The UK’s best family staycation destination has been crowned for 2025

We are two days away from the shortest day of the year (December 21). This is bad because it is supremely depressing for it to be pitch black at 4pm, but good because it means we’re almost on the ascent back to summer. That means we’re almost on our way back to ice cream melting in hands, slight sunburn on your back, and trips to the beach.

Sure, beaches in Spain and France have warmer water and better weather, but there’s something endearing about the British seaside. Sure, sometimes it’s disappointing, but if you know where on the coast to go, you can end up with a surprisingly good holiday for half the price of a trip abroad, especially if you’re going with kids who won’t even notice the difference.

To help you out in your 2025 holiday planning, Go Compare has created a list of the very best family friendly staycation destinations in the UK. The company looked at three main things, ‘accommodation, attractions, and hotel costs during term time and school holidays,’ then gave each location a score, for each factor, out of 10. After that, Go Compare combined the scores so that every place had a single, individual score out of 10, as well as a complete, ordered list of the best (and worst) places to go with kids in the UK.

Topping Go Compare’s ranking was Kent, which received a near-perfect score of 9.6. Go Compare said that it found over 600 family-friendly places to stay, and just under 500 attractions which were suitable for children. Kent is also perfect for a mix of beachy vibes and urban areas, both of which are easily accessible and well serviced, depending on the sort of trip you want to have.

A representative for the company pointed out that the win ‘is surprising as it’s not often the first place that comes to mind when we think about holidaying in the UK. Destinations like Cornwall or the Lake District tend to be considered more.

‘Despite this, Kent has quietly positioned itself as a fantastic choice for families, offering a range of accommodation and attraction options while remaining affordable.’

Prices in Kent only went up by 6 percent during the school holidays, which, while it sounds like a lot, is actually a relatively low margin. Compare this to the 18 percent hike that Norfolk, which came in second, sees, and it starts to feel pretty reasonable.

Norfolk’s score was 9.2, with more places to stay but slightly fewer things to do. It does have loads of beaches and wildlife sanctuaries, so it is ideal for the more adventurous little ones, or for dragging teenagers outside and forcing them to enjoy nature for a while.

Third was Suffolk, neighbouring Norfolk, with a score of 8.8. According to Go Compare, it is ‘ideal for families looking for quieter, countryside stays with plenty of options for children,’ and offers a variety of good entertainment and museums which are perfect for young curious minds.

Right at the bottom of the chart was Newport in Wales, which has ‘a limited selection’ of accommodation and stuff to do, as well as a 47% rise in prices during holidays, which is not ideal for families on a budget. In general, coastal and countryside spots did better, with cities generally faring worse, with the exception of London which received a respectable 8.5.

Planning your 2025 staycations

If you’re currently on the hunt for a perfect 2025 family getaway. Here’s our favourite family friendly holiday digs. But you deserve to have fun too – here’s some tree houses you can rent out for something a little different. We’ve also got guides to the country’s cosiest cabins, and the coolest castles you can stay overnight in.

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