Fun Family Days out in the UK
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I find the Yorkshire east coast a really beautiful place to visit – whether rain or shine, summer or winter…
In fact, I sometimes feel the coast is all the more beautiful, dramatic and rugged when it is deserted, in the middle of winter…
In the summer it is quite a different experience – the scenery is gentle and sparkling, and the atmosphere is one of happiness, laughter and bustling fun….
Both lovely, just different!
Even if the weather gets too bad (and hopefully it won’t!), there are still plenty of things to do and places to go, where you can stay warm and dry…
...or search out cosy tea shops and pubs, where you can indulge in a delicious hot chocolate, or glass of wine, in front of a roaring fire (perhaps after a bracing walk? …or instead of?)…
Look out for attractions in the lists below with a * - this signifies that the attraction is a good idea for a rainy day…
This page isn’t all encompassing – it’s just some places that we think will make some really great visits for family days out in the UK.
These are all places where we have been and enjoyed, or places that we have heard lots about, and really want to go….
Also see our What's On page to find all the up-coming happenings at and around the coast...
So, what kind of family days out in the UK are you looking for?
Traditional Seaside Family Days Out
Days out and holidays with dogs
Look for the red star *, to signify ideas for rainy days out…
Traditional Seaside Family Days Out
- The main towns for a real family traditional seaside experience are Scarborough and Bridlington.
Both have:
- lovely sandy beaches
- an attractive seafront, for a relaxing promenade
- all the usual gift shops and seaside amusements
- a harbour/marina
- a small pier/harbour wall
- Whitby is another, really pretty seaside town, with a more quaint and old fashioned feel to the others – I really like it!
In 2006 ‘Holiday Which?’ Magazine voted Whitby the UK’s number 1 beach, for having ‘a postcard-perfect harbour’ – it really is photogenic!More about Whitby.
- Also visit:
- Filey - simple and nostalgic - great for families
- Hornsea - nice sea-front and the Mere is wonderful for nature, walks and bird-watching
- Withernsea - a popular, old-style seaside town, with nice beaches and a friendly feel
...for that traditional seaside experience for family days out in the UK.
- Also think about holidaying in some of the smaller coastal villages, if you enjoy a quiet away-from-it-all type holiday by the sea...
Seaside Villages
Pretty Runswick Bay
Some of our favourites:- Robin Hoods Bay - as quaint as you like, a real village feel, but with lots of gift shops, cafes and restaurants to choose from
- Staithes - a picturesque artist's paradise. Feels quite remote and far from modern life (but still quite close to Whitby)
- Runswick Bay - a scenic and peaceful bay - get-away-from-it-all here.
- Sandsend - popular with families. Nice flat sands and very convenient as it's only a couple of miles from Whitby.
Best Beach Ideas
Find out more about the best Yorkshire coast beaches
History and Culture
- Yorkshire, and this area of the Yorkshire coast, has been a big player in British history, so you will find plenty of historical and cultural tourist attractions for fun days out in the UK.
Don’t think that these are all stuffy and boring sites – they’re not! Amongst this list, find:
- atmospheric and romantic ruins…
- fun, interactive centres…
- parks and gardens…
- elegant stately homes…
- and more…
Visit:
- Fossil Coast (between Staithes and Flamborough)
- *Captain Cook and Staithes Heritage Centre
- Rudston Monolith (the tallest standing stone in England, Rudston, nr Bridlington)
- Wheeldale Roman Road (amongst the moors, nr Goathland, Whitby)
- *Jorvik Viking Centre (York)
- Skipsea Castle (ruin)
- Clifford’s Tower (York)
- Scarborough Castle
- * Burton Agnes Hall and Manor House (nr Bridlington)
- Wharram Percy Deserted Medieval Village (nr Malton)
- Gainsthorpe Medieval Village (nr Brigg, Lincolnshire)
- *Merchant Adventurers’ Hall (York)
- *York Minster
- Whitby Abbey
- *St Mary's Church, Whitby
- Gisborough Priory (Guisborough, Redcar and Cleveland)
- *Bridlington Priory
- *Bridlington Bayle Gate Museum
- Thornton Abbey and Gatehouse (Lincolnshire)
- Kirkham Abbey (nr Malton)
- Rievaulx Abbey (nr Helmsley)
- Mount Grace Priory (nr Thirsk and Northallerton)
- *Captain Cook Museum in Whitby
- *Whitby Museum, Art Gallery and Pannett Park
- *Rotunda Museum and Scarborough Art Gallery
- *The Sutcliffe Gallery, Whitby (Works of photographer FM Sutcliffe)
- *Castle Howard (stately home, nr Malton)
- *Sledmere House and Gardens (Stately Home, near Driffield)
- *Wassand Hall and Gardens (Country House & Gardens, near Hornsea)
- *National Railway Museum (York)
- *Eden Camp (WWII museum, nr Malton)
- *Elvington Air Museum (nr York)
- *York Cold War Bunker
- *York Castle Museum
- *Yorkshire Museum (York)
- *DIG York (archaeological experience, York)
- *Sewerby Hall and Gardens (Bridlington)
- Moorland Crosses on the North York Moors
Find out about Yorkshire in British history
Attractions and Activities
- These are fun activities - excellent ideas for family days out in the UK.
Some are outdoors, but many are indoors (and suitable for all weathers):
Visit:- *The Dracula Experience, Whitby
- Dalby Forest (walks, trails and forest activities)
- ’Go Ape’ at Dalby Forest (‘high wire forest adventure’)
- Husky Trekking (at ‘Pesky Husky’, Staintondale, Scarborough. Winter only)
- Staintondale Shire Horse Farm (nr Scarborough. Summer only)
- Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park
- *Sealife Centre and Marine Sanctuary (Scarborough)
- Flamingo Land (theme park and zoo, nr Malton)
- *The Deep (massive aquarium, Hull)
- Peasholm Park (park/gardens, Scarborough)
- Scarborough South Cliff Gardens (park/gardens, Scarborough)
- *North York Moors Railway (steam trains, Pickering into the North York Moors
- North York Moors and Coastal Footpaths (National Park and Heritage Coast – walking and scenery)
- Birdwatching:
- Bondville Model Village (Sewerby, Bridlington)
- Park Rose Owl and Bird of Prey Centre (Bridlington)
- *Stained Glass Centre (Cayton, nr Scarborough)
- Cruckley Animal Farm (nr Driffield)
- *North Yorkshire Off Road Centre (4x4 off road driving, Whitby)
Entertainments
- Keep yourself entertained and amused on an evening, by enjoying: trips to the theatre, musical entertainments, cinema trips etc.
These are just some of the main entertainment centres around the Yorkshire coast area.
But you will also find plenty of local venues putting on musical entertainments, jazz evenings, poetry readings and other events…
Look in the local press for details or visit our what's on page for more ideas...
Visit:
- *Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough (Alan Ayckbourn’s theatre)
- *Futurist Theatre, Scarborough
- *Scarborough Spa, entertainment venue
- *The Spa Bridlington, entertainment venue
- *Whitby Pavilion
- *Filey Evron Centre
- *York Theatre Royal
- *Grand Opera House York
- *Hull New Theatre
- *Hull Truck Theatre
- *Cinemas:
- Futurist Theatre Cinema, Scarborough
- Hollywood Plaza Cinema, Scarborough
- McCarthy Cinema, Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
- Forum Cinema, Bridlington
- Vue Cinemas, York
- City Screen, York
- Cineworld, Hull
- Hull Screen Cinema
- Odeon Cinema, Hull
- Reel Cinemas, Hull
- Vue Cinemas, Hull
Some More Ideas for Family Days Out in the UK
- Here are some more miscellaneous ideas for places to go and things to see and do in Yorkshire.
All should make for some interesting family days out in the UK… they might be:
- areas to visit
- little towns
- coastal areas
- beaches
- lighthouses
- villages
- etc…
- They are all places of interest - places I have been and enjoyed, or places I have read about, or heard about, and want to go:
For More Days Out in the UK Visit:
- North York Moors National Park
- Wolds Way Lavender (Lavender Farm, Wintringham, nr Malton)
- *Scampston Hall and Gardens (nr Malton)
- Flamborough Head (coastal area, lighthouses, nr Bridlington)
- Flamborough North Landing
- Staithes (pretty coastal village, nr Whitby)
- Yorkshire Coast walk - Hinderwell to Staithes
- Sandsend (pretty village near Whitby, with beach)
- Robin Hood’s Bay (pretty coastal village, nr Whitby)
- Runswick Bay (pretty coastal village and beaches, nr Whitby)
- Goathland (Pretty Moorland Village and TV location for Aidensfield and Heartbeat)
- Mallyan Spout Waterfall
- Falling Foss Waterfall and Tea Garden
- Cayton Bay see picture above (beach between Scarborough and Filey - popular with surfers)
- Hunmanby Gap (beach, nr Filey)
- Fraisthorpe see picture, above (beach, nr Bridlington)
- Skipsea (beach, nr Bridlington)
- Danes Dyke - woodland and beach near Flamborough and Bridlington - (recommended by Kathryn)
- Filey Brigg and Carr Naze (Coastal Country Park, Filey)
- Spurn Head (nature reserve and lighthouses)
- *Sledmere House (stately home, nr Driffield)
- Thornton le Dale (pretty village, nr Pickering)
- Burton Agnes Hall - Snowdrop Visit
- Farndale Wild Daffodils
Days Out with Dogs
Lots of ideas for places to go, stay and eat with the dog here...
What's On
Also see What's On...
Special Offers - Days Out in the UK
For details of current special offers for days out, or places to use any vouchers or clubcards you might have accumulated, take a look at this comprehensive offer page for the Yorkshire region (opens in a new tab/window) - Click here for Cheaper Days Out in Yorkshire
YOUR Best Days Out in the UK at the Yorkshire Coast
Do enjoy yourself, and let us know what adventures you got up to…
Contact us and tell us about your adventures and best days out at the Yorkshire coast…
Read about other people's best days out on these pages, too...
More Information
I hope – actually, I’m sure - that amongst this lengthy list you will find some really fun, interesting and unusual family days out in the UK at the Yorkshire coast – summer or winter, rain or shine…
There’s so much to see and do around here, I’m certain that you’ll not be bored…
Find out more about the best Yorkshire coast beaches
More information about days out and holidays with dogs at the Yorkshire coast
Find out more about family days out in and around Whitby
Find out more about family days out in and around Scarborough
Find out more about family days out in and around Filey
Find out more about family days out in and around Bridlington
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