Towns to visit in the north, ideas please.

[Shipley]

Along the lines of Whitby, Scarbrough, Bridlington, Filey, York, Harrogate. Where else is there that has attractions to walk around and is a destination in its own right to walk around and have lunch? X

I'm well aware of those issues Klopptimist, but it doesn't alter the fact that the kids find it fun. Or mean that the OP shouldn't visit.

And are you sure the water isn't treated? I'm willing to be corrected, but I would expect that lessons were learned from the previous Cryptosporidium problem locally.

Halifax.. dd and I had a fab day at the piece hall.

Lots of great suggestions already, but go a bit further north and visit Bamburgh. Its small, but has a great beach and a fantastic castle. If anyone has watched 'The Last Kingdom' It was Bebbanburgh.

I agree that York is great, but even South Yorkshire has its attractions, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster is a great day out for families.

Can someone tell me please what they think there is to do in Pickering or Ripon

Ride on the North Yorks Moor Railway to Pickering
Beck Isle Museum
Pickering Castle
Fabulous second hand bookshop

If just for a day, do the national mining museum, followed by Yorkshire sculpture park .

Cannon hall is lovely in Barnsley and the Yorkshire wildlife park in Doncaster

Can someone tell me please what they think there is to do in Pickering or Ripon.

Pickering has a castle (not that great IIRC?) and is the start of the North York Moors railway which is pretty good.

Ripon - not that much itself but we stayed there recently as we fancied revisiting Fountains Abbey and Newby Hall (really nice gardens and stuff for kids, river trip)

If you live in Guisborough then you'll have done all the North York area already. You could go across the A66 and try Windamere- hire a boat, walk the lake, Beatrix Potter attractions for younger kids.

Chester is great - very like York but quite a drive across the Pennines and down - River trips and Roman walks are popular with kids.

For older kids- if you fancy something apart from Alton Towers or Lightwater Valley, think about the zip wire in North Wales- book well ahead - easily combined with Conwy or Canarfon if you like castles

Bamburgh on Northumberland coast. Beautiful seaside location, castle and museum dedicated to Grace Darling.

the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster is a great day out for families.

Oh yes I would agree with that.

Visit Cragside in Northumberland, it's a brilliant day out.

Was at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park yesterday. They have a baby anteater which was rolling around playing with mum. I bloody love it there.

Tynemouth, plenty of family activities.
Berwick, loads to do. Nice little animal park nearby. More House is with a trip.
Beamish if you go to Durham.
Alnwick, nice town gardens and castle excellent.

Otley, West Yorkshire. Nice little market town, lots of shops and cafes, if you want a right lung busting walk, you can walk up the Chevin from the town.

Malham is more of a village, but lovely walks in the area - Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, Malham Tarn.

Second the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Mining Museum, but unfortunately Wakefield is now quite run down although there is new small shopping centre.

Leeds or Newcastle if you want the big city experience.

North or South Shields or Whitley Bay?

The Trough of Bowland is magnificent, it's the area North of Blackburn, east of Preston, before the Dales and the Lakes.
On the east coast I like Staithes.

Saltaire - visit Salts Mill for the Hockney galleries, nice shopping and nice food, you can always then walk along the canal to the 5 rise lock

Leeds? A great city to walk around as the centre is compact. Lots of free museums if that is your thing. Loads of other things that are not free but great value (such as the Thackeray museum,the industrial museum in Armely and Kirkstall Abbey museum). Plenty of other things if you do not want museums! Great parks, restaurants and shops/markets or if you have a bit more time head out to amazing countryside only a bus or 30 minute car ride away. There are also lots of hidden gems such as Bramley Baths. If you want somewhere for more than a day it is a great base to get to other places in West Yorkshire.

Following

Forgot about Leeds, something for everyone and the Thackery Museum is great.

I’d give Winterfell a miss at the minute though. It’s a bit overrun.

Hartlepool. It's a bit of a shithole to live here, but for a day trip it's actually good. There's the museum of Hartlepool which is free entry, then the Maritime Museum next door which has the Trincomalee, and a paddle steamer, a walk through war bit with all the sounds and smells and such, and the "olde worlde" shops and street. The beach is lovely at Seaton Carew or the Headland and there's the town wall and St. Hilda's church if you like history.
Lots of places to eat for all budgets, and some shopping.

Grange over sands

Beamish museum is definitely some where to visit. York has loads of tourist attractions museums, Eden camp

As ladyrannaldini said, the trough of bowland is beautiful.

I love Keswick too. But they won’t let you in the town if you haven’t got a dog.

Newcastle has many free museums and galleries and there are all kinds of activities on for kids. There's the Centre for Life, which has an entrance fee but there is so much to do. There's also the Seven Stories in the Ouseburn area that is worth a visit. There are many shops and restaurants. The Sage in Gateshead often has child-friendly things on in the holidays.

Plus the architecture is beautiful. The coast isn't far and public transport is really good.