30+ Best Family Days Out in Wales for 2027
Wales is home to some of the UK’s favourite days out. Whether you’re a family with energetic toddlers, a couple seeking a cultural break, or thrill-seekers looking to conquer a mountain, the sheer variety of attractions packed into this compact country is staggering.
While the famous spots like Eryri and Tenby are spectacular, Wales is also full of genuine hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path locations that boast flawless 5-star reviews but lack the heavy summer crowds. From seaside fun along 870 miles of uninterrupted coastal paths to adrenaline-fuelled experiences deep underground, there are plenty of fun days out for everyone.
To help you plan the perfect 2027 itinerary, we’ve broken down 33 days out in Wales by category, with the essential logistics: sat-nav postcodes, family pricing, seasonal opening hours, pram accessibility and local secrets.
Adrenaline & Adventure Days Out
For those with a sense for adventure, Wales has transformed itself into the extreme sports capital of Europe.
1. Zip World Velocity 2 (Penrhyn Quarry)
Fly face-first over a bright blue slate quarry lake on the fastest zip line in the world, reaching speeds of over 100mph. You’ll complete a “Little Zipper” practice run before the main event.
Postcode: LL57 4YG (near Bangor)
Pricing: adults typically £92–£125 depending on date and booking channel, children’s pricing varies by activity, verify current rates at zipworld.co.uk
Opening times: open daily during summer (9am–5pm), closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays from November to March
Useful info: minimum age is 10 (and 1.2m tall). The Blondin Restaurant on-site has a viewing deck where non-flying family members can watch you soar past.
2. Bounce Below (Llechwedd Slate Caverns)
Deep underground in a 176-year-old disused slate mine, Bounce Below is a surreal, neon-lit trampoline playground suspended across two huge caverns.
Postcode: LL41 3NB (Blaenau Ffestiniog)
Pricing: approx. adults £35, children (7–17) £25
Opening times: daily in school holidays (9am–5pm), weekends only in low season
Useful info: entirely underground at a constant 8°C, wear long sleeves and trousers to prevent friction burns. The ultimate rainy-day activity in North Wales.
3. TYF Adventure Coasteering (St Davids)
Coasteering was literally invented in Wales. Scramble, climb and cliff-jump along the rugged Pembrokeshire coastline in a wetsuit and helmet, with expert guides.
Postcode: SA62 6SA (TYF HQ, High Street, St Davids)
Pricing: approx. £70 per adult, £55 per child (under 16)
Opening times: sessions run daily from Easter to late October, advance booking mandatory
Useful info: tailored family sessions suit confident child swimmers from age 8. All winter-grade wetsuits and safety gear provided.
4. Go Ape Treetop Challenge (Margam)
Towering canopy bridges, Tarzan swings and zip wires set within the 850-acre grounds of Margam Country Park, with views out over the Bristol Channel.
Postcode: SA13 2TJ (Port Talbot)
Pricing: approx. adults £35, youths (10–15) £30, Margam Park parking charged separately (£7)
Opening times: weekends and bank holidays from February, daily late May to September
Useful info: ground-level woodland trails let non-participating family members (and prams) walk beneath the courses to take photos.
5. Antur Stiniog Downhill Trails (Hidden Gem)
A world-class downhill mountain biking centre in the slate mountains of Blaenau Ffestiniog, with an uplift minibus so you can focus entirely on the descents.
Postcode: LL41 3NB
Pricing: approx. £48 for a full-day uplift pass, bike hire from £60
Opening times: Thursday to Monday year-round, subject to extreme winter weather
Useful info: far less crowded than South Wales’s bike parks, with jaw-dropping views over the slate quarries. Designed for experienced riders, graded runs from blue to double-black diamond.
6. Corris Mine Explorers (Off the Beaten Path)
A raw, gritty exploration of an abandoned Welsh slate mine. Wearing hard hats and cap lamps, you explore miles of tunnels exactly as the miners left them half a century ago.
Postcode: SY20 9ST (Corris Craft Centre, Machynlleth)
Pricing: approx. adults £30, children (8–15) £20
Opening times: pre-booked tours run daily late March to November
Useful info: minimum age 8. Old clothing and sturdy hiking boots are essential.
Iconic Railways & Scenic Journeys
Wales is globally renowned for its meticulously restored heritage railways, offering spectacular views for all ages and mobility levels without the need to hike.
7. Snowdon Mountain Railway
Reach the highest summit in England and Wales (Yr Wyddfa) from a historic train carriage, then bask in the view from the summit visitor centre.
Postcode: LL55 4TU (Llanberis Station Pay & Display Car Park)
Pricing: recent adult summit return fares around £45–£48 (diesel) and £62–£72 (steam), confirmed directly on the railway’s own site, prices are set annually so check snowdonrailway.co.uk before booking
Opening times: trains run mid-March to the end of October, weather permitting
Useful info: the summit station is prone to extreme weather, trains terminate at Clogwyn (3/4 up) if winds are high. Pre-booking is critical in summer.
8. Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways
These are two genuinely separate railways sharing a management company and a terminus at Porthmadog, worth knowing before you book. The Welsh Highland Railway is the full-day scenic experience: 25 miles from the shadow of Caernarfon Castle, zig-zagging through the Aberglaslyn Pass, down to Porthmadog. The Ffestiniog Railway runs the opposite direction from the same Porthmadog station, a shorter 13.5-mile climb up into the slate mountains to Blaenau Ffestiniog, the world’s oldest independent railway company. Don’t book one expecting the other’s route.
Postcode: LL49 9NF (Porthmadog Harbour Station, shared terminus for both lines)
Pricing: approx. adult return £44 on the Welsh Highland Railway’s full line, child return £22, under 3s free; the shorter Ffestiniog Railway is typically less, check festrail.co.uk for current fares on both
Opening times: daily late March to early November, plus Santa Specials in December
Useful info: well-behaved dogs are welcome in third-class carriages for a small fee. The gentle rocking is famous for sending toddlers to sleep. See our full guide to both railways for the complete breakdown.
9. Vale of Rheidol Railway (Hidden Gem)
A spectacularly scenic narrow-gauge steam train climbing 700 feet from Aberystwyth into the Cambrian Mountains, terminating at the Devil’s Bridge waterfalls.
Postcode: SY23 1PG (Aberystwyth Station)
Pricing: approx. adult return £32, child return £15, family ticket (2+2) £85
Opening times: Easter weekend through to the end of October
Useful info: custom-built carriages accommodate wheelchairs, but advance booking is essential.
10. Llangollen Horse-Drawn Boats (A Slower Pace)
Glide silently along the Llangollen Canal pulled by a heavy horse, incredibly peaceful and steeped in Victorian history.
Postcode: LL20 8BN (Llangollen Wharf)
Pricing: approx. adults £11, children (3–15) £7, under 3s free
Opening times: daily April to the end of October, weather permitting
Useful info: the standard trip lasts 45 minutes, a good attention span for younger children.
11. The Elan Valley Reservoirs (Epic Scenery)
Drive, cycle or walk around colossal Victorian dams built to supply water to Birmingham, set within a 72-square-mile estate.
Postcode: LD6 5HP (Visitor Centre, Rhayader)
Pricing: free entry to the estate, Visitor Centre parking approx. £3/day
Opening times: estate roads open 24/7, Visitor Centre 10am–4pm daily
Useful info: an International Dark Sky Park, stargazing is world-class if you stay until nightfall. Bike hire available on-site.
Relaxing Seaside & Secret Coastal Spots
People have been enjoying the golden sands in Wales for generations. Here are the famous heavy-hitters alongside a few secret coves.
12. Tenby (The Classic Seaside Town)
Pastel-coloured houses, a bustling harbour and three distinct sandy beaches, the ultimate traditional seaside day out. Fresh fish and chips, then a boat trip to Caldey Island.
Postcode: SA70 8AG (North Beach Car Park)
Pricing: free beach access, Caldey Island boat trips approx. £15 per adult
Opening times: beaches open 24/7, lifeguards May to September
Useful info: the promenade and Castle Beach have flat pram access, but Tenby pedestrianises the town walls in summer, use the external car parks.
13. Rhossili Bay (The Gower)
Frequently voted one of the top 10 beaches in the world, this sweeping 3-mile stretch offers dramatic cliff views, a shipwreck at low tide and world-class surfing.
Postcode: SA3 1PR
Pricing: National Trust car park £6 for the day
Useful info: the path down to the beach is steep with steps, unsuitable for wheelchairs or heavy prams. The clifftop viewpoints and café are highly accessible.
14. Mwnt Beach (Hidden Gem)
A secluded cove on the Ceredigion coast, overseen by a 14th-century white church, sheltered from the wind and cut off from the modern world.
Postcode: SA43 1QH
Pricing: National Trust car park approx. £4
Useful info: walk up Foel y Mwnt overlooking the beach, genuinely one of the best spots in Europe to watch bottlenose dolphins with binoculars.
15. Porth Iago (Off the Beaten Path)
Tucked away on the Llŷn Peninsula, a small rectangular cove of white sand and clear water, reached by driving through a working farmyard.
Postcode: LL53 8LP
Pricing: approx. £5 parking fee, cash only
Useful info: pay via an honesty box or directly to the farmer. No facilities at all, bring a picnic and leave no trace.
16. Marloes Sands (Pembrokeshire)
Spectacular geology and jagged rock formations on a mile-long beach that completely disappears at high tide.
Postcode: SA62 3BH
Pricing: National Trust car park £6
Useful info: check tide times before travelling. Used as a filming location for Snow White and the Huntsman.
17. Nash Point (Glamorgan Heritage Coast)
A rugged, fossil-rich beach backed by layered limestone cliffs, with a working lighthouse you can tour and a cliff-top café.
Postcode: CF61 1ZH
Pricing: private parking approx. £3 (cash only), lighthouse tours approx. £5
Useful info: excellent for rock pooling and fossil hunting at low tide, 45 minutes from Cardiff. Don’t sit directly beneath the cliffs, risk of falling rocks.
Heritage, Castles & Museums
Wales has more castles per square mile than any country in Europe, alongside immersive museums that bring the industrial revolution to life.
18. St Fagans National Museum of History
An open-air museum where over 40 original historic buildings from across Wales have been re-erected in 100 acres of parkland, Celtic roundhouses to Victorian shops.
Postcode: CF5 6XB (Cardiff)
Pricing: free entry, parking £7 for the day
Opening times: daily 10am–5pm
Useful info: highly accessible for wheelchairs and prams. Don’t miss the 1920s bakery selling fresh bread made on-site.
19. Big Pit National Coal Museum (Hidden Gem)
Put on a hard hat and descend 300 feet underground in a real mine cage, guided by a former coal miner, an incredibly moving experience.
Postcode: NP4 9XP (sat-navs often prefer NP4 9RL, Blaenavon)
Pricing: free entry, parking £5
Opening times: daily 9:30am–5pm, underground tours 10am–3:30pm
Useful info: all battery-operated devices must be surrendered before descending. Children must be at least 1 metre tall.
20. The Judge’s Lodging (Off the Beaten Path)
A fully restored Victorian courthouse and judge’s apartments, entirely hands-on, sit in the judge’s chair, pump the kitchen water, lie on the grand beds.
Postcode: LD8 2AD (Presteigne, Powys)
Pricing: approx. adults £9.50, children £3, family £25
Opening times: Wednesday to Sunday, April to October
Useful info: an audio headset guides you through the rooms in the voices of former servants.
21. Caerphilly Castle
The largest castle in Wales and second largest in Britain after Windsor, surrounded by water moats, with a leaning tower that out-leans Pisa’s.
Postcode: CF83 1JD
Pricing: see our full Wales castles guide for current prices, these have risen recently following a major refurbishment
Opening times: open daily year-round
Useful info: frequently hosts mechanical dragon sculptures and reenactment days during school holidays.
22. Dolaucothi Gold Mines
The only known Roman gold mines in Britain. Take a guided underground tour of the Roman and Victorian workings, then pan for real gold in the streams outside.
Postcode: SA19 8US (National Trust Car Park, Pumpsaint)
Pricing: approx. adults £12, children £6, free for National Trust members
Opening times: March to October, usually Wednesday to Sunday
Useful info: steep, uneven, wet underground conditions, not wheelchair accessible, toddlers can’t be carried underground due to low ceilings.
23. Carreg Cennen Castle
Perched on a sheer 300-foot limestone precipice, this ruined castle dominates the skyline of the Bannau Brycheiniog.
Postcode: SA19 6UA (Llandeilo)
Pricing: see our full Wales castles guide for current prices
Opening times: open daily, closes earlier in winter
Useful info: bring a strong torch, a natural, pitch-black cave tunnel runs beneath the ruins.
24. Castell y Bere (Hidden Ruin)
A secluded native Welsh castle built by Llywelyn the Great in the 1220s, in an isolated valley beneath Cadair Idris.
Postcode: LL36 9TS (Abergynolwyn)
Pricing: free entry, managed by Cadw
Opening times: open during daylight hours
Useful info: you’ll likely have this entire valley and ruin to yourselves, perfect for a quiet picnic.
Wildlife & Nature Encounters
25. Gigrin Farm Red Kite Feeding Centre (Must See!)
A genuine world-class wildlife spectacle. Once nearly extinct, the Red Kite has recovered beautifully, up to 600 wild kites descend when the farmer puts out meat each afternoon.
Postcode: LD6 5BL (Rhayader)
Pricing: approx. adults £8, children £5, under 3s free
Opening times: open daily, feeding at 3pm in summer (BST), 2pm in winter
Useful info: the weatherproof photography hides are fully wheelchair and pram accessible. Arrive 30 minutes early.
26. Skomer Island (Pembrokeshire)
Take a small boat to this protected nature reserve to walk among thousands of tame Atlantic Puffins, a David Attenborough-level wildlife experience.
Postcode: boats depart from Martin’s Haven (SA62 3BJ)
Pricing: landing fee plus boat fee approx. £40–£45 per adult
Opening times: landings run April to September, closed Mondays
Useful info: May to mid-July is best for nesting puffins. Tickets are strictly limited and sell out instantly on release.
27. Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo
Consistently voted the best family day out in Wales, four parks in one: a petting farm, a zoo, an indoor vintage funfair and eight outdoor play areas.
Postcode: SA68 0XA (Begelly)
Pricing: approx. adults £25, children £23, under 2s free
Opening times: daily in summer (10am–5pm), weekends only in winter
Useful info: over half the attractions are undercover, great for unpredictable weather, and flat/paved throughout for twin prams and mobility scooters.
28. The British Bird of Prey Centre
Inside the National Botanic Garden of Wales, flying shows bring Golden Eagles, Red Kites and owls soaring inches above your head.
Postcode: SA32 8HN (Carmarthenshire)
Pricing: included in Botanic Garden admission, approx. adults £16
Opening times: daily 10am–6pm, flying shows typically 11:30am and 2:30pm
Useful info: pay a small extra fee to have a bird fly to your glove. Fully wheelchair accessible.
29. Welsh Mountain Zoo
Set high above the North Wales coast, the National Zoo of Wales features snow leopards, tigers, red pandas, and a seal and penguin enclosure.
Postcode: LL28 5UY (Colwyn Bay)
Pricing: approx. adults £18, children (3–15) £14, under 3s free
Opening times: daily 9:30am–5pm, later in high summer
Useful info: built on a mountainside, paths are steep in places, be prepared pushing a heavy pram.
30. Pistyll Rhaeadr Waterfall
One of the Seven Wonders of Wales, this 73m (240ft) waterfall is popularly, but incorrectly, marketed as the tallest single-drop waterfall in Wales or even the UK. Several Welsh waterfalls (Devil’s Appendix, Pistyll y Llyn) are actually taller, and Scotland’s Eas a’ Chual Aluinn, Britain’s genuine tallest at around 200m, dwarfs all of them. Myth aside, it’s still one of the most dramatic falls in the country, hidden along a single-track road in the Berwyn Mountains.
Postcode: SY10 0BZ (Powys)
Pricing: free to view, parking at the base approx. £5 (cash)
Opening times: tearoom open daily 10am–4pm, winter hours vary
Useful info: best visited after heavy rain. The walk to the base is accessible; the climb to the top of the falls is steep and slippery.
2027 Events & Festivals Worth Planning Around
Timing your visit to coincide with these festivals is an unforgettable way to add to a trip. Just remember to book accommodation well in advance.
31. The Royal Welsh Show, 19–22 July 2027
Held at the showground in Llanelwedd (LD2 3SY), the pinnacle of the British agricultural calendar, equestrian events, forestry demonstrations and some of the best food in the country, confirmed directly by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.
32. Abergavenny Food Festival, 18–19 September 2027
Abergavenny (NP7 5HD) transforms into a culinary wonderland, street food markets, live cooking demonstrations and a buzzing atmosphere, confirmed directly by the festival’s own site.
33. Eisteddfod yr Urdd, 29 May – 4 June 2027
Europe’s largest youth touring festival comes to Tredegar House, Newport, the first time it’s ever visited the city. Expect funfairs, live music, sport and Welsh-language cultural competitions for young people up to 25, confirmed directly by Newport’s own festival organisers.
Practical Tips for a Great Welsh Day Out
- Pack the “Welsh weather” kit: the landscape is green for a reason. Even in August, pack a lightweight waterproof. Weather on the coast or in the mountains can change in minutes.
- Use the Fflecsi bus: to explore rural areas like Pembrokeshire or Conwy without losing your parking space, the Fflecsi app is a modern, on-demand bus service you can book directly to your location.
- Pre-book everything: almost all major Welsh attractions, especially Zip World, Folly Farm and the mountain railways, run strict online-only ticketing to manage capacity. Never assume you can buy tickets at the gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free day out in Wales?
St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff is widely considered the best free day out in Wales, with 100 acres of historic buildings and interactive exhibits. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path and Big Pit Coal Museum also offer world-class experiences completely free of charge.
What are the best indoor days out in Wales for rainy days?
Head underground to Bounce Below, a trampoline net system in a slate cavern, visit the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, or take the family to Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire, which has an indoor vintage funfair and undercover zoo enclosures.
Can I take my dog on a family day out in Wales?
Yes, Wales is incredibly dog-friendly. Dogs are welcome on the Ffestiniog Railway, in the grounds of many Cadw castles, and across hundreds of beaches. Always check seasonal beach bans, which usually run from 1 May to 30 September on popular tourist beaches.
Is Eryri (Snowdonia) suitable for toddlers?
Absolutely. While climbing Yr Wyddfa itself is too strenuous for toddlers, the region offers flat, pram-friendly walks around Llyn Padarn in Llanberis and the gentle Snowdon Mountain Railway.
Pembrokeshire-born travel writer and founder of Wales.org. Born in Haverfordwest, now based in Hertfordshire — covering Welsh castles, national parks, festivals and family staycations across all 22 Welsh counties.
