3 days with 11 year old... where to go?

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Hello. Live in the east midlands, I have 3 days with my 11 year old on our own next week which is rare... world is our oyster (kinda, don't want to lose too much time travelling, dont mind flying though). I drive. Where shall we go?

Would they be interested in a city break? I'm going to recommend Oxford - loads to do and see. Free museums, beautiful parks, great foodie spots, game cafes and indoor mini golf etc etc

National space centre? I’ve always wanted to take my son but it’s too far for me to bother 🫣

York?

If you don't want to spend hours travelling I would recommend York.

If you can fly easily, Amsterdam was a big hit when DD was 11.

Space centre
Leicester museum, recently refurbished
Indoor golf, near Loughborough
Bradgate park, see the deer
Just a start ....

Barcelona. Fly from Birmingham. Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Montjuc cable cars. Lots of yummy tapas. Best trip my daughter and I have done.

Fly to Knock, drive to https://loughkey.ie and do something, drive somewhere else and do something, end up in Belfast or Dublin and fly home.

go on sky scanner type in “everywhere” as destination and go to the cheapest place has a fab trip to Berlin with my 12 year old for £35 return flight doing this

I took Dts to Dublin and Belfast on separate trips when they were 11. They loved both. Penneys and the Titanic Museum and Giants Causeway were big hits.

What are they interested in?

It looks as if nice weather is continuing - and Europe is still unbearably hot, so why not go somewhere in Uk just because you it can be hard to plan for good weather. I have just come away from London, so much to do, but it is busy and expensive.

Belfast - one day for the Titanic Museum and book a coach tour up to the Giant’s Causeway on another day. Loads to do and see.

What about a few days in wales? You could visit zip world which would be good with that age, have some beach time, see waterfalls or even climb a mountain if you’re into that 😅

I would stick to the UK, weather is good at the moment and airports are too stressful at this time of year.

Youth hostel in the Peak District. Climb, hike, cycle, visit some of the attractIons.

se what flights leave east mids or Birmingham in the right time window, not all places are daily. Alternatively I do recommend driving to northern France or Belgium (if you can stretch the trip to the night before could you make the 11.30pm overnight crossing to Caen? Most 11 year olds like the idea of sleeping on the ferry) you then get 3 days of sightseeing and beach in Normandy before the late afternoon ferry home plus 3 hours drive (east mids here) my dc loved the museums at that age because they had learned about the Second World War at school, unfortunately bayeaux tapestry is in London though.

places flying they loved included Rome, Madrid (admittedly tapas bars were the biggest hit with mocktails) and Venice

In the U.K. how about Liverpool, lovely city I found though my dc loved the Beatles stuff which helped

London ?

Jump on the Eurostar (or a plane) and go to Disney Paris. That is what my oldest would choose, the youngest would probably rather go watch a sporting event somewhere.

What about cologne. It's a quick flight. Amazing city and do a day at Phantasialand which is in my view one of the best theme parks in Europe.

How are they stressful? We go abroad every summer & never had a problem

Dd & I go to the Manor Resort in Okehampton every year but it might be a bit too far for you

Stockholm. Lots to see and do. We took DS at the same age. Cheap time of year as empties of locals as they all go to the islands.

I took DD to Innsbruck one summer, it was fantastic, if they would like a trip up the mountains with part by cable car and also Swarovski Crystal World.