South Devon is one of our favourite places to visit with the kids. We head down four or five times a year to visit family, and while we’re there, we love exploring everything this beautiful part of Devon has to offer!

With three children of different ages, we’re always looking for the best things to do in South Devon with kids, from exciting theme parks and animal encounters to beautiful beaches, rock pooling and crabbing in picturesque harbours.

Over the years, we’ve discovered some fantastic family attractions and days out in South Devon, particularly around Plymouth, Dartmouth, Torbay and Dartmoor. We’re sharing our favourite places, honest experiences and practical tips to help other families make the most of their Devon holidays.

Exploring South Devon

Our favourite way to plan a family holiday is to mix bigger paid attractions with free or inexpensive days out. A theme park one day, followed by a beach, rock pooling or a morning of crabbing the next, helps the budget go further and gives everyone some variety.

Here are a few of our top tips for saving money on family days out in Devon:

• Book attractions in advance: Online tickets can sometimes be cheaper than paying on arrival.
• Pack a picnic: Bringing lunch, snacks and refillable water bottles can save a surprising amount over a week.
• Check tide times: Particularly important for rock pooling, beach trips and visiting Burgh Island.
• Plan for rainy days: Let’s face it, Devon isn’t always sunny! We always have a wet-weather option up our sleeves.
• Make the most of free activities: Some of our favourite memories involve nothing more than a bucket, a crab line and a few hours by the sea.

Our Favourite Family Attractions in South Devon

We’re gradually building our collection of South Devon family travel guides, sharing places we’ve visited, what our children enjoyed and whether we think they’re worth the money.

To get started, we’ve rounded up our top 10 family attractions in and around South Devon, including theme parks, zoos, aquariums and adventure activities.

We’ve also included money-saving tips and advice on visiting in the rain, so you can plan your days out whatever the Devon weather has in store!

Read our Top 10 Family Attractions in South Devon

And keep checking back! We’ll be adding more family guides covering South Devon’s best beaches, crabbing spots, free days out and hidden gems.