UK family holiday by train?

[Smithagain]

Am planning early for next year here!

We've just got back from a trip to Edinburgh, to visit my parents. We travelled by train (from Surrey) for the first time. Our kids are 3 and 6 and it was MUCH MUCH nicer than driving, despite the hassle of crossing London on the tube and carrying all our stuff. And they behaved themselves pretty well on the train, so now I'm feeling inspired.

I'm wondering whether we could manage a whole family holiday without the car next year. Obviously we'd need a bit more stuff, if we weren't staying with family, but I think we couple manage that.

But where would be a good place to stay, so there are plenty of things to do without a car? I wondered about York (purely because we've just come through it and I remember having holidays there as a child) - or Canterbury? Is there anywhere that has good train access from London and also a sandy beach??!!

And what sort of accommodation to go for? Hotel, so we don't have to take towels, food etc. Or self-catering in an ultra light-weight manner? Anyone got any brilliant tips?

York YHA is great. Wedgiesmum and I stayed there in 2007 with our 4 children (aged 6-10). We had a big room with 3 sets of bunk beds. (And used Tesco vouchers so it was super cheap).

I've also enjoyed city breaks with children in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Newcastle.

Lots of threads on here about YHAs.

What Tesco vouchers??
You can also hire the whole hostel, which with a small hostel and a few families isn't hard to fill. Then hire a minibus!

Tesco clubcard vouchers.