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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.

Original poster

Best UK seaside place for toddler

26 replies

Littlepip02 · 26/02/2022 13:42

Hi everyone

Wanting to take my little boy on a break in the UK this year, not brave enough to do a flight with him yet lol. Any recommendations on where would be good? He will be around 20 months old when I want to go.
Any seaside locations/holiday sites welcome we will be going outside of the school holidays Smile

OP posts:
Fivemoreminutes1 · 26/02/2022 14:10

Bournemouth Alum Chine has a playground, paddling pool, changing facilities, lost children centres, land train and ice cream kiosks. Plus, if you’re after additional entertainment, there’s an aquarium and a couple of play cafes.

caranations · 26/02/2022 14:16

Hunstanton.
Small olde-worlde resort, huge beach, playgrounds etc and the sea is really shallow, ideal for tot paddling. Little funfair, some bucket-and-spade shops, and loads of places to eat out. There's a couple of caravan parks right near the beach. Searle's, and Manor Park. Loads of B&B places too.

eddiemairswife · 26/02/2022 14:22

Anywhere is rubbish if the weather is bad.

Twizbe · 26/02/2022 14:42

Isle of Wight especially if you have a car. It feels like abroad as you need to get a ferry and loads to do over there.

thebigpurpleone · 26/02/2022 14:48

Somewhere you have options if the weather is crap

LiliansViewScarborough · 27/02/2022 08:19

Scarborough . Beautiful beaches, mini train rides and other fair rides, sea-life centre. Marine drive walk between the two bays perfect for a combination of toddling and buggy-riding . Have a lovely time wherever you decide 🌊🌞.

RoseMartha · 27/02/2022 08:22

Another vote for Isle of Wight. Not too far to get to anywhere on the island and a good selection of beaches and child related attractions.

I went for several holidays there as a child and have taken my dc there too for more than one holiday.

Plenty of self catering homes or caravan parks or hotels.

Spindelina · 27/02/2022 08:23

There are great places all over the U.K., and I wouldn't travel from one end to the other just for a bucket and spade holiday. Very roughly where abouts are you?

mrsed1987 · 27/02/2022 08:23

We liked skegness last year, we stayed in a holiday park outside so about a 15 minute drive in, the beach was lovely and has a seal sanctuary and an aquariam which has an outside bit with model dinosaurs. These were perfect for the rainy days (we went in October) but on our last day the sun shone and it was warm so we had a kite on the beach and ice-cream!

We are going for a long weekend in Kessingland next week. Its a park Dean resort and they have quite a few activities for the kids.

You can pretty much make anywhere good for kids! X

ItsSnowJokes · 27/02/2022 08:27

Don't go to Bournemouth. Lovely when the sun is shining and fuck all to do when it's wet. Literally so dull for toddlers or young kids when it's raining. Unless you want to do soft play every day or the cinema.

Simplelobsterhat · 27/02/2022 08:38

We always enjoy pembrokeshire. If you go somewhere on the south coast eg Saundersfoot, you are close to loads of toddler friendly attractions for a change from the beach - Folly Farm, a dinosaur Park, Manor Wildlife Park etc. Loads of different beaches to visit. We loved Lydstep Haven site near Tenby as its on a rocky beach and has a small pool, playground etc but also quick to drive to lots of other places. Most of the caravans have lovely sea views, and you can book privately owned cheaper than through Haven.

We've also had good family holidays in Isle of wight, South Devon and Poole, but we keep coming back to Pembs (although that's partly geography as we live in Wales, as a previous poster said, you can enjoy traditional British sea side holiday in loads of places in UK, so i wouldn't travel further with a toddler in the car than needed!)

I would like to do isle of Wight again now kids are older though and explore different things. We really enjoyed our trip there.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 27/02/2022 08:40

Cromer was great when our DD was that age. Nice clean sandy beach. Small amusements with little rides and so on. Lovely zoo that was small enough for little legs to toddle round. Lots of nice chippies and cafés for lunch and early dinners. There's a steam train further down the coast that was good for a day out.

I remember that holiday very fondly.

Roselilly36 · 27/02/2022 08:44

Isle of Wight, is lovely. I also love Great Yarmouth (runs for cover!) Hunstanton is lovely, but hilly with just thinking OP will be pushing a buggy, Yarmouth is flat, huge sandy beach. Loads to do, easy to visit the broads, Norwich city centre etc. Enjoy your holiday OP.

Libertybear80 · 27/02/2022 08:47

Tenby

Spindelina · 27/02/2022 09:02

How will you get there? Do you want / need somewhere with public transport links?

sashh · 27/02/2022 09:14

I have fond memories of Scarborough as a child.

Donkey rides on the beach, lots of cafes, lots of campsites / static caravans / b and b places.

If you don't mind being a bit away from the coast then you could stay in a train carriage

www.theoldstationallerston.co.uk/carriages

www.nymr.co.uk/levisham-camping-coach

Peasholme park to watch a model ship battle, or to hire a boat.
www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com/scarborough/things-to-do

Then there is the cliff tram and a model railway.

balalake · 27/02/2022 11:14

Sandy beach is a must I think. Scarborough would get my vote of those suggested so far.

Hopeful16 · 27/02/2022 11:17

Where do you live? That would make a HUGE difference to recommendations- I would never attempt a six hour journey to any destination in a car with a toddler. Totally unnecessary as they will love any beach/ resort if they're having fun with you.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 27/02/2022 11:25

I would definitely think about length of journey.

Much as I love Devon and Cornwall and have great memories of taking babies and toddlers on holiday there, if I lived anywhere vaguely SE, I’d look at Thanet. Sandy beaches, and generally better weather than the rest of the country (look at typical hours of sunshine).

MaizeAmaze · 27/02/2022 11:25

Somewhere close.
If you live in the NE, go to Scarborough not the Isle of Wight.
If you live near the south coast, go to the Isle of Wight, not Scarborough!!!

IhateHSBC · 27/02/2022 11:27

Morecambe

Original poster
Littlepip02 · 27/02/2022 16:03

@Spindelina

How will you get there? Do you want / need somewhere with public transport links?
We're from the West Midlands, but I drive so don't mind travelling etc.

Thank you for all your suggestions Smile

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 27/02/2022 16:29

I would suggest Gt Yarmouth, great value, it won’t cost you much while your there OP.

Spindelina · 27/02/2022 17:43

From the West Midlands, depending on how far west, I'd go to Wales. Either north (Llandudno), west (Barmouth) or south (Gower or Pembrokeshire) depending on which is easiest to get to.

Funf · 28/02/2022 06:53

Anywhere Toddlers dont usually mind as long as they can east sleep and play.
Ours spent a lot of time in North Wales, they are not toddlers anymore but we went again yesterday for a walk and great lunch
Some ideas here
www.donthibernate.co.uk