Where to travel in 2025: top trending family holiday destinations according to Mumsnetters

When it comes to family holidays, nailing the right destination is key. But finding a spot that’ll keep kids and parents happy at a price that works for the family budget is no easy task. Thankfully, our holidays forum is packed full of recommendations from parents that have travelled the globe with kids in tow. It’s a great place to kickstart your trip planning and narrow down a holiday hitlist based on advice from fellow family travellers. 

So where are Mumsnetters travelling to in 2025? We turned to MumsGPT - our in-house AI-powered question tool that combs through and analyses threads from nine million users - to summarise the destinations that families are discussing, raving about and booking for the year ahead. We’ve got access to the kind of insights that other publishers don’t have - intel from real-life parents who spend hours on our forums talking about holidaying with kids. From Lake Garda to Liverpool, we’ve rounded up the trending destinations that Mumsnet users are booking for an epic escape in 2025. 

1. Lake Garda, Italy 

What Mumsnetters say

Lake Garda is a fantastic area - loads to do, close to Venice and Verona, and Gardaland theme park is excellent - Abouttimemum

Lake Garda is brilliant & good fun for children with boat trips, nice beaches etc - lumpfy

Why you should go

Not a classic fly-and-flop holiday destination but a beautiful one nonetheless and you can still find beaches to enjoy on the shores of Lake Garda. Forming part of northern Italy’s lake region and surrounded by mountains, vineyards and olive groves, Lake Garda is the country’s largest lake and arguably its prettiest. Families will love watersports like sailing and kayaking or taking a dip in the calm waters, and there are plenty of pizza and gelato snacking opportunities too. Don’t miss a trip to Gardaland theme park for an adrenaline-fuelled afternoon. 

And it’s easy to get to - the southern lakeside resorts are just 15 miles from Verona airport which is a two-hour flight from the UK. 

Mumsnetters love Eurocamp’s Bella Italia and Del Garda Village sites for affordable holidays and recommend the resorts of Sirmione and Bardolino as a base. 

2. Costa Adeje, Tenerife

What Mumsnetters say

It’s a lovely resort. Definitely go to the water park and the zoo was good too. - Eternallyoptimistic2020

Costa Adeje is nice, particularly towards the northern end. - Mumaway

Why you should go

Tenerife is a year-round hit with families looking for fun in the sun. And while the southern resorts of Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos draw the crowds, Costa Adeja further up the coast is where many Mumsnetters choose to stay, particularly near La Caleta. This stretch of coastline is home to Blue Flag beaches, five-star hotels and luxury villas and there are loads of watersports on offer. One of the biggest attractions is Siam Park, which regularly tops the charts as the world's best waterpark.

Flights to Tenerife take around 4:45 hours and Costa Adeje is just a 15-minute drive from the airport. The island stays warm and sunny and you can expect temperatures above 20°C throughout the year.

3. Liverpool, UK 

What Mumsnetters say

Both the world museum and Liverpool museum are fab and the maritime museum has a really good titanic exhibition - Snuzzle

[I’d go to] Liverpool 100% for kids Tate Modern, World museum, the dock has a ferris wheel too. -MotorwayDiva

Why you should go

Football! Music! Shopping! Liverpool makes for a fun weekend break and is one of the best UK city break destinations according to Mumsnetters. Its buzzy Albert Dock area is home to waterfront bars, restaurants and galleries and the city has loads of kid-friendly attractions including the World Museum, the Maritime Museum and the British Music Experience. Don’t miss a trip on a brightly coloured boat for a 50-minute ferry ride across the Mersey - a great way to take in the city’s skyline from the water. 

4. Crete, Greece

What Mumsnetters say

I love Crete, it's a magical place and the locals are lovely and friendly. It has a great local bus service covering the island and is very cheap so you don’t have to drive at all - Suburberphobe

We stayed in Chania last year and loved it. Lovely restaurants, old town marina beach. Great local bus service to Rethymon and other places. Did a trip that included Elafonissi and Falsarna beaches - MidtoLon

Why you should go

As the largest of the Greek Islands, Crete has lots to offer. It’s home to some of the best beaches in Greece (no mean feat) and many are perfectly set up for kids with sandy coves and shallow waters (teens will love a trip to Elafonisi beach with its Instagrammable pink sand). If you’re travelling with history buffs, there are ancient ruins to explore including the vast Palace of Knossos and the island of Spinalonga, a former fortress and leper colony. It’s a popular spot in the summer months and for May half term but you can still luck out with great weather for an October half-term break. 

There are two airports that serve the island - Heraklion and Chania - and flights from the UK to Crete take around four hours. Mumsnetters rate the Domes of Elounda and Daois Cove for luxury family holidays. 

5. Tulum, Mexico

What Mumsnetters say

Mexico is amazing. We stayed at the Grand Bahia Tulum with kids ranging from 2-8 and every one of them loved it. Flight was no problem as more comfort long haul. Excursions excellent - BakewellGin1

We went to a lot of cenotes - fab natural swimming holes. Day trips to Tulum, Coba, Xel-ha, Xplor all great with kids - backinthebox

Why you should go

Gorgeous beaches, incredible food and luxury resorts combine in sun-soaked Mexico, making it an ideal destination for a long-haul family escape. It’s perfect if you’re looking for an adventurous holiday but also like the comfort of an all-inclusive hotel and there’s no shortage of top-notch properties in Mexico. Of course, the beaches are a big draw but make time to take a dip in a traditional cenote (a freshwater cave pool), zoom down a zipline and explore some of Mexico’s archaeological treasures. 

You’ll likely fly into Cancun (around a 10-hour flight from the UK) but Mumsnetters recommend swerving the tourist-packed resorts in Cancun itself and head south to Tulum for a more relaxed base. 

6. North Wales 

What Mumsnetters say

Conwy is good for exploring with kids but so is Caernarfon. For coastal I’d go for Anglesey or Harlech or Porthmadog and visit Portmeirion as well - Jins

Betws Y coed is lovely. If you Airbnb then the Lleyn peninsula is spectacular. Anglesey is popular for very good reasons. If the kids want to do something different then check out bounce below - travellinglighter

Why you should go

Mumsnetters LOVE Wales as a UK family holiday destination and while there’s a lot of affection for Pembrokeshire with its incredible beaches and harbour towns, the spotlight is on North Wales for 2025. 

Epic mountain views, a rugged coastline and majestic castles all combine in this beautiful region which is home to landmarks like Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and medieval Conwy Castle. Not forgetting Anglesey’s incredible beaches, many of which feature wide sandy stretches and rock pools which are perfect for kids. 

Travelling with older children or teens? Don’t miss a trip to Bounce Below, an adventurous attraction near Blaenau Ffestiniog where you can try your hand at ziplining over a quarry and trampolining in a cave. 

Mumsnet users recommend setting up camp in Conwy, Caernarfon or Llandudno to make the most of the area, and rate the Hafan Y Mor Holiday Park in Pwllheli as an affordable base. 

7. Cruising in Norway

What Mumsnetters say

Norway is a fab place to do by cruise because of the coastline, Arctic circle and fjords. Additionally your food is paid for....and that is eye wateringly expensive if you go to Norway in normal holiday fashion and have to pay to cater - Ohmylovejune

Norway is truly beautiful and if you don't want to drive, it's definitely the ideal country for a cruise - Sansou

Why you should go

Considering a family cruise? You’re not alone. Cruising is gaining momentum on the Mumsnet holidays forum and it’s easy to see why. With kids’ clubs, theatres, cinemas, sports facilities and excellent food on tap, many cruise ships are fully geared up for family fun. And Norway is one of the most-talked about destinations for first-time cruisers on Mumsnet. 

One of the best ways to see the wonders of the Fjords is on a cruise and waking up to views of dramatic mountains and glaciers is hard to beat. There are lots of adventurous excursions on offer in this region too including husky sledding and kayaking - that’s if you can drag the kids away from all the onboard entertainment. Booking a cruise package to Norway offers good value for money too considering just how expensive Scandinavian wining, dining and snacking can be. Many of the itineraries set off from Southampton, making it a great flight-free holiday option. 

8. Lisbon, Portugal

What Mumsnetters say

The Portuguese are amazingly welcoming to small children. Use the little wooden trams and the ferniculars to get up the hill and you’ll have a great time! - Seainasive 

We had a wonderful week in Lisbon. Did soo much, it's fairly small city so can pack a lot it. Highlights included a Hippotrip tour which the kids loved. Stayed in Baixa which was ideal for us - Jittaaa

Why you should go

Less than a three-hour flight from the UK, Lisbon is a great destination for families looking for a sunny European city break with access to wonderful beaches. The Portuguese capital has a laid-back feel and is very welcoming to families - there are parks for playground pit stops and older kids will enjoy checking out the impressive street art scene and riding the traditional trams (note that some streets are pretty steep and lined with cobblestones - something to bear in mind if you’re taking a pram). From castles to custard tarts, there’s something for kids of all ages. And it’s within easy reach of family-friendly beach towns like Cascais and Carcavelos. 

9. Reykjavik, Iceland 

What Mumsnetters say

Still one of my favourite breaks away and will definitely be going back. We did the Golden Circle and Lagoon tours too, and also one where we were driven up to a glacier in a monster truck to go on snow mobiles. Terrifying but fantastic - Bolarpear

Bog standard public swimming pools are amazing, outdoors, geothermally heated with hot pools round the edge at different temperatures - horseymum

Why you should go

Can’t afford a trip to space just yet? Take the kids to Iceland instead where they’ll be awestruck by otherworldly landscapes like atmospheric lava fields and immense geysers. It’s better suited to older kids - not least because it’s a pricey holiday and it’d be good for them to remember and appreciate the expense but also because many of the hot springs don’t allow children under 10 to bathe in the thermal waters. Beyond the Blue Lagoon, there are some fantastic outdoor swimming pools and waterparks as well as fun tours that incorporate things like glaciers, quad biking, horse riding and natural parks. The best time to see the Northern Lights is between September and March if you’re looking for memorable shots for the family album. 

10. Mauritius

What Mumsnetters say

Cheaper to go Long Haul in a fair few cases! 10nights in Mauritius is often cheaper than 7 in Greece! - Elphamouche

Their winter in our summer so around 26C in August - stayed at Sugar Beach and Long Beach and that has beaches, pools, snorkelling with tropical fish, glass bottom boats and trips around the island - Penguinsn

Why you should go

The stuff of desert island dreams, Mauritius is all palm-fringed beaches, sapphire waters and lush mountains. Located off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, it’s around a 11.5-hour flight from the UK but the good news is that it’s only three hours ahead of the UK so you won’t have to deal with jetlag when travelling with juniors. The tropical island is home to some fabulous family-friendly resorts like Mumsnetter-recommended Sugar Beach and Zilwa Attitude, and little ones will love snorkelling and turtle hunting in the calm, sparkling waters. 

About the author

Rachel Erdos is an Editor at Mumsnet where she commissions, edits and writes content with a focus on family travel.

She has written hotel reviews, features and destination guides for top publications including the Guardian, Four Seasons Magazine, Travelzoo, Visit Britain and Visit London. She loves nothing more than researching and writing about fun things for families to do in destinations near and far, as well as trawling the Mumsnet holiday forum for inspiration for her next trip away with her husband and two kids.