What do you do on a UK holiday?

[Hemsbyboc]

First time on a UK holiday in my life. Kids have never been out of the city they were born in unless in a plane.
They are bored to tears.
What do you do??
Don't want to say exact location but it is coastal wales and we have driven here.
Honestly don't blame the folk going abroad despite restrictions. We are climbing the walls.
Been to 4 villages, takes less than an hour to walk around each one. Shitty cafés, food like school dinners. Tide is in so looked at the sea. Everybody in full winter clobber. I am not investing in body boards cos I never want to come back. Wales match is not even showing anywhere. I am 90% leaning towards cutting my losses and going home tomorrow, I have decorating/gardening I could be doing.

Save us mnetters!

OP.
How about you give the UK a go instead of flying somewhere else?
I am SURE your teens will enjoy a few days in London for example.

@theleavesaregreen Anglesey isn’t an arcade kind of place - but OP you could go to Llandudno if you want that kind of thing. Up the Orm on a tram is fun, think there’s tobogganing up there too, and an arcade on the pier.

We book activities in advance eg boat trip, waterski lessons, bike hire, riding. And also google and pre book good pubs for nice lunches.

I also look up nice places to go eg food shops or whatever.

Walks on the beach or local beauty spots.

That's about it. I love a good British holiday.

@MaMelon

I know plenty of people who have never travelled the country, it is not that unusual surely?

To have stayed in one city and never visited anywhere else in the UK in the many years they’ve lived here? Yeah, it’s unusual.

I would have thought so as well. I can sort of see it if you live in London because there's nowhere that has 'more' really, just different things.

"Hang on, you’re scoffing at the weather in Wales and it’s ‘shitty’ coastal towns but happy to pop to Denmark? I’ve been to Denmark (yes it’s beautiful - just like Wales) but it also has the same weather as the U.K., if not worse, and the coastal towns are honestly not better."

I suspect the Danish summer is a bit warmer than north Wales and a quick google supports that.

@Hemsbyboc

I know plenty of people who have never travelled the country, it is not that unusual surely? Some people just don't have the money nor inclination

Have you thought about taking the attitude that you'd take to, say, Copenhagen, and treating other UK locations as if they were abroad?

I'm going on a UK holiday this year (and would be even without covid) to a place my teenager asks to return to, for £38 a night for two people (Premier Inn - love it). We are following it with a glamping trip in the same country, as he's not done much camping but I like a proper bed. We've been to the same county for our annual holiday for the last decade, and haven't run out of things that my teenager wants to do yet, as well as the things he's loved and wants to do again.

I can sort of see it if you live in London because there's nowhere that has 'more' really, just different things

Isn’t ‘different’ why we travel?

@Hemsbyboc

I know plenty of people who have never travelled the country, it is not that unusual surely? Some people just don't have the money nor inclination

I think it's just rather unusual for an entire family to have never travelled in their own country - especially as you aren't British yourself - have you never been anywhere else in the uk? Edinburgh, York, London?

Tbh I find it odd that you live in Liverpool and thought Anglesey would suffice for a week's holiday - you could go there for a day trip

There are plenty of places in the UK that would be interesting for teens on holiday but unless they're into surfing/kitesurfing/sea swimming and the weather is good, then Anglesey us probably not it.

You could like Snowdon on your way back?

*"Hang on, you’re scoffing at the weather in Wales and it’s ‘shitty’ coastal towns but happy to pop to Denmark? I’ve been to Denmark (yes it’s beautiful - just like Wales) but it also has the same weather as the U.K., if not worse, and the coastal towns are honestly not better."

I suspect the Danish summer is a bit warmer than north Wales and a quick google supports that*

Just had a look and the difference in average temperatures between Wrexham (being the biggest city in N Wales) and Copenhagen is about 2 degrees (in Copenhagen’s favour) so yes warmer but not noticeably.

Let’s face it OP just has a weird hang up about the U.K., it’s odd.

Wales has the longest zip wire in UK? Not sure where bug you fly over forest and canyon in a sleeping bag type harness? Teens would love that surely? Horse riding? Mountain biking through forests? There must be trails over there..

I didn’t leave England at all until I went on a school day trip to France when I was 12. The next time I left the country I was 18 and we didn’t leave the country again (apart from a couple of day trips to Calais) until I was in my thirties.

The U.K. is beautiful with lots of amazing places to visit. What a shame that some people will just never see that.

@MaMelon

I can sort of see it if you live in London because there's nowhere that has 'more' really, just different things

Isn’t ‘different’ why we travel?

For holiday, yes, but if you live somewhere smaller you travel regularly to find specific things, e.g. to a museum, a zoo, an ice rink, etc. because you don't have them in your city, which might not be the case for London.

Go shopping, eat chocolate, buy a dog then go home. Sorry-that was my last trip to wales.
I’d try to enjoy it. Could you dc have some surfing lessons? Fly a kite? Boat ride? Cinema?

"the difference in average temperatures between Wrexham (being the biggest city in N Wales) and Copenhagen is about 2 degrees (in Copenhagen’s favour) so yes warmer but not noticeably."

2 degrees makes a big difference and IS noticeable. It's a bit like the difference between Cardiff and London. It's not always hotter in London, of course, but if often is just a little bit and it's also one of the reasons why holidays in Cornwall are popular because it's just that little bit hotter.
The difference between 18 and 20 degrees makes a massive difference to my comfort level to be honest.

OP -
What do your teens like to do when you visit foreign cities like Barcelona or Copenhagen?
We could perhaps help you to have some good UK trips with your family.

I can honestly say as a Mum of 3 that my children would have absolutely hated staying where you are ! Unless you are a certain type most early teens would be bored stiff within seconds!! Good luck.💐

Do we know why the kids are not in school?

But @ArcheryAnnie i agree you can do all that in the UK but it's not as good

Eat out - course you can but it's always very expensive for much lesser quality food. Eg fresh caught fish in Cuba maybe works out at £5, fresh caught fish in Woolacombe £15.

visit local historical sights (Pompeii for example) - yeah you can visit historical sights but you pay ridiculous prices to get in, ridiculous prices for any kind of tour, HUGE mark up on any food or drink you want to buy there and you'll probably be in the pissing rain. It's not a relaxing experience lugging round warm sandwiches and drinks so you dont have to take out a second mortgage to have lunch there and carrying a coat just in case.

walking tours round cities where you pay what you think the tour was worth at the end - in the uk they will have a set (expensive) price and will also probably be in the pissing rain/carrying a coat

Boat trips - cold, wet, windy, expensive. Probably in a winter coat. Cant spend the day leisurely swimming of the boat, sunning self on deck in bikini drinking wine, swimming and snorkeling through crystal clear waters seeing exotic fish and diving through caves.

SUPing, kayaking - expensive to hire the gear, probably also need to buy or rent a wetsuit and water shoes as it will be cold, wet and windy.

Exploring new towns - yes you can do that in the uk.

@Gwenhwyfar

"the difference in average temperatures between Wrexham (being the biggest city in N Wales) and Copenhagen is about 2 degrees (in Copenhagen’s favour) so yes warmer but not noticeably."

2 degrees makes a big difference and IS noticeable. It's a bit like the difference between Cardiff and London. It's not always hotter in London, of course, but if often is just a little bit and it's also one of the reasons why holidays in Cornwall are popular because it's just that little bit hotter.
The difference between 18 and 20 degrees makes a massive difference to my comfort level to be honest.

Fair enough, I don’t think I’d notice the difference between 17 and 19 degrees etc. but that’s just me.

Anyway, it wasn’t meant to be a massive discussion about temperature…OP was saying it was crappy weather/raining and there wasn’t much to do, but it could rain in Denmark too (similar weather to the U.K., it’s not Barbados !) and if she’d have a great time on the coast in Denmark, why couldn’t she in Wales? There’s nothing you can do on the Denmark coast that you couldn’t do on the Welsh coast. Except maybe hear Danish.

Basically OP is a snob and not hiding her bias against the U.K and is therefore ignorant and weird 😁

Anyway, I might not be explaining myself properly but I’m tired and this thread is making me irrationally angry (well irritated).

@Hemsbyboc

We have been out of Liverpool many times. They have been to Australia we have just never been around the UK. If we have a day or 2 off, we will see local friends, do something around the house. 3 days or more? 19.99 ryanair return to Copenhagen is cheaper than the train to London

Your children really have missed out on an awful lot.

The thing is OP N Wales is full of scousers in the summer. I know, I grew up there.
Its the perfect distance for a long weekend or even just a day trip! If you'd even ventured over for a couple of days before now you'd have seen some of what it has to offer and perhaps enjoyed it, before going all in for a full on holiday.
You do sort of have to 'know how to do a UK holiday. And if you're from abroad maybe you don't have the fond feelings for fish and chips and an arcade on the pier at Llandudno. But going with a positive attitude and letting your kids discover this side of British culture would perhaps have been a good idea before now.

@LadyPoison

I'm actually wondering why the OP is living in the UK. She clearly has no interest in this country at all.

Such a shame

I'm guessing that they can't be arsed to learn another language.

Only likes things to fall into their laps with no personal effort.

WTF?
@skiingisheaven

Can't be arsed to learn another language? I speak 5 languages fluently which is pretty average for Danes. How many do you speak?
Yes I may have underestimated weather and activities on a UK holiday, I take thata lot may be pissed off at that. But unwillingness to learn a foreign language nah ah.... I can't even tell if you're taking the piss

And yes there may be a little difference in temperature between UK an Denmark but I am fairly sure it rains a lot less and you can set your watch to the seasons there

Loads of great ideas here OP and I would second investing in some activities like zipwire or SUP.

But I cam on to post in amazement that your teens have never been to London - am I reading that right? Or Sheffield, or York, or the south coast? Wow. Just wow. And the reason for this is that it's cheaper to fly with Ryanair than take a three-day UK trip? Some of us travel in the UK on purpose!

Can I suggest you give them a bit of experience of the country you
(presumably) chose to live in?
Have they really never been on a week away with Scouts or Guides, a day trip with school to a concert or theatre or a week at PGL? Have they never played or watched a footy match or an athletics event or sang or danced or watched a show or a gig in another city or town? Have they never been to Alton Towers or Legoland?

I am genuinely amazed.