20 Best UK Cities To Visit With Kids in 2026

Planning a family city break in 2026? You’re in luck, because the UK is absolutely packed with incredible cities that are brilliant for kids! From world-class museums and jaw-dropping castles to underwater adventures and theme parks, there really is something for every family, no matter the age of your little ones.

We’ve rounded up the 20 best UK cities to visit with kids in 2026, covering everything from the obvious big hitters to a few brilliant surprises you might not have considered. Whether you’re after a weekend away or a longer school holiday adventure, this list has you covered!

Quick tip: Heading to one of these cities? Check out our things to do pages to find family-friendly attractions, book tickets, and save with our exclusive member discounts!

1. London

Why visit: It’s the ultimate family city break destination, and honestly, you could visit a dozen times and still not scratch the surface!

London is home to some of the world’s greatest free museums, iconic landmarks, and enough child-friendly attractions to keep even the most energetic kids entertained. The sheer variety is unmatched anywhere else in the UK.

• Natural History Museum – Dinosaur skeletons, a giant blue whale, and the incredible Earth galleries. Free entry and utterly unmissable!
• Tower of London – Ravens, crown jewels, and 1,000 years of history. Kids absolutely love it.
• SEA LIFE London Aquarium – Sharks, rays, and a penguin colony right on the South Bank.

Explore all things to do in London with kids

2. Edinburgh

Why visit: Edinburgh is one of the most dramatic and atmospheric cities in the world, and kids absolutely lap it up!

Perched on volcanic rock with a castle dominating the skyline, Scotland’s capital feels like a real-life fairy tale. It’s compact enough to explore on foot, which is a massive win for families!

• Edinburgh Castle – Sitting high above the city, the castle is packed with history, the Scottish Crown Jewels, and stunning views kids won’t forget.
• Dynamic Earth – An interactive journey through the story of our planet, from the Big Bang to the present day. Brilliant for curious minds!
• Edinburgh Zoo – Home to giant pandas, penguins, and over 1,000 animals, this is a classic family day out.

Find things to do in Edinburgh with kids

3. Manchester

Why visit: Manchester is one of the UK’s most exciting family destinations, with world-class museums, brilliant food, and a buzzing energy that kids love!

It’s also incredibly easy to get around, with most of the big attractions clustered together. A weekend here never feels like enough!

• Manchester Museum – A free museum at the University of Manchester packed with dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies, and a brilliant nature collection.
• SEA LIFE Manchester – An immersive underwater world featuring a 360-degree ocean tunnel. Younger kids go absolutely wild for it!
• Science and Industry Museum – Hands-on exhibits covering everything from steam power to space exploration. Free entry and genuinely fascinating for all ages.

Discover family things to do in Manchester

4. Bristol

Why visit: Bristol is one of the UK’s coolest cities, and it’s absolutely brilliant for families who love a mix of culture, adventure, and the outdoors!

The city has a creative, independent spirit that makes it feel genuinely unique. From the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge to the vibrant harbourside, there’s always something new to discover.

• Bristol Zoo Project – A brand new wildlife experience at the former Bristol Zoo site in South Gloucestershire, packed with animals and outdoor adventure.
• SS Great Britain – Brunel’s revolutionary steamship is now an award-winning museum right in the city’s historic dockyard. Kids can explore the entire ship!
• We The Curious – A science centre on the harbourside with hundreds of hands-on exhibits. Perfect for inquisitive minds of all ages.

See all family attractions in Bristol

5. Birmingham

Why visit: The UK’s second city is massively underrated as a family destination, and we think it deserves a lot more love!

Birmingham has reinvented itself brilliantly in recent years, with a stunning city centre, world-class attractions, and some of the best food in the country. It’s also brilliantly connected, making it an easy city break from almost anywhere in the UK.

• Cadbury World – A pilgrimage for chocolate lovers! Learn about the history of Cadbury, watch chocolate being made, and enjoy plenty of sweet treats along the way.
• Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery – One of the finest civic museums in the country, with an amazing collection and free entry for families.
• Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum – Interactive science exhibits, a planetarium, and an outdoor science garden. Kids could easily spend a full day here.

Find family days out in Birmingham

6. York

Why visit: York is one of those cities that feels like it was designed for families, with ancient walls to walk, incredible history around every corner, and a brilliant compact city centre!

Think York is just for history buffs? Think again! It’s one of the most interactive and engaging cities in the UK, and kids genuinely love every minute of it.

• JORVIK Viking Centre – Travel back in time to Viking-age York in this brilliant immersive experience. The sights, sounds, and yes, smells are unforgettable!
• York’s City Walls – Walk the full circuit of the medieval walls for free. Brilliant views and a real sense of adventure for kids.
• Yorkshire Museum – Romans, Vikings, and medieval treasures all under one roof. Free for children and packed with interactive displays.

Explore things to do in York with kids

7. Cardiff

Why visit: Wales’ capital is a fantastic family city that punches well above its weight for things to do with kids!

Cardiff has a brilliant, walkable city centre, a stunning waterfront at Cardiff Bay, and some genuinely world-class attractions. It’s also a great base for exploring the wider Welsh countryside.

• Cardiff Castle – A Roman fort, a Norman keep, and opulent Victorian apartments all in one place. The animal wall outside is a firm favourite with little ones!
• Techniquest – A hands-on science discovery centre in Cardiff Bay with over 120 interactive exhibits. Brilliant for kids of all ages.
• National Museum Cardiff – Art, natural history, and archaeology under one roof, all for free. The dinosaur gallery is always a hit!

Discover family attractions in Cardiff

8. Liverpool

Why visit: Liverpool is one of the most vibrant, friendly, and culturally rich cities in the UK, and it’s an absolute joy to visit with kids!

The waterfront is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the museums are world-class and mostly free, and the city’s famous warmth makes it a place families want to return to again and again.

• World Museum Liverpool – Natural history, space, ancient civilisations, and a planetarium, all completely free. One of the best free days out in the north!
• The Beatles Story – Even if your kids aren’t Beatles fans yet, this immersive exhibition at the Albert Dock will have them hooked.
• Merseyside Maritime Museum – Explore the city’s incredible seafaring history, including a fascinating Titanic exhibition. Free entry for all.

See what’s on for families in Liverpool

9. Bath

Why visit: Bath is one of the most beautiful cities in England, and while it might feel like a grown-up destination, families will absolutely love it too!

The honey-coloured Georgian architecture, the Roman history, and the gorgeous surrounding countryside make it a city break that feels genuinely special. It’s also perfectly sized for a weekend with kids.

• Roman Baths – Walk in the footsteps of the Romans at one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the world. The audio guide for kids is fantastic!
• Bath Postal Museum – A hidden gem that tells the story of the world’s first postage stamp, right here in Bath. Quirky and brilliant for curious kids.
• Prior Park Landscape Garden – A stunning National Trust garden with a Palladian bridge and gorgeous views over the city. Great for a family stroll.

Browse family days out in Bath

10. Newcastle

Why visit: Newcastle is a brilliant, buzzing city with a huge amount to offer families, and it’s seriously underrated on the UK city break circuit!

The quayside is stunning, the people are famously friendly, and there’s a fantastic mix of free museums, outdoor spaces, and unique experiences that make it a fantastic choice for a family trip.

• Life Science Centre – A multi-award-winning science village with interactive exhibits, a motion ride, and a planetarium. Brilliant for all ages!
• Great North Museum: Hancock – Dinosaurs, ancient Greece, a life-size T-Rex cast, and a fascinating Hadrian’s Wall exhibition. And it’s completely free.
• Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books – A magical seven-floor building dedicated entirely to children’s books and illustrations. Young readers will be in heaven!

Find things to do in Newcastle with kids

11. Glasgow

Why visit: Scotland’s largest city is bold, creative, and absolutely fantastic for families, with a wealth of free world-class museums and a brilliant, walkable city centre!

Glasgow often gets overshadowed by Edinburgh, but families who make the trip are always blown away. Bear with us here if you haven’t considered it before, because it really is one of the UK’s best family city breaks!

• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum – One of Scotland’s most visited attractions, with 22 themed galleries, a famous Spitfire hanging from the ceiling, and free entry for all.
• Glasgow Science Centre – Three floors of hands-on science exhibits, a planetarium, and an IMAX cinema right on the banks of the Clyde.
• Riverside Museum – A stunning Zaha Hadid-designed transport museum with vintage cars, locomotives, and a fully restored 1930s street. Completely free!

Explore family attractions in Glasgow

12. Brighton

Why visit: Brighton is the ultimate seaside city break, combining the buzz of a vibrant urban destination with the classic joy of a British beach!

It’s quirky, colourful, and completely brilliant for kids. The seafront alone could keep a family entertained for a full day, and that’s before you even explore the incredible Lanes and Pavilion.

• Brighton Palace Pier – Rides, arcades, fish and chips, and sea views. An absolute classic that never gets old, whatever age your children are!
• Brighton SEA LIFE – The world’s oldest operating aquarium, with an amazing ocean tunnel and regular feeding talks. Kids love it!
• Royal Pavilion – The most exotic building in the UK? Quite possibly! The Indian-inspired palace is genuinely jaw-dropping, and the family trail makes it brilliant for kids.

See family things to do in Brighton

13. Leeds

Why visit: Leeds is a brilliant, energetic city that’s often overlooked for family breaks, but it has a genuinely impressive range of things to do with kids!

With great transport links, a buzzing city centre, and some fantastic free museums, it’s a really easy choice for families in the north of England.

• Royal Armouries Museum – Five floors of arms and armour, from medieval knights to modern warfare. Free entry and absolutely fascinating for older kids.
• Tropical World – A lush, steamy rainforest environment right in the city, home to butterflies, meerkats, and exotic plants. A real hidden gem!
• Leeds City Museum – Natural history, ancient Egypt, and local history all in one place, completely free. The mummy is always a hit with the kids!

Discover family days out in Leeds

14. Oxford

Why visit: Oxford is one of the most inspiring cities in the world, and visiting with kids is a genuinely magical experience!

The ancient university buildings, the cobbled streets, and the incredible museums create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the UK. It’s the perfect city to spark a love of learning in little ones.

• Oxford University Museum of Natural History – A stunning Victorian Gothic building housing dinosaur skeletons, a dodo skeleton, and thousands of natural history specimens. Completely free!
• Pitt Rivers Museum – One of the most extraordinary museums in the world, with over half a million objects from across the globe. The shrunken heads are notorious among kids!
• Punting on the Cherwell – Hire a punt and drift along the river past meadows and college gardens. A uniquely Oxford experience that older kids will love.

Find family things to do in Oxford

15. Nottingham

Why visit: Nottingham is a city with a story to tell, and kids absolutely love the Robin Hood connection!

Beyond the legend, it’s a brilliant and underrated family destination with some genuinely unique attractions you won’t find anywhere else in the UK.

• Nottingham Castle – Perched high above the city, the recently redeveloped castle features a brilliant Robin Hood exhibition and cave tours beneath the rock.
• City of Caves – Explore the network of over 800 sandstone caves carved beneath the city streets. Atmospheric, fascinating, and totally unique!
• Wollaton Hall and Deer Park – A stunning Elizabethan mansion set in a vast deer park, right within the city. The Natural History Museum inside is free, and the deer are always a hit with younger children.

Browse family attractions in Nottingham

16. Sheffield

Why visit: Sheffield is one of the UK’s most underrated family cities, with a brilliant mix of free museums, outdoor adventure, and a vibrant, unpretentious energy that kids absolutely love!

It’s greener than almost any other UK city, with the Peak District on its doorstep and over 250 parks within its boundaries. A weekend here always feels like excellent value!

• Magna Science Adventure Centre – A spectacular former steelworks transformed into four massive hands-on science pavilions. The Big Melt show runs every hour and is genuinely jaw-dropping!
• The National Videogame Museum – The world’s only permanent museum dedicated to videogame history. Older kids and parents alike will be completely hooked!
• Rock Up Meadowhall – An incredible indoor climbing and adventure attraction at the Meadowhall shopping centre. Perfect for burning off energy whatever the weather!

Find family things to do in Sheffield

17. Cambridge

Why visit: Cambridge is one of those cities that genuinely feels like stepping into another world, and kids find the whole place utterly magical!

The ancient university buildings, the river, the meadows, and the incredible museums all combine to create a city break that’s both inspiring and completely unique. And the best bit? Some of the finest attractions are completely free!

• Fitzwilliam Museum – One of the finest art and antiquities museums in Europe, with Egyptian mummies, ancient armour, and incredible paintings. Free entry and brilliant for families.
• Punting on the Cam – Hire a punt and drift along the river past the famous Backs, with the university’s most beautiful colleges on one side and gorgeous meadows on the other. An experience unlike anything else in the UK!
• Cambridge University Botanic Garden – 40 acres of stunning gardens with a glasshouse full of tropical plants and a sensory garden that younger children love exploring.

Discover family things to do in Cambridgeshire

18. Leicester

Why visit: Leicester is a wonderfully diverse, friendly city with some genuinely world-class family attractions that most people haven’t discovered yet!

It’s compact, easy to navigate, and packed with brilliant things to do. The recent discovery of Richard III beneath a car park has also given it a brilliant, unexpected new chapter in its already rich history!

• National Space Centre – Home to the UK’s largest planetarium, six interactive galleries, and actual rockets. Kids who love space will absolutely lose their minds here. Rated 5/5 by DOWTK visitors!
• New Walk Museum and Art Gallery – A free museum with dinosaur skeletons, ancient Egyptian artefacts, and a brilliant natural history collection. A real hidden gem!
• King Richard III Visitor Centre – The fascinating story of the discovery of Richard III’s remains beneath a car park, told through brilliant interactive exhibits. Genuinely gripping for older kids!

See family attractions in Leicester

19. Belfast

Why visit: Belfast has completely transformed itself into one of the most exciting city break destinations in the UK, and families who make the trip are always absolutely blown away!

From the Titanic Quarter to the stunning Cave Hill, it’s a city with huge personality, incredible warmth, and a remarkable story to tell. Think Belfast is too far for a city break? Think again! Flights from most UK cities are quick and affordable.

• Titanic Belfast – The world’s largest Titanic visitor experience, telling the full story of the ship’s construction and tragic voyage. Genuinely unmissable and brilliant for all ages.
• Ulster Museum – A free national museum with art, history, and natural sciences, including a real Egyptian mummy and a fascinating display on the Armada. Free entry for everyone!
• Cave Hill Country Park – Hike up to the dramatic basalt cliffs for panoramic views over Belfast and the lough. Older kids love the adventure, and the views are absolutely spectacular!

Explore family things to do in Belfast

20. Exeter

Why visit: Exeter is one of the South West’s most brilliant and underrated family cities, with a stunning cathedral, fascinating underground history, and easy access to some of Devon’s most beautiful countryside and beaches!

It’s compact, walkable, and has a genuinely independent spirit that makes it feel completely different from larger cities. A brilliant base for a longer Devon adventure too!

• Exeter Cathedral – One of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England, with a breathtaking nave and brilliant family trails that bring the history to life for children of all ages.
• Exeter’s Underground Passages – A unique network of medieval tunnels beneath the city streets. Guided tours are genuinely exciting for kids, especially the narrower sections!
• Royal Albert Memorial Museum – A stunning free museum with natural history, world cultures, and local archaeology. The displays are beautifully presented and endlessly engaging for curious young minds.

Browse family days out in Exeter and Devon

Ready to Start Planning?

There you have it, the 20 best UK cities to visit with kids in 2026! Whether you’re after a weekend city break or a longer family adventure, every single one of these cities has the attractions, the atmosphere, and the family-friendly credentials to make it an absolutely unforgettable trip.

The best part? You don’t have to do all the planning yourself! Head to our things to do pages to find the top family attractions in any of these cities, compare prices, and book tickets at the best prices. With our VIP Pass, you can also unlock incredible discounts at hundreds of UK attractions, making your city break even better value!

Happy exploring! Which city is at the top of your family’s list for 2026? We’d love to know!