Holidays in Britain

[Goddessonahighway]

I've just come back from 10 days in Spain and with the queues in the airport, I fancy trying something different next year. Could anyone suggest somewhere to try in Britain? Have a 7 year old and 13 year old. Budget would be apprx £2500. Don't mind going on a ferry. Would love to hear your recommendations.

what sort of thing do you fancy......countryside, city and museums, beach, activities?? Bear in mind that the weather in the UK is somewhat less guaranteed than it will be in Spain!
Also, what part of the country are you starting from and how far (and how - car / train / plane etc) are you willing to travel? There's no point in us suggesting the scottish highlands if you're based in the south and don't want more than a 4 hour drive or are reliant on public transport.

Go to the Isle of Man, great beaches, steam trains, trams, horse trams, wildlife park, have I mentioned the beaches ? - castles. Wild wallabies, seals, dolphins.....

It's super safe. You can fly or ferry there and can get around without a car if you don't fancy driving.

Isle of Wight.

We're near Bristol. Happy to do 3 or 4 hours in the car but no planes. Ferry OK. So even Ireland maybe.

Apart from that open to anything. Like countryside and beaches. Popping into a city.

I like the idea of loading up the car and just getting somewhere. Realise westher isn't guaranteed.

Kids love a pool but that could be indoors. I like eating a meal with a nice view. So pretty easily pleased.

a view. Port Erin IOM

though tbf Jersey has better weather....

That is a view 😆

Isles of Scilly if you don't mind forgoing the city
Pembrokeshire (St David's is a city but teeny)
Isle of Man would be further but a great place to visit. Liverpool might be 4 hours from Bristol on a good day.

Ps some days out we've enjoyed are Beaulieu, Longleat and Margam Park. We've visited Tenby, Cornwall, Bournemouth, and Liverpool for holidays.

We went to Isle of Wight during COVID and had a lovely time. Osbourne house is fabulous. That said I'd be inclined to go to Jersey given you are already in Bristol, or Jersey combined with Normandy sites of Mont St Michel and D-day beaches, which I realise is not the England holiday you requested, but Jersey is so close to Normandy anyway.

My number one choice, and something I would be happy to do every year is to hire a boat on the norfolk broads. Very relaxed, but you can go from the middle of nowhere to the middle of norwich city/great yarmouth (not everyone's cup of tea admittedly) in an hour.

Did you like where you stayed on Isle of Wight? Any recomendations for accommodation?

Northumberland, Norfolk and Tenby have been our best UK holidays - happy memories 😀

We stayed in one of the geodesic domes at Tom's Eco lodge, it was great but not cheap. Had a hot tub which was lovely. I picked it because I wanted something different and was happy to pay for that. We had a fabulous meal at the 'True Food Kitchen' and also at The Terrace in Yarmouth. Another restaurant The Smoking Lobster has a great reputation, but we didn't eat there as I couldn't get in.

I adore Pembrokeshire - lots of beautiful safe beaches, brilliant wildlife and there's quite a bit to do there if the weather is not beach all the way eg castles and other historic 'experiences'. Not sure what the accommodation-with-heated-pool availability is like though, we've always just splashed about/bodyboarded/rockpooled in the sea. (there is also more than one fiorm offering guided coasteering, surfing and paddleboarding for the more adventurous!)

North Norfolk is lovely! Or Pembrokeshire!

The Isle of Wight is a bit limiting, in my view. I would look at North or South Devon. Also Dorset has so much to offer. Bournemouth if it rains, Studland if not. Castles, beaches, lovely seaside towns, (eg Lyme Regis, Swanage) and even a swannery. We always found more than enough to do.

If you are in Bristol, why not get the car ferry from Plymouth and head over to Brittany. I know it's not Britain but it's an adventure and ticks the boxes for going by car and avoiding airports. Very similar to Cornwall but without the crowds and prices. Lots of Eurocamp places which would be perfect for your kids age wise.

The Hebrides. Best holidays ever.

We stayed at The Lakes Rookley in IOW in a luxury bungalow. One of my best holidays ever!

Seconding St Davids in Pembrokeshire. Blue Flag beach at Whitesands Bay. Great for surfing and body boarding. Small city with cathedral and castle. Great award-winning restaurants and cafes. Best ice cream shop ever. Loads of day trips out for all eventualities of weather eg Bug Farm/Melin Tregwynt Welsh blanket factory/Solva woollen mill/puffin boat trips/ crabbing at Solva/Dobby’s grave at Freshwater Beach (ideal for Harry Potter fans)/ a walk up Carn Llidi. This is not an exhaustive list but just a sample of some of the things we do when we go every July for a fortnight.

We stayed on the Garlic Farm on IOW.

We stayed at Dylan Bay Coastal Resort, which had an Indoor pool and amazing views.

It's probably at the edge of your four hour drive but North Yorkshire has lots to offer. Great seaside towns like Whitby and Scarborough. Beautiful scenery with two national parks, the Dales and The Moors. Stunning market towns, castles and abbeys galore. Plenty of accommodation, great food scene too. Think Wensleydale cheese, local ales, rhubarb and kippers and freshly caught cod.

Lamatree festival