiasts

featured in many films and TV programmes, this preserved railway has large steam locomotives and runs from Alton to Alresford

step back to the 1920s and discover how a grocer's family lived in a Midlands market town through their furnishings and household objects

founded in 1973 to preserve the history of cider making. The extensive collection includes cider mills, presses and advertising memorabilia

Explore Liverpool’s fascinating, diverse history, from port to sport, in this modern, purpose-built waterfront museum.

part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, this is a good place to start your visit which gives an interactive overview of all the World Heritage Site

go 140m underground to England's last deep coal mine, with 14 galleries to explore and blacksmiths to chat to and an adventure playground for children

home to over 2000 animals in six different habitats and dedicated to protecting global wildlife heritage with feeding times and keeper talks

historic narrow gauge railway, located in the Western part of the Lake District National Park with two main stations, Ravenglass and Dalegarth

take a trip back in time on this light gauge, period railway with its iconic steam trains that have featured in many films and TV programmes

come and meet the animals and learn about farming at this sheep and cattle farm with an up-to-date playground. Picnics welcome

set around Rudyard Lake, this narrow gauge railway runs throughout the year. The Lake is a family centre for picnics, sailing, boating, walking and fishing

the much loved country retreat of HM Queen Elizabeth ll. Explore objets d'art collected by the Royal family, or browse the classic cars in the Transport Museum

set in Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this is the home of the world famous Aldeburgh Music Festival, with many craft shops and art galleries

a seven mile former Great Western Railway branch line, built in 1872, running along the stunning valley of the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes

experience 200 years of transport history walking down a 1940’s high street, board a tram or enjoy the pleasures of the carriage ride

The heart of the Museum is its central 1930s gauge 0 model railway layout, there are also model airplanes and period slot machines

a treasure trove of objets' d'art including the famous silver swan automaton surrounded by luxurious gardens and parklands with children's play area

formerly a Royal Navy dockyard and now the most complete dockyard museum from the Age of Sail with inter-active exhibits for all ages

world's largest collection of witchcraft-related artefacts and regalia demonstrating the historical beliefs and practices of whithces and magicians

3 galleries, packed with activities perfect for 6 to 12 year olds. Find out about Roald Dahl's school pranks and peek into the author's original Writing Hut

built in 1842 as the last resort for the destitute, the stories of the people who lived and worked here help tell the poignant history

this award winning science museum, offers an enlightening and fun packed day out for the family with over 200 hands-on displays on science and technology

Iconic bridge in the City of London, with spectacular views from the high-level walkways and visits to the original steam-powered engine rooms

historic village with many buildings of architectural interest including the Hellfire Caves (not National Trust), shops and cafés

a collection of over 41,000 rugby related exhibits supplemented by a regular programme of special exhibitions

popular museum covering everyday life through the centuries, best known for its reconstructed Victorian street

a family-friendly museum exploring social history and childhood in Victorian era Leeds with a street of shops and workplaces. There are also exhibits explaining the Suffragette Campaigns

set in a former Victorian sewerage works with displays of beam engines, showcasing Leicester's industrial, technological and scientific heritage

a handsome Georgian mansion with a fine collection of antiques and objets d'art, including the Charles Paget Wade Costume Collection

gain an insight into the Cornish penal life over the centuries. This includes evening ghost walks and a look into the cold, dank cells

one of the largest community-orientated leisure centres in the South of England. The Centre offers something for everyone with a superb range of facilities includes swimming pools, athletics stadium, gym, spa etc

underground journey through former slate mine, with three underground caverns of cathedral proportions and a crystal clear subterranean lake

part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, including the national collections of Caughley and Coalport china and where demonstration workshops are given

set in classical parkland landscaped by Capability Brown, now with an adventure playground, this period mansion is also a world class art gallery

Enjoy the varied programme of exhibitions, films and events. Relax in the new cafe with outdoor balcony seating and find fresh and fun new products in the shop. There is also a children's events programme

surrounded by a picturesque garden, Beatrix Potter's beloved farm house was the source of inspiration for many of her famous stories

enjoy 300 years of history through hands-on exhibits and displays. Discover what family life was life for the rich and the poor. Then be transported back to the days before washing machines to try out a dolly peg and dress up as a servant

with a wide range of wild and farm animals, including sheep racing! With indoor and outdoor children's activities

with paintings by world famous artists Rembrandt and Vermeer, this hidden gem offers a unique look at an elegant Georgian mansion

high tech King Richard lll museum exploring the story of the last Plantagenet king including visiting the site of the grave where he was recently found

living steam trains in a magical setting with plenty of indoor and outdoor activities including canoes, pedaloes, crazy golf and children's play area

started as a small private collection, which quickly outgrew its original premises, this new, spacious museum was opened in 2009

take a trip back in time on this narrow gauge steam railway running from Lynton to Barnstaple journeying through rolling countryside

housing designated collections of national importance covering agriculture, crafts and rural life with children friendly exhibits

part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, illustrating how ground breaking, Victorian technology smelt iron with coke resulting in the world's first iron bridge

discover an underwater world and the conservation efforts to protect it, shown in different environments with daily talks and shows

the UK's largest attraction dedicated to space, including the iconic Rocket Tower, the UK’s largest domed planetarium and lots of interactive fun

Penlee House displays works from The Newlyn School of artists, as well as local photography, decorative arts and archaeology collections

with lots of interactive exhibits catering from the serious student to the youngest child covering Reading's history from pre Roman times to the Victorians

boasting the very latest in marine technology creating an underwater tunnel allowing an all-round view of hundreds of species

using the latest developments in virtual reality, this groundbreaking show reveals the man behind the well-known face