What shall we do this school holiday...?

[MyYouserName]

We were hoping to go to France this Easter (DH, DS12, DD9 and me), but for a number of reasons now can't. We have 10 days free (I have taken holiday from work), and I don't want to just fritter it away. Can you give me some ideas of things preteen kids might like to do/places to go? Is it ever possible to book anywhere nice in the UK at this late stage. Good places for day trips? Where did or do your similar age children love to go in the UK??
TIA!

The reason I'm slightly pathetically asking is that the usual things we'd have done were very young child oriented, and they're outgrowing it all (the usual parks, museums, etc)

Where abouts do you live? How far are you happy to travel, how much are you happy to spend?

Yes, sorry, good questions.
Live in the Midlands, will travel, have about a grand to spent since France cancelled...

A day at the beach if the weather is nice? Alternatively you could look for an indoor water park (we like Sandcastle in Blackpool) if the weather is pants

Have you been to Chester Zoo at all? It's bigger than most of the Midland zoos (Dudley etc) and they've just expanded again with a new Lemur area.

Ooh, indoor water parks a great idea! Thanks @DinoMuseum

Alton Towers
Snozone Milton Keynes
Weekend in Manchester, Liverpool, London
Cottage in Lakes, Peaks, Cotswolds, Northumberland

My kids are one year younger than each of yours and we find the best way to spend time with them is to do something active together. We had an amazing week in the Lake District last summer, doing walks every day, it was so much better than trying to drag them round cultural attractions, although a good castle (e.g. Alnwick), is a great thing to do with kids that age.

Thank you @juneau. That's really helpful. I can't decide between a full on trip and days out. I'm guessing availability may be an issue at this stage tbh. Thanks again - really appreciate it

goape.co.uk/days-out/midlands/cannock?utm_source=google-my-business&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=GoApeCannock

Pgl family breaks are great for a couple of days - lots of different activities and they have last minute Easter offers.

Thank you so much @Palominoo and @mademitlove - looking at both those things