Where to take a 9 year old for a weekend?

[froggirl]

Me and DH are taking our 9 year old nephew away overnight for the first time in the Summer holidays.

Where would be good to go/ what to do with him?

We don't have kids so not sure what the best things are at the moment and don't want him to be bored.

We're in NW England and don't want to travel more than 1-2 hours as it's only an overnight.

He likes outdoorsy stuff but he has a chronic illness and gets fatigued easily, so it can't be a full on adventure weekend. He also likes the usual movies, games, art and crafts, etc. that most 9 year olds like.

Theme park, Escape room, Ninja place, Skate park, Water park, Inflatables park, Trampoline park, Arcades, museum, tour of a football stadium.
These are places my 10yr would love

So you say outdoorsy but there's lots of options which combine interesting stuff to see and the outdoors! I took my DS to Chester for the night, we went to Edinburgh for a few nights in October and had a great time. We spent 2 nights in Stratford, went to see a play (not Shakespeare but by the RSC), we went to Warwick Castle on that trip too. We spent a week in Northumberland, which is obviously too long but so much to see you could maybe work out what interests you and do a night.

We go abroad too but I really want him to know the UK. I want to take him to North Wales, the Lakes (I took him when he was a baby), Bath, Cardiff, Canterbury, Nottingham. Appreciate many of them are south but there's loads of stuff to do if you start to look. I love history and castles so find me a castle and I am happy as is he!

Lazer Zone. Some where like Xscape at Castleford is great.

Conkers would.be perfect!

Forbidden corner in the yorkshire dales is fab. A bit different but the place itself is quite compact. We did it as a weekend from the north west. Stopped in skipton on the way and Harrogate the day after on the way back. Although Harrogate/Skipton were more for my benefit.

Crocky trail in Cheshire
https://crockytrail.co.uk/

If you were going south then stratford is great for kids. We've done that a few times from the NW. There's the MAD museum which has lots of buttons to press. Magic alley is good if you like puzzles and the butterfly farm. Everything is pretty compact there too.

Roman forts & Hadrians wall, castles in north wales, science museum in Manchester, boat trips in the Lake District

Believe me, it pains me so much to say it, but Blackpool. I hate it with every fibre of my being but my 8 year old daughter loves it beyond measure. The pleasure beach is great, the sandcastle is amazing, there’s the pier and tower as well, arcades etc. it is really fun for kids. Just stay away from the town centre area and it’s fine (but not classy at all!!)

What about Gulliver’s world? They have nice cabins to stay in and of course the theme park which mine loved at that age.

I forgot about this! I haven't been since a kid!

I know lots of people will be snooty about it but Blackpool would fit your bill, arcades, Theme park, high wires, zoo, farms, trip up the tower, circus, sea life centre and all aimed at children. If you’re in the NW then it’s not too far to travel.

I'd go over towards York, there's lots of stuff there- Jorvik centre, DIG, the old city walls and it's not far from the coast if you wanted to do a beach trip somewhere like robin hoods bay. There's also Forbidden corner which is amazing, outdoors and interesting but probably only an hour or twos activity so he wouldn't get too tired. Then if you're in a city you could chill with a cinema trip or grab a pizza if he's flagging a little.
Stratford on Avon is also a good shout, there's nice countryside/outdoor activities there (the river has boats you can hire, you're near the cotswolds for walks and animals, compton Verney nearby has lovely outdoor bits for children) but also the mad museum, butterfly farm and magic alley if the weather is bad. It also has a nice cinema if you need a few hours of quite time for him
Chester zoo is really great if he's into animals and you wanted to stay more local
Alton towers might be a bit much for him but they do good deals and also have the wtaerpark there which is a bit less intense than the theme park
Or you could look for glamping sites and just have a relaxed weekend toasting marshmallows, having bbqs, doing the odd walk, playing games - depends whether he gets bored easily (this would be my 8 yr olds dream trip as he loves sitting around with a book and being outside, but my other child would be really bored!)

I was about to say the same!!! I hate it, but the kids love it.

Ribby hall is great.
Has loads of activities and playgrounds on site, amazing swimming pool, kids mini disco, arcade, zoo, boating lake, climbing walls, archery and multiple restaurants. And it's close to Blackpool for the zoo etc and close to Billy Bob's Mysercough if you wanted to go out but you don't need to.

If you mainly do the onsite then there are plenty of things to do and it's easy to pop back to your cottage for a rest if needed.

If you’re wanting to go to one place and stay there / have all activities on site, I’d recommend Carden Park in Cheshire. Good mix of activities including swimming, aerials course, archery, climbing, cinema room etc. We’ve taken niblings from toddlers to teens, and all have enjoyed.

Gulivers World Theme Park do overnight stays that would be good for his age.
Cheshire Zoo
The Village Hotel in Blackpool, its in a nicer area of Blackpool next to Blackpool Zoo and across from a really nice park. The hotel itself has nice grounds and a swimming pool. Just a short drive or bus to the prom if he would be interested in arcades and the beach.
Lancaster is nice, mine went to Lancaster Castle around that age and really liked it.
Clitheroe has nice walks and a museum.
Manchester Trafford, there's a Premier Inn there and close to Lego Land, Sea Life Centre and indoor Ski slopes

How about the Lake District - I took a godson aged 9 to Keswick a few years ago

• Pencil museum was very popular (he liked art)
• Museum of illusions was popular
• Just by the entry to the museum of illusions is a great toy shop (with lots of lego!)
• lots of cafes in which you can eat
• and then wander down to the lake (Derwent Water) - there is a small golf crazy golf type place there and you can rent boats on the lake or get the ferry...
• If you want a bit more active then the best SUP / canoe type hire place is slightly out of Keswick by car on the NW side of the lake - but very good.

enjoy the time - sounds a lovely thing to be doing.

Another vote for crocky trail and forbidden corner. My son loved both.

bowness and hire a boat. Play crazy golf.

alton towers. One day at the park. One day at the swimming pool. Stay in the enchanted village.

fly to dublin. Natural history museum. Bus tour.

llandudno. Train on the great orme.

Warwick castle was a hit with my son. We stayed onsite.

Oh I love blackpool
and all it’s cheesiness! Planning to take my nearly 7 yr old and 11 yr old godson- pleasure beach, sandcastle water park and staying in a caravan…. Pure cheese 😂😂

Look up stay, play and explore. 2 night stay in the midlands with 4 activities to choose from for a great price

royalarmouries.org/leeds

Would he enjoy the Fforest Coaster at Betws-y-Coed? We stayed in Conwy and also went to Great Orme. It was a lovely weekend!

Chester Zoo, South Lakes Zoo?

When you say he gets fatigued easily do you mean after an hour of activity/ half a day ? I can see a lot of people have mentioned Alton Towers there is a lot of walking involved in a day out there as it's quite spread out .