Days Out

Big days out. Little discoveries. Plenty to smile about.

Right, where are we off to? A big ride, a wander by the sea, somewhere brilliant for lunch — there is plenty to build a UK day out around. Start with the bit everyone is excited about, then leave room for the little discoveries. Blackpool, Skegness and Great Yarmouth are good places to start browsing, while the attraction, restaurant and hotel guides help you put the stops together. Pick a town, open a guide and see what catches your eye. That is the fun bit.

Pick a plan that fits the gang

Think about the mix of people first. A family with little ones needs short journeys, toilets on tap and something with a play area. A group of mates might want arcades, a pub lunch and a walk along a pier. A couple's day could be a historic town, a gallery and a nice meal. Then look at the season. Summer suits beaches, parks and open-air attractions; winter is brilliant for museums, aquariums, bowling and cosy seaside towns where you'll have the prom to yourself.

Budget is easy to forget until you're at the till. Plenty of the best UK days cost next to nothing: a coastal walk, a free museum, a picnic in a country park. Mix one paid attraction with a couple of free ones and the day feels big without the bank balance taking a hit.

Build your day in three parts

• The main event – the thing everyone's excited about, booked ahead if needed.
• The food stop – a café, chippy or pub you've already scoped out, so nobody gets hangry.
• The back-up – an indoor option nearby in case the weather turns.

Handy tips before you set off

• Check the travel – roadworks, rail engineering and match days can add an hour to a journey.
• Know your parking – seaside towns fill fast on sunny weekends, and many car parks now use apps.
• Bring layers and a brolly – British weather can do all four seasons before lunch.
• Charge your phone – tickets, maps and parking often live on it.
• Look up access info – step-free routes, Changing Places toilets and quiet hours are often listed on venue websites.
• Leave room for wandering – the best moments are often the ones you didn't plan.

Some of the UK's most-loved day-out destinations, from Blackpool and York to the Lake District and the Cornish coast, are easy to build a full day around. Use the cards above to find your main event, then head to the town pages to fill in the food stops and back-up plans.

You do not have to fill every minute

Start with the thing you are most looking forward to. Give that enough time, then add a food stop and another place nearby if it makes sense. A good day out should feel like a day off, not a race between car parks.

If you have picked a town, open its destination guide and see the choices together. If you have picked an activity, use the venue guide as the starting point instead. Keep the journey, the weather and the people coming with you in mind. Browse seaside trips, attractions and places to stay, then decide which stops deserve a place in your day.