1 Edinburgh
Pull in at Edinburgh Waverley and you’re just steps from the free-to-enter Museum of Childhood, packed with toys, dolls and games past and present. Older kids will like the Edinburgh Dungeon, a 70-minute underground journey with thrilling rides and spooky shows, while Edinburgh Castle appeals to all ages, thanks to its rugged ramparts, cannons and historic highlights, such as the Scottish crown jewels and ancient weaponry.
Travel for two adults and two children from Newcastle to Edinburgh costs £75.10 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £57.40).*
2 Kendal
The gateway to the Lake District is all cobbled lanes and cake-filled tea shops. Burn off excess energy with a hike to the ruins of 12th-century Kendal Castle, set on a hill high above town, with 360-degree views and plenty of space for mini knights to run riot. Four miles away is Lakeland Maze Farm Park, with animals, trampolines, tractor rides and a huge maze to get lost in. Wet weekend? Hit Kendal Wall, a fantastic indoor space with climbing walls, boulders and aerial adventures for all abilities.
Travel for two adults and two children from Manchester Piccadilly to Kendal costs £36.40 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £27.80).*
3 Newquay
Cornwall’s surfing hotspot is a great place for the whole family to hit the waves, with Fistral beach’s surf schools offering year-round lessons, plus paddleboarding. Rain stopped play? See blacktip reef sharks and loggerhead turtles at the Blue Reef Aquarium, or explore shipwrecks and caves at Pirate’s Quest, an indoor adventure park focused on Cornwall’s buccaneering past.
Travel for two adults and two children from Exeter St David’s to Newquay costs £32.50 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £24.80).*
Climbing at Kendal Wall; the beach at Margate; surfing at the Wave, Bristol
4 Warwick
For one of THE best family days out in the UK, head to 900-year-old Warwick Castle. From jousting tournaments and falconry displays to a Horrible Histories maze and a giant, missile-flinging trebuchet, there’s so much to do here you’ll want to stay longer than a day – which is handy, as there’s a Knight’s Village with tents and lodges for overnight visits. And it’s all just a 15-minute walk from Warwick station.
Travel for two adults and two children from Birmingham Snow Hill to Warwick costs £14.30 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £10.90).*
5 Bristol
Board the world’s first ocean liner, Brunel’s SS Great Britain, visit the aquarium, test your skills at the Wave surfing centre or conquer the high-rope adventure course. This family-friendly city has more than enough to keep everyone occupied, and Bristol Temple Meads station is close to all of it.
Travel for two adults and two children from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads costs £104.40 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £79.80).*
6 Margate
With its wide sandy beach and central station, Britain’s hippest town is perfect for a great day out by the seaside. And when you’re not splashing around in the sea, there’s Dreamland pleasure park with its retro rides to enjoy. The shell grotto (underground passageways lined with millions of shells) and seafront fish and chips are also essential.
Travel for two adults and two children from London Victoria to Margate costs £42.90 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £32.70).*
Canoeing at Warwick Castle; New Forest ponies; the Shambles, York
7 York
Compact and bursting with character, this northern city makes an ideal place to reach by train and explore by foot. Pre-book tickets for the Jorvik Viking Centre, which invites kids to travel back in time to discover how our ancestors lived and hunted. Check out the Harry Potter-esque cobbled streets and wonky houses in the Shambles, then tire out the small ones by walking the city ramparts and the York Cat Trail: dozens of feline sculptures dotted around the city for young explorers to spot.
Travel for two adults and two children from Leeds to York costs £26.70 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £20.40).*
8 Brockenhurst
Step off the train straight into the heart of the New Forest, home to semi-wild ponies, often spotted ambling around town. Don’t fancy walking? Hire bikes from Cyclexperience at the station to explore the woodland, meadows and coast on super-safe trails (taking one to four hours), spotting deer, highland cattle and ponies as you ride. Back in town, the Snakecatcher pub has a play area, kids’ menu and games.
Travel for two adults and two children from Southampton Airport Parkway to Brockenhurst costs £15.50 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £11.80).*
9 Llandudno
Kick off a trip to this north Wales town by hiking up limestone headland Great Orme (or hitch a ride to the summit on the UK’s longest cable car). Young kids will love Happy Valley, dotted with Alice in Wonderland sculptures, while older children will want to hit Llandudno Snowsports, open year-round for snowboard and ski lessons and a challenging toboggan run. End your adventure with fairground rides and ice-cream on the town’s Victorian promenade.
Travel for two adults and two children from Stoke on Trent to Llandudno costs £76.90 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £58.70).*
10 London
Whichever station you pull into, from St Pancras to Liverpool Street, you’re less than half an hour from the Natural History Museum which is a) free b) big enough not to feel too crowded and c) Britain’s best museum for kids. Pack a picnic for lunch in Hyde Park (top playgrounds) then head to Greenwich (take the boat from Westminster Pier for sightseeing fun on the Thames) to explore the park, Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark, and to stand on the Meridian Line.
Travel for two adults and two children from Leicester to London Euston costs £109.60 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £83.90).*
Found the top spot for your next en masse adventure? Save on your travel with a Family & Friends Railcard, cutting up to 60% off kids’ (5-15) tickets and 1/3 off adult fares for only £30 a year, so you’ll have more money to spend on high-octane activities and ice-cream. Get yours at railcard.co.uk. Plus, get two-for–one entry to nationwide attractions – from Cutty Sark and Dreamland to Warwick Castle – when you travel there by train. Find out more at daysoutguide.co.uk
* Prices based on same-day standard return travel off-peak on 31 August, as checked on 29 July
