When you are on holiday, taking a weekend break or even just a night away, the chances are you might want to do something while you're there or explore what's on in the area.  It could be booking a river trip, a visit to a museum or wildlife park, or it could be something a little more wild like white water rafting, axe throwing or a high wires course.  Whatever you fancy, jazz up your trip with something a bit different and have a look a the wide variety of experiences available near the accommodation.

Experiences

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

Whatever your child's age there is always something to enjoy. Get cracking in  a multi-level play area where kids can climb, clamber and slide over all sorts of adventurous obstacles. What’s next? What about a ball pond where your children can dip and dive in a pool full of colourful balls? All of the above would make for serious family fun. Of course parents are not forgotten either as a cafe is never far away. You can relax with a tasty coffee and a slice of cake. What more could you want?

Indoor and Soft Play Areas

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

Trying to find shelter on a rainy day or enjoy a fun evening filled with laughter and popcorn? Visit one of the 775 cinemas in the UK to catch up on the latest blockbuster film releases!  Or fancy watching some live theatre, a music concert, a ballet, or comedy act? Then head to one of the UK's 1300 theatres!  Whether the West End, London is where you want to enjoy some of the UK's finest productions on offer, or Shakespeare's Globe where you can experience incredible performances and actors. Maybe you want to head to the  Festival Theatre in Edinburgh which stages some of the finest operas and ballets. There is something for everyone and definitely not to be missed!    

Cinemas and theatres

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

Discover what lies at the depths of the ocean...Your Aquarium visit will take you on a journey around the different zones of the world’s Ocean, from the local waters, all the way to the tropical seas of the Great Barrier Reef and everywhere in between!  A great indoor activity for the whole family to explore...

Aquariums

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

Discover the trees like never before. Scramble, climb and jump through high rope assault courses, don't forget to bring your courage!  A great outdoor activity for families and adults alike, and dotted throughout the UK. Why not try the adventure for a day out on your next staycation?   

High Ropes Courses

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 

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

Take you family and friends bowling for an afternoon or evening! Whatever your level or age, ten pin bowling is for the whole family and is the perfect location on a rainy day! The objective is to knock down all ten pins on the first roll of the ball (a strike), or failing that, on the second roll (a spare)... but let's not get bogged down with the rules.  Younger children can join in too, thanks to lighter and smaller bowling balls, bowling ramps and alley railings. Book your spot today so you don't miss out!

Ten Pin Bowling Alleys

Aside from roving funfairs which can pop up in towns and cities for a week before travelling on and are a great bonus if you find one, the UK has many, many fantastic Theme Parks that are open all year round and provide a great day out for everyone in the family.  Even the faint-hearted members who don't want to scream themselves hoarse on Oblivion or the like can take a gentle boat trip or something serene around quite often attractive grounds. These parks are a real treat for kids and grown ups alike.  You might plan your holiday to be near one, visit for the day or just get lucky and find there is one right where you are holidaying.  They often need booking in advance as they do limit numbers to some extent, and the well-known ones such as Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington are so large that you might need more than one day there!  They can be pricey, especially if you have a big family, so always keep a look out for 2-for-1 deals and vouchers, as you could make a good saving. Many seaside locations  - like Blackpool Pleasure beach - have seafront funfairs which are usually in action all year round (although on a very windy day, given their location, some things might close for safety!) so it is always a good idea to check these out too.  Most of these you can buy tickets on the day.

Theme Parks and Funfairs

Wakeboarding is like snowboarding on water. You are attached to a wakeboard sideways with both feet. You can wakeboard behind a boat and jump over the 'wake' the boat produces, or you can wakeboard at a cable wakeboard park. Cable Wakeboarding Cable wakeboarding is when you are pulled around the lake by a cable suspended overhead, very similar to a ski-lift, in fact most cable wakeboard manufacturers also make ski lifts. This is a fun way to wakeboard and allows up to 8 people to be attached at any one time. Cable wakeboard parks usually have obstacles you can go over when you get the hang of it such as jumps and sliders (plastic rails) that you can slide along, making it even more fun! Traditionally a cable requires a large amount of space and is quite expensive to get up and running, however more recently 2 way cable systems such as the System 2.0 be Seistec, and the Rixen Little Bro have launched which enable cables to be installed in small areas. The 2 way systems are for one rider at a time and are perfect for learning as the speed can be adjusted to suit the rider. Boat Wakeboarding Wakeboading behind a boat is when you are pulled by a line attached to the boat. Boat wakeboarding can be done on lakes inland or on the sea, but is best done when the water is flat.  Starting out It's easy to get started with wakeboarding and usually most people are able to stand on their first attempt. A usual boat wakeboard session lasts 15 minutes, and a cable session can last up to 2 hours and 2 hours on the cable is usually a similar price to 15 minutes behind a boat. Before trying wakeboarding you need to be a proficient swimmer as this is a water-based sport. 

Wakeboarding

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

Conveniently situated on the south coast of England, dynamic Portsmouth - the UK's only island city - is perfect for a short break by the sea.  It offers world class attractions, a fascinating maritime history, museums and galleries, two cathedrals, shopping, great food and miles of stunning waterfront.   No stay is complete without a visit to Portsmouths historic dockyard - consistently voted as one of the top things to do in Portsmouth on TripAdvisor.  You will find 11 attractions here, including tours of HMS Victory -Lord Nelsons flagship - and HMS Warrior, the National Museum of the Royal Nay, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum and the Explosion Museum to name a few.   You can also visit the famous Mary Rose which was sunk in battle and raised out of the Dockyard water 437 years later in 1982.  It has been beautifully restored and the museum takes you through the fascinating history of Henry VIII's favourite warship. It is a magical experience and not to be missed.  You can also visit Southsea Castle which is where the King is said to have watched the sinking of his beloved ship. If you can leave the nautical history alone, why not take a trip to the top of the Emirates Spinnaker Tower, sitting 170 metres above Gunwharf Quays and (on a good day!) allows visitors a 350 degree panoramic view stretching 23 miles.   There is so much to do in this beautiful waterfront city -make sure you leave plenty of time!  

Portsmouth, Hampshire, South East England, UK

Southampton, Hampshire, South East England, UK

Hampshire is a beautiful county with the perfect composition of cities, country and coast. On the south coast of England, Hampshire is home to two national parks, head to the New Forest for wonderful scenery, wild ponies, and plenty of museums and attractions to enjoy (including Peppa Pig World!). If you prefer walking and hiking, head to the South Downs way for amazing trails.  Enjoy the buzz of the city in either Southhampton or Portsmouth, with many Naval and Maritime attractions to visit, as well as shopping, food and drink.  So why not visit Hampshire on your next holiday?   

Hampshire, South East England, UK

Berkshire, South East England, UK

Brighton and Hove, East Sussex

Buckinghamshire, South East England, UK

East Sussex, South East England, UK

Isle of Wight, South East England, UK

Kent, South East England, UK

Milton Keynes, South East England, UK

Oxfordshire, South East England, UK

Surrey, South East England, UK

West Sussex, South East England, UK

South East England is home to some of the most beautiful counties including Oxfordshire, Hampshire, East and West Sussex and Berkshire to name a few,  Encompassing glorious coastlines, stunning heathlands, breathtaking forests and National Parks, South East England is a superb place for a holiday at any time of year.

South East England, UK

East Midlands

East of England, UK

London, UK

North East England

North West England

South West 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

southampton

Things to do in portsmouth