New Ranking Reveals the UK’s Ultimate Destinations for Family Fun

Planning a staycation with the kids? You’re not the only one! Survey data reveals that over half (52%) of UK residents are choosing to holiday at home thanks to the convenience, affordability, and sheer breadth of experiences available right on our doorsteps.*  So, whether you’re craving coastlines or countryside, our brand-new ranking reveals the UK’s top spots for family fun and fresh-air adventures.

By analysing green space per person, child-friendly outdoor activities, family dining options, and camping availability, we’ve crowned the top counties and council areas where families can run free, refuel, and make lasting memories together.

Grab the wellies, scooters, and kids’ bikes; it’s time to explore the UK’s most family-friendly regions!

Key findings

• Na h-Eileanan Siar (Outer Hebrides) tops the ranking with outstanding access to green space, outdoor amenities, and family restaurants.

• Scotland dominates the leaderboard, with five of the top ten counties located north of the border – including Stirling, Orkney Islands, and Argyll and Bute – thanks to their impressive green space, outdoor activities, and family-friendly dining options.

• Wales also shines, securing four places in the top ten, led by Gwynedd, Denbighshire, and Powys, each offering stunning natural landscapes, campsite availability, and activities perfect for active families.

• The Orkney Islands have the most child-friendly restaurants, while Monmouthshire offers the most outdoor activities per person.

• Gwynedd takes the top spot for camping families, with 8 times the national average of campsites per capita.

The Top 10 Best Family-Friendly Staycation Spots

Some parts of the UK have everything a family could ask for when planning a staycation – room to roam, things to do, places to eat, and somewhere to pitch up or settle in for the night.

These all-rounder destinations scored highest across the board – from parks to play areas, picnic spots to pizza joints – offering the best balance of green space, outdoor activities, family-friendly dining, and campsites. These top 10 spots are perfect for screen-free days, big adventures, and fresh-air family time.

Let’s take a look at the very best regions for families to relax, explore, and make lifelong memories together.

The Greenest UK Staycation Spots for Families Who Love the Outdoors

If your family loves wide open spaces and fresh air, these destinations offer the most green space per person – perfect for peaceful walks, games of tag, and biking through nature.

Denbighshire in North Wales tops the list, with nearly three times the UK average for green space per person. This means more room for little ones to roam, picnic, and play. From exploring Dyserth Waterfall to enjoying the views across the Vale of Clwyd, it's an ideal backdrop for active family time.

North Ayrshire, Scotland, follows closely behind. With nearly 100 m² of green space per person, it’s a brilliant destination for families craving coastal walks, woodland trails, and seaside bike rides without the crowds.

Gwynedd takes third place and stands out for more than just its green credentials. With eight times the UK average of campsites, it’s one of the easiest places to pitch up and soak in the views, whether that’s Snowdonia peaks or peaceful lakeside strolls.

The UK Holiday Hotspots With the Most Outdoor Activities for Kids

For adventurous families who like to stay busy, these counties offer the most outdoor amenities, including skateparks, playgrounds, picnic areas, and nature trails.

Denbighshire in North Wales tops the list, with nearly three times the UK average for green space per person. This means more room for little ones to roam, picnic, and play. From exploring Dyserth Waterfall to enjoying the views across the Vale of Clwyd, it's an ideal backdrop for active family time.

North Ayrshire, Scotland, follows closely behind. With nearly 100 m² of green space per person, it’s a brilliant destination for families craving coastal walks, woodland trails, and seaside bike rides without the crowds.

Gwynedd takes third place and stands out for more than just its green credentials. With eight times the UK average of campsites, it’s one of the easiest places to pitch up and soak in the views, whether that’s Snowdonia peaks or peaceful lakeside strolls.

The UK Holiday Hotspots With the Most Outdoor Activities for Kids

For adventurous families who like to stay busy, these counties offer the most outdoor amenities, including skateparks, playgrounds, picnic areas, and nature trails.

For adventurous families who like to stay busy, these counties offer the most outdoor amenities, including skateparks, playgrounds, picnic areas, and nature trails.

Monmouthshire takes the crown with an incredible 76.1 outdoor amenities per 10,000 people (five times higher than the study average). Whether you’re feeding ducks, finding fairy doors, or navigating woodland play trails, this part of Wales is a winner for curious kids.

Scotland also shines, with both the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands scoring well above the average. Orkney offers peaceful island life, wildlife spotting, and interactive heritage trails, while Shetland adds coastal paths and hidden play areas that blend beautifully with the natural landscape.

Family Foodie Breaks: The UK Destinations With the Most Kid-Friendly Menus

When you're travelling with children, finding somewhere to eat that suits everyone (including picky eaters) can make or break your trip. These regions top the list for restaurants rated ‘child-friendly’ on Tripadvisor.

The Orkney Islands come out on top, with nearly 68% of eateries catering for little ones. Expect warm welcomes, high chairs, children’s menus, and a relaxed vibe that makes mealtimes enjoyable for the whole family.

Conwy, in North Wales, follows closely with 63.6%. When choosing whether to stop for a seaside fish supper or a pub lunch after a castle visit, families will find plenty of options.

Meanwhile, the Shetland Islands continue their strong showing, with over 62% of restaurants rated family-friendly – ideal after a day of exploring coastal cliffs and wildlife walks.

The UK’s Best Staycation Spots for Camping Families

If your idea of the perfect break includes starry skies, tent pegs, and marshmallows around the fire, these counties offer the highest number of campsites per capita, and plenty of inspiration for your next family trip.

 

Gwynedd, already one of the greenest counties, tops the list here too, with 8.86 campsites per 10,000 people. That’s over eight times the national average, giving families loads of choice for where to pitch up near mountains, lakes, or beaches. From family parks to more rustic retreats, it’s got you covered.

Pembrokeshire is another Welsh gem, combining seaside charm with a strong selection of campsites close to kid-friendly attractions. Think rock-pooling, coasteering, or just relaxing with an ice cream and sea view.

Isle of Anglesey, just off the coast of North Wales, takes third place. It’s perfect for unplugged getaways — where the rhythm of the tides, a simple barbecue, and riding bikes around the campsite become the highlights of the trip.

Nick Paulson, Product and Category Manager at Outdoor Toys , comments on the benefits of family staycations

"Planning a family holiday doesn’t have to mean long-haul flights and complicated itineraries. What really matters is time spent together – outdoors, exploring, learning, and laughing.

"Whether you’re pitching up at a scenic campsite or cycling through coast and countryside, a UK staycation makes that kind of quality time possible without the hassle.

"Bringing simple ride-on toys like scooters or kids’ bikes helps children burn energy, stay engaged, and enjoy the journey just as much as the destination. And with the right prep (think comfy gear, snacks, and a little flexibility), it’s easy to turn even a last-minute break into lasting memories."

Methodology

Outdoor Toys is one of the UK’s leading online retailers of high-quality outdoor toys for children of all ages. From swing sets and scooters to ride-ons and climbing frames, our mission is to help families embrace the great outdoors and make childhood memories that last a lifetime.

To support parents planning UK-based getaways, we created a data-led ranking of the best family-friendly staycation spots across England, Scotland, and Wales. The goal? To spotlight the regions that offer the most opportunities for fresh-air fun, safe adventures, and low-stress holiday planning.

Each county in England and council area in Scotland & Wales was ranked based on the following factors and given a normalised score out of 10. 

Note: Where datasets were only available at the local authority level, they were aggregated to the county level to allow for consistent comparisons across areas.

Green space provision

The total green space provision in hectares was sourced from Green Space Index 2025 and converted to green space per person in square metres, using population data from ONS.

Outdoor amenities

The number of playgrounds, parks, picnic sites, and skateparks was sourced from OpenStreetMap, a global, open-source map of the world created and maintained by volunteer contributors and organisations who regularly update location information. 

Amenity counts were sourced using the OpenStreetMap Overpass API, which allows users to query OSM data by geography and tag type. Each amenity type was collected by querying OSM tags (e.g. leisure=park, leisure=playground, tourism=picnic_site, leisure=skatepark) within local authority boundaries. 

The figures were then combined into an outdoor amenities total, aggregated by county, and normalised per 10,000 people.

Child-friendly restaurants

The percentage of restaurants listed on Tripadvisor that were tagged as being "child-friendly".

Campsites

The number of campsites listed on Campsites. These were normalised per 10,000 people.

All data was collected in January 2026 and is correct as of then.

 

*  Consumer Intelligence survey