What to expect on a PGL Family Adventure Holiday!
Going on a family PGL (Parents Get Lost) adventure trip can be a great idea for several reasons, especially if you’re looking to bond, have fun, and try something new together. Here’s our full guide with top tips for a fun PGL Family Adventure Holiday and top tips to make the most of your trip. Choosing a UK holiday can be tricky for families, particularly if you have kids of different ages. Here’s why we think a PGL family adventure holiday is definitely worth considering for families – it is the best holiday for our kids because there something to keep all ages having fun everyday! :
1. Unplug and Reconnect
In a world full of screens and busy schedules, it’s hard to find a holiday that entertains everyone in the family and gets kids off screens. PGL trips create space to disconnect from tech and truly reconnect with each other through shared experiences. Our son is 14 and hardly picked his phone up all holiday and was happy to leave it behind in the room and be out for the whole day.
2. Shared Challenges = Stronger Bonds
Whether it’s tackling a high ropes course, canoeing, or team-building games, overcoming physical and mental challenges together builds trust and teamwork—often more effectively than anything else. Whether it’s tackling a high ropes course, paddling together in a canoe, or working as a team during problem-solving games, these shared adventures are about much more than just having fun. They give everyone in the family the chance to step outside their comfort zones, rely on each other, and celebrate small victories together. Overcoming physical and mental challenges side by side helps build trust, communication, and resilience, it was nice to see our eldest helping our youngest up the high ropes — PGL is a great way to get your family to grow closer!
3. Fun for All Ages
PGL centres design activities with both adults and kids in mind. No one’s left out, and there’s a great mix of action, games, and relaxing downtime.
4. Something New for Everyone
You’ll likely try things you’ve never done before—climbing walls, archery, raft-building. Stepping outside your comfort zone (safely) makes the trip memorable and exciting.
5. Everything’s Organised
You don’t need to plan every detail. PGL handles meals, accommodation, and activities, so you can just enjoy the experience stress-free. It was such a joy not having to cook or even think about any of the kid’s meals on holiday!
6. Meet Other Families
These trips are often social, so your kids (and you) might make new friends, especially in group-based activities. All of the families we met during our time at PGL were great for a chat in the evenings and we’ve even met up with one of the families again since we returned home.
7. Confidence Booster for Kids (and Adults)
Many parents report seeing their children grow in independence and self-esteem after a PGL holiday—skills that come from encouragement and small successes. Read our other fun ideas to get kids (and tweens and teens) outside here! I also felt pretty proud when I plunged off the zipline!
What is a typical day like on a family PGL adventure holiday?
Would you like to know what a typical day on a PGL family trip looks like?
A typical day on a PGL family adventure trip is packed with fun, varied, and inclusive activities—balanced with time to relax and enjoy meals together. Here’s how a day usually flows:
8:00 AM – Breakfast
- A hearty buffet-style breakfast in the dining hall (with options like cereals, toast, hot food, juice, and coffee). There was always a hot option too which my kids loved like bacon sandwiches or sausages on toast. It was great to have a cooked breakfast to start the day!
- You’ll eat with other families, giving a friendly, camp-like vibe.
9:15 AM – Morning Activities Begin
- You’ll usually take part in two instructor-led sessions before lunch.
- These might include:
- Zip wire
- Archery
- Giant swing
- Climbing wall
- Canoeing or raft building
- Parents and kids participate together, which makes for great bonding and shared laughs.
12:30 PM – Lunch
- Hot or cold lunch options served in the dining hall. You basically got two hot meals a day – there was always plenty of food!
- Time to recharge before the afternoon’s adventures.
1:45 PM – Afternoon Activities
- Two more activity sessions, different from the morning.
- Often includes more physically active or team-building tasks like:
- Obstacle courses
- Aeroball (trampoline basketball)
- Sensory trail
- Orienteering
- Zipline
- Instructors adapt the pace for all ages and abilities.
- Two afternoons a week there was a free choice – meaning you could travel to a local town or swim! Our kids chose the swimming option every time!
6 PM – Dinner
- A warm, family-friendly meal (with veggie and dietary options). Our kids liked all the food served – meatballs and spaghetti was a favourite as well as cottage pie and fish and chips!
- Relax, chat, and reflect on the day’s highlights.
Evening Entertainment
Every evening you are also invited along to the evening entertainment. This can be anything from a quiz, to an egg drop or campfire. All the families staying come along to participate (although you don’t have to and can just chill out in the bar!).
Our kids really enjoyed this. Barton Hall has a bar area, pool table, loads of card games and even a Switch – the kids loved the evening entertainment and us grown ups loved that we could have a drink and unwind and chat too!
7:00 PM – Evening Entertainment
- Each night has a different fun group activity, such as:
- Campfire night with songs and marshmallows
- Quiz nights
- Mini-Olympics
- Disco for the kids
- Bingo (our youngest won this several times!)
- Lighthearted and inclusive—no pressure to compete, just fun.
9:00–10:00 PM – Wind Down & Bedtime
- Families return to their rooms or lodges.
- Accommodation varies by centre but is family-style (private rooms with en-suites).
It’s a full but flexible schedule—if you want to skip something and relax, that’s totally fine too.
Why is Barton Hall great for families?
Based in Devon (PGL Barton Hall, Kingskerswell Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 8JY), PGL Barton Hall in Torquay is an excellent choice for a family adventure holiday. Other families tagged the PGL adventure along with a few days or a week relaxing in Devon too – a beach holiday plus all the benefits of outdoor activities! I think we would do this if we visit again.
Honestly, Barton Hall is such a lovely place for a family break. It’s set in this gorgeous spot on the English Riviera with amazing views over Torbay, and it’s really close to Torquay Beach, so you get that seaside vibe without having to go far. There’s loads for everyone to do — the little ones can try things like micro scooters, archery, and canoeing, while the older kids love the zip wire, abseiling, and even axe throwing! There’s lots of play equipment like swing ball out and our kids loved just going off and playing tennis or basketball and just chilling out in the huge gardens. We all got stuck into the family activities too — the raft building and team challenges were such good fun (and hilarious at times). I also liked that there’s a bit of flexibility in the day — you can join in the planned stuff, chill by the outdoor pool (it’s heated!), or go explore locally if you fancy a slower pace. The place itself is a big old country house, really comfy and relaxed, and the food’s all sorted, so you don’t have to think about cooking. It’s just one of those places where you can switch off and enjoy time together without any of the usual stress.
Choose from a 2, 3 or 4 night family adventure holiday at two fantastic UK locations Devon or Lincolnshire and us at Easter, May Half Term, Summer and October half term. Find out how to book your own PGL Adventure Holiday here!
Many thanks to PGL and Our Tribe Travels for our visit to PGL Family Adventures!
