Best Day Trips from London with Kids: 40+ Family Days Out Worth the Journey

Feel like you’ve done every possible day out in London with your kids and teens? Then it might be time to widen your horizons and the good news is that not only are some of the best family day trips from London surprisingly easy to reach – they’re genuinely worth the effort.

This guide has something for all ages – toddlers, tweens, teens – from high-energy theme parks and outdoor adventures to clever museums, castles and a few under-the-radar places that make you look like you’ve really done your homework. Some are quick day trips (under an hour if you’re lucky) but, if you’re prepared to get up early and jump on a train for a couple of hours, you’ll find some real treats below.

We’ve included realistic travel times, honest tips on cost, acessibility info courtesy of www.euansguide.com and a clear sense of what each place is really like once you get there. Plus there are loads of reviews by our K-Raters. Look to see if there’s a dedicated page as well for attractions who have partnered with us.

So if you’re looking for places to visit near London with kids, ideas for the school holidays, or just something new for the weekend, this is your go-to list. Pack snacks, lower expectations slightly (always wise), and pick your next adventure.

Big Thrill Days (Theme Parks & High Energy)

Alton Towers & CBeebies Land

From London: ~1hr 30 train + taxi
What is it?: The UK’s biggest theme park with a younger-kid-friendly CBeebies Land built in.
Why kids love it?: They feel like they’re in a proper theme park without being left out of the fun.
Price/Budget Tip: Expensive – book early or through us.
Duration: Full day
Accessible: Good overall, but expect serious walking

Diggerland (Kent)

From London: ~45–60 mins
What is it?: A theme park where kids drive real construction vehicles.
Why kids love it?: Because they’re in control of diggers — chaos, but controlled chaos.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range and fair value.
Duration: 3–5 hours
Accessible: Generally good

Go Ape (Multiple locations)

From London: 30–90 mins
What is it?: Tree-top zip wires and obstacle courses.
Why kids love it?: It feels risky (it isn’t) — which is exactly why they love it.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range; worth it.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Limited (height restrictions)

iFLY Indoor Skydiving

From London: ~35–60 mins – Basingstoke
What is it?: Indoor skydiving in a wind tunnel.
Why kids love it?: Because… flying.
Price/Budget Tip: Expensive for short time but memorable.
Duration: 1–2 hours
Accessible: Good support

Splashdown Waterpark (Poole)

From London: ~2–2.5 hrs
What is it?: Slide-heavy indoor/outdoor waterpark.
Why kids love it?: Speed, splashes, repeat.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range; go off-peak.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Reasonable

Daytona Race Track

From London: ~1–1.5 hrs
What is it?: Junior-friendly karting at a proper race circuit.
Why kids love it?: Feels grown-up and competitive.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range; book ahead.
Duration: 1–2 hours
Accessible: Limited

Campaign Paintball & Laser

From London: ~1 hr
What is it?: Outdoor combat-style games (laser for younger kids).
Why kids love it?: Running, hiding, teamwork — and a bit of chaos.
Price/Budget Tip: Laser = cheaper and less messy.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Limited

Gripped London

From London: ~30 mins drive
What is it?: A high-adrenaline outdoor adventure park with zip lines, aerial courses, speed slides and big “go on then, dare you” energy.
Why kids love it?: It’s all about height, speed and showing off — perfect for tweens and teens who want something that feels properly exciting.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid–high — activities are priced separately, so choose wisely.
Duration: 1.5–3 hours
Accessible: Not buggy-friendly; height restrictions apply
Worth knowing: Best paired with Hobbledown Heath if you’ve got mixed ages but it definitely skews older.

Animal & Outdoor Adventures

Longleat Safari Park

From London: ~1hr 30–2 hrs
What is it?: Drive-through safari plus attractions.
Why kids love it?: Animals right next to you — sometimes on your car.
Price/Budget Tip: Expensive but full-day value.
Duration: Full day
Accessible: Good

Marwell Zoo

From London: ~1hr 20
What is it?: A spacious, calmer zoo.
Why kids love it?: Big animals without the crowds.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid–high but fair.
Duration: 3–5 hours
Accessible: Very good

Twycross Zoo

From London: ~2 hrs
What is it?: A conservation zoo known for primates.
Why kids love it?: Monkeys and apes steal the show.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range.
Duration: 3–4 hours
Accessible: Good

Willows Activity Farm

From London: ~40 mins
What is it?: Farm + play + seasonal events.
Why kids love it?: Animals + soft play + themed days.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range; stay all day to justify it.
Duration: Half/full day
Accessible: Very good

Odds Farm Park

From London: ~45 mins
What is it?: A classic, well-run farm park.
Why kids love it?: Feeding animals + big play zones.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range; good repeat value.
Duration: Half/full day
Accessible: Very good

Hobbledown Heath

From London: ~30 mins
What is it?: A big, imaginative adventure park with animals, themed play villages and one of the best indoor barns you’ll find.
Why kids love it?: Climbing, digging, bouncing and getting properly stuck in — with animals thrown in for good measure.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid–high; book online and go early.
Duration: 3–5 hours
Accessible: Mostly buggy-friendly but expect hills
Worth knowing: Can get very busy — especially indoors when it rains.

Hobbledown Farm

From London: ~40 mins
What is it?: A more old-school farm park version of Hobbledown — less polished, more muddy-boot charm.
Why kids love it?: Simple, hands-on fun with animals and play areas.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range; good value for a few hours.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Generally good but weather-dependent

WildRootz Nature Reserve (Norfolk)

From London: ~2–2.5 hrs
What is it?: Outdoor adventure and nature space.
Why kids love it?: Climbing, exploring, getting muddy.
Price/Budget Tip: Affordable.
Duration: 2–4 hours
Accessible: Limited (natural terrain)

Smart Days (Fun + Educational)

Bletchley Park

From London: ~35–45 mins
What is it?: WWII codebreaking HQ.
Why kids love it?: Spies, secrets, puzzles.
Price/Budget Tip: Excellent — annual pass included.
Duration: 3–4 hours
Accessible: Good

National Museum of Computing

From London: ~45 mins
What is it?: Historic computing museum at Bletchley.
Why kids love it?: Retro tech and interactive elements.
Price/Budget Tip: Good value add-on.
Duration: 1–2 hours
Accessible: Good

Roald Dahl Museum

From London: ~45 mins
What is it?: A small museum about Dahl’s life.
Why kids love it?: Creative and imaginative.
Price/Budget Tip: Good value but short.
Duration: 1.5–2 hours
Accessible: Moderate

River & Rowing Museum

From London: ~1 hr
What is it?: A calm, design-led riverside museum.
Why kids love it?: Interactive exhibits + outdoor space.
Price/Budget Tip: Good value.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Very good

Eureka! The National Children’s Museum (Halifax)

From London: ~2hr 30–3 hrs train
What is it?: A brilliantly hands-on museum built entirely for kids — from running their own mini high street to exploring how the body works.
Why kids love it?: Because they’re in charge — touching, experimenting and making noise is actively encouraged.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range — excellent value for time spent.
Duration: 3–5 hours
Accessible: Very good

Eureka! Science + Discovery (Wirral)

From London: ~2.5–3 hrs
What is it?: The more STEM-focused sibling to Halifax, packed with immersive galleries around science, nature and innovation.
Why kids love it?: Loads to test, try and fiddle with — which is basically the dream.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Very good

Jorvik Viking Centre & DIG (York)

From London: ~2 hrs train
What is it?: An immersive Viking experience (complete with smells) plus a hands-on archaeology centre where kids can dig for finds.
Why kids love it?: Time travel + digging = unbeatable combo.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range; combo tickets help.
Duration: 2–4 hours combined
Accessible: Good but can get busy

The Mary Rose (Portsmouth)

From London: ~1hr 30 train
What is it?: Henry VIII’s warship, raised from the seabed and displayed alongside thousands of artefacts.
Why kids love it?: A real shipwreck story — dramatic, human and slightly eerie.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid–high; best value as part of Dockyard bundle.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Very good

National Space Centre (Leicester)

From London: ~1hr 10
What is it?: A major space museum with interactive galleries and a planetarium.
Why kids love it?: Rockets. Astronauts. Big science done well.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range; strong value.
Duration: 3–4 hours
Accessible: Excellent

Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester

From London: ~2–2.5 hrs
What is it?: A friendly, manageable museum packed with vintage buses and trams.
Why kids love it?: They can get up close — sometimes climb aboard.
Price/Budget Tip: Good value.
Duration: 1–2 hours
Accessible: Good

National Waterfront Museum (Swansea)

From London: ~3 hrs
What is it? A modern, interactive museum exploring Welsh industry and innovation.
Why kids love it? Buttons, machines and space to explore.
Price/Budget Tip: Free — which makes it a no-brainer.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Excellent

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge (Canterbury)

From London: ~1 hr
What is it?: A quirky mix of museum, gallery and library in a striking building.
Why kids love it?: It’s varied, slightly odd and never boring.
Price/Budget Tip: Free.
Duration: 1–2 hours
Accessible: Good

Rainy Day Winners / Big Indoor Experiences

The Deep (Hull)

From London: ~2hr 30–3 hrs
What is it?: A striking, immersive aquarium with sharks, rays and huge ocean displays.
Why kids love it?: Walking through tunnels with sharks overhead — unforgettable.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid–high, but often converts to annual pass.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Excellent

Castles, Palaces & Big History

Blenheim Palace

From London: ~1hr 30
What is it?: A huge stately home with adventure play areas.
Why kids love it?: Playgrounds + space to run.
Price/Budget Tip: Expensive.
Duration: Full day
Accessible: Good

Warwick Castle

From London: ~1hr 20
What is it? A castle with shows and experiences.
Why kids love it? Action-packed history.
Price/Budget Tip: Expensive but book through us
Duration: Full day
Accessible: Mixed

Windsor Castle

From London: ~40 mins
What is it?: The King’s working castle.
Why kids love it?: Real-life royalty.
Price/Budget Tip: Expensive but iconic.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Good

Leeds Castle

From London: ~1hr
What is it?: A castle set in beautiful grounds with a maze.
Why kids love it?: Maze + space to explore.
Price/Budget Tip: Good — includes return visits.
Duration: Half/full day
Accessible: Good

Hever Castle

From London: ~45–60 mins
What is it?: Anne Boleyn’s home with gardens and water maze.
Why kids love it?: Getting soaked in the maze.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range.
Duration: Half day
Accessible: Good outdoors

Bath & The Roman Baths (Bath)

From London: ~1hr 20 train
What is it?: Ancient Roman baths in the heart of a beautiful Georgian city.
Why kids love it?
It feels like discovering an ancient secret.
Price/Budget Tip: Expensive — make a full day of Bath.
Duration: 2–4 hours
Accessible: Moderate

Hidden Gems (Quieter, Smarter Picks)

Hat Works Museum (Stockport)

From London: ~2 hrs
What is it?: The UK’s only hat museum.
Why kids love it?: Trying things on and discovering odd history.
Price/Budget Tip: Cheap or free.
Duration: 1–2 hours
Accessible: Good

Savill Garden (Windsor)

From London: ~1 hr
What is it?: Beautiful landscaped gardens in Windsor Great Park.
Why kids love it?: Space to roam without crowds.
Price/Budget Tip: Reasonable.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Very good

Broadway Tower & Nuclear Bunker

From London: ~2 hrs
What is it?: A hilltop tower plus a Cold War bunker.
Why kids love it?: Feels secret and adventurous.
Price/Budget Tip: Good value.
Duration: 1–2 hours
Accessible: Limited

Chiltern Open Air Museum

From London: ~45 mins
What is it?: Historic buildings you can explore.
Why kids love it?: Feels like stepping into another time.
Price/Budget Tip: Mid-range.
Duration: 2–3 hours
Accessible: Good