Family Friendly Cities To Spend A Day Out In The UK
Trying to find somewhere new to explore that the whole family will enjoy can be a daunting task, especially in the school holidays. Exploring your home-town or city is fun, but can soon make options limited. So, if you’re looking for a new city to spend a day in during the holidays, then here is a list of some of the best family-friendly cities in the UK.
London
London is a great city to spend the day with the family and there are plenty of things to enjoy seeing and doing. If you are a family with young children, stay away from the busy tourist traps – due to the school holidays, queues will be much longer than usual and it will be extremely busy. Instead, head just 15 minutes out of the centre and enjoy beautiful lush parks and hidden gems that barely get a look in due to the hustle of the city.
For sport-mad children, a day out at The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is free, or take a guided tour around the London Stadium. After your tour, burn off the rest of the kid’s energy at Tumbling Bay. This playground in the north of the park has plenty for children to do, with rock pools, sand pits and fun, wobbly bridges. For those wanting to see more of London, a visit to the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit is a must for some truly breathtaking views across the capital from the UK’s tallest sculpture.
Older children will enjoy the typical London sightseeing hotspots, such as Changing of the Guard and a ride on the Routemaster, which is a cheaper solution to the busy tourist buses but takes you past all of the major London landmarks. No visit to the Changing of the Guard is complete without visiting the Household Cavalry Museum, which is right in the middle of the Horse Guards. Learn more about the history behind the Changing of the Guard and experience what it is like to dress as one of the Guards!
Blackpool
Blackpool is possibly one of the most family-friendly locations for families in the UK. The lively seaside resort is packed full of things to do for families on all budgets. If the weather is good, you don’t need to spend much money. Make your way down to the beach and enjoy all that the English seaside has to offer – sea, sand and fish and chips!
Thrill-seeking families can enjoy spending the day at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, with plenty of rides and amusements to choose from for all ages. Spending time at Blackpool Zoo is also a fun activity for all ages, especially when followed by a walk around the neighbouring Stanley Park. Don’t forget about the countless arcades and three piers to explore on the beachfront, too!
Manchester
Manchester is full of fun family-friendly things to do for all ages and there is always plenty of free activities to take part in during the school holidays. Sports-mad fans will love to take a peek around the city’s football stadiums, depending on your chosen team of course! Whether you’re a Manchester United or a Manchester City fan, a visit to one of the stadiums is a great day out for all the family, whilst also learning some more about the city’s history.
If you want something a little more relaxed, then head to the Museum of Science and Industry in Castlefield. This entertaining and child-friendly museum is a great pathway into the world of science and technology. There are plenty of interactive displays and games and everything is very hands on – perfect for younger children. Admission is free and is a great place to spend a few hours if you’re caught out by the typical Manchester rain.
If you’re looking for family-friendly places to eat in Manchester, head to Croma for a delicious Italian dinner with a great kids menu or, for a more casual lunch, Northern Soul Grilled Cheese has an extensive grilled cheese and mac’n’cheese menu at their Northern Quarter site which is ideal for the fussiest of eaters.
York
York is a history-packed city that has plenty on offer, from chocolate trails to shopping. Children, both young and old, will enjoy discovering the city and the countless attractions on offer. If you have older children, a trip around the beautiful York Minster is sure to go down well. A wander around the quaint shops in the Shambles is a lot of fun, too.
The Jorvik Viking Centre is a step back in time that is fun for the whole family and is near to the York City Walls for an even closer look at the city’s history. If you have train-mad kids, be sure to spend the day at the National Railway Museum. Located just outside of York’s city centre, this museum is great for children of all ages, but if Grandma and Grandad have tagged along for the ride too, then this will be a hit for the whole family.
For a more relaxing day out, why not try out one of York’s boat tours? You’ll travel up and down the River Ouse and there are plenty of different packages available to suit all families, from afternoon lunches, self-driving boats and afternoon tea cruises to enjoy.
Liverpool
A city full of culture, music and football, no matter your family’s interests there is sure to be something for them to enjoy in Liverpool. Take a boat ride on the River Mersey and learn about Liverpool’s maritime past. Hop on and off at various locations and take in the iconic views of Liverpool.
If your family are big football fans, head to one of the football stadiums for a guided tour and view different areas of the stadiums. Walk through the halls where so many great games have been played, or sit in the changing room seat of your favourite players! Young ones will especially enjoy a ride on the Liverpool FC Explorer bus tour that operates daily from Albert Docks, where they can learn more about the history of the city and football clubs on an open top bus. The tour ends at Liverpool FC stadium, so you can go on to have a tour there, too!
No trip to Liverpool is complete without learning about The Beatles. The Beatles Story is a great day out for families and learn about the journey of this famous foursome and how they quickly became the biggest band in the world. Experience the famous Cavern Club and learn all about The Beatles hysteria. Once you’ve finished your tour, enjoy a walk around Liverpool’s famous Albert Docks and grab a bite to eat, or go shopping in Liverpool One.
With Halloween just around the corner, that means another few weeks of school holidays. If you have older children, then a tour around Liverpool’s most haunted destinations, Hope Street and Auld City, is something that they can enjoy. Enjoy the spooky experience with one of the Shiverpool tours which run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday and learn more about the haunted past from one of Liverpool’s oldest ghost walks.
This Blog was written by our friend Natalie Wilson. Natalie loves to travel but when she is not out sight seeing she can be found reading a good book with a cup of tea or planning her next travel destination.
You can connect with her on Twitter @NatWilson976.