Best family activity holidays in the UK

Spending time on a family adventure holiday in the UK with your family can be fun, healthy, and provide you with ways to reconnect.

A holiday can be a perfect way to soak up new places and sights and give yourself a break from your normal routine.

Banish boredom and spend time outside mastering new activities – from family bushcraft camps, archery, rock climbing and water sports.

Why are family holidays so important?

An adventure family holiday can leave you returning home happy and relaxed, with lots of fun memories from your time away. Tying new activities helps build confidence, endurance and improves confidence.

Activity holidays offer a break from your usual routine, giving you all a chance to try new activities and even new food.

We have rounded up a mix of budget friendly holidays in the UK that offers something for everyone.

PGL Family Adventure Holidays

One of the best family adventure holiday providers, PGL have two family super centres in the UK and are shortly due to be re-introducing its Northern France centre.

Each unique centre has loads of outside areas to explore, meaning quality time in the great outdoors just got easier. Families can enjoy trips of 2, 3 or 4 nights.

Youngers and adults can try out various activities on their action-packed holiday, with fencing, archery, kayaking, and talent shows available as part of their evening entertainment.

Having been on a mid-week break with PGL at Caythorpe Court with the family before, I can promise you that memories are made like no other kind of holiday.

All your food is included in the price, plus organised activities from sun up to late – for all ages.

We did activities such as paddle boarding (the MOST fun!), raft building, zip lining, high wire obstacle courses, and rifle shooting.

There were also slightly more relaxed group activities like treasure hunts, challenges, campfire sing-alongs, film nights, pool and dart competitions, and general times to play and relax.

Wildlife and water fun with Haven

Haven’s Yorkshire-based Thornwick Bay Holiday Village offers everything for families to experience a mix of nature, rock pooling, good food, water sports and great accommodation.

Book survival skills sessions to learn fire-lighting, shelter building and foraging all along the beautiful Yorkshire coast.

Check out more of the best Haven parks (Spoiler alert: Thornwick Bay is in the top 10!)

Surfing with The National Trust

National Trust has launched a range of family adventure cottage stays in Pembrokeshire.

Cottages offer rustic charm and are a short stroll from stunning beaches. Nearby is one of the best surfing beaches around, with instructors on hand.

Bottlenose dolphins can be seen off the coast, sandy beaches to explore, and mouth-watering local fish and chips to tuck into after an action-packed day.

Outdoor holidays in Wales

Relax in the Welsh countryside with Acorn Adventures – an adventure holiday camp in South Wales.

Enjoy time together with a choice of glamping pods or pre-erected tents.

Adults can join in the fun and try paddle boarding or other watersports.

Evening entertainment, such as discos and talent shows are held in an indoor area at night.

Bluestone National Park – Wales

No matter what the time of year, a memorable experience is promised when you stay in the ancient woodland of Bluestone National Park.

There’s a range of accommodation and activities – all with free-range farming in mind. Bring your wellies for an activity holiday perfect to relax and fantastic for kids.

Bluestone Wales has more details.

A farm stay in Devon

Book a glamping family activity break with a nature experience near the coast of Devon with Brownscombe Luxury Glamping.

You can take your dog, and explore nearby woods and meadows. Collect eggs from the farm’s chickens, and feed pigs and ducks.

There’s an on-site games room and go-karts for mini-thrill seekers. Glamping with log burners is available.

Myths and legends in Northern Ireland

Wilderness Ireland offers trips for families to enjoy an outdoor experience on the Emerald Isle.

Be captivated by the magical Causeway Coast where you will experience nature and history. Visit the Giant’s Causeway, try a canoe expedition in the sea and spend a day at the Titanic in Belfast.

Don your walking boots to explore Gobbins Path and enjoy an overnight stay on Rathlin Island – the area’s largest seabird colony for a true family adventure.

Bushcraft adventure holidays in the UK

Enjoy an off-grid adventure and family adventure by spending time together in ancient woodland in the Gower Peninsula, South West Wales.

Mum and Dad can master navigation and survival skills whilst kids can learn ways to track animals and people. Make new friends and memories on this action-packed outdoor holiday.

Visit Dryad Bushcraft for more.

Forest Holidays in Scotland

Book a loch-side cosy cabin amongst the rugged Scottish landscape with Forest Holidays Scotland.

Unplug and get outside to explore local wildlife, go fishing, get active on a mountain bike or have a go at gorge scrambling.

Some cabins have hot tubs and log burners. Perfect for a cosy family holiday together. Weekend breaks are also available.

Beachside fun in Cornwall

Pentewan Sands is a 5-star rating mile-long private beach with plenty of adrenalin-fuelled activities.

This waterfront holiday park is perfect for mini thrill seekers.

Camping and holiday homes are available.

The Youth Hostel Association

Ideal for lovers of the outdoors, you can discover hidden gems, sandy beaches and city centres as the YHA offer a mix of hostels throughout the UK.

Their adventure camp programme includes biking, water sports, cycling and walking holidays.

Kingswood Adventures, various locations

Children can experience nighttime walks, campfires, abseiling and archery on a life-changing holiday with their families at Kingswood Adventures.

There are 11 centres across the UK, including the Isle of Wight, Kent, Norfolk, Yorkshire and Wales. Kingswood has been running adult and children’s residential holidays for over 30 years.

Activities are linked to the natural world, so there is plenty on offer and fantastic experiences for kids and adults.

JCA family adventure

JCA offer family adventure holidays in their Grade 1 manor house in the Shropshire countryside.

Accommodation includes multi-bedded dorms perfect for families, en-suite facilities and plenty of food on site. Nestled in the English countryside there are plenty of outdoor activities included.

You can experience history and the countryside, with the chance to try zip wires, water sports, and buggy building, all with fully trained instructors.

Why go on a family adventure holiday?

You’ll pack loads of fun into your holiday, creating new memories and sharing experiences together.

What is so good about a family holiday in the UK?

With a holiday closer to home, you have no lengthy airport transfers or passports to remember.

A family staycation offers the perfect way to spend quality time together.

Can I have a family adventure holiday on a budget?

Absolutely!

There are budget-friendly hostels and camping sites available around the UK.

You can create your own exciting adventures which don’t need to cost much – such as rock pooling, walking, cycling and building campfires. Book ahead, plan days out and look out for money-off vouchers for meals during your stay.

While it may not be an action-packed holiday, you could use Sun holiday codes to get a £9.50 break away.