Some of the UK’s top visitor attractions are failing when it comes to serving healthy food to children, according to new research.

Out to Lunch – an annual survey by charity organisation The Soil Association – found that 75 per cent of lunchboxes sold at popular attractions across the UK did not include a portion of vegetables or salad, while more than half included sweets and cakes, but no fresh fruit.

Soil, which supports sustainable food and organic farming in the UK – looked at the UK’s top 20 most popular family attractions, with research undertaken covertly by visiting parents, menu reviews and a questionnaire.

London’s natural history museum (NHM) and Brighton Pier ranked joint bottom of the list, with both attractions scoring 22 out of a possible 150. According to Soil, NHM “declined to disclose basic information regarding the environmental sustainability of its food”, while parents also reported a lack of fresh vegetables or salad in children’s lunchboxes. For Brighton Pier, the survey noted “junk food, appalling service, and enough sugar to sink you to the bottom of the English Channel.”

On the other end of the scale, Cornwall’s Eden Project was came top with 99 out of 150, followed closely by Chester Zoo with 82 out of 150. Of the 20 attractions surveyed, only the Eden Project, Chester Zoo and Durham Cathedral could reliably say where their meat was sourced.

Other statistics to come out of the survey showed that 75 per cent of children’s lunchboxes didn’t include any option for vegetables or salads. Cost was not found as a barrier to good food, with children’s meals at the five bottom scoring attractions on average £1 more expensive than children’s meals at the five top scoring attractions.

"Visitor attractions are making life hard for parents who want to enjoy a healthy and happy day out,” said Rob Percival, Soil Association policy officer.

"Lunchboxes loaded with sugar and unimaginative ultra-processed foods are the norm.

"So long as junk-filled lunchboxes continue to characterise family outings, parents will have a hard time convincing their children that healthy food can be a treat too."

To see the full table, click here.