Kayaking and canoeing is a great way to get close to nature and experience lochs, lakes, rivers and canals in the UK. An easy way to start experiencing boat sports and go on an adventure. Kayaking and Canoeing are slightly different! When Kayaking you will be seated with your legs extended and you will use a double ended paddle. When you canoe, you can be seated or kneeling and often use a single paddle.

Canoeing and Kayaking

Climbing is a great way to test your strength, balance and agility. As both an indoor and outdoor sport it can be done whatever the weather! You can try out bouldering, climbing and traversing lower walls (around 3 meters) without the assistance of rope. Bouldering basics can be mastered in a few hours and climbing centers will have graded routes allowing you to start out on the easier paths and work your way up. Rock climbing or high ropes is climbing vertically with the assistance of ropes and using safety harnesses, the walls are around 15 meters tall. You will need a good nerve for heights for this activity! Again, beginner sessions are available as are graded routes.

Climbing

Dolphin and Whale Watching is a truly magical experience for anyone Watching dolphins and whales is on a lot of nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts’ bucket list. This is not surprising given how impressive these marine mammals are. The sight of these enormous creatures breaching or bow-riding is simply breath-taking. Fortunately, you do not need to go out of the country to cross off this entry on your bucket list. Dolphins and whales, as well as other marine mammals like porpoises and seals, ply British waters. In fact, there are three known resident pods of dolphins in the UK!  

Dolphin and Whale Watching

The UK has a huge array of museums and art galleries for you to enjoy. From the big hitters in London, such as the Natural History Museum, V&A, Tate Modern and National Portrait Gallery, to exciting living museums where your family can step back in time (such as the Black Country Museum in the West Midlands or the Highland Folk Museum in the Cairngorms). These Museums let your kids get hands-on with history, attending School and learning about farming, crafts, and much more. Art Galleries are not just for the grown ups! They now have workshops and child-friendly trails to inspire even the youngest artists to start drawing.  So why not try out one of our Museums or Art Galleries on your next holiday?   

Museums and Art Galleries

Why not consider learning to sail on your next staycation? Take to the sea and harness the wind to discover the joy of sailing.  Unlock new adventures and areas by learning to sail, or even discover more about your local area!  From age 8, children are allowed to participate in RYA learn to sail courses. Why not try sailing on your next staycation. 

Sailing

If you decide to take a holiday in the UK to an area you don't know (or maybe you do but want to know more), an excellent way of seeing around and actually getting to see the "best bits" is by taking a tour with a local guide or someone in the know. Walking tours, cycling tours, boat tours, pogo-stick tours (ok maybe not the last one) - whatever suits your family best, can be booked online or at local visitor information centres and make a real difference to your stay.  You can find out the history of a place, local facts or even go on something weird and wonderful like a ghost walk or follow in the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes or Jack the Ripper.  Eek.  An open top bus journey can take away the hours pounding the pavement to look around a large city. Boat trips and river cruises are also a great way of seeing a lot of things in a small amount of time, giving you a completely different aspect of the town you are visiting.  Join a large boat or charter something smaller yourself and follow the river along to get a better look at all the surround countryside.  

Tours and River Cruises

Feel like royalty and visit one of the UK’s beautiful palaces, castles or stately homes. We are lucky to be surrounded by amazing history and architecture here in the UK, and through several organisations we are able to visit and experience these amazing homes. Learn about the history of the buildings and residents, view the art and walk amongst the gardens. Many of these places also offer plenty of activities and guides for the children too! So why not visit one on your next trip?

Castles and Palaces

A leisure cycle is a great way to get the whole family out and exercising! It allows you to travel further whilst still getting to experience the local area. Why not take your family along the Camel Trail in Cornwall? Or Maybe go and hunt a Gruffolo in Delamere Forest, Cheshire, the possibilities are endless! Whether you are a family who loves biking together on relaxing forrest paths or a serious Wiggins type who prefers fast road cycling, there is no doubt that camping holidays give you the freedom to take your cycling hobby with you, wherever you decide to go in the UK.  Plenty of great campsites are near cycling paths and some may also offer bicycle hire too, showing you the best routes to take for a great day out cycling.  

Cycling

Learn to paint or refine your skills... Painting is a completely inclusive activity for the whole family!  Head to a pottery painting class with your friends and take away a keepsake from your holiday! Or let the kids express their creative side with some hand painting!  Maybe you're already proficient and want to polish your brush technique. Whatever the weather, there is something for everyone to enjoy. 

Painting workshops

Pottery is an ancient craft and great fun! Sometimes a little messy, anyone can have a go at either hand building a pot, or getting to grips with a throwing wheel. You can create something beautiful and uniquely yours in no time at all. Families can enjoy together and kids as young as 2 can play with clay, or have a go at painting a pre-made pot. It’s the perfect wet weather or winter activity.

Pottery

Spend the day creating your very own handcrafted pot, vase, or bowl. Or if you have less time on your hands why not try painting a premade version?  A relaxing, indoor family activity. Perfect for creatives and on a rainy day visit one of the many ceramic cafes for coffee, tea, cakes, and of course, crafting!   

Pottery Centres and Ceramic Cafes

The UK is the home of the amazing steam train! This integral part of our lives and history means we are lucky to still have many running steam railways and transport museums and attractions.  Why not experience the romance of a steam train ride in the Welsh mountains or across Bodmin and try out a railway or transport attraction on your next holiday.  

Railway and Transport 

Looking for an easy access waterboard sport? Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) might be for you! Easy to pick up in just half an hour, glide across lakes, rivers and seas on your paddle board. Kids can start from as young as 5 and lots of our partners have child and teen sized paddleboards.

Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)

The number of heritage buildings still standing proudly across the UK is quite remarkable. Most of the UK's stately homes have hosted kings and queens, prime ministers, actors and poets – all manner of illustrious guests. Why not visit Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire which was built for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and  explore 2,000 acres of gardens. It’s no wonder UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1987. Or Highclere Castle,  the backdrop to so many scenes of the Crawley family and their household in Downton Abbey!  Maybe Chatsworth takes your fancy? Better known to many as Pemberley in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley. Don't forget Longleat House in Wiltshire, and make a day of it visiting the incredible Longleat Safari Park!  Stately homes frequently provide tours throughout the day as well as audio guides and information packs. Of course, let's not forget the children! Many of these stately homes have prepared children's guides, packs and quizzes so be sure to ask on your way in!

Stately Homes and Gardens

Think you can only surf in exotic locations? Think again!  There is some amazing surfing to be had throughout the UK from Newquay to North Wales. While surfing might seem super cool from the outside (and it is!) is it surprisingly family friendly and something you and the kids can all enjoy. So why not hit the beach and give surfing a go? Getting a lesson is the best way to start to learn to surf. Group lessons are usually the most popular. The instructor will take you through a warm up then basic safety, and then explain how to paddle and stand up. After this you take to the water and try and catch your first waves!  Expect to stand on the first or second lesson. Surfing is quick to get the hang of, highly addictive, and takes a lifetime to master meaning you will never stop learning! Before starting to surf you will need to know how to swim as this is a water based sport! 

Surfing

Want to enjoy a leisurely swim or a splash with the family? You can find an array of incredibly fun activities for all the family at a Leisure Centre including tennis, badminton, roller skating, aerobics, gym, dance classes and many more! Whatever takes your fancy, they have it! 

Swimming Pools and Leisure Centres

Splash around whatever the weather at these great indoor and outdoor waterparks in the UK! Nothing brings out your inner child quite like the prospect of a water slide or a wave pool. So, don your sturdiest swimwear and swap the beach for one of our top wet and wild waterparks. Whether you’re into white-knuckle flume rides or meandering around a lazy river with a float, water parks are guaranteed to make a splash, whatever the weather. 

Water Parks

Stretch, relax and find your centre. Try out the ancient art of yoga  Yoga is an ancient form of exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to boost physical and mental wellbeing. Yoga and surfing go hand in hand in promoting a healthy body and mind. Practice a deeper level of yoga through a variety of disciplines whilst improving your fitness, flexibility & surf skills.

Yoga

Falmouth in Cornwall is a great place for a long holiday or a short break.  It has stunning scenic sea views, secret coves and several Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty along both the River Helford and the River Fal.  There is so much nautical history to uncover at the National Maritime Museum and also some great boat trips out to sea.  

Falmouth, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Bodmin, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Boscastle, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Bude, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Fowey, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Hayle, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Helston, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Launceston, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Liskeard, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Looe, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Marazion, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Newquay, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Padstow and Rock, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Penzance, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Perranporth, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Port-Isaac, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Redruth, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Saltash, Cornwall, South West England, UK

St Agnes, Cornwall, South West England, UK

St Austell, Cornwall, South West England, UK

St Ives, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Tintagel, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Truro, Cornwall, South West England, UK

Wadebridge, Cornwall, South West England

The beautiful county of Cornwall has long been a family holiday favourite. Widely considered one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country. A foodies paradise, try out Padstow in North Cornwall for Michelin star restaurants and the famous hometown of Rick Stein and family. If you are looking for something more active, head to Newquay to try out the world famous surfing from Finstral Beach and hit the waves. Or why not travel to Lands End, the UK’s most south-westerly point? And discover some great coastal walks and hiking.  With something here for everyone, go and discover experiences and accommodation in Cornwall. 

Cornwall, South West England, UK

Bristol, South West England, UK

City of Bath, South West England, UK

Devon, South West England, UK

Dorset, South West England, UK

Gloucestershire, South West England, UK

Isles of Scilly, South West England, UK

Somerset, South West England, UK

Wiltshire, South West England, UK

South West England consists of 7 counties, Bristol, Cornwall, Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire as well as the Isles of Scilly. 
It is one of the nine regions of England with a total population of just over 5.28 million.

South West England, UK

East Midlands

East of England, UK

London, UK

North East England

North West England

South East England, UK

West Midlands, UK

Yorkshire and the Humber, UK

England is a totally unique travel destination, well known for its history, natural beauty, vast range of attractions and beautiful countryside landscapes and coastlines. 

England, UK

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland make up the extraordinary United Kingdom; home to mountains, caves, rivers, dramatic coastlines, medieval villages and vibrant cities.

Places nearby

bodmin

boscastle

bude

fowey

hayle

helston

launceston

liskeard

looe

Things to do in falmouth