Simple weekend away from London...via train...with baby...and dog!

[YellowRoseofTexas]

Dying for a weekend out of London! Ideally seaside, but doesn't have to be. I'm not originally from the UK so not all that familiar with areas outside Greater London, but ready to explore!!

We don't have a car here, so need to go by train. (Not keen on hiring a car and learning to drive on left with baby in the car...) Taking along our DS, 7 months, and small dog. So ideally looking for a hotel or self-catering that we could just walk to from the train station, rather than trying to bundle us all in a taxi, deal with car seat for baby, etc. As this would be a rare treat, would be happy to go for someplace posh (as long as they are dog and baby-friendly).

A friend recommended North Norfolk coast but it seems better reached by car? Or Southwold in Suffolk sounds good (Swan Hotel?) but again, is ten miles from nearest train station.

I'm really stuck...would be so grateful for any ideas!

Brighton? Takes 55 minutes on the train from London.

Yes Brighton is your best option. Everything's walking distance from the station, nice hotels, nice restaurants, lots to do.

Where are you in London? You can get trains from KIngs Cross or Victoria

For non seasidey - Cardiff? Bath? Oxford or Cambridge? Otherwise yes |brighton is very easy on the train but I think its a bit manic.

I dont think the baby will be a problem - as long as you've got a sling or a folding buggy - especially on the bigger trains as there arent many places for a buggy to stand upright iyswim.

The dog might be more of a problem accommodation wise though - MNers should know some hotels that accept them though if you keep bumping or repost in pets.

The IOW is very good as well - you can get the train straight to Lymington for the ferry.

It depends on where in London you are as well as I would always go to the biggest station near you to not schelp across town to Paddington etc as we find that the worst part fop the journey.

Have a look at this article in the Evening Standard on nice seaside places near London. The map comes up really small so cut and paste it onto a Word document so you can "stretch" the map and make it bigger!

www.thisislondon.co.uk/events/article-23391694-best-beaches-for-a-day-out.do

I would suggest Rye/ Camber Sands area, Whitstable, Broadstairs or Deal. All around an hour and a half from London with lots of hotel/ SC options.

The Essex coast (eg Frinton, Clacton)and Brighton are probably easiest to get to by train from London but quite "touristy" IMHO and not as pretty or unspoilt as the places I've mentioned above.

We're in Hampstead, in north London.

Re: Brighton--that's actually one place we have been (with the dog, while I was pregnant). Have been to Bath as well, which was really lovely. But that's it!

I have heard Cambridge is very nice, will look into that. Hadn't thought about Isle of Wight...that could be great!

Thanks for the link to that article, Chicken! I remember a coworker saying she had a lovely weekend in Whitstable. I would definitely be up for something less touristy/more quiet than Brighton.

For non seaside you could try the New Forest (train to Brockenhurst from London in 90 mins)??

Warwick - there are plenty of B&B within walking distance of the train station and two or three nice hotels. The castle is lovely and there are two large parks along the river for the dog to run and play. A paddling pool also in the park.

You can get the trian to Hatton and a mile walk to the country world. Or Stratford upon avon by train and stay there.

I am not sure how easy it to find a place that will take a dog - never experianced this

Cambridge is lovely with a baby, lots of nice pubs, lovely walks, if the baby's still immobile you could hire a punt and go up the river to granchester with a picnic. Lot's of nice posh shops to wander around, market and of course ll the colleges, kings chapel etc etc
Lots of lovely hotels. the train station is a 20min walk from the centre of town but there's loads of buses, you can get a train ticket with 'plusbus' so your bus fare is included (+cheaper)
I grew up in cam so am a bit biased, but it's lovely lovely lovely :-)

norwich is also nice..... and easy on the train - the station is bang in the centre.

Some really good ideas!
Looking into some of these, will no doubt come back with a few questions...

Cambridge looks like very easy to get to, since we could go via train from Kings Cross with no changes. RobynLou...any favourite Cam hotels? (Of course I'll have to call about the dog) Favourite pubs? (DH will want to know)

Train from St Pancras direct to Broadstairs looks easy too! Can also get to Whitstable this way. Chicken: do you recommend one more than the other?

Can you check this out? Not sure about the dog though here

Oh I'll tell you where I fancy going - Broadstairs. India Knight was raving about a v cool place on her blog here

www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/summerfun

Brighton is a good choice I live there and it is an ideal place to visit popular for many reasons. Hove is a short walk along the front and quieter to spend the day on the beach. There are some excellent parks I'd recommend St Annes Well Gardens and there are 3 playgrounds with paddling pools on the beach all worth a visit.

Come out of the train station and the beach is at the bottom of the hill not sure about accommodation though.

Oooh, Squeaver, thanks for the link. Belvidere Place in Broadstairs looks amazing.

OP I've not been to Broadstairs yet but plan to go in the next couple of weeks cos a few friends have recommended it. They said the beach is nice and sandy with rockpools for DS to fall in, he'll love that! That link to IK's blog is great thanks Squeaver. My friends stayed at the Royal Albion in broadstairs and said it was great

www.albionbroadstairs.co.uk/

Whitstable is fab, nice beach and great hotels/restaurants. However the beach is pebbly not sandy. You might want somewhere with a sand beach for your 7 month old to crawl on?