if i like......where else might I like?

[gaahhnonicknamesleft]

We've been very lucky with the weather on our last few holidays in the UK and now completely converted to holidaying in the UK (not to mention ease of transporting small children).

These are the places we now love, what other gems have we been missing out on?

• Pembrokeshire, particularly the st Davids peninsular
• the Gower
• North Devon (though only been out of school hols, now tied to school holidays, does it get very busy?)
• Cornwall (but a bit far for us, from South East, plus see above re school hols)
• I was surprised at how stunning rural Leicestershire is in the spring

Not mad keen on the Lake District or places that are more rugged. Love beaches and DC1 likes castles and museums (though nothing too intellectual as he is only 5!)

Where should we consider for this summer?

Thanks!

[Northumberlandlass]

Northumberland!

[lk26]

Northumberland is fab. Beaches. Castles. Etc. Dorset is also great.
Was going to recommend the Lake District as I live there but saw you don't like it

[SmartAlecMetalGit]

Was also going to say Northumberland, it's pretty well summed up by the phrase "beaches and castles"

We went there loads for family holidays when I was a child (I also adored beaches and castles!) and it was wonderful.

[gaahhnonicknamesleft]

Is Northumberland warm enough for beach paddling (excuse the ignorant southerner)

[AuntieStella]

Norfolk - lots of lovely beaches (more stately homes than castles, though)

Jersey - involves ferry or flight, but great beaches, Durrell zoo, two castles (and duty free allowance as not part of EU)

North Wales/Anglesey

Fife (plus day trip to Edinburgh)

[gaahhnonicknamesleft]

To be fair to the lake district my view probably influenced by receiving bad news while we were there, going back would bring back too many memories. Plus it rained. A lot. Which I suspect goes with there being lakes.

[gaahhnonicknamesleft]

Norfolk is somewhere I've thought about before but never looked into. Going on my list along with Northumberland.

[tryingtocatchthewind]

North Yorkshire is nice; your little one would love the north York moors railway and Whitby/Scarborough are both lovely.

[gaahhnonicknamesleft]

All places beginning with N....

[wume]

Weymouth. Great beach for kids with donkey rides, Punch and Judy, trampolines on the beach and a little fun fair next to it.

Northe Fort for the cannons and underground tunnels.

Harbour for watching the boats.

Nearby is Swanage with Corfe Castle, although it's more a ruin than a castle, and Swanage has a fab steam train which your DS might like.

Monkey world is just up the road as well.

Kimmeridge is close by for fossil hunting.

Can you tell it's my favourite place to take small children

[Northumberlandlass]

My son will swim in North Sea in summer with just his shorts on, he's probably immune to cold though.
It's not THAT cold up here

[Unescorted]

Peaks / Staffadshire Moorlands

[mrstiggy]

Northumberland is my favourite place so far in the UK. Especially if you have NT membership. We spent all week playing on the beach and walking around some fabulous castles and spent hardly anything at all. It's a beautiful place.
Norfolk is nice too, and has been warmer. But everything feels further apart so we felt like we did a fair amount of 'travelling to'.
Filey and Flamborough are nice in Yorkshire.

[MyFriendsCallMeOh]

Hastings in sussex for funiculars up cliffs, seafront with crazy golf and mini trains, smugglers caves, battle of Hastings site and abbey, pop to nearby Rye for tiny cobblestoned town and cream teas. Lots of pyo fruit nearby too..... This is my home town and I go back every summer.

[gaahhnonicknamesleft]

Rye we like but we do as a day trip. Not had a Hastings day trip yet though, thanks for the tip.

Northumberland sounds great, possibly too far away for us though (we also have to drive 280 miles to SW Wales to see inlaws in the summer holidays at some point)

[MyFriendsCallMeOh]

And Hastings has the castle dating from 1067 too of course.... For more castles, Bodiam is a good day out, Leeds castle and we did Hever Castle last summer too, really interesting and amazing grounds with jousting in the summer....

[gaahhnonicknamesleft]

We discovered Bodiam castle recently - the dc thought it was awesome! (their words). And bonus that it was free as National trust membership.

They like ruined castles as they are scared of any one dressed up or the sort of manikins that lots of castles seem to have (scaredy-cat children alert). We have never considered Hastings castle (maybe we should have a staycation instead!)

[weasle]

Dorset! Loads to do, beaches, castles, fossils!