England Family-Friendly Sightseeing, Attractions & Activities

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


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

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

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  • archeology
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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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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

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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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take a ride on a steam train along a 2 mile standard gauge railway, and view the collection of locomotives and rolling stock

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

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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

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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

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nearly 60 years old, this classic railway has featured in many films and TV programmes. It runs from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead

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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

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

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

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

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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

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

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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

South Devon Railway

Buckfastleigh

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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

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

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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

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Telford Steam Railway is a preserved railway operated by a small and friendly team of volunteers and includes a tram way and model railway

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travel the 15 mile round trip to and from Peterborough with stop off rations along the way. This is original home of Thomas The Tank Engine

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working steam, diesel locomotives, coaches, wagons and 3 signal boxes. Cream teas are served on board

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a full-size standard-gauge railway line, running regular, mainly steam-hauled, passenger trains, mostly run by volunteers

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set at a point where the River Derwent is at its widest with all manner of bird life including swans, herons, Canada geese and a variety of ducks and moorhens. Location of a number of film and TV productions

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one of Britain's largest public collections housing large collections of books, prints, artefacts and ephemera relating to the history of cinema

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home of Channel Five’s ‘Mist sheepdog tales’ this 400 acre working farm is home to a flock of 700 breeding ewes, plus their lambs, holds sheepdog & Falconry displays throughout the summer - April lambing open days

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the iconic bridge is one of Shropshire's most famous landmark and the world's first iron bridge, recently undergone a conservation project

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