Family Friendly Activities in Southern England

It can be hard to decide what you want to do when you’ve got kids in tow. Let’s take a lot at some of the family-friendly activities in Southern England. We’ll focus on events that are free or cheap, especially if you have young children.


The National Railway Museum


The National Railway Museum is a great place to stop with kids who love trains. Located in York, North Yorkshire, they have a number of train engines. You can study the cross-section of a train engine to learn how it works or walk among trains from Japan to 1850s England. And parents will appreciate the fact that it is free.


Legoland Windsor


Do your kids love to build things? Legoland Windsor is a must-see on your list. It doesn’t just have play areas where your kids can build with legos. There are also 150 rides and massive creations made out of Lego. For example, they have scenes built out of Legos from Paris, London and other major European cities. Or visit their Star Wars Experience. The park is intended for children ages 2 to 12.


Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is one of England’s most famous landmarks, and it is among the Queen’s principal residences. This is a great place to tour as a family. They have family trails and family-friendly activities in the education center. If you pick up family tickets, you can reuse them later in the year.


The Salisbury Light Show


Salisbury is well-known for Salisbury Cathedral. The Cathedral was built in the 1200s. It is one of the best examples of early English architecture. It is home to one of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta and one of the oldest working clocks in the world. However, the church offers more than an amazing history lesson. The Salisbury light shows will run for several weeks from 7 PM to 9 PM every night. The Sarum Lights will light up the outside and inside of the cathedral. Family tickets are sixty pounds. Children under three are free.


The Science Museum in South Kensington, London


This museum will introduce your children to engineering, robotics and a dozen other sciences. If there’s a subject your kids love, there is probably an exhibit dedicated to it. If you are tired of exploring the exhibits, watch one of the movies at the IMAX theater.


Howletts and Port Lympne Wild Animal Parks

These wild animal parks in Canterbury were founded to breed and protect endangered animals. Howletts Wild Animal Park covers 90 acres, while Port Lympne Safari Park spans 600 acres. They aren’t zoos. They are recreations of the animals’ natural environment where they roam free. It hosts the largest gorilla family and herd of elephants in the UK. They also have a large collection of big cats.


The Warner Brothers Studio Tour

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, this trove of items from the franchise is a must-see the next time you’re in Leavesden, Hertfordshire. You can board Hogwart’s Express or step into a recreation of the Great Hall. You can see costumes, props and sets from the Harry Potter movies.


The Enchanted Forest

The Enchanged Forest is located in Groombridge. They bring fairytales to life. The activities range from plays to crafts. If you’re looking for an adventure, you could try out their archery range or zip wire. They also have the UK’s longest and highest tree top walkway.

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