Brean is just minutes off the M5 motorway and has one of the biggest beaches in Europe, a remarkable 7 miles long. It has been an established family holiday destination for decades and has been tipped by the National Press as the hidden discovery for 2024, being only a couple of hours journey from London and the Midlands. With many holiday centres lining the coast, only yards from the beach, families are ensured a traditional beach experience along with entertainment and activities, including the village’s own theme park which is the UK’s biggest that features free admission with over 40 attractions including roller coasters, dodgems, crazy boats and the Terror Castle Ghost Train!
 
Staying at a holiday centre in the village such as Sandy Glade Holiday Park will give you that family entertainment feel after a day at the beach, Brean Theme Park or the nearby Animal Farm Adventure Park. This petting farm is home to more than 250 animals!

There are so many exciting places to stay including Holiday Resort Unity, Warren Farm, Diamond Farm, Southfield Farm, or the exquisite B&B at Yew Tree Farm.
 
If you prefer camping then there are lots of options including the above in the village which is overlooked by the imposing Brean Down, a 318’ high extension of the Mendip Hills that extends into the Severn Estuary. A Napoleonic fort at the end is a great discovery and invigorating walk.
 
From the top of Brean Down you can glimpse the famous resort of Weston-super-Mare. You can hire bicycles in the village and take the gentle route into the town and head for the Grand Pier which is packed with rides, attractions and events – you can enjoy lunch here or just along the wide seafront at Revo Kitchen & Terrace which has amazing 360 degree views and its own Revo Glo Golf, a glow in the dark crazy golf course!
 
Whilst in Weston-super-Mare do check out the new attraction, Little Town Adventures which is an immersive children’s play experience. Described as a combination of escape room style activity, theatre and role play, Little Town Adventures is a miniature recreation of the town and includes its own grand pier, town hall, cinema, vets, police station, fire station, supermarket, and café. Charming!
 
The Somerset coast has immense variety all along from Exmoor’s steep cliffs, harbours at Minehead and Watchet, rock formations at Kilve and piers at Burnham-on-Sea, Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon upon which the One Direction video You & I was filmed ten years ago in 2014.
 
Just 15 minutes inland from Clevedon is Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, with over 100 different species, family activities and a host of exciting animal experiences on offer. The work of this charity is to support, protect and care for the natural world, and to inspire people with a love of our planet and with hope for the future. 
 
A star attraction is Sutton the African Elephant who has just celebrated his tenth birthday! The world-leading elephant facility covers an area of 20 acres with a wide range of state-of-the-art features including a pool, large heated indoor barn with sand yards and water sprinklers, expansive fields and a large willow plantation - Elephant Eden was designed to provide a natural and spacious environment for elephants to foster their physical and mental well-being. Elephant Eden is home to four African elephants, Shaka, Janu, Uli and Sutton. 
 
A common theme along the Somerset coast is how the countryside is always so close and the sense of space and nature being entwined with the holiday experience. The Somerset Levels are a renowned wetland area full of wildlife and a backdrop as you look inland from Brean are the Mendip Hills. The Limestone from which they are comprised is what gives rise to their breath-taking geological features. The village of Cheddar just a few miles inland is famous for its Gorge and Caves, the steep cliffs and vantage points giving panoramic views that capture the variety of this county. The views from the base of the gorge, looking up at Britain’s highest inland limestone cliffs will similarly make the whole family gasp in wonder.
 
Viewing inside the extraordinary subterranean stalactite show caves is a must, plus you will learn many fascinating secrets about our prehistoric ancestors. An immersive multi-sensory visitor experience has been launched this year that uses state of the art lighting, music, animation and colour to tell the story of how the caves were formed and evolved by the power of water.
 
A few miles further east is the exciting Wookey Hole where you will discover caves, legends and adventure as well as the famous witch! A safe route takes families through a number of extraordinary chambers, with added tunnels and walkways. The adventurous can even go deeper with the Wild Wookey experience, an adventure for brave-hearted explorers involving crawling, climbing and abseiling (book in advance via www.wookey.co.uk).
 
Guided tours are in place throughout the day outside of school holidays. During school holidays, you can walk through the caves at your own pace, with knowledgeable guides on hand to answer questions and share stories and legends from Wookey Hole. It’s easy to spend a whole day experiencing the wide variety of attractions that also include a museum, adventure golf, enchanted valley, Wookey Hole circus, 4D cinema and fun in the mill.
 
As well as the M4 and M5 motorway network, GWR trains give easy access to the Somerset coast, see www.gwr.com. Also Berry’s coaches from London see www.berryscoaches.co.uk
 
Find out more about all of these family holiday ideas via www.visitsomerset.co.uk
(pic courtesy Holiday Resort Unity)