Revealed: England’s Best Counties for Keeping Kids Entertained During the Summer Holidays

The summer holidays can be one of the best times of year for families, but they can also come with one big challenge: finding enough ways to keep children entertained for six whole weeks.

From free days out and child-friendly attractions to affordable places to stay, some parts of England make school holiday planning much easier than others. But in areas with fewer family-friendly activities nearby, parents may need to get a little more creative to keep children active, busy, and enjoying the outdoors.

To reveal the best places for families to explore this summer, outdoortoys analysed counties and areas across England, ranking each location based on holiday search demand, the number of things to do with kids, free-entry activities, family attractions, child-friendly restaurants, family-friendly hotels, and average 3-star hotel costs.

Key takeaways

The full top 10 ranking is below:

 

1. Devon is England’s best county for family days out this summer – 9.10/10

Devon takes the top spot, scoring 9.10 out of 10 in the school holiday index.

The county offers more kid-friendly activities than anywhere else in the study, with 610 listed. It also has 664 free-entry activities, giving families plenty of ways to keep children entertained without relying on paid attractions every day.

One of Devon’s biggest strengths is its choice of water and amusement parks, with 27 listed in the study. For families planning a full-day out, Tripadvisor ranks Babbacombe Model Village and Gardens and The Milky Way Adventure Park among the top water and amusement parks in Devon, both scoring 4.6 out of 5 based on thousands of reviews.

This makes Devon the strongest all-round destination in the study, especially for families looking for enough variety to fill several days over the summer holidays.

2. West Midlands beats classic holiday hotspots to take second place – 8.86/10

The West Midlands ranks second overall, with a school holiday score of 8.86 out of 10.

Holiday search demand in the study is led by coastal and island destinations, with Cornwall, the Isle of Wight and Devon recording the highest annual search volumes. However, the West Midlands still outperforms traditional family destinations including Kent, Cornwall, Norfolk and Dorset in the overall ranking.

The area offers 269 kid-friendly activities and 341 free-entry attractions, giving families a wide range of low-cost, child-friendly days out without needing to head to the coast.

For families looking for a classic day out, Tripadvisor ranks Cadbury World and the Black Country Living Museum among the top things to do with kids in the West Midlands, with the Black Country Living Museum scoring 4.4 out of 5 from more than 6,500 reviews.

The West Midlands also has one of the lowest average hotel prices in the top 10, at £91 per night for a 3-star hotel. This gives it a strong affordability advantage over destinations such as Devon, Kent, and Cornwall.

3. Kent ranks third thanks to England’s highest number of free family activities - 8.80/10

Kent ranks third overall, with a school holiday score of 8.80 out of 10.

The county stands out for free family-friendly activities, offering 885 free-entry things to do, more than anywhere else in the study. This could make Kent especially useful for families trying to keep children busy during the summer holidays without overspending.

Tripadvisor ranks the White Cliffs of Dover as the top free attraction in Kent, with a 4.6 out of 5 rating from more than 3,000 reviews. Westgate Gardens in Canterbury also ranks highly, offering gardens, walks and children’s play facilities.

Kent also has 488 kid-friendly activities, making it one of the strongest counties in the study for families looking to balance bigger paid attractions with free days out.

Herefordshire ranks lowest for family-friendly summer holiday options

At the other end of the ranking, Herefordshire records the lowest school holiday score in the study, scoring just 1.40 out of 10.

The county has 64 things to do with kids and 80 free-entry activities, considerably fewer than the top-ranking areas. By comparison, Devon has 610 things to do with kids, while Kent has 885 free-entry activities.

 

1. Herefordshire has the lowest school holiday score in England – 1.40/10

Herefordshire ranks lowest overall, with a school holiday score of 1.40 out of 10.

The county has 64 things to do with kids and 80 free-entry activities, making it one of the more limited areas in the study for family days out. It also has an average 3-star hotel price of £123 per night, which is higher than several counties in the top 10, including Devon, the West Midlands, Kent, Lancashire, East Sussex and Hampshire.

This could make the summer holidays harder to plan for families in the area, especially for parents trying to balance variety with affordability.

2. Gloucestershire has fewer free family activities than any other county in the bottom three – 1.84/10

Gloucestershire ranks second lowest, with a school holiday score of 1.84 out of 10.

The county has just 49 free-entry activities, fewer than both Herefordshire and Rutland. It also has an average 3-star hotel price of £131 per night, making it one of the most expensive areas in the wider study for a 3-star hotel stay.

Although Gloucestershire has 66 things to do with kids, the combination of limited free activities and higher accommodation costs pushes it towards the bottom of the overall ranking.

3. Rutland ranks third lowest, with just 15 things to do with kids – 1.90/10

Rutland ranks third lowest overall, scoring 1.90 out of 10.

As the smallest county in the study, Rutland naturally has fewer total attractions than larger areas. However, it still records the lowest number of things to do with kids overall, with just 15 child-friendly activities and 18 free-entry activities.

This gives families fewer options to choose from during the summer holidays, particularly compared with larger counties such as Devon, Cornwall, Kent and North Yorkshire.

Devon has more things to do with kids than any other county in England

Devon ranks first for the total number of things to do with kids, making it the standout destination for families who want plenty of choice during the school holidays.

The county has 610 child-friendly activities, followed by Cornwall with 568 and North Yorkshire with 493.

 

Devon’s position at the top of this ranking helps explain why it performs so well overall. For parents planning a longer break, variety matters. A larger choice of activities means families are less reliant on one major attraction, good weather, or expensive days out.

Cornwall also performs strongly, with 568 things to do with kids, while North Yorkshire ranks third with 493. Both give families plenty to build a day around. In Cornwall, parents can mix bigger attractions such as the Eden Project or St Michael’s Mount with beaches, gardens and coastal walks, so there’s still plenty to do if the weather changes.

In North Yorkshire, the National Railway Museum is a strong option for a lower-cost day out, while the county’s mix of countryside, market towns and family attractions gives parents more flexibility across the school holidays.

Kent has the most free family activities for the summer holidays

With many families watching their spending during the school holidays, free days out can make a major difference.

 

The Children’s Society found that 57% of parents agree school holidays are financially stressful, while 64% say the cost of school holidays has increased compared with last year.

Kent ranks first, with 885 free-entry activities, followed by North Yorkshire with 690 and Devon with 664.

For parents trying to keep costs down, Kent’s free options are a clear advantage. The White Cliffs of Dover are one of the county’s best-known free days out, while Westgate Gardens in Canterbury offers a gentler option for younger children, with green space, riverside walks and room to explore.

Cornwall is England’s most searched-for holiday destination

Cornwall ranks first for holiday search demand, with 271,000 annual searches for ‘Cornwall holiday’.

 

Cornwall’s popularity is no surprise, with beaches, coastal towns and classic seaside appeal all helping it stand out as one of England’s best-known summer destinations. Its lead is significant too, with more than double the searches of the Isle of Wight in second place, and over four times Devon’s search volume in third.

For families, Cornwall also offers plenty to build a holiday around, from beaches and coastal walks to well-known attractions such as the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

However, despite having the highest search demand, Cornwall ranks joint sixth overall in the school holiday index, alongside Hampshire. Its higher average hotel price of £124 means it sits behind destinations such as Devon, the West Midlands and Kent in the overall ranking.

Northamptonshire is England’s cheapest county for a 3-star hotel stay

Northamptonshire has the lowest average 3-star hotel price in the ranking, at £79 per night.

South Yorkshire follows at £82, while Bedfordshire and Warwickshire share third place, with an average 3-star hotel price of £87 per night.

 

However, the data also shows that cheaper accommodation does not always mean a stronger overall family holiday destination.

Northamptonshire ranks 40th overall, despite having the lowest average hotel price. The county has 107 things to do with kids and 148 free-entry activities, but scores lower than many areas with a wider choice of family attractions.

For families planning a lower-cost break in Northamptonshire, it’s worth mapping out a few activities before booking. A cheaper hotel price could leave more room in the budget for meals out, paid attractions, or an extra night away, but planning ahead will help ensure there’s enough nearby to keep children entertained throughout the trip.

London is England’s most expensive area for a 3-star hotel stay

Greater London has the highest average 3-star hotel price in the study, at £182 per night.

It is followed by Northumberland at £133, Dorset and Gloucestershire at £131, and Oxfordshire at £128.

 

London’s high accommodation costs may make it a less accessible option for families planning a summer break on a tighter budget, especially once meals, attractions and travel are added in.

The cost of family days out is already under pressure, with the Government launching its Great British Summer Savings scheme to help reduce the price of attractions and children’s meals during the school holidays. London can also be more demanding during hot summer days, with the Greater London Authority warning that hot weather can make the capital more uncomfortable for residents and visitors.

The data also shows that several traditional holiday destinations, including Cornwall, Dorset and Cumbria, sit among the more expensive areas for hotel stays, likely reflecting higher demand during popular travel periods.

How families can make summer feel exciting without travelling far

Alex McMullan, Product Designer, at outdoortoys, says:

“The summer holidays can put a lot of pressure on parents to fill every day with something exciting, but children do not always need expensive days out or long journeys to have a memorable summer.

“What matters most is variety. Mixing bigger days out with simple outdoor activities at home can help keep children active and entertained without making the holidays feel overwhelming or unaffordable.

“For families living in areas with fewer child-friendly attractions nearby, making the most of gardens, parks, local green spaces, and water play can make a real difference. Even something as simple as setting up games outside, planning a garden picnic, or using swimming pools during warm weather can help children burn energy and enjoy more time outdoors.

“It is also worth giving children some choice. Letting them help plan a few activities, even small ones, can make the summer holidays feel more exciting and gives them something to look forward to.”

Methodology

outdoortoys is one of the UK’s leading online retailers of high-quality outdoor toys for children of all ages. From climbing frames and trampolines to sandpits and steel frame pools, our mission is to help families embrace the outdoors safely and confidently.

For this campaign, we analysed counties and areas across England to reveal the best places for families to explore during the summer holidays.

Each location was ranked and given a normalised school holiday score out of 10 based on the following factors:

1. Annual holiday search demand

Search data was gathered using Google Keyword Planner for “[county] holiday”. Search data covers the period from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

2. Total number of things to do with kids

The number of child-friendly activities in each county was sourced from Tripadvisor.

3. Free-entry activities

The number of free-entry activities in each county was sourced from Tripadvisor.

4. Zoos and aquariums

The number of zoos and aquariums in each county was sourced from Tripadvisor.

5. Water and amusement parks

The number of water and amusement parks in each county was sourced from Tripadvisor.

6. Family-friendly hotels

The number of family-friendly hotels in each county was sourced from Tripadvisor.

7. Child-friendly restaurants

The number of child-friendly restaurants in each county was sourced from Tripadvisor.

8. Average 3-star hotel price

Average 3-star hotel prices were sourced from Booking.com.

Tripadvisor factors were also reviewed in relation to county size to understand the concentration of family-friendly activities. Data is accurate as of 14.07.2026.

Additional sources:

1. Tripadvisor – Devon Water & Amusement Parks: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g186250-Activities-c52-Devon_England.html 

2. Tripadvisor – Things to Do in West Midlands with Kids: http://tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186401-Activities-zft11306-West_Midlands_England.html 

3. Tripadvisor – Best Free Things to Do in Kent: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g186310-Activities-zft11292-Kent_England.html 

4. The Children’s Society – Walking into nothing: The hidden cost of the school holidays for families: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/information/professionals/resources/walking-nothing-hidden-cost-school-holidays-families 

5. GOV.UK – Great British Summer Savings: VAT slashed to save families money on days out: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/great-british-summer-savings-vat-slashed-to-save-families-money-on-days-out 

6. London City Hall – Coping with hot weather in London: https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/coping-hot-weather-london