How to Choose the Perfect Family Holiday – With a Difference
July 7, 2025
What makes a family holiday truly unforgettable? Is it the setting – a wild beach or quiet forest? Is it the shared experiences of visiting new places, trying new foods, staying in weird and whacky places, or simply the feeling of being together, soaking up something out of the ordinary?
We think it’s all of the above. So, we’ve rounded up a list of five bucket-list-worthy holiday ideas that we think every family should consider embarking on. Not the same old package breaks that we know and love, but meaningful adventures that bring everyone closer, the kinds of trips that inspire inside jokes that linger long after you’ve unpacked.
At Penhein we love nothing more than an adventure, and the wonderful news is that we don’t even have to leave the UK to find it…..
1. Sleep Somewhere Remarkable
A family holiday doesn’t have to mean a hotel or holiday park. For a stay your children will remember with wide-eyed glee, try sleeping somewhere truly out of the ordinary. Let your imagination run wild with the many weird and wonderful places that are on offer these days. How about a converted jet plane with cockpit views and bunk beds built into the fuselage? Or a converted railway carriage that has been transformed into a fully equipped, family-friendly holiday home right on the tracks? You could stay in a lighthouse at the edge of the coast, or step into a world of fairytales and head to the woods to sleep under canvas or even book a night in a castle. You can even stay in a museum or on a warship!
London is big on unusual sleepovers or The Landmark Trust is a good place to look if you like heritage properties with serious wow factor, from turreted towers to medieval gatehouses and more!
2. Walk the Walk
Walking holidays might not seem like the obvious choice for families – but for older children they can be incredibly rewarding. There’s something about covering ground together, sharing the pain of tired feet and the celebration when you reach the summit. It creates a natural joy that you just can’t beat and it’s easier on the purse strings too. Why not try a stretch of Hadrian’s Wall, the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Offa’s Dyke or the South West Coast Trail? Walk between camping spots or book cosy inns and family-run B&Bs each night. Ironically, hiking holidays aren’t about speed, so make sure to build in ‘rest days’ for exploring. Mix hiking days with castle visits, beach stops, a picnic by a waterfall or a day of doing absolutely nothing at all.
3. The Classic Seaside Holiday
A bucket and spade. A bag of chips. Salty hair and sandy feet. The classic British seaside holiday still tops the list for a reason – it’s simple, joyful, filled with long days and memory-making moments.
Head to Cornwall for surf schools and beach days, Dorset for fossil hunting along the Jurassic Coast, or Cardigan Bay to spot dolphins. Plan your day around the tide, and keep things fun with a rock pooling session (The Wildlife Trust has a brilliant guide).
Have a look here to Find coastal family-run B&Bs
4. Culture Around Every Corner
It’s easy to overlook cities when planning a family holiday, but the right one can offer a brilliant mix of culture, history, and entertainment — especially for curious minds and adventurous appetites.
You don’t have to go abroad either. The UK is home to some truly beautiful, family-friendly cities. Think Edinburgh’s castle-topped skyline, Bath’s Roman ruins, York’s cobbled streets and chocolate shops or Oxford’s dreaming spires. Even smaller cities like Truro in Cornwall offer a great blend of local character, coast, and community.
The best city breaks invite you to walk, explore, and try something new – whether it’s tasting your way through a street food market, hopping on a sightseeing bus, or wandering a museum filled with the local history. Most UK cities are easy to get around on foot or by public transport and many have parks, river walks and green spaces to break up the hustle and bustle.
5. Forest Holidays
For families who love being outdoors and trying new things, a family forest holiday, such as Center Parcs, can be a good solution. For a more intimate version there are lots of other offers, often glamping, in smaller spaces, with fewer people around. Here at Penhein, near the Forest of Dean and Wentwood Forest, we offer a natural holiday with something a bit different — part nature immersion, part treasure hunt, part foraging and part bushcraft lesson.
At Penhein, you can join a guided foraging walk led by a local expert and discover wild garlic, sorrel, edible mushrooms, and so much more. There’s also forest bathing, woodland safaris and the Mini Adventurers Club – nature-based fun for children aged 3+ while parents enjoy some peaceful time of their own.
Tucked away in private woodland in Monmouthshire, at Penhein you’ll sleep in Persian-inspired canvas tents (with proper beds, a private loo, and a hot shower), cook over the fire and be gloriously off-grid.
Ready to Choose?
Whichever holiday you choose, whether you’re glamping under the stars at Penhein, sleeping somewhere weird and wonderful, navigating the streets of a new city or walking through the countryside, what makes a holiday a bucket-list holiday is all about doing things differently, with the idea of creating lifelong memories in mind – and doing them together, as a family. For more updates, family-friendly inspiration and offers, join our Newsletter, found at the bottom of the page.