There is something genuinely wonderful about a UK road trip with the family. The country is small enough that most of the best scenery is within a half-day drive, and varied enough that you can do something completely different every time. Dramatic coastline, wild moorland, ancient market towns, proper sandy beaches — it is all here.

These are our six favourite routes for families with children. We have picked them for a mix of reasons: good roads, interesting stops, child-friendly destinations, and manageable distances that do not require heroic driving stints.

The Six Best UK Family Road Trip Routes

1. The Jurassic Coast, Dorset

📍 Exeter to Poole 🚗 ~95 miles of coastline 👶 Best for: ages 4+

This is the one we recommend most often for families with younger children. The Jurassic Coast stretches 95 miles from Exmouth in Devon to Swanage in Dorset, and every stop offers something different. Lyme Regis is the fossil capital of Britain — children can pick up belemnites and ammonites from the beach with almost no effort, which is endlessly satisfying. Charmouth beach is even better for fossils. Studland Bay offers some of the finest sand in England, and the short chain ferry crossing at Sandbanks is an event in itself for small children. Break the drive at Bridport or Dorchester. Stay overnight in Swanage if you can — it still feels like a proper seaside town.

2. The Scottish Highlands

📍 Inverness to Ullapool (or Inverness loop) 🚗 ~150 miles for the loop 👶 Best for: ages 6+ (long stretches between towns)

Dramatic, wild, and unlike anywhere else in the country. The North Coast 500 is well-known, but for families the Inverness to Ullapool route via Strathpeffer and the Falls of Measach is more manageable and just as beautiful. Loch Ness is genuinely exciting for children even if the monster fails to appear. The Cairngorms National Park is excellent for a break — Landmark Forest Adventure Park at Carrbridge is the best family attraction in the Highlands. Bear in mind that distances between towns are longer here: make sure you have fuel, snacks, and fully charged devices before leaving a town. An organised back seat is not optional on this route.

3. The Yorkshire Dales and Moors

📍 Skipton to Whitby via the Dales and Moors 🚗 ~120 miles 👶 Best for: all ages

The combination of the Dales and the Moors in a single trip is brilliant for families. Start at Skipton — the castle is genuinely impressive and the town is lovely — drive through the Dales via Aysgarth Falls (very walkable, child-friendly) and across the top of the Moors to finish at Whitby. Whitby is one of the best seaside towns in England: proper fish and chips on the harbour, the famous 199 steps up to the abbey for older children, and a good sandy beach. The steam railway at Pickering is a detour worth making if you have a child who loves trains.

4. The Lake District

📍 Kendal to Keswick 🚗 ~30 miles but take your time 👶 Best for: all ages

The Lake District is compact enough that you can base yourself in one place and do short drives each day rather than a continuous route. Keswick is the best family base: the market square is lovely, Derwentwater is right there, and Puzzling Place and the theatre by the lake are both good rainy-day options. For driving: the road over Honister Pass is one of the most dramatic in England and suitable for most cars in dry weather. Tarn Hows near Hawkshead is a beautiful short walk that even toddlers can manage. Warning: parking in the Lake District in high summer is genuinely difficult. Book parking in advance or arrive very early.

5. Pembrokeshire, Wales

📍 Tenby to St Davids 🚗 ~35 miles of coast road 👶 Best for: ages 3+

Pembrokeshire has some of the cleanest beaches in Europe and the roads are quiet compared to English coastal routes. Tenby is a beautifully preserved walled town with a great beach right in the centre. Barafundle Bay requires a short walk from the car park but is one of the finest beaches in Wales and rarely overcrowded. St Davids is the smallest city in Britain, which children find amusing, and the cathedral is genuinely impressive. The coastal scenery along this route is as dramatic as anywhere in the UK. Watch out for the narrow lanes — they are fun in a small car, less so in an SUV.

6. Devon and Cornwall

📍 Exeter to Land's End 🚗 ~120 miles 👶 Best for: all ages

The classic British family road trip. It is popular for good reason: the scenery is beautiful, there are excellent beaches at every turn, and the cream tea situation is world-class. Our tips for making it work: avoid the A30 in peak summer if you can — the A39 Atlantic Highway is slower but far more pleasant. Stop at Dartmoor on the way — a short walk to a tor with younger children is very manageable and the ponies are a guaranteed hit. South Cornwall (Fowey, Mevagissey, Porthcurno) is less crowded than the north coast and just as beautiful. Aim for Land's End at the start or end of a trip rather than mid-route — the final stretch from Penzance is lovely.

💡 The one thing all six routes have in common: long stretches in the car, often on roads where stopping is not convenient. The families who enjoy these trips most are the ones who have the back seat sorted before they leave. Tablets charged, snacks portioned, drinks in the holders, activities within reach. The CheekyBoo Car Seat Organiser does not make the Highlands less dramatic, but it does mean you're not scrambling for a snack bag on a single-track road in Sutherland.

CheekyBoo Car Seat Organiser for family road trips

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Jurassic Coast in Dorset is hard to beat for families with young children. The route is manageable (around 95 miles of coastline), the beaches are safe and sandy, and the fossil-hunting angle gives children a genuine activity to focus on. Lyme Regis and Swanage are both excellent family-friendly bases with good facilities.
For families with children under 8, three to four days is the sweet spot. Long enough to feel like a proper adventure, short enough that you are not dealing with overtired children by day four. For older children, a full week works well if you vary the pace — mix driving days with slower days exploring one area.
The essentials are: a car seat organiser to keep tablets, snacks and drinks within children's reach; a leakproof car bin; sun blinds for rear windows; a first aid kit; a portable charger; and an activity kit for each child. The CheekyBoo Car Seat Organiser is the one item most families say they could not go on a long journey without.