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Original poster

Where can I go on holiday for 3 days?

112 replies

ADCisntme · 29/04/2025 11:01

I’ve messed up with the dog arrangements. My home boarding dog walker can only have the dog for 3 nights as he is super good, my dog loves him and he’s very popular. I should have booked him 6 months ago. Kennels are not an option.

He can do 3 nights from Monday to Thursday morning (not next week but a week in the summer holidays ).

I live in Northamptonshire so not too close to an airport. Also, I don’t want to spend one day travelling, one day sightseeing and another travelling back to make sure we’re home late Wednesday evening so that I can pick up the dog on Thursday morning.

Also, no local family to help out and my close friend’s son is allergic to dogs so no help there either (this is to stop the drip feed later on).

DH has already taken that week off work (he can’t change it so we’re limited to that particular week) so we can go away somewhere. Is there any epic U.K. city break to go to that is NOT

Edinburgh
London
Bath
Oxford
Cambridge
Newcastle
York

Not spa break
Not golf break

We have a teenager as well, done CentreParks, done Bluestone.

I’m totally stuck and am not sure what to do. We can book a U.K. holiday cottage with the dog later in the summer but I am so cross with myself. Teenager is doing A levels this year so I promised them a nice holiday and I’ve left it too late and feel I’ve fd it up.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
HankAndThePoodle · 29/04/2025 11:03

How about Cardiff or Bristol? Or going further down the coast into devon/cornwall?

Blindedbymelon · 29/04/2025 11:06

You could try Chester, small centre with plenty of shops etc and they have a zoo. Nice river walk and dozens of small independent cafes and bars.

OminousFlute · 29/04/2025 11:06

I'd go on Airbnb, list your exact dates and bedroom requirements and see what comes up. City or sea? Personally I'd head to North Devon and bodyboard, or Suffolk/Norfolk coastline - and Manchester or Glasgow aren't on your list of cities.

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Holidays
Yellowtracktor · 29/04/2025 11:07

I live down south and love going up to Manchester for a city break

NewBuildNewGarden · 29/04/2025 11:07

Any nice train journeys or ferry ports near you that you could use and view as "part of the holiday" rather than an airport? For 3 days, I'd not even contemplate flying because like you say, you'll just end up spending too much precious time at an airport, yuck & yawn.

What about a roadtrip through Wales, or trip to the Norfolk Broads, Devon/Cornwall coast? None are cities, appreciate that, but plenty to see and do for a few days.

IggyAce · 29/04/2025 11:08

Leeds
Cardiff
Manchester
Belfast if you can get flights.
Another suggestion is Eurostar from London to Paris.

Jk987 · 29/04/2025 11:08

Chester is lovely. From there you can go to North Wales and do Snowdonia or the longest zip wire place.

Acc0untant · 29/04/2025 11:08

Are you completely set on the UK? You've got time to get a dog passport sorted and could drive over to northern France.

SallyDraperGetInHere · 29/04/2025 11:10

I’d go on Skyscanner, put in your dates and times, and check out options out of Luton Airport.

briebella · 29/04/2025 11:12

Cardiff

SmegmaCausesBV · 29/04/2025 11:13

We did surfing with teens near St Ives which went down well. Also Bristol with the hop on/off bus - you can see the Banksy stuff.

SallyDraperGetInHere · 29/04/2025 11:18

SallyDraperGetInHere · 29/04/2025 11:10

I’d go on Skyscanner, put in your dates and times, and check out options out of Luton Airport.

Eg a 9am flight out of Luton, and you’d be having elevenses in Killarney, Co Kerry.

Starlight1984 · 29/04/2025 11:22

Why don't you just take the dog with you?!

Starlight1984 · 29/04/2025 11:24

Acc0untant · 29/04/2025 11:08

Are you completely set on the UK? You've got time to get a dog passport sorted and could drive over to northern France.

Yep. Or Belgium. Take the dog. Then you have a week away abroad with no dog sitting fees.

Acc0untant · 29/04/2025 11:37

Starlight1984 · 29/04/2025 11:24

Yep. Or Belgium. Take the dog. Then you have a week away abroad with no dog sitting fees.

Show quote history

Exactly, still makes the most of the entire week's annual leave!

CountryQueen · 29/04/2025 12:13

If I’d promised my teenager they’d be getting a nice holiday then that’s what they’d be getting. There will be someone that can look after your dog! Go on trusted housesitters if you honestly can’t drop your dog with family or friends who maybe live near an airport.

What is the reason for ruling out most of the best cities to visit in the UK if you really won’t sort the dog out?

Original poster
ADCisntme · 29/04/2025 12:16

CountryQueen · 29/04/2025 12:13

If I’d promised my teenager they’d be getting a nice holiday then that’s what they’d be getting. There will be someone that can look after your dog! Go on trusted housesitters if you honestly can’t drop your dog with family or friends who maybe live near an airport.

What is the reason for ruling out most of the best cities to visit in the UK if you really won’t sort the dog out?

We have either done these cities to death or have visited before due to uni Open Days and we have also grown up in one of them so it would be going home and not on holiday.

I take it you’re not a dog owner?

OP posts:
theresnolimits · 29/04/2025 12:19

How about a narrow boat? Our teens enjoyed the steering, locks etc. You could pick up in Birmingham or north of Oxford, stop at some nice pubs. Midweek breaks are Mon-Fri so you’d be losing a couple of days but you could even leave early Thursday so you’d be losing get three nights.

Original poster
ADCisntme · 29/04/2025 12:21

Thanks for the suggestions- haven't been to Chester so that sounds a good option.

I’d rather go abroad TBH but we have 96 hours and flights are unreliable and delayed at the best of times.

OP posts:
Original poster
ADCisntme · 29/04/2025 12:22

theresnolimits · 29/04/2025 12:19

How about a narrow boat? Our teens enjoyed the steering, locks etc. You could pick up in Birmingham or north of Oxford, stop at some nice pubs. Midweek breaks are Mon-Fri so you’d be losing a couple of days but you could even leave early Thursday so you’d be losing get three nights.

That actually sounds hilarious. In a good way 👍

OP posts:
DrEllie · 29/04/2025 12:28

If you go to Chester then perhaps also go to Liverpool. A very young and vibrant place with lots to do.

TheFairyCaravan · 29/04/2025 12:33

Go to Norfolk. It won’t take that long to get there from Northamptonshire. You could hire a boat and go up the broads.

Acc0untant · 29/04/2025 12:46

ADCisntme · 29/04/2025 12:21

Thanks for the suggestions- haven't been to Chester so that sounds a good option.

I’d rather go abroad TBH but we have 96 hours and flights are unreliable and delayed at the best of times.

Could drive? It's not long to France on the ferry.

HibiscusIsland1 · 29/04/2025 12:49

I'd be taking the dog on this holiday for a week and then book him in with the boarder for the week later on in the year (when you said you'd book a cottage with the dog).

Original poster
ADCisntme · 29/04/2025 12:50

HibiscusIsland1 · 29/04/2025 12:49

I'd be taking the dog on this holiday for a week and then book him in with the boarder for the week later on in the year (when you said you'd book a cottage with the dog).

Edited

Except this is the only week my DH can take off.

OP posts: