UK family holiday with teenagers - any ideas please?

[ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie]

I think we've just about decided to stay in the UK for our summer holiday this year. Does anybody have any ideas for a break that is do-able by public transport and will keep teenagers happy, without costing an absolute fortune and that isn't camping? Are we asking the impossible? Please help! :)

Pretty please? Is this an impossible dream?

i don't know what you call an absolute fortune but if you can afford it the sporting manor, Okehampton devon is great. Lots of activities. crafts, sport,pools, full board. golf, tennis archery. www.manorhousehotel.co.uk.

Thank you - am googling now! :)

Again not sure of your budget but had you thought about a PGL family activity holiday. They often do 2 4 1 deals at this time of year. Also you stay "on site " the whole time so only have to get there and they do offer transport from the train or bus station. we like Osmington Bay. whats your budget like? worth browsing some of the other mumsnetter questions as there are a lot of good ideas in there.

Hi Colonel, I am looking for the same for next week! Center P arcs is perfect but too expensive. Wroxham on the Norfolk Broads is a really good place, we have taken ours three times, you can get a train to Wroxham, then a couple of quid taxi fare to your accomodation. There are loads of places to rent, right on the Broads, kids can safely walk to the shops, good shop btw, not expensive. Hire a boat and everyones happy. Waterside Breaks is a good website to look at. Good luck!

Thank you.

I am too much of a coward for PGL and tbh we are not v good at being 'organised' and having to socialise - we prefer our own company!

I guess our budget is up to about 1000 pounds if it was for a full week and was something special but it depends tbh.

I will look at the Norfolk rec - thank you.

Any more please?

I even wonder if a week in London might be the way forward - but where to stay? Or perhaps Edinburgh as a base and some day trips? Arghh - I really have no idea and it's getting to be urgent now! :)

bumping this as we are looking too!

London John Howard Hotel has mini suites with 3 bedrooms, kitchen and lounge. we have stayed there a few times with our 3 and it is great because you can make up your own lunches/eat in in the evening and it makes it better value. (London is hellish expensive for eating out!) it is right behind the Albert Hall and in walking distance to the free museums and on a bus route. Nice and clean hotel, good breakfasts and brilliant location with families. Take your point about pgl and being organised but just trying to think of somewhere that you could stay all week and not have to drive/travel. Also you and ssd need to look at the late and last minute places. Most places are booked by now and the good ones get booked years in advance but try lastminutecottages as one of the better ones we have used. Should hopefully find something there. Good luck to you and ssd

Thanks again MM - London is really tempting but dp and dd2 claim not to like it! DD1 and I would go every week if we could! I will certainly look at the hotel. Even a Youth Hostel in London for a week appeals to dd1 and I tbh!

Double centre holiday in Edinburgh/Glasgow? (only 50 mins apart by train)

From Glasgow you can get to various places by traan if you want to get out of the city - eg Largs, where you can get a ferry over to Millport, small island you can hire bikes and cycle round. Or from Edinburgh you can get to North Berwick or Dunbar

London.

Or Surfing, Or a festival,

That is all mine are interested in! (although they will also climb mountains and kayak if they are in the mood).

When are you thinking of going? and we will find you a festival?

Sorry each to their own and all that but I would avoid Wroxham, its a nice place but in my experience dead boring for teenagers, not much there at all. DH grew up there and we visit the in-laws alot who are still there and its very dull for the kids if were there more than a day or so....

I quite like Swange, it has shops and places to eat and is small enough that teenagers could go off exploring if they like without going too far.

What about brighton? There are plenty of self catering flats around - www.brightonselfcatering.com is a good site (used to rent an apartment out through it). I live in Brighton now but used to visit a lot - my teens loved it. If the weather is good the seafront is fun to amble along - lots of little shops and cafes or to sit on the beach - plenty of people watching opportunities. My DD's love the shopping in the North Laines (independents) and in the Churchill centre (high street) - good small museums, the Pavilion etc for short culture fixes, cinemas and theatres, great outdoor bars and cafes everywhere- all in a small walkable distance. You can book kayaking and windsurfing lessons, bikes etc. and there are skateboard parks etc You can also get the train to either Victoria or London Bridge London for a day trip - takes about 1 hour. Also there are buses up to the Downs (Devil's Dyke)if you want a trip to the countryside.

thanks MM!

would love london myself, but think the ds's would get bored?

what is there to do there with sports mad boys?

ssd - there is a good climbing wall at Mile End and an Ice Rink (and bowling) at Queensway (near bayswater). There are lots of municipal swimming pools (and some hotels have them too). There is horseriding in Hyde park (from stables near rotten row) and lots of parks have tennis courts. Many private schools have summer sports courses bookable by the day or week as do Leisure and sport centres. There is an indoor kart track (and ice rink) in Stretham.

Brighton is a distinct possibility - thank you. I looked at hotels there before but most of them were quite couples-centred and had no family rooms: an apartment would be much better.

thanks enid

trouble is, all the things you mentioned we could do at home IYSWIM

they do love those things, but I'm just thinking if we take them to london and we're on a really tight budget, what could we do that we don't do at home?

they don't fancy seeing a show and I know the london eye's really expensive

I can see us going nowhere!