Where to charge your car (and tire out your kids)
Here are some of the best summer holiday activities with convenient EV charging — whether you’re off fossil hunting, castle exploring, or riding rollercoasters.
Got an EV and a family to entertain? I’ve pulled together the best summer holiday activities with convenient car charging — whether you’re off fossil hunting, castle exploring, or riding rollercoasters.
Every destination here includes EV chargers either on-site or nearby. Underlined headers take you to more info with details, tips, and links.
Let’s start with some personal recommendations of places I’ve enjoyed from recent Charge Happy posts.
🦕 Hunt fossils in Lyme Regis, Dorset
Still one of our most popular posts, if you want to go fossil hunting on the Jurassic coast, take in a museum, or go for a beach walk, you’ve got some nice AC charging options in Lyme Regis.
🏄♀️ Try surfing near Edinburgh, Scotland
Lost Shore Surf Resort came in as a community submission, and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. If you want to try inland surfing not far from Edinburgh, check this place out.
🏖️ Find a hidden beach in Manorbier, Wales
If you’re not heading abroad but still want to go to the beach, you’re spoilt for choice in the UK. One of my favourites is Manorbier beach (near Tenby) in Wales. There are AC chargers in the beach car park, which is very convenient.
If you’re an adventurous family, check out the recommendations for coasteering and scrambling down to a hidden beach.
⚙️ Step into codebreaking history at Bletchley Park
If you love science, computing, and history, Bletchley Park is a great choice for a day out. There are great value family tickets available, and they cover 12 months of visits.
The surrounding area also has plenty to do, whether that’s visiting Xscape in Milton Keynes or stopping off at Willen Lake for some watersports — they all have EV chargers.
🐢 Slow travel = better family road trips
If your kids need to stop more than your car does, you’re not alone. Instead of rushing from A to B (and ending up at a dull service station), why not plan stops that add to the adventure?
Look for spots with a walk, an activity, or a brilliant café nearby. Destination EV charging is the perfect excuse to stretch your legs.
If you have any tips for travelling with kids or want to suggest a stop that’s fun for the whole family, you can submit your EV charging recommendation here.
More ideas for summer holiday activities
Still need some more ideas? How about theme parks with electric car charging, places to play, Taskmaster-themed challenges, and a chance to be immersed in art and culture?
🎢 Theme parks with EV chargers
Love a bit of a thrill? Here are some theme parks with EV charging around the UK.
Legoland Resort, Windsor
- 34 charging bays provided by RAW Charging
Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire
- 10 chargers at Car Park 1
- 10 chargers at the Splash Landings Hotel
- 6 chargers at the Alton Towers Hotel
Chessington World of Adventures, Kingston upon Thames
- 16 chargers at the main hotel car park
- 4 of these chargers are prebookable
Thorpe Park, Surrey
- 16 22kW chargers
Diggerland
- Locations in Kent, Devon, Durham, and Yorkshire
- All have free EV charging provided by EVision (first-come, first-served basis)
🌳 National Trust Summer of Play
I’ve written about how great National Trust properties are for charging before. (More on the fantastic Wimpole Hall Estate and Farm here.)
The Summer of Play features more than 100 different play events across the UK's National Trust sites, delivered throughout the summer holidays. Here are some of our top picks from locations with EV chargers.
Crazy Golf at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
Complete the nine-hole beach-themed course in the Arboretum. This activity is suitable for all ages (recommended 4+). That means adults, children, teenagers, friends, and grandparents.
Game days at Wallington Estate, near Morpeth, Northumberland
There are two sessions per day with different activities to try. There’s badminton, archery, hockey, tennis, and much more.
Garden of Imagination at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire
The Garden of Imagination is back in the Kitchen Garden this summer. There’s a range of activities, from racing around the hobby horse course to putting on a stage performance for family and friends.
💡 Looking for something a little different? Here’s a list of all the National Trust properties with EV charging.
Top Tip:
Unsure where to plug in? If you’re not sure what’s nearby an activity or attraction, put the address into Zapmap to find local chargers.
🎨 Art and culture activities
Looking for something arty or want to visit a museum? Check out some of these activities with nearby charging.
Go Go Safari, Norwich, Norfolk
- Nearby charging in Rose Lane car park
- You can also check out the newly reopened keep at Norwich Castle.
Pattern Making Poetry, Leeds Art Gallery
- Nearby charging in the Q-Park on Wellington Street
Festival of Archeology, Penlee House, Penzance
- Nearby charging in several car parks in Penzance
LEGO craft programme, Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry
- Nearby charging in several car parks in Coventry
💌 Taskmaster at English Heritage sites
English Heritage has teamed up with the creators of the Taskmaster TV show to bring real-life tasks to select historical sites across the UK — perfect if your family loves a silly challenge.
Dover Castle, Kent
- Nearby chargers in St James Retail Park and Fishmonger’s Lane car park
- Find more to do in Kent here (including Ninja Warrior activities…)
- If you’re planning on getting the ferry from Dover to the continent, there’s more info in the next section
Audley End House and Gardens, Cambridgeshire
- Nearby chargers in Saffron Walden
- It’s not far from the Duxford Imperial War Museum, if you have a few days in the area.
Bolsover Castle, Chesterfield, Derbyshire
- Nearby chargers in Middle Street car park and at the Morrisons in Bolsover
Carisbrooke Castle, Newport, Isle of Wight
- Nearby chargers in Chapel Street car park
Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, Cornwall
- Nearby chargers in Falmouth, including Grove Place car park
- If you’re travelling on the M4, here’s a great charging location at a farm shop
🎈 Here’s the full list of English Heritage locations with Taskmaster activities on this summer.
⛴️ Heading further afield with your car?
If you’re planning to hop on the ferry at some point during the summer holidays, you can charge your car at most ports before you depart. Here's a list of EV chargers at Dover, Portsmouth, and more.
Dover
FastNed Charging Hub, Snargate Street, Dover, CT17 9AP
- 6 x ultra-rapid (400kW) charging bays
Portsmouth
InstaVolt charging station, International Port Wharf Rd, Portsmouth, PO2 8SP
- 2 ultra-rapid chargers
APCOA Multistory car park, Continental Ferry Port, George Byng Way, PO2 8SP
- 3 Compleo 7kW chargers
Holyhead
GRIDSERVE, Holyhead Clock Tower, Rear Short Stay Car Park, Turkey Shore Road, Ferry Terminal 1, Holyhead, LL65 1DQ
- 2 chargers with 5 connectors, up to 60 kW
Cairnryan
Fuuse, Loch Ryan Port, Belfast Way, Cairnryan, Dumfries and Galloway DG9 8RG.
- 8 chargers, up to 100kW
