Can you help me plan two UK trips to mark my milestone birthday!!

[TR888]

Hi!

I'm turning a certain age at the end of October and I'd like to mark it with two trips. I know I've left it late; initially, I was hoping to be able to travel abroad but I've decided it's not worth it because of all the Covid regulations. So:

• One trip is with my husband and kids (aged 14-11-9). Realistically, it needs to be somewhere that the kids will enjoy, otherwise it won't work. Dates: 27th-31st Ice, which coincides with the half term break in most of the UK (I think). Not ideal, I know. Budget around £1,000 for accommodation, but can pay more if it's a lovely place.

• The other trip is with a group of friends and it can be in mid Nov or so . This will be a weekend thing but I have no idea what to do. Part of me wants an urban destination, but no spas please as I can't see the appeal. Another possibility is the complete opposite: a walking holiday somewhere with gastropubs. We can probably spend up to £180 per double room? An AirBnB might be another option.

Please help, I know I've left it far too late!! Thanks very much xxxxx

Sorry for the typos! The date for the first trip would be 27th-31st October.

Thank you.

North Norfolk for the adult trip? Lots of gastropub type places and some nice, easy walking. North Yorkshire? Helmsley on North York Moors or Malton - both have good places to eat, and you're close to York or Whitby for a day out.

I'd do Oxford with the family - Blenheim palace, museums, Harry Potter walking tour etc. And Liverpool with friends. Rent a swish apartment near the Albert Dock. Free galleries, cocktail bars, shopping.

Belfast with the kids... Titanic Museum, Ulster Museum, W5, Botanic Gardens. Bus trips up the coast to Giants Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, although that would depend on the weather!

Rough area you are looking to travel from and distance.

Wow, thanks! Lots of great ideas. I live in Chesterfield if that helps :-).

Loving the idea of Liverpool as I spent a very happy year there in my 20s. The other option I love is Belfast, I've never been.

Belfast International Arts Festival is also on over those dates, although I'm not sure how much of it is interesting enough for kids. There's some walking tours included though

Another reason to go to Belfast! My teenage boy is not keen for some reason, though. He doesn't think it's very exciting, but then he hasn't got a clue as he's never been there.

Any more ideas?

London with the kids - something for everyone.
Everyone picks one thing that they’d like to see - then go and see a show.

York - railway museum,Castle Howard, york minister, Yorkshire dales, Bettys tearoom,

I

London, Belfast or Liverpool with the kids.

Brighton for the friends. Or Leeds. Both will give options for walking and for city stuff.

Highly, highly recommend Liverpool for your adult weekend. My absolute fave uk city for a weekend break. Can recommend loads of fab places for food and drinks if you decide to go. Baltic Market for street food and fab cocktails is a brilliant starting point

This looks fun for the family, and you'll have money over to do some memorable activities - coasteering, paddle boarding, kayaking.

Duh.....You need this bit

www.onecatfarm.com/about-us/family-glamping-wales/

Wow! Love those huts! But they've got no availability for my dates... I'll keep them in mind, though!!

Thank you all for your fab suggestions. So far, I'm leaning towards the family holiday in Belfast and wouldn't hesitate if it wasn't for the need to fly out there... Ideally, I'd love to go on a train for maximum stress-free travel. Having said that, I've been researching Belfast and it sounds ideal for us! Decisions, decisions...

Liverpool for the trip with mates sounds fab!! I wonder if we coild book a luxury apartment for one night only... usually you need to stay for at least a couple of nights withAirBnB. Any recs?

Bumping up

Haven't done a Liverpool apartment. I have done the Shankley though. Amazing group hotel....you can get super duper luxury rooms that sleep up to about 20 I think! Their garden of Eden rooftop bar is lovely. There has recently been a tv series about it, called the party hotel

You can get the boat to Belfast! There's usually something for kids in the festival as well.

For the trip with the children have you considered somewhere like chessington world of adventure? They have an on-site hotel you could stay on. Would come in under budget too.

I love Belfast, been twice for a city break and would happily go again. I don’t know how much teenagers would appreciate it though, I’ve grown up knowing it as a troubled area so seeing it now probably means more to our age group than it would to them? You could split your time between the city and the north coast - giants causeway etc.
I was going to suggest Aviemore if you like outdoor activities but it might be too far? The MacDonald resort might suit? Scotland half term is probably a week or two earlier so there might be more availability. Or Edinburgh if you fancy a city break.

I've decided on Liverpool for the weekend with my friends. Can you suggest what to do /hotels / restaurants, etc? Thanks!

www.donthibernate.co.uk/liverpool/

Bold Street is in the city centre near the Bombed out church
La Parilla
Crust
Leaf and many others you cant go wrong but best to book.
Lark Lane is a short ride out of the city and is basically one street full of restaurants, La Parilla has one there Marantos is expensive but good.

I feel liverpool would be great for the kids too as loads to see and do, some hidden gems too
www.liverpoolwatersports.org.uk
You can hire a speed boat and driver who will take you around the docks and tell you about them he will also take you to parts of the dock that have no speed limits and if you are up for it its fantastic.
Now for something totally different

williamsontunnels.com
www.theclimbinghangar.com

What would the kids want to do?
Lots of activity type stuff in North Wales?

Mid-November is the start of Christmas Market season in lots of towns/cities. It is worth checking the tourist information.

Best brunch in liverpool; leaf. Definitely book in advance

Mowgli is gorgeous for Indian street food, cowshed is equally fab for steak.

Garden of Eden rooftop bar is a must if you get good weather

Baltic market area is also a must, you can't book and there is always a queue, but it goes down quickly, definitely worth the wait.

Whilst I would generally avoid Matthew St, the Sgt Pepper bar down there is fantastic for live music, which goes on pretty much all day