Denmark or Cornwall for a holiday with kids?

[Holidaytime8]

Random choices I know! But we have a week holiday to book and are trying to decide which to go to at the end of August. I’ve always wanted to go to Denmark, which is why that’s there; Cornwall is an obvious choice because we live in southern England.

I don’t like mega-mega hot, so not considering France, Italy, the usual suspects.

In fact, my dream would be Iceland but the flights are just really eye watering.

Which would you pick? And recommendations for Denmark if it’s there?

I'd avoid Cornwall, over the years it just seems to become like a Cornish Disneyland. I'd go to Denmark. I'd like to take DC to Denmark but I'm not a great flyer so I'm trying to see if it's possible by Eurostar/train. Has anyone familiar with holidaying in Denmark done this? (Sorry for hijacker's).

We went to Copenhagen in February - others have covered everything I'd say but it really is a great city. Some of their museums are amazing, the Round tower, various churches, there's an online map showing all the little playgrounds dotted around the place. Yes it's expensive but a really great trip and our kids loved it (aged 6 & 12). I'd absolutely love to do what others have suggested and do a coastal trip.

@SheilaWilde I've never done the trip by train, but according to the guru of all things regarding European trains, The Man in Seat 61, this is indeed possible.

How to travel by train from London to Copenhagen & Denmark (seat61.com)

Note that if going to Legoland/Lego House etc. there is no train station in Billund - the last part of the journey is by bus from Kolding or Vejle.

Personally I like the Jutland side of Denmark (see itinerary in posts above) in preference to Copenhagen, but there is also lots to do in and around Copenhagen too (Tivoli, Vikings in Roskilde etc). One tip for visiting that side of Denmark is to actually stay across the water in Malmö, Sweden, which is only 30 minutes by train from Copenhagen but where accommodation is much more reasonably priced.

@SheilaWilde it should be doable depending on where you want to go. We’ve got the train to Copenhagen via Hamburg before

St Pancras - Brussels - Cologne - Hamburg - Copenhagen

We broke up the journey and had a night in both Cologne and Hamburg, but you could probably do it in 2 travelling days at a push. We had Copenhagen as a base on that trip and did day trips out to Odense and Roskilde.

We then got the train from Copenhagen to Berlin as that was a direct option then, unfortunately I think they’ve stopped that route now.

Thank you so much @Havanananana. I'll have a look at the link and great advice about where to stay. DC are 15 and 16 so have probably outgrown Legoland.

Lego House in Billund is far better than Legoland for older teens (and for adult fans of LEGO) but Copenhagen is a great option for a week or more with that age group.

I would absolutely go to Denmark rather than Cornwall. It's spectacularly beautiful.

Thank you @cherryassam. I'd also love to go to Berlin so stop overs along the way would be exciting.

Please don't even attempt Cornwall for August if you are thinking of staying west of Newquay. The constitution of the new duel carriageway and roundabouts near Truro is causing massive delays, I'm talking about moving just a few miles in one hour and it's not even the school holidays yet 😭.

If you can go to Denmark I definitely would.

We go to Denmark every August, we love it! The weather is very similar to here - can be warm and sunny, can be cool and drizzly, but we've usually been pretty lucky. Once the Danish and German schools are back (mid-August) the self-catering accommodation is very reasonable (cheaper than here).

As other PP have suggested, I'd either do a Billund/Jutland beaches trip, or a Copenhagen/Nordsjælland beaches trip (we usually go to the Liseleje area, but that whole northern coast has some great beaches and things to do).

Define Denmark! It's wonderful, I've spent a lot of time there and love it every time. Personally I don't find it any more expensive than London but that perhaps depends on what you do when you are there. The public transport is reliable and affordable.
Highlights for me: Copenhagen, Helsingor, Odense, Aarhus, Skagen, Fano.

You could also try visiting Malmo in Sweden and taking day trips over to Denmark (30 minutes by train from Malmo to Copenhagen).

Another suggestion - if you are dreaming of Iceland and Denmark, have you considered the Faroe Islands? I've also spent a lot of time there, it's a wonderful place. Perfect for an outdoor-focussed trip. It can be pricier but worth saving for.