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

Original poster

Summer holiday to the seaside reliant on public transport

79 replies

badlydrawnbear · 07/02/2022 16:40

It will be our first summer holiday since DH died. I can’t drive. DC are 7 and 10. Please recommend places we can get to on the train from Midlands and can then get to accommodation/ beaches/ interesting places to go if not beach weather/ shops without a car.

OP posts:
Angelina1972 · 07/02/2022 23:44

New Brighton ☀️
Sight seeing in Liverpool which is on the other side of the Mersey.
New Brighton has great beaches and sea side walks.

Soffit · 08/02/2022 16:22

Actually, I agree that Lymington would be better if you would like long walks in nature. Otherwise, the Isle of Wight is also a good choice for a varied week of activities

Blueuggboots · 08/02/2022 16:33

Brighton. Change at Watford Junction.

raspberrymuffin · 08/02/2022 16:38

Llandudno: great pier and beach, good for a wander round the shops, the Great Orme, prehistoric bronze mines. Also wild goats fighting in the Asda car park according to an article I read on Facebook earlier Grin I've never been for a proper holiday but used to love day trips there when I lived in the Midlands.

Lucia574 · 08/02/2022 17:10

You can get a train to Alnmouth, which is a lovely village on the beautiful Northumberland coast. Local buses for trips to castles, Farne Islands etc ok as long as you plan carefully round the timetable and you could always take some taxis.

maddy68 · 08/02/2022 19:21

If your late Dh wouldn't go to an all inclusive abroad. Maybe that's a good reason to go. Make different memories ? It's such a tough time. I honestly do think you'll find it easier to go abroad. Get passports done and then you have the option

JayAlfredPrufrock · 08/02/2022 20:10

I agree. Get your passports sorted and book an all inclusive somewhere abroad.

RampantIvy · 08/02/2022 22:47

Alnmouth is a little remote if you don't have a car TBH. And I would say that you need somewhere with more going on if the weather isn't so good. I know Northumberland well, and the best way to enjoy it is by car.

Ellmau · 09/02/2022 08:30

Bournemouth. Easy train, fantastic beach.

woodpecker2 · 09/02/2022 08:40

Have you considered a Train to Scarborough and then at least a train line to Filey. buses up and down the coast. Day trip back to York on the train and maybe something into the North york Moors. Mix of nice beaches, pool, sealife and some arcades.

TheresSomebodyAtTheDoorNeil · 09/02/2022 08:43

We liked Minehead.... Stayed at Butlins as it happens. Its right on the beach with shops nearby, a steamtrain which was a nice day out and fell ponies just up the road. Had an absolute whale of a time.

MinnieMountain · 09/02/2022 13:49

Hunstanton or Wells-Next-the-Sea. Train to King’s Lynn, then bus or taxi. We’ve done both that way.

A coastal hopper bus runs between the two.

ShadowPuppets · 09/02/2022 13:58

I'd go Devon - somewhere like Brixham or Dawlish? You can get a direct Cross Country train from Birmingham down to Exeter/Newton Abbot and get the little chugger line along the coast.

ivykaty44 · 09/02/2022 14:07

I stayed in brockenhurst, camping without a car

We visited the Isle of Wight which was easy to get to and use public transport whilst there

But it’s weather reliant

You could get train to France, I did this with dd aged about 10 years old and we went to Bordeaux

ivykaty44 · 09/02/2022 14:10

I looked at Midlands to Dawlish by train & it was cheaper to get train to Bordeaux
I use the website man in seat 61

SpaghettiArmsMurderer · 09/02/2022 14:19

I’ve camped in Ashurst (New Forest) - the campsite is right next to the train station as is a nice pub. Change at Southampton from Birmingham.

HappyAsASandboy · 09/02/2022 14:45

Sheringham or Cromer, in Norfolk. Train from Birmingham to Norwich, then local train to either town.

Both towns have shops, arcades, ice cream, beaches, holiday accommodation. Both can be reached from the other on the train. Lovely week could be spent exploring the Norfolk coast by train or bus.

RampantIvy · 09/02/2022 14:47

@SpaghettiArmsMurderer

I’ve camped in Ashurst (New Forest) - the campsite is right next to the train station as is a nice pub. Change at Southampton from Birmingham.
So the OP would also have to lug a load of camping gear on the train as well? Not very practical.

And camping is shit in bad weather, especially if you don't have a car.

itwasntaparty · 09/02/2022 15:06

Broadstairs. We did Margate and Weymouth last year and I wouldn't go back, grim.

SpaghettiArmsMurderer · 09/02/2022 15:06

@RampantIvy I only mentioned it as another poster also mentioned camping in the New Forest. When I went we took the stuff on the train (I don’t have a car either) and it was fine. OP’s kids are old enough to help carry stuff.
From that campsite we walked to Lyndhurst, around in the forest and you can also get trains/buses to other places in the forest. We were lucky with the weather but you can get to Beaulieu (motor museum) and indoor stuff in Southampton pretty easily.

Desert76 · 09/02/2022 15:13

We often go to Scarborough by train.
There's lots to do there, including all the usual seaside stuff, and a water park, and you can get a double decker bus or train to York when it's rainy, takes an hour. The railway museum at York is free and a very short walk from the station.
I think the same bus can also get you to the North Yorks moors steam railway, and to Flamingo land theme park.

AtLeastPretendToCare · 09/02/2022 15:16

Teignmouth in Devon is also worth considering. A nice town with a train station in the middle. Nice beaches, water sports, choice of shops and restaurants. All walkable.

Trains from Birmingham go direct to Newton Abbot (c2 hrs 53) then 6 mins on a local train to Teignmouth. You can also get the train to various other places along the coast easily where there is lots to do.

Definitely look at Family and Friends railcard you’ll probably save money even on the first trip.

ivykaty44 · 09/02/2022 16:28

So the OP would also have to lug a load of camping gear on the train as well? Not very practical.

And camping is shit in bad weather, especially if you don't have a car.

I camped in the new forest without a car as did other pp, it doesn’t mean OP has to camp she could get Airbnb etc but what we were both suggesting was a location that works well with children without a car, especially a trip to Isle of

Bordeaux we went to a campsite with tent already erected and the advantage of the train was, we had a day in London sight seeing, a day in Parish sight seeing both ways. So we got two city breaks and a holiday all in one

Swirlyfronts · 09/02/2022 17:15

I had many fantastic holidays in Dawlish when my dc were that age. You can get a train Birmingham to Exeter then change but I think in the summer the timetable changes and you can get a train direct to Dawlish or Dawlish Warren. The caravan parks in Dawlish Warren are good value and have pools, climbing frames and so on and there's a little fairground near the beach. They are right by the station and the number 2 bus route which together give loads of possibilities. The 2 bus goes from Exeter to Newton Abbot via Dawlish Warren, Dawlish and Teignmouth and there are great value weekly tickets. The train line goes further south to Teignmouth, Torquay, Paignton, or you can go back up to Exeter and change for North Devon or Exmouth.

Between Dawlish and Dawlish Warren there is a fantastic coast path right next to the train line which in itself kept my dc entertained for hours with various bridges to stand on.

BaffledAgain · 12/02/2022 15:05

Tenby would be a great place to stay. Train station is in the town, choice of beautiful beaches, boat trips to Caldey Island, seal watching, lots of cafes and family friendly places to eat and it's such a picturesque place. Everything is on your doorstep which makes for a more relaxing holiday for you all. Good luck in your search