Spain

Spain has been the UK family's holiday destination of choice for generations, and it continues to earn that loyalty through a combination of near-perfect practical conditions and a culture that simply and genuinely loves children. Spanish society welcomes kids at restaurants at any hour, on beaches of every description, in cities that come alive in the evenings and in rural landscapes of extraordinary diversity — from the green mountains of the Picos de Europa to the semi-arid drama of Andalucía, the wild Atlantic coast of Galicia to the orange groves of Valencia. The food culture is a particular pleasure for families: tapas encourages adventurous eating without the pressure of a set meal, fresh seafood is available almost everywhere, and the late-evening paseo — the ritual stroll through town as the day cools — means children are naturally part of public life rather than something to be managed around it. Beyond the coast, rural Spain offers farmhouse accommodation, vineyard stays and village life that represents some of the best value family holidaying in Europe, and the climate, reliably warm from May to October across most of the country, makes planning a family trip refreshingly straightforward.