8 Things To Do With The Kids In Buckinghamshire
Looking for things to do with the kids in Buckinghamshire? Whether you’re visiting the area or trying to find new local ideas to fill the summer holidays, you’ve come to the right place. This county is full of popular tourist attractions, many of which are fantastic for family days out.
There’s something for everyone here, whether your kids are into energetic outdoor activities or learning about intriguing stories from the past – and of course we’ve also included a fair few rainy-day ideas in our list of the best family-friendly days out in Buckinghamshire.
If you’d like to extend the adventure, a camping break is another great option for a family activity. It’s a lovely way to experience more of the area’s scenery if you’re visiting, but you don’t have to travel far or spend a lot of money to have a good time – even a night or two in a field a few miles from home can be packed with exciting activities like campfire building and outdoor games. Take a look at our ideas for planning a family camping trip, then browse the full range of Buckinghamshire family-friendly campsites below.
See all Buckinghamshire family campsites
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
Set around a recreated Victorian station in 25 acres of Buckinghamshire countryside, the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre has an impressive collection of vintage steam and diesel trains from the 19th century onwards, and it’s a must for any kids (or indeed adults) who love trains or transport. Younger kids can ride on the miniature railway (a kilometre-long wooded track with a tunnel) and watch model trains running around a large outdoor circuit while the more technically minded take a look inside the restoration shed, where engineers work to renovate new exhibits.
On Sundays, visitors can ride on one of the steam trains, which follow half a mile of track, and true enthusiasts can book a steam train driver experience to learn how to fire and drive the engines. There’s also a visitor centre with a café and a gift shop where you can pick up a memento of your visit. The museum has a limited opening schedule, so check online before you go.
Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre
If your kids are fans of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda or The BFG, then a visit to this museum in the village where Roald Dahl lived for 36 years is a very good bet. The Roald Dahl Museum is home to three galleries that display draft manuscripts, memorabilia, character models and hands-on exhibits, as well as telling the story of the author’s life through a comprehensive archive of photos, manuscripts and letters. Highlights include Dahl’s writing hut, where he penned many of his best-known tales.
An added bonus for parents is that the museum is (whisper it) educational too, aiming to encourage excitement about reading and writing through regular workshops, storytelling sessions, kids’ programmes and games. The shop stocks gifts, including soft toys, puppets and prints by artist Quentin Blake plus, of course, plenty of books…
Chiltern Open Air Museum
For an interactive trip back to the past, take a visit to the Chiltern Open Air Museum’s collection of historic buildings, collected and relocated from all around Buckinghamshire. It includes a working Victorian farm with animals and historic agricultural equipment, a Tudor barn and a World War I Nissen hut, not to mention a replica Iron-Age roundhouse that was a filming site for TV’s Horrible Histories.
Kids can explore inside many of the buildings, handle historic artefacts, follow an I-spy trail around the site and dress up for selfies in RAF costumes and Victorian hats. The museum is open from Friday to Monday from March to October, and daily during the Buckinghamshire school holidays.
Cliveden House and Gardens
With 375 acres of formal gardens and riverside woodland surrounding an ornate 17th-century Italianate palace, the National Trust’s Cliveden estate is a top spot for a family outdoor day. The gardens are dotted with colourful flower beds, statues, topiary hedges and a maze, and the octagonal 18th-century chapel in the grounds has mosaics, stained-glass windows and fine views of the Thames. As an added bonus, you can try boating on the river, with tours on electric boats, as well as rowing boats, canoes and pedal boats that you can pilot yourself. For younger kids, look out for the woodland play trail, the maze and the play dens.
Although the house (once renowned for its lavish parties and celebrity guests) is now a luxury hotel, you can get a good look at the exterior from the Duke’s Statue viewpoint, or take a tour on selected dates throughout the year. Dogs are welcome in many areas of the estate and can run free in the woods, but please make sure they are kept on a short lead elsewhere.
Coombe Hill
There are lots of walks in the Chiltern Hills for energetic families to try, but if you’re only going to do one, make it Coombe Hill, the highest point in the range. The National Trust has several handy downloadable maps of the area, detailing everything from a gentle dog-friendly 40-minute circular stroll to longer trails through the surrounding woodlands. Marked by a memorial to the victims of the Boer War, the hilltop itself has sweeping views of Aylesbury Vale and the Prime Minister’s country retreat at Chequers – and getting up there is likely to give you all a great sense of achievement.
The whole area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, so while you’re walking you’ll be able to look out for prehistoric earthworks, wildflowers and colourful butterflies.
For more ideas of places to stretch your legs nearby, take a look at our list of 7 walks in Buckinghamshire.
Odds Farm Park
If your kids are crazy about animals, Odds Farm Park should have plenty to keep them busy. The paddocks are home to all sorts of rare-breed animals, and the special animal barn has opportunities to hand-feed rabbits, goats, donkeys and baby animals. And all that’s before they get their hands on the mini Land Rovers or pedal-powered go-karts and tractors…
More energy to burn? There’s also an adventure playground, a large water play area, and (from April to October) tractor and trailer rides around the site. If you need to recharge or give the kids a treat, make use of the picnic tables or visit the coffee bar and the on-site ice cream parlour.
Looking for more places to let the kids play outside? Try these parks In Buckinghamshire.
Waddesdon Manor
The 19th-century French Renaissance-style Waddesdon Manor, with lavish interiors reminiscent of Versailles, is owned by the Rothschild family. It’s filled with period furniture, rare porcelain, 18th-century French portraits and landscapes from the Dutch Golden Age. It’s all rather fabulous – but children might be more interested in the collection of weapons and armour, no less than 56 clocks and a famous mechanical elephant.
There’s plenty to explore around the grounds, too – look out for the elegant aviary, home to peacock pheasants and mynah birds, as well as the woodland playground, which has a zip wire, a bird’s-nest swing and space to build a den or hunt for bugs. A handy leaflet lays out the walks and public rights of way on the estate, as well as pointing out the café and takeaway points. Dogs on leads are welcome in most areas.
Bekonscot Model Village
A long-standing family favourite, Bekonscot Model Village opened in 1929 and claims to be the oldest model village in the world. Set in landscaped gardens, it faithfully preserves bygone England in miniature and has more than 200 detailed models, from coal mines and castles to a zoo, a lighthouse and a working water mill. A collection of moving vehicles brings the scenes to life, including cable cars and a vast model railway with 10 trains. If the kids get tired, you can also take them for a whistle-stop ride around the site on its miniature railway.
The beauty here is in the detail – adults and kids alike should have fun spotting shops with unusual names, looking out for an escaped convict and finding an animated figure cleaning the windows of her house. More than 15 million visitors in the village’s lifetime – including the late Queen Elizabeth II and her children – can’t be wrong…
Where to stay in Buckinghamshire
Planning a family holiday in Buckinghamshire? Pitchup’s range of outdoor accommodation includes everything from simple, cheap farm campsites to smart glamping options. Click the button below to see all the options and find one that suits your style.
Browse all family-friendly Buckinghamshire campsites