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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

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Original poster

Family holiday from London on public transport

27 replies

SleepDeprivedCabbageBrain · 17/02/2019 21:03

Unfortunately DH can't drive at the moment due to a health issue, and I'm a skint city dweller who never learned.

Any ideas where we could go on a short break at Easter on public transport with 2 small kids in tow? Ideally we'd need somewhere with a bus service to get around and do activities when we get there.

We're coming from London so looking for a change from big city life - any leads on seaside places would be especially welcome. It's been a bit of a shite year for everyone so I'm hoping to make it a bit of a treat.

Would be super grateful for any suggestions.

OP posts:

Mookatron · 17/02/2019 21:04

A friend went to Weymouth for a week's holiday from London on PT and recommended it.

Ricekrispie22 · 18/02/2019 08:27

We had a lovely stay in Portsmouth. We visited the historic dockyard, the aquarium, the Spinnaker and spent half a day at the The Pyramids Centre swimming pool (at the request of my DS who loves flumes, waterslides and wave machines).
We caught the foot ferry to the Isle of Wight, which took less than half an hour from Portsmouth Harbour. Whilst we were there we spent most of the time on the sandy beach but also mooched about Ryde and found a carousel for the DC.
We also spent the day at Paulton’s Park which has the Peppa Pig world. From Portsmouth, the best route to take is First Great Western train towards Cardiff Central. Get off the train at Southampton Central and walk to bus stand, SB, where you will get the X7 bus towards Salisbury. The X7 will take you all the way to Paulton’s Park and from there you will have a short walk to Peppa Pig World.This journey will take just over 1 hour and will cost just over £20 for a family of four.

Hollowvictory · 18/02/2019 08:31

St ives
Tenby
Penzance (Long train journey)

Hollowvictory · 18/02/2019 08:31

Agree Weymouth is v good option

SwayingInTime · 18/02/2019 08:36

I was going to say Weymouth too for a very simple trip but I do dream of the sleeper to Penzance!

FogCutter · 18/02/2019 08:39

Whitstable
Rye

Kwackerly · 18/02/2019 08:42

Broadstairs is lovely but might be too small? Its easy to get to from London though and a nice place for a long weekend, lovely old 50s ice cream parlor and good sandy beach, crazy golf etc you could visit dreamland?
Further afield Weymouth or the isle of Wight are no trouble by train. For iow you get ferry crossing included in ticket, and isle of Wight trains are old London tubes which is interesting! We stayed in shanklin which was very pretty with plenty to do, eg shanklin chine, and got a bus to that weird theme park whose name i cant remember. Have also done looe and swanage by train, bit longer journeys though.

leigh39 · 18/02/2019 08:43

Brighton

Chocolatecake12 · 18/02/2019 08:47

Broadstairs ramsgate and Margate. Train to Broadstairs from London. Stay at a b&b or air b&b. There a bus that will take you to ramsgate or Margate - the loop.
All three towns have lovely beaches, ramsgate has a beautiful harbour, Broadstairs has lovely restaurants cafes and ice cream parlours, Margate has the turner contemporary- which is free.
You could also go to Canterbury for the day on the bus or train which has a beautiful cathedral, lots of lovely shops and you can go on a river trip.

SanityisfoundinNature · 18/02/2019 08:54

Following

Windgate · 18/02/2019 09:03

Which is your most convenient main line station in London?

Disfordarkchocolate · 18/02/2019 09:07

Brighton/Eastbourne, Bournemouth are all possible from London by public transport. Bournemouth was great with small children.

York is a very different city to London and you can get to the coast from there. Hope you find something.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 18/02/2019 09:08

Swanage, train to Wareham, bus from the station to Swanage, or Weymouth

FranklinTheCat · 18/02/2019 09:10

Which side of London are you on?

We did Bournemouth a few years ago - without kids but similar criteria. The beach is nice and the public transport is OK. There was a bus service to Poole and you can get the boat from there to Brownsea Island, which is a nice day out.

twilightcafe · 18/02/2019 09:12

Bournemouth is great with kids. You can get the bus or walk on a coastal path to Poole and Sandbanks.
Plus the Purbeck Breezer (one of the most picturesque bus routes in the UK) and the chain ferry to Swanage. And the heritage steam railway that runs from Swanage to Corfe Castle (I think it's been extended to Wareham).

sashh · 18/02/2019 09:13

Have a look at the sleeper trains to Cornwall. Bus services between towns can be rare but you can pic somewhere with lots to do near by but sleeping on a train makes it worthwhile.

Oxford isd nice, take a picnic to Christchurch meadow, do the tourist bus and Alice's (of wonderland's fame) shop.

Buses are plenty but from the centre lots of things are in walking distance.

Babymamamama · 18/02/2019 09:13

You can do Tenby direct from Paddington and when you get off the train it's an easy five to ten min stroll to the sea front. No car needed at all. Lovely beaches and lots of little restaurants and shops to explore, museums and galleries.

Kwackerly · 18/02/2019 09:17

That's s good point windgate , travelling through London can add an hour to your journey. Book train tickets asap, 12 weeks in advance for cheapest fares. And get a family and friends railcard, that saves you a third on fares.

Mixingitall · 18/02/2019 09:18

I second broadstairs. How small are your children? If all you want is sand, ice cream and pizza, there are some delish ice cream parlours and a fab Italian restaurant, plus some great pubs. Westgate in sea is on a direct train from London with a blue flag beach and lovely, but may be too sleepy for you. There are cafes and a cinema (if it’s still open) and you’ll probably get an Airbnb in with place.

Original poster

SleepDeprivedCabbageBrain · 18/02/2019 10:28

Oh my goodness thanks so much for all these brilliant replies. We're zone 2 so it's no problem to go any central station. One kid just into primary and the other is a baby. I'm planning to book an airbnb with travel cot to avoid the hassle of carting that thing anywhere! Will take a look at all these suggestions.

OP posts:

Seeline · 18/02/2019 10:30

Isle of Wight
Train to Portsmouth Ferry over
Buses around hte island
It's lovely for little ones.

LivingWaters · 02/03/2019 13:57

]]isle-of-wight.org Isle of Wight]] is ideal on foot and far cheaper than travelling by car. Get a weeks group bus pass from Southern Vectis - to enjoy all the beauty you can get everywhere from Newport in the centre!

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 02/03/2019 14:03

If you can afford the Luxury Family Hotels chain, Fowey Hall is a short walk from the train station, I think a five hour journey from london. The Ickworth and New Park manor are a ten minute taxi from the station, you would prob need to bring car seats. I could happily spend a week in the hotel as they have a pool, two hours nursery a day included, play areas and loan bicycles and scooters.

If you want to airbnb Broadstairs is great for a bucket and spade holiday and trains from Stratford.

hopefulhalf · 02/03/2019 14:25

Hastings is easy on the train, nice restaurants, aquarium, castle only sand at low tide, although camber sands a bus ride away is lovely. We went to the dordogne on the train from St Pancreas....

cestlavielife · 20/03/2019 23:13

New forest brockenhurst

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