Just me an 8yo DD - weekend away

[Annabananna1]

I need a couple of days 1:1 with my 8 yo. She's a great kid and I've been so preoccupied with her younger siblings, work, relationship problems..

I'd love to take her away (abroad, ideally as she's never been) and sort of try to connect.

She likes history, swimming, music.

Is there anywhere that springs to mind as a good mini-break with a kid? Not Disneyland, too expensive for me.

Sorry no AIBU.

Or maybe there is. H thinks it's a stupid idea and I should save the £££ for me and him to go away. But I feel like I need this with my daughter. And it's my money (some v small inheritance). My choice, right? He went to Italy to watch a football match recently and I covered childcare.

Thank you for some fantastic suggestions!

I’d do Brussels or Paris by Eurostar
or Amsterdam ooh…I want to go now too :)

I went to Bruges for the day with our eldest, she is younger than your DD but for similar reasons, to connect after my attention has been on her younger sibling for a little while.

Lovely city and could definitely have spent more time there, plus the novelty of the Eurostar!

I went to London with my 8 year old DD this summer. We went to Frozen in the West End and the Natural History museum. Lots of places to eat. Book a hotel with a pool.

It was amazing she loved it!

Bath would tick all your boxes.

Edinburgh or York definitely. Wait a few weeks and the Christmas markets will start too.
Avoid Paris it's a hell hole.

@Mariposista she really raved about it and said she would definitely go back.

It’s a fab place. I now live in the capital but go back a few times a year to see friends. Always lovely. Wide range of hotels, lots of shops, a beach, museums, a big market, plenty of history and culture and the weather is often good :)

Spent almost a week in Rome with DS when he was 8. He loves history so we booked a guided tour of the colosseum. Ate ice-cream at least once a day and walked maybe 80km, we stayed in the Travestere area and would walk to different things most days just spotting stuff. I liked the churches more than he did (paintings and shade) but he loved the food and wandering about. Carried his Horrible histories book about like the Lonely Planet guide. It’s a great way to spend time with your child and lovely that you’re considering it.

We love Oslo with kids. Especially in the winter when they have toboganning in the mountains and the winter market on; the palace is gorgeous too and the Viking ship museum of course.

I’d take her to York, packed with history and child friendly attractions!

the York dungeons
jorvick
york history museum
ghost walks/bus

plus

cat cafe
chocolate museum
big wheel

lots of shops, markets and the shambles to wander round.

There is loads to do, magical for adults and children alike!

Yy to Barcelona - took DD at a similar age and stayed in a hotel with a rooftop bar, which she loved (she loved the pool, I loved the bar). Rome also great but exhausting. DD really enjoyed Salzburg, but was a big Sound of music fan, which may be a bit old skool for yours.

There’s a really nice hotel on the south coast called Chewton Glen, they have treehouses you can stay in which are fab. A gorgeous pool and spa too. And the beach is close by for walks. Not the cheapest though.

As a few people have mentioned, Rome would be amazing as she’ll be studying the Roman’s in school.
If that’s a bit out of budget pick a Roman Town in England - Chester stands out as you can walk the Roman walls, visit the amphitheater and there is a dedicated Roman museum there. Plus it’s gorgeous and you could have lovely river trips, meals, mum/daughter pampers etc xx

As she's never been abroad I'd really recommend that. Flights (and hotels) within Europe can be so cheap that it needn't cost more than a trip to Bath or York etc. When you're a kid, going abroad just seems so much more exciting and exotic! The while airport rigmarole is just part of the fun (although I'd try to stretch it to three days if you can).

I would recommend Krakow, Prague, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Grenada and Lisbon. Also Amsterdam if you stay off the Dam Rak and red light district. Paris was a recent massive disappointment to me (and so expensive!). Prague is my personal favourite.

We took our son to Rome for 3 days (and then Amalfi/Pompeii for 7) when he was 9 - he'd read the Roman Mysteries books, so was keen to see Ostia, which was a short trip out of Rome, and amazing. Plus all the Rome sights. He is now 23 and was saying he remembers that holiday the most vividly out of all his holidays.

What a lovely idea! Definitely not unreasonable.
I've flown solo with younger children for similar number of days. The airport and flying is part of the fun. I would pick depending on where you are in the country and what airports you can go from. If you have a more regional airport you often don't need to get there so early and less travel time to the airport. Maybe see where flights go from there?

If you're close to London the Eurostar is a great shout as it feels different to a normal train going through passport control and you have a couple of destination options. But if you're very north then it may take just as long as flying. You still have to get there a bit early to clear PC and board.

I would think about when you're planning on going. If it's soonish then maybe go end nov/early December and pick somewhere with Christmas markets. Lots of the German cities, and places like Prague, Budapest, Krakow etc are great for this but lots of places also have smaller markets now too. All of those places also have a lot of history. Though the things near Krakow are a lot to do with holocaust so not appropriate for an 8 year old (not even sure if children can go).

If you're going any time and want history/famous sights then maybe somewhere iconic like Paris or Rome? If you had slightly longer you could combine Rome and Pompeii - the fast trains in Italy are good to get between the two.

Spain and Portugal have lots of brilliant cities and destinations but perhaps not quite as iconic historically for an 8 year old as a first place to visit? (Have been to Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Grenada so just thinking about those places).

Personally I would avoid Brussels - comparably less history and it's not the safest feeling place. Bruges is very sweet and compact and they have a chocolate museum and a v small Christmas market.

Any of those places I'm sure you could find a really cool pool (not thermal ones as think you have to be older child/adult). And there's all sorts of music venues. Is she in to any particular bands or artists of types of music? Maybe if bands/artists see if any of them are touring Europe and plan timings and destination to coincide? Lots of the cities will have street performers (depending how cold it is!) and music halls/concert venues.

What an exciting adventure for you both. I hope you have a lovely time

Hull to rotterdam ferry over night, day in Bruges /Amsterdam back on the ferry the next night! Really cheap and such an adventure

I travel quite a lot with my children on my own and find it quite easy! Sometimes going abroad is easier than spending hours in a car. Athens would be my suggestion, there’s so much to do and if you go out of summer it’s really reasonable. My 5 year old loved it!

Athens is a great suggestion too! I didn't include it as I'd been thinking Greece was a bit further in terms of flight time. The historical bits of Athens are very impressive and Athens is quite a cool happening place.

Amsterdam: Anne Frank House, walk by the canal, Efteling theme park.
Edinburgh: Zoo, castle, sScottish souvenirs.
Dublin.

Quite sad that her Dad would deny her this when every single poster on this thread can see the value.

Please do it op. I used to love going places with my Mum.

My vote is Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Agree York is a good place to visit, lots to do.

what about London, book a show with a nice meal somewhere and a day of shopping with afternoon tea.