Family Holidays

For paddling, rock pools, donkey rides, ice creams and sandcastles - Cornwall, Devon, and Bournemouth & Poole have some of the safest, prettiest and most family friendly beaches in the UK, ideal for lazy days that everyone will enjoy.

There are some great animal attractions right across the South West offering perfect opportunities to get up close to all kinds strange, wonderful and just plain cute animals.

Highlights include:
> The Oceanarium in Bournemouth,
> Devon's Paignton Zoo,
> Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire,
> The National Sea Life Centre in Cornwall.

Kids love castles and in the South West we've got some great ones: there's Tintagel in Cornwall, Dartmouth in Devon, and Dunster in Somerset -
All magical places for discovering legends of Kings and Queens and reenacting battles of knights in shining armour.

No matter which part of the South West you choose to visit you will find an array of amazing attractions to entertain your family. Highlights include:

> The Eden Project in Cornwall,
> Monkey World in Dorset,
> Dartmouth Steam Railway in Devon,
> Cheddar Gorge and Caves in Somerset,
> The Egg Children's Theatre in Bath, and
> Explore at Bristol in Bristol.

The South West is blessed with some stunning scenery that provides ample opportunities for idyllic family escapes. Some fantastic locations include:

> The Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks
> South Devon 
> The Cotswolds 
> The Quantock Hills in Somerset
> The Jurassic Coastline

Whether you choose coast or countryide you'll be spoilt with a choice with of accommodation options that happily cater for kids.

Here in South West England, we're lucky to have some great places for fossil hunting. Devon & Dorset's Jurassic Coast offers ample opportunities for kids to step back in time and discover the world of dinosaurs.

> Fossils in Devon 
> Fossils in Dorset

Hopping on a boat for a gentle trip makes for a great day out - kids will love the thrill of being out on the water and it's a great way to spot some of the South West's wealth of wildlife.

Try sailing around sheltered Poole Harbour, take ride for a day or longer on a canal barge in Wiltshire, or hop on a Bristol Ferry - a great way to get between the city's top attractions. 

Feeding the family in South West England doesn't have to be expensive. Visit a farmers market and you can pick up some of the freshest locally sourced ingredients that this county produces. Make yourself a picnic or plan a bbq and you can dine in style with amazing scenery all around you.

Staying with children on a working farm can be such a rewarding experience for all. Taste food as fresh as it gets and let kids get up close to animals for the first time.

> Farm holidays in Somerset 
> Farm holidays in Cornwall 
> Farm holidays in Devon

Safe and exciting in beautiful outdoor settings, outdoor adventure parks are ideal for kids to stretch their legs and play while you enjoy the scenery with a good book or maybe even have a go yourself!

> Woodlands Leisure Park in Devon,
> Crealy Adventure Park in Cornwall,
> Adventure Wonderland in Bournemouth.

Big engines, wonderful smells, unspoilt views - capture the little ones imaginations on a steam train ride. Try:

> The South Devon Railway,
> Cornwall's Bodmin and Wenford Railway,
> The East Somerset Railway,
> Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.
> The Swanage Railway, Dorset.

With seven miles of safe, gently shelving golden sands, the wide beaches of Bournemouth have long been a magnet for families with babies and youngsters. Bournemouth was voted the UK's most child-friendly resort in 2007 by Mother & Baby magazine.

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Cornwall always has been, and always will be, a fantastic choice for a family holiday. Apart from a day on the beach, building sandcastles, flying kites and splashing in the water, there are a host of great places to visit that will keep your little ones occupied and fascinated for hours on end.

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For a family friendly break Devon has it all. You'll find a variety of accommodation options with facilities geared for children and an amazing playground of wide open spaces to go wild in, including blue flag beaches and stunning moorland.

From meeting farm animals to braving a rollercoaster, building sandcastles to exploring historic houses, Devon's Top Attractions guarantee great days out for all the family.

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Remember riding the donkeys on the beach? And meeting & feeding the animals at the farm? Let your children discover these and other joys with a fun-packed family holiday in beautiful rural Somerset.

There are a wealth things to see and do, from visiting the amazing Cheddar Gorge and Caves to seeing wonderful events like the Bridgewater Fair.

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There is so much to keep kids of all ages entertained in Dorset. Try fossil hunting along the beautiful Jurassic Coast and et little ones discover a world of dinosaurs, see the enormous collection of swans at the Abbotsbury Swannery or even meet the apes at the fabulous Monkey World!

Delightful seaside towns offer all kinds of great family friendly accommodation and the beautiful Dorset countryside is an ideal place to relax with all the family.

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