The Best Places in the UK for Family Vacations

Why should I go on a family vacation to the UK?

We relish the task of crafting the most extraordinary family vacations in the UK. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers or teens – or perhaps your own parents are along for the ride – you’ll love how happy every family member is on vacation here. Our trips are full of carefully considered cultural immersion. Jaw-dropping rural landscapes. Wild lands and local wildlife. And sensational, sustainable regional food to fuel your journey. We stitch together itineraries that combine some of the most unique things to do in the UK with family. There’s so much beauty on our doorstep – we’ll help you see the best of it.

What are the best vacation spots in the UK for families?

How long do we have? As you’d expect, given that so much of our team live here, we’re enthusiastic ambassadors for the UK. You may be struggling to decide between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We say, why not all four? And if that’s not possible we can find a way to create something that is possible and full of family-friendly activities in the UK. From the Cotswolds to the Cairngorm Mountains and the streets of London to the valleys of Wales, we will jigsaw together a luxury vacation that is made up of the best spots for you. Here’s a little inspiration to start…

England

Sightseeing in England begins in London with a grand tour of the city’s best sites, whether you fly low over Windsor Castle to the west, home to generations of England’s kings and queens, or follow the railway as it crosses the curves of the River Thames, spotting landmarks like the Tower of London and, for football fans, Wembley Stadium. Naturally, we’ll be making sure you see them up-close too, with family bike tours that uncover the iconic landmarks and city’s vibrant street art, trips to iconic museums where your kids can play spy, solving mysteries and cracking codes, and even a chance to speed across the famous River Thames in a private Zodiac – just as James Bond would do.

There’s so much more to England than the capital though. In the city of Oxford, you can stroll along cobbled streets and peep your head into the university gardens that have had some of the greatest writers in history – including Oscar Wilde and JRR Tolkien – put pen to paper in its cloisters. It’s the perfect pitstop on the way to the heart of the bucolic countryside of the Cotswolds, the ultimate weekend retreat for stylish Londoners. It’s home to some of the country’s most sublime stays – grand mansions that have been meticulously restored to provide sumptuous places to rest your head amongst all the fresh-air-filled country trail stomps and village strolls that we’ll be arranging for you.

And it wouldn’t be a trip to England without heading north to the Medieval city of York, with its 13th-century walls and spiderweb of streets, leading to trendy boutiques, cafes, and traditional English pubs. At its heart is York Minster, one of the most architecturally outstanding Gothic cathedrals in the world. Stand at its entrance and you’ll gaze up, mouth agape, at its intricate beauty and centuries of history held in its stone.

Whether you’re keen to venture into the valleys of the Lake District or the waves-lashed beaches of the south-west coast, we can arrange a bespoke family vacation in the UK that feels very fitting for you and your family. But, if we had to start somewhere, it would be this seven-night trip through London, the Cotswolds, and Cornwall. Read on for more places to visit in England with kids…

Scotland

Whether you’re peering down from the peak of one of the country’s hundreds of munros, meaning mountains, to standing at the edge of a sapphire-blue loch (take your pick, there are around 30,000 scattered across the country), Scotland’s raw, stop-in-your-tracks beauty makes it top our list as one of the best family vacations in the UK.

If you and your clan love getting out into the wilderness, appreciating natural landscapes, then make Scotland your outdoor playground. In Perthshire, you can combine close wildlife encounters with outdoor adventures, from slow and serene paddles across lochs, to thrilling abseils down waterfalls. The Cairngorms, Scotland’s largest national park, serves up wilderness on the grandest of scales. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience on these golden-hued moors you could trek into subarctic tundra to hand-feed free-roaming reindeers that have called this land home for 70 years, hearing first-hand from the rangers about their adaptation to this unique ecosystem. Or how about a day before a day of slow exploration: trekking through ancient Caledonian forests to rushing rivers and peaceful lochs, spotting red deer, mountain hares, and golden eagles along the way.

A trip to Scotland wouldn’t be any trip at all without a visit to its hilly capital of Edinburgh, with its intriguing history, postcard-perfect cobbled streets, and contemporary food culture (which we’ll be helping you sample on a private culinary tour with an expert in Scottish ingredients, innovation and the all important whiskey). We love to follow it up with a behind-the-scenes visit to Araminta Campbell’s tartan atelier, where you can watch artisan weavers create this world-famous textile, hearing about clan patterns and modern designs, and treating yourself to a new cashmere scarf – the must-have “I’ve toured Scotland” souvenir.

Those are just some of the many, many ways to discover Scotland with your family. To help you make the most of it, we’ve wrapped the best of Scotland – its neverending collection of castles, its steam train journeys aboard the Hogwarts Express, its myths and legends (hello Loch Ness Monster) – into one hilly adventure that will stay with you and your closest for years to come. Read all about it here.

Wales

Edged by some of the UK’s prettiest beaches, with dramatic mountain landscapes, rolling valleys and pretty villages in land, small but mighty Wales makes for one of the best family vacations in the UK. As you’d expect from such varied landscapes and terrain, it’s a place for explorers. And it’s here that you’ll find some of the most fun and family-friendly activities in the UK.

Younger kids will be in their element here, with the chance to make good use of their wellies on a visit to real-life working farms, feeding piglets, petting horses and riding huge tractors through muddy fields. For older kids, tweens and teens, you can take on peaceful paddling expeditions along tree-lined canals or tackle the hills of the Brecon Beacons, with its flat-topped mountains, waterfalls and star-studded skies (this is officially an International Dark Sky Reserve). For more scenery-packed rambles, there’s the Pembrokeshire Coast, with its pretty clifftop trails and jaw-dropping bays – the perfect place to spread a blanket out for a picnic. Or perhaps you’d prefer to refuel at the village ice cream shop, sampling locally made creamy concoctions?

Away from the coast and valleys, there are picturesque towns and cities to explore. In Hay-on-Wye, the “Town of Books” you can hop between over 20 independent book stores, scouring the shelves of second-hand stores for rare versions of your favorite reads, or picking up the debut novel of an up-and-coming author. In between the shops, cafes, and pubs is Hay Castle, a Norman castle with a fascinating roster of events and exhibitions. It’s just one of the many castles in the region, but arguably the most famous is Cardiff Castle – a sublime showcase of 2,000 years of history. The castle itself was founded by William the Conqueror, and kids will love to stroll along its battlements, climbing to its mighty Norman shell keep. But it’s the lavish Victorian apartments – once home to some of the most monied and numerous powerful personalities in the UK – that makes this a must visit for adults today.

After all that, we’d have to say that one of the most simple and joyful family-friendly activities in the UK is riding one of Whales’ steam trains, an experience that’ll please little and large train enthusiasts, with routes chugging through verdant green valleys and taking in soul-stirring seascapes, with a chance to peek into engine rooms and chat with drivers along the way. It’s a core vacation memory unlocked – and just one of the many experiences we can arrange on a bespoke tour of the country.

Northern Ireland

This northern corner of the Emerald Isle deserves a visit in its own right. Why? Well, where else on the planet can you follow in the footsteps of giants in the morning and sip warming Irish whiskey in the afternoon? Belfast will be your gateway to adventures here, but it’s a city that’s worth sticking around in – not just for the markets (for a taste of local Irish produce) and bar-lined cobbles (if you want a traditional pub or two, with live music head to the Cathedral Quarter) but for its fascinating history. The ill-fated Titanic was built in the city’s very own shipyards, and today its tale is told in the Titanic Museum, where interactive exhibitions will take you on a tour of Belfast’s shipbuilding heritage. For more history, a Black Taxi tour will give you an objective perspective on the city’s neighborhoods and murals.

Out of the city and onto the coast, we could take you on a site-skimming tour of Causeway Coastal Route, one of the world’s most famous road trips. On the edge of a dramatic outcrop, overlooking icy waters, is the skeleton remains of Dunluce Castle. Giant’s Causeway is another vacation big hitter here – where hundreds of huge basalt columns are soaked in the spray of the North Atlantic Ocean. Legend has it that they were placed here by Giant Finn MacCool in an attempt to reach Scotland. Pose for a family picture – wind in your hair, smiles on your faces – it’s one that’ll make a picture frame when you head back home.

But we’re not done just yet. There’s so much more to pack into your time here. A supper of stew in Ireland’s oldest whisky distillery; the chance to wobble over the 20m-long chasm that’s the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge; fossil hunting along the Antrim Coast; searching for leprechauns, with a real-life Leprechaun Whisperer, in the Cooley Mountains before dining in a charming Irish pub crammed with Leprechaun memorabilia (don’t miss soda bread with freshly made soup, with some local Carlingford Lough oysters). A trip here is about making memories, and these are just a handful of the experiences we’ll take charge of. This eight-night journey will show even more.

What are the best family-friendly activities in the UK?

We’re often asked “where are the best places to visit in England with kids”. We have a list – a brilliantly long one – but one that can be edited to capture the kind of trip you and your family are longing for. If we were to make a suggestion, it’d be to visit England – stroll through medieval cities, head out on strolls through the Cotswolds countryside – but look beyond it too. Scotland. Wales. Northern Ireland. The UK is small, and getting around is simple. So why see one country when you can see several, wrapping up Celtic traditions and caidleighs in Scotland to spending a day with a sheepdog in Wales, or touring the Causeway Coastal route in Northern Ireland, spending the night at the country’s oldest whiskey distillery?

Our bespoke trips are full of once-in-a-lifetime moments that will deepen bonds with your closest clan; experiences that are not only immersive, but top the list as some of the most unusual family-friendly activities in the UK, too.

Experience a wildlife safari with a kilted ranger in Scotland

We’ll make sure you have plenty of time to appreciate Scotland from the comfort of a plush armchair perfectly positioned in front of a roaring fire, dram of whiskey to hand, but to truly appreciate the nation you need to get out into the wilderness and live it. That’s why we’ll be arranging time with a private kilted ranger, who’ll take you out on forest-fringed, off-road tracks in his 4X4, in search of the region’s wildlife – including eagles and stags. As part of the day, you’ll get to try out one of the oldest sports in the world, watching huge birds of prey soar high above you in the sky, before coming in to land smoothly on your hand – without question one of the most unique things to do in the UK with family. We’ve mentioned roaring fires and plush armchairs because the chances are we’ll have arranged an overnight stay in one of Scotland’s exquisite castles-come-hotels – and the bird joining you right there on the castle grounds. Sounds good, doesn’t it? There’s more of that in this luxury family vacation of castles, lochs, and highlands.

Embrace rural life on a Scottish Farm

A day on a Scottish farm? You’re forgiven for raising an eyebrow. But rest assured, this isn’t just an ordinary smallholding, but a boutique, 300-acre farm that’s been run by the same family for over a century – and you’ll get a fascinating private tour of it. Kids will be gleeful, getting up-close encounters with pigs, sheep, and native highland cattle, with the chance to push a few buttons and pull some levers in the farm’s huge tractors, too.

But this is also a lesson in Scottish farming and production; a chance to appreciate the hard labour that goes into the finest Scottish produce that you’ll sample throughout your trip. That starts with here and now. You’ll have a delicious local lunch on the farm, trying produce that’s come from the farm itself, or the surrounding fields. It’s one of many family friendly activities on City Lights and Highland Skies – an adventure through England and Scotland that will simply blow you away.

Punt the waterways in Cambridge and Oxford, England

Punting – a traditional style of boating that you’ll mostly see in the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge – is a little trickier than it looks. That’s why we’ll be arranging a chauffeured punt – a peaceful tour of Oxford’s famous Botanic Gardens, Magdalen College School Fields, and Christ Church Meadow, all while you tuck into a quintessentially English picnic, complete with strawberries and English sparkling wine, from a sunny seat in your small, flat-bottomed wooden boat. Think you’re up to the challenge? Have a go yourself in Stratford or equally quaint Cambridge. You’ll be taught how to propel the wooden boat along the river, soon gliding along to a soundtrack of birdsong and family chatter. As for unique things to do in the UK with family? This’ll rank highly with you and your kids, and is just one of the many experiences we can weave into your vacation.

Trek the troubles in Northern Ireland

Delve into the complex issues and events in one of the key conflict zones of modern European history on this private walking tour of Belfast, guided by an expert who lived through this turbulent period, growing up during what’s often called ‘The Troubles’. This objective, thought-provoking tour, which covers seven different locations, is a close-up of the city’s dark chapter in time, with recallings of the important events that occurred and retelling of how the two communities went on to achieve peace in the early 1990s ceasefire. While undeniably sobering at times, it’s also an uplifting celebration of a city that has been regenerated post ceasefire and really thrived in more recent times, becoming a hotbed of creativity and contemporary cuisine – a must do on any Ireland itinerary.

Compete in your own Highland Games in Scotland

Pipe bands. Jigging dancers. Trees hurled high into the air. It’s all part of the action at the Highland Games, a traditional Scottish event that’s been a huge part of the country’s Celtic culture since the 11th century. It’s essentially a raucous, spirited event that sees people compete in challenges like the caber toss and hammer through. Think of a strong man competition crossed with a family friendly country fair. Your trip may not coincide with the real event, but if you’re keen, and we’ll bring the games to you, in the Cairngorms National Park. Led by expert instructors, you’ll learn how to take on all the traditional sports, competing against each other before one of you is declared the Highland Games champion. As always, this Highland Games experience can be added to any Black Tomato journey across Scotland or the UK.

Learn how to herd animals with a sheepdog in Wales

Explore the rugged mountains and wide valleys of Wales on this highly unusual day out, that will see you stepping into the shoes (perhaps literally – did you pack your wellies?) of a Welsh farmer. You’ll spend time on their traditional farm in Snowdonia, meeting the men and women who have worked this land for generations, learning how their trusty, highly intelligent sheepdogs help with the day to day care of animals. After romping through muddy fields breathing in that mountain air, you’ll get to hear all about the region’s sustainable food practices, while learning about the history and heritage of this ancient land. Our family vacations in the UK are brimming with far from ordinary and immersive experiences just like this.

Visit Churchill’s subterranean ‘war rooms’ in London, England

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the top-secret rooms where Winston Churchill and his cabinet made history, determining the future of Britain during World War II. We’ll arrange this half-day private tour, with the museum director, no less, to show you the very rooms that Britain’s leader spent hours upon hours in, mostly during the Blitz and German V-weapon offensive, as he discussed strategies and confidential details with his war cabinet. More than just a meeting room, this subterranean space acted as a nerve center of the government in its darkest days, and was in operation 24 hours a day until August 1945. This tour, which is beneath ground in the heart of central London, is a fascinating glimpse of the heavy decisions of the time, while also giving a real sense of what life in Blitz London would have been like. It’s just one of our Black Tomato Field Trips – experience that bring classrooms to life with tours for the casual or the avid history fan.

Embark on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in England

Our Take Me on a Story experiences give you and your closest the chance to embrace the world through the very best children’s stories ever written. In this case, we’ll be taking you on an immersive journey through the pretty countryside of Oxfordshire, following in the footsteps of Anne, the main character in Lewis Carroll’s classic, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. You’ll tee off on the croquet fields and forage for mushrooms in fantastical forests, and hear from historians who specialize in the worlds of Lewis Carroll – all before sitting down to a curious tea party that you won’t forget in a hurry. In just a handful of days you’ll have a whole new appreciation for the transformative power of books, all by experiencing one of the most unique things to do in the UK with family. Keen to live Alice’s adventures for yourself? Find out more about it here.

Take a magical Harry Potter-inspired tour in London or Edinburgh

If you’re looking for places in England to visit with kids, don’t just see the surface of a city, but truly uncover them in the most engaging ways with a Harry Potter-inspired walking tour. This half-day adventure will blur the lines between the wizarding world and the real world as you explore the alleyways, nooks, turrets, castles and other cityscapes that inspired one of the UK’s most famous book series, with every page of the chunky novels brought to life by our expert guide (a true Potterhead who knows every fact Harry and his friends, and JK Rowling’s big ideas). It’s just one of dozens of kid-pleasing experiences that we can weave into your family vacation.

Enter a Celtic realm at a private castle in Scotland

The Celts first came back to Britain way back when in 3,000 BC – and their influence, of foraging, music, storytelling and myth – still lives on. We’re here to help you and your tribe experience it – but in a suitably Black Tomato way. That means chartering a private helicopter that’ll touch down on the lawns of your own private Celtic castle, before a boat cruise across the rain-misted, mysterious Loch Ness. Sip a glass of bubbles as you gaze out at the water, looking out for the famous monster that lurks below – or does it?

For the truly brave, a bracing wild swim in these legendary waters will clear the mind and ready you for a cozy afternoon in your castle. With an acclaimed chef by your side, you’ll make some of the food inspired by whiskies of the area, and dine by the cracking fire, hearing stories of how people used to live off their land. A gala dinner – complete with Highland dress for everyone and with a soundtrack of lively traditional food music from live musicians – follows. And it wouldn’t be a trip to Scotland without a traditional Ceilidh, would it? Kick off your heels and get ready to spin your way around the floor in a hilarious and thrilling dance, with your own private firework display then glittering overhead at the night draws to a close. It’s just one of the many immersive experiences we can arrange for you and your extended family – making sure your family vacation in the UK is truly historic.

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One person’s family vacation in the UK can look very different to the next. Your family may love adventures outside whatever the weather, or perhaps its time spent exploring centuries-old cities and the independent restaurants and bars that call them home. Maybe it’s both. Whatever you’re craving, this is our homeland and we’re here to free you from the endless deliberations of where and when, and create something entirely unique.