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Original poster

Places I should take my kids before they leave home

74 replies

HearTimesWingedChariot · 27/10/2023 19:18

I grew up in a benignly neglectful family where entertainment was a trip to Asda. I now have lovely kids of my own and want to give them as many experiences as possible.

Where in the UK should every teenager have been before they are 18?

OP posts:
DilemmaDelilah · 27/10/2023 19:21

I was going to say to the toilet - all children should go to the toilet before they leave home. But then you spoilt it by clarifying that they were teenagers and it was before they are 18. Well.... that's ruined that then...

BHRK · 27/10/2023 19:22

London, it’s a wonderful city for children. As many trips to the coast as you can afford. A theme park

Original poster
HearTimesWingedChariot · 27/10/2023 19:23

Many times I have not followed this most excellent advice and regretted it. It is a fair call.

What about Stone Henge?

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Onthelastdayofseptember · 27/10/2023 19:27

I'm not sure about specific places per se, but types of experience. So, art galleries, museums, national trust properties, beaches, hill walks etc. They'll get a sense that those sort of places are accessible, interesting and worth visiting. I think if you never experience places, you get a sense that you might not belong there, or won't fit in/ enjoy it, or just wouldn't think to visit etc.

MichaelBurnhamFan · 27/10/2023 19:28

Take them to the theatre. Ideally to a few different types of show.

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/10/2023 19:29

No specific places. Think experiences:

Castles
Art galleries
Museums
Mountains
Lakes
The sea
Countryside
Prehistory
Libraries

Doesn't really matter if they are the 'best' ones. Just that you enjoy them together.

Gymmum82 · 27/10/2023 19:30

Alton towers

TedWilson · 27/10/2023 19:32

Harry Potter studios.

Leicester Square.

Liverpool.

Arcades by the seaside!

Cadbury World.

Mumaway · 27/10/2023 19:33

Stone henge is sooooo rubbish. You see more from the traffic as you pass it very slowly on the A303 than you do having paid a vast sum to walk very far away from it. Use that journey on the A303 to take you down to lovely Jurassic coast and find some fossils

StrangePaintName · 27/10/2023 19:34

Onthelastdayofseptember · 27/10/2023 19:27

I'm not sure about specific places per se, but types of experience. So, art galleries, museums, national trust properties, beaches, hill walks etc. They'll get a sense that those sort of places are accessible, interesting and worth visiting. I think if you never experience places, you get a sense that you might not belong there, or won't fit in/ enjoy it, or just wouldn't think to visit etc.

Yes, this.

I grew up around parents who were poor, timid and semi-literate, and despite the fact that our city had free museums, galleries, concerts and libraries, they thought those were ‘only for rich people’. We lived a mile from a very beautiful university campus with lovely riverside walks and an art gallery with events, and until the day I actually started there as a student, they were still insistent that ‘ordinary people aren’t allowed in’.

MrsTerryPratchett · 27/10/2023 19:36

@StrangePaintName it's funny because I had parents from very poor backgrounds and they were the opposite. Art galleries, libraries and museums are free and warm. Scottish though and I think the culture around 'culture' is a bit different.

Floralnomad · 27/10/2023 19:37

Mumaway · 27/10/2023 19:33

Stone henge is sooooo rubbish. You see more from the traffic as you pass it very slowly on the A303 than you do having paid a vast sum to walk very far away from it. Use that journey on the A303 to take you down to lovely Jurassic coast and find some fossils

That is not strictly true , you are definitely closer than the road , I really like it as a passing trip . Avebury however is much better , although the car park is very pot holey .

Comedycook · 27/10/2023 19:38

A zoo
A castle
Farm
A theme park
The beach

itsmyp4rty · 27/10/2023 19:40

Stonehenge is not worth it IMO, I think you'd be better off going to Dartmoor and roaming around on the tors, standing stones, clapper bridges etc (obviously not exactly the same thing just a better experience IMO as you can only walk around the edge of Stonehenge as it's roped off.)

The Minack theatre is amazing, I'd recommend that. London has so much to see and do - the museums are world class. Legoland is fantastic if they're still young now (not sure if they're already teens) but go outside the summer hols preferably in term time. Wardour Castle is wonderful, lovely with a picnic. Climb Snowden - but again not at the most popular times - or Pen-y-fan. Go on a lights trail at Christmas, any will do! See the animals at Longleat or one of the really good zoos - Cotswolds Wildlife park is wonderful.

WonderingWanda · 27/10/2023 19:42

I think as others have said just make sure they've had a variety of experiences so that they know how to behave in certain situations, so they know how to navigate different situations.

Ladyj84 · 27/10/2023 19:43

Anything walks, castles, museums, cheap breaks away, beachour kids love the experience but even more so they adore spending time with mum and dad so defo make plenty of easy talk times

Comedycook · 27/10/2023 19:43

Oh and also

The circus
Funfair
Theatre

fishfingersandchipsagain · 27/10/2023 19:45

Onthelastdayofseptember · 27/10/2023 19:27

I'm not sure about specific places per se, but types of experience. So, art galleries, museums, national trust properties, beaches, hill walks etc. They'll get a sense that those sort of places are accessible, interesting and worth visiting. I think if you never experience places, you get a sense that you might not belong there, or won't fit in/ enjoy it, or just wouldn't think to visit etc.

Oh I so agree with this!

The difference between me and my husband because of this is huge. My parents always took me, so I grew us feeling that I “belonged” and had a right to be there, so did the same with our kids. DHs parents didn’t take him and he used to feel very out of place and anxious.

persisted · 27/10/2023 19:47

Follow their interests and get them involved.

Roman ruins, ancient fort on the Ridgeway or similar, dinosaurs at a Natural History museum, fossil hunting on the Jurassic coast. Space at a Science museum, an Airshow, fun things at the theatre.

Holdyournoseandthinkofchocolate · 27/10/2023 19:47

Edinburgh
York
Oxford
Cambridge
Cornwall
Lake District
Welsh Coast
Norfolk Coast
Peak District

Science Museum
British Museum
Royal Albert Hall
Titanic Museum

thevegetablesoup · 27/10/2023 19:51

Giants Causeway
Titanic Belfast
Surfing in Cornwall
Scottish highlands/islands - we love Mull, Aviemore, the Spey
Edinburgh fringe
A cathedral- Durham, York Minster, Truro, Salisbury
London especially the Tower of London, a Thames boat journey, British museum, area around Westminster, Covent Garden and the West End
Snowdonia
Northumberland beaches
A northern industrial city - we love Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle
Canal boat holiday
Whitby at Halloween
Another old fashioned seaside resort-eg Scarborough
Yorkshire dales
The Lake District
Hadrian's wall or other Roman ruins
Jurassic Coast

PixiePirate · 27/10/2023 19:53

Onthelastdayofseptember · 27/10/2023 19:27

I'm not sure about specific places per se, but types of experience. So, art galleries, museums, national trust properties, beaches, hill walks etc. They'll get a sense that those sort of places are accessible, interesting and worth visiting. I think if you never experience places, you get a sense that you might not belong there, or won't fit in/ enjoy it, or just wouldn't think to visit etc.

Absolutely this. Exposure to all sorts of experiences.

Woodland, boat trip, hiking, galleries, volunteering, a bus, theatre, music, learning to play an instrument, books, films, cooking, crafts, debating something they seem interested in, caring for a pet, spending time with people of different ages, history, different cuisines. Just anything that opens up possibilities, their mind, and enables them to see life through a different lens.

Girasoli · 27/10/2023 19:54

You could try and visit all 4 nations before they turn 18 as a fun challenge..eg, if you live in England you could visit Wales/NI/ and Scotland

SoSad44 · 27/10/2023 19:57

PixiePirate · 27/10/2023 19:53

Absolutely this. Exposure to all sorts of experiences.

Woodland, boat trip, hiking, galleries, volunteering, a bus, theatre, music, learning to play an instrument, books, films, cooking, crafts, debating something they seem interested in, caring for a pet, spending time with people of different ages, history, different cuisines. Just anything that opens up possibilities, their mind, and enables them to see life through a different lens.

Show quote history

Exactly this. Don’t spend money on theme parks, take them out and about.

MikeRafone · 27/10/2023 19:59

Wells cathedral to see the clock
Bristol to see the boats
Bath to see the Roman Baths
The sky garden Lindon
Carnaby street London
Harrods London
Greenwich to see where time starts
Tower of London
coventry Cathedral
Yorkshire Moors
Lake district and a walk
Shakespeare birth place Stratford

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