8 Best City Breaks for Kids in the UK and Europe
Discover our insider guide to eight of the best city breaks with kids, perfect destinations for a fun-filled family escape in top cities in the UK and across Europe!
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1. Amsterdam with kids – best for toddlers to teens
The laidback, family-friendly Dutch capital has something for everyone, from toddlers to teens. The NEMO Science Museum is always a hit thanks to the interactive exhibits, and teens in search of an adrenaline rush will go wild for the A’DAM Lookout, where they can try Europe’s highest swing (a vertigo-inducing 100 metres high). There are all kinds of ways to explore the canals – by boat, by bike or even by clog bike (you do the steering while your kids sit in a ‘clog’ at the front, ideal for toddlers!). As the icing on the cake on your fantastic city break with kids, don’t forget to stop for a stroopwafel, the traditional gooey Dutch treat.
2. Barcelona with kids – best for beach fun
Why not combine your family-friendly city break with a beach escape in Barcelona? There are so many things to do with kids in this Mediterranean hotspot! The sandy beaches are perfect for sand castles, a game of volleyball, and water sports from sailing to standup paddleboarding. Back in town, Gaudí’s whimsical buildings look like dragons (the Casa Batlló) or ice-cream (La Pedrera), and there are fun child-friendly museums such as the Natural Science Museum (Museu de Ciències Naturals) and the CosmoCaixa to keep little ones entertained. For something a little different, take your kids to the enchanting Horta labyrinth or enjoy a ride on the miniature steam train in the Parc de l’Oreneta.
Museu de Ciències Naturals
Plaça Leonardo da Vinci, 4-5
08019 Barcelona
3. Copenhagen with kids – best city break with funfair thrills
Get your kids excited about a Copenhagen city break by telling them about the amusement park (Tivoli Gardens) right in the centre! As a parent, you’ll love Copenhagen’s laidback vibe, the play areas and parks, and the family-friendly cafes, which all make this the perfect destination for a weekend away. When it comes to great things to do with kids in Copenhagen, you could head to Blue Planet to let them hang out with sharks, giant rays and much more, or visit the activity-packed Children’s Museum to see what the mysterious ‘Boredom Button’ can do.
Tivoli Gardens
Vesterbrogade 3
1630 Copenhagen
4. Glasgow with kids – best UK city break for art and fun
Glasgow is a brilliant destination for a city break with kids, with attractions that range from the artsy to the outdoor. The Burrell Collection has a very engaging and family-friendly art collection and a gorgeous setting in Pollok Country Park, surrounded by woodland walks, a fairy garden and Highland cows. Other things to do with kids include the Riverside Museum, with lots of interactive exhibits dedicated to transport and technology as well as the chance to clamber all over boats and trains. Young football fans will get a kick out of the Celtic Park stadium, and teens will love the shopping along Buchanan Street and perhaps the chance to see the famous statue of the Duke of Wellington wearing a traffic cone.
Pollok Country Park
2060 Pollokshaws Rd
Glasgow G43 1AT
5. Lisbon with kids – best for fun ways to get around
Just getting around Lisbon is fun for all the family – whether it’s on the yellow trams that rattle up and down the hills, the amazing old ‘elevators’ or the panoramic cable car that crosses the Tagus river. Top things to do with kids in Lisbon include the São Jorge castle, where you can soak up the sweeping vistas while your kids enjoy running around the gardens, dodging peacocks. Other top child-friendly attractions include the enormous Oceanário de Lisboa, one of Europe’s largest aquariums, and the colourful Mercado da Ribeira, a 50-stall food hall offering all kinds of delectable small bites that is popular with children of all ages.
São Jorge Castle
Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo
1100-129 Lisbon
6. London with kids – top UK city break destination
How do you make sure you won’t hear the dreaded phrase ‘I’m bored’ on your city break with the kids? Just head to London! The UK capital is one of the best city break destinations with children because it has so much choice. Old-school favourites for things to do in London with kids include the Tower of London with its spooky stories and glittering jewels, or watching the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Top, child-friendly museums include the Natural History and Science Museums, and families will also enjoy West End shows like The Lion King and Matilda the Musical. Young Harry Potter fans will want to visit Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross or, for the full Potter experience, take the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in Watford, a 20-minute train journey from central London.
Natural History Museum
Cromwell Rd
London SW7 5BD
7. Paris with kids – top destination for art and bright lights
Paris is famously a city for romance – but there is plenty for kids to fall in love with too! The Eiffel Tower, its most iconic landmark, never fails to thrill, and its most famous museum, the Louvre, keeps kids enthralled with Egyptian mummies. Tips for things to do with kids off the beaten path include the child-friendly Atelier des Lumières, a digital arts centre which gives youngsters the chance to immerse themselves (literally) in paintings, and the Musée des Arts Forains with its quirky collection of old fairground attractions. Thrill-seeking kids might like the spooky Paris catacombs or a trip out of town to Disneyland Paris. Paris will surely capture your child’s heart – making it one of the best destinations for a city break with kids.
Atelier des Lumières
38 Rue Saint-Maur
75011 Paris
8. Venice with kids – top for adventures on water
There’s no better way to explore this island city than by boat, including the vaporetti (water buses). For something different, older kids can even take a class to learn the graceful art of rowing a gondola. Some of the city’s most celebrated museums – including the Da Vinci Interactive Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection – all offer interactive exhibits, along with workshops and tours, designed to appeal to younger children. A visit to Murano to watch the glass blowers in action is always a hit, or you could book your family in for a mask-making workshop at Ca’Macana, one of the oldest, traditional mask shops in Venice.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Dorsoduro 701-704
30123 Venice
Whichever destination you choose for your city break with the kids, you’re sure to have fun while creating wonderful family memories.
NEMO Science Museum
Oosterdok 2
1011 VX Amsterdam
