Family Attractions

When choosing a holiday destination, it's important to pick a location with plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained. North Devon is packed with fun-filled attractions, both outdoors and indoors, making it easy to see why it has become a top choice for family holidays.

For families with toddlers, there are lots of nearby attractions that cater to little ones. Indoor play centres, such as Funderzone in Barnstaple, provide soft play and safe, fun environments. If your toddler loves animals, a visit to one of North Devon's farm attractions, like The Big Sheep in Bideford, is a must. Pack a picnic and make a day of it-there's so much to see and do that a few hours simply isn't enough.

Families with older children will find plenty of excitement too. Theme parks like The Milky Way Adventure Park offer exhilarating rides, slides, and activities guaranteed to thrill even the most reluctant teen. For a mix of wildlife and adventure, Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park provides a magical experience with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, interactive exhibits, and the chance to get close to animals-including sea lions.

For a slower-paced day out, North Devon has plenty of quieter attractions. Explore Ilfracombe Aquarium, Exmoor Zoo, or enjoy some of the region's beautiful parks and gardens, including Rosemoor Gardens, Bicclescombe Park, and Marwood Hill Gardens.

Learning experiences also make fantastic family days out. North Devon is rich in heritage attractions, all within easy reach of the holiday cottages we provide. Discover medieval castles, picturesque harbour villages like Clovelly, hidden railways, and historic houses such as Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum.

For families who want to be close to it all, Sandbanks, Braunton and Cloudbreak Cottage are excellent choices. Both well-appointed properties are centrally located, providing short travel distances to the many attractions North Devon has to offer, making them perfect bases for exploring the region.

Lets go superbowl - Barnstaple

The Milky Way adventure park - Higher Clovelly

The Milky Way theme park is the biggest all weather, family day out in North Devon! There are so many things to do plus ALL the rides are included in the entrance fee! Your adventure awaits... are you ready? Recomended as one of the best North Devon theme parks !

The Big Sheep - North Devon Theme Park - Bideford

Watch 'Red Ram' in the famous sheep races plus Ewe-topia indoor playzone for kids, The Big Sheep Brewery for Mums and Dads, Horse Whispering Shows and Duck Trialling.

$Watermouth Castle Theme Park - Ilfracombe$

Watermouth Castle Theme Park - Ilfracombe

Mechanical music demonstrations, model railway, domestic dairy, cider-making exhibits, cycle museum, smugglers' dungeon and gardens. Children's animations. 'Merry-go-land'. Old fashioned fun and laugh style theme park for North Devon, suitable for all ages.

$Ilfracombe Aquarium - Ilfracombe$

Ilfracombe Aquarium - Ilfracombe

This exciting, award winning, all weather educational attraction provides a fascinating insight into the watery world around North Devon. The aquarium houses a diverse collection of local aquatic life in beautifully recreated natural habitats.

Wildlife and Dinosaur park - Combe Martin

Watch the awesome lions, wolves and Dinosaurs. Catch the otters feeding, monkeys playing and penguins swimming. Have a close encounter with a lemur or a meercat. Feed a wallaby! Watch a falconry display, take part in the amazing sea lion show or experience our exhilarating train ride. A lot of childhood memories can be found at the Dinosaur park and is perhaps one of North Devon Theme Parks most visited attraction.

Glen Lyn Gorge

Glen Lyn Gorge - you should not miss a visit to this spectacular gorge, through which poured the waters of the 1952 Lymouth Flood Disaster. There are lovely woodland walks by the waterfalls and well made paths climb this beautiful unspoilt valley. Ideal spot to bring a picnic and sit beside the river. Also Power of Water exhibition showing how some of the water from West Lyn River now produces environmentally friendly hydro-electricity. Children can operate the giant waterwheels and water cannons. Collections of steam engines and water operated models.

Museum of British Surfing - Braunton

The Museum of British Surfing - built by you, the British surfer! Showcasing surfboards through the ages, Learn how surfing originally came to be. flexible and innovative museum - each year you'll see a new themed exhibition at our venue which will then go on tour around the UK.

Tarka Pottery - Torrington

TARKA POTTERY is North Devon's most exciting and inspiring clay experience studio. Located in beautiful countryside with stunning views, you can paint or potter to your hearts content. Our popular Potter's Wheel Experience is great fun and a novel gift idea for all ages. We love to capture hand and foot prints on pottery and offer entertaining parties, workshops and classes for all ages.

Mullacott Equestrian Centre

Whether its a fast gallop across the beach or a confidence giving lesson or hack around our farm, whatever your riding experience, come and enjoy yourself at Mullacott. Beach rides, Cream tea rides and Exmoor rides.

The Alpaca Park - Beaworthy

The Alpaca Park in stunning Devon countryside offers a tranquil, uplifting experience for all age groups. The 100 acres are lovingly tended to encourage a peaceful, easy pace of life for its Alpaca, wildlife and visitors.

$Wildlife Cruises - Ilfracombe$

Wildlife Cruises - Ilfracombe

Wildlife Cruises - Ilfracombe Spectacular wildlife and coastal cruises aboard one of the most technologically advanced passenger vessels in the UK. Frequent sights of seals, porpoises and dolphins. Come and enjoy one of the most dramatic coastal landscapes in England!

Exmoor Zoological Park

Twelve acres of landscaped gardens with tropical and exotic birds, animals, waterfowl and penguins. Covered picnic area and playground. A unique zoo, combining a relaxed and informal atmosphere with many of the birds and animals at liberty within the grounds. This is complemented by the picturesque views and maintained gardens, combining both endangered and domestic animals and birds in one location. A charming visit, with something for everyone.

North Devon Farm Park

Discover a beautiful location with lots to do for the whole family. Encounter our variety of rare and native breed farm animals including our Golden Guernsey goats and Mangalitza (woolly) pigs.

Quince honey farm - South Molton

Beeworld is Quince Honey Farm's renowned exhibition of honeybees. Nowhere else in the world can visitors get such an up close view of the inner workings of the honeybee society without needing protective equipment. 18 observation hives are on display, many of which can be opened by you the visitor..

Devon Halk Walks - South Molton

Visitors of all ages are offered the opportunity to experience at first hand the thrill of falconry in North Devon.

Darlington Crystal

Watch carefully as our craftsmen work together to transform hot molten crystal into elegant shapes, perfecting an art 3000 years in the making! Take home a reminder of your visit. Both adults and children can get involved in the hands-on Glass Art Activities Area. Our Crystal Shop has an extensive range of superb Dartington Crystal made just a few feet away.

Arlington Court - Nr Barnstaple

This intriguing and intimate house is crowded with a lifetime of treasures amassed by the well-travelled Miss Rosalie Chichester, including model ships, costumes, pewter and exotic shells. In the 'bat cave' you can watch Devon's largest colony of Lesser Horseshoe bats, and in the stables is one of the finest collections of carriages and horse-drawn vehicles in the country.

Clovelly

Clovelly's ancient Devon heritage is enriched by its own unique ingredients of traffic free cobbled streets, donkeys and sledges, and flower-strewn cottages tumbling down a 400 foot cliff. It lingers in the past, with a quality and peace of life that brings visitors of all nationalities to marvel at and enjoy its beauty and tranquillity. There is much to see and do. The visitor Centre has a range of shops and a café, and the audio-visual theatre shows the intriguing history of Clovelly. Nearby is Clovelly Court with its restored Victorian greenhouses and kitchen garden.

Lynton and Lynmouth Railway

Devon's unique Tourist Attraction A unique Victorian Water Powered Lift, giving access to spectacular cliff top walks. The Cliff Railway joins the village of Lynton to its sister village of Lynmouth, 900ft below. Only a short walk from the beautiful beach at Watersmeet and close to the attractive fishing harbour, shops restaurants and cafés.

Family attractions in North Devon

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