Best family days out across the UK in spring 2023

While children are often content with a trip to a local park and a café, they’ll always remember the days that they did something different and had an adventure.

From theme parks full of white-knuckle rides to magical castles and immersive outdoor living museums, there are plenty of world-class family-friendly attractions in the UK to explore.

Whether you live north, south, east or west in the British isles, you’re never too far from a fun family day out that will teach you something new or allow you to see the world from a different perspective. That could be physically, as you spin and twist on a rollercoaster, or intellectually as you experience how people lived in decades gone by.

And as the British weather finally starts to improve, it’s time to make the most of venues that have outside space and save the soft play and indoor entertainment venues for dreary winter days.

Here are eight amazing outdoor spaces to consider for your next family fun day this spring.

Hever Castle, Kent

This romantic double-moated 13th century castle in Kent was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and a tour of the inside will help you learn more about the history of the building and its residents. It’s also home to one of the best collections of Tudor portraits outside the National Portrait Gallery. But it’s likely to be the surrounding gardens that will provide the most entertainment for the younger visitors. There are several mazes – including a water maze – as well as a boating lake and a spectacular adventure playgroud that’s shaped like a mini castle. Jousting tournaments take place every weekend in the summer holidays and are compelling to watch.

Price: Adults, £20.80; children over five, £11.80. hevercastle.co.uk

Cheddar Gorge and Caves, Somerset

There’s more to the Somerset village of Cheddar than being the birthplace of the famous Cheddar cheese. It’s home to the deepest gorge in the country and you can explore it both under and overground.

A full day explorer ticket gets you access to six attractions, including the magnificent Gough’s cave and the interactive Cox’s cave. A different chapter of the story of early man will be revealed as you pass through each of the cave’s chambers. On a clear, spring day it’s a joy to climb Jacob’s Ladder – 274 steps to the top –…