If you’re considering a UK-based break with the family, then you’ll want to choose a kid-friendly city that everyone will love. Enter Plymouth, an unsuspecting hotspot located on the south coast of Devon, which has been silently creeping up the listings as an award-winning kid-friendly city. Whether you head here for a day trip or a weekend break, there’s plenty to do, see, and enjoy. And you can bet your kids will have a blast for all of it. Oh, and I was born and live here!
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Perhaps the best thing of all is that Plymouth is also famously affordable. Forget spending a fortune in Bristol or Edinburgh, an average stay here will cost you just £70 – £100 a night, while even your chosen activities shouldn’t break the bank. If that sounds good to you, then keep on reading to find out why exactly we’re naming Plymouth as one of the top kid-friendly cities in the UK right now.
Tourist Attractions Kids Actually Appreciate
Let’s be honest, kids don’t always love trudging round shops or looking at historical monuments, meaning that trips to a city like Edinburgh can inevitably lead to some complaints of ‘I’m bored’. By comparison, Plymouth is brimming with attractions that kids are guaranteed to love. This is true even of locations like Smeaton’s Tower, a lighthouse located on the Hoe, which, as well as being historically interesting for us adults, is undeniably awe-inspiring for kids.
Equally, there are plenty of kid-specific things to do, including outdoor swimming at the Grade II listed Tinside Lido and, our favourite of all, a trip to the iconic National Marine Aquarium. This is the largest of its kind in the UK and boasts an impressive 5,000 marine animals, including sharks, turtles, and many more. Even better, your ticket buys you access for a year, meaning you could head here every day of your trip if you really wanted to keep the kids happy!
Great Food Options
It’s always stressful getting kids to eat when you’re away, isn’t it? Well, we’re pleased to report that’s another thing you won’t need to worry about in Plymouth. As well as award-winning fish and chip options like Harbourside, you’ve got a Harvester, a Beefeater, and a Five Guys. If you’ve just headed to the aquarium for the day, you can also walk just ten minutes and find yourself at Zizzi Italian restaurant Plymouth, where kids can enjoy the Bambini menu, or even Waves cafe in the Aquarium itself, which serves everything from sandwiches to hot dogs to keep the whole family happy.
Fantastic Connections
Fantastic connections are another thing that makes Plymouth the perfect UK break, and day trips from Plymouth could include a visit to Dartmoor park just six miles away, or the nearby historic towns of Totnes or Exeter. You could also easily head across to Cornwall, with the drive to Bodmin Moor taking just under an hour. With so much to explore, there won’t be a single second for your kids to get bored. And isn’t that what we all want from a family trip these days?
How did I do?
Did you enjoy this post? If so, you should check out more of the ‘usual’ type of stuff I write. Honest, relatable rants about parenting three young boys. With a touch of swearing and a lot of sarcasm. You’ll like it! Check out my Mum Life section or head to my Travel Section for some UK family holiday and days out inspiration.
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