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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Holidays by train from London with tween.

33 replies

Lemonaided · 04/04/2026 06:09

My youngest has had a tough time recently so I’d like to take him away 1 on 1 in May half term. He doesn’t like flying so I was wondering about places we could go via train?

We in London and happy with UK or Europe. I think he’d be fine with a city break as long as we have somewhere nice to retreat to when we want. But would be really keen for somewhere warm and/or close to water. Any good ideas?

OP posts:
Solasum · 04/04/2026 06:12

Night Riviera train down to Cornwall!

SandwichMakerHater · 04/04/2026 06:19

Luxembourg is on my wanted list.
Simon Calder wrote a piece a couple of years ago and it sounds great: so many cultural influences as it's so small and borders multiple countries, easy to go by train and when you get there public transport is free so you can exlpore as much as you want or base yourself in a city.
Worth investigating the best way to book to get a good deal: I can't remember the exact detail, but by booking in a certain way with one ticket to any Belgian station first, it becimes cheaper because the 2nd ticket gets you into Luxembourg...or something!

XelaM · 04/04/2026 06:25

SandwichMakerHater · 04/04/2026 06:19

Luxembourg is on my wanted list.
Simon Calder wrote a piece a couple of years ago and it sounds great: so many cultural influences as it's so small and borders multiple countries, easy to go by train and when you get there public transport is free so you can exlpore as much as you want or base yourself in a city.
Worth investigating the best way to book to get a good deal: I can't remember the exact detail, but by booking in a certain way with one ticket to any Belgian station first, it becimes cheaper because the 2nd ticket gets you into Luxembourg...or something!

Luxembourg is AMAZING!!! 🤩 I loved it so much

drspouse · 04/04/2026 06:26

I am currently interrailing with my DD who is 11, her pass was free!
We went to northern France by train last summer (though we did rent a car in Lille).
Both excellent!

gostickyourheadinapig · 04/04/2026 06:34

Eurostar to Paris or beyond?

Decorhate · 04/04/2026 07:39

Eurostar to Paris or Brussels and then you can get to pretty much most places in Europe by train. Why not ask him for a suggestion for the destination and see if you can make it work?

Eg there is a new train from Brussels to Milan/Lake Como via Switzerland that sounds great

Original poster
Lemonaided · 04/04/2026 09:13

Great ideas so far sleeper to Cornwall, Paris and Lake Como all sound good. I’d never thought of Luxembourg so will take a look.

@drspouse where about in northern France did you go?

OP posts:
drspouse · 04/04/2026 10:41

@Lemonaided we went to Wimereux just north of Boulogne. We did need a car really - we were there for 10 days then 3 at Disney/into Paris. We took the car back before going to Disney though.
There was a lot to do and the small town is gorgeous but British style weather, though as it's a short hop would be worth it for just a week.
We stayed in a VRBO flat over a bakery! We need 3 beds though as we have DS14 and DD11.
If your DC is still 11 I would highly recommend a short Interrail because you have to pay for their pass when they are 12. For just a week I'd do Paris, Brussels (Tintin!), maybe Vienna or Berlin (not both) and my DD went on her first sleeper train last night and said "this is what I've been waiting for ALL MY LIFE".

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 04/04/2026 10:42

You can also get the sleeper train up to Scotland.

oneoneone · 04/04/2026 10:48

Loads of places in the cote d'azur are pretty easy to get to by train - Nice, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Avignon.

Bohemond23 · 04/04/2026 10:52

Edinburgh on the sleeper. My DS then 10 absolutely loved it. Get a central Air BnB so you can walk everywhere.

MinnieMountain · 04/04/2026 11:34

TGV from Paris to Marseille, then there's a local line going east that stops as lots of beach places. I've stayed in Cassis, Bandol and Saint-Cyr-Sur-Mere on that line.

EwwSprouts · 04/04/2026 11:40

Eurostar to Paris then 2 hour train to Deauville - seaside.

reluctantbrit · 04/04/2026 12:22

What is he into?

Eurostar to Amsterdam? There are plenty of trains to choose to go to other dutch cities. You can even take a - very expensive - direct train to Berlin.

VanCleefArpels · 04/04/2026 12:55

Against the grain, but the Isle of Wight is lovely - train to Portsmouth, jump on a ferry. Lots of buses to get you around the island, lovely walks, traditional seaside resorts.

deplorabelle · 04/04/2026 14:24

So many great places to go. Cologne is a pretty good base, or somewhere else in the Rhineland (Koblenz or Trier are both really pretty).

We spent a week in Luxembourg last year and it was really good. If he likes buses and trains, all public transport in Luxembourg is free. We covered a lot of ground.

You can get to Milan or Barcelona in the day (have done both) but it's a long travel day. Bordeaux is a pretty easy journey (more awkward change between stations in Paris but otherwise fine). You can also make a longer journey by going past Bordeaux to Hendaye and change onto a narrow gauge train to San Sebastian. Again, it's a full travel day and quite long but very doable from London. You can also get to Zurich and Geneva pretty easily if you want to push the boat out.

If it were up to me I'd go to somewhere in Germany that has an attraction he'd like to visit. Germany is probably our favourite country to visit for the ease and abundance of living/leisure.

Abracadabra12345 · 06/04/2026 18:56

VanCleefArpels · 04/04/2026 12:55

Against the grain, but the Isle of Wight is lovely - train to Portsmouth, jump on a ferry. Lots of buses to get you around the island, lovely walks, traditional seaside resorts.

I agree, you feel like you’re properly going on holiday when you’re on the ferry 😁

Im on holiday abroad now and it’s been great but I feel a yearning for a UK holiday now. Luckily we’ve booked a trip to the Isle of Wight!

SpanThatWorld · 08/04/2026 16:59

VanCleefArpels · 04/04/2026 12:55

Against the grain, but the Isle of Wight is lovely - train to Portsmouth, jump on a ferry. Lots of buses to get you around the island, lovely walks, traditional seaside resorts.

The IoW is great for under 8s and over 40s.

LittleEmily · 09/04/2026 07:20

For a healing one-on-one escape within the UK this May, I’d highly recommend heading to St Ives in Cornwall or the Lake District, as both offer that soothing proximity to water and a perfect blend of "town and trail." Taking the train is a magical, stress-free experience that turns the journey into an adventure where you can focus entirely on your son, though it does limit you to the local hubs; hiring a car, however, grants you the ultimate freedom to escape the half-term crowds for a quiet sunset by a hidden cove or a remote lake, providing a comfortable, private space to retreat to whenever he needs some peace—just keep in mind that coastal roads and popular Lake District passes can get quite busy during the holiday week.

thedevilinablackdress · 09/04/2026 07:24

LittleEmily · 09/04/2026 07:20

For a healing one-on-one escape within the UK this May, I’d highly recommend heading to St Ives in Cornwall or the Lake District, as both offer that soothing proximity to water and a perfect blend of "town and trail." Taking the train is a magical, stress-free experience that turns the journey into an adventure where you can focus entirely on your son, though it does limit you to the local hubs; hiring a car, however, grants you the ultimate freedom to escape the half-term crowds for a quiet sunset by a hidden cove or a remote lake, providing a comfortable, private space to retreat to whenever he needs some peace—just keep in mind that coastal roads and popular Lake District passes can get quite busy during the holiday week.

You are ChatGPT and I claim my £5

Johnogroats · 09/04/2026 07:27

Eurostar has a sale on - £35 to Paris, £70 return. We booked last night. Also got an overnight train to the alps (Briançon). Half term will likely have great weather. And there’s lots to see.

reluctantbrit · 09/04/2026 08:45

@LittleEmily Taking the train is a magical, stress-free experience that turns the journey into an adventure

Yes, unexpected engineering works, delays, accidents on the line. Overcrowded trains because some were cancelled - very relaxing and magical and definitely an adventure.

beguilingeyes · 09/04/2026 10:06

Bruges! Eurostar to Brussels and then the local train is included in the ticket price. One of the most beautiful places on the planet.

bloominoreilly · 09/04/2026 16:16

I've just been to Swanage in Dorset - travelled on train 3 hrs from London to Wareham, then a local bus to Swanage. That's a lot of travel but it's an easy journey - the bus trip was fab, going through beautiful countryside inc past Corfe Castle. Swanage is a lovely place & you can do gorgeous coast path walks. The beaches nearby are fantastic. Can also catch a steam train to Corfe Castle. Never been before & had a very lovely time inc with teen son, who also loved it.