Last updated on April 12th, 2025
Entertaining children on a staycation in the UK requires a mix of activities suited to their age range, and with that comes a lot of planning.
To help ease the stresses of trying to find activities to do with your little ones on one of your next activity holidays UK bound, we have created a short guide for fun and engaging activities that you can enjoy with your children, perfect for those under five.
Children under 5 typically enjoy sensory and interactive play, so activities that stimulate their imagination and energy are ideal, therefore we have chosen the below activities:
Nature walks and bug hunts
- Activity: Explore local parks, gardens, or nature reserves. Create a simple “bug hunt” or “treasure hunt” by asking your child to find things like leaves, flowers, or insects.
- Where: National Trust gardens, local woodlands, or countryside trails.
- Why: Encourages exploration and sensory experiences whilst also helping them burn off energy.
Farm visits and petting zoos
- Activity: Visit a local farm or petting zoo where young children can interact with animals like sheep, goats, and rabbits. Some farms have play areas and tractor rides available, too.
- Where: Farms like Willows Activity Farm in Hertfordshire or Cotswold Farm Park in Gloucestershire are just a two of many across the UK.
- Why: Perfect for animal-loving toddlers who enjoy hands-on experiences.
Splash pads and paddling pools
- Activity: Many parks and outdoor spaces have splash pads or shallow paddling pools, perfect for a fun water play day.
- Where: Diana Memorial Fountain in London, Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham are just two of many locations offering this wet sensory play in the UK.
- Why: Safe and enjoyable water play that helps little ones cool down on warm days whilst also offering an alternative sensory play option.
Soft play centres
- Activity: Let them run wild in indoor soft play centres with ball pits, slides, and climbing frames.
- Where: Jump In Trampoline Parks or Wacky Warehouse have many locations around the UK. Of course, there are many other places offering this type of activity, so it’s also worth doing a quick internet search to see what’s nearby your staycation accommodation.
- Why: Great for rainy days and helping toddlers burn off energy in a safe environment.
Story time and interactive museums
- Activity: Many local libraries and museums host story times, crafting activities, and sensory play events specifically for young children.
- Where: Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford, London, or Seven Stories in Newcastle. It’s always worth seeing if your accommodation entertainment hub also offers this during the daytime for little ones.
- Why: Engages their imagination and introduces them to the world of books and stories.
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Of course, there are many other activities out there, perfect for your little one, that are ready and waiting for you to explore and do together no matter where your staycation takes you in the half term.
We always recommend asking staff at your staycation accommodation for any local recommendations, as they will be local to area and know where the best places to take little ones are. If not, a quick internet search is just as good.
