Help me get excited about Devon (and Legoland!)

[BiniorellaSun]

So for obvious reasons we are sticking UK this summer, normally we go abroad. No Biniorella sun this year
(Last year we did Northumberland and Somerset.)
We have a cottage booked near Honiton and have a 9 year old son.
Looking for beach recommendations (sandy and good parking), best NT places (members), good days out and lovely seafood/ coastal restaurants please. I’d love a spa day also (DH can do boy stuff with DS).
Also rainy day options? Thinking food, bowling and cinema in Exeter?
We’re there from 10th July so before many schools break up.

We head from there to Legoland for DS which I think will be hell but prepared to spend ££ on the ultimate reserve and ride- will this help?

Yes! Queues can be an utter nightmare. We live near so are lucky we can pop in and out. We queued (my sons choice!) 90 minutes for a ride yesterday. But yes, if you have the funds do all you can to avoid the queues! Take a picnic too - we queued 40 minutes for a bottle of water. Plan plan plan & research all the rides, some are rubbish. xx

Exmouth is a blue flag beach and has a leisure centre and cinema for rainy days. I think there is bowling too.
National trust:
Killerton near Exeter
A la ronde in exmouth
Knighthayes at Tiverton

For beaches, maybe Sandy Bay (near Exeter) or West Bay (Bridport).

The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth is well worth a trip, ideal for a rainy day or combine with a walk on the Hoe/dip in the lido.

NT Killerton, Coleton Fishacre and Lydford gorge are beautiful.

Exmouth beach is lovely, as is Goodrington if you fancy the drive.

Crealy if you want a small theme park.

Rainy days, clip and climb at Exeter quay, I bounce (trampoline park).

Following as we go to Dawlish Warren on 17th July and was also thinking of maybe prebooking a couple.of restaurants, I don't mind fish and chips a couple of nights but not every night and suspect it will be busy, especially if restrictions don't get lifted before we go.

Branscombe and Beer are beautiful seaside villages.

Lyme Regis dinosaur museum for a rainy day option if your DS is into that kind of thing. It’s quite traditional so probably interesting to (some) 9 year olds, it’s not aimed at littlies

I agree with Exeter for rainy day activities. Check if the catacombs/underground passages are open by then, there’s also a climbing centre. Topsham is lovely for a bimble about. If sunny, I’d consider hiring kayaks to go down to turf locks, especially if they’ve got a barbecue on.

The Fingle Bridge inn on Dartmoor was a cracking Sunday roast last time I went and is off the A30 if you want to visit the moors.

Banger racing near Honiton if there’s any on for your dates 😂 good boys day out while you’re at the spa

I live near Lego land too.., it's absolutely shite unless you live nearby and can just pop in at 4pm on a school day AVOID!

Sea town in Dorsey has a lovely museum, you can hire hammers and goggles to go fossil hunting on a grey day... my kids love it
Toucan take your finds to the museum as they are more than happy and v enthusiastic to name them!

Steak and Sushi is my top Exeter restaurant, for a proper treat you won’t beat the riverford field kitchen near Totnes. I find it reasonably priced for the quality of food and sense of occasion. (Also in the arse crack of nowhere so not paying for wine when driving!)

If you come to Plymouth for the aquarium, you can lunch on the historic barbican and walk up to the Hoe (ice creams). If you have time left, national trust at Saltram is nice for a walk round or the formal garden. Would need to book timed tickets for the formal garden but not the general grounds.

I love Legoland! I'm gutted my 2 are a bit too old.

Don't queue for the Ninjago ride. It's rubbish

Is your DC a lego nut? If not, Legoland will be too young for them. Chessington isn't that far away and the next step up and then Thorpe Park is the next step up again.

Days out: Wildwood Escot, Diggerland, Crealy, Bicton Gardens, Seaton Tramway and Pecorama
Exmouth has a very long sandy beach. At low tide you can also walk a long way into the estuary and find nice shells. Very good boat trips too.
Jacob's Ladder beach is our favourite: quiet, clean, and sandy when tide goes out.

Wildwood at Escot is good fun. They also do adventure activities at escot too like quad bikes, segways, foot golf, paint ball etc.
Bicton gardens is nice but might be a bit boring for a 9 year old. Lots of beautiful plants but not much in the way of play stuff for older children.
Crealy is always a winner but be warned, traffic might be busy as it is right next to the vaccination centre.
Exeter is great for food and things to do if it is rainy.
I love Beer beach, very small and quiet but perfect in my eyes. Exmouth is huge and sandy but normally busy.
If you want to travel a bit, Plymouth aquarium is great with lots of huge tanks with sharks and sting rays.
If your DC is into dinosaurs then you can go fossil hunting on Charmouth beach. I always found something when I went as a child and it kept us occupied for hours.

You're an hour away from Woodlands which might be my favourite UK attraction it has a luge, I love it. It is still a Devon day out though, it's not Thorpe Park!

Yes he’s a Lego nut.
Great ideas so far, thank you.

Jacob's Ladder beach at Sidmouth is about ten miles from Honiton. Check
The tide times before you visit and aim for low tide to enjoy it at its best.

Also local to Legoland - also think it’s on the edge for a 9 year old … though they’d be happy enough if not been before and not too into scary rides - we’ve not been for a couple of years now which would have made my youngest 8/9 . Head straight to the back of the park - so the dragon rides and then work your way back towards the entrance . It’s possible to have a good day without fast track type passes but you need to be methodical .

I second Woodlands theme park, its quaint and quirky and brilliant fun.
There used to be a place on the river dart as well, think its called River dart Park? That did all kinds of activities like commando walls and zip lines, very cheaply, possibly free? Any way we had a great time there.
Don't forget the obvious things like beach days and crabbing! How about going horse riding fir a couple of hours?

Not sure if it still open but Dingles Fairground Museum is amazing!

riverdart.co.uk/family-park-attractions/dare-devils/
River dart country park

We went to legoland last summer hols and splash out on the ultimate (so most expensive) reserve passes. It was worth it as barely waited for rides make sure your phones are charged to max. Get them to scan straight away and plan next ride. That way u will barely wait at all. Otherwise be prepared for a 1 hour + wait for the rides even more for the newest one