If you’re looking for a family-friendly holiday destination in the UK, then you can’t go wrong with mid-Wales. This beautiful region of Wales is home to plenty of great attractions that will keep both kids and adults entertained.
From exploring ancient castles to learning about Welsh culture and history, there’s something for everyone in mid-Wales. Here are our top recommended things to do in Mid-Wales for families with kids, from young toddlers right up to teens.
1. Spend a day at Bwlch Nant yr Arian
Bwlch Nant yr Arian is a forestry commission visitor centre in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains. The centre offers stunning views of the mountains and lakes as well as being a great place to spot wildlife.
From the visitor centre, you can take part in many different activities offered throughout the forest, including:
- Walking and running trails
- Mountain bike trails and a skills park
- Horse riding trails (although you need your own horse)
- Red kite feeding
- Orienteering
- Play areas
Visit the Visitor Centre website to find out more about each of these activities. They also offer a discover backpack which is perfect for families with young children. The backpack includes binoculars, a magnifying glass, a bug pot and nature identification cards to keep them entertained all day.
There's also an onsite cafe with a choice of hot drinks and snacks. If your family also includes a four-legged friend, this is a great place to visit in Mid-Wales with dogs too.
2. Embark on a mythical adventure at King Arthur's Labyrinth
King Arthur's Labyrinth is a story-telling adventure that takes you through a maze made up of tunnels, caverns, and chambers all based on Welsh mythology.
The mythical world is filled with dragons, colossal giants, and fierce battles. Children will love exploring the dark passages and trying to find their way out again whilst learning about Welsh legends such as Gawain and the Green Knight, Merlin, and, of course, King Arthur.
You'll sail through an underground river and see a waterfall too. Being an indoor activity means it's also a great idea for rainy days out with the kids.
Make sure you read up on the essential information on their website before setting off to ensure you are fully prepared. There are also other activities nearby so you can make it into a full day out, these include Corris Craft Centre, a children's play area, and another activity called 'Lost Legends of The Stone Circle' which is a maze of mysteries and quizzes perfect for the family.
3. Hit the slides at Quackers Indoor Play Centre
Quackers is an indoor play centre in Mid-Wales. The centre is perfect for a rainy day as it has plenty of activities to keep little ones entertained. It's suitable for all ages from toddlers up to teenagers and, as someone that's visited the centre myself, I can assure you that adults will have their fair share of fun too.
There’s a soft play area, climbing wall, ball pond, and a huge slide that's not for the faint-hearted. Whilst the kids are playing, you can enjoy a hot drink and snacks from the cafe and there's an onsite restaurant for larger meals.
On a warm day (yes, we have those in Wales occasionally), there's also a great outdoor area with large sandpits and mini diggers.
4. Enjoy family-friendly activities at the Centre for Alternative Technology
The Centre for Alternative Technology is a great place to learn about sustainable living and green technologies. There are interactive exhibits, a working waterwheel, and plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful grounds.
Kids will love the chance to get hands-on with some of the activities on offer and adults will appreciate the insights into sustainability. Activities vary each day but could include making dens, building things from lego, and nature challenges for all the family.
The centre is located just outside of Machynlleth and is open all year round including weekends (except Christmas). If you're feeling peckish after visiting, there's an onsite restaurant to grab a bite to eat.
5. Hop onboard the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
Mid-Wales offers one of the few opportunities to take your kids on a steam train in modern-day Wales. This heritage railway is a must-visit for any train lover in the family.
Originally built as the main mode of transport between the two market towns of Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion, the railway is now a popular tourist attraction that gives you a glimpse at life in the past.
The steam trains take passengers on a journey through the stunning countryside of mid-Wales. Children will enjoy watching the world go by with some of the region’s most breathtaking scenery, whilst adults can enjoy some of the onboard comforts. There's a fish and chips train as well as an afternoon tea train.
If you're visiting around Christmas, look out for the Santa Special journey with the man himself all the way from the north pole.
6. Visit Powis Castle and Gardens
Powis Castle dates back to the 13th century and is one of the few castles in Wales that is still in pristine condition today. The fortress is owned by the National Trust and makes a great family day out, and it's free if you have an NT membership.
Adults will enjoy exploring inside the castle where you’ll find artwork, murals, and ceiling paintings, as well as the Clive Museum with lots of artefacts collected by the Clive family during colonial days in India. You might even stumble across the Powis Castle spirit who, according to folk tales, helped a seamstress become rich by showing her a locked casket under the floorboards.
For children and toddlers, the gardens can be a lot of fun, with terraces, statues, and even a resident peacock that wanders the grounds. I enjoy visiting in the summer when the garden coffee shop is open so you can enjoy an afternoon scone with jam, plus they have fun games out on the large lawn.
See my full guide to visiting Powis Castle for opening times and prices.
7. Cycle around the Elan Valley
The Elan Valley is home to some of Wales’ most stunning scenery. The valleys and mountains are a haven for wildlife and there are plenty of walking and cycling trails to explore.
The area is also home to the Elan Valley dams, which provide water to Birmingham. Visitors can take a tour of the dams or enjoy one of the many walks or cycling routes with views of the reservoirs. There's also some secret waterfalls to discover.
There’s also a visitor centre which has interactive exhibits on the history and ecology of the area. Kids will love getting hands-on with some of the activities on offer. At the visitor centre, it's possible to hire bicycles or e-bikes if you don't have your own.
See my full guide to find out about all activities you can do in the Elan Valley.
8. Take a Treasure Trail
These self-guided walking treasure hunts are a great way to explore the towns of Mid-Wales whilst solving clues along the way. The trail takes you past some of the town’s most famous landmarks as you try to crack the case.
You can buy the trail online, print it off, and then complete it at your own pace. It’s a great way to explore the town whilst keeping the kids occupied along the way.
Treasure trails in Mid-Wales are available in Brecon, Builth-Wells, Machynlleth, Rhayader, Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, and New Quay. Check out their website to learn more and download them.
9. Watch Red Kite feeding at Girgin Farm
The Red Kite Feeding Centre in Rhayader is the perfect place to see these beautiful birds up close. The centre runs daily feeding sessions where you can watch the kites being fed fresh meat. Expect anywhere between 12 and 300 birds to compete for the food on offer.
A remote camera gives an impressive aerial view of the feeding centre and visitors can control it to pan and zoom in on the birds.
As well as being a great photo opportunity, it’s also a chance for children and adults to learn more about these magnificent creatures via the centre's small museum with exhibits on the history and ecology of red kites.
10. Explore Aberystwyth and Constitution Hill
Aberystwyth is a great coastal town in Mid-Wales to take the family for a day out. There's plenty to do including visiting the pier, walking along the beach, or exploring the many shops and cafes.
One of the best activities is visiting Constitution Hill, a small hill you can walk up for a picturesque view across the town and the sea. The walk is short but if the kids aren't up to it, there's also a funicular railway that runs to the top.
At the top, there's a small games room where families can enjoy a mini-game of ten-pin bowling and air hockey as well as a cafe with outdoor seating. Another great activity for little ones in Aberystwyth is the pier where you'll find a small amusement arcade. They'll have hours of fun trying to win 2p coins or pick up soft toys with a claw.
11. Enjoy a day at Barmouth beach
If you're looking for a great beach destination in Mid-Wales that's suitable for families, look no further than Barmouth beach.
The wide sandy beach is perfect for building sandcastles, paddling in the waves, or just relaxing in the sun. There are also donkey rides and trampolining on the beach when the kids get tired of digging endless holes in the sand.
There are also plenty of rock pools to explore and if you're lucky you might even spot some dolphins offshore. If you get hungry, there's a huge variety of cafes to choose from or you can enjoy an ice cream or freshly baked doughnuts on the beach.
Aside from the beach, there's also an amusements arcade with lots of retro games and for the 'bigger kids' there's also a waltzer that is sure to get you giddy.
12. Discover waterfalls and hiking in the Brecon Beacons
Waterfall Country is an area of the Brecon Beacons known for its high concentration of waterfalls. It's slightly further south than most of the other activities shared here but makes a great day trip from your base in Mid-Wales.
I'd recommend you check out the Four Falls Trail which is a short walking loop that takes you past four amazing waterfalls. The paths are all well maintained and suitable for families. If it's warm, don't forget to take swimsuits as you can swim at the base of the largest waterfall on the loop.
On the way back home, don't forget to stop in Brecon to wander around the historic town and try some food from one of the family-friendly pubs. There's also a soft indoor play centre suitable for children up to age 11 called The Play Barn.
13. Race Through the Countryside at Border Quad Trekking
If you want to get the adrenaline pumping and bring out those competitive spirits, a visit to Border Quad Trekking is in order. There are a range of activities that are suitable for both adults and children including quad trekking, paintballing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, and more. They also have the iconic rage buggys featured on BBC's Top Gear.
For quad trekking, children must be at least age 6 to ride with an adult, for archery they must be at least 10 years old, whereas paintballing and clay pigeon shooting have a minimum age of 12 to ensure they are able to hold a gun correctly.
14. Spot dolphins and porpoises in Cardigan Bay
My final recommended family activity in Mid-Wales isnvolves heading off the coast to spot marine mammals. Cardigan Bay is home to a resident population of bottlenose dolphins which you can see on a dolphin-spotting tour.
The two main tours are with New Quay Boat Trips from New Quay and A Bay To Remember from Cardigan. The photos above were taken during a trip from Cardigan and you can see just how close the dolphins came to our boat. You're pretty much guaranteed to see them.
You might even spot harbour porpoises and the odd whale on your trip too, although these are more common in near Anglesey rather than in Mid-Wales.
Published: 2 May 2022 · Last updated: 22 August 2023