4 nights in August, 7 and 4 year old. Any ideas?

[BigmouseLittlehouse]

Hi everyone

Just wondering if anyone had any ideas for where I could take my DSs (7 and 4) for a couple of nights (3 or 4) mid August. I’m a single parent so it’s just me and them.

I don’t have a car so needs to be relatively accessible by public transport from London.

They will have just come back from a week abroad on the beach with their dad, so was wondering whether somewhere non beachy ( although they do love the beach!).

We’ve previously had some lovely short breaks in York, Warwick, Birmingham ( which was a brilliant rec on here that I’d never have thought of!), Brighton and Bath. I’m slightly lacking inspiration.

Many thanks!

The Lake District is lovely and pretty accessible by public transport. If you take the Virgin high speed train from London Euston, you can be at Lancaster within about 2.5 hours and from there you can catch a bus into the Lakes.
It would definitely be cheaper staying around the Lancaster area rather than in the Lake District itself, especially in the summer, but there are loads of kid friendly things to do in and around Lancaster and Morecambe too - including some beaches!

Look up cente parcs we have been 4 times to various UK parcs

I was going to say go to Edinburgh, decent fast train line from London. Easy to get around. But August isn't perhaps the best month with the festival.

Isle of Wight

Great for children, loads to do and see

Trains to Portsmouth from Waterloo

Then over on the ferry to Ryde and get bus rover passes and you can get all over the island and the train that goes from the end of Ryde pier - where the boat docks

The journey will become part of the holiday

How about Devon? Exeter is 2.5hrs direct from Paddington. Not the most exciting/buzzing place in the world but lots of lovely green space, nice child friendly places to eat down at the quay, swans to feed and you can hire bikes (and canoes) from a great place called saddles and paddles and cycle along the river which has a couple of nice pubs - we normally cycle along to a pub called double locks for lunch then cycle back to the quay but if you're feeling active you can go all the way to Exmouth! Typical city centre but quite quiet. RAMM museum a min walk from high street is always enjoyed by my 3.

Short train or bus journey to the beach at Exmouth or Dawlish/Teignmouth. Topsham is also a lovely little town on the way to Exmouth.

Crealy adventure park a short bus ride on the outskirts of the city with rides, petting zoo and such like. In case of rubbish weather we've got the usual things - ibounce, bear feet soft play, cinemas, bowling etc.

Not a very big city at all so easy to get to where you want to be.

Thanks everyone

@SubisYodrethwhenLarping agree Isle of Wight is great! We actually went there in the May half term - although I was half considering going back. Kids loved it.

@Ellie9576 I’d never considered the lakes for some reasons - despite the fact I spent half my childhood there! Eldest DS loves outdoors so may take a look.

@dreichuplands yes wondered about Edinburgh but was umming and ahhing whether the festival would be a bonus or not ( again do have family round there). Having said that I inadvertently booked Brighton last year during Pride and the kids absolutely loved it!

@Upsidedownfrown will take a look at Exeter. I’d mistakenly discounted Devon as needing a car

How about Liverpool? It's only a couple of hours on the train.
There's lots of things to do in the city centre that are suitable for your dcs but the local trains would get you to a variety of places in the local area (including the beach if you did decide you wanted a day there).

We stayed at White Cross Bay in Lake Districtin April. I think there was a bus stop outside gate. Also you can walk to outdoor pursuit place down the road. At outdoor pursuit place we got a boat to Wray Castle (an NT property with lots of children activities). Good luck. It might be a full on few days though. I think you'd need a week with travel time.

Thanks

@Takingabreakagain I was actually thinking about Liverpool. Never been myself! Plus am sure we could find a premier inn.

@HairyToity yes I wonder that re the lakes. Possibly a bit far

You could try and see if there's any student accommodation available. I know they rent out the (purpose built) student flats/rooms during the summer break. Not sure how this would work with kids and beds but for a couple of nights it might be fine.

@BigmouseLittlehouse I’m taking my 2 DSs (exactly same age as yours) into here for a few nights this summer, going to cook potatoes, sausages, marshmallows on fire. Just in case you like that sort of things. thesecretcampsites.co.uk/wild-boar-wood/ it’s 1 hour drive from London and I’m going my public transport (I’m insane I know), but it looks lovely on pictures, should be great for bonding with kids of that age.

What about Leeds? There are lots of lovely parks and the royal armouries

@Worriedmum97 - just wondering if you’ve already taken your DC to the secret campsite? I still haven’t booked but it has some availability so am thinking of doing so ( but wondering if I can carry everything on public transport!).

Yes, we went 2 weeks ago and it was great! The weather was great. You have everything you need in the tent except bed linen. The place is very safe for kids. We did cooking on fire 3 times a day, bugs hunting (there is a huge field at the back of the site), forest walking. And kids played a lot with children from other tents. We walked from Horsted Keynes, but I wouldn’t do it again as there is no space on the side of the road and the driveway has lots of turns and I saw many old ladies driving past. I would take a taxi from Horsted Keynes. We bought all the food in Haywards Heath, there is a big Waitrose at the station, then took a bus to Horsted Keynes.

And I have to say kids enjoyed it more than Wolburn Center Parcs where we went the week before (£1000+ for 4 nights, what a waste of money it was). At secret campsites you really feel in the woods. But bear in mind there is no electricity, reception is really bad. So not sure if it’s worth going for more than 2-3 nights or when it’s raining especially without a car. I loaded our pushchair with all the bags we had and it was fine.

@BigmouseLittlehouse Please see above. There are some nice local pubs in “walking distance”, but it took us 1.5 hours to get to Sloop Inn and you walk through fields with cows, closed bridges, etc.;))) to avoid the driveway.

Thanks very much @Worriedmum97 - sounds great! I was thinking of 2 nights, might wait and see what the weather looks like!