Beyond City Limits: Family-Friendly Day Trips from Amsterdam and London

My love affair with Dutch windmills began decades ago during a school exchange program, but returning to these iconic landscapes with my camera drone captured an entirely new perspective. Just a quick 20-minute train ride from Amsterdam Central, Zaanse Schans feels like stepping into a living postcard of the Netherlands. The collection of well-preserved historic windmills along the Zaan River creates an immersive open-air museum where children can witness history in motion.

The working windmills here aren't mere photo opportunities—they're functioning time machines. At the mustard mill De Huisman, I watched a young boy's eyes widen as he connected the grinding stones to the actual mustard served at lunch. 'C'est magnifique!' These tangible learning moments are priceless.

Further south, Kinderdijk offers UNESCO-protected windmill heritage with fewer tourists. Nineteen majestic windmills stand sentinel over a brilliant water management system dating back to the 1700s. Rent bicycles at the visitor center and follow the family-friendly cycling paths that wind through this impressive landscape. My compact binoculars proved invaluable for spotting waterfowl and examining windmill details from across the polders.

Both locations offer demonstrations, interactive exhibits, and plenty of open space for little ones to run and explore. The combination of fresh air, cultural heritage, and hands-on learning creates the perfect recipe for a family day trip that's both educational and genuinely enjoyable.

While London pulses with energy, the Kent countryside offers families a gentler rhythm and glimpses into England's storied past. Canterbury makes a perfect day trip, just an hour by train from St. Pancras station. The medieval city center is pedestrian-friendly, with narrow lanes that seem plucked from a fairytale.

As an educator, I've always found Canterbury Cathedral particularly special for children—not just for its architectural grandeur, but for the stories embedded in its stones. The Young Explorers Trail transforms what could be a stuffy cathedral visit into an engaging treasure hunt. I watched as families followed the trail together, children pointing excitedly at discoveries while parents snapped photos.

Just 40 miles southeast of London, Leeds Castle bills itself as 'the loveliest castle in the world,' and the claim isn't far-fetched. Set on two islands in a lake, surrounded by 500 acres of parkland, this 900-year-old castle balances historical significance with family-friendly attractions. The hedge maze delighted every child I encountered—including the grown-up ones! After navigating to the center, you descend through an underground grotto with mythical creatures before emerging victorious.

For capturing these magical moments, my mirrorless camera performed beautifully in the variable English light conditions, especially when photographing the castle reflected in the lake at golden hour. Quelle merveille! The images transported me back to the storybooks of my Quebec childhood.

Sometimes the perfect family day involves simply following the coast to where land meets sea. From London, the revitalized seaside town of Margate makes a wonderful day trip, especially since the high-speed train service reduced travel time to just 90 minutes from St. Pancras.

Margate beautifully balances nostalgic seaside charm with contemporary cultural offerings. The golden sand beach—rare for England—provides ample space for sandcastle competitions and shoreline explorations. My teacher instincts kicked in watching children collect shells and ask questions about tidal pools—these natural classrooms are invaluable!

The Turner Contemporary gallery offers free entry and surprisingly child-friendly exhibits. Even more delightful is Dreamland, the restored vintage amusement park with rides dating back to the 1920s, including the wooden Scenic Railway roller coaster that had me reminiscing about my own childhood vacations.

From Amsterdam, the beach resort of Scheveningen offers a similarly accessible coastal escape, just 30 minutes by tram from the city center. The broad sandy beach stretches for kilometers, but the real attraction for families is the pier and boulevard with its observation wheel, bungy jump tower, and zipline adventures.

For beach days, I never travel without my quick-dry towel which packs down tiny yet dries remarkably fast between swims or after sudden rain showers (an ever-present possibility in both England and the Netherlands). The Sea Life Centre at Scheveningen provides a fascinating indoor option if weather turns uncooperative, with underwater tunnels that had children pressed against the glass in wide-eyed wonder.

After days of navigating city streets and tourist attractions, families often need green space where children can run freely and reconnect with nature. Just 30 minutes from London's Liverpool Street station, Epping Forest offers over 6,000 acres of ancient woodland—a protected royal forest since the 12th century.

During my spring visit, the forest floor was carpeted with bluebells creating a magical atmosphere straight from a storybook. I watched families following the easy Holly Trail (1.7 miles) which offers child-friendly interpretation signs about local wildlife and plants. The forest's conservation team occasionally offers guided family walks where children can learn tracking skills and forest ecology.

C'est un paradis pour les enfants! The natural play areas scattered throughout the forest encourage creative play rather than manufactured entertainment—something I've always valued as an educator. Children were building dens from fallen branches, balancing on logs, and creating nature art with leaves and twigs.

In the Netherlands, the rewilded landscape of Oostvaardersplassen presents a completely different yet equally compelling natural experience just 30 minutes from Amsterdam. This massive nature reserve was created when land reclaimed from the sea was left to develop naturally, resulting in a unique ecosystem where herds of wild horses, deer, and cattle roam freely.

The visitor center provides binoculars for children, and the observation hides are perfectly positioned for wildlife viewing. I recommend bringing a spotting scope if you have serious wildlife enthusiasts in your family—the herds can sometimes be distant, and the enhanced viewing transforms the experience, especially for children accustomed to immediate digital gratification.

Sometimes the most memorable family experiences happen in places where tourists are few and authentic local life flourishes. Just 15 minutes by train from Amsterdam, Haarlem offers all the charm of the Dutch Golden Age without the crowds that can overwhelm children in Amsterdam's busy center.

The compact medieval core is perfect for family exploration, with the magnificent St. Bavo Church at its heart. Unlike Amsterdam's museums where children might grow restless in queues, Haarlem's Teylers Museum—the oldest in the Netherlands—offers fascinating scientific instruments and fossils with space to move and discover at your own pace.

The true delight of Haarlem for families is simply wandering. Children who might complain about walking in a big city seem to find endless energy for exploring Haarlem's canal-side paths and hidden courtyards. The bustling market on Grote Markt (Saturdays) becomes a sensory adventure—I watched children wide-eyed at cheese-making demonstrations and sampling stroopwafels made before their eyes.

Similarly, St. Albans makes a perfect under-the-radar day trip from London, just 20 minutes by train from St. Pancras. This ancient city was once Roman Britain's second-largest town (called Verulamium), and the archaeological park brings history tangibly alive for young visitors.

The magnificent cathedral offers a surprisingly child-friendly experience with activity backpacks available to borrow, turning the visit into a historic treasure hunt. For capturing these special moments, I relied on my compact camera which delivers professional-quality images without the weight of my full kit—perfect for day trips when traveling light is essential.

Both Haarlem and St. Albans offer that perfect balance of cultural richness and relaxed atmosphere where families can experience authentic local life rather than tourist performances.