Weekend breaks in UK

[Rainsdropskeepfalling]

Reading threads about all the holidays people book has exhausted me (and left me wondering if having 8 weeks annual leave is now the norm).

So I'm looking for inspiration for weekend breaks. Even better if doable by train. A nice city to mosy around - any suggestions????

London is an obvious choice, also Edinburgh. Newquay is great if you love the beach but very busy and expensive, Hunstanton is quieter, a lot cheaper and still has a lot of really fun things to do, ideal for young children. Cambridge is fantastic.

Really depends where you are in the country and what you're looking for.

Bath is a great place to visit (and we went by train which is far easier than going by car!)

Oxford is lovely. Book guided walking tours before you go.

how far do you want to travel and what sort of things do you like doing?

York
Bath
Cambridge
Norwich
Chester
Leeds

All are great for 2 or 3 day stays

Some we've done that haven't been mentioned yet:
Brighton
Pitlochry
St Andrews
Stirling
Manchester
Liverpool

If we were driving we'd want < 100 miles I guess (and we are Cambridgeshire borders). We are well served by trains so I'd rather do that (hopefully better for the environment too), and if it's a city you don't want a car.

So good suggestions but keep them coming! Maybe I'll have two weekends away this year - still can't compare to the two cruises, two long distance flights and a fortnight at centre parks....

@cheapskatemum I was just looking at Liverpool - somehow I've never been!

Buxton is good for a weekend, lots of history, interesting shops and good restaurants.

York - lovely historical town, and not huge so easy to walk around if travelling by train.

Lincoln
Ludlow

Seriously, pick ANY city within reach. It's a couple of days, not a lifetime commitment, and most places have enough to keep you entertained that long.

Liverpool seems very popular at the moment for city breaks. They do have a lot of free museums and galleries and interesting places like good parks and the docks to walk round so it's a good call. Just avoid the hen/stag areas, but you get them in every city. You can also do a day in Chester from Liverpool easily.

Bath is lovely.
Edinburgh - train from London?
Liverpool
Harrogate and walks in the North York Moors ( steam trains too)
Stratford on Avon
Hay on Wye and around?
Oxford?

Liverpool was fantastic for a weekend trip. I went with girlfriends, we went to the Cavern, after the Magical Mystery Tour bus ride, visited the Slavery Museum The Walker Art Gallery and drank amazing cocktails at The Alchemist. The only bit I didn't enjoy was the meal we ate in China Town. Maybe we chose the wrong restaurant.

I would avoid the tourist trap pretty cities personally so not Bath, York, Edinburgh, Oxford, Stratford but that’s just me!

I prefer cities with a bit more to them - and less tourists - so I’d pick Glasgow, Liverpool, Cardiff.