CLEVEDON, NORTH SOMERSET AKA BROADCHURCH

The elegant Victorian seaside town of Clevedon is only 13 miles from Bristol and for a family friendly day out at the seaside it has a whole host of activities to do with kids.  It’s all too easy to spend a small fortune on a day out for the family but Clevedon has plenty to keep you busy for a few hours, or even a whole day in summer, for not a lot of cash. You can combine a few of them to make a day out for under £10 for the whole family, saving you plenty for that Caribbean island summer holiday!

You may recognise Clevedon’s Hill Road as the High St of the fictional town Broadchurch, from the TV series of that name. Most of the town and church scenes in the series are filmed in Clevedon, with the beach and coastal scenes being filmed in Dorset.  There is even a small town trail around the key Broadchurch sites!

THE PIER

Clevedon’s jewel in the crown is the Victorian pier, Grade I listed and proclaimed as one of the most beautiful in England. There is a small free for entry and that gives you access to stroll the pier, visit the small museum upstairs in the tollhouse and the Pagoda tea room at the end of the pier. There is also a shop and café that I believe you can access without a ticket. One of our favourite pier activities is looking at the hundreds of brass plaques that line the benches and floor – see if you can spot your name (keeps kids busy for ages). The pier has featured in many movies. Last time I went they were filming a Bollywood movie and it is famed for its appearance in a One Direction music video <doesn’t get more famous than that>.  In the evening the Pier is lit up and makes a really stunning sight at dusk.

THE BEACH

St Tropez this isn’t. You won’t find sandy beaches and palm trees but you will find a stony beach to play on and you can search for fossilised plants. Keep off the mud.

THE MARINE LAKE

Yes the water is uninvitingly brown (not in this photo – don’t be deceived). But that doesn’t stop my daughter swimming in it. The marine lake fills up with sea water, creating a lake to swim in, fish for crabs or play around on in your canoe/inflatable dinghy. For the brave.

SALTHOUSE FIELDS, MINIATURE RAILWAY, PLAYGROUND

Take a picnic, Frisbee, football or stomp rocket and and relax on Salthouse Fields. There is often a bouncy castle there, even in mid-winter, and donkey rides run in the summer. A playground with a separate section for younger kids and a miniature railway complete the activities.

SCOOTERS

The sea front is a good place for kids to go scooting, from the pier round to Salthouse Fields where there is a scooter ramp area.

POETS WALK

Described by Countryfile as one of the best Poets Walks in the UK, this circular walk starts at Salthouse Fields and gives fantastic views of the Severn estuary. For details see the heritage walks link on the Clevedon website.

THE AMUSEMENTS

Clevedon has 1 amusement arcade but is very popular with my kids as it has sweets to win as well as money, which makes it #AMAZING.  You can read more about my penny falls addiction here.

GEOCACHING

If you aren’t already a geocacher, see my post here on how to get started. Clevedon has plenty of geocaches that will keep the kids busy tracking down the ‘treasure’.

THE CURZON CINEMA

The community run Curzon Cinema is a fantastic alternative to the chain multiplexes. occasionally they even have an organist playing as you take your seats in the auditorium.

TYNTESFIELD

If you like the Victorian vibe, check out Tyntesfield, the National Trust property just a few miles from Clevedon.

Clevedon’s Victorian, poetic and TV, music and film connections make it a unique place to stop off for an afternoon of pottering and promenading along the seafront. Enjoy!

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