Theme park trips, paced for the children
Family breaks to Europe's best-loved parks — hotels within reach of the gates, tickets and transfers arranged, and days built around how long children actually last.
The park is the easy bit
What makes or breaks a theme park trip is everything around it: how far the hotel is, whether you can go back at lunchtime, and whether the rides suit the ages you are travelling with. We plan those first, then book the tickets.
Why book a family break with us
Anyone can buy a ticket. The rest is where trips go wrong.
Built around how long children last
Two shorter park days with a break in between beat one long march every time. The itinerary should be shaped by attention spans, not by getting your money's worth from a ticket.
Close enough to go back at lunchtime
Being able to return to the hotel mid-afternoon is the single thing that most improves a theme park trip with young children — and the thing most often sacrificed to save a little on the room.
Tickets, transfers and queues handled
Timed entry, park-to-hotel transfers and early access all need arranging before you travel. We do that so the trip does not begin with a queue.
What to expect from a theme park break
Two to four nights is usually right
Long enough for two park days without the whole thing becoming an endurance event, and short enough to fit a half term or a long weekend.
Height limits decide a lot
Which park suits depends heavily on the ages and heights of the children. We check the ride restrictions against your group before recommending a destination.
Something for the adults too
The better destinations sit near a city, a spa or a coastline, so the trip is not exclusively theme park for its full length.
Where to go
Parks we arrange trips to
Legoland Windsor
The easiest to reach, and pitched at younger children.
Legoland Billund
The original, in the town where Lego was invented.
Disneyland Paris
The full production, and reachable by train.
Types of retreats
Short Theme Park Breaks
Two or three nights with one or two park days, sized for a long weekend or a half term.
ExploreMulti-Generational Trips
Grandparents, parents and children together, with accommodation and pacing that works for all three.
ExplorePark & City Combined
A couple of park days followed by a city stop, so the adults get something out of it too.
ExploreFestive Park Visits
The European parks at Christmas, when they are decorated, quieter and considerably more atmospheric.
ExploreOther retreat types
Not quite what you had in mind? Explore the rest of the Cherished Retreats collection.
What to consider
Which theme park is best for young children?
For under-eights, Legoland Windsor or Legoland Billund tend to work best — the rides are pitched at that age and the parks are small enough to cover without exhausting anyone. Europa-Park and Disneyland Paris hold up better once children are older.
How many days do we need at the park?
Usually two. One day rarely covers a large park without rushing, and three is more than most younger children will genuinely enjoy. We would rather build in a rest day than a third park day.
Is Cherished affiliated with these parks?
No. We are an independent travel company and are not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting as an agent for Legoland, Merlin Entertainments, Disney or Europa-Park. We arrange travel, accommodation and admission to these destinations on your behalf; all park names and trade marks belong to their respective owners.
Can you arrange tickets and transfers as well as the hotel?
Yes. Timed entry tickets, transfers between hotel and park and any early-access options are best arranged together with the accommodation, since availability on each depends on the others.
Planning a family break?
Tell us the ages of the children and when you can travel, and we will suggest the park and the base that suit them.
Enquire About Family Breaks