where in britain has a good range of family attractions open in january?

[miranda2]

WE want to go on holiday in late Jan/early Feb, preferably to a nice cottage with access to an indoor heated pool (mmmm!). But we don't have any idea where to go! We've enjoyed Cornwall and Norfolk in spring, but can anyone recommend anywhere with plenty of things to keep a 3.5 year old (and his parents) amused, that are open in winter?
All suggestions gratefully recieved!

anyone?

we have just got back form dole ash farm in dorchester
they hada pool and a games room too
its quite mrmeote though

I did see this but couldn't think of anything helpful to add...winter is tricky isn't it? If you have a pool that will keep him amused for some of the time. You could also try finding a group of cottages that has an indoor playroom or similar, as well as an outside play area (it surely won't be cold and miserable ALL the time...) What does he like doing? How keen are you on getting out whatever the weather? Are you National Trust members - big old houses or castles can sometimes be fun, and there's usually a warm cafe to retreat to. Or what about trying to go somewhere within spitting distance of a big city where there will be plenty of indoor attractions - Edinburgh? Leeds??

Actually another thought is Centerparcs - we went last Feb and ds1 did enjoy it.

How was Sorrento btw?

is it not just as cheap to go abroad sometimes? i know its more hassle but maybe its worth it ???

London. Birmingham. Manchester. York. At this time of year I personally would go urban rather than rural. There are several outdoor ice-rinks in London this winter, for example...Tower of London, HMS Belfast, Tate Modern, Harrods' Ice Cream Parlour, I-max on the South Bank.
A compromise might be a Yorkshire Moors cottage with plenty of forays into York itself...

Dorset should be OK. If it's OK weather you could walk along the beaches, go to the country parks, if not there should be lots to do round Bournemouth / Poole way thats OK in winter - aquariums / monley world.
Or the New Forest - if its OK lots of walks / beaches, if not Bournemouth in easy reach, the car place (Beaulie?) etc

...monkey not monley...

Marina's Yorkshire idea might be a good bet - there's the railway museum at York for one thing.

the pool in POole!splashdown?

loads to do in and around edinburgh, and you would be able to find somewhere to stay nearby if you don't want to be in town. The NCT has a book out 'Edinburgh for the under 5's', tons of stuff to do in there.

Thanks all! He does LOVE trains, so York is a possibility. We don't really want to do London as it is near dh's parents and they'd be a bit surprised if we didnt' stay with them, but if we did we'd never get out and do anything as they are right at the end of the tube line.
Will look into bournemouth and dorset - thanks for the suggestions!
Sorrento went quite well - Pompeii was a bit much for him, and not at all pushchair friendly!! but generally it was lovely. Highlight was swimming in the sea in a totally private bay, with little fish around our toes...
Dh is vehemently against centerparcs, so thats a non-starter. I was planning on going abroad, but its a right pain finding somewhere that flies from the local airport, has a separate bedroom for ds without mega under-occupancy supplements etc...plus I'll be c.5/6 months pg, could fly but would quite like to be near good hospitals just in case...

Gosh, new replies while I was writing my post! Edinburgh could be very interesting - I'll have to get hold of the NCT book. Is it only available from them or can I get it in a bookshop/Amazon?

look ta the premier cottages site
I got he brohcure adn there area lots of really swish looking places

or that place in fowey

bookshop/amazon/anywhere. even saw it in a bookshop in durham once, don't know why.

didnt realise you were pg! good luck xxx

How about the Lake District? Billions of holiday cottages and these attractions just for starters. (The thought of a pencil museum always makes me giggle though.)

Cumbria/Lake District website