4 day UK holiday with a 4 year old. Where would you go?

[Summerdays2014]

Myself, husband and 4.5 year old son was a few days away at the end of August. Open to anything/anywhere with a beach. We are in the East Midlands.
So far he’s been to the Lake District, Lythem and Northumberland.
Where would you go if you were me?

Thanks!

Weymouth is a lovely beach for children that age although I don't know how much of the traditional seaside things will be happening this year. There is usually Punch and Judy, Donkey Rides, Merry Go Round etc

We have just booked morecombe. Beach looks nice in the pics. It was quite cheap aswell compared to everything else we have looked at.

It's parkdean.

We had a great holiday with my Dc in Sheringham.
The coast between Cromer and Sheringham, particularly at West Runton, are good places to find rock pools.
The seal trips are now running at Blakeney, which is 20 minutes along the coast.
The steam train (The Poppy Line) operates from Sheringham to Holt, where we did the Holt Owl Trail, by following the owl pavement plaques, before catching the train back.

Scarborough is a good family destination

Swanage is lovely for a beach holiday with young children

Filey is nice for little ones. Quite quiet but you can go to Scarborough or Bridlington if you want a bit more lively.

Thanks everyone. I did Scarborough and Filey when I was little! Might be nice to go back. We’ve considered Norfolk but can’t seem to find anywhere nice to stay!

I would go to South Shields, so not as far up as Northumberland.

An amazing beach - explore the caves around marsden grotto. Get the ferry over to North Shields and get fish and chips from the fish quay that have been caught that morning. Beamish has reopened, do that for a day (it will be about a 40 min drive from Shields to beamish but well worth it). Gibside / cragside / Wallington if you are national trust members. Look at the massive P&O cruise ship (it’s here until November!). Metro into Newcastle - the quayside market starts again next week.

Ribby? You may have been if you've been to Lytham. They've just reopened and tarted up their pool a year or two ago. Also.. mini zoo!

Having lots of fun looking at pictures of these places! Thanks everyone. Now if anyone has any recommendations for places to stay in these lovely locations...!

Eh, I wouldn't go to Weymouth. It's pretty depressing actually, unless ageing seaside towns are your thing. I would think about what you want to do besides just a beach (or will you spend 4 days at the beach?) and then also where you can find accommodation. We've booked to go away the last week of August and are going to Wales. I couldn't find anything in other places we'd normally go that was suitable. There is a lot that's already very booked up. I would love to go to Pembrokeshire. It's beautiful there. I don't know how far that would be from you.

We just got back from Weymouth and it is lovely!

There is a great sandy beach for little children, the sea was clear, and they even did donkey rides on the beach for £4. There is also a working harbour with fishing trawlers which is perfect for crabbing (huge crabs!) Five minutes drive away there was Bowleaze Cove which has lots of rockpools. We took a four and two year old and they loved it.

Bournemouth is much nicer than Weymouth plus you get into the New Forest easily too.

www.northumbrianleisure.co.uk/our-parks/sandhaven/

Thus place is right on the front at Shields - it would be your ideal location!