Best places to visit with your teenager in the UK
These are the top UK activities to inspire your teenager in locations like Edinburgh, South Wales, London and Liverpool.
Let’s be honest – convincing a teenager to leave the house willingly is no small win. Long gone are the days when they’d get excited about washing the wheelie bins with you. Now? It’s a sigh and a “do I have to?” before you’ve even opened your mouth.
But whether they’re 13 or pushing 18, there are days out that spark their interest – you just need to know where to look. That’s why we’ve pulled together a handy list of ideas that’ll get them off their phones and (maybe) even talking to you.
We’ve rounded up days out across the UK that tick the boxes for even the most unimpressed teens – including indoor picks like Madame Tussauds, outdoor adventures like Go Ape, and themed attractions perfect for Potterheads or football superfans.
And because we get how pricey family outings can be, we’ve also got tips for saving money – from cheap tickets to Leeds Castle to how to get cheap Cadbury World tickets. You’ll find loads more ideas in our guides to the best UK zoos and best UK waterparks, too.
Below, you'll find indoor activities like Madame Tussauds and outdoor activities such as Go Ape, and days out which cater towards your child's interests, whether they're football fans or invested in the magical world of Harry Potter.
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- What UK retailers have the best experiences for teenagers?
- Best places to visit with your teenager at a glance
- What are the best places to visit with teenagers in the UK?
What UK retailers have the best experiences for teenagers?
These reputable sites have brilliant activities up and down the country.
- Buyagift | A range of days out from escape rooms to The Paddington Bear Experience
- English Heritage | Over 400 historic places with activities for the whole family
- Fever | Unique and exclusive experiences, such as Candlelight Concerts
- Merlin | Huge attractions like Alton Towers and SEA LIFE
- National Trust | Historic places up and down the country, including London and Liverpool
- Virgin Experience Days | Exciting activities such as junior driving and watersports
Best places to visit with your teenager at a glance:
- The Dungeons | from £13
- Everton Stadium Tour | from £15
- Liverpool FC Stadium Tour | from £16
- Alton Towers |
£68£29 (save £39 or 57%) - Thorpe Park | £29
- Chessington World of Adventures |
£66£29 (save £37 or 56%) - Madame Tussauds | from £33
- Check out Go Ape centres at Go Ape
- Go Ape annual pass | from £59.95
- iFLY Indoor Skydiving | £79.94
- Junior Up at The O2 Climb for two | £89
- Harry Potter Studio Tour with London transfer | £103.55
What are the best places to visit with teenagers in the UK?
Alton Towers | Staffordshire
With over 40 rides to choose from, there really is something for everyone at Alton Towers!
Some of the most popular rides, which will thrill even the most fearless teens, include Wicker Man, Oblivion, and The Smiler. Plus, new for 2025 is the Toxicator: this dizzying ride is located in the Forbidden Valley, and you'll hang upside down and spin in a terrifying whirlwind.
Buy Alton Towers tickets for £68 £29 (save £39 or 57%) at Alton Towers
Take a look at how to get cheap Alton Towers tickets.
iFLY Indoor Skydiving | Manchester
This exciting experience at Fever is perfect for thrill-seeking teens this school holiday. No experience is necessary for the iFLY Indoor Skydiving activity, and while it's not as intimidating as jumping out of an actual plane, you can be reassured that you and your family will receive full instructions from a certified flight instructor, and you'll be kitted-out in complete equipment like a flight suit, helmet and goggles.
Plus, you'll each get a certificate of flight achievement at the end — better start clearing the fridge!
Buy iFLY Indoor Skydiving for £79.94 at Fever
Thorpe Park | Surrey
Are you ready to visit the UK's most thrilling theme park?
At Thorpe Park in Surrey, there are over 25 rides and attractions to try out, such as the UK's tallest and fastest rollercoaster, Hyperia, the UK's fastest accelerator coaster, Stealth, and the world's first horror movie-themed rollercoaster, SAW - The Ride.
There's also water rides, too, like the Tidal Wave with its 85-foot drop, and Storm Surge with a 64-foot spiralling descent.
Buy Thorpe Park tickets for £29 at Thorpe Park
Here's how to get cheap Thorpe Park tickets.
Liverpool FC Stadium Tour | Liverpool
It's a good time to be a Liverpool FC fan at the moment — a sentiment we say lightly, as we know it can change at any moment — as the team is first in the Premier League, and beat West Ham last Sunday. If your family are fans of the Reds, you can head on down to Anfield Stadium for a fun day out.
At this stadium tour, which comes with an audio guide, you can walk through the Players' Tunnel, visit the dressing rooms, see what happens during a press conference, and check out the club's museum.
Buy Liverpool FC Stadium Tour tickets from £16 at Fever
Chessington World of Adventures | Surrey
While this guide is focused on catering towards teenagers, if you have children of varying ages, it's important to cater to all of them, particularly if you're paying money for entry — you don't want any frowning faces! At Chessington World of Adventures, there's something to keep everyone entertained, as not only is there a theme park, but there's a zoo and SEA LIFE aquarium, too.
Before you book, take a look at how to get cheap Chessington World of Adventures tickets.
The Making of Harry Potter | Hertfordshire
Get ready to enter the wizarding world of Harry Potter! Harry Potter has delighted people for generations, and people of all ages know and love it. If your teenager is a Harry Potter fan, be sure to read our how to get cheap Harry Potter Studios tickets guide before booking.
At The Making of Harry Potter, you and your family will explore The Great Hall, which hosted iconic scenes such as the Yule Ball and the Battle of Hogwarts, The Forbidden Forest, The Hogwarts Express and Platform 9 ¾, Diagon Alley, and many more notable scenes.
Buy Harry Potter Studio Tour with London transfer for £103.55 at Headout
Go Ape | Multiple locations like Scotland and Wales
With the weather warming up, there are few better ways to spend your weekend than with a trip to Go Ape. Go Ape has 37 unique outdoor activity centres up and down the country, with centres everywhere from Battersea and Dorset to Aberfoyle and Kendal.
Each Go Ape centre is different, with activities such as high ropes courses, bouncy nets, all-terrain Forest Segways, axe throwing, escape rooms, zip line experiences, and archery tag. However, for teenagers, we'd recommend doing the Treetop Challenge or Challenge Plus activity.
The Dungeons | Multiple locations like York and Blackpool
The Dungeons are an excellent way to learn about the history of a city, whether that's York, London, Blackpool or Edinburgh, in a fun yet spooky way. These interactive experiences place importance on a city's darkest moments, such as gruesome stories and terrifying characters, and they all feature shows with live actors, yet are unique in their own ways. For example, London has 13 interactive shows, 20 live actors, and a ride, and Blackpool boasts the limited-time-only show, The King's Coin.
Buy The Dungeons tickets from £13 at The Dungeons
Did you know there's a dungeon at Warwick Castle? Our friends at RadioTimes.com have put together a guide on how to get cheap Warwick Castle tickets.
Everton FC Stadium Tour | Liverpool
It might not be the best time to be an Everton FC fan, and if you're in need of a pick-me-up, head to Goodison Park for a stadium tour.
When you and your family head to Goodison Park, you'll get access to the players' changing rooms, visit the Directors' Box and hospitality lounges, walk along the players' tunnel onto the dugout, and hang out in the Media Centre where you can pose for photos on the manager's seat.
Buy Everton Stadium Tour tickets from £15 at Ticketmaster
Up the O2 | London
It's one of the most iconic buildings in London, and now, you and your family can make the 365-metre journey to the summit (52 metres above ground level).
Climbing up The O2 may seem intimidating, but you can be confident that you're in safe hands; your Climb Guide will instruct you exactly how to climb the live music venue, then they'll get you geared up in your climb jacket, shoes and a safety harness.
Buy Junior Up at The O2 Climb for Two for £89 at Virgin Experience Days
Madame Tussauds | London
Who is your teenager's celebrity hero? Is it Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor? Or maybe your teen is a Swiftie? Or perhaps it's Liverpool FC star Mo Salah? Either way, they'll more than likely be able to find them at Madame Tussauds in London.
Madame Tussauds boasts three floors with over 150 celebrity figures across eight zones, such as Chamber of Horrors, Awards Party, and Royal Palace. Plus, tickets to Madame Tussauds include entry to the Marvel Universe 4D cinema.
Buy Madame Tussauds tickets from £33 at Madame Tussauds
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