Favourite place for a short UK break

[neverbeenskiing]

DH and I want to take the DC (6 and 10) away for a few nights in the summer holidays. We have a big holiday planned for next year so want to stay in the UK this time.

As a family we generally prefer city breaks to beach holidays, so although it's nice to be by the water it's not essential. We'd prefer to do Airbnb rather than a hotel so the kids can have their own room.

We would like to go away for 4 nights in a town/city with plenty to do. We'll drive there so can do trips out to neighbouring towns/attractions but would like to be somewhere where most things are easily walkable. DD (10) loves exploring places with quirky shops and nice places to eat. DS(6) loves parks/adventure playgrounds and anything to do with animals. They both like museums with interactive exhibits, like the science museum or aquarium.

Where should we go?

Whitby.
You then have Scarborough and Saltburn.
Sea life centre at Scarborough.
Dracula / Whitby Abbey and pirate ships. Quirky shops on cobbled streets .
Falling floss waterfall.
Loads of parks .
Walks( Ghost walks).
I'd do a Google on these places.. too many to mention.
Loads of cottages etc on Air bnb.

Winchester is a great little city. Beautiful walks within the city itself (there is a lovely river and water meadows). Marwell Zoological park nearby. I

t's in the beautiful Hampshire countryside, easy to get to the river itchen. The Watercress (steam train) line at Alresford, and also the Fulling Mill at Alresford.

Then there's the Winchester science centre and planetarium, a walk up St Catherine's Hill to the maze.

The cathedral, cathedral grounds and the area around Winchester college are outstandingly beautiful too.

Loads of lovely pubs and restaurants and a nice thriving pedestrianised high street.

Where are you? Presumably you have a drive/travel time in mind?

Chester

I love York - lots for the children and you're not too far from the coast - Whitby is lovely

York is amazing, lots to see and great range of restaurants.

Stratford upon Avon also good, Crowne Plaza hotel is a good base and wasn’t expensive.

Northumberland, too much to do to list!

Liverpool

We're in the Midlands and happy to drive for a few hours each way.

My suggestions were also New forest way/ Winchester or York.

Bristol / Bath

I second Chester. Quirky shops and loads of places to eat. Near to Chester Zoo and Delamere forest.
Sick to Death is a small and fun museum and there are loads of Roman themed things to do.

Liverpool
York
Portsmouth (with a day trip to the Isle of Wight)
Canterbury

What about Edinburgh. Flights can be quite reasonable from Birmingham. It's a fab place that is accessible easily on foot.

Yeah Portsmouth. Naval dockyards is very cool with Nelson Victory and Henry v111 Mary Rose. Old town has lots of amazing houses. Day trip to the Isle of Wight ( use the Hovercraft) and Ryde has a huge sandy beach.

About 3 hours drive from Midlands.

Glasgow - amazing science museum, kelvingrove , quirky shops & restaurants in the west end , the underground is easy fun to use . Architecture doubles for New York in film sets . Eating out is cheaper lots of independents . Not far to Loch Lomond / Balloch - there’s a sea world . You can train it up the west coast mainline quite cheaply from the midlands with a family railcard in just over 3hrs on the fast trains. It’s all slightly different( food and culture ) and the people are super friendly .

Alternately the drive although a bit longer than 3 it’s straightforward up the m6 4hrs - you could break your journey in the lakes / tebay / borders or even an cheeky overnight in Blackpool just sticking to the seafront/ amusements / trams which we did once - although not “ naice “ the kids at that age loved it and didn’t notice the not so nice bits of Blackpool

I love how on these threads people always suggest the area I live in

Lobe that people suggest Portsmouth. I'm very local and commute there daily and it's great but I guess I never see it as a holiday destination 🤦‍♀️😂

Cardiff is brilliant, loads to do.

Edinburgh- Plenty to keep kids amused.There is the castle,camera obscura,Dynamic Earth,Mary Kings Close and the museum of childhood all within the area of the Royal Mile Royal .Holyrood Palace with Arthur's seat close by if you fancy a wee hill climb,The Royal Yacht Britannia is further out from the city centre but worth a visit.Princes Street Gardens has lots of green open spaces.Portobello is a bus ride or short drive from the city centre and has a lovely sandy beach with a long promenade and busy cafes and coffee shops.
Edinburgh is a compact city and you can pretty much walk anywhere in the centre.Edinburgh zoo is popular and about 4 miles west of Princes street.

I live nearby too and always suggest it as a holiday destination because there's so much to do!

Dumfries and Galloway

Liverpool, with a day trip to Chester Zoo, or Blue Planet Aquarium, or Knowsley Safari Park

York- took the kids when they were 8 and 11. We had such a brilliant time visiting the museums and cathedral and city ramparts. Great walkable city.

we stayed in serviced apartments and got deliveroo! It was great.