Things to Do with the Family This Summer in the UK: Our Merlin Picks for Every Kind of Day Out

Planning the perfect family day out this summer? Whether you need thrills, creative activities, or just a reason to get out of the house, we’ve curated Merlin’s top family picks for the UK this summer, from theme parks and aquariums to iconic London attractions, castles, and immersive experiences.

This summer, Merlin Annual Pass brings together some of the UK’s best family days out, from the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort and Chessington World of Adventures Resort to Alton Towers Resort, Thorpe Park, London Eye, Madame Tussauds London, The London Dungeon, Warwick Castle, Cadbury World, SEA LIFE London Aquarium and Shrek’s Adventure! London.

How to Choose the Right Family Day Out This Summer

Before booking, start with the kind of day your family needs.

• If you want family play activities: Head to LEGO® Festival at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort.

• Perfect for animal lovers: Chessington World of Adventures Resort.

• If you want a full-family theme park adventure: Choose Alton Towers Resort.

• Looking for big thrills: Thorpe Park.

• Planning a day in London: Don’t miss the London Eye.

• History lovers will enjoy Warwick Castle.

• If you want a sweet family day out: Choose Cadbury World.

• For indoor and rainy-day activities: Choose SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure! London, The London Dungeon or Cadbury World.

• If you want to build a London itinerary: Choose from the London Gateway attractions, including London Eye, Madame Tussauds London, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure! London and The London Dungeon.

Our Top Pick – A Summer Outing of Play, Music, Creativity and Family Bonding

LEGO® Festival at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort

If you're looking for a summer packed with play, creativity and family fun, LEGO® Festival at the LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort is the perfect place to start. 

Running from 20 July to 31 August 2026, LEGO Festival brings together music, creativity, hands-on LEGO building, live entertainment and dedicated family activities. It gives families even more opportunities to play during a full LEGOLAND Windsor Resort day out, alongside the Resort’s rides and attractions.

Why choose it:

• Creative, playful and hands-on

• Great for LEGO lovers and mixed-age families

• Included with LEGOLAND tickets and Passes

• Built around play, not just rides 

• Strong for family photos and memory making

→ Plan Your LEGO Festival Experience

Animal Adventure

Chessington World of Adventures Resort

If your family wants animals, rides and shows in one place, Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a good all-rounder. This summer, families can also explore the recently opened World of PAW Patrol and sing along with the Adventurers in their brand-new World Tour show.

Spend the day meeting incredible animals, enjoying family rides and watching live shows—all in one unforgettable adventure.

Top reasons to visit:

• Rides, animals and entertainment

• Good for mixed family interests

• Great for younger children and family groups

• Easy to build into a full day out

→ Start Your Chessington Adventure

Full-Family Theme Park Adventure

Alton Towers Resort

Alton Towers Resort is ideal when you need one destination that can appeal to a wider group.

With over 40 rides and attractions, from white-knuckle rollercoasters to the UK’s only CBeebies Land, it’s a day out where toddlers, teens, parents and friendship groups can all find something to enjoy.

Why visit?

• Broad family appeal

• Good for wide age ranges

• Works for friendship groups too

• Plenty to build a full day or short break around

→ Explore Alton Towers 

Big Thrill Rides

Thorpe Park

For older kids, teens and thrill-seeking families, Thorpe Park is the best summer choice.

Home to some of the UK's most exhilarating rollercoasters, Thorpe Park is the perfect choice for older children, teens and adrenaline seekers. On 14, 15, 21 and 22 August, guests can also enjoy extended opening until 9pm, sunset coaster rides and live DJs.

Reasons to visit:

• Big thrill rides

• Great for older children and teens

• Works for friendship groups

• High-energy summer day out

→Plan Your Visit to Thorpe Park

Iconic London Moments

London Eye

Some family days out are about creating one standout moment.

London Eye gives families the view, the photo and the “we did London” feeling. It is easy to plan into a day out in London and works well as the starting point for a wider South Bank itinerary.

Why you will love it:

• Iconic London views

• Great for photos

• Strong tourist appeal

• Easy to combine with other London attractions

→ Explore the London Eye Attraction

Immersive Experiences

Madame Tussauds London, Shrek’s Adventure! London and The London Dungeon

If your family wants something more interactive, Merlin Annual Pass has immersive attractions for different ages, interests and energy levels. 

Madame Tussauds London is perfect for famous faces, big photo moments and ticking off a true London bucket-list experience. This summer, sports fans can also see new figures of Harry Kane and Lando Norris alongside stars including Mary Earps, Lewis Hamilton and Kylian Mbappé. 

Shrek’s Adventure! London takes families of all ages on a live, interactive adventure filled with characters, comedy and story-led fun.

The London Dungeon is best suited to families with older children, teens and visitors who enjoy theatrical storytelling, darker humour and a few scares along the way. 

At a glance:

• Interactive and story-led

• Great for photos and character moments

• Strong for families, teens and London visitors

• Good rainy-day options

• Easy to add to a wider London itinerary

Historical & Educational Experiences 

Warwick Castle

Educational family days out work best when they do not feel like school. 

Warwick Castle makes history feel physical and exciting, with towers, grounds, shows and live entertainment helping children step into the past.

Good to know:

• Educational

• Great for curious children

• Weather friendly

• Good for families and multi-generational groups 

→ Find out more about Warwick Castle

Sweet Family Fun

Cadbury World

For families who want something colourful, chocolatey and easy to enjoy together, Cadbury World is a brilliant summer option.

It is especially useful for families looking for an indoor day out with a gentler pace, built around chocolate, discovery and plenty of sweet moments. 

Why families love it:

• Good indoor option

• Great for younger children

• Ideal for multi-generational families 

→ Explore Cadbury World Now

If You Need a Rainy-Day Option

SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure! London, The London Dungeon and Cadbury World

Summer in the UK does not always guarantee sunshine, so it helps to have indoor options ready.

SEA LIFE London Aquarium is ideal for curious children. Families can also become ocean heroes through the new Sea Creature Rescue Squad experience. 

Shrek’s Adventure! London is playful and character-led. The attraction is also celebrating 25 years of the Shrek franchise this summer. 

The London Dungeon offers theatrical storytelling and darker humour for families with older children and teens. Visitors can discover what goes bump in the night at the infamous Ten Bells Pub.

Cadbury World gives families a colourful, chocolate-led day out. 

What makes it special:

• Rain-friendly family activities

• Good variety of ages and interests

• Strong indoor options across London and the UK

• Useful backup plans when the weather changes

Create a London Itinerary with Merlin Attractions

London Eye, Madame Tussauds London, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, Shrek’s Adventure! London and The London Dungeon

If you are planning a family day out in London, Merlin’s attractions make it easy to combine several experiences into one itinerary.

Start with the skyline at London Eye, add celebrity selfies at Madame Tussauds London, explore underwater worlds at SEA LIFE London Aquarium, step into story-led fun at Shrek’s Adventure! London, or experience darker history and theatrical scares at The London Dungeon.

Why visit:

• Build your own London day out

• Combine iconic landmarks with indoor attractions

• Suitable for different ages and interests

• Great for families, tourists and city-day planners

→ Plan your London day out 

Our Family UK Picks This Summer