St Austell or Truro
Eden Project · Photo: A1personage at en.wikipedia
Day one inside Eden's giant rainforest dome, day two by the water in Falmouth with a hands-on maritime museum and a Tudor castle on the headland. Both days hold up if it rains.
Nature & gardens · 10:00–15:30 (5h30m)
Book ahead. Do the Rainforest Biome first while legs are fresh, then the outdoor play and lunch.
Two giant greenhouse domes in a former clay pit, one holding a steamy rainforest with a canopy walkway and the other a Mediterranean garden, with outdoor gardens and play between them. The biomes make it a solid choice in wet weather.
Photo: A1personage at en.wikipedia
Museum · 10:00–12:30 (2h30m)
Climb the lookout tower and visit the tidal zone; café for lunch.
An indoor museum in Falmouth, aimed at ages 3 and up.
Photo: Tim Green
Castle · 13:30–16:00 (2h30m)
Explore the gun batteries, then the small soft play for under-5s.
An indoor and outdoor castle in Falmouth.
Photo: Willhsmit
South WestShuttaford Barns, Holne
Base yourselves in a converted barn in a quiet Dartmoor valley with a games room for wet evenings, then spend a day around Buckfastleigh: piggy cuddles and tractor rides at Pennywell Farm, lunch at Buckfast Abbey, steam engines at Buckfastleigh station and otter feeding time at the sanctuary next to the steam railway. Everything is within 15 minutes of the barn.
Shuttaford Barns → Pennywell Farm → Buckfast Abbey restaurant → South Devon Railway, Buckfastleigh station + 1 more
South WestWareham or Swanage
Day one pairs an ape rescue centre with a hangar full of tanks next door. Day two takes the steam train to Corfe Castle and ends on the clifftops at Durlston.
Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre → The Tank Museum → Corfe Castle → Durlston Country Park
South WestBristol city centre
Three indoor stops a short walk apart around Bristol's floating harbour: hands-on science, the free city museum and Brunel's great ship. Good for curious 6-12s when the weather is grim.
M Shed → Brunel's SS Great Britain
