Best family weekend breaks in the UK
Looking for your family's next weekend getaway? These brilliant breaks aren't too far from home.
The summer holidays are here, and if you're looking for inspiration for family-friendly weekend breaks, you've certainly come to the right place.
With the sunny weather pleasantly surprising us this year, there's no need to holiday abroad. The UK has fantastic offerings such as gorgeous coastlines, huge UK attractions like theme parks and zoos, as well as plenty of pretty places you can call your 'home' for a few nights.
The MadeForMums team have put together guides on the best attractions to take your family to across the country, such as the best UK theme parks for families, best places to visit with a teenager, and best UK zoos. Now, we're turning our attention to the best weekend breaks.
We've covered the big hitters such as Center Parks and Butlins, as well as some lesser known places to stay at like the best theme parks in the UK.
Speaking of zoos, here's how to get cheap zoo tickets.
Best family friendly UK breaks at a glance:
- Butlins | from £32 per person
- Chessington World of Adventures Resort | from £32 per person
- Alton Towers | from £42 per person
- Haven Holidays | from £49 per person
- Legoland Windsor Resort | from £55 per person
- Thorpe Park | from £57 per person
- Parkdean Resorts | from £99 per break
- Center Parcs | from £499 per break
Best family weekend breaks to try in the UK
Alton Towers Resort
Stoke-on-Trent
We can't get enough of Alton Towers, whether we're telling you the best Alton Towers deals or sharing our honest thoughts in our CBeebies Land Hotel review, and we think it will make an excellent location for your next weekend getaway.
At Alton Towers, there are six accommodation types to choose from: Alton Towers Hotel, Splash Landings Hotel, CBeebies Land Hotel, Woodland Lodges, Luxury Treehouses and Stargazing Pods, and this summer, you can get the second day at Alton Towers for absolutely free when you stay overnight. That means an extra day of watching your teenagers on thrilling rides like Nemesis Reborn and Toxicator, chasing your youngsters around CBeebies Land, and watching exciting live shows featuring Bluey and more.
Book an Alton Towers stay from £42 per person
Haven Holidays
UK wide
From Cornwall and Blackpool to the Lake District and South Wales, there are 38 Haven parks located around the Great British coastline, so you're bound to find one which is perfect for you and your family. At Haven, there are plenty of things to do such as outdoor splash zones, indoor pools, water sports, entertainment venues with live shows, golf courses, and more. Haven offers plenty of accommodation types, from classic caravans to lodges, and a lot are dog-friendly, too.
Book a Haven Holidays stay from £49 per person
Thorpe Park
Surrey
This next weekend break is also a theme park-centred one for families who are looking for an activity packed trip. At Thorpe Park, you can stay in either the Thorpe Shark Cabins or one of the many Themed Rooms, and, like Alton Towers, you'll also get the second day at the theme park for absolutely free.
We like Thorpe Park as it has plenty to do for the whole family, with rides such as Stealth, Nemesis Inferno and Swarm for teenagers, and the Angry Birds 4D Experience and Flying Fish Junior for younger kids, as well as seasonal events like the infamous Fright Night.
Book a Thorpe Park stay from £57 per person
Take a look at the best Thorpe Park deals for this month.
Parkdean Resorts
UK wide
Parkdean Resorts has 66 caravan holidays in counties up and down the UK, such as Essex, Isle of Wight, Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire and more, and did you know 32 of those parks are award-winning in the Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards?
The Parkdean Resorts holiday parks will provide a great base for whatever you and your family get up to on your holiday. When you book a stay here for a weekend getaway, you'll be met with kids's clubs, live entertainment, and facilities such as indoor and outdoor pools.
Book a Parkdean Resorts stay from £99
Legoland Windsor Resort
Windsor
At the Legoland Windsor Resort, your kids will love the various themed accommodations, such as the Legoland Woodland Village, Legoland Resort Hotel, and Legoland Castle Hotel. Plus, parents will love it, too, for its fantastic value for money as you'll get a two-day theme park entry for the price of one, a delicious breakfast, free parking, and much more.
There is still plenty of time to book a Legoland Windsor Resort staycation for the summer holidays, but there's also a lot of exciting activities going on later in the year, too, such as the Halloween event Brick or Treat.
Book a Legoland Windsor Resort stay from £55 per person
Here are the best Legoland Windsor deals for this month.
Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Chessington
We love that theme parks, such as Chessington World of Adventures, Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, have on-site accommodation so that you and your family will wake up right in the heart of the action ready for another day exploring!
Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a great weekend break for animal lovers. At the theme park, you can visit over 1,000 animals such as lions, tigers, monkeys, penguins and sea lions, plus, take a trip to Chessington's very own SEA LIFE Centre. Then, of course, Chessington World of Adventures is known for its rides and attractions, like World of Jumanji, and it will house the UK's first and only PAW Patrol-themed land in 2026.
Book a Chessington World of Adventures Resort stay from £32 per person
For the top Chessington World of Adventures deals, take a look at our guide.
Center Parcs
UK wide
We couldn't write a best family weekend breaks in the UK article without mentioning one of the most popular: Center Parcs.
Since it opened its first park in Sherwood Forest in 1987, Center Parcs has become one of the most sought-after places for short family breaks, and it has since opened parks in Cumbria, Bedford, Scotland, and more. At Center Parcs, you can get involved in cycling, swimming, water sports, archery, and so much more, plus, for parents looking to relax, there's also an Aqua Sana Forest Spa.
Book a Center Parcs stay from £499
Butlins
UK wide
There are three Butlins resorts in the UK: Skegness, Bognor Regis and Minehead, all by the glorious Great British seaside. At Butlins, there are plenty of things to do for the tiniest of tots to the coolest of teenagers, such as live shows, daytime activities like the Playexperience activity centre and Skypark playground, exciting swimming pools and fairground rides.
We like that at Butlins you can book with deposits as low as £5 per person and make flexible payments on your holiday booking.
Book a Butlins stay from £32 per person
Our Days Out section has plenty of inspiration from best UK waterparks to a fantastic Merlin two for one deal.