Family Days Out in Devon From Hazelwood Holiday Park

Devon is packed with brilliant family days out, from sandy beaches and wildlife parks to castles, adventure parks, gardens and rainy-day attractions. Whether you’re planning a full week of exploring or just want a few easy ideas close to Dawlish Warren, there’s plenty to keep toddlers, children, teens and grown-ups happy.

Staying at our holiday park in South Devon puts you in a lovely spot for exploring the best attractions the county has to offer. You have Dawlish Warren Beach close by, family attractions within easy reach, and the freedom to head back to your holiday home when everyone needs food, dry clothes or a quiet hour.

Here’s our practical guide to some of the best Devon attractions for families, including beach days, animal encounters, theme parks, toddler-friendly ideas and rainy-day options. 

What Are The Best Family Attractions In Devon?

Devon has family attractions for every kind of holiday, whether your children love animals, rides, beaches, castles, nature walks or hands-on activities.

Some of the most popular family days out in Devon include:

·       Crealy Theme Park & Resort near Exeter 

·       Paignton Zoo in South Devon 

·       Pennywell Farm near Buckfastleigh 

·       Woodlands Family Theme Park near Dartmouth 

·       Powderham Castle near Exeter 

·       Kents Cavern in Torquay 

·       National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth 

·       Dawlish Warren Beach and Nature Reserve 

·       Dartmoor National Park 

·       Exmouth, Teignmouth and other South Devon beaches 

For families staying in Dawlish Warren, South Devon gives you a great mix of coast, countryside and attractions without needing to spend every day on long car journeys.

Beach Days And Seaside Fun

You can’t talk about family attractions in Devon without starting with the beach. Devon is home to some of the UK’s best seaside spots, and many of them are ideal for children who love sandcastles, paddling, bodyboarding and rock pooling.

Dawlish Warren Beach is a great choice for families staying at Hazelwood. It has a long stretch of sand, a traditional seaside feel and plenty nearby, including amusements, food stops and easy walks. It’s the sort of place where you can spend a full day by the sea or pop down for a shorter visit before heading back for lunch.

Nearby Teignmouth is another lovely seaside option, with a pier, promenade, beach and play areas. Exmouth is also popular with families thanks to its long sandy beach, watersports and easy seafront facilities.

Further afield, North Devon beaches such as Woolacombe, Saunton Sands and Croyde are brilliant for big beach days and surfing, although they are better suited to a longer day trip if you’re staying in South Devon.

If you’re planning a beach day, it’s worth checking tide times before you go, especially during busy summer weeks. Arriving earlier can also make parking and finding a good spot on the sand much easier.

Theme Parks And Adventure Days Out

For children who like rides, slides and big days out, Devon has plenty of adventure parks to choose from.

Crealy Theme Park & Resort near Exeter is one of the most popular family attractions in Devon and is a good option from Hazelwood. It has a mix of rides, indoor play, outdoor attractions and seasonal events, which makes it useful when the weather can’t quite make up its mind.

Woodlands Family Theme Park near Dartmouth is another big family day out, with indoor play areas, rides, water slides, outdoor play zones and attractions for different ages. It works well for families with mixed-age children because there’s plenty to do in one place.

In North Devon, The Milky Way Adventure Park and The Big Sheep are both well-known family attractions, with rides, shows, indoor play and seasonal activities. These are further from Dawlish Warren, so they’re better suited to families who are happy to make a full day of it.

For older children and teens, look out for climbing centres, high-rope courses, paddleboarding, kayaking and other watersports around Devon’s coast and activity centres.

Zoos, Wildlife Parks And Farm Attractions

Animal days out are always a winner with families, and Devon has plenty of options for children who love wildlife, farm animals and hands-on experiences.

Paignton Zoo is one of the biggest and best-known attractions in South Devon. Families can see a wide range of animals, enjoy plenty of walking space and break up the day with play areas and food stops. It’s a good full-day option from Dawlish Warren.

Pennywell Farm near Buckfastleigh is especially popular with younger children. It’s known for animal experiences, miniature pigs, farmyard fun and regular activities throughout the day. If you’re travelling with toddlers or primary-school-age children, this is a lovely, gentle day out.

Dartmoor Zoo is another option for animal-loving families, sitting on the edge of Dartmoor with big cats, wolves and other animals in a leafy setting. Exmoor Zoo and Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park are further away in North Devon, but they can work well if you’re planning a wider Devon adventure.

For a lower-key animal experience, it’s also worth looking at local farms, nature reserves and countryside walks. Children don’t always need a big-ticket attraction to enjoy spotting birds, butterflies, rabbits or farm animals along the way.

Castles, Caves And Historic Places

Devon has plenty of history to explore, and many heritage attractions work surprisingly well for families. Castles, caves and old houses give children space to imagine, run around and learn a little without it feeling too much like school.

Powderham Castle, near Exeter, is one of the most convenient historic days out from Dawlish Warren. It combines castle rooms, grounds, deer park, family activities and seasonal events, making it a strong option if you want a day that blends history with outdoor space.

Kents Cavern in Torquay is a great choice for something a bit different. The guided cave tours take you underground, with stories of prehistoric animals, early humans and Devon’s ancient past. It’s especially good for school-age children who enjoy adventure and discovery.

Dartmouth Castle and Totnes Castle are both good options if you’re exploring further into South Devon. They offer views, history and plenty of imagination-fuelled fun, especially for children who like knights, battles and old stone walls.

For a free or lower-cost option, Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum is a useful rainy-day idea, with natural history, local stories, world cultures and family-friendly exhibits.

Outdoor Adventures In Devon

Some of Devon’s best family days out are simple, outdoorsy and low cost. A walk, a picnic, a paddle in a stream or a wander through a nature reserve can be just as memorable as a big attraction.

Dartmoor National Park is ideal for families who want big skies, open space and a bit of adventure. Choose short, well-marked routes, check the weather before you travel and avoid planning anything too ambitious with younger children. Tors, streams, ponies and picnic spots can make even a short visit feel exciting.

Closer to Hazelwood, Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve is a lovely place to explore dunes, grassland, estuary views and wildlife. It’s a quieter change of pace from the beach and amusements, and it’s right on the doorstep for families staying in Dawlish Warren.

National Trust places such as Killerton, Castle Drogo and Saltram are also good family options, with gardens, parkland, seasonal trails and space for children to run around. They’re especially useful when you want a gentler day after a busy beach or theme park trip.

Things To Do In Devon With Toddlers

Days out with toddlers are usually easier when travel time is short, the attraction is simple to get around and there are places to stop for snacks, toilets and naps.

For younger children, farm parks are often a great choice. Pennywell Farm, World of Country Life and similar attractions give toddlers the chance to meet animals, enjoy gentle play and take part in simple activities without the day feeling too overwhelming.

Beaches can also be brilliant for toddlers, especially places with easy access, toilets and cafés nearby. Dawlish Warren, Teignmouth, Exmouth and parts of Torbay are all good options for younger families.

When planning toddler-friendly days out, look for places with:

·       Short walking distances 

·       Baby-changing facilities 

·       Indoor space or shade 

·       Pushchair-friendly paths 

·       Food and drink nearby 

·       The option to leave early if little legs have had enough 

This is where staying in self-catering accommodation can really help. You’re not tied to a strict schedule, and you can head back for naps, snacks or a quieter afternoon when you need to.

Best Devon Attractions For Teenagers

Teenagers often want something with a bit more freedom, energy or adventure. Devon has plenty to offer beyond traditional family attractions.

Theme parks such as Crealy and Woodlands are good options for older children and teens, especially where there are bigger rides, water slides or indoor activity areas. Watersports can also be a real highlight, with opportunities for paddleboarding, kayaking, surfing and coasteering in different parts of Devon.

For active teens, look at climbing centres, high-rope courses, skate parks, cycling routes and Dartmoor walks. For more curious teens, Kents Cavern, Powderham Castle, Exeter’s museums and historic towns like Totnes or Dartmouth can add something different to the holiday.

The key is to balance planned days out with a little downtime. A beach day, an evening walk, a few arcade games or time relaxing back at your holiday home can be just as important as the bigger attractions.

<H2> What Can Families Do In Devon When It Rains? <H2>

Devon is beautiful, but even in summer the weather can change quickly. Having a few rainy-day ideas ready makes family holidays much easier.

Good rainy-day attractions in Devon include indoor play areas at larger theme parks, aquariums, museums, caves, soft play centres, bowling, cinemas and cafés in nearby towns.

From Dawlish Warren, useful wet-weather options can include Exeter, Torquay, Paignton and Plymouth, depending on how far you want to travel. Kents Cavern, Paignton Zoo on a showery day, RAMM in Exeter and the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth are all worth considering.

It’s also fine to keep rainy days simple. If you’re staying at Hazelwood, you can head back to your holiday home, dry off, make lunch and wait for the weather to pass. Sometimes a slower day is exactly what everyone needs.

Free And Budget-Friendly Family Days Out

A Devon family holiday doesn’t have to mean paying for a big attraction every day. Mixing paid days out with free or low-cost activities is often the best way to keep the week relaxed and affordable.

Beaches, nature reserves, coastal walks, moorland picnics and town trails can all make brilliant family days out. Dawlish Warren Beach, the sea wall walk towards Dawlish and the local nature reserve are great examples of simple activities close to Hazelwood.

Budget-friendly ideas include:

·       Beach days with a picnic 

·       A walk through Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve 

·       Exploring Dawlish or Teignmouth 

·       A short trip to Dartmoor 

·       Rock pooling and sandcastle building 

·       Free museums such as RAMM in Exeter 

·       Coastal walks with an ice cream stop 

For paid attractions, check whether booking online in advance gives you a better price. Family tickets, return-visit offers and seasonal deals can also help keep costs down.

Planning Your Family Days Out In Devon

Devon is bigger than many visitors expect, and summer traffic can make journeys longer. The easiest approach is to group days out by area rather than trying to cross the county every day.

From Hazelwood, South Devon and the Exeter area are especially useful for family days out. Dawlish Warren Beach, Teignmouth, Exmouth, Powderham Castle, Crealy, Paignton Zoo, Kents Cavern and Dartmoor are all strong options depending on your children’s ages and interests.

Before setting off, it’s worth checking opening times, parking, ticket booking, dog policies and accessibility information directly with the attraction. Details can change seasonally, and a quick check can save a lot of hassle on the day.

If you’re bringing your dog, check whether dogs are allowed before you travel. Devon is very dog-friendly, but rules vary by beach, attraction and season.

Stay Close To South Devon Family Attractions

Hazelwood Holiday Park is a great base for family holidays in Devon, especially if you want beach days, local attractions and self-catering freedom in one easy South Devon location.

You can spend the morning at Dawlish Warren Beach, enjoy an afternoon at a nearby attraction, or head out for a full family day trip before coming back to your own space. With holiday homes in South Devon, family-friendly accommodation and a relaxed holiday park setting, Hazelwood helps make family days out feel that bit simpler.

Explore Hazelwood’s holiday homes in South Devon or take a look at our family holidays in Devon to start planning your stay.