UK Road Trips for Families

From the wild mountain ranges of the Scottish highlands to the picturesque beaches of the southern English coast: the U.K is home to a diversity of beautiful destinations that are perfect for family road trips.

Snowdonia National Park, Wales

Snowdonia National Park, Wales

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of the UK: Wales’ largest national park is easily drivable from all over the country and boasts a range of scenic landscapes, from stunning mountains (including Snowdon, the tallest peak in Wales and England), to historic castles and picturesque beaches.

Where to visit

Climb Cadar Idris

At the southern end of the park, this 893 metre-tall mountain is one of the more family-friendly to climb, and with it’s striking, crater lake, is one of the most beautiful.

Shell Island

This picturesque peninsula is home to a number of great beaches, and a 300-acre campsite.

Harlech Castle

This beautiful 13th-century, coastal fortress is a World Heritage Site and is home to a museum and gallery, whilst also offering stunning views both of the sea, and the mountains.

Dorset, South-West England

Durdle Door, Dorset

This picturesque English county is home to the Jurassic Coast, a beautiful stretch of rugged coastline containing ancient fossils and unique rock formations. Its numerous, tranquil beaches and pretty villages are connected by winding country roads which offer views out over the English Channel, making Dorset a perfect destination for a family road trip.

Where to visit

Durdle Door

This natural limestone arch juts out into the sea and is one of the most famous and beautiful in the world.

Bournemouth

The county’s largest town is home to a number of sandy beaches, and offers an array of family orientated attractions including the Oceanarium, Rock Reef Activity Centre, and Splashdown Waterpark.

Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre

This 65-acre rescue centre is home to over 250 monkeys and apes encompassing 20 different species.

The Highlands and Isle of Skye, Scotland

Eilean Donan Castle

The largest of the inner-hebrides islands, Skye is connected to Scotland’s northwest coast by bridge, and is home to a diversity of truly spectacular, rugged landscapes, medieval castles, and pretty beaches.

The A87 route runs through the famed Scottish Highlands and is one of the most scenic stretches of road in the world, lined with mountains, lochs and breathtaking countryside.

Where to visit

Eilean Donan Castle

Located on a small, tidal island, at the meeting point of three lochs, this thirteenth-century castle is truly spectacular, and is a must visit on your route to Skye.

Fairy Pools

These beautiful natural waterfalls and striking blue pools are surrounded by beautiful landscapes home to a variety of animals including rabbits and red deer.

Claigan Coral Beach

Despite its name, this magnificent beach isn’t actually made from coral but sun-bleached algae. It offers impressive views over the loch and its islands, and is also home to a variety of birds and seals.

The Cotswolds

The village of Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswolds.

The largest Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB), in the UK: the Cotswolds is the perfect place for a road trip, home to charming villages, rolling hills, and lush valleys, connected by winding country lanes.

Where to visit

Cotswold Farm Park

Home to 50 different species of British rare-breed animals, the farm offers a host of educational activities including a farm safari, rare breeds trail and wildlife walk.

Cirencester

This pretty market town is the largest in the Cotswolds and is home to a variety of family-orientated attractions including, The Corinium Museum, which boasts one of the UK’s most extensive collections of British-Roman Artefacts, and offers a host of child-friendly activities including treasure hunts and creative workshops.

Cotswolds Water Park

This 40 acre park boasts an incredible 150 lakes, and is home to a variety of flora and fauna, as well as a number of scenic walking trails, bird watching spots and watersports.

Norfolk

Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk

Somewhat of an under-the-radar destination, this rural county is dominated by picture-perfect countryside, dotted with quaint villages, colourful fields, and pretty woodland, whilst its beautiful coastline includes the stunning, auburn cliffs of Hunstanton.

Where to visit

Pensthorpe Natural Park

This nature reserve and conservation park encompasses 700 acres of woodland, lakes and gardens which are home to an array of interesting plants and wildlife. They offer a range of family-friendly activities and attractions, including myriad walking trails and a giant, outdoor adventure playground.

Hunstanton

This Victorian seaside town is renowned for its striking, striped cliffs, but it is also home to a beach and an aquarium which houses a seal-rescue centre.

Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens

The gardens of this former stately-home are home to a collection of rare Asian animals including crocodiles, tigers and several species of monkey.

The Pennines

High Force Waterfalls, North Pennines

This vast range of hills and mountains is known as ‘the backbone of England’ and encompasses wild, dramatic landscapes, home to an array of roman ruins whilst its northern region is the second largest designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in England.

Where to visit

Visit Hadrian's Wall

This magnificent 73 mile-long Roman fortification is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the most impressive Roman ruins in the UK.

Derwent Gorge North Pennine Birdwalk

This wooded area is a national nature reserve home to a number of unusual plants, and numerous species of migratory birds.

Weardale Adventure Centre

Located in the heart of the beautiful North Pennines, the centre offers a range of family-friendly activities including: canoeing and kayaking, rock climbing and caving.

Cornwall

Newquay, Cornwall

England's southwestern county is a magical place, home to many of the country’s best beaches as well as scenic, wild moorland and a host of picturesque towns and villages. It is blessed with one of the best climates in the country, as well as its warmest waters, and with so much to do and see is a perfect destination for a family road trip.

Where to visit

The Eden Project

Located in a former clay mine, The Eden Project comprises a number of large domes which house thousands of rare plant species. Catering for kids of all ages, it is undoubtedly one of the best and most unique family-oriented attractions in the UK, and is easily reached from a number of A-roads.

Newquay

This pretty town in Northern Cornwall is famed for its surfing, but it also offers an array of fun things to do for all the family including, a zoo, an aquarium, and numerous sandy beaches.

Cornish Seal Sanctuary

This sanctuary for injured seal pups is located in the small riverside village of Gweek, just off the A3083, and in addition to seals, is also home to penguins, sea-lions and otters.

Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Port Patrick Harbour, Dumfries & Galloway

Adjacent to the English border this beautiful and often overlooked Scottish county, boasts medieval castles, spectacular rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, and vast forests, connected by winding, country roads.

Where to visit

Caerlaverock Castle

There are a number of well-preserved castles in the region, of which Caerlaverock - a magnificent, medieval fortress built from red sandstone and surrounded by a triangular-shaped moat - is undoubtedly one of the most impressive.

Mabie Farm Park

This former dairy farm on the fringes of the stunning Mabie Forest is home to an array of animals and offers a host of family-friendly activities including animal feeding, donkey rides and quad biking.

Dino Park

This vast park is littered with life-sized dinosaur models, and also has a soft play and indoor play area.

The Lake District

Lake Windermere

This national park in Northern England, is blessed with some of England’s most breathtaking landscapes, from spectacular mountain ranges to evergreen forests. There are numerous great places to stay and family-friendly activities to do, as well as myriad scenic driving routes offering breathtaking views of the surroundings.

Where to visit

Go Ape - Grizedale Forest

Situated in a beautiful area of woodland dotted with interesting sculptures and hiking trails, this large adventure centre is home to a complex of treetop walkways and ziplines.

Lake Windermere

Surrounded by a striking mountainous panorama, the region's largest lake is truly beautiful, and can be explored by boat, canoe or kayak.

Lowther Castle

This 19th century castle ruin is set within a beautiful, large garden, home to a cafe and shop, along with one of the country’s largest adventure playgrounds.

County Antrim, N.Ireland

Giants Causeway

This beautiful county was one of the primary filming locations for the HBO series Game of Thrones, and is a wild and magical place, home to castle ruins, rugged glens, and the world-famous Giants causeway, as well as numerous coastal roads which boast spectacular ocean views.

Where to visit

Giants Causeway

This UNESCO World Heritage site on Ireland’s beautiful Northern coast, encompasses 40,000 basalt columns, and is undoubtedly one of the world's most spectacular natural rock formations.

Dunluce Castle

The ruins of this medieval castle are located on a coastal outcrop connected to the mainland by a rope bridge and surrounded by stunning landscapes.

Glens of Antrim

The mythical glens of Antrim is an area of incredible natural beauty, encompassing a range of scenic landscapes including the beautiful Glenariff forest park, home to an array of flora and fauna, picturesque waterfalls, and a number of family-friendly hiking trails.