Where to visit in the UK?

[KurriKawari]

DD11 and I cannot afford a holiday abroad this year, so looking to do something in the UK. Over the years we've done Worcester, London, Chester and York (which she loved). Looking for somewhere we can travel to via train from Birmingham. While it needs to be kid friendly, DD isn't keen on museums - she loves cathedrals, zoos, just mooching around, going for a walk and seeing where we end up, street shows, art & crafts, parks, canals etc. Am trying to think outside the box, but if anyone has any they'd be gratefully received.

Edinburgh, especially with the festival coming up. Cheaper to stay out of Edinburgh and as kids (under 15) travel for £1 on the train anywhere in Scotland it would be worth it to stay a bit further out and travel in. Also great access to other parts of Scotland from Edinburgh

Norwich. Tons of arty stuff, beautiful city and architecture, eady to mooch around, 2 cathedrals and easy train rides to the coast. Cromer is 45 mins on the train amd has a zoo.

Liverpool
Fabulous cathedrals
Ferry across the Mersey
Mathew street
Always something going on

Oh wow the fringe festival looks amazing for kids and it's just a 1hr flight from Birmingham at decent prices, thank you!

Another vote for Liverpool if you want a great City for a mooch around.

Exeter, with other parts of Devon to explore by train.

Cardiff, you can get a mega bus from £7 each way. Plenty of castles, and short train rides to beaches nd country side

Definitely Edinburgh. A fantastic city. Check out the underground vault tours, and there is some really cool Harry Potter links in the area. There's a treasure hunt of sorts of finding different statues of Oor Willie that is really fun this year. So many free, cool things to do in summer.

Exeter is pretty crap, though you can get to the seaside from there.
Maybe Durham, with some time in Newcastle which has a seaside and a Chìnatown.

Definitely recommend Edinburgh, we live here and never get bored in summer

Edinburgh is amazing. There's a Premier Inn at The Gyle (I'm sure that's what it's called) right on the airport tram line and the line goes right into Edinburgh. It's been really reasonable any time we've stayed, the one in Leith is fab as well.

Re the fringe so many free shows on top of the inexpensive pay for ones. Really quite frustrating our kids go back to school mid way in 🙄

Good luck finding accommodation though!

Chester! Excellent zoo, cathedral, Roman remains...

Winchester has a lovely cathedral and is beautiful to wander around.

You'll be hard pressed to find accommodation in Edinburgh at this point - it'll all be booked up or massively expensive (unless you're very lucky) but as others say you can stay just outside Edinburgh and travel in.

Edinburgh isn't a massive city and there are lots of places that travelling in is easy from. If you're North of the city you get to travel in over the iconic Forth bridge, for example.

Edinburgh's absolutely stunning, the festival is brilliant fun and there's absolutely loads to do for DC. Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for some celebrity spotting during the festival.

Ooh, have a look at AirBnB - there are still some affordable places in town, especially if you and DD would be happy sharing a double bed?

What's your approx. budget for accommodation?

Whitby is an awesome place to visit!

Bath, hostels good and train to Chippenham and Bristol for Zoo & cathedral. If you can get to Wells the cathedral there has the most amazing clock which is well worth watching at 11 or 12 o’clock - wells is the smallest city in the UK I think

Not quite sure why Exeter is crap. There is a cathedral there, nice walk along the canal and parks. Nearby there is Paington Zoo, one of the biggest in the country and Living Coasts in Torquay. Totnes would be good for a mooch. All things the OP asked for

Brighton. It has something for everyone, regardless of budget. You’ve got Drusillas at Alfriston, there’s the old town, crazy golf, the aquarium and go carts at Hastings, Beachy Head, Eastbourne, trains going in every direction.

South Wales. I’d base myself somewhere around Porthcawl (although there is no train station there, so you’d need to get a bus from Bridgend, but public transport is pretty good) which is pretty much in the middle of Cardiff and Swansea, then split my time between Cardiff and the Gower (which is just beautiful). And they used to do boat trips from Porthcawl over to Devon, which would be nice.

Kent - you’ve got Canterbury Cathedral, Deal, Whitstable, there are castles everywhere (Dover and Leeds are the best two) Port Lympne and Howletts zoos, wildlife parks, you can get the ferry over to France for a day trip, or train from Ashford to Lille (which is lovely and very easily done in a day)

If accommodation in Edinburgh itself is looking too expensive you could also try North Berwick. It is a short train journey into Edinburgh, but they also hold their own festival events. Plus it is by the sea! www.fringebythesea.com/

Edinburgh is amazing, but I wouldn't go in the festival, its just too busy (and expensive). It is definitely worth a visit outside festival time though

I totally disagree! The festival is brilliant and only as expensive as you make it. There is LOADS of free stuff to do. I've been with the DC on a tight budget and we had a great time seeing mostly free stuff. Even walking about the streets is an adventure, with all the street performers and the atmosphere of the festival.

The main festival expense is accommodation- but once you have that sorted you're away!

Cardiff - easy on the train from Brum, loads to do