18 Best Days Out for Teenagers in England (They Might Actually Enjoy)
Finding a day out your teenager wants to go on can feel like a challenge. A nice walk and a café might work for you, but they may need a bit more of a reason to leave the house.
So, give them a choice. Would they rather go on rides, get out on the water, explore a city or take a friend somewhere? I’ve organised these ideas by what you’ll actually do, so you can find days out for teenagers that suits your teenager and your budget.
Thrill seeking days out for teenagers
1. Go all in at a theme park
If your teenager loves rollercoasters, this is the easy win. Thorpe Park in Surrey is a good choice for serious rides, while Alton Towers in Staffordshire gives you plenty to fill a whole day.
Theme parks are expensive, so make sure your teen is tall enough for the rides they’re most excited about before buying tickets. Check the park calendar too: opening dates, ride availability and ticket prices can vary. Booking ahead and bringing food can make a big difference to the total cost.
2. Make a day of Dreamland, Margate
Dreamland feels made for a day out with teens: retro rides, arcades, street food and a roller disco, all a short walk from Margate’s beach and shops. You can let your teenager choose between a big ride day and a cheaper wander around Margate with a couple of treats.
Dreamland is currently free to enter, with rides and some activities charged separately. Check its calendar before travelling, especially outside the summer holidays. Music events have their own tickets and age rules, and under 14s need to be accompanied in the amusement park.
If you’d like to see all these great days out on a map, just click the link.
3. Zip over the Eden Project
If ‘shall we go and look at some plants?’ gets a flat no, try leading with this: you can zip wire 660 metres over the Eden Project’s biomes.
The Skywire is run by Hangloose, and you can buy a combined Eden Project and zip wire ticket. Riders must be at least eight years old and weigh between 30kg and 120kg, so check the requirements before promising it to anyone. The biomes then give you plenty more to explore once the adrenaline has worn off.
4. Try paddleboarding together
Paddleboarding gives you something to do while you chat, which can work much better with a teenager than trying to make conversation across a café table. Hire boards at a supervised lake or from a local watersports centre and book a beginner session if it’s your first time.
Check the operator’s minimum age, swimming requirements and weather policy when you book. If you’re near me on the south coast, this is a particularly good way to make a familiar stretch of coastline feel like somewhere new. Check out my guide to Yak Shack rentals if you’re anywhere on the Isle of Wight or near the coast of Dorset or Hampshire.
5. Cycle Through the New Forest
A bike ride gives a New Forest day out a purpose. Start near Brockenhurst, Ashurst or Sway, hire bikes if you need them, and pick a route with a food stop your teenager can look forward to.
Forestry England has more than 100 miles of waymarked family cycle routes in the New Forest, much of it away from public roads. Stick to the designated routes and give the free roaming ponies plenty of space.
A cycle in any of the UK’s National Parks makes for a great teenager day out, or even a forest too.
City days out with teenagers
6. Let them plan a Brighton day
Brighton works because you don’t have to sell one big attraction. Give your teenager a budget and let them choose a few stops: vintage shops in the North Laine, chips by the beach, the pier arcades, a look around the Lanes or somewhere good for lunch.
It’s an easy day to adjust to their interests, and wandering costs nothing. You can spend the money on the bits they’re genuinely excited about.
7. Turn London’s South Bank into a food and photo trail
Start at Westminster Bridge, walk past the London Eye and along the South Bank, then carry on towards Tate Modern and Borough Market. There’s plenty to look at, photograph and eat along the way.
The walk itself is free. You could keep it that way with a packed lunch, or give your teen a set amount to spend at the market. Check opening days if Borough Market is the part they’re most keen on but be warned you’ll probably spend a fortune here trying to feed your teenager!
8. Add a London Museum they’d actually pick
The Natural History Museum is a strong choice if your teen likes dinosaurs, wildlife, science or simply an impressive building. Its permanent galleries are free, though some exhibitions cost extra. Booking a free entry ticket ahead is recommended.
I’d let your teenager choose the galleries they want to see rather than trying to cover the entire museum. An hour of things they find interesting is a much better day out than dragging them past every display.
9. Follow a mystery through York
York’s winding streets make a good setting for an outdoor puzzle or self guided mystery game. It gives you a reason to explore the city without it feeling like a history tour you’ve planned for them.
Leave time for the Shambles, the city walls and somewhere to eat. York can get busy, so an early start helps if your teen wants photos or a less crowded look around.
10. Go for music, food and football in Liverpool
Liverpool is a good city day out for a teenager with a particular interest. Beatles fans can visit The Beatles Story; music lovers can explore the Cavern Quarter; football fans may prefer a stadium tour. Add the waterfront and a food stop, and you have a full day.
I remember visiting Liverpool with my parents as a teenager, but I’d ask your teen which part appeals to them now. That’s more likely to work than assuming every teenager wants a Beatles history lesson (which I actually did, and remember well).
11. Explore Bath, but check the spa age limit
Bath has enough to build a day around: the Roman Baths, independent shops, cafés and a walk through the city centre. If you’re going with an older teen, Thermae Bath Spa admits visitors aged 16 and over, although treatments are for over 18s. That could make it a brilliant 16th birthday outing.
For younger teens, stick to the city and let them pick a stop or two. The Roman Baths are far more interesting when someone wants to be there.
Bath is one of my favourite Christmas days out in the UK. Make sure to check out my guide to Christmas shopping in Bath if you’re thinking of going.
Outdoor days out for teenagers
12. Hunt for fossils on the Jurassic Coast
If your teenager likes finding things, head towards Lyme Regis or Charmouth for a fossil focused day. You get a beach trip with an actual mission, and even if you don’t find anything, the coastline is impressive.
Go with a local guided walk if you’re new to fossil hunting. Check tide times, stay away from the cliffs and follow the local fossil collecting guidance. The Jurassic Coast became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 because of its remarkable rocks, fossils and landforms.
13. Hire a boat in the Lake District
Instead of only looking at the lakes, get out on one. Around Windermere, you can choose from boat trips and hire options, depending on how much effort your group fancies.
Let your teen choose between being on the water, walking to a viewpoint or finding a good place to eat afterwards. You don’t need to tackle a huge hike to have a worthwhile Lake District day. Although, if you did want to, my friends and I had a brilliant time wild camping in the Lake District.
14. Have a proper beach day at Holkham
Holkham in Norfolk is the one I’d choose for a teenager who wants space to walk, take photos, play games or just hang out without being marched between attractions. The beach is enormous, particularly at low tide.
Bring food and check the tide and weather before you go. It’s a lovely low cost day out if your teenager is happy with a beach, fresh air and their own choice of company.
15. Climb Glastonbury Tor
The climb up Glastonbury Tor is short enough to feel manageable but steep enough to make reaching the top satisfying. On a clear day, you’ll get views across the Somerset Levels. Afterwards, head into Glastonbury to look around its shops and find lunch.
This one suits a teen who likes unusual places, photography or a walk with a clear destination. Take shoes with some grip, as the path can be slippery.
Film, history and spooky days out
16. Go behind the scenes of Harry Potter
For a teenager who loves the films, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is a proper occasion day out. The original sets, costumes and props give them plenty to explore, and it works just as well for someone interested in filmmaking.
It’s near Watford, rather than in central London, so plan the journey as well as the visit. Tickets must be booked in advance. Check the official site for availability before arranging travel, particularly in school holidays.
17. Get creeped out at a dungeon
The Dungeons in London, York and Blackpool turn local history into an experience with live actors, dark humour and jump scares. They’re a good choice for a teenager who likes horror but might be less enthusiastic about a conventional museum.
Have a look at the content and age guidance for the location you choose. Some teenagers will love being singled out by an actor; others really won’t.
18. Visit Stonehenge for the mystery
Stonehenge is more interesting if you make the mystery the point. How were the stones moved? Why were they arranged like that? Give your teen the audio guide or a few competing theories and let them decide what they believe.
A standard visit gets you a view of the stones and access to the visitor experience, but you can’t walk among the stones on a normal ticket. You have to stay behind the ropes about five metres away.
English Heritage sells separate, limited Stone Circle Experience visits if getting closer is the reason you’re going. National Trust England members can visit with free admission, subject to its booking guidance.
How to make a day out with a teenager cheaper
If you can, let them choose from two or three ideas, ask whether they’d like to bring a friend and agree the budget before you leave. A café stop, time to browse shops or the freedom to take photos can be just as important to them as the main attraction.
If you’re trying to keep costs down, start with Brighton, London’s South Bank, Holkham Beach, Glastonbury Tor or a New Forest bike ride with your own bikes. For a bigger treat, I’d look at a theme park, the Harry Potter Studio Tour or Eden’s zip wire. Check current tickets, opening times and age or height restrictions before travelling, then let your teenager have some say in how the day goes.
Good luck!