Nine amazing UK road trips for your family to take

This is a collaborative post.

We are huge fans of the UK staycation and have opted to holiday within the UK for the last three years.

We do tend to stick to the same areas – primarily the south west of England. You can find more about our travels here. However there is a whole island out there to explore, so I asked fellow bloggers for their favourite places in the UK and why we should visit as a family.

Here are my favourite suggestions, as well as some trips for making family road trips as smooth as possible!

1. Snowdonia National Park, Wales

There’s so much to do in Snowdonia National Park from climbing the mountains, visiting castles and exploring beautiful sand dune lined beaches. We went for three days and climbed up Cadair Idris to a breathtaking lake. Amazingly my newly four year old and six year old managed three hours of climbing! We also explored the ruins of Harlech Castle and scrambled up and down the sand dunes at Aberdovey Beach. We took the coastal train from Aberdovey to Harlech Castle. There’s plenty more to do in Snowdonia National Park too and we plan on returning next Easter to explore more! Victoria from TravelVixta

Road trip tip 1: Double check that your children’s car seats are suitable for their weight.

2. Dorset, South West England

There’s nowhere more stunning to drive than the south Dorset coastline. Start with a visit to the historic town of Lyme Regis and a walk along Cobb Wall before jumping in the car toward West Bay, the home place of TV drama Broadchurch. Explore the beach or scale the cliff walk if you’re feeling energetic. Next onward toward Abbotsbury to go the Swannery (particularly brilliant during the early summer for cygnet spotting) and the children’s farm.

Finally, keep going east along the most beautiful twisting coastal road; throw stones on Chesil Beach (a huge strip of beach separating a lake and the sea) and end up at Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove for ice creams and picture-perfect backdrops – just prepare those little legs for plenty of steps to climb up and down to the beach! If you’re planning to explore the surrounding region, a visit to Bathen House in Bath could offer a relaxing stay after your adventures. Hayley from See Stay Explore

Road trip tip 2: Before you set off, make sure your vehicle is safe to drive and is properly insured; if you aren’t sure then for a short journey why not borrow or hire a car? Check out the prices for one day insurance.

3. Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Dumfries and Galloway is an amazing place to visit with a family.  It has a gorgeous coastline, with numerous sandy beaches, rocky coves and pretty coastal towns.  It is also packed with other natural attractions such as the world famous 7 Stanes mountain biking centres, The Dark Skies Park and the vast Galloway Forest Park.

There are also numerous fantastic family attractions for children of all ages.  From Aldouran Wetland Garden and Agnew Park in the west, through Laggan Outdoor, Cream of Galloway, Dalscone Farm and Drummuir Ice Cream Farm in the middle of the region to The Devil’s Porridge and Moffat Station Park in the east, we are spoilt for choice. Eileen from Your Money Sorted

Road trip tip 3: Check that you have roadside assistance, keep the number in your phone and your details handy just in case.

4. The Cotswolds

I can’t think of a better place to take a road trip than the Cotswolds. There really is something for all ages from tots to your grandparents. We have been a few times this year with 3 year old twins and a baby and each time we promise to go back. 

The Cotswolds is able to offer families so many options for places to stay and days out. everything from quaint villages such a Bourton on the Water which has a number of tearooms, cafes and shops, but what it is really famous for is the stream which runs through the middle. If you go on a warm day, you can whip off your shoes and go for a paddle! At the other end of this village is Bird Land which my girls loved. You can combine these a make a day of it. 

Another favourite of ours was the Cotswold Farm Park. This is great come rain or shine as a large section of the farm is undercover. There is plenty to keep children of all ages amused with plenty of animals to encounter, a timetable of interactive events throughout the day where you can handle and feed the animals, watch a sheep show and take a ride on a tractor. With acres of farmland, there is plenty of space to run about, see farm animals grazing and children can enjoy the play areas whilst parents grab a coffee and sit down for a rest! 

Other attractions for kids to visit include Blenheim Palace, Cotswold Wildlife Park, Bibury, Cotswold Country Park and Beach. Anna from Twins and Travels

Road trip tip 4: Snacks and drinks and plenty of them.

5. Plymouth, Devon

Plymouth in Devon is a must-visit location in the South West. Even if you’re heading down into Cornwall, it’s a great place for a stopover for a few days. Located on the south coast it has the best of both worlds.

Some of the best beaches in the country within easy reach, or if the seaside isn’t your thing, head in the other direction and within minutes you’re on rugged Dartmoor for walks, river paddling or Dartmoor pony-spotting. There is loads to do for kids in Plymouth and the surrounding area – highlights for families are the National Trust property of Saltram which always has activities for children as well as a park, bike pump track, and a great little duck pond. My boys love it there.

The jewel in Plymouth’s crown is The Hoe and historic Barbican looking out over the city’s natural harbour Plymouth Sound. Kids love climbing to the top of Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse on The Hoe, or taking a dip in one of the country’s most stunning Lido’s at Tinside. Or head to West Hoe for an awesome pirate-themed park and little kids’ train ride. If you’re here in the summer a massive treat is the two-night free British Firework Championship. Being on the coast there are plenty of watersports centres for older children and boat trips, lots of soft play centres for the younger ones, and days out such as Pennywell Farm, Mount Edgcumbe, Crealy Adventure Park or Woodlands Theme Park. And for a rainy day head to the National Marine Aquarium, the UK’s biggest aquarium for fun with the sharks. Helen from Twins, Tantrums and Cold Coffee

Road trip tip 5: Plan ahead – make sure you plan a stop every 1-2 hours and you know where suitable stopping places are.

6. Norfolk

Not only is Norfolk blessed with beautiful coastlines and local attractions there are so many woodlands and walks throughout the whole of Norfolk just waiting to be explored and discovered. You cannot visit Norfolk and not see the beautiful cliffs in Hunstanton, beach huts and boats in Wells-Next-The-Sea, peaceful walks along the promenade at Walcott, or action packed adventures at Great Yarmouth.  

There are some wonderful local attractions to see in Norfolk that are open all year round. Banham Zoo, Dinosaur Park, Amazonia Zoo, Bircham Windmill and Sealife Centre in Great Yarmouth and Hunstanton. There are a couple of historical attractions that come highly recommended. From Congham Hall, Castle Rising to Holkham Hall and Sandringham Estate where you could catch a glimpse of the queen. Norfolk is the place to road trip. Kelly-Anne from Mimi Rose and Me

Road trip tip 6: Download films to a tablet to keep kids entertained on long journeys.

7. Peterborough

Peterborough is such an underrated city but it’s brimming with history and there is so much for children to do. With great transport links, it is easy to make it the next stop on a road trip.

The first place to visit would be Peterborough Cathedral, standing proud in the city centre it is where Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII, is buried and the former burial place of Mary, Queen of Scots. As well as the Cathedral there is a central park with a paddling pool, huge sand pit and great play parks.

If history isn’t your thing, then you can find a bowling alley, ice rink, cinemas, theatres, laser force, a few soft play centres, a farm, a water park (open seasonal), plenty of shops and eateries, community gardens and a Pick Your Own farm. Jaymee, The Mum Diaries

Road trip tip 7: Time it well. If you can avoid driving through rush hour or over meal times, but through nap time, you’re winning.

8. North Wales

North Wales is a place we keep going back to time and time again. Its absolutely bursting with activities for the whole family. From free days out at one of their many stunning beaches, to waterfalls (Rhaeadr Dyserth Waterfall is a favourite of ours and not well known). All the way up to adrenaline fuelled days out at one of the several zip worlds scattered throughout North Wales. One of our personal favourites would have to be the Zip Forest coaster in Betws y Coed (home to multiple walks, waterfalls and a quaint little town) the UK’s only Alpine coaster where children as young as 3 can ride with a parent…..Its fast! Not for the faint hearted.  Lisa from The Family Ticket

Road trip tip 8: Have things to hand. If your child is in nappies for goodness sake keep them in the front of the car.

9. Pennines

Following the line of Hadrian’s wall is a great idea for a coast to coast roadtrip for families. It’s perfect if you like a bit of Roman history and the great outdoors. Roman forts like Vindolanda, Chesters and Housesteads all have very different settings in the landscape. There are plenty of visitors’ centres and family-friendly museums. The Roman road beside the wall often dips and rises sharply in its determination to stay in a typically Roman straight line.

The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is a vast and wild landscape. It’s bigger than some national parks but much less busy. The roads in this AONB sometimes run along the tops of the hills with breathtaking views to the English coast or into Scotland. There are cycle routes with little traffic and a heritage railway at Alston. Go in spring if you like birds and wildlife, or in summer see the purple heather. Janet from Falcondale Life.

Road trip tip 9: If you’re just visiting the UK, don’t have a car , or require a bigger car for your trip, it could be a good idea to hire a car. Check out car rental comparison websites to find the most suitable option for your needs.