The family-friendly things to do in every UK national park including dinosaur trails and cave boating

England

Lake District

Not only is the Lake District the largest national park in the country, its popularity with poets and writers make it an exciting location with history.

The World of Beatrix Potter (tickets from £3.95) is perfect for fans of the books, as well to learn about the link between Beatrix and the park – the author left all of her Lake District land to the National Trust.

Outdoor activities can be found at Grizedale Forest, where there are rope courses and a sculpture trail, or at Brockhole (tickets from £2), which features mini golf and archery.

Otherwise, young artists will love the Derwent Pencil Museum (tickets from £3.95), which is home to a pencil measuring almost 8m long and has regular drawing activities.

Peak District

Within the first national park in the UK is Chatsworth House (tickets from £7), built in the 1600s.

It has a playground and farmyard to entertain even the youngest of visitor.

A tour of the underground mines can be found at Peak Cavern (tickets from £10.75), where you can go on a guided tour of the unusual rocks.

There is even a boat trip that takes you through the caves, 450m (1,476ft) underground.

While not quite within the park, Alton Towers and Gulliver’s Valley are just a stone’s throw from it too.

Dartmoor

Dartmoor Zoo (tickets from £9.85) is the perfect place for animal lovers with 33 acres of conservation areas.

It is also hard to miss the famous Dartmoor ponies roaming the landscape.

Parents can head to Lydford Gorge (tickets from £5), which is owned by the National Trust, for a wooded trail featuring a 30m (98ft) waterfall, as well as a cafe and kids’ play area.

Yorkshire Dales

Find the Forbidden Corner (tickets from £11) and kids can have fun in the walled garden, which has tunnels, statues and weird rooms to explore.

There are also lots of caves, including Gaping Gill (tickets £15) – home to a 98m (322ft) deep pothole – and White Scar Cave (tickets from £6.95), the longest show cave in the UK.

If the weather is good, then Kilnsey Park shouldn’t be missed, with pony rides and nature trails where you can spot local wildlife and bugs.

Exmoor National Park

Kids who love heights will love the Lynton Cliff Railway (tickets from £3.90), the highest and steepest water-powered railway in the world.

Otherwise grab your swimsuit and head to Wimbleball Lake, where you can learn to kayak, windsurf and boat.

Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park (tickets from £11.99) is a favourite of young kids with train rides, a fossil museum and life size animatronic dinosaurs.

Exmoor is also known for its ponies, so a visit to the Exmoor Pony Centre (free entry) shouldn’t be missed.

Northumberland National Park

History fans will find the Roman Army Museum (tickets from £6.85) interesting – it contains artefacts from Hadrian’s Wall.

Or for a scare, the Silvas Capitalis head at Kielder Water & Forest Park is a creepy art exhibit within the nature trail where children can climb and listen to the forest through.

North York Moors

The creepy story of Dracula and the tales of Victorian Science are found in North Moors

An 18 mile steam train through the North Yorkshire Railway (tickets from £3.30) is the best way to see the park.

Along the way, a stop at Whitby Abbey (tickets from £5.30), the castle that inspired Dracula.

Young fans will also enjoy the Dracula Experience (tickets from £2.50), which offers a unique tour with actors and special effects.

For more history, the Museum of Victorian Science (tours from £20) will thrill everyone with its interactive exhibits revealing the gadgets of the past, before ending with tea and cake.

The Broads National Park

The Broads is one of the smallest national parks

The Broads is the smallest national park in the UK.

Head to BeWILDerwood (tickets from £14.95), a tree-house adventure park, or Pettiits Animal Adventure Park (tickets from £14.45), which features Jurassic crazy golf, driving schools and rides.

Otherwise, just enjoy watching the relaxing seals at Horsey Gap beach.

South Downs National Park

With more than 170 exotic animals, Marwell Zoo (tickets from £15.29) is on the borders of the South Downs, while the other end has Drusillas Park (tickets from £17.50), a smaller zoo with park.

Fancy feeding the penguins? Birdworld (tickets from £6.95) offers just that, and there’s a safari train to take you across the 26 acres of parkland.

Science lovers can head to the Winchester Planetarium (tickets from £6.60) to spend the day.

New Forest National Park

The New Forest is perfect for kids who love animals

One of the most popular things to do in the New Forest is Peppa Pig World (tickets from £30.50) with rides and animal feeding.

For more animal fun, the New Forest Wildlife Park (tickets from £8.50) allows kids to watch wolves, lynxes and otters play with keeper shows.

There could soon be even more national parks, with Michael Gove saying the “time was right” to look at protecting more lands.

To celebrate 70 years of national parks, the UK National Parks and Campaign for National Parks launched a competition to find the best pictures of the country.

More than 1,500 pictures were sent in of the breathtaking landscape.

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