VisitBritain suggests numerous family-friendly things to do in England, Scotland and Wales this summer.
England holidays
The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre is 32 miles northwest of London, near the home of writer Roald Dahl, in Great Missenden. The museum contains manuscripts, letters, photographs, Dahl's idea books and other belongings. Galleries describe Dahl's life and works with audio-visuals and touch-screens.
In Newcastle upon Tyne, Seven Stories, the Centre for Children's Books is Britain's home for children's literature. Kids can climb into the artist's attic to learn about story writing from authors and illustrators.
Winnie-the-Pooh country is in the village of Hartfield, Sussex. Buy a map of Pooh Country at The Shop at Pooh Corner to follow the nearby footpaths to the Five Hundred Acre Wood, the Enchanted Place and Poohsticks Bridge. Children can bring A.A. Milne's book to life as they toss sticks into the stream and watch which ones float to the other side first.
Families learn about Cadbury's Dairy Milk at Cadbury World, in Birmingham. At a model village in Bournville, kids learn how to make chocolate making while walking a boardwalk through an Aztec jungle and watching a three-dimensional movie.
London vacations
Kids, ages three to six, seven to 11, and older, enjoy hands-on experiences in science and technology at The Science Museum in South Kensington. The fun activities are based on the UK National Curriculum.
Children learn about music, history, science, art and design at The Tower of London. The popular attraction offers scary tours, food, drink and art exhibits, ice skating and information about ongoing preservation activities.
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre offers children educational workshops to learn about theater during Shakespeare's day. The London theater is an authentic reconstruction of one of Shakespeare's open-air playhouses, designed in 1599. London's Unicorn Theatre also offers fun educational shows for kids.
Benjamin Franklin lived in London, in the Benjamin Franklin House, from 1757 to 1775. Guides in 18th-century costumes give tours. Children learn about Franklin's scientific discoveries with hands-on interactive multi-media.
Located in the north central area, at the top of Regents Park, the London Zoo entices families with more than 600 species of animals. Kids love the urban eco-safari walk in the monkey forest and the Happy Families section of the zoo, populated with meerkats. Children learn about conservation, watch otters swim underwater and endangered tamarins sun-bathe.
Scotland travel
For families that like cycling and mountain biking, Scotland offers numerous trails suitable for every age and ability. The hilly forested Scottish Borders region is especially popular with mountain bikers and cyclists.
Birdwatchers and nature-lovers can hike along hundreds of miles of trails in Scotland's forests. Children enjoy the Red Squirrel Trail in Dumfries & Galloway and the Trossachs Bird of Prey Trail, where they may spot Aberfoyle Ospreys. From the viewing hide at Huntly Peregrine Wild Watch Centre, kids observe wildlife with telescopes and binoculars. Bring a picnic to enjoy at picnic sites in the Scottish forest.
The birthplace of J.M. Barrie, who created Peter Pan, is open to visitors. The Wendy House is located near Dundee and preserved by the National Trust for Scotland. It features the small wash house that was his first theater.
Children love the ruined Urquhart Castle and the drive along Loch Ness to search for the Loch Ness Monster, near Inverness, capital of the Highlands. The native Caledonian Pine Forest was the film location for the movie, Last of the Mohicans.
Wales holiday
Alice in Wonderland comes to life in the oceanside town of Llandudno in North Wales. Alice Liddell, who inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice in Wonderland, vacationed in Llandudno with her family several times, starting in 1861.
A statue of the White Rabbit greets visitors to Llandudno. Kids can enter the 'rabbit hole' and find life-sized, moving exhibits of the Mad Hatter, March Hare and other characters from Alice in Wonderland. Sound effects and commentaries in a choice of five languages enhance the experience.
The National Museum Wales has several family-friendly museums, like the National Waterfront Museum, in Swansea, and the National Coal Museum. This year, kids can enjoy storytelling, movies and family workshops, including the "Funky Junk! Recycled Fashion Workshops for Families", at the National Waterfront Museum, the "Explore the Sea Floor: Family Workshops" at the Cardiff and the "Your Body the Battery!" display at St. Fagans National History Museum.
Families can watch soccer games, at the Millennium Stadium, and club rugby matches at Stradey Park, Llanelli, Cardiff Arms Park, Rodney Parade in Newport and the new Liberty Stadium in Swansea.
Wales has many annual festivals that offer children fun and entertainment and exposure to Celtic culture. The Celtic Festival of Wales, in Trecco Bay, in March, is the region's largest Celtic music festival. Also in March, the St. David's Day Food Festival, in Saundersfoot, hosts the Cawl Cooking Championship of the World. In May, the Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza recreates an old-fashioned street fair with steam engines, street performers and food stands. The Big Cheese, in Caerphilly, attracts families with free traditional performances, reenactments, dancing, food, arts and crafts.
