Enjoy some family fun
Looking for places the whole family will enjoy? Discover family-friendly cycling trails, places to get closer to nature and historic buildings where you can learn about the past.
Enchanted forests to visit with the family
Looking for magical days outdoors? Here are our best enchanted forests to explore with your family. Keep an eye out for fairies, boggarts and creatures of the wild woods on your day out.
- Acorn Bank, Cumbria
- Acorn Bank in Cumbria is best known for its collection of herbs and traditional fruit orchards. Explore a little further into the woods and you'll find hidden doors, a hollow tree, and a wild play area where children can create their own adventures. Who will be the first to find a pixie house?Visit Acorn Bank
- Dinefwr, Carmarthenshire
- The forest at Dinefwr has some of the oldest trees in Britain, and is home to modern-day mini-dragons in the form of freshwater dragonflies. Another hill in Wales is Dinas Emrys, which has links to Merlin and King Arthur, and legend has it that this is where the red dragon of Wales came from.Visit Dinefwr
- Hatfield Forest, Essex
- The ancient trees of Hatfield Forest are like living sculptures. Some are an incredible 1,200 years old and others have become 'walking trees', where branches of the tree touch the ground and grow new roots. If you're looking for somewhere where children can run off some energy, this medieval royal hunting forest will get their imaginations whirring.Visit Hatfield Forest
- Longshaw, Derbyshire
- Legend has it that Longshaw in Derbyshire is home to mythical creatures called boggarts – goblin-like creatures that are said to live in woods and on moors. Go on the boggart hunting trail with your family to see how many you can spot among the ancient trees.Visit Longshaw
- Lydford Gorge, Devon
- Lydford Gorge is an ancient forest, home to the spectacular White Lady Waterfall and the Devil's Cauldron, a naturally-formed pothole. The gorge is associated with many stories and myths, which you can explore on a day out.Visit Lydford Gorge
- Runnymede, Surrey
- Explore Runnymede and you and the kids can discover the story of the oldest tree in our care – the 2,500-year-old Ankerwycke yew. It’s said to have witnessed the events around the sealing of Magna Carta in 1215 and King Henry VIII’s wooing of Anne Boleyn in the 1530s.Visit Runnymede
- Shervage Wood, Somerset
- Rumour has it that Shervage Wood, in the Quantock Hills near Fyne Court, was once home to a fire-breathing dragon called the Gurt Worm. The dragon was eventually defeated and cut into two halves, and legend tells that the two halves of the dragon formed the Quantock Hills, so you’ll be walking an enchanted path through this wood.Visit the Quantock Hills
- Ullswater, Cumbria
- A family stroll through Ullswater, Cumbria leads you to Aira Force, a magical waterfall surrounded by trees and peaceful glades. Look out for resident red squirrels as you explore this woodland.Visit Ullswater and Aira Force
You might also be interested in
Article
Family-friendly castles to visit
Looking for enchanting family days out? Look no further than these fairy-tale castles, perfect for days out with little knights and dragon-slayers.
Article
Places for kids to dress up
Dressing up is a fun way for children to get in touch with the past. We've picked our top places to try on costumes and play make-believe.
Article
Top natural play areas for kids
There's nothing quite like playing outdoors. Discover the best natural play areas where children can run wild at the places in our care.
Article
No. 40 Go on a nature walk at night
Read these tips to make the most out of no. 40 of our ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’, go on a nature walk at night.
Activity
Great places for a family bike ride
Saddle up and explore some of our favourite places to take the children for a bike ride. Find miles of peaceful, traffic-free trails through woods and parkland.