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!

@Hemsbyboc

Seriously other people's 13 year old are happy to be going for a walk as their holiday when it's the only thing they have done for a year and one half? I am not boring, I will walk all over, learn new things especially as I am not from UK. We had a lovely talk on rocks earlier by a volunteer and I loved it. Teenagers don't though. They just want to get back to WiFi and have fun. Rocks are interesting but not fun

I took my teens to Cornwall. What the loved the most was cycling. We hired bikes for the week. They loved it. In the evening we played pool. We were lucky to have a table in our accommodation.

The remember that holiday and esp playing pool today! They are in their 30's

@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!

Kites. The sort you fly, not the birds.

Your kids sound awful, but frankly it’s not their fault that they haven’t been encouraged to take delight in small things, in nature, in playing games, in entertaining themselves and each other, in exploring, in physical activity, in the joy of running in a field, rolling down sand dunes, paddling, building moats and forts in the sand, climbing to the top of a hill, or a mountain, feeling exhausted and wind blown after a day in fresh air. No, not their fault at all.

When my DC were teenagers they used to enjoy the following on UK holidays.
Water parks
Theme parks
Mini golf
Swimming
They didn’t like beaches but loved them when they were younger.
Amusements
Cycling but not going for a walk
Eating out
Shopping for souvenirs or sweets

We have older teens and went to Scotland last year. We don’t do much usually have leisurely start bit of a lie in have pastries for breakfast from the local deli.
Explore the local area with the dog which usually involves various short drives and long walks in unfamiliar places with a spot of lunch or nice coffee and cake thrown in. Back to the cottage maybe another walk on the local beach and maybe some down time before going out for a nice local pub or restaurant for a meal. If the teens get bored they take the dog on the beach but if really bored they might go back to the cottage which is in a nice area less than 5 minutes away. We basically spend more time together than we would at home and we make more of an effort to play cards or play a board game etc.

We also usually go abroad but last year we were so grateful for a change of scenery even though it rained every day we all enjoyed it and were glad to be away from the house.

I'd be packing up right now with my teens if we were stuck in the cold rain like you.

I forgot to say museums and boat trips.

Why aren’t your kids at school?

Do breakfast
Wash up
Clean up the tent
Go to the beach or walk round a garden of a stately home
Have a picnic
Go round the shops in some town we drive through on the way home
Go for dinner in said town or get stuff to eat back at campsite
Wash up/ clean out tent
Wash clothes /towels etc and hang out
Hang out for a bit
Go to sleep
Repetez

@Rachand23

Why aren’t your kids at school?

Er maybe they are Scottish?

@Hemsbyboc

Seriously other people's 13 year old are happy to be going for a walk as their holiday when it's the only thing they have done for a year and one half? I am not boring, I will walk all over, learn new things especially as I am not from UK. We had a lovely talk on rocks earlier by a volunteer and I loved it. Teenagers don't though. They just want to get back to WiFi and have fun. Rocks are interesting but not fun

I have one who loves to not only walk but do long walking routes, camp, mountain bike, rock climb, coasteer, paddle board, surf and swim in open water and lakes. She and her dad often camp and mountain bike, walk and fish.

Chester is lovely, about an hour away from Anglesey. Chester zoo is fantastic, Blue Planet aquarium is also good.

You have my sympathy being in wet Wales with two teenagers! Also you don't have the cultural background necessary to enjoy a UK holiday - no memories of fish and chips, arcades, etc. Love the comment about not knowing the language, given that you are on here communicating in a second language.
But there have been some good suggestions on here, give them a go.

@Rachand23

Why aren’t your kids at school?

Scottish schools finished on Friday .

I’m going on a UK holiday with a 15 year old and 11 year old. I’ve thrown £400 at Alton Towers with fast passes and £200 at quad biking. We’ll also hire bikes when we are away.

We’ll go out for lunches at cafe’s etc. Go for a walk. WiFi and hot tub in the lodge.

I’ll be honest, I’d much prefer a holiday abroad but I’ve had to accept this for this year and the circumstances that I’m in.

We only ever have UK holidays. We walk, do treasure trails, visit the beach, go to castles and museums, play games.....but we have quite simple tastes! Even camping in torrential rain we have managed Not to be bored...

Are there board games, playing cards in the house?
The coast is amazing for early teens - explore.
Geo-cache.
Ask the owners/managers for local info.

@neveradullmoment99
@osbertthesyrianhamster
They’re not Scottish, it says in the thread they live in/ near Liverpool!

@skodadoda

At risk of sounding terribly ‘old’ I have to say this saddens but doesn’t surprise me. A generation has emerged who seem to be incapable of being with their children. Certainly holidays in the uk are very much subject to the vagaries of the weather, but there’s nothing to compare with a sandy beach on a fine day. Less clement weather takes a bit of effort to find alternatives.

I am also older and I find it very sad that some children (and adults I guess) can’t function without being on their phones nearly 24/7. Thank goodness my children grew up pre this trend and were capable of largely amusing themselves on beaches etc with rock pooling, sandcastles, playing frisbees etc Surely you research what’s available, the weather etc before you chose a destination? Poor weather needn’t stop play if you’re equipped for it! Wellies and waterproofs are first on the list.

Walk a stretch of the coast path and consider geology.
There is a gold mine and Royal Mint in Wales somewhere but needs booking.
Climb a local mountain, admire waterfall, drive to Snowdonia if u can.
Watch a sunset (if lucky).

There is a steam train routein Wales somewhere for a bit of nostalgia.

Do they like sea sports? We holiday in Wales every year. my 12yo loves it. She has been having surfing lessons for the last five years. Loads of companies to choose from and they include wetsuit hire. This year for the first time we also went paddling boarding. Again, we looked for people who ran organised sessions. Wetsuits were included in the cost of the session so no need to buy. They took us on a paddleboard out round the coast, going into caves etc. It was brilliant. There is coasteering, and dolphin watching boat trips out on ribs.
This is all a bit further south in Wales but there must be similar companies up there and all the teens I know would love to go fast in a rib and watch dolphins swimming alongside.

Yes do go home, leave the beautiful Welsh countryside, history and coast to those with enough imagination to be able to bring it to life for teens. We (including our teens) love Anglesey.

At risk of sounding terribly ‘old’ I have to say this saddens but doesn’t surprise me. A generation has emerged who seem to be incapable of being with their children.

Please don’t generalise like that, it’s not fair - there are plenty of people who are capable of being with their children and plenty of children who are capable of enjoying a range of activities outside of their tablets. This thread is a perfect illustration of that.

For the love of god please go home.

A nice train ride or tram ride is entertaining. Local trinket shops local markets bookshops etc.