Beaming sun or drizzling rain? Either way Devon with kids is easier than you think and definitely isn’t short of days out. If you’ve exhausted your time at home (or are exhausted from entertaining), here’s our guide to Devon family days out and the activities we love most.

North Devon family days out

North Devon seaside resorts offer bucketfuls of Victorian history as well as sand and seashells, but if you need to venture further afield these North Devon attractions won’t disappoint.

Ilfracombe Aquarium

It won’t fill a day, maybe just an hour, but it’s a valiant effort on the town’s part to delve into the local sea life. And it provides welcome respite when the rain comes down on a day trip to Ilfracombe. 

Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park

The unlikely combination of modern day wildlife and prehistoric creatures provides a full day’s entertainment from swimming with sea lions to fossil hunting amidst animatronic dinosaurs.

Exmoor Zoo

Big cats in Barnstaple and more. This zoo evolves its enclosures and enhances its interactive sessions to keep things interesting for inhabitants and visitors alike.

Quince Honey Farm

From the art of beekeeping to holding bee frames, welcome to the world’s largest honey bee exhibition. There’s plenty to taste and takeaway, and if it pours down head to the ‘hive’ to burn off excess energy.

Watermouth Castle & Theme Park

An unusual combo that works! Wend around the Victorian castle exhibitions, find your way out of the dungeon labyrinth into a theme park set in a rural valley near Ilfracombe. Slides, water rides and cannon balling make up for the lack of rockin’ rollercoasters.

Milky Way Adventure Park

A theme park near Bideford for the young’uns, over-13s stay away. With dedicated toddler zones as well as rollercoaster rides, science and stargazing touches as well as falconry, you’ll be torn where to start.

The Big Sheep

Obviously, it started with sheep and they’re still a focal point of the park with sheep racing and lamb feeding. But the rollercoaster and twisting chair ride will appease the thrill-seekers too.

South Devon family days out

South Devon’s rugged coastline and sailing heritage makes for a diverse landscape and choice of resorts from the English Riviera to the marine city of Plymouth. Wherever you base yourselves, these South Devon attractions are barely more than hour away.

Diggerland

As it says on the tin, there are diggers. Diggers galore here in Cullompton. What’s more the kids are in charge! Jump aboard, digging activities abound alongside other fascinating activities all on a machinery theme.

Axe Valley Wildlife Park

An intimate farm setting compared to a zoo allows kids of all sizes to get up close with the animal inhabitants. Combine feeding and handling with a variety of play areas across the farm.

Crealy Family Theme Park

With 60 rides to choose from, thrillseekers will be in heaven getting soaked or squealy! Beyond the rides there are meerkats and creepy crawlies to intrigue, and soft play to exhaust.

Bicton Park Gardens

Seeking a spot of tranquility in the fresh air? You’ll love the beautifully manicured grounds and vast open spaces of these 18th century gardens in Budleigh Salterton. History doesn’t have to boring, especially when there’s a mini train ride, maze and nature trail to make it real.

Powderham Castle

A characterful tour of the castle will set imaginations on fire way more than Mike the Knight ever will. Then off to the Play Fort for some suspension bridge activities or wend your way through the deer safari park.

Shaldon Zoo

Beautiful Shaldon, renowned for its beach huts, also has a remarkable zoo. Small yet perfectly focused on protecting breeds at risk of extinction. Got a zoologist in your midst, check out their ‘be a keeper for a day’ experiences.

Kents Cavern

Step back to the Stone Age and delve in caves more than 500,000 years old. Torquay brings you the best place in the UK to understand human life way back when and all the activities relate to prehistory in fun and interactive fashion.

Babbacombe Model Village

More than just a place for your imagination, nowadays there’s a 4D cinema to excite the mind too. As family days out go, this is a bit of a childhood throwback that’s caught up with modern times. Let’s go be a giant for a day!

Buckfastleigh Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary

Immerse yourself in the exotic world of butterflies – one might even land on you while you’re looking for terrapins. Can you spot the three different types of otter that make it home here too?

National Marine Aquarium

Soak up hours on a dreary day with fascinating exhibitions dotted around the most fabulous of tanks. Look above, below and around you, and watch out for the shark! Warning: it’s busy and there’s no cover if you’re queuing outside, so get to Plymouth early on rainy days.

 

You’ll never be short of Devon days out. Now all you need to do is book your Devon holiday home.