The weekend arrives, the children are full of energy, and suddenly someone asks the inevitable question: "What are we doing today?"
The weekend
arrives, the children are full of energy, and suddenly someone asks the
inevitable question: "What are we doing today?"
Finding
something the whole family wants to do isn't always easy. Younger children
might want somewhere to play, older children may want excitement, and parents
probably don't want to spend half the weekend driving across the country.
Then
there's the British weather to consider.
Fortunately,
there are thousands of family activities available across the UK, from
completely free adventures in local woods to theme parks, castles, museums and
indoor adventure centres.
The best
family day out doesn't necessarily need to involve an expensive attraction
either. Some of the most memorable weekends can come from simple activities
such as visiting a new beach, exploring a forest or taking a family bike ride.
If you're
wondering what to do with the kids this weekend, here are 20 ideas to get you
started.
1. Visit a Family-Friendly Museum
Museums are
one of the easiest weekend activities because almost every part of the UK has
something interesting nearby.
Forget the
idea that museums involve children quietly walking past glass cabinets.
Many modern
museums have interactive exhibitions, children's trails, dressing-up activities
and hands-on experiments.
Science
museums are particularly good for children who enjoy pressing buttons and
discovering how things work, while transport museums can appeal to children
obsessed with trains, aircraft and cars.
History
museums can be excellent once children are able to experience the past rather
than simply read about it.
Another
advantage is cost. Many major UK museums offer free general admission, making
museums particularly useful when you're trying to keep weekend spending under
control.
2. Explore a Castle
Few
buildings capture children's imaginations as effectively as castles.
Towers,
battlements, enormous stone walls and stories involving knights and kings can
transform history into an adventure.
The UK has
hundreds of castles, ranging from enormous fortresses such as Dover and Warwick
to atmospheric ruins scattered throughout the countryside.
Children
don't necessarily need to understand the complicated history behind the
building.
Ask them
how they would defend the castle.
Look for
arrow slits.
Find the
strongest gate.
Climb a
tower and imagine being a guard watching for approaching enemies.
Many
historic sites now include children's trails, interactive exhibitions and play
areas, making them particularly suitable for families.
3. Go to the Zoo
A zoo
remains one of the classic family days out.
Children
can encounter animals they may previously have seen only on television or in
books, while parents have an easy opportunity to introduce subjects such as
wildlife, habitats and conservation.
Large zoos
can easily occupy an entire day.
Don't feel
you need to see every animal, though. Allow children to spend longer watching
the species that genuinely interest them.
Smaller
wildlife parks and specialist animal attractions can be just as enjoyable and
may involve considerably less walking.
Check
feeding times and talks before visiting because these can become some of the
highlights of the day.
4. Visit an Aquarium
If the
weather forecast looks terrible, head underwater without getting wet.
Aquariums
are excellent rainy-day attractions because almost everything is indoors.
Children
can discover sharks, rays, jellyfish, tropical fish and other marine animals
while learning about the extraordinary ecosystems hidden beneath the world's
oceans.
Underwater
tunnels can be particularly exciting for younger children as sharks and other
fish swim overhead.
Aquariums
also work well when you want something substantial to do without committing to
an exhausting full-day attraction.
5. Head to a Theme Park
For a
bigger weekend adventure, consider a theme park.
Britain has
options for almost every age group.
Families
with preschool children might consider somewhere such as Paultons Park or
Drayton Manor, while LEGOLAND Windsor is particularly popular with
primary-school-aged children.
Older
children and teenagers seeking major rollercoasters may prefer Alton Towers or
Thorpe Park.
Before
booking, check children's heights against ride restrictions.
Height can
be more important than age when determining whether a particular theme park
represents good value for your family.
6. Try an Indoor Adventure Park
When
children have far too much energy and the weather is terrible, indoor adventure
parks can be lifesavers.
Modern
centres can include trampolines, inflatable obstacle courses, climbing walls,
giant slides and ninja challenges.
Instead of
asking children to exercise, you're essentially disguising exercise as
entertainment.
An hour or
two can be surprisingly exhausting.
National
operators and independent centres can be found throughout the UK, so there's a
reasonable chance you have something within driving distance.
Check age
restrictions and whether special grip socks are required before arriving.
7. Go Swimming
You don't
need an enormous waterpark to create a successful family outing.
Sometimes
the local swimming pool is enough.
Many
leisure centres run weekend family-swimming sessions with floats, inflatables
or other activities.
For
something more exciting, look for a leisure pool with slides, wave machines or
splash areas.
Families
wanting a complete waterpark experience can investigate attractions such as
Waterworld in Stoke-on-Trent, Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool or Alton Towers
Waterpark.
Swimming
has another advantage: children usually sleep extremely well afterwards.
8. Discover a New Beach
Britain has
thousands of miles of coastline, providing an enormous number of potential
family adventures.
A beach day
doesn't need to involve swimming.
During
cooler months, families can hunt for shells, explore rock pools, build enormous
sandcastles, fly kites or simply walk along the coast.
Take
wellies and waterproof clothing and beaches can become surprisingly enjoyable
outside summer.
Coastal
towns can also provide fish and chips, amusement arcades and other attractions
when everyone has had enough fresh air.
9. Explore a Forest
Forests are
basically enormous natural playgrounds.
Children
can climb over logs, search for wildlife, collect leaves and investigate
streams while parents get some fresh air at the same time.
Many
Forestry England locations provide marked walking trails, cycling routes,
picnic areas and children's activities.
You don't
necessarily need a structured activity.
Give
children a simple challenge.
Who can
find the biggest leaf?
Can they
spot five different birds?
Can they
find an unusual-shaped tree?
A little
imagination can turn an ordinary woodland walk into an adventure.
10. Go on a Family Bike Ride
Cycling is
an excellent way to explore somewhere new while keeping the whole family
active.
The safest
family routes are usually traffic-free trails through forests, parks or along
former railway lines.
Choose the
distance according to the youngest cyclist rather than the strongest adult.
A five-mile
ride that everyone enjoys is far better than a 15-mile ride ending with an
exhausted child refusing to pedal another metre.
Pack
drinks, snacks and a puncture-repair kit.
Adding an
ice-cream stop somewhere along the route can also provide surprisingly
effective motivation.
11. Visit a National Trust Property
National
Trust locations aren't only grand houses filled with historic furniture.
Many
properties include enormous gardens, woodland walks, natural play areas and
family trails.
The
organisation specifically promotes family activities ranging from bike rides
and natural play areas to wildlife adventures and outdoor challenges.
For younger
children, the grounds may actually be more interesting than the house.
Let them
run, explore and play before attempting the historical part of the visit.
Families
who visit regularly may also want to investigate whether membership makes
financial sense compared with repeatedly buying individual tickets.
12. Discover an English Heritage Site
Castles,
abbeys, prehistoric monuments and Roman forts can turn an ordinary weekend into
a historical adventure.
English
Heritage manages hundreds of historic locations around England, many of which
actively provide family activities.
Some
include dressing-up opportunities, interactive exhibitions, playgrounds and
family trails.
Children
can explore places such as Roman forts, medieval castles and ruined abbeys
while having enough space to run around outdoors.
The
organisation recommends choosing historic attractions according to children's
interests — energetic explorers, history enthusiasts, creative children or
nature lovers — rather than assuming the same type of visit suits every family.
13. Go to a Farm Park
Farm parks
are particularly good for toddlers and younger primary-school children.
Children
can meet animals such as sheep, goats, pigs and chickens while many attractions
also provide playgrounds, tractor rides and indoor play barns.
Seasonal
activities can make repeat visits worthwhile.
Spring may
bring newborn animals, autumn can involve pumpkin activities and December often
introduces Christmas events.
Farm parks
can also provide a gentler alternative to enormous zoos for younger children
who don't need an eight-hour day out.
14. Try Family Climbing
Indoor
climbing has become considerably more accessible to children.
Family
climbing centres and Clip 'n Climb-style attractions use colourful walls and
different challenges to turn climbing into a game.
Children
need to work out where to put their hands and feet, meaning climbing combines
physical activity with problem solving.
Reaching
the top can also provide an enormous confidence boost.
Look for
beginner or family sessions if your children haven't climbed before.
15. Have a Family Picnic
A picnic
can turn an ordinary trip to the park into something children consider a proper
day out.
Let
children help choose and prepare the food.
Pack a
blanket, football, frisbee or outdoor game and head somewhere with plenty of
open space.
You could
visit a country park, lake, National Trust property, beach or even a large
local park.
Picnics are
also one of the easiest ways to reduce the cost of family days out because
buying lunch for an entire family at an attraction can quickly become
expensive.
16. Go on a Nature Hunt
Turn an
ordinary walk into a mission.
Create a
list of things children need to find.
It might
include a feather, something red, three different leaves, a bird, an acorn, a
spider's web and something that smells interesting.
Children
who complain about going for a walk may suddenly become enthusiastic once the
same walk becomes a challenge.
You can
adapt the hunt according to the season.
Spring
might involve flowers and insects.
Autumn can
involve conkers, colourful leaves and fungi.
Winter can
focus on animal tracks, evergreen plants and different types of bark.
17. Visit a Science Centre
Science
centres are ideal for children who need to touch everything.
Instead of
repeatedly hearing "Don't touch that", they are encouraged to
experiment.
Attractions
such as We The Curious in Bristol, Techniquest in Cardiff, Glasgow Science
Centre and Thinktank in Birmingham use hands-on exhibits to introduce
scientific ideas.
Children
can investigate forces, light, sound, space, engineering and the human body
without the experience feeling like a school lesson.
If your
child constantly asks how things work, a science centre could easily become one
of their favourite weekend destinations.
18. Visit a Living-History Museum
Living-history
museums can be much more engaging for children than traditional historical
displays.
Instead of
simply looking at objects from the past, families walk through recreated
historical environments.
Beamish in
County Durham and the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley are two excellent
examples.
Children
can explore historical streets, shops, homes and workplaces while discovering
how everyday life has changed.
This type
of attraction can be particularly effective for children who claim they don't
like history.
They may
discover that they actually enjoy history when they can walk around inside it.
19. Have a Free Local Adventure
Family days
out don't need admission tickets.
Search for
somewhere nearby that you've never properly explored.
It could be
a local country park, nature reserve, woodland, canal path, playground, hill or
lake.
Take snacks
and give the children control over part of the adventure.
Let them
choose which path to follow or where to stop for lunch.
The
National Trust also maintains lists of free-to-access outdoor locations,
including beaches, lakes, gardens and other spaces, demonstrating just how many
family outings can be organised without paying attraction admission.
Sometimes
the places closest to home are the ones families overlook most often.
20. Let the Kids Choose
Finally,
try something surprisingly simple.
Give the
children several realistic choices and let them decide.
Would they
prefer:
a museum,
a woodland
adventure,
swimming,
a castle,
or an
indoor adventure park?
Parents
still control the budget, travel distance and practical details, but children
get some ownership of the decision.
This can
dramatically increase enthusiasm for the day.
It's much
harder to complain about going to the museum when you're the person who chose
the museum.
What Can We Do This Weekend if It's Raining?
Rain
doesn't need to cancel the weekend.
Museums,
aquariums, swimming pools, indoor waterparks, trampoline parks, climbing
centres and indoor adventure parks can all provide weatherproof options.
Some
historical attractions also have substantial indoor sections. English Heritage,
for example, highlights locations including Dover Castle, Stonehenge, Down
House and Bolsover Castle as possibilities when the weather is poor.
It's worth
keeping a short list of indoor attractions within an hour of home.
Then when
Saturday morning arrives with heavy rain, you already have several
alternatives.
What Can We Do This Weekend for Free?
Free family
days out are easier to find than many parents realise.
Try a
forest walk, beach trip, nature hunt, bike ride, picnic or visit to a large
local park.
Many
museums also provide free general admission.
Take food
and drinks from home and you can potentially create an entire family day out
for little more than the cost of transport.
Children
don't measure the quality of a family day according to the ticket price.
An
afternoon building a dam in a woodland stream can sometimes produce better
memories than an expensive attraction.
What Can We Do with Toddlers This Weekend?
Keep things
simple.
Toddlers
don't necessarily need enormous attractions.
A farm
park, playground, children's museum, aquarium, swimming pool or short woodland
walk can provide plenty of entertainment.
Avoid
creating an itinerary that requires them to behave perfectly for eight hours.
Two or
three enjoyable hours followed by lunch can be far more successful.
Also plan
around naps where possible.
The
difference between a happy toddler and an exhausted toddler can completely
transform the family day.
What Can We Do with Teenagers This Weekend?
Teenagers
may need more involvement in choosing the activity.
Try indoor
climbing, ninja courses, major theme parks, waterparks, kayaking, cycling or
interactive technology museums.
Older
children may also enjoy historical attractions when the subject connects with
their interests.
A teenager
interested in aircraft might enjoy an aviation museum, while a gamer could
become fascinated by a computing museum.
The key is
moving away from the idea of finding something generically "family
friendly" and identifying something your teenager actually wants to do.
Always Have a Backup Plan
British
weather makes flexibility essential.
If your
main plan involves spending six hours outside, identify an indoor alternative
nearby.
Check
opening times before leaving home, particularly outside the main tourist
season.
For paid
attractions, investigate whether advance booking is required and whether
booking online is cheaper.
It's also
worth checking what's happening specifically on the weekend you're visiting.
Castles,
museums, National Trust properties and other attractions frequently run
temporary family events, seasonal trails and activities that can make a
familiar destination feel completely different.
The Best Weekend Doesn't Need to Be
Complicated
Parents can
put enormous pressure on themselves to organise amazing experiences every
weekend.
Children
usually don't need that.
They need
opportunities to explore, play and spend time together.
One weekend
that might mean screaming on a rollercoaster at a theme park.
The next
might involve walking through a forest collecting sticks.
Another
could mean spending a rainy afternoon experimenting inside a science museum.
The UK has
an enormous variety of family attractions, but some of the best days require
little more than comfortable shoes, packed sandwiches and somewhere new to
explore.
So when
Friday arrives and someone asks, "What are we doing this weekend?",
you now have at least 20 answers.