Fun Things to Do in Wales for Teenagers, Kids & Toddlers

Thankfully, you can wave goodbye to hours spent trawling the internet for the best places to visit in Wales for families. This post will guide you through fun things to do in Wales for teenagers, kids, and toddlers – so that you can get on with planning your next holiday.

For many people, family holidays are one of the most idyllic parts of the year. From making memories with the ones you love, to the opportunity to explore a new place, there are lots of reasons why they’re considered to be such an important aspect of family life.

But if you’re the parent of teenagers, kids, or toddlers, you may well understand the stresses of finding holiday activities your whole family can enjoy. Different attractions are obviously suitable for different ages, whether it’s a mountain walk that’s too steep for little legs or an historical building that you’re worried will bore your teen.

Fun things to do in Wales for teenagers

We understand that finding the perfect activity for your teenager can be a struggle at times. But whether they’re an adrenaline junkie, a social media devotee, or a nature lover, we’ve curated a list of what to do in Wales that your daughter or son is sure to enjoy.

 

Surf Snowdonia

Set in the magnificent Conwy Valley in North Wales, Surf Snowdonia is one of the best things to do in Wales for teenagers who enjoy a thrill. This 300-metre-long expanse of fresh water is the world’s first inland surf lagoon – where the waves that rise in the centre can reach as high as your head.

Daily surf lessons are available for young people of all ages:

• ‘Little Rippers’ for those aged 5-7
• ‘Groms’ for 8-13
• ‘Juniors’ for 14-17

However, if this isn’t your teenager’s first time on the water, there’s also the option to free-surf against the stunning backdrop of the Snowdonian mountains.

Oakwood Theme Park

Spanning 80 acres, Oakwood in Pembrokeshire is Wales’ biggest theme park – and that’s far from the attraction’s only accolade. It’s also home to the UK’s tallest sky-swing (the aptly-named ‘Vertigo’), the fastest ride in Wales (‘Speed’), and the UK’s biggest tidal wave ride (‘Drenched’. You will be). If that’s not enough, there’s also a live-action scare maze and one of the largest wooden rollercoasters in the country.

In the unlikely event that you manage to exhaust the park’s selection of 30 rides, you can finish the day by taking on the entertainment machines in Oakwood’s arcade.

Zip World

Did you know that the fastest zip wire in in the world is in Wales? ‘Velocity 2’ at Zip World in Bangor takes you soaring over the Penrhyn Quarry, reaching breathtaking speeds of up to 100mph.

The zip wire is over 1,555 metres long and has room for up to four people to ride at once – so if it’s something your whole family wants to do, you can all experience the beauty of the Welsh landscape together. But beware – the regulations state that everyone aged 10-17 must ride with an adult, so you may well end up on the ride of your life whether you want to or not.

Centre For Alternative Technology

Today’s teenagers are part of one of the most eco-conscious generations we’ve ever seen. If someone in your family is a big fan of Greta Thunberg, why not add the Centre for Alternative Technology to your list of places to visit in Wales?

Accessed via garden steps or a water-balanced railway, the centre is an excellent place to learn more about green technology. If you arrive on public transport or by foot, it also becomes a pretty cheap family day out – visitors who leave their cars at home will get 20% off the entry price.

As well as the centre itself, there’s also a gift shop, a vegetarian café, picturesque walks through the gardens, and that all-important Wi-Fi freely available across most of the site.

 

South Stack Lighthouse

Built on a small island off the coast of Anglesey, South Stack Lighthouse is one of the most photographic landmarks in Wales – perfect if your teenager is an avid Instagrammer.

Measuring 27.7m tall, the lighthouse was built in 1809 to warn incoming ships to avoid crashing into the rocky island. Visitors can climb up the tower’s 365 steps to enjoy the panoramic views at the top – after descending more than 400 steps down the cliff face to reach the lighthouse itself.

A day trip to South Stack Lighthouse will give you photo opportunity after photo opportunity. Not only that, but you’ll also have the unparalleled chance to enjoy stunning coastal views with the people you love most.

Fun things to do in Wales for kids

From its interactive museums to its wide range of exotic wildlife centres, Wales is full of fun activities for kids. All you need to do is narrow down which yours will love the most.

 

Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo

If your kids love animals, what could be better than giving them the chance to be a zookeeper for a day? As well as its zoo, Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo in Pembrokeshire boasts a barn, fairground, and an adventure play area – but it’s the animal experiences at the zoo that are really its star attraction.

Whether your kid’s favourite animal is a penguin, giraffe, lion, or rhino, you can make their day extra special with the chance to join in with feeding times. They’ll even get to take home a cuddly toy to remind them of their new friends once you’re home!

Heatherton World of Activities

Driving school, dog agility course, inflatable slide, archery, fishing, escape room, golf – the list of attractions available at Heatherton World of Activities is truly mind-blowing! Whether your kids are the adventurous sort, or prefer to explore the outdoors at their own pace, they’ll find plenty of games and challenges to entertain them here.

Entry to the park is free and you only have to pay for the activities you choose to do. This means there’s no danger of regretting that you didn’t get your money’s worth, especially if your kids are feeling suddenly less adventurous on the day.

King Arthur’s Labyrinth

We all need a bit of escapism every now and again, and King Arthur’s Labyrinth in the mountains of Snowdonia is once of the most magical family attractions in Wales.

This storytelling adventure takes you deep underground, through a waterfall that transports you into the mythical world of King Arthur and the middle ages. While the gloomy setting and hooded characters might frighten younger children, more adventurous kids will love discovering ancient legends against the backdrop of immersive light and sound effects.

 

National Roman Legion Museum

If you’re looking to foster your kid’s love of history, the National Roman Legion Museum in Newport is one of the best places to visit in Wales for families (and with free entry, it also doubles as an excellent cheap family day out).

This museum lets your kids step back in time to the days when the Roman Empire stretched all the way to Wales. From trying on replica Roman armour, to taking in the sights in the recreation Roman garden, there’s plenty for them to see and learn here.

Cardiff Castle

Medieval Cardiff Castle is one of the best family attractions in Wales. The history of the site stretches back over 2,000 years, and the castle’s past is rich with Roman, Norman, Victorian, and wartime secrets.

As well as the magnificent castle itself, you can climb the spiral staircase to the top of the clock tower and see the remains of a Roman wall that encloses the site. You can even see a recreation of a medieval trebuchet get fired by the castle’s designated ‘Trebuchet Team’!

Cantref Adventure Farm

What could be more amazing than a pony trek across the stunning Brecon Beacons? Cantref Adventure Farm offers the world’s only Brecon Beacon riding experience, with lessons available for riders of all ages and abilities.

These lessons range from 20 minute sessions to full day pony trails through the Welsh countryside. If you’re really feeling like treating your kids, you could even book them an ‘Own a Pony Day’ – a six-hour experience where they’ll learn everything from how to groom their pony to how to play special equine games.

Fun things to do in Wales for toddlers

It’s often hard to predict what a toddler will enjoy, whether they’re suffering from the ‘terrible twos’ or not. An activity that seems endless fun one day can cause a tantrum the next – but we’ve put together a list of some of the best things to do with toddlers in Wales, to ensure your littlest family member enjoys the holiday as much as you do.

 

Mountain View Ranch

Mountain View Ranch, just five minutes from Cardiff, is one of the most toddler-friendly places to visit in Wales. New for 2020, it’s unveiled Wales’ first officially licensed Gruffalo trail, complete with wooden sculptures of your toddler’s favourite characters from the beloved book.

Promising “fresh air-fuelled fun for all the family”, Mountain View Ranch aims to make the outdoors a place of discovery, featuring magical fairy forests and dragon’s egg nests. Let your toddler run wild and see what they find!

Greenmeadow Community Farm

If you’re looking for things to do with toddlers in Wales, Greenmeadow Community Farm in Cwmbran will leave you spoilt for choice. The farm is set in over 120 acres and offers a variety of activities especially for toddlers. These include Baby & Toddler Tuesdays, where your child can join in with clubs from Messy Monsters to Valleys Gymnastic Academy.

Depending on the age of your toddler, you might welcome the news that the Farm is a member of the Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme, with areas designated throughout the site for parents and their young children. Knowing that facilities such as this are on offer can really take the stress out of planning which places to go in Wales with your family. There are also baby changing tables in the gift shop toilets and disabled facilities.

As well as its toddler clubs, Greenmeadow Community Farm also of course has a traditional farmyard, where you can meet a variety of animals and even enjoy a ride on a trailer.

Parc All Weather Play

Located near Cardiff, Parc All Weather Play is somewhere your toddler can enjoy come rain or shine. Offering an artificial grass meadow (complete with slides, tunnels, and hills), toddler swings, a sand pit, and a water play area with a pirate ship, there’s lots to keep your little ones busy here – and thanks to the deck chairs, coffee area, and free Wi-Fi, there’s something in it for you too.

 

Llanelli WWT Wetland Centre

With a staggering 450 acres of wildlife, Llanelli Wetland Centre – which is run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust – has something to enchant people of all ages. Its indoor soft play area is somewhere you can let your toddler run free without worrying about them hurting themselves, while you can sit back and overlook the expansive views of the Burry inlet.

You can also feed your toddler’s curiosity about the world around them with one of the Wetland Centre’s mini beast hunts. Use a fishing net to explore the contents of the ponds and enjoy the sounds of birdsong during a family bird-watching session. Make sure to enjoy the colourful flock of Caribbean flamingos that call the Llanelli Wetland Centre home!

Fun for all the family

No matter how old your children are, we hope that this guide has given you inspiration for some of the best things to do in Wales for toddlers, kids, and teenagers.

Whether you’re looking for cheap family days out or want to spoil your kids a little during the holidays, we’ve included activities to suit everyone’s budget. So now that you’ve got the children sorted, all that’s left is to find fun things to do in Wales for adults – though we think you’ll find plenty in this list to enthral your inner ‘big kid’ too.