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The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is a fantastic place for families! There's lots to do for all ages, and there's plenty which can be done together; plenty to excite and thrill, plenty to entertain and enjoy, and most importantly for many families, plenty of opportunity to reconnect with each other, and to enjoy the calm that being in nature can bring.
Whilst a simple forest or riverside walk is the perfect start to any trip to the area, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley is also home to many attractions and activities that can take getting back to nature to another level. From ancient castles to steam train rides, and canoeing to cave exploring, we have an abundance of excitement waiting for children of all ages, even those tweens and teens who are a little bit harder to please!
Lose yourself in a different world at magical Puzzlewood, or find the surprise at the centre of Elton's Giant Maze. Get on the right track aboard a Perrygrove Railway train, or visit the Dean Forest Railway for a steam train ride through the Forest of Dean. Step back in time and learn about the history of the area at the Dean Heritage Centre. Get out on the water with canoeing, kayaking, or stand-up paddleboarding, or fly through the trees on a high ropes experience! Get up close with birds of prey, hire bikes and head out along our miles of off-road tracks, book an archery class, or try rock climbing. Looking for something more leisurely? Sit back and relax with a river cruise along the Wye; keep an eye out for jumping trout, kingfishers, otters, and swans as you sit back, relax, and let the towering, limestone gorge scenery drift by.
Here in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley, there is so much for families to see and do that you just might want to stay a little longer to fit more in!
Number of results: 131
, currently showing 81 to 100.
Twigworth
Nature in Art, the world's first museum & art gallery dedicated exclusively to art inspired by nature. With temporary exhibitions, art courses and an unrivalled artists in residence programme.
Eastnor
Super fun and themed hand modelling ‘makes’ for kids and grown-ups. Projects change every three months providing a unique and creative activity for families in the school holidays – including half-term. Price includes tuition, materials and firing.
Price: £20 per person
Length of experience: 1½ hours
Lydney
Riverside walks, sculptures, great for birdwatching, sunsets and steeped in history, Lydney Harbour is well worth visiting as a place of beauty but also to see the power and force of the River Severn and its estuary which has the second highest tidal range in the world. Now with a new modern takeaway cafe.
Longhope
Once you have made the elements of the Afternoon Tea and presented them on our vintage china, you will then sit down in our Apple Barn dining room and enjoy them with a tea of your choice. This is a cookery experience to enjoy, relax and eat cakes! Suitable for beginners, those wanting to increase their pastry skills or just wanting to have fun!
Price: £60 per person
Length of experience: 3 hours
Near Coleford
This experience is a great way to explore the Forest of Dean for the adventurous family! A family mountain bike activity dedicated to your family needs. Choose what date you want, what you want to see and learn and we will do the rest! Come and explore the beautiful Forest of Dean by mountain bikes, learning some new skills on the way.
Price: £135 per family
Length of experience: 3 hours minimum
Newnham
Ultimate Outdoor Laser Tag - just like paintball but without the bruises!
Near Lydbrook
A Forest car park with vast walks, a picnic site, pond with waterlilies and an area steeped in the heritage of mining with old railway lines and bridges and a new mining memorial installed in 2022. Off-road cycling trails and access to the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail.
Symonds Yat West
Learn basic survival skills on one of our hands-on bushcraft courses. We’ll lead you through the priorities of survival and a range of techniques for living comfortably in the wild. Our friendly instructors will introduce you to primitive survival skills from a time when life moved more slowly and thoughtfully.
Price: TBA
Length of experience: 3 hours
Monmouth
Easy to learn, fun to do, Inspire2Adventure offers stand-up paddleboard experiences! Suitable for all ages and all abilities, you can explore the River Wye on a single paddleboard or/and try our mega-SUP, which can accommodate up to eight people - cue endless fun and games for families, groups, hens and stags trying to paddle together!
Price: £36 per person
Length of experience: 2 hours
Lydney Park Estate, Lydney
Bring a group together for a fun creative mosaic experience and create a striking woodland animal mosaic for your garden. Choose either a square design or get really creative and cut out your chosen animal shape.
Price: £45 per person
Length of experience: 4 hours
St. Briavels
We offer a full range of floristry and floral design services – from gift bouquets to weddings, funeral tributes to events. Our floral arrangements are romantic, cottage garden, vintage, and hedgerow inspired.
Longhope
Join Harts Barn Cookery School for some quality family time! Bring the family together and spend the morning cooking delicious dishes in a relaxed atmosphere. Learn new skills, teach your children some essential life skills and enjoy the great company and venue. You will prepare and cook a 3-course meal and then enjoy eating your creations together in the Apple Barn dining venue adjacent to the cookery school.
Price: £40 per person
Length of experience: 3 hours
Kilcot, Newent
Visit our llama farm for an unforgettable experience. Your experience will begin with a short introduction to llamas, including grooming and general interaction with the llamas. As part of your experience you will get to meet the babies and learn about how llamas carry their young for 11½ months.
Price: £47.99 per person.
Length of experience: 2 hours
Soudley
Guided Forest Bathing with Carina, a licensed, certified guide (ANFT), in a peaceful forest, with slow walking and sensory invitations. Shinrin-yoku (or forest bathing) means ‘bathing’ all the senses, whilst walking slowly in the forest. Invest in your own health and wellbeing, connect with nature by learning to practise Shinrin-yoku and experience the restorative power of the forest.
Price: £25 per person
Length of experience: 4 hours
Kilcot, Newent
Our experience day provides a unique, hands on opportunity to interact with our rescued and resident animals. This is a one-to-one bespoke experience and you will not be sharing it with anyone else.
Price: £149 per person.
Length of experience: 7 - 8 hours
Chepstow
Chepstow Park is a large block of woodland with both mature broadleaf and conifer species as well as an excellent viewpoint south towards the Severn Bridges.
Llandogo
A stunning section of the Wye Valley Walk high above the River Wye with some of the most impressive views along the Wye Valley. The thundering Cleddon Falls are the biggest in the area and the Duchess Ride Viewpoint is one of the best.
Chepstow
Historic path along cliffs overlooking the River Wye popular during the Wye Tour. Part of the Wye Valley Walk north of Chepstow and leading to the Eagle's Nest Viewpoint.
Longhope
Making your own Ploughman's has never been so easy! The class will be a combination of demo and hands on in groups. Recipes and tastings available.
Price: £60 per person
Length of experience: 3 hours
Forest of Dean
Local Discovery Card is a community focused digital discount card covering the Forest of Dean, Wye Valley and surrounding areas in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire.
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*Visit Dean Wye is the trading name of Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism Limited.