Best UK city breaks for families: short breaks for kids of all ages

One of the oldest cities in the UK, York has a long history dating back to its Roman roots. From walking the Roman Walls to visiting the Jorvik Viking centre to spotting the bell towers of the gothic cathedral, York Minster, there’s plenty of educational fun to be had while exploring the city's cobbled streets.

Children can also expect to find chocolate treats, classic cakes and a sprinkling of Harry Potter in York thanks to The Shambles, a wonky street lined with 14th-century buildings that closely resembles Diagon Alley.

For more wizarding fun, check out Hole in the Wand, an incredibly entertaining crazy golf course built around bubbling cauldrons and magical portals. If you prove your powers as a wizard, each player earns their own magic potion gift to take home.

A city that needs no introduction, our beloved capital is an obvious choice for a family city break. It may have a reputation as an expensive destination but it's packed to the rafters with free attractions that are brilliant for families. From the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, to the Tate Modern and the National Gallery, it's easy to get a family-sized culture fix.

Embrace your inner tourist and spot sights like Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Tower Bridge and Big Ben and explore central London's Royal Parks, home to boating lakes, playgrounds and family-friendly cafes.

A trip to London is certainly fast-paced and busy but can offer an educational and entertaining weekend away with your kids.

On England's south coast and just over an hour and a half from London by train, Portsmouth offers a great mix of city and seaside fun. Home to the British Royal Navy, Portsmouth is also a great place to explore many of the Navy’s historic ships that children may have learned about at school.

With pebble-filled beaches, splash parks, skate parks and amusement arcades, there's plenty to keep kids busy and if you want to explore further afield, there are regular ferries that sail to the Isle of Wight in under an hour.

Don't miss a trip to Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard to see Henry VIII’s ship The Mary Rose, Nelson’s legendary warship HMS Victory and the largest Royal Navy ship HMS Warrior 1860. The Spinnaker Tower offers panoramic views from the 170-metre-high viewing platform and is next to Gunwharf Quays for outlet shopping and a range of restaurants. Fort Nelson is free to visit and kids will love running around the Victorian fortifications, hidden tunnels and giant canons.

A great UK city break option, especially for those visiting with older children or teens, Manchester has plenty to offer families, from fantastic museums and art galleries, to excellent shopping and of course, two iconic football stadiums - Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium.

While best known as the city of football, don’t let that put you off if you’re not a fan. Manchester is a diverse city packed full of culture and history, so whether you’re checking out a show at The Lowry or taking a whistle-stop tour on Manchester’s sightseeing bus, you’re sure to find something to appeal to all ages.

The Science and Industry Museum (known locally as MOSI) is incredibly interactive. Dedicated to ideas that changed the world, it's located on the site of the UK’s oldest railway station and is packed full of fascinating science and technology discoveries. Head to Salford Quays for family-friendly entertainment and outlet shopping. For a bit of green space, check out Heaton Park with its cafe, tramway, playgrounds and petting zoo.

A vibrant city packed full of activities, independent shops and award-winning attractions, Bristol makes a great family-friendly break with entertainment for all ages. It's quite hilly, so you may want to pack a lightweight stroller, but you can also take the Waterbus for a unique way to travel from the train station to the city centre.

The S.S Great Britain is the city's number one attraction with two interactive museums and the chance to climb rigging onboard the fully restored Victorian ship, the world’s first great ocean liner. And it's well worth checking out Aerospace Bristol where families can learn about aviation history from the very first powered flights through to the modern day, before stepping on board the star attraction - the last Concorde ever to fly. Don't miss a trip to the Clifton Suspension Bridge for spectacular views of the Avon Gorge and to check out Slidey Rock, a natural rock slide loved by generations of kids.

Bristol is also the birthplace of Banksy so you can expect to spot a few of his designs dotted around the city.

Regularly topping the Rough Guides polls for being the UK’s friendliest city, Glasgow is also Scotland's largest. You can expect stunning architecture, gorgeous parks, a thriving street art scene as well as an impressive collection of museums, attractions and galleries suitable for all ages.

You’ll also find excellent shops, restaurants and indoor attractions in case the unpredictable Scottish weather doesn’t play fair.

The Glasgow Science Centre is a fun, interactive attraction that can easily entertain the family for the whole day. One of Glasgow’s largest venues, kids will love exploring the science museum, the IMAX cinema and the planetarium with its revolving tower.

If you’re visiting Glasgow with older kids (particularly those who love a good Insta backdrop) the Mural Trail is a fun way to explore the city on a dry day. Commissioned by local artists, these stunning murals decorate the sides of buildings and walls and are a photographer’s dream!

The Welsh capital and largest city in Wales, Cardiff offers a brilliant mix of old and new, from the historic Cardiff Castle to the revamped Cardiff Bay.

You'll find everything from quirky markets, Victorian shopping centres and vibrant inner city eateries, and with a wide range of beaches nearby, Cardiff offers plenty of outdoor fun too.

Travelling with adrenaline junkies? Cardiff International White Water (CIWW) offers a wide range of family-friendly activities both on and off the water including white water rafting, water tubing and the high ropes adventure Air Trail.

Barry Island, made famous thanks to Gavin and Stacey, is worth a visit for some traditional seaside fun. You'll find amusement arcades, a beautiful golden sandy beach and some independent shops and restaurants.

The largest city in Somerset, Bath is most commonly known for the hot spring Roman Baths and stunning 18th-century architecture and it makes a great destination for a UK family city break.

Small enough to explore on foot, there's a wide range of family-friendly attractions and activities all within a short distance. From marvellous museums that can bring history to life to fun outdoor activities in Bath’s parks and green spaces, it's a great choice for visitors of all ages.

The Roman Baths are suitable to visit with children (note that the on-site spa is for adults only). With children’s audio guides and costumed Roman characters to help bring the history of the Baths to life, kids will love learning about 2,000+ years of history in a fun and immersive way.

A short stroll from the city centre, Royal Victoria Park is a 57-acre green space home to botanic gardens, an 18-hole miniature golf course and an adventure playground with a zip wire.

The Scottish capital is a popular choice for a UK city break thanks to its beautiful architecture, sprawling parks, access to beaches and of course, the world's largest performance arts event, the Edinburgh Festival.

In addition to the narrow streets of the Medieval Old Town and the stunning Edinburgh Castle, the city has some great free attractions for families, from museums and galleries to street performers spanning the Royal Mile.

Set over five floors and with over 100 interactive, hands-on exhibits, Camera Obscura is filled with mind-boggling illusions and tricks. Kids will love the vortex tunnel, shrinking room and mirror maze, before checking out the impressive 360-degree views from the Rooftop Terrace. If your kids are obsessed with dinosaurs, you'll want to pay a visit to National Museum of Scotland, which is filled with hands-on exhibitions.

Birthplace of the Beatles, Eurovision Song Contest host city and home to one of the largest art galleries outside London, Liverpool has a buzzing cultural scene. And there's plenty to entertain visitors of all ages, including the Museum of Liverpool, the Maritime museum and the Central Library.

Kids will love the free-to-enter World Museum with its dinosaur zone, bug house and aquarium, and music fans shouldn't miss a trip to the British Music Experience which takes visitors on a journey through British pop from 1945 to the present day. See some of Freddie Mercury's iconic outfits and Noel Gallagher’s world-famous guitar, you'll even get the chance to play a wide range of instruments in the interactive studio.

No trip to Liverpool would be complete without boarding a brightly coloured boat for a 50-minute ferry ride across the Mersey - a great way to take in the city’s skyline from the water. And yes, in case you are wondering, you'll hear the song while onboard!