Holiday from the US (not London!)

[americaninboston]

Hello! I live in the US with my husband and our 4 year old, but we really love the UK. I'm trying to plan a trip for next August. We'd likely be flying in and out of Heathrow, but we've been to London several times and would love to go elsewhere. I'm thinking of spending 3-4 days in a small city, and 3-4 days somewhere more rural or at the beach (ideally somewhere charming / not too touristy/kitschy). Also - we'd love to do this without renting a car - a bit nervous about driving on the other side of the road!

Some ideas I had are York + Scarborough, or Oxford + Bournemouth, or Chester + Llandudno. Thoughts? Other ideas? Are these terrible ideas? Thanks you!!

I'm picturing a nice sandy beach, fish and chips, ice cream, maybe some amusement games / mini-golf

Cromer is your destination for this! Plus you can get the train. You could spend a couple of days in London, then head to Liverpool St station for the 1 hour 50 mins to Norwich. A night or two in Norwich - lots to do for kids, then train to North Norfolk – Cromer/Sheringham (steam train from Sheringham to Holt where there is a great country park). Or you can get the coasthopper bus and go to Wells, which has a little train and a fab beach.

Or East Sussex is lovely. Trains from Victoria to Lewes, Eastbourne, etc...

Also, OP, as an American you might be intrigued by the city where it all began (sort of, one phase) I.e. Plymouth and the Mayflower Pilgrims!

If you want a small city with a fascinating history I’d recommend Salisbury, Stonehenge is just a couple of miles down the road, and you’re not far from pool, where you can take a small boat across to Brownsea Island. If you are an Enid Blyton fan pool harbour features in many of her books under various names! The Jurassic coast is great for fossil hunting although you might want to consider a car hire, and finding quieter coves, will only be possible with a car. That said Swanage in Dorset is a well kept secret and has stunning sand dunes and sandy beaches.

I would do Cambridge then Southwold on the east coast. I'm always recommending Southwold but it is the quintessential seaside town. Long sandy beach, pretty beach huts, interesting harbour, pier with old-fashioned 'amusements' and a few minutes walk into town for eating, drinking, shopping, museum, brewery. AND plenty of ice cream.
Cambridge has the picturesque river for punting, historic university buildings, fascinating small museums eg Samuel Pepys library etc. But wherever you end up, hope you have a lovely trip!

Alas, the little train at Wells is no longer but I second north Norfolk as a brilliant suggestion. For a train ride there’s always the Poppy Line between Sheringham and Holt.

Alas, the little train at Wells is no longer

There is the Wells/ Walsingham light railway, still? (But yes, the little beach one was the sweetest).

If you are arriving at Heathrow you really must drop into Windsor and Eton for a day or two.
Then onto Oxford, followed by Newcastle and Northumberland.
Have a great time!

Before reading your post I thought, York then Scarborough.

York just drips with history and there is the National Railway Museum.

But Scarborough is a bit kitschy. It's an old fashioned Victorian holiday resort so you get donkeys on the beach and in Peasholm park there is a naval battle using miniature ships. You also have Whitby close by if you are in to Dracula or you collect Jet jewelry.

I wouldn't recommend Cornwall, it's beautiful and has lots to do but the journey can be a pain. Realistically you need to get a train and that takes at least 5 hours, although there is a sleeper train. There is a small airport at Newquay but no direct flights from Heathrow, you have to fly via Dublin.

Yes that definitely exists, we do a version of that every summer!

Places the we’ve been that fit:

Broadstairs/Whistable/Margate (could go to Canterbury though it isn’t a massive place)

Isle of Wight (Portsmouth/Historic Docks and Winchester?)

Most of Devon/Dorset (we’ve stayed in Lyme Regis and Swanage but all of that area would be lovely) - no major local cities but Salisbury or Bristol/Bath aren’t too far away.

Welsh beaches are gorgeous but the ones I’ve been to have been more wild beauty than bucket and spade.

Cornwall is fantastic but I found it hard to navigate without a car and it will be absolutely rammed in August.

Haven’t been to a northern beach in ages, but York/Harrogate, Newcastle/Durham, Edinburgh or Glasgow all definitely have more than enough to entertain you for a few days if others can recommend the beaches.

York is only 2 1/2 hours from London by train- not too long!
The train to Whitby from York is much slower though. The coastliner bus would be better.

You could do York and then Almouth in Northumberland- it’s got a lovely beach but no amusements.

Oxford and the Cotswolds?