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10 Unusual Places to Visit in the UK with kids

From the infamous to the insane, we have picked some of the quirkiest and coolest attractions around. Fun is guaranteed with these 10 unusual places to visit in the UK! Which will be your favourite?

We’ve put together a list of some of the most fun, the most innovative and unusual days out to test brains and coordination, as well as organised mayhem that all children need now and again. Magnificent and awe-inspiring – parents won’t help but be inspired as well.

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Eden Project, Cornwall

Eden Project Cornwill

Kids of all ages can journey into landscaped worlds within futuristic domes and get immersed in botany on the way. One of the best bits is the Canopy Walkway, a raised platform high among the treetops in the rainforest biome. You can identify the various plants and trees, like cashew, rubber, banana and cocoa.

For young thrills, there’s England’s longest zip line, the SkyWire over the biomes, a rock climbing wall and lots of interactive gadgets at the Core Building. There are also various play areas around the site, including mazes made of willow, large instruments to play, a wooden ship to climb, a sandpit and a gigantic nutcracker to wind. You can walk down the winding paths or you can ride on the land train tractor. With an average visit lasting over four hours, be sure to visit the website to plan your day.

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Dumfries, Scotland

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Dumfries, Scotland

If history is not your thing, then that’s okay. You’re sure to be mesmerised by one of Scotland’s most unusual places – a 30-acre garden inspired by modern physics.

With five main areas, you will explore snail-shaped grass mounds, twisting DNA helix sculptures, and undulating waves of rhododendrons which make up the awe-inspiring open space of bridges, gardens sculptures and unique architecture! So let the kids free to explore the highs and lows of this beauty, and get some well-needed fresh air. Alice in Wonderland eat your heart out!

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The Slide at The Orbit, Stratford, London

The Slide at The Orbit, Stratford, London

If it’s extreme that you’re looking for to satisfy your thrill-seeking kids, The Slide is the place to be. Described as a ‘hair-raising London experience’, The Arcelor Mittal Orbit stands as the UK’s tallest public art display. Travel 80m to the top and then down the longest tunnel slide, at a whopping 178m long!

Be bowled over by panoramic views of London, while squeezing in a few landmarks like the Gherkin, Big Ben and The Shard. Footy fans can even spot some of London’s famous football grounds, including West Ham Utd. Take your time at the top – you’ll have a chance to learn more about the tower with interactive storytelling screens and, of course, don’t forget to flip the world upside down by taking a peek at one of the concave mirrors.

They’ve managed to pack a whole lot into a 40-second trip with loops circling the iconic structure 12 times, before whizzing you right back down to the ground on a 50m straight drop. Everyone over 1.3m tall and 8 years of age can ride the slide, and it’s certainly more thrilling than the stairs!

Forbidden CornerNorth Yorkshire

Forbidden Corner, North Yorkshire

For a spooky, offbeat and brain-teasing afternoon of discovery, a visit to The Forbidden Corner is a must. After popular demand, the site has been opened up to the public with four acres of all-out weird, and it’s one of our favourite unusual places to visit in the UK!

Little adventurers are encouraged to explore tunnels, mazes, a creepy mausoleum and hidden passages at a large garden where getting completely lost is all part of the fun. You will have a checklist of things to track down, but there’s not a map to be found. You will be served up a barrage of tricky challenges, including the occasional spray of water! Just keep your eyes peeled for the secret brass circles which reveal hidden markings and direct you on your mission.

Children will have a whale of time-solving problems, and grown-ups will fall in love with the garden’s wit and imagination.

BeWILDerwood, Norfolk

BeWILDerwood, Norfolk

Recommended for your under 12’s this gem has all the energy-burning fun of a soft play park, in 50 acres of whimsical woodland. There’s interactive story-telling and puppet shows for toddlers, as well as mazes, zip-lines and rope bridges for bigger kids.

Like an Ewok village for children, BeWILDerwood adapts to mature woodland and poses a natural and healthy alternative to indoor play parks. Glide along an enchanted river on one of their Bewilderboats, or get involved with a daily special event like fancy dress parties, puppet shows and storytelling. It’s all the brainchild of kids’ author Tom Blofeld and the characters from his books show up to make things even more fun.

This award-winning forest adventure encourages parents to play alongside their children. Just because you’re grown doesn’t mean you should miss out on the magic!

Warner Bros. Studio TourHertfordshire

Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Hertfordshire

For a Harry Potter fan, what could be more exciting than stepping into the Great Hall or boarding the Hogwarts Express? You can go behind the scenes for secrets about the special effects and animatronics, and browse a decade’s worth of costumes, sets and iconic props.

The day reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world. And now the tour is better than ever with an extension to Platform 9 3/4. Will you make it through the wall

Beware the gift shop as wands and butterbeer, marauders maps and treats from Honeydukes are on offer as souvenirs of your day.

The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland

The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland
Alnwick Castle is England’s second-largest inhabited castle. Home of the Percy’s, Earls, Dukes of Northumberland since 1309.

Just down the road from the castle, The Alnwick Garden is home to one of the world’s largest wooden treehouses, with walkways in the sky, rope bridges and a fantastic place to eat in the treetops, as well as the Woodland Walk.

The Garden also features the Grand Cascade, a tumbling mass of water with shooting jets, and the Rose and Ornamental Gardens. The Serpent Garden features interactive water sculptures, and there’s also the Bamboo Labyrinth and the Poison Garden, with dangerous plants and their gruesome stories.

Although The Garden has fantastic indoor and sheltered spaces in The Pavilion and Visitor Centre, it is predominantly an outdoor attraction so dress for the weather. It’s possible to get quite wet in the jets of the Grand Cascade, so a change of clothes is advised.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales

Yes, you read that right…Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is the name of a Welsh town on the isle of Anglesey. Have a go at pronouncing it – the kids will love this one!

Originally known as simply Llanfairpwll, the town got its extended and tongue-twisting name in the 1880s. A local merchant concocted the name to ensure the town would become a tourist attraction. Translated, the name means “St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the red cave”!

Greenwich Foot Tunnel, London

Greenwich Foot Tunnel, London

Did you know there’s a sort-of secret tunnel that runs under the River Thames? Take the family for a day trip to Greenwich, where there are lots to do, and make sure you leave time for a quick trip through the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.

The tunnel was originally opened in 1902 and runs 50 feet below the surface. You can enter it beside the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, descend via stairs or lifts, and then cross to Island Gardens on the Isle of Dogs. It has recently been refurbished and, as a public path, is free (and fun!) to walk through – and one of the unusual places on our list that’s easy to tick off.

Chester Rows, Chester

Chester Rows, Chester

The medieval town of Chester is famous for the unique two-tier design on the high street that looks like shops have been sandwiched together! The Rows comprise covered walkways and the second level of shopfronts, which date back to the 11th century.

Despite the fact that many of the shop units are now occupied by well-known retailers and chains, the whole shopping experience feels different. This is due, in part, to the fact that The Rows vary in appearance, height and style giving the whole city a very quirky look!

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