Six weeks is a long time. Long enough for "I'm bored" to become a daily soundtrack. This guide covers 15 summer holiday activities for kids that actually work – a mix of free outdoor days out, easy home ideas, and day trips worth planning. Something for every age, every budget, and every kind of British summer weather.
What can you do with kids during the summer holidays in the UK?
The best summer holiday activities for kids in the UK include beach days and coastal walks, nature trails and forest hikes, picnics in the park, farm visits and pick-your-own fruit, theme parks, zoos and wildlife parks, cycling routes, free museum days, and rainy day options like indoor climbing and science centres. Many activities are free or low cost and need little planning.
15 summer holiday activities for kids and families
1. A day at the beach
The UK has over 11,000 miles of coastline, which means a beach is rarely far away. Rock pooling, sandcastle building, paddling and coastal walks keep children entertained for hours without spending a penny. Beaches like Bamburgh in Northumberland, Woolacombe in Devon and Tenby in Wales consistently rank among the best for families.
Tip: Arrive early to get a good spot and avoid the midday heat. Pack a cool bag – beach café prices add up fast.
2. Pick-your-own fruit
Pick-your-own farms are one of the most relaxed and genuinely enjoyable summer holiday activities for kids. Strawberries are at their peak in June and July, with raspberries, blueberries and blackcurrants following through August. Many farms have playgrounds and cafés, making it a full morning out. Find your nearest farm at pickyourownfarms.org.uk.
Tip: Go in the morning – the best fruit goes quickly on warm days.
3. National Trust or country park day out
The UK's network of country parks, National Trust properties and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty gives families an enormous range of free or affordable days out. Whether it's exploring castle grounds, walking coastal paths or letting children loose in a woodland adventure playground, there is something within reach of most postcodes. Use nationaltrust.org.uk to find properties near you.
Tip: National Trust membership pays for itself quickly if you visit two or three times over the summer.
4. Cycling as a family
A family bike ride is one of the easiest and most rewarding summer holiday activities for kids. The UK's National Cycle Network covers over 12,000 miles of routes, many of them traffic-free and suitable for younger riders. Sustrans.org.uk has a route finder for every part of the country. Build in a stop for ice cream – it makes the return journey considerably more popular.
5. Visit a zoo or wildlife park
A zoo or wildlife park is a reliable summer holiday activity for kids of all ages – educational without feeling like it. Three strong options across the UK:
- Chester Zoo – one of the UK's most visited, strong conservation focus
- Longleat Safari Park (Wiltshire) – drive-through safari experience
- Edinburgh Zoo – home to the UK's only giant pandas
Tip: Book online in advance – almost always cheaper and avoids queuing at the gate.
6. Theme park day
For a bigger day out, theme parks deliver. The main options for families in the UK:
- Alton Towers (Staffordshire) – best for older children and thrill rides
- Legoland Windsor – ideal for ages 3 to 12
- Drayton Manor (Staffordshire) – strong for younger children with Thomas Land
Tip: Midweek visits are significantly less crowded than weekends in July and August.
7. Free museum day
The UK's national museums are free to enter and genuinely world-class. The Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum in London are the obvious choices, but regional museums are equally strong – the National Railway Museum in York, the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and the Kelvingrove in Glasgow are all outstanding and free. Perfect for a rainy day or a break from outdoor activities.
8. Camping or glamping
An overnight camping trip is one of those summer holiday activities for kids that creates memories that stick. It does not need to be elaborate – a tent in a local campsite with a campfire, marshmallows and a clear sky is enough. If under canvas feels too ambitious, glamping sites across the UK offer a comfortable middle ground. Pitchup.com is a good starting point for finding sites.
Tip: Book well ahead for July and August – popular sites fill up months in advance.
9. Homemade bubble mix and outdoor art
Not every summer holiday activity for kids needs to involve travel. Homemade bubble mix (washing up liquid, water and a small amount of glycerine) costs almost nothing and keeps younger children entertained for a surprisingly long time. Extend it with bubble print art – blow coloured bubbles onto paper for patterns children can take indoors. Good for a morning at home when you need a break from planning.
10. Xplora activity platform
If your child has an Xplora kids smartwatch, they can take part in monthly activity campaigns through the GoPlay platform. Every 1,000 steps earns X-coins redeemable for rewards, games and exclusive stories. A good way to keep children active and motivated through the holidays – including on the quieter days at home.
11. Indoor climbing or trampoline park
Soft play has an age limit, but indoor climbing walls and trampoline parks do not. Both are excellent rainy day summer holiday activities for kids from around 5 upwards, and they burn through energy faster than almost anything else. Most towns and cities have at least one option – search locally for the nearest centre.
12. Fishing
A fishing trip is one of the most genuinely calming summer holiday activities for families. Find a local lake, river or stretch of coastline and let patience do the work. Children under 13 do not need a rod licence for freshwater fishing in England and Wales. The conversation and the waiting are the point, not the catch.
Tip: Check gov.uk/fishing-licences for current rules. Sea fishing from the shore requires no licence..
13. Blackberry picking
From late July into August, blackberry bushes appear along most UK footpaths, hedgerows and woodland edges. Picking them is free, the children love it, and you come home with enough fruit for a crumble or jam. A slow, meandering walk with a purpose – one of the simplest summer holiday activities for kids that requires nothing but a container and a walk.
Tip: Pick berries that are fully black and come off the bush easily. Rinse before eating.
14. Historical town or castle day trip
The UK has more castles per square mile than almost anywhere in the world. A day trip to a castle or historic town is both a day out and a low-key history lesson. Strong choices for families include Warwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, Caernarfon Castle in Wales and Edinburgh Castle. English Heritage and Cadw sites often offer family tickets that represent good value.
15. Science centre or interactive museum
For a rainy day with more structure, science centres are among the best summer holiday activities for kids who like to explore and experiment. Top options across the UK include We The Curious in Bristol, the Centre for Life in Newcastle, Glasgow Science Centre and the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester – most of which are free or low cost.
Tip: Check opening times and pre-book where possible during peak summer weeks.
Keep track of the kids wherever the day takes you
Many of the activities above involve children ranging a little further than arms reach – exploring rock pools, running ahead on a trail, or getting lost in a crowd at a theme park. A kids smartwatch lets you follow their location in real time from your phone and means they can call you with a single tap. No internet access, no social media – just GPS, calling and peace of mind.
The best free summer holiday activities for kids in the UK include beach days, walks in national parks and country parks, cycling on traffic-free routes, sea fishing from the shore, blackberry picking and visits to the UK's free national museums. Many local councils also run free or low-cost summer holiday programmes – check your local authority website for what's available in your area.
Good rainy day summer holiday activities for kids include indoor climbing walls, trampoline parks, science centres, free national museums, soft play for younger children, home arts and crafts, and baking. Most UK cities have a science centre or interactive museum within easy reach that works well for a wet day out.
For children between 4 and 8, the best summer holiday activities tend to combine freedom of movement with a clear goal – picking fruit, building sandcastles, catching a fish or spotting animals at a wildlife park. Good options include pick-your-own farms, beach days, Legoland, zoos, nature trails and easy cycling routes. Keep activities varied and avoid long periods of waiting.
Summer holidays in the UK typically start in mid to late July for most state schools, depending on the local authority, and run through to early September – usually around six weeks in total. School dates vary across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so check your school's calendar for exact dates.
Cycling routes, camping trips, coastal walks, fishing and castle day trips are summer holiday activities that work well for mixed ages. They combine physical activity, time outdoors and shared experience without requiring one group to wait for another. Pick-your-own farms and blackberry picking also work across all ages and are a good choice when you want something low-key and genuinely enjoyable for everyone.
