Top 12 Thrilling Family Adventures in the UK

• Travel

Get ready for an adventure with these exciting, educational, and active UK experiences for children and teenagers. From week-long outdoor expeditions to evenings in a planetarium, there’s something for everyone.

Published December 20, 2023

11 min read

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK)

If we viewed the world through the eyes of a child, how would we choose to have fun? It’s likely to be about more than just getting an ice cream, according to research from Nature Communications. This journal suggests that children as young as four seek experiences that provide positive results, guide action, answer questions about the world, and, of course, are just plain fun. Whether it’s getting up-close with crustaceans on a rockpooling adventure, diving into a good book at a literature festival, learning to surf, taking to the stage, or gazing at the stars, these 12 UK-based experiences deliver hands-on learning and creativity. 

Ages 3-7 

1. Safaris with the Rock Pool Project
Plymouth, Devon and Falmouth, Cornwall

Embark on a rockpooling adventure that will make you feel like you’re exploring alien worlds. From shape-shifting sea hare slugs to fluorescent snakelocks anemones, the South West coast is full of marine wildlife waiting to be discovered. Don’t miss the night safaris where the unique ecosystem truly comes to life. A marine biologist will be your guide, teaching you how to identify the creatures and explore the rockpool habitat responsibly.

How to do it: The Rock Pool Project offers day and night safaris all year round in Plymouth and Falmouth. Specialist equipment is provided, and group tickets (maximum four people) cost £59.

2. Belfast Children’s Festival
8-16 March 2024, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Hosted by Young at Art, this festival is full of entertaining, surprising, and delightful events. The Baby Rave at Belfast Cathedral is a must-see, providing a dance party for toddlers up to four years old. Interactive painting, dancing, and theater workshops are also on offer, accompanied by performances by local students.

How to do it: Tickets can be purchased separately for each event, with a maximum cost of £10 each (2+ years). The festival also provides assistance for children with special educational needs or disabilities.

3. The Children’s Garden at Kew
Richmond, London

Explore one of the most extensive botanical gardens in the world,

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