Staycation

[kaytee87]

I am bu as I'm positing for traffic.

We have a 2.5yo (3 in the summer) and we're planning a U.K. holiday this year. We'll be driving down from Glasgow and want to end the holiday in Bedford to spend 2 or 3 nights with family there.
We fancy Thomas land and possibly peppa pig world on the way down.
Is there anywhere else we should try? Great beaches on the way?
Other toddler friendly theme parks?

Should add we don't mind how much things cost really and can be flexible on time away.

Very unreasonable to use the word staycation. It's a holiday. I don't think you can easily get to the beach on that drive without a detour. Some good days out in Yorkshire though - sculpture park, loads of castles, good animal parks.

Agree, a staycation is where you stay in your own house and have days out from home.

From Glasgow to Bedford, you can just as easily use the M6 or A66/M1 so Morcambe or Blackpool, or somewhere like Whitby or Saltburn for beaches.

But A66/M1 likely to be less traffic, so Yorkshire offers so many options including York incl National Railway Museum or Leeds incl Royal Armouries. Yorkshire Sculpture Park is great for a run around/walk.

Agree with the pp's YABU using staycation. I hate that term.

Agree, a staycation is where you stay in your own house and have days out from home.

Genuinely thought it meant a holiday in the U.K. (or home country).

I don't mind detours. Toddler is good in the car and we don't mind driving.

If you are going to peppa pig world it is only about 40 minutes down the M27 to Bournemouth where there is a great beach. Also the new forest where there is lots to do.

However both of those places are nowhere en route from Glasgow to Bedford (unless there is another PP world?)

Agree, a staycation is where you stay in your own house and have days out from home

Also known as going to Romania. (remain 'ere)

Definitely try stopping I Yorkshire - railway museum is free and a great hit with Thomas fans!

Have used and seen "staycation" used to refer to a UK/own-country holiday. YANBU to use this word in this context.

However both of those places are nowhere en route from Glasgow to Bedford (unless there is another PP world?)

I know they're not exactly en route but they are heading south We're happy to drive and book hotels in different places on the way down.

Some good suggestions here thanks.

Has anyone been to Gulliver's Kingdom in Milton Keynes?

Have used and seen "staycation" used to refer to a UK/own-country holiday. YANBU to use this word in this context

I've seen it too, but it's wrong, and reflects the bizarre notion that a holiday in the UK somehow isn't a proper holiday. That would suggest that a great many of our ancestors never actually went on holiday at all.
Anyway, I agree Yorkshire is great, though possibly a bit far out of your way? If you do fancy a detour, North Wales is fab. Anglesey is great for little ones if you feel like making it that far. The beaches in North Wales are great and there are lots of castles etc. Peak District is great - I would recommend Matlock Bath for that age. There's a Gulliver's Kingdom there which is nice and the Heights of Abraham are good fun. Also, Lake District - best if you're outdoorsy, but little one might like Peter Rabbit World in Bowness.

Gullivers is fantastic for tiddlers. Really good value for money (than, for instance, Legoland). We took ours there often when they were little. Have fun! Your holiday sounds great!

"Heading south"

Cornwall is south but you'd hardly go via Cornwall to Bedford.

Six hour drive to Bedford with no hold ups en route. Your only real options for beaches are going to be Morecambe and Blackpool areas without doing an fairly significant detour (and frankly they are about the two beaches I wouldn't go to if you paid me).

Heading south was tongue in cheek. We really don't mind detouring at all. We've done the drive to Bedford many times

Norfolk for lovely beaches and general loveliness. Only a couple of hours from Bedford.

@PrincessConsuelaBananahamm0ck we went to north Norfolk last year for a week and it was lovely. Will consider it again.

Well if you did Norfolk last year why not do Suffolk this year. Personally I think it's nicer.

Staycation can mean both: en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/staycation

I've not been but a friend raves about 'ice-cream world' somewhere near Chester?!