Little breaks in the UK

[PinkCatPenPot]

We've decided this year that we don't want to do a "long" holiday and will instead do short 2-4 day breaks. It is me, DH and 4 year old DS. Would like a mixture of places with lots to do and places where we can lounge about and relax. We did York by train (we live in London) earlier in the year and had a really brilliant time - we do have a car but would like some places you can get to easily by train too.

Any suggestions would be welcome, as long as any reccommendations of nice places to stay (self catering or hotels, we don't mind).

Happy to do up to a 4 hour drive from London, but probably not much more than that given it would only be for a short break.

Cardiff is also a cool city for the weekend, don’t know how long the train takes though

Oops. Hit post by mistake.

Check out The Stay Plsy Explore scheme that does bargain breaks to Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Yorkshire.

It was set up by the tourist board in Leics and has now expanded but you get a night’s B and B in a nice hotel plus family tickets to 3 different attractions for £150, extra nights £75. Prices are bit cheaper/more expensive for families of 3 or 5 respectively. Given how expensive some attractions are it makes a massive saving. Leicestershire had Twycross Zoo and the Space museum amongst others, Warwickshire has Warwick castle, Coventry car museum and lots of Shakespeare stuff amongst other stuff. So lots of things that are great for your sort of family plus we chose nice hotel with nice pool and grounds so could swim with the kids and relax outdoors too.

Not an obvious place to think of holidaying but brilliant for great value short breaks!

Another place that’s great but not obvious - Milton Keynes. Has a fantastic hands on museum of everyday life (you get to play the parkour games and the magic piano and toast your own toast on the range, et in the old vehicles, use the old phones and exchanges and much more. Plus there’s Bletchley Park, fab theatre and art gallery, the Tree Cathedral, loads of amazing parks and woods, indoor sky diving, indoor climbing centres, indoor skiing, a theme park that I’ve forgotten the name of and this year in mid July it’s the return of the award winning international arts festival (#IFMK) that has loads of stuff going on (usually includes lots of weird and wonderful stuff from across Europe making its way to the Edinburgh festival), much of it is free, loads aimed at kids and great just to hang around at. Plus lots of other stuff too.

If you like York, you’ll like Lincoln; smaller, but quieter and equally impressive in my view.

I loved Liverpool but not Manchester.

I like Margate and Broadstairs, though past-its-best English seaside isn’t for everyone.

Worcester and Hereford are both lovely, and could be done in the same trip.

Also make sure for trains you have a family card and check out split ticketing websites (or on money saving expert) for best prices!

Likewise if going to stay in hotel chains sign up for their frequent visitor schemes - you often get cheaper prices, free or cheap WiFi, advance notification of sales, one year we got free breakfast (at the Marriott) through double checking the offers available, and lots more. Best chains we’ve found to be the Marriott, Novotel (plus lots of others in the group), Holiday Inn Express (nice breakfasts always included).

The Cotswolds
and West Midland Safari Park
West wales in the summer

Cardiff is fine from London.

I think any further West is more than 4 hours.

If you like castles and want to travel by train then Warwick is 1:20 from Marylebone. Then you can catch the train to Kenilworth to see the other castle

If you stayed in leamington it makes it easier to get the train directly (without having to change)

Coventry- transport museum & new swimming pool
Stratford - Shakespeare
Warwick- castle
Kenilworth- castle

Not a day trip but, if you end up going to North Norfolk, I’d recommend going to look at the seals. They have baby ones at this time of year on one of the beaches and your DS might enjoy that. Don’t go if you’re pregnant though, they smell a bit and made me 🤢 but they are very, very cute.

Edinburgh.

A bit over the requested 4 hours (5.5) but one train from Kings Cross.

Make sure you have a friends together rail card (£30) and it will save you 1/3rd on all your journeys.

Go for air BnB over hotels.

Edinburgh! It's 4 hrs 21 mins by train from Kings X, there's loads to do and it's gorgeous. There's also lots of gorgeous coast and beaches nearby - you can hop on the train from Edinburgh to North Berwick in 30 minds for a fun day trip if you're up for a few days.

Northumberland, it’s a great trip by train and Alnwick is fabulous and amazing beaches.

Good guardian article on this as they are doing a series on travelling by train www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/jan/15/10-car-free-trips-uk-inspiring-eco-friendly-places?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Dorset is a lovely place for a break - Weymouth beach, Durdle Door, Lulworth cove, Corfe Castle, Chesil beach....

MinnieMountain, Wells next the sea is absolutely lovely! Places near there are excellent too, Holkham beach with seven miles of sand and sand dunes, Walsingham. Marvellous places.

I too am looking for short breaks but want coach travel from near where I live in SE London/Bromley.

StargazyDrifter Wed 15-Jan-20 07:10:36
Not a day trip but, if you end up going to North Norfolk, I’d recommend going to look at the seals. They have baby ones at this time of year on one of the beaches and your DS might enjoy that.
......
Yes! Blakeney. My son liked it very much when he was small. We all loved Norfolk. Happy memories.

We love it too Bluerussian. We're taking 6yo DS for the first time in May.

Stay here:
www.spotinthewoods.co.uk/

From here you are within 20 minutes of Paultons Park if that appeals to the 4 year old

You are within a few minutes of many New Forest walks (fairly unique since pig, ponies, donkeys, cows etc roam free on the common)

Within 20 minutes of Southampton and ferry terminals to Isle of Wight if you fancy a day trip (foot passenger or car passenger)

Within 40 minutes of Portsmouth by car if you fancy going up the Spinnaker Tower for the views or visiting the Mary Rose

etc

For city breaks, Oxford has a lot to see. Chester and York also nice.