Top Family Friendly things to do in St. Bees

The Cumbrian seaside village of St Bees is a popular place for family holidays due to its sandy white beaches and picturesque countryside. There is a range of activities to get involved with in and around the village such as beach days, summer camping, ice cream and fish and chips shops, little hikes and train rides!

  • Camping

St Bees and the surrounding areas offer a small selection of family friendly seaside campsites with plenty of space for kids to enjoy games on the beach and a night under the stars… 

- Seacote Park 

Tourers and motorhomes: £18 per night, 2-5 person tents: £15 per night

Seacote Park is beautiful, classic campsite set right beside the seaside at St Bees. The site welcomes all types of tourer vehicles including camper vans and motorhomes and has a large grassed area for tents too. The holiday park itself is huge consisting of a seafront hotel, lots of luxury static holiday homes and space for classic camping. The sites location is ideal for exploring St Bees and is within walking distance of the village, the beach and the Coast to Coast footpath. 

  • Ravenglass Camping and Caravan Park

Around 30 minutes away from St Bees on the outskirts of Ravenglass, the family friendly Ravenglass Camping and Caravan Park is nestled within six acres of glorious woodland. The site combines classic camping with modern facilities offering pitches for tents and campervans alongside luxury glamping pods. A day trip to St Bees can enjoyed from the campsite alongside other locations such as Ravenglass, Eskdale and Langdale. 

  • Little Walks for Little Legs

When hiking with kids, you want to choose an easy, accessible walk with lots of exciting features. Here are a few family walks from St Bees to start with…

  • St Bees Beach

A mile long walk along the St Bees Beach from the village is ideal for little legs. You can choose to walk along either the beach or the promenade, however the sandy shores may be more exciting for children as they can dip their feet in the sea, run along the sand and maybe build some sandcastles on the way! Treat your little one after their walk to some tasty fish and chips or an ice cream. 

  • St Bees to Stanley Pond

This circular walk is around 3.6 miles and is suitable for older children who can walk unaided. The route follows the St Bees valley and joins the Coast to Coast path near Stanely Pond. The route begins at St Bees station car park, crosses the railway and heads towards the priory. The footpath goes on to pass by the original entrance of St Bees school before reaching Wood Lane. When you reach the beyond field, the route continues on the valley floor, crossing a stile before a tunnel under the railway is reached. Go under the railway, cross Pow Beck and head across the filed towards Stanley Pond. The pond is a haven for wild ducks and the occasional heron; challenge your kids to spotting some of the birds! The route returns via High House Road. 

  • Hartley’s Café and Shop 

Treat your kids after a day of exploring to the Lake District’s famous, Hartley’s ice cream at St Bees’ Hartley’s Café and Shop at Seacote Beach. The tasty ice cream is locally produced at their premises in the nearby town of Egremont. The ice cream shop is family run and has been producing famous ice cream and sorbets since 1931. 

  • The Rum Story

The Rum Story exhibition in the nearby town of Whitehaven is a great family day out, filled with tales  of smugglers, pirates and the dark history of the slave trade associated with Whitehaven’s Jefferson family, all brought to life through models and fun displays. The exhibition is set in the original cellars and warehouses of the Jefferson’s former home dating back to 1785. In the ‘haunted’ cellars you will hear tales of Blackbeard and piracy on the high seas, smugglers, and Nelsons Navy, see Elliot Ness's office in the gangster days of the Jazz Age and discover the story of Whitehaven's maritime fortunes and the Jefferson's family's trading past. Despite the attraction focusing around rum, the exhibition is fun and educational making it great for kids, including arts & crafts workshops, fun displays and a café. 

  • The Beacon Museum

Take a train ride over to Whitehaven town and visit the Beacon Museum, which is situated on the Marina. The newly refurbished Beacon offers an interactive learning experience for the whole family and illustrates the history and development of the Copeland Region through interactive displays, artefacts, maps, galleries and more. Once you’ve explored the museum, you can enjoy a bite to eat in the café and take a look around the gift shop.