Any suggestions for a UK holiday with non sporty young teens?

[soontobeslendergirl]

As above really. We have done the lakes CenterParcs a lot don't know if it is worth trying one of the others or if there is somewhere better.

Any ideas?

If by 'lakes' you mean the Lake District, there isn't anywhere better than that!!

But North Wales (Bala); Brecon Beacons; Shropshire; Forest of Dean; Welsh west coast; Cornwall and Devon.

What do they like doing ? Our non-sporty ds loved the week we spent canal boating with friends. Also enjoys sailing for which there ar various centres offering residential courses.

What they like doing is playing computer games :o

They do however like a decent swimming pool with slides and such like and are happy to do water sports and activities.

They moan their faces off when doing hill walking or other "boring" stuff.

I just need somewhere where there is stuff for them to do without it being overly focussed on football/tennis etc., that caters for bad weather as well as good and that there are nice places to eat out. Centerparcs ticks a lot of those boxes but I've found the quality of the restaurants has really gone downhill at Whinfell forest, probably since it stopped being Oasis.

They are happy enough to visit museums as long as it isn't every day.

We thought about Cornwall/Devon but we'd be travelling from Scotland so that is really a bit of an undertaking to go down that far and to be fair, South Wales is probably about the same. maybe could do a stop off somewhere?

Would something like Alton Towers be a good option do you think? Also never thought about Canal boating either - doesn't it get aa bit boring just being on the boat though? I wouldn't want them constantly asking to get on screen.

London?

Remus - good call, it got me thinking and now considering doing the new Centerparcs at Woburn forest (nr Milton Keynes) and combining it with somewhere else accessible to London - maybe stick to the North of London but on a train route in and out. Any suggestions? Don't want to book anywhere in London itself as we will have to bring our car to get to centerparcs I think and neither of us would want to be driving in London.

Depending on the time of year would you consider Denmark? It's what we used to do in the summer when I was a kid.

Marlborough Summer School: you can do all sorts - cooking, bridge, art, drama, history, crafts etc whilst staying in beautiful grounds with a big indoor swimming pool. Talks/shows in the evenings are fab. Everyone in the family can pick their own activities so everyone is happy, whilst eating together, spending evenings as a family and meeting new people.

Depending on the time of year would you consider Denmark? It's what we used to do in the summer when I was a kid.

Lots to do, Lovely beaches and cabin villages which are less intense than Center Parcs

I've looked at Denmark in the past circle I think it would be nice, OH does not want to go abroad this year as we went to Turkey last year (my choice) so it will have to be the UK. To be fair, flying doesn't really agree with him and he no longer wants to drive abroad which is fair enough as I don't want to either. That kind of limits our options a wee bit.

I'll go and have a look at the Marlborough place thanks prof

Marlborough doesn't open until mid July and we are off the first two weeks of July so not any use I'm afraid. :(

Bit of a drive but what about Donegal? Bundoran is fun with a fun pool, seaweed baths, surfing...

A friend just arrived on Vegas and said Vegas was like a glitzy Bundoran!

Ah, we've driven round Ireland before (our honeymoon), Ireland is mental :o

Hadn't thought about going back, but will have a wee look!

We went to Ireland last summer and the prices everywhere were astronomical!

Why don't you stay somewhere around Derbyshire? Beautiful scenery for walking, loads of historic houses like Chatsworth, Blue John Caves (think they are still open). Plus in striking distance of Alton Towers and Drayton Manor if you want the theme parks.

We have been canal boating with non sporty gaming teens/tweens a couple of times and they loved it. Best to go with another family though as you need a few to operate the locks. The children can drive if you are standing with them, they can operate locks and you can moor at places of interest. At night we did a mix of pubs and self catering/bbq beside boat. There was only one plug on the boat so screen time was limited and no wifi of course. The children liked sitting on the roof and chatting.

London is also fab have done it a few times. Hotels can be very reasonable if you stay in the Docklands area. Mine like the Science museum, Camden Market, London walks eg Harry Potter walk, BBC tour. I try to save up Tesco tokens to pay for Pizza Express etc but have noticed some restaurants in London won't take these now so you might need to check. The offical Tkts booth in leicester Square is great for on the day theatre discounts..

There are various places round Rutland Water, and it's good there for watersports and cycling. (I can't think of any big pools with slides etc, though). Uppingham Summer School within easy reach for courses (couple of days, or up to a week, courses for adults also available).

Why don't you try Northumberland?

There are boat trips out to the Farne islands to see seals and puffins, Alnwick Castle of Harry Potter fame, with tree top walks and a treehouse restaurant. There's the Roman Wall at Housesteads and Vindolanda if they want a bit of history. Bamburgh castle and Holy Island are also spectacular. When its sunny the beaches are the best in Britain, miles of velvety white sand with rock pools and dunes for dune surfing.

Local food includes stotty bread, scotch pies, excellent fish and chips, kippers and crab, soft bread baps etc.

Can't remember its name now but if you Google cottages near Rothbury, there's a lovely farm centre with a free spa on site (jacuzzis, sauna, pool, gym, etc) and the cottages are very reasonable. Also horse riding from there if they want to get a bit sporty.

And it's very near Scotland.

Why don't you try Northumberland?

There are boat trips out to the Farne islands to see seals and puffins, Alnwick Castle of Harry Potter fame, with tree top walks and a treehouse restaurant. There's the Roman Wall at Housesteads and Vindolanda if they want a bit of history. Bamburgh castle and Holy Island are also spectacular. When its sunny the beaches are the best in Britain, miles of velvety white sand with rock pools and dunes for dune surfing.

Local food includes stotty bread, scotch pies, excellent fish and chips, kippers and crab, soft bread baps etc.

Can't remember its name now but if you Google cottages near Rothbury, there's a lovely farm centre with a free spa on site (jacuzzis, sauna, pool, gym, etc) and the cottages are very reasonable. Also horse riding from there if they want to get a bit sporty.

And it's very near Scotland.

Peak District. Lots of caves you can go down. Also a few bigger towns where you do things like bowling/cinema. Heights of Abraham has cable cars.

N. Yorks
We stay in Pickering - in the twon itself
There's a good swimming pool in the town, and steam trains down to Whitby. Or you can drive/bus to Whitby easily. THere's loads of great shops if any of you are of a gothic/alternative bent. Boat trips to go on.

Lots of NT/English heritage stuff nearby, and you're also within easy reach of York and Leeds in case the weather is shite. There's a couple of big theme parks too - Lightwater Valley and Flamingoland

I know it's not the UK but we have booked Duinrell holiday park in Holland as it was going to cost about the same as the place we usually go to in a Cornwall.

It's got an indoor center parcs style water park and a theme park which is free to enter if you are staying on the holiday park. There is a nice beach nearby and the local town is supposed to be lovely. You can do day trips to Amsterdam too.

The Eurocamp site has a video showing what it's like. You can also book direct with the park if you want a proper bungalow ( they call it a duingelow!) rather than a mobile home.

We have paid £1200 including the Ferry Crossing with a family cabin for 10 days during the Whitsun school holidays.

Sorry just spotted that you don't want to drive abroad. Although t be be fair the park is only a 30 min drive from the ferry port!