Inspiration For The Perfect Day Out

So what will you do? Where will you go next? As searches for ‘days out near me’ skyrocket, we thought we’d put together a quick guide to some of the best days out in the UK. Take a look below and get inspiration for the perfect day out.

Theme Parks

If you’re a thrill-seeker, a theme park visit is likely at the top of your list of perfect days out. Here in the UK, we have several big theme parks including Alton Towers (Staffordshire), Drayton Manor (Staffordshire), Thorpe Park (Surrey) and Chessington (Surrey). But there are smaller theme parks dotted all over the UK too. If you are looking for days out near me, take a look at the list below and see which is closest...

M&Ds, Lanarkshire - Scotland’s biggest theme park has several big rides including Tsunami, Tornado, Big Apple, the Runaway Mine Train and the Giant Condor - a ride that soars up to 30m with striking views of Strathclyde Park and Lanarkshire.

Paultons Park, Hampshire - The Jurassic-inspired Lost Kingdom is an immersive dinosaur theme park, perfect for families. If you’ve got younger children, you can also visit Peppa Pig World and Little Africa, found within Paultons Park.

Legoland, Berkshire - Who doesn’t love Lego? A great place to head with the family, the theme park has lots of rides to go on - many of which don’t have height restrictions so the younger kids can enjoy them too. On a hot day, let the kids enjoy a ‘Splash and Play’ in Duplo Valley and don’t forget to take a walk around the fascinating Miniland model village.

Gulliver’s World, Warrington - This family-run theme park is designed for kids aged between 2 and 13, with over 80 family-friendly rides to enjoy, as well as top attractions including the Ghost House and Pirates Play area.

When searching for ‘theme park days out near me’ online, we’d always recommend doing a quick search for discounts. You’ll also need to pre-book your tickets as theme parks are currently limiting their number of visitors.

Want to make the most of your day? Book an overnight stay at a hotel with PlansChange!

Castles & Historic Houses

One thing’s for sure, Britain isn’t short of castles and historic houses to visit. You’ll find them all over the UK and most are open to the public for visits and tours. Like with theme parks, you’ll likely need to pre-book tickets before you go.

Warwick Castle - Not your average castle visit. Warwick Castle has so much more to offer than just a quick tour and history lesson. From its fully interactive Horrible Histories Maze to the brand new 3D Zog the Dragon trail, there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained.

Chatsworth House - Visiting Derbyshire for the day? It’s well worth taking a trip to the beautiful Chatsworth House near Bakewell. This stunning stately home, famous for its rich history and beautiful 105-acre gardens has something to offer everyone.

Enjoy a peaceful and romantic stroll around the grounds, followed by the Chatsworth Afternoon Tea Experience. Got the kids with you? No problem! Chatsworth welcomes little explorers to visit the Sensory Garden and experiment with the Human Sundial, before making friends with the animals at the farmyard. It’s also dog-friendly, with lots of lovely walks to enjoy with your four-legged friends.

Fancy staying overnight? Check our current availability at Derbyshire hotels and grab a great deal!

Other family-friendly castles & historic house days out to add to your list:

• Edinburgh Castle
• Bamburgh Castle
• Windsor Castle
• Dover Castle
• Whitby Abbey
• Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
• Carisbrooke Castle, Newport
• Nottingham Castle (reopening after a huge renovation spring 2021!)
• Audley End House and Gardens, Essex
• Wrest Park, Bedfordshire

Spa Days

Does the perfect day out near you involve total relaxation? Sounds like you need a spa day! And just for you, we’ve put together a guide to the Top 5 Spa Breaks in the UK. Take a look at our current spa hotel listings to book a well-deserved break.

Animal & Wildlife Parks

Good news! Now all of the top UK attractions are reopening, we can finally venture back to see our animal friends at the zoo and wildlife parks. Take a look at some of the top zoo and wildlife park days out and don’t forget to pre-book your tickets:

• Blair Drummond Safari Park, Stirling
• Bristol Zoo
• Cornwall Seal Sanctuary
• Chester Zoo - New Latin American Wetland Aviary opening soon!
• Knowsley Safari Park, Merseyside
• Longleat Safari, Wiltshire
• The Deep, Hull
• West Midland Safari Park, Worcestershire
• Woburn Safari, Buckinghamshire
• Yorkshire Wildlife Park
• ZSL London Zoo

Museums

Fancy something a little bit different? Head to the new Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein museum, opening this spring in Bath. Through unusual artefacts and vintage items, the museum uncovers the life of the young author and the full story behind Frankenstein. What’s more, you can explore multi-sensory environments and take part in the puzzle-based Escape Room, set in Victor Frankenstein’s attic, suitable for the whole family.

Looking for a museum near you? You’ll find history, science and transport museums in cities all over the UK. Take a look below to find out when these museums will reopen for visitors. Remember you’ll need to pre-book tickets or a visiting slot in advance for most attractions.

• Beaulieu National Motor Museum (now open)
• Birmingham Science Museum (29th May 2021)
• Hollycombe Working Steam Museum, Hampshire (July 2021)
• London Transport Museum (17th May 2021)
• National Space Centre, Leicester (17th May 2021)
• Natural History Museum, London (17th May 2021)
• Science Museum, London (19th May 2021)
• Victoria & Albert Museum, London (19th May 2021)
• We the Curious, Bristol (22nd May 2021)

Visiting museums in London? With so many attractions to explore, it may be worth booking an overnight stay, so you can really make the most of your visit. Check out our guide to The Best London Hotels for a Weekend Break.

Parks and Gardens

Rather spend your perfect day outside? We don’t blame you. When the British weather blesses us with sunshine, you want to head to one of the country’s beautiful parks and gardens. Here are a few of our favourite sun spots…

• Arley Hall & Gardens, Cheshire
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens
• Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
• Cambridge University Botanic Garden
• Levens Hall, Cumbria
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London
• Stourhead, Wiltshire
• The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland
• Windsor Great Park

We hope we’ve given you some great ideas for ‘days out near me.’ And if you have so much fun you don’t want to go home, be sure to check out our listings for last-minute hotel availability.