Few days away in Uk by train with DD11 no car

[Charliebean]

I am thinking of going away for a few days in half term with my DD age 11. I would like to get the train somewhere (we can get into London so would probably be from there) and then won't have a car on arrival so can anyone recommend a great place to go that has things to do and see and doesn't involve driving around. Thank you

York, lots to do and see, station close to the centre.

What sort of things does DD like doing?

York is a good shout you could also pop to Durham from there or Newcastle for a day elsewhere.

Edinburgh, Lots of see and do, hop on tour buses stopping at sights . X

Edinburgh?

I would say york too , theres so much to see with the minster , chocolate factory , yorvik , walking the walks and river cruises . We stay in the micklegate travel lodge . Its right in the centre of everything 😁

Manchester is great too. Compact centre, trams make it super easy to get around.

Birmingham has lots to do as well.

Where are you based? Which Train line are you on?

Manchester is easy to walk around, there's free shuttle buses in the town centre and the trams. Lots to do & see, loads of restaurants, museums etc.

What is your budget? If you can stretch it - the sleeper train from euston into scotland is amazing.

Bath is lovely & the train station is very central. Stratford-on-Avon ditto (though station a slightly longer walk away).

Both relatively small but very interesting. Both have the hop-on/off city bus tours too; I know the Bath one includes various discounts, assume Stratford is the same. It’s useful anyway to do that first, to get your bearings, & the tickets are for 24 hours so can be used over 2 days. (Or 48 hours, over 3 days)

2 of the Shakespeare Trust properties are outside town - Anne Hathaway's Cottage & Mary Arden’s Farm - and the bus tour goes to both. The farm is particularly nice & has lots for kids to do

city-sightseeing.com/en/100/stratford-upon-avon/262/hop-on-hop-off-stratford-upon-avon

There are also river/canal boat rides & a fabulous butterfly farm.

Thank you everyone. I will have a look at all of the suggestions. Some really good ideas.

Birmingham. There's easily a week's worth of good days out.
Cadbury World is easily accessible by public transport from the city centre. There's a train from Birmingham to Cadbury World every 15 minutes. The journey takes 12 min. Alternatively, NX West Midlands operates a bus to Cadbury World every 10 minutes, and the journey is 20mins.
Drayton Manor is also a great day out. Arriva Midlands operates a bus from Birmingham Coach Station to the park every 30 minutes. Tickets cost £2 and the journey takes just under an hour. Alternatively, there's a train from Birmingham Coach Station hourly. Tickets cost £21-£35 and the journey takes 15 minutes.
Another good day trip is Warwick Castle. Trains from Birmingham Moor Street take half an hour. The castle is about a mile from the station, so well within walking distance. There are also taxis available from the station forecourt.
Birmingham also has an aquarium and you could easily spend a whole day at the amazing ThinkTank science centre. It's one of the best in the country and easy to reach by public transport.