England Family-Friendly Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities

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


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

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Island home to a medieval castle, reached by causeway, with Norman church and sub-tropical gardens.

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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

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

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a fine Georgian villa designed by William Kent with a rich collection of Old Master Paintings and fine furniture. Free entry to the 65 acres of Grade I listed gardens with grand vistas, architectural delights, water features and a children's play area

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rescuing and conserving historic buildings, teaching traditional trades and crafts to ensure their preservation and sharing the untold stories of rural life

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  • Harry Potter
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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

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designed in 1825 and completed in 1827 for William Beckford. The 120 foot tower, has uninterrupted views of the countryside, and was was constructed as a study retreat and to house Beckford's precious collection of art and rare books

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displaying exhibitions of contemporary and historic art in the spacious Saloon Galleries. The gardens are experiencing a renaissance with new planting schemes, enhancing the herbaceous borders

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collection of thatched buildings - date back more than 200 years - set in a valley that reaches down to the sea - working forge & mill - see the blacksmith in action - enjoy a traditional cream tea in the Old Bakery - explore the woodland or beach

Breamore House

Fordingbridge

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little changed since completion in 1583 - wide variety of paintings - tapestries - porcelain - 17th century needlework - rare James I carpet - period furniture - tea barn

Cragside

Rothbury

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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

Croome

Worcester

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

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stretching across 3,000 acres of ancient woodland, steeped in history, but with delightful contrasts from the picturesque dingle to the remarkable pieces by Moore and Matisse

Ham House & Garden

Richmond-upon-Thames

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Beautifully situated on the banks of the Thames. Step back in time, walking on the original marble floors and admiring the re-imagined 17th Century garden

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a lovely 18th Century house with an unusual drawing room pained by Rex Whistler, a permanent 20th Century art collection and magnificent gardens

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historic house and grade 1 Cornish gardens with the national camellia collection within 865 acre park on Rame Peninsula

Nostell

Wakefield

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with a world class collection of furniture, textiles and wallpaper and priceless paintings inside and room to explore outside - including cycle trails -

Osborne House

East Cowes

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Queen Victoria's palatial holiday home offering a treasured insight with a visit to the private apartments and the Swiss Cottage where the children played

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a suburban palace caught between town and country with a lake, magnificent house, elegant gardens and a natural play trail with rope swings and steppingstones

Sandringham

Sandringham

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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

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

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a place of enormous character, charm and interest. Visitors are frequently struck by the warm and intimate atmosphere and the feeling that Arley is a much-cherished family home with beautiful landscaped gardens

Bowood

Calne

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this beautiful stately home houses a vast collection of antiquities, chapel, library, sculpture gallery, laboratory, costumes, adventure playground & beautiful woodland gardens

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once the home to Sir Francis Drake with contemporary furnishings and artefacts, an impressive medieval Great Barn and extensive gardens

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holiday home of the D'Oyly Carte family built in the Arts & Crafts style with a joyful atmosphere enhanced by music and a 30 acre garden

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

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set in over 6000 acres of woodland, a welcoming Georgian house, holding the National Trust's largest fashion collection with interactive displays

Rievaulx Terrace

Kirkbymoorside

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grand and tranquil historic house with an impressive ionic temple, a woodland play area and outdoor games for children. Picnics welcome

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late 17th Century house with sumptuous interiors including the Museum of Childhood. Explore childhoods of times gone by, play with toys and share stories

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medieval Manor House which was the ancestral home of George Washington, with a tranquil garden and a 'nuttery' - a haven for wildlife

Adlington Hall

Macclesfield

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the rooms all display original furniture alongside paintings and portraits that bring to life the story of the house and its occupants including an important 17th Century, played by Handel. Explore the extensive gardens and challenging maze

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intimate Regency mansion with many treasures, Victorian garden and a Carriage Museum showcasing vehicles for every occasion

Attingham Park

Shrewsbury

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surrounded by a beautiful landscaped deer park, this elegant country house has had its fortunes rise and fall; this is still visible in the building today

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Blackburn's cathedral since 1926, this church dates from much earlier, & includes a Georgian nave, sculptures by John Hayward & some splendid windows

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covers the history of Bude and the surrounding area, including natural history, maritime and industrial heritage, and development of tourism

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a fine Elizabethan mansion refurbished in the 17th Century with extensive collections of paintings and objets d'art

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ancient and peaceful, this tranquil Tudor manor house is far from today's busy lifestyle and is surrounded by rare terraced gardens

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the ‘Great House’ referred to in Jane Austen’s letters, now sensitively restored and find inspiration in the lives and works of our women writers

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dating back to the fourteenth century with a recent up date in the twentieth, this majestic castle is surrounded by lovely gardens

Holkham

Holkham

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an elegant Palladian stately home, with a magnificent walled garden, extensive parkland with cycle routes and children's play areas

Hughenden Manor

High Wycombe

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country home of Benjamin Disraeli, housing a fascinating collection of his memorabilia. Also Second World War rooms, with interactive exhibits and eye-witness accounts

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  • wildlife

this stately home spans the centuries with a colourful history and reputed ghost. There is also a Hawk & Owl Centre with a wide range of birds

  • museum
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  • ruin
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • archeology
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with excavated remains and stunning reconstructions of original buildings and roman artefacts combine to give a unique insight the Romans in Britain during the second to fifth Century

  • historic house
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  • family-friendly
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  • seasonal opening
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  • antiques
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  • furniture
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  • history
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  • walking

built in 1153, this castle's dungeon is the scene of Edward II's murder. Now the home of the Berkeley family, it has various treasures, including paintings, silver, furniture, and an Elizabethan garden

  • place of worship
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • café
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • history
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  • religion

one of the great glories of English religious architecture, this most impressive church boasts 14th Century stone carvings, notably of musicians

  • place of worship
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  • family-friendly
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  • all-weather attraction
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  • free admission
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  • open year round
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  • architecture
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  • art
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  • religion

a lovely example of Victorian Gothic with many symbolic items to be found in the Hidden Nature Trail within the cathedral

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