Best Family Holiday Destinations in the UK

Trying to pin down the best holiday destination for your family can feel like a job in itself – there’s just so much lovely coastline, countryside and cosy corners to choose from. 

So we’ve put together our own list, drawing on the four corners of the country we know and love best: Cornwall, the Lake District, Norfolk and the New Forest. Whatever your brood looks like – toddlers in tow, teens who’d rather be anywhere else or three generations under one roof – there’s a holiday with your name on it.

Key takeaways:

1. Cornwall, the Lake District, Norfolk and the New Forest each bring something different to a family holiday – from sandy beaches to fell walks and quiet woodland.
2. The best family friendly holiday destinations tend to combine easy days out, space to roam and accommodation that takes the pressure off parents (hello, hot tubs and free kids’ activities).
3. Holiday parks make for great UK family breaks, since everything is usually right on your doorstep.

Cornwall: sandy beaches and coastal adventure

Cornwall is the destination people picture when they think of a family holiday in the UK – and it’s easy to see why. Golden beaches, rock pooling, surf lessons and fish and chips by the harbour make for pretty much the perfect family holiday recipe.

We’ve got four parks dotted across this stretch of coastline: Sun Haven Holiday Park, a short woodland walk from Mawgan Porth’s award-winning beach; Padstow Holiday Village, close to the harbour town’s famous fish and chips and the Camel Trail for family cycling; Cornish Meadows Holiday Park near Hayle, handy for St Ives and its dog-friendly beaches; and Penmarlam Lodge Retreat, a quieter hideaway just across the river from pretty Fowey.

Little ones will love the rock pools and gentle surf, older kids can try their hand at coasteering or paddleboarding and there’s no shortage of National Trust gardens and castles to explore on a rainy day. Cornwall is a strong pick whether you’re after a lively family friendly holiday destination or something a little more low-key.

Discover: family friendly holidays in Cornwall

Lake District: fells, water and wide-open space

For families who’d rather swap sandcastles for stepping stones, the Lake District is one of the best UK family activity holidays going. There’s something wonderfully freeing about a Lake District break – big skies, proper hills and lakes that beg to be paddled, swum in, or sailed across.

Our own Herdwick Croft Holiday Park sits between Bassenthwaite Lake and the surrounding fells, making it a lovely, peaceful base for exploring one of the quieter corners of the National Park. Younger children tend to love the wildlife (ospreys nest nearby in season), while older kids and teens can get stuck into ghyll scrambling, mountain biking, or a proper fell walk with a well-earned ice cream at the end. Market towns like Keswick are close by too, for cosy cafés on a wetter day.

Norfolk: big skies and even bigger beaches

If your family holiday wish list includes wide, uncrowded beaches, wildlife spotting and the kind of pace that lets everyone actually switch off, Norfolk and Suffolk deserve a spot on your shortlist of the best family holiday destinations in the UK.

Waxham Sands Holiday Park puts you just steps from Horsey Gap beach and its resident colony of grey seals – a highlight for young children (and adults). A little further along the coast, Golden Beach Holiday Park sits right in the village of Sea Palling, with its own Blue Flag beach on the doorstep, while Azure Seas Holiday Village offers an owners-only escape just over the Suffolk border. Add in the Norfolk Broads for boating, and family favourites like BeWILDerwood and Wroxham Barns close by, and you’ve got plenty to fill even a longer stay.

Family ready stays in Norfolk

New Forest: ponies, woodland and easy days out

The New Forest is a brilliant choice for families who want the reassurance of proper facilities without losing that “getting away from it all” feeling. Free-roaming ponies, ancient woodland trails and easy access to the coast make it a genuinely versatile base.

Green Hill Farm Holiday Village, our only New Forest park, sits with direct access into the National Park itself – so spying a pony or two on your morning walk is pretty much guaranteed. On site, younger children have a mud kitchen, junior trampolines and a splash pad to burn off energy, while older kids can cycle the forest’s many family-friendly trails. It’s an easy drive to the coast too, for a beach day whenever the mood takes you.

The best family holiday destinations for every occasion

Best for a Christmas or December family holiday

A holiday park at Christmas has a lovely, cosy magic to it – think twinkling lights, warm lodges and cold walks that end in hot chocolate. The New Forest and Lake District both come into their own in December, with woodland walks that feel proper festive and towns nearby that lean nicely into the season.

Best for October half term

October half term calls for a destination that still delivers when the weather turns. Cornwall handles this beautifully, with dramatic coastal walks, cosy pubs and enough indoor attractions (aquariums, museums, soft play) to fill a rainy afternoon without anyone getting restless.

Best for Easter half term

Easter is that lovely in-between time – warmer days, but still quiet enough to have a beach largely to yourselves. Norfolk and Suffolk are wonderful for this, with space to roam, seals to spot and none of the peak-summer crowds.

Best for summer holidays

Come the summer holidays, you want a destination with genuine staying power over a week or two. Cornwall and the New Forest both shine here, offering enough variety – beaches, activities, day trips – to keep every age entertained without repeating yourselves by day four.

Best for large family holiday destinations

If you’re travelling as a bigger group – grandparents, cousins, the lot – look for a destination with plenty of accommodation close together and enough to do that nobody’s fighting over the itinerary. Norfolk and Suffolk fit the bill nicely, with a good spread of holiday homes and easy days out that suit all ages and energy levels. 

Generally, staying at a holiday park helps fit large groups of multiple different families, as you can stay close to one another in individual holiday homes on the same site, and get together when it suits you.

Best young family holiday destinations

With toddlers and young children in tow, the priority shifts to easy logistics: short journeys between activities, gentle beaches and stays with a bit of extra space (aka: somewhere for an afternoon nap). The New Forest and Norfolk both tick these boxes nicely, with calm beaches and free, low-key activities built in.

Best teenage family holiday destinations

Teenagers want a bit more independence and a lot more adrenaline. Cornwall and the Lake District both deliver here, from surf lessons and coasteering on the coast to mountain biking and ghyll scrambling inland – the kind of activities that get a “yeah, actually, that was pretty good” out of even the most reluctant teen.

What to do with kids and teens in the New Forest: our guide

FAQs: Our favourite family holiday destinations in the UK

Where is the best place to go on holiday with kids in the UK?

It really depends on what your family enjoys most. Cornwall is a brilliant all-rounder for beach-loving families, the Lake District suits those who love the outdoors and a bit of adventure while Norfolk delivers for families wanting space, wildlife and quieter beaches.

What are the best UK family activity holidays?

The Lake District is hard to beat for activity-packed family holidays, with fell walking, watersports, mountain biking and ghyll scrambling all on the doorstep. Cornwall runs a close second, especially for families keen on surfing, coasteering and paddleboarding.

What are some unique UK family holidays?

Glamping in a safari tent or shepherd’s hut with your own hot tub is a lovely way to make a family holiday feel a bit special, and staying somewhere with direct access to New Forest ponies or a seal colony on the beach (as at Waxham Sands) gives a holiday a memorable edge that a standard cottage break might not.

Where to go for 3 nights in the UK with kids?

For a shorter break, it’s worth picking somewhere that doesn’t need a long drive to feel worth it. The New Forest and Norfolk are both good choices for a 3-night family trip, since there’s plenty to do close to your accommodation without needing to travel far each day.

What’s the best holiday park in the UK for families?

That’s rather like asking us to pick a favourite child. Each of our parks brings something different: Sun Haven for beach access in Cornwall, Herdwick Croft for Lake District fells, Waxham Sands and Golden Beach for Norfolk’s wildlife and wide sands, and Green Hill Farm for New Forest ponies right on your doorstep. Why not see if you can find a favourite park for your family?

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