Recommendations for first family holiday!

[Daiso]

I'm trying to plan a holiday in the UK for me, hubby and 15mth old. Haven't done a UK holiday for donkeys years so no idea where to go.
Can anyone recommend somewhere for a base (preferably a cottage or lodge) where we can go on days out or even somewhere with stuff to do on site.
We're based north west but happy to travel 3 or 4hrs drive.

We are looking for the same for dh, ds who will be 17 months and I for our summer holidays.

I have been looking at cottages4you.co.uk and sykescottages.co.uk.

There are some really nice looking cottages, I was looking at the Cairngorms, Northumberland, Yorkshire or the Lakes...I can't quite decide where. There seems to be quite a lot to do in each area too.

I usually do a shortlist of what I think is the best options then dh and I decide from there.

What/where have you looked into so far?

If you're looking at northumberland, a friend of mine just recommended
[www.beaconhill.co.uk here] looks nice & gets good reviews too.

[www.coastalretreats.co.uk these] have some gorgeous properties too though some rather pricey.

We've just booked down in cornwall but hoping to do northumberland later in the year, its beautiful there.x

duh didnt to my links right!

here

and

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And can't spell! Stupid phone!

Lol where in Cornwall are you going? We went to Padstow in 2011 camping and it was fab. We will go back once the baby is a bit bigger and has less luggage! It would also be too long a drive for him at the monent...we're in Scotland. I'd definitely recommend it.

Will also have a look at your links too thanks

Def a bit too far for you then!

We're staying near st austell & eden project, in a farm cottage,place looks lovely so really looking forward to it.x

Sounds good, let me know if you would recommend the cottage once you've been.

We went to the Eden Project too...it was good amd had lots of things for kids.

I hope you enjoy

Hello - I wonder if you'd be interested in a visit to the wild North Norfolk coast? We have a holiday cottage in a very quiet spot - it does sleep 7/8, but is cosy enough for a couple and a toddler (plus grandparents maybe?) - we have a travel cot, high chair and stair gates. Perhaps you might like to glance at our website - www.the-patch.com Yours, Jill

Nortumberland is beautiful and not crowded unlike rest of UK! Try Alnmouth, Warkworth, Beadnell, Craster, Bamburgh.

Or for closer to home we love Llyn Peninsula in N Wales. Lovely beaches, near trendy Abersoch for nice food and wine bars but really pretty.

Lake District?

Centre parcs ! Centre parcs! centre parcs. ! I really did not fancy it AT ALL when health visitor recommended it after ds 1 and totally poo pooed it to be honest.... So we swanned off to our usual style holiday chateau in France thinking holidays continue in same way post children and had a stressful time trying to eat in Michelin star restaurant to cries of baby and scowls from everyone else ... Oh the folly of our early parenting !!!.... Five years of stressful flights and holidays and 4 ds later we reluctantly waved the white flag and sulkily headed off to centre parcs.... And now I am an addict and convert ... Wish had gone five years ago ... Best holiday ever ... Happy kids = happy holiday for all ....people say it is too pricey but since not paying flights it works out cheaper or same overall as other holidays and is worth every penny !!!

OOOH Jill's place looks nice... Might look into that myself in future ....

Thanks for the above! I'll sit down tonight once little man asleep and have a look at them all.

Centre Parks is MASSIVELY expensive compared to hiring a cottage or caravan. Goggle is your friend. Try to decide on an area first.... maybe North Wales, or the Yorkshire Coast so you are not travelling too far, and put in 'holiday cottages in North Wales' or whatever. There's LOADS.

i like cp for our kids holiday. off peak 3 bed chalet.in the forest with wildlife and free parks soft play and very good swimming was 289 for 4 nights.

Google, not goggle

Hi check out www.teignmouthtownhouse.com it's a brilliant base to go for days out - to the beach, forest, shopping etc. Family friendly restaurants, lovely park and sea front to stroll along. The house is very new and lovely and clean and kitted out with a travel cot, high chair and I think stair gates (although we didn't use one as you can shut the doors to stop them going up the stairs). A little play house in the garden too. My 2 boys love going there!

Hi . I have any week outside school hols at £295 at the moment. Very child friendly with travel cot etc.www.holiday-cottage-dolgellau.co.uk/

Not sure about the advertising on this thread but pm me if you fancy Scotland.

Holiday cottages all the way with young DCs

All home comforts - dishwashers washing machine/dryer etc
No need to take baby equipment usually provided

Flexible you can pop back and let the DCs sleep if they need to.

Eat out or eat in- the flexibility is great

Most owners leave lots of info on local things to do

Most have WI-FI and satellite tv these days take your wine for evenings once DCs in bed!

Try North Yorkshire maybe small town like Whitby Pickering or Helmsley plenty of place to eat and selection of shops. Great base for touring.

North Wales also good Conwy is a decent size and good base.

I'm with four ops. The price you pay fe center parcs is worth it for the facilities. You don't need to worry about traffic, they have great play parcs, soft play in all recreational areas and the new style woodland lodge accommodation is fab. You can ake yourself ff to the spa for a few ours and there is great activities you can enjoy with your little ones. There s lots of birds, rabbits and squirrels about which you can see from your garden. Nt a place I would go as a couple but excellent for families, if you are not going in school holidays you can get not bad prices. Most relaxing uk holidays we have.

Predictive text....dislike!

We stayed at a place called Darwin Forest in Derbyshire a couple of Tess ago. We had a log cabin type thing, which was warm and cosy but what made it was the on site pool, play barn and pub. Like Center Parcs but smaller and friendlier. There are many similar things dotted around the country. Derbyshire is lovely, but would also recommend Norfolk (Cromer is great for kids) Suffolk (Southwold/Walberswick) or Aviemore is another favourite.

Tess ago???
*years ago