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Whitemead Forest Park
Where: Near Wiltshire
About: Looking for a family getaway within easy reach of Swindon? Nestled in the heart of the Forest of Dean, Whitemead Forest Park is around an hour's drive away and offers the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Stay in a camping pitch, glamping pod, woodland lodge or cabin, then enjoy fantastic on-site facilities including an indoor swimming pool, adventure golf, family activities, woodland walks and seasonal entertainment. It's an ideal destination for a fun-filled family break or a memorable summer escape.
Address: Whitemead Forest Park, Parkend, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 4LA
Telephone: 03301 230374
Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Where: Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
About: Westonbirt, The National Arboretum is a great family day trip destination with plenty of activities!
Enjoy a leisurely stroll around their forest trails, go wild in their play ares and end the day with a stop at their cafe! If you're looking for an entertaining event, then Fortest Live, hosted at Westonbirt, is a fabulous live music event!
Forest Live hosts an impressive range of popular musicians throughout the year, view their upcoming events, here.
Address: Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS
Telephone: 0300 067 4890
Lotmead Farm PYO & Farm Park
Distance from Swindon: Located in Swindon
Lotmead is a family friendly activity farm just outside Swindon well known for its fabulous ‘pick your own’ berries through the summer, as well as an animal enclosure and exciting play area. Open Easter - Halloween, There's a small charge to enter the farm Park and play area (book online) But It is free to enter the PYO area, just pay for what you pick. From October, families can pick their own pumpkins in a dedicated area of the farm, and the best Christmas trees in town are available from Late November!
Location: Lotmead Farm, Swindon SN4 0SN
Price: Various
Dogs: Dogs are welcomed and must wear a lead throughout their visit.
Millets Farm
Distance from Swindon: (40 minutes, approx. 23 miles north east of Swindon)
Whatever age you are, Millets Farm is a brilliant all-round fun family day out in Oxfordshire offering a huge range of activities including:
- Play Barn/Play Area – Free entry
- Maize Maze - £7.50 per person
- Animal Walkway – Free entry
- Falconry Centre - £6.95 for adults, £3.95 for children
- Pick Your Own - £2 per person (redeemable against any fruit purchased)
- Phoebe Woods – Free entry
Location: Millets Farm Centre, Kingston Rd, Abingdon OX13 5HB
Getting there: Parking is free – follow SATNAV to OX13 5HB. Regular X15 Stagecoach buses run from Abingdon and Witney to Millets Farm daily.
Opening Times: 9am to 5:30pm (Winter), 9am to 6pm (Summer).
Accessibility: Millets Farm is very wheelchair and pushchair friendly with disabled parking and wheelchairs on site. There are also step-free entrances into the farm shop, restaurants, falconry centre, garden centre and pick your own fields. However please be aware of uneven ground and stones.
Dogs: Welcome on site however unfortunately not permitted in the restaurants, farm shop, pick your own, falconry and maize maze.
Top tip: Check out the farm shop for lots of homemade, fresh produce – the best local meats, tasty fresh fish, superb cheeses, home baked bread, handmade cakes and much more!
Cotswold Wildlife Park
Distance from Swindon: (35 minutes, approx. 18 miles north of Swindon)
Cotswold Wildlife Park is situated 2 miles south of Burford in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire and is a truly unique and exciting experience for the whole family. Come along and visit the huge range of animals including…
- Birds – Penguins, Flamingos, Owls, Birds of Prey
- Mammals – Giraffes, Camels, Zebras, Lions, Rhinos
- Primates & Small Mammals – Lemurs, Otters, Bats, Meerkats, Sloths
- Reptiles & Amphibians – Giant Tortoise, Crocodiles, Snakes, Lizards, Iguanas
Location: Cotswold Wildlife Park, Bradwell Grove, Burford OX18 4JP
Getting there: Parking is free – follow SATNAV to OX18 4JJ. The park is difficult to access via public transport - the nearest bus stop is 2 miles away on Burford High Street, so you would need to get a taxi from there to the Park.
Opening Times: April to October 10am – 6pm (Last admission 4pm), November to March 10am – dusk or 5pm (Last admission 3pm). Please allow yourself 4 hours to explore the park.
Price: £16 for adults (£14 online), £10.50 for children (£9.50 online)
Accessibility: There is easy wheelchair and pushchair access to all enclosures and windows to enclosures are all viewable from wheelchairs. There are also ramps to access the giraffe house and wolves’ enclosures.
Dogs: Dogs are welcome into the park provided they are kept on a lead at all times and any mess is cleaned up after. Dogs are not permitted in the bat or reptile houses as well as areas with free roaming animals.
Top Tip: Don’t miss the opportunity to watch the penguins being fed at 3pm daily or 11am Monday – Friday and meet the giraffes at 12pm daily!
Bowood House and Gardens
Distance from Swindon: 40 minutes, approx. 20 miles south west of Swindon
Bowood House and Gardens have a rich and fascinating history and is set within 100 acres of beautifully landscaped parkland by Capability Brown – a famous landscape gardener in the 18th century. Family attractions include…
- Adventure Playground
- Life-size Pirate Ship
- Tractor Ted Little Farm
- Soft Play
- Walled Gardens
- Italian Inspired Terrace Garden
- 100 acres of land to explore!
Location: Bowood House and Gardens, Old Rd, Derry Hill, Calne SN11 0LZ
Getting there: Free parking is available opposite the Treehouse Café and main Admission point – use postcode SN11 9PG. Routes 33 and X33 (Chippenham to Devizes) go through Derry Hill village. Route 55 stops on the A4 close to the turning into Derry Hill village. It is approximately 1½ miles from the entrance gate to Admissions for the House and Gardens.
Opening Times: April – November, 11am – 5:45pm
Price: Adults £13, Children £10
Accessibility: Bowood House (Ground floor) and Gardens is very accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs, however more remote areas of the park can be limited as there are some paths with fairly steep gradients. Wheelchairs can also be borrowed (subject to availability).
Dogs: Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted on site (with the exception of service dogs).
Top Tip: Take the little ones along to meet the friendly farm animals including lambs, chicks, piglets and guinea pigs at Tractor Ted Little Farm!
Cotswold Farm Park
Distance from Swindon: 55 minutes, approx. 35 miles north of Swindon
Cotswold Farm Park is situated in the heart of the Cotswolds, just a few miles from Guiting Power. The Farm Park was set up by Joe Henson in 1971 to help protect some of the rare breeds of farm animal and is now run by his son and business partner. Fun activities on offer include…
- Bottle feeding farm animals
- Farm Safari
- Adventure Barn – Play Areas
- Discovery Barn – for making friends with the farm’s smaller residents
- The Maze
- Wildlife Walks
Location: Cotswold Farm Park, Guiting Power, Cheltenham GL54 5FL
Getting there: Parking is free. For SATNAV, use postcode GL54 5UG and then follow brown tourist signs when on the approach to the Farm Park. Due to the rural location, public transport is somewhat difficult as the nearest train stations/bus routes are in Bourton on the Water and Morton in the Marsh.
Opening Times: 10:30am – 5pm Daily
Price: From £9 for adults, £8.50 for children
Accessibility: The indoor barns, visitor centre and cafe are all accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. However, please be aware of uneven paths leading to the adventure play areas and the ‘Rare Breeds Through History’ walkway.
Dogs: Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted in the farm park, however they are welcome in the visitor centre, The Ox Shed (Shop, Cafe and Bar) and on the wildlife walk.
Top Tip: Visit the Ox Shed for a delicious slice of cake or make a weekend of your visit by staying overnight in the camping or caravan site on the farm!
Sudeley Castle
Distance from Swindon: 1 hour, approx. 35 miles north of Swindon
Sudeley Castle is a historic fortress which scopes the Cotswolds, sitting on the edge of the pretty town of Winchcombe. With 1,000 years of history behind it, this hidden gem is phenomenal and has plenty to offer for a fun family day out. Experience all of the below…
- 10 magnificent gardens to explore
- A range of exhibitions in the castle
- Spot the rare and endangered pheasants in the castle grounds
- Let off steam on the huge adventure playground
Location: Sudeley Castle & Gardens, Winchcombe GL54 5JD
Getting there: Free parking on site – please use postcode GL54 5LP when following SATNAV. A bus service operates between Winchcombe and Cheltenham or Broadway and then it’s just a 10-minute walk to the castle from the town centre.
Opening Times: March to Christmas, 10am – 5pm
Price: Adults £16.75, Children £7.75. *Save 10% by booking online*
Accessibility: There are designated disabled parking spaces at Sudeley Castle and two manual wheelchairs are available at the Visitor Centre (pre-booking essential). The circular route around the gardens is wheelchair and pushchair accessible, however some paths further afield are grassy and gravelly. The Visitor Centre and the Castle Kitchen Pantry café are very accessible.
Dogs: Unfortunately, only service dogs are permitted in the castle and gardens.
Top Tip: We recommend visiting during the summer months and have a good whiff of the variety of roses in the Queen’s Garden – 80 to be exact!
Chippenham
Chippenham Museum
Distance from Swindon: 30 minutes, approx. 23 miles west of Swindon
Chippenham Museum is a welcoming heritage attraction set inside a historic townhouse in the heart of Chippenham. Visitors can explore local history displays, exhibitions, and interactive features that bring the town’s stories to life. It’s a great option for families looking for a relaxed and educational day out within easy reach of Swindon. The museum also hosts seasonal trails, creative workshops, and family-friendly activities throughout the year.
Location: 9-10 Market Place, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3HF
Getting there: Nearby public parking is available in Chippenham town centre
Opening Times: Monday to Saturday: 10am - 4pm
Hungerford
Cobbs Play Barn & Farm Shop
Distance from Swindon: (30 minutes, approx.24 miles east of Swindon)
Cobbs Play Barn is an engaging, fun and educational playground with two impressive levels for your little ones to explore and discover.
Their bespoke wooden indoor Play Barn has all the fun and excitement of an outdoor play area and it allows you to have fun even when the weather isn't playing ball.
Alongside their play barn which keeps the little ones entertained they also have a delicious farm shop. Cobbs Farm Shop have been offering an abundance of original artisanal products from local producers.
They are not only a locally sourced farm shop and a cool play barn but also a café, butchery, delicatessen, fishmonger, florist and a vineyard.
Location: Located within Cobbs Farm Shop, Bath Road, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 0SP
Getting there: Parking is free
Opening Times: Monday to Friday: 9am – 6pm, Saturday: 9am - 5pm & Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Accessibility: It's wheelchair and pushchair friendly with disabled parking.
Swindon
Longleat Safari Park
Distance from Swindon: 1 hr 12 min (43.6 mi) via M4 and A350
Embarking on a family adventure to Longleat Safari Park guarantees an enriching and exhilarating experience for all.
Famed as the pioneer of Drive Through Safari Parks outside of Africa, Longleat beckons you to roll up the windows and safeguard those sandwiches, for you're about to embark on an expedition wilder, furrier, and more growl-worthy than your wildest dreams. Tally the cheetah's spots, exchange greetings with wolves, and enjoy a close encounter with a gentle giraffe. Just be cautious of the ever-curious monkeys along the way!
Location: Longleat Safari Park, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 7NW
Getting there: Parking is free
Opening Times: View their opening times here.
Accessibility: They provide a queue assist scheme which helps those who have difficulty queuing make the most of their day with Longleat.
BETTER LEISURE CENTRES
Distance from Swindon: Various locations within 10–30 minutes
About: Looking for a fun-filled family day out? Better Leisure Centres across Wiltshire offer something for everyone, from swimming pools and soft play to sports halls, fitness facilities and holiday activities. Whether you're visiting with toddlers, older children or teenagers, there's plenty to keep the whole family entertained throughout the year.
TGt Recommends: Family swimming sessions, soft play and holiday activities – perfect for keeping the kids active whatever the weather.
Address: Various Better Leisure Centres across Wiltshire, including Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge, Devizes, Salisbury, Calne, Marlborough and Malmesbury.