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Wales is home to many seaside resort towns, and one of those is Rhyl, located in the northeast within the county of Denbighshire. Just over an hour’s drive away from Liverpool and Manchester, Rhyl offers fantastic views of the Welsh coast, traditional seaside shops, cycle and footpaths for long relaxing walks and water sports for all the family to enjoy. If you are considering taking the kids here on a summer holiday or a weekend away, here are our top 10 things to do in Rhyl with kids:

1. Seaquarium Rhyl

Open daily from 10am till 4pm, Seaquarium Rhyl sits on the North Wales coastline and features species from all around the world on show in nine different zones, as well as an outdoor Seal Cove where you will find an exhibition of underwater views of the seals in their 330,000 litre pool. As the largest aquarium in North Wales, there is plenty for the kids to see here, including an underwater tunnel which boasts sharks and rays, a ‘Fantastic Phobias’ exhibit featuring spiders, cockroaches and locusts and a Tropical Reef Zone where you will be amazed by the colourful array of clownfish, puffer fish and elusive moray eels. By the time you’ve looked round you may be rather peckish and luckily the aquarium offers food and drinks, either to eat in or take away. Tickets for children aged 3-15 are £11.99, adults £13.50, over 66s £12.50 and under 3’s go free, you can book tickets here.

2. Rhyl Beach

The main beach here in Rhyl is a vast expanse of sand stretching for around two miles from the Clwyd Estuary to Splash Point. Depending on whether the tide is in or out, Rhyl beach can become enormous and a perfect place to enjoy a leisurely walk with your family or between October and April, as dogs are banned between 1st May and 30th September, your furry friends. There is also lots of entertainment surrounding Rhyl Beach including amusement arcades, crazy golf and as mentioned earlier, the Seaquarium. The sea here is safe for bathing and the beach does have a lifeguard service. When it comes to parking, there is a pay and display, disabled parking and a park and ride service during summer.

3. The Palace Fun Centre

If you’re looking for some great fun for you and the kids, this is your place! This centre features several forms of amusement, from Geronimo’s Adventure Playzone, deemed the most famous Play Area in North Wales which boasts three floors of challenges, a 25ft drop slide and a junior assault course, to the Lazer Zone where you can play Lazer games in smokey and ultra violet room with loud music, to an indoor Adventure Mini Golf 9-hole course. The centre also offers party package bookings for your children and you can either click here or call 01745344446 to inquire. The Palace Fun Centre is open seven days a week from 9am till 10pm and is located on Rhyl Promenade just a five-minute walk away from Seaquarium. 

4. Rhyl Air Show

Taking place on the 27-28th August 2022, the annual Rhyl Air Show will return this summer, after being cancelled for the past two years due to Covid-19, with a strong RAF presence and will be headlined by the Red Arrows. The event is a free seaside airshow that will also see the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, an RAF Eurofighter Typhoon and an RAF Grob Tutor.  Over the weekend there will also be other family-friendly activities on hand and plenty of choice of places to eat and drink too, so this spectacular event is ideal to farewell warm summer days and the school holidays. If this sounds like something you or your children would be interested in, we actually have a whole article reviewing a previous Rhyl Air Show here.

5. Rhyl Miniature Railway

First opening on the 1st May 1911, Rhyl Railway has been delighting visitors for over 100 years and offers a nostalgic experience for children of all ages and the adults too. Begin your visit by enjoying a train ride on what is now Britain’s oldest miniature line, and you can see the steam trains which were built during the 1920s and have been carrying passengers for the last eighty-odd years! There is also a museum here where you can take a look at the exhibits which have been designed to amuse the little ones too, and enjoy a good cup of tea or coffee and confectionery in the ticket office. Located at Marine Lake, this experience costs just £3 for the adults and £2 for the kids (aged 2-14) and is even dog-friendly, to take a look at the timetables click here.

6. Bodelwyddan Castle and Park

Essentially a very grand Victorian house which was reconstructed between 1830 and 1832, Bodelwyddan Castle and Park is set in a beautiful country park and is also home to the National Portrait Gallery in Wales. The castle has recently been bought by a hotel group which means you can actually stay here, click here for more info. The house itself is beautiful and full of history, and there are activities for you all to enjoy, including Nordic walking, archery, and cycling routes. Outside the grounds, there is a maze and gorgeous gardens which you can spend time exploring. If you want to read more about Bodelwyddan Castle and Park, we have a full review on our blog, just click here. 

7. Marine Lake

Twelve hectares in size, Marine Lake is man-made reservoir next to the mouth of the River Clwyd and offers plenty of water activities to entertain the family. From water-skiing and wake-boarding (only permitted through the Ocean Beach Water Ski Club so make sure to inquire with them first), to canoeing, kayaking, wind-surfing and sailing (given that you have an insurance certificate or boat sticker), you can make a full day of it at Marine Lake. However, even if you’re not interested in taking part in any water sports, this is a lovely location to sit at and have a picnic, to give crabbing a try (there are plenty of places to buy everything you need for this) or to take a leisurely walk alongside.

8. SC2

If you’re visiting Rhyl, SC2 will guarantee an action-packed day out for you and the kids. There is a waterpark, which boasts several slides and flumes, is suitable for all ages and abilities and children can explore water with a maximum depth of 90cm. There is also a water confidence area which graduates from 0cm to 30cm which is perfect for parents and toddlers who want to enjoy a paddle and splash about. Perfect for relaxing in the sun (if you get lucky with the weather), there is also an outdoor terrace and seating area and the Outdoor Splash Pad which is centered around a paddling pool, ideal for younger children, toddlers and infants. If the children aren’t interested in being in the water, then the SC2 Adventure Play is great fun, with bright and fun characters, ropes, slides and puzzles, or they could try the Ninja TAG assault course which is basically a cross between Total Wipeout and Ninja Warrior. For more info, including prices and opening hours, visit their website here.

9. Les Harkers Amusements & Bingo

This is your perfect rainy day activity, an amusement arcade with games for all ages, right by the seaside and guaranteed to keep the kids happy for hours. With your classic arcade games such as slot, grabber and fruit machines, as well as new machines and not to mention a prize bingo, it’ll take you adults right back to your childhood. After an afternoon playing in this arcade you may be quite hungry but don’t worry because there are plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby including The Submariner Cookhouse & Pub, Les & Rita’s Fish Bar and Rhyl Spice.

10. Kinmel Bay

Only a five-minute drive away from Rhyl is this seaside village with a beautiful sandy beach which is perfect for family holidays, with funfairs, carousels and the chance to build some top tier sandcastles. Not only that, but this Bay attracts serious water sport enthusiasts due to its canoeing and windsurfing popularity and there is also a harbour where you will see yachts and fishing boats. There is also the neighbouring resort of Towyn which is bustling with cafes, restaurants and shops and where you will find the Tir Prince Leisure Park and Knightley’s Fun Park. So if you’ve managed to fit in all the activities and sights that Rhyl has to offer and you’re wondering how to keep the kids amused until the very end of your holiday, take a little trip here and you won’t be disappointed!