From long days spent at the beach, to wild swims and forest camping trips, the British summertime is the perfect season for outdoor adventures. Here is our round-up of fun activities to enjoy this summer that children and adults of all ages will enjoy.
Looking for equipment to take with you? Browse our review section to find tents, camping chairs, water shoes and cool boxes. Don't forget a sturdy weekend bag or holdall to pack it all; we've tested some top brands to find the best options.
British summer holiday ideas
1. Spend the day on the beach
Fancy a day on the coast? The UK is spoilt for choice when it comes to stunning beaches – perfect for swimming, surfing, rockpooling and picnicking. Take a look at our pick of the best beaches in the UK.
2. Cook dinner on the campfire
Food from the campfire always seems to taste better! From S’mores to kebabs, campfires are a great way to encourage children to learn essential outdoor skills and fire safety. Even cooking on a campfire or barbecue from your garden can feel like a summer adventure. For some fantastic recipes you can make with kids, see our five tasty campfire recipes to make with kids.
3. Summer foraging and fruit picking
The late summer is a perfect time to forage for berries such as blackberries and wild strawberries. Alternatively, the UK has a number of 'pick your own' soft fruit farms which children will love.
- Blackberry guide: where to find, how to cook and recipe ideas
- Strawberry guide: varieties, how to grow, and best places to pick your own
- August foraging guide: best foods to find and recipe ideas
4. Go for a bike ride
Pump up your tyres and peddle through the countryside. Cycling is a great way to reconnect with nature and get off the beaten track. Take a ride on a local cycle path, or if you're a bit more ambitious, why not take a family bikepacking trip somewhere local.
- A guide to bikepacking: how to get started, essential gear and best routes for off-road cycling
- Cycling in Britain: the best places to ride, how to ride safely and where to ride
5. Enjoy a wild swim
On a warm summer's day, it doesn't get much better than taking a dip in the sea, lake or river. If you live in a big city, don't be put off as there are many wild swimming spots near London.
- Wild swimming in Britain: the best places to swim, water safety and how to get started
- Britain's top 10 wild swimming spots
6. Sleep under the stars
Pitch a tent and spend an evening beneath a starry night-sky. Wild camping allows you to escape the constant buzz of modern life and get back to basics. While not legal in some parts of the country, there are a number of smaller campsites in secluded locations, where you simply pitch up and savour the tranquility. Alternatively, kids will love sleeping in the back garden for a mini adventure.
- A beginner's guide to wild camping
- Best forest campsites in the UK in 2023
- 10 great places to wild camp in Britain
- Five of the best tiny campsites in Britain
7. Gaze at the night sky
Cast your eyes to the skies and see how many different constellations you can see. Gaze at the stars from your back garden, or, for a really memorable experience, head to one of Britain's national parks for stunning starry skies.
8. Fish for your supper
Cast your rod and reel in a catch in a lake or river. You may not always catch something, but the serene surroundings will certainly make up for it. Britain is home to many traditional, idyllic fishing villages.
9. Go for a family walk
Get back to nature with a beautiful countryside walk. Walking is a great way to spend time together as a family and explore your local landscape. With blooming flowers, warmer weather and buzzing wildlife, summer is the perfect season to take a long walk in the countryside. For more walking inspiration, check out our walking section.
10. Give geocaching a go
Enjoy hiking, the countryside and treasure hunting? Geocaching might be the hobby for you. Download the free app and find one of many secret geocaches hidden in the countryside. Read our guide on how to go geocaching and start hunting.
11. Visit the literary countryside
Tread in the footsteps of Britain's greatest writers and explore the countryside that inspired novels such as Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice. Put yourself in the shoes of your favourite characters and immerse yourself in their fictional world. Travel back in time with these historic days out, or walk in the footsteps of some of Britain's greatest poets.
We've assembled a list of our favourite non-fiction adventure books - take a look for reading inspiration.
12. Experience a sunrise and sunset
Get up early and experience sunrise, then watch it set later that evening. Wherever you are, set your alarm clocks early and make the most of the natural daylight. Why not celebrate the longest day of the year and mark the Summer solstice?
13. Go rockpooling
Searching for a fun coastal adventure to keep the kids happy over the summer holidays? Rockpooling and hunting for crabs is an easy way to have fun with the family and introduce children to the wonders of marine ecology. Discover how to find and study crabs in rockpools in a few easy steps, plus learn more about rockpools and the equipment you need to get started.
14. Go on a wildlife safari
Beetles are a fascinating group of insects found widely throughout the UK – become an amateur coleopterist with our guide to some of Britain's most beautiful beetles, from the striking rose chafer to the deceptive wasp beetle. Take a look under a rock or fallen tree branch in your garden or local park and see what species you can spot.
15. Go on a butterfly hunt
With their bright and varied colours and beautiful markings, butterfly spotting can become an addictive pastime for some. For children who are less enthusiastic about a walk in the outdoors, going on the hunt for butterflies can be just the motivation needed to get them on the move. Take a look at our Guide to British butterflies for the best places to spot them and how to identify.
Top image: Wild swimming has grown in popularity in recent years/Credit: Getty images
