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?

Cambridge - lots of interesting museums, punting and other messing about in boats, botanic gardens, quirky stuff and lots of places to eat, riverside walks.
I've not been to Oxford for ages but similar would apply plus day trip to Blenheim palace.
And that's before mentioning the rather lovely college and uni buildings.

London every time!

Cardiff, I'm taking DD and DGS on the summer, I've already got a list of things to do. Unfortunately it's so long we'll have to miss things out as I don't my dad will handle more than a week

I live not far away.
It’s great for a break. Usually better weather, very interesting history due to naval base since war at sea was a thing. Some nice old bits, the sea and the lovely Isle of Wight a stones throwaway.
People say Dumfries and Galloway and frankly you can keep the rain and long, long drives to get to see anywhere.

Edinburgh, but train there (parking expensive), 4 days would be perfect.

Liverpool definitely!

One year we did Bath, Cheltenham and Stratford upon avon. And two nights at warwick castle. They absolutely loved it.

Ludlow. Lovely town - quirky shops and famous for food. Surrounded by nice countryside.

With a day trip to the Ironbridge Museum - or rather museums - you can choose which sites you think your kids would prefer.

Last May half term we had to be near Eastleigh for a family event so spent the week in the area- had days out at Marlow zoo, Paultons Park, Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester - lots to do in the area

Us too we went for one long weekend and ended going back to the area several time lovely market towns with interesting shops and cafes bridgenorth, Ludlow, Shrewsbury, ironbridge museums, Severn valley steam railway, Dudley zoo and castle, a detour to Cadbury World 🙄, a castle or two, air museum at Cosford… great times before they discovered screens!

What about Belfast? Titanic experience, Falls Road tour, St George's market, up to Bushmills distillery, beaches of Port Stewart and the Giants Causeway, Game of Thrones tour, SKytrek