As autumn arrives and the temperature drops, there are still plenty of amazing family days out to enjoy across the UK, even with babies and toddlers in tow.
Grab your little one's scarf and coat and whisk them away for a colourful autumn before you start planning those seasonal Christmas activities too.
We have handpicked the top days out in the UK this autumn, which include everything from adventurous treetop walkways, fun theme parks, must-visit PYO pumpkin spots and cultural museums. Even if the weather doesn't behave, your kids are sure to be entertained with these fun activities.
Best Autumn days out for babies and toddlers
1 of 131) Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire
Adults: from £13; children aged 5-18: £4; children under 5: free. Prices are higher at weekends.
Autumn is THE best time to visit the National Arboretum at Westonbirt. Toddlers can tire themselves out looking for the Gruffalo and his friends in the Deep Dark Wood while following the seasonal activity sheets. Meanwhile, the whole family will be enchanted by the forest’s 18,000 trees and the stunning changing colour of the leaves. Older kids with you? No problem! They can enjoy the high ropes experience at Go Ape Tree Top Adventure, complete with wobbly bridges and a fab zip wire finale, while the younger kids can explore the outdoor adventure play parks.
2 of 132) Horniman Museum, London
The museum is free to visit; extra costs for additional exhibitions - check website for details.
Sure, everyone knows about the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, but have you ever visited The Horniman? It's the equivalent of five museums all under one roof, focusing on global cultures and the natural environment. There’s an aquarium (great for rainy days), butterfly house (perfect for tots), small farm (good for families), natural history hall (who doesn't want to see the famous walrus?), and indoor and outdoor musical instruments area (fun for creating a melody). Check the website before you visit; when we wrote this, the Natural History Gallery was closed until 2026 for refurbishment.
3 of 133) Cotswold Wildlife Park, Oxfordshire
Adult ticket: e-tickets from £17.50; children over 3: from £12.50; children under 3: free. Prices are higher if you buy on the door.
Whether you've got a budding David Attenborough in the family or not, the Cotswold Wildlife Park will delight anyone and everyone. Families can come face-to-face with rhinos, watch the Asiatic lion have its lunch, and stand up tall next to a giraffe, all in the park’s beautiful 160 acres. Don't forget to explore the glorious gardens and landscaping. When their little feet get tired, jump aboard the narrow-gauge railway to explore the park from a different perspective.
4 of 134) Cbeebies Land, Alton Towers, Stoke-on-Trent
Tickets for adults and children over the age of 3: Online from £34; children under 3: free. Lowest prices found online, but subject to change.
Located in Alton Towers’ theme park, Cbeebies Land brings your children’s favourite TV characters to life. Zoom off on an adventure with the Go Jetters (guaranteed to be ‘geographic’), meet Bing, help out at Justin’s pie factory (very messy), and sing the radishes to sleep in Mr Bloom’s allotment. This is the stuff that children’s dreams are made of. Prices can vary by date, so always check online before you go. Tip: It's significantly cheaper to buy online beforehand than on the door.
5 of 135) Peppa Pig World, Paultons Park, Hampshire
Tickets for a family of four from £45.50 pp; children under 1 metre: free.
Whether it’s going on the gentle rollercoasters, getting splashed on the water ride, or climbing up the slides and tubes of George’s Spaceship Playzone, kids will love stepping into Peppa’s world, even if it is only for one day. Your ticket also gives you entry to the larger Poulton's Park, which has 70 rides and attractions, set within 140 acres of beautiful parkland on the edge of the New Forest National Park - lots for bigger kids and adults if you want to leave Peppa Pig behind. Read our review of Peppa Pig World here.
6 of 136) LC Waterpark, Swansea
Adult tickets: from £9.50; children over 4 from £7.70; children aged 1-3: from £3.10; children under 1: free.
Babies and adults can make a splash at Wales’ biggest indoor waterpark. This interactive pool has a mini slide, tipping buckets (who doesn't love these?) and fountains, as well as the explosive Volcano Bay. Those a little bigger can take on the Masterblaster, a white-knuckle waterslide, and if you're not feeling that adventurous, we recommend moseying down the Lazy River.
7 of 137) The Deep Aquarium, Hull
Adult tickets: from £23; children over 3: from £17; children under 3: Free. All tickets are valid as annual passes for a full year.
Home to more than 3,500 fish, sharks, stingrays, and penguins, The Deep in Hull is one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world. As well as getting up close and personal in the UK’s only underwater lift and 10-metre-deep viewing tunnel, little ones can watch the sharks while they're being fed during one of the regular dive shows and even stroke a starfish during a touchpool session. Read our review of The Deep Aquarium here.
8 of 138) PYO Pumpkins at Craigies Farm, Queensferry - Edinburgh
Adult tickets for the farm: £5; children from walking to 15 years: £2.50; babies not yet walking: free. Entry cost is redeemable against fruit and veg. Tickets for the pumpkin festival: Adult and children tickets for the festival: £7.50; children under 2: free.
Grab your wellies and head to Craigies Farm, just outside Edinburgh. This family-run farm has plenty to choose from; there’s an indoor play barn as well as an outdoor play area, tractor rides, chickens, and pygmy goats to add to the post-picking entertainment. The annual Pumpkin Festival is back in October and packed with all the thrills, fun, and energy you'd expect, from hunting down your perfect pumpkin to launching one across the field with their legendary pumpkin catapult. This is the ultimate seasonal day out. There's also towering bale climbs, twisting bale mazes, and barrel train rides through spooky tunnels or get creative decorating pumpkins! If you're feeling peckish, there's plenty of food and drink on offer too.
9 of 139) Hobbledown Farm, Epsom
Adults and children over the age of 2: from 16.50; children under 2: free.
Farm-meets-adventure-park, Hobbledown, is a place like no other. Babies will love tumbling around in The Hobbling Play Barn, aka a giant indoor soft play area, while bigger kids can explore the adventure playground at Hobbledown Village, see otters, parrots, and meerkats at the farm, hide away in teepees, and watch falconry displays. It really is a magical place.
10 of 1310) London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, London
Adult: £24.50; children under 18: free.
Got an energetic toddler to entertain on a rainy day? Head to the London Transport Museum. Before you scroll away, hear us out! Children can tire themselves out by clambering up, down and into Edwardian trams, Victorian trains, and even a Thames clipper. Plus, they can pretend to drive a black cab, double-decker bus and underground train. Tickets are annual passes, so you can visit as many times as you'd like in a year; concessions are available if you live in various parts of London. Once you've finished, you're right in the heart of Covent Garden, so the perfect chance to explore the area.
11 of 1311) Glenariff Forest Park, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Tickets: per car: £5.
Wrap up warm and take in the great outdoors with a family-friendly walk around some of the most beautiful woodlands that Northern Ireland has to offer. The Waterfall Walk Trail is just 3km and takes you past two stunningly beautiful waterfalls and over a river via boardwalks on stilts, which certainly ups the excitement factor.
12 of 1312) Diggerland, Kent, Devon, County Durham, & Yorkshire
Adults and children over 90cm; from £25.95; children under 1m: free.
Yes, you read right! It's not just a fictional place that exists in Peppa Pig's animated realm! Diggerland is a real adventure park that offers a hands-on experience. Here, you get to operate a real digger and also drive a mini Land Rover, race go-karts, and ride on the Diggerland train. The parks are aimed at ages 4 and above, although there is still plenty for little ones to do.
13 of 1313) National Space Centre, Leicester
Adult: from £20.95; children 4-16 from £18.95; children under 5: free
Shoot off into outer space and live out all your astronaut dreams at this indoor space museum. Head off into the stars on board the new Tetrastar Spaceport spacecraft ride. Families can also enjoy hands-on workshops, monthly events, live science shows, and the UK's largest indoor planetarium, where you can watch award-winning shows. It's hard to miss, so don't forget to explore the 42 metre high iconic Rocket Tower. It's home to Blue Streak and Thor Able rockets, real Moon Rock and where you can explore the Gagarin Experience, which creates an immersive and overwhelming experience of a spacecraft.
More ideas for Autumn days out with children without breaking the bank
We know that going out with the family can easily add up, so we've compiled a list of our favourite Autumn days out that won't have large ticket prices.
Marshmallow toasting
Whether you do this in your own garden with a BBQ or small fire basket, or find a local woodland that has a ready-built fire pit, toasting marshmallows is a wonderful way to spend an Autumn evening. Wrap up warm with gloves for the little ones, and be careful letting them near the fire. There's nothing quite like the taste of a toasted marshmallow, and you could even go for an American experience and make 'Smores (you just need some plain biscuits, like a Digestive, and some squares of chocolate).
Walk in a deer park
Find a local parkland that has herds of deer and go for an Autumnal walk. Your children will love seeing the deer, especially spotting their big antlers, and while you're walking, you could collect leaves, pinecones, and twigs to take home and use for some Autumn crafts for kids.
Watch an Autumn sunset
Go for a walk with the family to a good viewpoint and watch the sun go down; the colours of an Autumn sunset are beautiful. You could perhaps drive to the coast for the day and watch the sun go down over the sea. Remember coats and scarves, though, as it can get chilly in Autumn once the sun goes down.
Foraging for Fun
Look for wild blackberries (brambling) and other seasonal fruits. You can turn your finds into a delicious crumble or jam at home. Always be sure you can identify what you're picking, and only eat things you are 100% sure are safe.
Star gazing
Now the nights are drawing in, you could let your little ones stay up late one weekend and lie in the garden to watch the stars. Set out lots of blankets and cushions to stay comfy and warm, and see if you can spot any constellations or even a shooting star. Have hot chocolate and marshmallows to stay warm and toasty.
Den Building
Head to a local forest and use fallen branches, twigs, and leaves to build a cosy shelter or den. It's a great teamwork activity that encourages creativity.
Scarecrow festivals
Lots of villages host scarecrow festivals in Autumn, and they're normally free or with a very small charge for a map, perhaps. Search on Facebook to find one local to you. Your children will love seeing all the creative characters that people make with scarecrows.
About the author
Catriona Watsonoriginally joined the Mother&Baby as an Editorial Assistant to work on the 2019 M&B Awards. As a Digital Writer, she has written and updated hundreds of articles on the site from medical explainers to celebs news and shopping galleries. Catch her running along the Thames or eating her way around London's restaurants.