Family Friendly Attractions in the Midlands
If you’re looking for inspiration for family days out in the Midlands or the surrounding areas, we have got plenty of ideas for you! Click the links for places to visit with things to do with the kids.
West Midland Safari Park
West Midland Safari Park is an award winning visitor attraction with a four mile of self-drive Safari. Come face to face with some of the world’s most beautiful and critically endangered animals such as lions, rhino, cheetah, tigers, giraffe and elephants, just to name a few! Walk through the Discovery Trail with a variety of all weather exhibits such as Lorikeet Landing, SeaQuarium, Creepy Crawlies, Reptile World and a Bat Cave! Go back in time as you step into Land of the Living Dinosaurs and meet our prehistoric, animatronic creatures! Daily live shows and animal encounters are also within the Discovery Trail. Just voted ‘Best Large Attraction in Worcestershire’ in the recent Visit Worcestershire awards 2022.
Dudley Zoo
Home to some of the world’s biggest, rarest and most exotic animals, the zoo is set in the grounds of the historic Dudley Castle. Hundreds of exotic and endangered animals inhabit an ancient wooded hillside, with a rich geological history, around the ruins of the 11th century Dudley Castle and share a site with the world’s largest single collection of Modernist Tecton structures – and the country’s only vintage chairlift! 2022 sees the zoo celebrate its 85th birthday!
Wild Zoological Park
Visitors to the small zoo in Bobbington are invited to become ‘explorers’ taking part in an expedition which will see them follow a trail through themed zones such as Wild Australia, Wild Amazon, Wild Asia and Wild Africa – filled with animals from these countries. Children can pick up a quiz sheet and take a trail around the site answering questions and stamping their card along the way in exchange for a small prize at the end. Throughout the day there are short animal talks at each enclosure but make sure you don’t miss the main shows where owner Zac and his keepers bring animals out to meet the audience.
Arley Arboretum
Arley Arboretum is the perfect place for a day out with the kids. Adventure is never far away, with acres of woodland to explore, wide open natural vistas to run and play in and activities all year round, there really is something for everyone. Spark your imagination on our seasonal trails, hunting for clues as your journey around following your trail booklet . Rumour has it, if you time your visit just right, you can even ride a unicorn! It’s true what they say, Arley Arboretum really is magical.
Bodenham Arboretum
Described as ‘Worcestershire’s Hidden Garden,’ Bodenham Arboretum is home to some 3000 species of beautifully landscaped trees and shrubs – an internationally recognised Arboretum, receiving some 100,000 visitors annually. The seasons alone create an ever-changing canvas at the Arboretum, each with its own brand of beauty and you will always find something going on, from guided walks or relaxing yoga sessions to watercolour workshops and bushcraft lectures. Activities aside, Bodenham’s popular restaurant offers a fine dining experience, situated in a beautiful lakeside setting, serving home reared meats and locally sourced produce. The World Outside forest school run regular activities for children in this beautiful setting.
Playland, Stourport
Playland Fun Park is a family run business, located in the picturesque, riverside town of Stourport-on-Severn in Worcestershire. Situated on the banks of the River Severn, a trip to Playland is a fun day out for the whole family. There is plenty to do here for the whole family including Go Karts, Trampolines, Bumper Boats, Bouncy Castles, a safari themed Crazy Golf and much more!
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a 16-mile long heritage railway in the Midlands, running regular passenger steam trains, heritage diesel trains and special events throughout the year. Whether it is the beautiful English countryside, fabulous engines or the many interesting places to stop on the journey, the Severn Valley Railway will thrill all – young or old. You could also stop at the Engine House museum at Highley, home to our reserve collection of full-size steam locomotives. To mark the Platinum Jubilee and the Commonwealth Games 2022, the SVR are painting one of their steam locomotives purple and renaming it ‘Elizabeth II’.
Little Owl Farm Park – Explore & Tour
This family run business is a little gem, tucked away near Hartlebury in Worcestershire. It’s a family run farm attraction, open Tuesdays – Fridays during term time and each day during the school holidays. Enjoy children’s trails, animal demonstrations and petting cat-200.jpgopportunities, as well as go-karting and sheepstakes.
Mini Pro Golf
Golf at The Mini-Pro Golf parks is a unique and fun golfing experience suitable for every member of the family. Our beautiful grass course is set in a picturesque riverside location, featuring Pitch and Putt style course + Pro- Style raised tees, bunkers, mini fairways and pristine manicured greens. Make it safely past the lighthouse, chip over the wooden bridge or even putt through Willard the Magic Wizard’s legs for a chance for a hole in one! The mini golf park is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty near Kinver, but close enough to the town’s of Kidderminster, Stourbridge and the cities of Birmingham and Worcester to make it perfect for friends to get together for an afternoon’s golfing entertainment.
Hartlebury Castle
Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury Castle offers lots of great activities for children, especially throughout the school holidays. The museum also holds a fantastic programme of special events and family activity days throughout the year.
From costume to caravans, travel to toys there really is something for everyone at Worcestershire County Museum. Learn more about this fascinating county, explore the past through room sets and real historical objects and discover just what life was like for our ancestors. A nature reserve, fabulous cafe and well stocked gift shop all add up to a great day out.
ThinkTank
Thinktank, Birmingham’s award winning science museum, offers an enlightening and fun packed day out for the family. From steam engines and talking robots through to gurgling guts and a chocolate wrapping machine, Thinktank has over 200 hands-on displays on science and technology.
Housed inside the impressive Millennium Point building at Thinktank you will find four floors of hands-on exhibits and historical collections that will amaze and inspire you, showing you the science of the world all around us.
Including the Science Garden, Planetarium and an exciting programme of events and activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Whitlenge Gardens
As well as a garden centre, there is a wonderful 3 acre garden suitable for all ages to explore and enjoy a family day out. ‘Dressing up’ options at the beginning of the garden suitable for all ages. Choose from Fairy wings, headdresses, butterfly masks, Gnome hats, Gnome Jackets and more to create your own character. There is a Fairy trail to follow through the garden searching for fairies and fairy doors. Within the gardens you can ‘meet’ The Green Man, the Rusted Knight of Olde, see Excalibur in its Stone, then wander through the ‘Fairy Glen to find ‘Hobbiton’. Stroll through the mown tracks and pathways of the beautiful wild flower meadow then head over to the wildlife area which is open on special days throughout the year for pond dipping and educational days. Seasonal Garden Hunts run throughout the year with different themes. Tearooms on site.
Black Country Living Museum
The award-winning Black Country Living Museum and join in with 300 years of history like no other. One of the most extraordinary open-air museums in the UK, the Museum immerses visitors into the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the past. Explore original period shops and houses and meet the Museum’s costumed characters along the way – they’ll explain what it was like to live and work in one of the world’s most heavily industrialised landscapes.
Go Ape in the Wyre Forest
Bring Out Your Inner Ape! Think you, your friends and family can handle 3 hours of tree top adventure? Are you wild enough to climb 30ft up a rope ladder, Tarzan Swing into a giant rope net then zip wire through trees, crawl through tunnels and tackle high wire rope bridges? If the answer’s yes, you’re ready to Go Ape.
Ideal for friends and families, you’ll share approximately 3 hours of fun and adventure going ape up in the trees of the Wyre Forest in Worcestershire.
Hatton Adventure World
Set in the beautiful Warwickshire countryside there are fun fair rides, children’s shows, falconry displays and tractor rides as well as the guinea pig village and lots of animals to see and handle and lots of space to picnic! Set in Hatton Country World, you can also enjoy the cafes, shops and indoor play area. There are various events held each school holiday, including their infamous Sheep Racing!
Red House Glass Cone
The Red House Glass Cone lies in the heart of the Stourbridge Glass Quarter. Built at the end of the 18th century the Cone was used for the manufacture of glass until 1936. It is now one of only four cones left in the United Kingdom. Reaching 100 feet into the sky, the Cone enclosed a furnace around which men made glass for 140 years. Today the Cone is a place to learn and have fun whatever your age.
It’s a great place to take the family with free admission and parking, baby changing facilities and on-site barista coffee house with a kids menu.
Eastnor Castle
Eastnor Castle lies in Herefordshire at the foot of the Malvern Hills on the edge of the Cotswolds.
Surrounded by a beautiful deer park, arboretum, and lake, Eastnor Castle is the home of the Hervey-Bathurst family. They regularly hold family activities during the school holidays and children are made very welcome around the castle (even dogs on a lead are welcome).
Umberslade Farm Park
Umberslade Farm Park is not just a visitor attraction, it is a real working farm which enables visitors to experience many aspects of modern agriculture from animal husbandry to arable production. This means that there is something to do and see all year round, with activities changing as the seasons move on. Amongst the regular attractions at Umberslade Farm Park you can: Learn to hand-milk and feed a goat, Feed hens and handle chicks and ducklings, Handle rabbits and guinea View pigs and piglets, Take a tractor and trailer ride around the farm, Enjoy a pony ride, Relax on a woodland walk, Take up the challenge of an indoor foam cannon battle. This award winning farm is always a pleasure for young and old.
Rays Farm
At this family run farm, near Bridgnorth, you’ll find all sorts of animals from owls to ponies and from ducks to goats as well as play areas for all ages and a coffee shop to help you re-fuel! There’s even a sandpit play area for those warmer days. When the weather is good, explore the ancient wood and discover the mythical carvings along the pathways.
Stourbridge Glass Museum
Celebrating 400 years of history, Stourbridge Glass Museum is an exciting new addition to the Black Country Heritage Trail – and a visit is sure to make for a perfect school holiday activity no matter what the weather’s doing. With points of interest for all ages, the Museum features engaging interactive displays and live glass making demonstrations designed to keep children and grown-ups enthralled for many hours. It is based at the site of the previous Stuart Crystal Works, off the High Street, in Wordsley. Opens 9th April 2022.
NB This is just a guide. Always check the latest information with the venue before setting off. You will find even MORE ideas in our Places2Go section. Click here.
