Ten Things to Do in Warwickshire That Won't Bore Your Teenager
Getting a teenager out of the house and actually engaged is a skill in itself. Warwickshire makes it easier than you might think. From waterparks and axe throwing to alpaca walks, escape rooms, creative experiences, and genuinely cool days out, there's far more here than the usual heritage trail. Here are ten of the best - tried, tested and firmly in the "OK, that actually wasn’t boring" category of ten experiences that genuinely land with the 14-and-over crowd. No history required.
Axe Throwing & High Ropes at Go Ape, Coombe Abbey
Go Ape Coventry at Coombe Abbey is set across 500+ acres of parkland. Up in the treetops you'll find ziplines over forest and treetop crossings that test your nerve, while back at ground level, Archery Tag and Axe Throwing are waiting. The Plummet - a 12-metre free-fall drop - is the centrepiece. Axe throwing is 16+; the high ropes and Plummet are for anyone over 1.4m tall. Book both for a full day.
Feed a Giraffe (or become a zookeeper for a day) at Twycross Zoo
Twycross is the only zoo in the UK with all four types of great ape: chimps, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans. But the real draw for teens is the experiences: feed the giraffes and have the chance to ask expert large mammal keepers any questions, or go behind the scenes with the zoo's critically-endangered species. The Junior Keeper day or a single animal encounter makes for an unusual and genuinely memorable afternoon.
Walk an Alpaca (and step inside the meerkat enclosure) at Lucky Tails, Atherstone
A small and completely unpretentious farm experience that punches well above its weight. Step inside the meerkat enclosure and meet the cheeky meerkats up close - watch them play and climb and even feed them as they come to say hello. Or take an alpaca for a walk around the farm. The micro pig experience and the ability to sit in the field while baby alpacas play around you are genuinely lovely, whatever age you are. Very bookable, very photogenic.
The MAD Museum, Stratford-upon-Avon
Nothing to do with history - this is Warwickshire's most underrated attraction. The MAD Museum is a quirky attraction housing over a hundred pieces of kinetic art and automata from artists all around the world. Think of the machines used in Wallace and Gromit, Scrapheap Challenge and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Nearly everything is interactive - press buttons, release your inner inventor. In a world full of computer screens and 'do not touch' signs, MAD is refreshingly satisfying, even for the older teens (as long as no-one’s watching). Rolling ball machines, roaring mechanical dinosaur heads, 3D faces, sand pictures, enormous marble runs you build yourself.
Paintball, Adventure Sports Warwick
If your teens have any competitive instincts whatsoever, paintball at Adventure Sports in Warwick is going to be a very good afternoon. Set across 50 acres of woodland at their 100-acre outdoor activity centre on Wedgnock Lane, the paintball setup includes multiple themed playing layouts - the Trenches, Pyramid Field, Tyre City, and the Tunnels - with around six games in a two-hour private session, so there's plenty of time to refine tactics, settle scores and emerge covered in paint. Standard paintball is suitable for 12 and over, uses compressed air-powered semi-automatic guns, and includes overalls, gun and goggles. Groups of 6 to 60 are catered for, it's a private session so you won't be mixed in with strangers, and a dedicated marshal briefs, referees and keeps things moving throughout. And if you want to make a full day of it, Mr Karting is on the same site - also on this list.
The Wave Indoor Waterpark, Coventry
An award-winning waterpark right in the city centre with high-speed slides, the UK's largest wave pool, a lazy river and a splash zone. There's something for thrill, spill and chill seekers of all ages to enjoy. Book in advance - sessions sell out.
Paddleboarding or Kayaking on the River Leam, Leamington Spa
Get in the zone with a family kayak or stand-up paddleboard experience in the heart of Royal Leamington Spa. Your coach from Leam Boat Centre, based at Jephson Gardens, will give you a fun introduction to either watersport, or help you to up-skill if you're already handy with paddles and boards. A genuinely fun outdoor activity right in the town centre. Great for a summer afternoon, and falling in is half the point.
Escape Rooms - Stratford-upon-Avon or Hatton Country World
There are two strong options depending on where you are in the county and the theme you’d like to experience with original fun puzzles, with game hosts offering helpful clues if you really need them. Each is packed with eureka moments that make you feel like a genius when solved - challenging enough to be rewarding, and recommended for groups of friends or families of all ages. Both venues are bookable online and worth reserving ahead, especially during school holidays.
The Coventry Transport Museum, Coventry
Completely free and nothing like a normal museum. The sleek lines of British-designed ThrustSSC, the supersonic car that holds the 763mph World Land Speed Record, send a tingle down the spine - experience for yourself the sheer thrill of driving the fastest car on earth across America's Black Rock Desert in the 4D Simulator. There are also the fastest production cars ever built, early electric vehicles and royal limousines. The 4D simulator alone is worth the trip, and everything else is free on top of it.
Outdoor Karting at Mr Karting, Warwick
The only outdoor karting circuit in Coventry and Warwickshire, run by racers and built on a love of motorsport, Mr Karting focuses on making every lap enjoyable, safe and exciting. From relaxed arrival-and-drive sessions to competitive racing from the age of 8 years with competitive sessions on track available for drivers aged 14 and over. All safety equipment is provided and the circuit is set within the 110-acre Adventure Sports site at Wedgnock Lane, Warwick. Sessions run seven days a week but pre-booking is essential - and worth doing well in advance for weekend slots.
Warwickshire - something for everyone - even reluctant teens
One of the best things about Warwickshire for families with older teenagers is how varied it is - you can go from tropical butterflies to disc golf to a proper spa afternoon without leaving the county. Whether you're filling a school holiday, planning something special for a birthday, or just looking for a day out that everyone will actually enjoy, there's more here than most people realise. The full Visit Warwickshire website has everything you need to plan your trip, including opening times, booking links and the latest events across the county.