15 Best Activities at Butlins Minehead

Planning a trip to Butlins and want to know what are the absolute BEST activities at Butlins Minehead? 

There’s tons to do at a Butlins resort and it’s great that it provides such value with the all inclusive amenities,  but with so many activities and things to do it can be overwhelming when you’re looking to plan your holiday. Not to mention confusing to consider what needs booking and what doesn’t, or what’s included and what has a cost associated. 

In this post we’ll provide you with a list of the 15 best activities we think you should focus on during your holiday. Also, we answer some of the most common questions around activities at Butlins, including do you have to book activities at Butlins, how to book activities, and does Butlins Minehead have a beach?

If you’re looking to book your visit to Butlins Minehead and are considering where is best to stay then check out our review of the Butlins Silver Apartments. 

What’s in this post? 

If there’s a part of this guide that you’re particularly interested in you can skip straight there by clicking on that section in the contents below. If not, then continue reading for 15 things to do with kids at Butlins Minehead

Where is Butlins Minehead?

Butlins Minehead is located in the south west of England, about 1.5 hours drive from Bristol or under 3 hours from London using public transport. 

We’ve written a full review of the Butlins Minehead resort with tons of additional information including if you have to pay for rides and swimming, all of the accommodation options, and if you can take your dog to Butlins. 

Butlins Minehead Map

List of 15 best activities at Butlins Minehead

The Fairground

The fairground at Butlins Minehead is an included perk of your booking and is mostly free to use – the only exception being the go karts which are £7 a time. 

The fairground is split into two sections with the rides for older kids and adults outside through the back of the Sky Pavilion. This section has 8 rides, including the waltzers, bumper cars, and helter skelter slide. 

The fairground for younger kids is in a building to the side of the Sky Pavilion and opposite Reds. This section has 6 rides, including a slide, mini train, and flying aeroplanes. There’s also the softplay attached next door. 

Sky Pavilion

The Sky Pavilion is the famous white tent and is the hub of every Butlins resort. This is where you’ll find all the action, including the kids entertainment, character meets, the arcade, and some food and drink places. 

There are plenty of seats but during the main kids entertainment it gets packed so make sure you get there early to get a prime spot. 

Play in one of the parks

Minehead has recently opened their sky park, an impressive explosion of colour, towers, tunnels, slides, and interactive games. Suitable for kids of all ages, the accessible and sensory elements are what make this park really special.

There are also a few other parks dotted around the site, including one in the garden of The Beachcomber Inn restaurant and bar meaning you can eat and enjoy a drink or two while the kids can play in front of you and you know they’re secure. 

Splash World

Visiting Butlins means that you get free access to the swimming pool. The pool at Minehead isn’t as good as the pool at the Skegness resort but it does include a few flumes, a lazy river, a wave pool and a smaller area for younger kids.  If you forget your swimming costume then don’t worry as you can buy everything you need there, they have inclusive sizing and pretty good prices considering you’re getting it onsite. 

Visit the beach

The nearest beach is just across the road at the front of the resort. It’s a wide sandy beach that stretches for miles. Follow the beach to the right to walk along to the Minehead and West Somerset Golf Course, or follow the beach to the left to walk into town. The walk into town takes around 10-15 minutes and you can follow the wide path that runs alongside the beach. There are 3 play areas along the path next to the beach that children can use for free.

Explore the local area

Based in the county of Somerset, Minehead sits on the north edge of the Exmoor National Park and is surrounded by the most beautiful scenery.

There are tons of activities to do around the Butlins area, however unless you want to spend half your day on public transport these are all best if you have some form of transport. 

National Trust Dunster Castle and Watermill:  just 10 minutes drive from the Butlins Minehead resort is Dunster Castle and Watermill. Duster Castle has its origins from back in 1066 when the first timber castle was built on the site. It was built in its current form in 1868, sitting atop the hill it really is a sight to be seen.

Visit Exeter City Centre: Exeter City Centre is compact enough to make it really walkable yet still has plenty of restaurants, bars, unique shopping, and amazing architecture. You can get into Exeter in around 1 hour and 20 minutes by car.

Venture into Devon: Devon is the next county down from Somerset and has some of the most stunning countryside and beaches. If you have a car it’s well worth visiting a few small towns to experience some of what Devon has to offer. 

If you want to stay a bit closer to the resort you can visit along the top of the Devon coast line, visiting Lynmouth, Ilfracombe, and Woolacombe – widely known as one of the best beaches in the UK. 

For a well rounded day trip you can take the steam train and boat trip that runs from Paignton to Totnes, then on to Dartmouth, over to Kingswear, and finally back up to Paignton

Walk into Minehead

Minehead town centre is around 10-15 minutes walk from the Butlins site and is a great way to spend an afternoon. Just follow the beach to the left from the front gates and walk along the beach. When you see the W.S Railway on your left turn up the road to the side of it to get onto the main street. 

There are so many different types of shops from standard high street shops to small independent ones selling children’s clothes, home decor, and even homemade marshmallows!

Have lunch in the Hairy Dog pub

If you’re looking for somewhere off the Butlins site you have to visit The Hairy Dog pub located in the Minehead town centre. 

The food isn’t anything to shout about – especially considering the cost is quite high. However, they’ve clearly spent a huge amount of money on a massive wooden play area in the garden. 

There are several slides, a rope bridge and many different sections that are completely free as long as you’re eating or drinking in the pub. 

When you walk up the main high street from the beach it’s a couple of minutes up on your left hand side. 

Book an activity

There are many activities for both adults and kids at Butlins Minehead, including football club, archery and mini golf. Some activities are included but need to be booked, some need to be paid for and some don’t even need to be booked so it’s best to check on the app and book where required. 

If you get an unexpected day on the resort and haven’t booked an activity you can chance your luck and turn up to the activity to see if they have any spaces but just be aware that if they’re fully booked they will turn you away. 

Make something in the craft centre

Similarly to the activities on offer, there are many sessions you can join in the craft centre, including pottery painting, potting and painting and t-shirt design. You should book these sessions as they can get busy, especially if it’s a rainy day but if you want to chance your luck there is a small area for you to wait with the kids to see if there’s a space.  

We did the potting and painting after trying and failing (we hadn’t booked) to get into the pottery painting. I’d absolutely recommend it as not only do you get a small plant pot to paint but you also get to plant a little seed in it at the end, plus it’s completely free! 

Catch a show

There are two main stages where you can catch a show at Butlins Minehead, both have different themes and types of entertainment. 

The Skyline Stage is the main stage for kids entertainment and can be found in the Skyline Pavilion. It’s more open and is in the centre of some of the shops, bars and arcade. You don’t need to book for the Skyline Stage, however despite there being loads of seats it gets really busy so you want to get there early to get a seat right at the front near the stage.

Reds is where you’ll see live music, game shows and family discos and parties. between the main gate and Skyline Pavilion and is a separate building so is more enclosed. You need to book for this and get there a bit earlier as you don’t book a specific seat and it gets busy quickly. 

Play in the arcade

The arcade at Butlins Minehead has so many things to play on – from 2p machines to state of the art VR games, and those games that just churn out tickets. The main arcade is in the Sky Pavilion and although busy we always managed to find a free machine to play on. 

The only thing I’d flag is that the shop where you can exchange tickets for prizes is only open certain times so don’t wait until your last morning to exchange them – it’ll be busier because everyone is leaving and it doesn’t open until the afternoon. 

Play mini-golf

Mini golf is an activity that you have to pay for but it’s really low cost at just £5 per person. You get to enjoy 9 holes of mini golf and there’s no minimum age limit so the whole family can enjoy this activity together. 

Spend time in the soft play

Keep the kids busy in between shows with the onsite soft play. Even though it’s compact there’s all the stuff you’d expect to see in a soft play and it feels secure with parent seating next to the door. The soft play is free to use whether you’re visiting for a day or a week. 

Brave the aerial adventure

Nothing gets the blood pumping like a climbing wall, high ropes, zip wire or free falling off the tower. It’s only £8 to £13 per person to experience one of the aerial activities available. These are bookable so make sure you download the Butlins app to secure your booking. 

FAQs for the best activities at Butlins Minehead

Do you have to book activities at Butlins Minehead?

Some activities – like the sports clubs, crafts and certain shows do need to be booked, however other activities – like the Splash World, arcade and fairground don’t need to be booked. The best way to check if an activity you want to do needs to be booked is to check on the Butlins app, you’ll be able to see if an activity should be booked, where to book it and how much it’ll cost.

How do you book activities at Butlins? 

All activities can be booked via the Butlins App. 

I’d recommend downloading the Butlins app before your visit as it has loads of useful information and a map of the Butlins site so you can familiarise yourself before you go. If you’ve already booked your stay at Butlins Minehead check their website to find the entertainment and activity schedule for your stay.

Do you have to pay for activities at Butlins? 

There are some activities included in your Butlins holiday – the fairground, swimming, entertainment, and the beach to name a few. There are also some additional activities that need to be paid for, including adventure golf, aerial adventure, football academy, crafting, and the go-karts

Is there evening entertainment at Butlins?

There are tons of evening shows and kids entertainment at Butlins Minehead. Head to either the Skyline Pavilion, Reds or Studio 36 to join in on live music, game shows, family discos and singalongs. You can find a list of all shows and entertainment on the Butlins website.

What time does evening entertainment start at Butlins? 

Although there are shows throughout the day, the evening entertainment starts from 6pm. 

Can you get on the beach from Butlins?

There is a beach nearby to Butlins Minehead. It doesn’t have direct access but it’s right across the road from the main gate and easy to access, 

Do you have to book for Butlins swimming? 

You don’t have to book to access the swimming, however it does get busier around an hour after it opens and there’s quite a queue before opening, so I’d advise you get there around 15 mins after it opens. 

Do you have to stay at Butlins to use the pool? 

You can use the pool if you buy a day pass at Butlins Minehead. 

Can you walk from Butlins to Minehead? 

You can walk from  Butlins to Minehead, it takes around 10 – 15 minutes and is a nice stroll on a wide path alongside the beach. 

Are there arcades at Butlins?

The arcade at Butlins Minehead is located inside the Skyline Pavilion.

Is the fairground included in the Butlins price? 

The Fairground is free to anyone who is visiting and staying overnight or who have booked a day pass at Butlins. 

Final thoughts on the best activities at Butlins Minehead 

Butlins Minehead is a great place for a family holiday or day out with tons of activities available. There are activities to suit everyone in the family, from arcades and sport activities for older kids to Little Stars Fairground and Skyline Pavilion entertainment for the younger ones. Adults can unwind in one of the many bars or pub gardens, or watch a show in Reds or Studio 36.

Based on our visit I’d recommend these three activities as the best things to do with kids at Butlins Minehead. 

1. Fairground – at the fairground you’ll find such a wide range of activities for all different age groups. You could easily spend hours here, especially when pretty much all of the rides are free. 
2. Beach/Minehead – I’ve grouped these because you need to walk along the beach to get to Minehead town centre so you may as well do them both at the same time. The sandy beach is stunning with the hills in the background and the town centre of Minehead is really cute with independent shops and tons of places to eat. 
3. Sky Park – the Sky Park is a great addition to any Butlins holiday with it’s huge towers, slides and tunnels. All of the interactive games will keep the kids entertained for hours and as an added plus there are many accessible features that have really been well thought through.