Since having the boys we’ve become rather in love with our country and going for a drive to find amazing hidden gems to visit. Our country is beautiful and we want to show as much of it to our children as possible. Whether that’s on a holiday or a day trip, there’s so much within driving distance.
We live in Essex and there are some beautiful places to visit fairly local to us. Mersea Island is the perfect day out for families. Beach, park, areas to play sports and have picnics. Amazing food.
We also love driving to Suffolk and seeing some of the lovely scenery there. Dedham for example, or Felixstowe to see the boats.
Drive a little further and there’s an array or idilic countryside and coastlines in Norfolk.
If you’re looking for some inspiration for places to visit chill.ie have created a useful e-book that shares cultural drives, and there really are some stunning places to visit.
Of course like with any holiday it’s important to make sure you’re fully insured and your car is fit and healthy for the long drive. Make sure your car insurance is up to date and you have breakdown cover, and your holiday insurance covers UK breaks. We get family cover with our bank and it covers all UK and abroad holidays for the whole family.
I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I’m useless at knowing when my MOT is due! Make sure it’s up to date and valid before you go on a UK holiday. You don’t want to get stopped while away for having no MOT.
To help find you all some hidden gems to drive to, I’ve asked some fellow bloggers to share their favourite places to visit around the UK and Ireland. Hopefully there’s one near you!
England
First of all, Ami wrote this guest post for me last year on her favourite places in Essex to visit with toddlers. I also wrote my top family attractions in Essex if you want to take a look.
” I wouldnt say it is a hidden gem but we absolutely love Whitby on the Yorkshire coast. it is so charming and quaint and I just love ambling around it!” Me & B Make Tea.
“The Derbyshire Dales, so much to do there including cycling or walking the Monsal Trail! Such beautiful scenery!” Scrapbook Of Our Lives
“We love to head up to Lavenham…it’s like a little slice of country heaven that is only about an hour away from us. It’s filled with quaint tea rooms, stunning B & Bs and homely pubs.” Through Ami’s Eyes
“North Norfolk coast, especially Horsey beach in April when the seal colonies are all lying on the beaches. It’s idyllic.” Blissful Domestication
“When we’re driving from Devon to London we love stopping at Cheddar!” Waves To Mummy
“We love Marsden Beach in South Shields. A fry cry from the hustle and bustle of the beach by the fairground and attractions, this one is a little out of the way and harder to access but absolutely beautiful. My toddler loves running around there and it’s quiet enough for him to do it. Lots of ‘treasure’ to be found and rocks to climb on.” One Small Human
Photo credit: One Small Human blog
“Southwold especially on a sunny winter’s day, we love to walk along the beach and have a mooch around the beautiful idyllic town, we always buy roast turkey baps from a little butchers tucked away down a little cobbled street, and sit eating lunch on the benches overlooking the sea.” Kerry Shaw Mummy Of Four
“We love going to Alnwick Castle near Berwick Upon Tweed – an amazing day out in the gardens, and perfect for Harry Potter fans like me as it’s where part of the first movie was filmed!” Life With Boys
“We love the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, Durdle Door is a favourite!” The Life Of Spicers
“We love Warkworth Castle in Northumberland. It’s a mile from where I grew up in Amble and now my parents live five minutes walk from it!” Mummy To My Little Cheeky Monkey
“For us it would be Bolton Abbey in the Yorkshire Dales – I have recently written a post all about why it’s wonderful!” Family Travel With Ellie
“Bourton on the water..it doesn’t look real! Lovely shallow water for kids to splash and play in. So picturesque!” Ready Freddie Go
Photo Credit: Ready Freddie Go blog
“Stratford-upon-Avon if you like a bit of history and Shakespeare 
😊 beautiful countryside!” The Smallest Of Things
“We love Hepworth gallery in Wakefield, West Yorkshire and we go to loads of national trust places especially Nostell Priory in Yorkshire.” Mama Mei
“We drove around to loads of National Trust beaches when we were in Cornwall. Also we absolutely loved Tintagel and Porth.” Porridge and Parenting
“The Forbidden Corner in North Yorkshire is fab for the whole family and reasonably priced.” Rock and Roll Pussycat
“Buxton in the Peak District is just beautiful. Loads to do and it’s a lovely drive too , it’s a proper drivers road with lots of big sweeping bends and breathtaking sharp bends too!” The Cheshire Wife
“This is Lancing beach last weekend (a 20-minute drive from Brighton) and also the Mayfield lavender farm is a 45-minute drive – a spot of Provence just outside Croydon! White and green beans
Photo Credit: White and green beans
Wales
“Elan Valley in Mid Wales was one of our favourite drives. We first discovered it on my husbands motorbike and then started taking our son in the car. Absolutely stunning part of the world.” Battle Mum
“We love Carreg Cennen Castle in the south of Wales. The views are amazing and there is a lovely tea shop in a converted barn. It’s not very pushchair friendly but we took a toddler and baby sling and we were all good.” Winettes
Ireland
“Absolutely everywhere in rural Ireland 
😂 specifically Donegal, the North Coast or Galway. Amazing landscapes, lovely people and the best pub grub you’ll ever have.” Hi Baby Blog
Wow what a amazing list of places to visit! We have already been to a couple (Durdle Door being one of them and it’s breathtaking) and we will be sure to plan visits to more!
Where are your favourite places to drive to in the UK or Ireland?
~A~
*Collaborative Post
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