The best Unesco World Heritage sites in the UK with kids

Ranging from historic sites to amazing scenery, the UK has 35 separate entries on Unesco’s World Heritage list, including four overseas locations – but for families, which are the best Unesco World Heritage sites in the UK with kids?

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Whether your kids love history or the great outdoors, whether you want to venture far off the beaten track or to stay in Britain’s great cities, it’s easy to theme a string of UK days out with kids around the Unesco list.

With more inspiration to plan a longer trip, as well as family attractions to while away a few hours, here’s my pick of the best Unesco World Heritage sites in the UK with kids.

Stonehenge, Wiltshire

There is nowhere in the world quite like Stonehenge – this amazing creation still has the power to fascinate and spark your curiosity at any age.

While it’s not always the easiest location to reach, especially if you aren’t driving, it’s well worth the effort to look at what is probably the world’s most famous prehistoric monument.

At the entrance, there’s a small museum and recreated Neolithic houses to explore – the exhibition in particular is unmissable, not least for the chance to stand in a recreation of the stones at the solstice, as well as providing some background.

Then walk the paths through the fields (or hop on the shuttle bus) to see the famous circle suddenly appearing on the horizon, with information on the site and its history from the free Stonehenge app. The impact of seeing Stonehenge in real life, marvelling at the size of the stones, the precision of the design, is never less than jaw-dropping.

Check out what we thought of a visit to Stonehenge with kids

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London

I’ve visited Kew Gardens countless times with my daughter, starting from a picnic shortly after she was born to full days rambling through the sprawling gardens now she’s a teen – and there’s always something new to discover.

You’ll find regular family events taking place, from school holiday trails (such as this one themed around the Beano) to the Christmas at Kew light trail, as well as the fantastic Children’s Garden playground.

But even apart from the extra activities, there are acres to explore, spotting the dragons on the pagoda and the nearby Japanese garden, seeing peacocks strut along Cedar Vista and Syon Palace across the river from Syon Vista.

You can walk inside the Hive and head up to the treetop canopy, venture into the glass houses, and find out what it feels like to be a badger – not to mention flowers galore throughout the year.

Tickets are available several months in advance – click here to prebook – and timed slots to the Children’s Garden can also be prebooked, which is a good idea during peak season, weekends and school holidays especially.

Check out my tips for exploring Kew Gardens with kids

Greenwich, London

One of my favourite parts of London, it’s easy to spend a day (or longer) exploring Greenwich with kids, including the Royal Observatory, Old Royal Naval College with its fabulous Painted Hall, Planetarium, market and the wonderful Cutty Sark.

You could hop on the tube but it’s hard to beat a boat trip along the Thames first to approach by water – just as I did with my daughter on one of her earliest visits, for a day out at the Cutty Sark.

Along with exploring the museums and other attractions, it’s a lovely place to wander, whether that’s along the riverside or in Greenwich’s green spaces.

You can hop over the meridian line, enjoy the views out to Canary Wharf from the hilltop, spot deer in Greenwich park, stroll around Greenwich market and more.

Check out my top things to do in Greenwich with kids here

Westminster Abbey, London

Unmissable if your kids are interested in British history, over 3,300 people have been buried or commemorated at Westminster Abbey, including 16 separate British monarchs (or 17, if you believe the bones thought to be the Princes in the Tower include those of Edward V) plus many of their consorts.

As you explore inside, you can see the tombs of Henry V and all the Tudors except Henry VIII, alongside early kings such as Edward the Confessor, who died a week after the abbey was consecrated.

Plantagenet kings also lie here, including Henry III, who had the current abbey built in the 13^th century, and Edward I, while Mary I and Elizabeth I share a tomb. The last King of England to be buried here is George II.

And every king or queen of England has been crowned here, except two – Edward V, who was deposed and presumed murdered before his coronation, and Edward VIII who abdicated before his could take place.

Prebooking tickets is recommended – you can also buy tickets with free cancellation here – and there are Family Highlights tours during school holidays. The Palace of Westminster is also part of the Unesco World Heritage site.

The Tower of London, London

The Tower of London is one of my own personal favourites, and from the astonishing crown jewels to the famous ravens and beefeaters, it’s a great day out with kids in London too.

You can explore former royal apartments, decorated as they would have been when kings lived there, and discover the Tower’s grim history as a prison too, including a memorial to two of Henry VIII’s executed queens.

It also houses part of the Royal Armoury, plus you’ll find displays on the Tower’s menagerie of animals, discover live performances during school holidays, and walk the walls.

For a memorably unusual evening, the Ceremony of the Keys is a chance to see history in action – check out my experience of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with kids

Edinburgh

There are few Unesco World Heritage sites in the UK that are quite as varied as Edinburgh. In fact, it isn’t really just one location, but two distinct parts of what is an amazing city.

What is included in the Unesco site – officially the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile, and all of the amazing architecture that surrounds that part of the city.

You’ll find plenty of things to do in Edinburgh with kids, but while you’re there with your kids check out Potter Trail, the Harry Potter themed trail that will take you around the city.

If the weather is good, walk up Arthur’s Seat for a one-of-a-kind view of Edinburgh. If you have time also check out the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions where you can see some things that will truly blow your kids’ minds.

For a bonus Unesco World Heritage Site in the UK with kids, seeing the Forth Bridge is easy to combine with a trip to Edinburgh

Durham Castle and Cathedral, County Durham

Beautiful Durham is another city which families love – here it’s the Norman cathedral and castle, once the residence of the prince-bishops of Durham which have the Unesco World Heritage site designation.

While castles are normally a winner with families, visiting Durham Castle is a little bit different – while the centuries of history are as fascinating as any of the castles in the UK, it’s also a working university, which means that there are a few more challenges and limitations if you’re looking to visit.

Firstly, you cannot explore the castle unless you join a guided tour – these last around 45 to 50 minutes, so not too taxing for short attention spans, and kids do go free. Just don’t expect dressing up and exploring freely.

Just a couple of minutes’ walk away sits Durham Cathedral which is likely to be the bigger hit, particularly for Harry Potter fans – scenes from the first two movies were filmed here, and you can snap a selfie at some of the locations in the cloisters.

There are guided tours of the cathedral too, to learn more about its thousand-year history, or you can go at your own pace. Check out the riverside trails during your visit too.

For more great UK days out for Harry Potter fans, check out my pick of the best

Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

The only non-royal country house in all of England to hold the title of palace, Blenheim Palace is around 20 minutes from Oxford, at Woodstock in the Oxfordshire countryside.

Famous for being the birthplace and home of wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, it’s also an incredibly child-friendly day out, including a great audio tour of the grand palace itself.

In the 2,000-acre estate, you’ll find immersive family exhibitions on the palace’s history, as well as sprawling gardens that feature a children’s play area, a two-mile hedge maze, a miniature train, butterfly house and pony trail for little ones, not to mention special events throughout the year.

Visit in the run-up to Christmas, and there’s an illuminated trail too.

Check out my review of a day out at Blenheim Palace with kids for more of the site’s family attractions

Jurassic Coast, Dorset & East Devon

If there’s a dinosaur lover in your house, then a trip to the Jurassic Coast is a must – and the stretch in East Devon and Dorset is easily one of the best Unesco World Heritage sites in the UK with kids.

Known for its beautiful scenery, there’s also plenty to see and do in the area – for more inspiration check out my posts on the best things to do in Dorset with kids and my ultimate guide to Devon with kids.

To star off mini fossil fans, the Lulworth Fossil Forest, Spyway Dinosaur Footprints, Swanage Museum & Heritage Centre, and Sidmouth Museum let you step back in time and see fossils that come from the time of the dinosaurs. For something a little different while you’re there take a ride on the Seaton Tramway too.

Lake District, Cumbria

The Lake District is one of the loveliest corners of England filled with walking trails for all ages and skill levels and lakes perfect for swimming in. But that definitely isn’t all.

There are so many things to do in the Lake District with kids, whether you’re looking for an outdoorsy active break, visiting with toddlers or looking for a chance to discover some history or animal attractions.

At the Brockhole Lake District Visitor Centre you can find a wide variety of outdoors activities for kids to enjoy including archery, mini tractors to ride, kayaks, and more. Or you could visit the Lake District Wildlife Park which is filled with animals from all over the world.

The World of Beatrix Potter, Wray Castle, and Lakes Aquarium are ideal for some family fun indoors, just in case you’re visiting the Lake District in the rain.

Bath, Somerset

The gorgeous ancient city of Bath is one of my favourite cities in England, an amazing destination where kids can learn about the UK’s Roman heritage as well as its later Georgian elegance.

Plus you’ve got the bonus of city attractions and the lovely countryside around Bath to explore.

I’ve picked out my top things to do in Bath with kids here for more inspiration: you shouldn’t miss the Roman baths themselves, with a great family audio trail, and a stroll around soaking up the honey-coloured stone of the city’s lovely architecture and a wander to Pulteney bridge.

There’s also the Fashion Museum (currently closed to 2030), Jane Austen Centre, American Museum and more, or the lovely Bath skyline walk – not to mention a Bath bun before you leave.

Frontiers of the Roman Empire, northern England

This UK Unesco World Heritage site stretches from Whitehaven in Cumbria on the west coast all the way along Hadrian’s Wall to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the east.

Technically, the site includes a large area in Germany as well as the Antonine Wall in Scotland, but for families, it’s the borderlands of northern England which are the best parts to visit.

All along the frontier, the remains of Hadrian’s Wall is dotted with forts and museums and if your kids are fascinated by the Romans, there’s nowhere quite it. The best way to get a full picture is to visit a few sites and take at least a short walk on the wall.

For more tips on visiting Hadrian’s Wall with kids, check out this mini guide

The Roman Army Museum near Hexham is a starting point to get a sense of life on the wall, including the variety of people from the Roman Empire who might have found themselves in this part of Britannia.

The sister site, Vindolanda, has its own great museum, as well as a recreation of a few buildings you’d have expected to find in the town near the fort – one centres around the children of two families, perfect if you’re exploring Hadrian’s Wall with kids – plus you can head up to the archaeological site, some of which is still being excavated.

There are also several English Heritage sites nearby, including Chester’s Roman Fort, once home to cavalry and with a bathhouse by the river, as well as Housesteads and Corbridge Roman Town, which often have kids’ trails and other activities, including the chance to meet a Roman legionary.

For ideas of more things to do in Northumberland with kids, check out my top picks

Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd

Of all the Unesco World Heritage sites in the UK to visit with kids, this one is ideal to spark the imagination.

The creation of Edward I in the late 13th and early 14th century, it includes some of the best castles in the UK to visit with kids – Caernarfon Castle, Beaumaris Castle with its moat, Harlech Castle, and Conwy Castle along with a few town walls.

To get a feel for what life would have been like, rather than a ruin, however impressive, then 700-year-old Conwy Castle is ideal – you can still climb the towers and stroll around the battlements.

Meanwhile Caernarfon is one of the most impressive: this gigantic project took 47 years, with town walls built at the same time as the Castle, costing a medieval fortune – £25,000.

And Beaumaris, on the island of Anglesey, is one of my own favourites, with its four concentric rings.

Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire

One of the key sites of the Industrial Revolution, the bridge at Ironbridge is still an impressive sight today – but if you’re visiting with kids, it’s the Ironbridge Gorge museums, which are going to be most tempting, including the wonderful Blists Hill Victorian Town.

A favourite day out when I was growing up, I returned with my daughter a couple of years ago, who loved it as much as I did, from the chance to watch traditional crafts to buying Victorian sweets in the sweet shop, watching horses wandering through the cobbled streets and exploring the old houses.

Check out our review from our visit to Blists Hill Victorian Town

Make some time to explore the gorge as well, along with the other museums for a closer look at how the iron bridge was created and the the advances which made it possible.

Or explore with a Treasure Map Trail of Ironbridge – plus there’s 10% off using code MUMMYTRAVELS

Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire

Home to the astonishing Lovell telescope, and one of the key Space Age locations in the UK, Jodrell Bank isn’t just for older kids either.

As well as serious science, there are always plenty of activities for kids and chances to get hands on, whether that’s experimenting with sound waves or a simulation of being sucked into a black hole (not literally, fortunately!), along with plenty of scientific displays.

The First Light Pavilion is designed to take visitors on a journey from the early days of radio astronomy. Alongside an exhibition, the custom-built auditorium will have immersive planetarium-style shows – the closest you can get to the stars without your own rocket.

Studley Royal Park, including Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire

The ancient ruins of Fountains Abbey are one of the loveliest places to visit in Yorkshire with kids – spectacular in early spring when snowdrops carpet the Georgian water garden, there’s always something to marvel at at Fountains Abbey .

There’s also an adventure play area, as well as being able to explore the abbey grounds, and the fabulous Studley Royal Water Garden.

With deer in the deer park, lines of ancient trees and a whole series of reflective ponds and follies around the abbey ruins, you can let imaginations run wild as you roam.

Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland

One of the world’s most unusual natural sites, the dramatic Giant’s Causeway is as fascinating at age four as at forty, with 40,000 massive black basalt columns sticking out of the sea.

The rock formations, Northern Ireland’s only Unesco World Heritage site, would be unforgettable for its setting between the Atlantic and the cliffs, eve if it wasn’t for the string of legends that surround it of giants striding over the sea to Scotland.

You can join guided tours or explore with an audio guide, while there are storytellers who’ll entice you with their tales of how the causeway was formed. Then you can soak up the scenery on a walk to the stones, or there’s also a car park reserved for those holding Visitor Experience tickets and National Trust members.

Neolithic Orkney

This UK Unesco site does take a bit more determination to reach, but for kids who love history, there’s quite simply nowhere like Neolithic Orkney.

The site is made up of 4 primary structures that are nearly 5,000 years old, with tours around the sites run by the visitor’s centre.

The settlement of Skara Brae was inhabited before the Pyramids were built or Stonehenge was constructed and it’s one of the best-preserved Neolithic settlements in Western Europe, giving a picture of how people lived – even their stone furniture has survived.

The other key sites include the large chambered tomb of Maes Howe, and the ceremonial stone circles known as the Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar – you can plan your visit using these suggestions for an itinerary.

Liverpool

Technically this one shouldn’t even be in the post as a decision in 2021 meant that Liverpool has lost its Unesco World Heritage status – one of the few in the world to do so as the organisation felt that recent development of the area was “detrimental to the site’s authenticity and integrity”.

But there are so many things to do in Liverpool with kids and some amazing heritage still to discover that I felt it deserved to stay on my own personal list.

Walk along the historic waterfront and docks to discover more about the city’s maritime history, and the reasons Liverpool made the coveted World Heritage list. The Merseyside Maritime Museum (temporarily closed) or a Mersey River Cruise should both be on your list too.

There are often family activities and pop-up events taking place around Albert Dock too, along with attractions for fans of the city’s music heritage – the Liverpool Pass includes entrance to a string of attractions, such as The Beatles Story and the British Museum Experience.

For another fun way to explore the city, check out the Liverpool treasure hunts from Treasure Map Trails which are perfect for kids – there’s 10% off if you use code MUMMYTRAVELS too

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Main image/Westminster Abbey/Edinburgh/Durham Cathedral/Blenheim Palace/Jurassic Coast/Lake District/Bath/Hadrian’s Wall/Caernarfon Castle/Giant’s Causeway/Liverpool courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels

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