UK city short breaks with small kids

[SmallIslander]

I quite fancy getting on a train with my 6 and 2 year olds and visiting some corner of the UK for a day trip or over night stay, but I'm not sure where to go. Admittedly I'm not massively well travelled.

Does anyone have any suggestions of places I can get to that have a few nice things for small children to do and see that's easy to get around? Open to any suggestions, doesn't have to be a major city. Bonus points for places that are generally pleasant places to visit and easily accessible by train. I'm based in the North West.

I'm in the south west so might be a tad far with some of my suggestions but just coming on to say go for it. I love train journeys with the smalls. Tend to stick to places an hour or so away which has worked so far, but friends went interrailling for 2 weeks with a 4 and 1 year old last spring and had a great time. What an adventure!

Thank you for the encouragement! I think it would be fun for all of us, and be nice to escape the routine a bit. Feel like I've exhausted all the usual venues in my area for school holiday outings. Need some new scenery 🙂

What about York? Easy to get to on the train and lots to do.

Might not fit the city brief but we like Blackpool with our young kids.
Sealife, tower, Peter Rabbit, circus, zoo, riding the tram.

If you're in the North West you've probably been to Chester already but if not, it's great for children. Roman-related activities, stroll by the river and in park or Roman gardens (mish-mash of Roman artefects dumped artfully near river but worth it for the hypocaust and the site of the Civil War breach of the Walls). Grosvenor Museum is good, and Sick To Death is great for a fun warts and all frolic through the history of medicine.

Or York?

Or Eureka! The children's museum in Halifax for a day trip. It's right next to the train station.

Oh yes that place is on my to do list!!

I did York with a 6 and 2 year old last half term and it was fab. I felt like I was on a European city break. We did the railway museum and the Castle Museum and I’d forgotten how much kids enjoy just ‘being’. It didn’t have to be kid oriented stuff.

I’ve just mentioned how much we enjoyed York and I’d been wondering where to do next at May half term. I think you just answered my question 😃

I recently discovered that you can use your Tesco Clubcard vouchers on entry, if that’s something that you have.

Thank you so much for these suggestions! We have been to Eureka and Blackpool recently. I went to Chester years ago pre-kids and can't really remember much, so will look into this again. York does sound very appealing.

Agree with you @Mazuslongtoenail about kids enjoying just 'being'. I probably shouldn't worry too much about loads of entertainment. Having new surroundings will be exciting to them and you forget how much fun they can have just exploring and pootling about.