Attractions in London & the South East
World-famous icons, royal castles, and vibrant coastal fun 🇬🇧🎡
Showing 105 attractions · Sorted by importance
Ashmolean Museum
📍 Oxford
🖼 Art GalleryThe world's first university museum, featuring an incredible range of art and archaeology from Egyptian mummies to contemporary masterpieces.
Big Ben
📍 London
🏛 LandmarkIconic clock tower at the heart of London, offering families a glimpse into British history and politics.
Blenheim Palace
📍 Woodstock
🏰 CastleA masterpiece of Baroque architecture and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, set within 2,000 acres of parkland.
Bocketts Farm Park
📍 Leatherhead
🐄 FarmA working family farm in the Surrey Hills where visitors can feed animals, watch pig races, and enjoy expansive indoor and outdoor play.
Brighton Palace Pier
📍 Brighton
⛱ BeachA classic Victorian leisure pier featuring amusement rides, arcades, and food stalls over the English Channel.
Canterbury Cathedral
📍 Canterbury
🏰 CastleA stunning UNESCO site and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, known for its intricate Gothic architecture.
Chelsea Flower Show
📍 London
🎭 EventMid-May, 5-day world-renowned horticultural event (19-23 May 2026), attracting 150,000+ visitors. It showcases cutting-edge garden design, floral displays, and rare plants. While educational for all ages, it is most suitable for older children due to the dense crowds and limited stroller access.
Chessington World of Adventures Resort
📍 Chessington
🦁 ZooA major theme park that includes a large zoo and a Sea Life centre for a full family day out.
Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens
📍 Burford
🦁 ZooA beautiful manor estate where visitors can see rhinos grazing on the lawn and exotic birds in a walled garden.
Hampton Court Palace
📍 East Molesey
🏰 CastleHenry VIII’s majestic Tudor palace featuring vast kitchens, famous hedge mazes, and stunning formal gardens.
LEGOLAND Windsor Resort
📍 Windsor
🎢 Theme ParkA world-famous family theme park dedicated to the iconic plastic bricks, featuring impressive model cities and child-friendly rides.
London Aquatics Centre
📍 London
🌊 Water ParkA world-class Olympic venue featuring iconic architecture and elite swimming facilities open to the public for recreation and training.
Marwell Zoo
📍 Winchester
🦁 ZooA 140-acre park home to hundreds of exotic and endangered animals including tigers, leopards, and rhinos.
Natural History Museum
📍 London
🔬 ScienceA world-famous museum featuring dinosaur skeletons and vast biological collections in a stunning Victorian building.
New Forest National Park
📍 Lyndhurst
🌲 NatureA unique landscape of ancient woodland and open moors where wild ponies and cattle roam free across the countryside.
North Downs Way
📍 Farnham
🥾 Hiking & Cycling246km moderate to challenging long-distance trail from Farnham to Dover. Typical duration: 12-14 days. Total elevation gain: approximately 5,800m. Features historic sites and the White Cliffs. Bike rental: Alice Holt Cycle Hub (aliceholtcyclehub.co.uk).
Notting Hill Carnival
📍 London
🎭 EventLate August (Bank Holiday weekend), 2-day Caribbean street festival, over 2 million annual visitors. It features massive sound systems, steel bands, and a grand costume parade. Sunday is designated as 'Family Day' with a child-friendly atmosphere and smaller parades.
Paultons Park
📍 Romsey
🎢 Theme ParkConsistently rated one of the UK's best family parks, it is home to the world-renowned Peppa Pig World and Jurassic-themed Lost Kingdom.
Port Lympne Safari Park
📍 Hythe
🦁 ZooA sprawling safari park offering truck tours across 600 acres of Kentish countryside with spectacular views.
RHS Garden Wisley
📍 Woking
🌿 GardenThe flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society, offering inspirational planting designs and a massive glasshouse.
Royal Ascot
📍 Ascot
🎭 EventMid-June, 5-day world-famous horse racing and social festival, attracting 300,000+ visitors. Known for its strict dress code and the daily Royal Procession. Families can enjoy the Windsor Enclosure which features live music and a more relaxed, picnic-style atmosphere.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
📍 Richmond
🌿 GardenA UNESCO World Heritage site featuring the world's most diverse collection of living plants and iconic Victorian glasshouses.
Science Museum
📍 London
🔬 ScienceAn interactive hub of human ingenuity featuring historic spacecraft, steam engines, and hands-on science galleries.
Sea Life Brighton
📍 Brighton
🐠 AquariumOriginally opened in 1872, this is the world's oldest operating aquarium, combining stunning Victorian architecture with modern underwater tunnels.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium
📍 London
🐠 AquariumLocated on the South Bank, this major aquarium features thousands of marine creatures, including sharks and penguins, across several themed zones.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden
📍 Cranbrook
🌿 GardenA world-renowned 20th-century garden created by Vita Sackville-West, famous for its romantic 'outdoor rooms' and White Garden.
South Downs Way
📍 Winchester
🥾 Hiking & Cycling160km challenging multi-day trail from Winchester to Eastbourne. Typical duration: 8-9 days walking or 2-3 days cycling. Total elevation gain: approximately 4,150m. Bike rental: Bespoke Biking (bespokebiking.com) or Chalkhaven (chalkhaven.co.uk).
Tate Modern
📍 London
🖼 Art GallerySet in a former power station, this iconic museum showcases international modern and contemporary art with interactive spaces for families.
The National Gallery
📍 London
🖼 Art GalleryHousing over 2,300 paintings, this world-renowned gallery offers free access to Western European masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
The Needles
📍 Alum Bay
🏔 Scenic ViewAn iconic trio of white chalk stacks and a historic lighthouse situated off the western tip of the Isle of Wight.
The Ridgeway
📍 Goring-on-Thames
🥾 Hiking & Cycling139km moderate trail described as Britain's oldest road. The section through Oxfordshire and the Chilterns is highly scenic. Typical duration: 6-8 days. Elevation gain: ~1,200m. Bike rental: Mountain Bike Hire (mountain-bike-hire.co.uk).
The Thames Path
📍 Oxford
🥾 Hiking & Cycling294km easy-to-moderate trail following the river from its source to London. Within the SE region, the Oxford to London section is most popular. Duration: 14-20 days total. Minimal elevation. Bike rental: Bainton Bikes (baintonbikes.com) or London Bicycle Tour Company (londonbicycle.com).
Thorpe Park Resort
📍 Chertsey
🎢 Theme ParkKnown as the UK's most thrilling theme park, it features world-class roller coasters and record-breaking rides centered on a scenic island.
Tower Bridge
📍 London
🏛 LandmarkMajestic Victorian bridge where families can walk across glass floors and explore historic engine rooms.
Tower of London
📍 London
🏰 CastleA historic fortress and UNESCO World Heritage site home to the Crown Jewels and 1,000 years of royal history.
Victoria and Albert Museum
📍 London
🖼 Art GalleryThe world's leading museum of art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects in a stunning Victorian building.
White Cliffs of Dover
📍 Dover
⛱ BeachIconic white chalk cliffs offering dramatic coastal walks with views across the English Channel toward France.
Windsor Castle
📍 Windsor
🏰 CastleThe largest inhabited castle in the world and longest-occupied palace in Europe, offering a glimpse into royal life and the stunning St George's Chapel.
Windsor Town Centre
📍 Windsor
🏘 Town / VillageHome to the world's largest inhabited castle, this royal town offers families scenic riverside walks and the colorful Changing of the Guard ceremony.
ZSL London Zoo
📍 London
🦁 ZooThe world's oldest scientific zoo, featuring thousands of animals in the heart of Regent's Park.
Canterbury Historic Centre
📍 Canterbury
🏘 Town / VillageFamilies can explore medieval lanes, enjoy river tours, and visit the historic cathedral in this world-famous UNESCO-listed pilgrimage city.
Fishers Farm Park
📍 Wisborough Green
🐄 FarmAn award-winning family farm park offering animal encounters, adventure play, and tractor rides in the heart of the Sussex countryside.
Hampton Court Palace Gardens
📍 East Molesey
🌿 GardenSpectacular formal gardens including the world's oldest hedge maze and the historic Great Vine.
New Forest Scenic Loop
📍 Circular
🚗 Road Trip50km paved circular route (approx. 1.5-2 hours) starting from Lyndhurst. Passes through ancient woodland and open heathland where wild ponies and cattle graze freely. Key stops include the village of Beaulieu and the Ornamental Drive near Brockenhurst.
Oxford City Centre
📍 Oxford
🏘 Town / VillageKnown as the City of Dreaming Spires, this historic university hub allows families to visit Harry Potter filming locations and enjoy river punting.
Seven Sisters and Beachy Head Drive
📍 Eastbourne
🚗 Road Trip15km paved coastal section (approx. 30-45 minutes) following the A259. Features dramatic views of the 162-meter high white chalk cliffs at Beachy Head, the iconic Belle Tout Lighthouse, and the undulating cliffs of the Seven Sisters.
Seven Sisters Country Park
📍 Seaford
🌲 NatureAn iconic coastal landscape featuring dramatic white chalk cliffs and rolling green hills that provide some of Britain's most spectacular seaside views.
The Needles Landmark Attraction
📍 Alum Bay
⛱ BeachFamous chalk stacks and lighthouse viewed via a scenic chairlift, featuring multicolored sand cliffs and family activities.
Up at The O2
📍 London
🧗 AdventureAn exhilarating outdoor climb over the iconic roof of the O2 Arena offering 360-degree views of the London skyline.
Arundel Castle
📍 Arundel
🏰 CastleA restored medieval castle and stately home featuring magnificent armor collections and vibrant tulip gardens.
Battle Abbey
📍 Battle
🏰 CastleThe site of the famous 1066 Battle of Hastings, featuring abbey ruins and an interactive visitor center about English history.
Box Hill
📍 Dorking
🏔 Scenic ViewA popular summit in the North Downs offering panoramic views over the Surrey Hills and diverse nature trails.
Burford
📍 Burford
🏘 Town / VillageCelebrated as the gateway to the Cotswolds, this picturesque hillside town offers families charming antique shops and golden limestone architecture.
Camber Sands
📍 Camber
⛱ BeachThe only sand dune system in East Sussex, offering a vast expanse of golden beach perfect for families and kitesurfing.
Chelsea Physic Garden
📍 London
🌿 GardenLondon's oldest botanic garden, focused on medicinal and useful plants, tucked away in a quiet riverside location.
Coral Reef Waterworld
📍 Bracknell
🌊 Water ParkOne of the largest indoor water parks in the country, featuring an extensive array of themed slides, rapids, and pirate-themed pools.
Dover Castle
📍 Dover
🏰 CastleKnown as the 'Key to England,' this massive fortress features immersive medieval interiors and secret wartime tunnels.
Dreamland Margate
📍 Margate
🎢 Theme ParkA carefully restored vintage amusement park featuring the UK's oldest roller coaster and retro-style entertainment.
Drusillas Park
📍 Alfriston
🦁 ZooWidely regarded as the best small zoo in the country, specifically designed for families with young children.
Dulwich Picture Gallery
📍 London
🖼 Art GalleryEngland's oldest public art gallery, featuring a world-class collection of Old Master paintings within a beautiful building designed by Sir John Soane.
Howletts Wild Animal Park
📍 Canterbury
🦁 ZooFamed for its world-leading breeding programs for gorillas, tigers, and elephants in a woodland setting.
Kent Life Heritage Farm Park
📍 Maidstone
🐄 FarmA 28-acre vibrant heritage farm that showcases Kent's rural history with historic buildings, traditional farm animals, and seasonal activities.
Leeds Castle
📍 Maidstone
🏰 CastleOften called 'the loveliest castle in the world,' this moated site offers bird of prey displays, mazes, and boat rides.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
📍 Oxford
🔬 ScienceA striking neo-Gothic building housing significant natural history specimens, including the famous Oxford Dodo.
Pallant House Gallery
📍 Chichester
🖼 Art GalleryAn award-winning gallery in a Grade I listed Queen Anne house combined with a modern wing, showcasing 20th-century British art.
Richmond Park
📍 London
🏔 Scenic ViewThe largest of London's Royal Parks, famous for its herds of free-roaming red and fallow deer and wild landscapes.
Royal Observatory Greenwich
📍 London
🔬 ScienceThe home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian, offering fascinating insights into astronomy and navigation.
Royal Pavilion
📍 Brighton
🏛 LandmarkExotic palace with unique Asian-inspired architecture and royal history that captivates visitors of all ages.
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
📍 Bournemouth
🖼 Art GalleryA unique cliff-top Victorian villa filled with global treasures, fine paintings, and exotic decor overlooking the sea.
Rye Historic Town
📍 Rye
🏘 Town / VillageA fairytale hilltop town featuring steep cobbled streets, secret passages, and beautifully preserved timber-framed houses that fascinate visitors of all ages.
Sheffield Park and Garden
📍 Uckfield
🌿 GardenA horticultural masterpiece featuring four large lakes that reflect the vibrant colors of specimen trees and shrubs.
The A272 Scenic Route
📍 Winchester
🚗 Road Trip93km paved road (approx. 2 hours) across the South Downs and Weald. Known as one of England's most iconic countryside drives, it passes through historic market towns like Petworth and Midhurst, offering views of rolling hills and ancient woodlands.
The Savill Garden
📍 Windsor
🌿 GardenPart of Windsor Great Park, this garden features stunning ornamental displays and the contemporary Rose Garden.
Turner Contemporary
📍 Margate
🖼 Art GalleryA striking modern gallery on the Kent coast that hosts rotating exhibitions and celebrates the town's connection to J.M.W. Turner.
University of Oxford Botanic Garden
📍 Oxford
🌿 GardenFounded in 1621, this is the oldest botanic garden in the UK, featuring a stunning collection of plants in a walled setting.
Wakehurst
📍 Ardingly
🌿 GardenKew's wild botanic garden in Sussex, home to the Millennium Seed Bank and diverse woodland landscapes.
Wellington Country Park
📍 Reading
🐄 FarmLocated on the border of Berkshire and Hampshire, this park features a dedicated animal farm, nature trails, and a miniature railway set in 350 acres of parkland.
Winchester Historic Centre
📍 Winchester
🏘 Town / VillageFamilies can discover King Arthur's Round Table in the Great Hall and explore the ancient capital's stunning cathedral and riverside trails.
Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth
📍 Portsmouth
🐠 AquariumThis seafront aquarium offers families an immersive experience with tropical sharks, rays, and local marine life via a large underwater tunnel.
Go Ape Battersea Park
📍 London
🧗 AdventureA multi-level treetop challenge located in the heart of London, featuring high ropes and zip lines with unique urban views.
Go Ape Leeds Castle
📍 Maidstone
🧗 AdventureAn adventurous high-ropes course set within the stunning grounds of one of England's most historic castles, perfect for active families.
Godstone Farm
📍 Godstone
🐄 FarmA popular rural attraction focused on farm animal discovery, featuring a large farm trail, tractor rides, and extensive play equipment for children.
King Alfred's Way
📍 Winchester
🥾 Hiking & Cycling350km challenging gravel cycling loop through the heart of historic Wessex. Typical duration: 3-5 days. Total elevation gain: ~5,000m. Requires a gravel or mountain bike. Bike rental: Bespoke Biking (bespokebiking.com).
New Forest Activities
📍 Beaulieu
🧗 AdventureA premier outdoor center offering guided canoeing and kayaking on the scenic Beaulieu River along with woodland archery and ropes courses.
Porchester Spa
📍 London
♨ Hot SpringHistoric 1929 Grade II listed Turkish bathhouse. Features include original Art Deco tiling, three steam rooms of varying temperatures (tepidarium, calidarium, and laconicum), a traditional sauna, and a cold plunge pool. It is one of the few remaining authentic interwar public bathhouses in the United Kingdom.
Red Squirrel Trail
📍 Cowes
🥾 Hiking & Cycling51km easy cycling route on the Isle of Wight, mostly off-road using disused railway lines. Typical duration: 4-6 hours. Elevation gain: ~450m. Bike rental: Wight Cycle Hire (wightcyclehire.co.uk) or Route 27 (route27isleofwight.co.uk).
Seven Sisters & Birling Gap
📍 Eastbourne
⛱ BeachSpectacular undulating white cliffs and a pebble beach within the South Downs National Park, ideal for coastal exploration.
Splashdown Poole
📍 Poole
🌊 Water ParkAn action-packed indoor water park with 13 thrilling flumes and three splash zones for younger children.
The Kent Heritage Coast Drive
📍 Folkestone
🚗 Road Trip35km paved coastal road (approx. 1 hour) via the A20 and A258. This route hugs the shoreline of the English Channel, passing the White Cliffs of Dover, the historic Dover Castle, and the medieval seaside town of Deal.
Arundel
📍 Arundel
🏘 Town / VillageA charming market town where families can combine a visit to the fairytale castle with a walk through historic streets and independent shops.
Bodiam Castle
📍 Robertsbridge
🏰 CastleA 14th-century moated castle that looks like a storybook fortress, perfect for family exploration of ruins and battlements.
Downs Link
📍 Guildford
🥾 Hiking & Cycling59km moderate multi-user trail connecting the North Downs Way at St Martha's Hill with the South Downs Way near Shoreham-by-Sea. Typical duration: 1-2 days. Mostly flat. Bike rental: South Coast Cycles (southcoastcycles.co.uk).
Guildford Lido
📍 Guildford
🌊 Water ParkA beautifully maintained 1930s historic open-air pool set within landscaped gardens, featuring modern water slides and family facilities.
History of Science Museum
📍 Oxford
🔬 ScienceThe world's oldest purpose-built museum building, housing an incredible collection of scientific instruments.
Ironmonger Row Baths
📍 London
♨ Hot SpringHistoric public bathhouse opened in 1931 and extensively restored. A notable example of interwar public health architecture, it features an authentic Turkish bath suite with three hot rooms, marble treatment slabs, and a traditional thermal circuit including a steam room and cold plunge.
Mudchute Park & Farm
📍 London
🐄 FarmSet in 32 acres of countryside, this is one of Europe's largest urban farms, offering unique animal interactions with the Canary Wharf skyline as a backdrop.
Radcliffe Camera
📍 Oxford
🏛 LandmarkIconic circular library building representing the architectural beauty and academic history of the city.
Shere Village
📍 Guildford
🏘 Town / VillageA quintessential English village in the Surrey Hills, perfect for families to enjoy a peaceful stream-side walk and traditional tea rooms.
Spinnaker Tower
📍 Portsmouth
🏛 LandmarkTall observation tower offering families panoramic views over the historic harbor and the South Coast.
Towner Eastbourne
📍 Eastbourne
🖼 Art GalleryA contemporary art gallery featuring a world-renowned collection of modern British art and hosting the Turner Prize in 2023.
Uffington White Horse
📍 Uffington
🏔 Scenic ViewA prehistoric hill figure carved into the white chalk hillside, providing incredible views over the Oxfordshire landscape.
Viking Coastal Trail
📍 Margate
🥾 Hiking & Cycling51km easy-to-moderate circular cycling route around the Isle of Thanet. Typical duration: 1 day. Elevation gain: ~300m. Follows the coast through Broadstairs and Ramsgate. Bike rental: Ken's Bikes (kensbikes.co.uk) or The Bike Shed (thebikeshed.uk.com).
Watts Gallery - Artists' Village
📍 Guildford
🖼 Art GalleryA unique Victorian gallery and studio dedicated to the works of George Frederic Watts and Mary Watts in a tranquil Surrey setting.
