A week with my 7 year old - where?

[smashmakesmash]

We live abroad and haven't been to the UK for 3 years now (thanks covid!)
I have a week with my 7 year old before rest of family come (week of 17 July so before ALL the uk schools end).
Want to show her the best of the UK - activities, fun stuff, farms, countryside. Not so interested in beaches (have that where we live). Rest of the time we'll be in London so that's covered i can hire a car and go straight from Heathrow.
Don't want crazy amount of driving (also would consider a train/car hire option too).
Right now too of my list is:
South Wales
Snowdonia area
West Midlands (seems A TON to do there and never been on my radar)
Peak District
Devon/Dorset

Any thoughts or suggestions? Husband is not from UK so feel need to fly the flag for DD who can't even remember the last time she came

A couple of days in Edinburgh, a couple of days in York, hire a car to explore around the North Yorkshire moors then train to London.

Snowdonia is often wet but the area just outside the national park have less rainfall and a great, some ideas here, Conwy, Llandudno, llangollen, Chester, Liverpool
www.donthibernate.co.uk

Edinburgh is too far plus we did Edinburgh to York before when DD was little. She might not remember but would like something different.

I'm really torn between Wales and Peak District. And in Wales where to locate myself. I've done S Wales before DD was born with the older kids and it was awesome! N Wales and Snowdonia is all new (but a bit worried about the drive from London as I'll be on my own)

Although N Wales to Peak District isn't too far so I could do 3 nights and 3 nights.

Shame one way rental seems so expensive or I'd leave the car in Manchester and take the train back to London.

Cotswolds?
Mine used to love Adam Henson’s Farm Park and the Cotswold Wildlife Park at that age. There’s lots to enjoy in Bourton-on-the-Water, especially on a sunny day when all the children paddle in the stream that runs down the main street. You could also go punting in Oxford which also has some good museums and shops (and a Harry Potter walking tour because some parts of the movie were filmed there).
Lots of one or two bedroom cottages available to rent in the Cotswolds which can be nicer than a hotel because you don’t need to go to bed at the same time as each other….

From London I would do one night in the Midlands
www.cadburyworld.co.uk/en

Or
www.ironbridge.org.uk/explore/blists-hill-victorian-town/
Then head to Wales cross country via Shropshire.

Cotswolds - absolutely stunning
Peak District is beautiful too
Stratford-Upon-Avon

Train up to Manchester or Chester and then hire the car?

Cotswolds and Oxford seem a little bit too much in the backyard of London, was thinking a little further afield (but not too much :))
Right now thinking
Heathrow > London > train to Manchester then car hire > Wales (where?) and Peak District > Manchester (give car back) --> train to London
or
Heathrow > (car hire or train thru London and then car hire) > Birmingham (Dudley living museum, Cadbury world and further afield National Space Centre, Warwick castle, stratford upon avon - pleasantly surprised the west midlands has so much to do!) > Wales (where???) > Birmingham (give car back if needed) --> London
OR
Heathrow > car hire or train thru London and then car hire> Cardiff > spend all the time in Wales (again where is best?) > Cardiff (give car back if needed) --> London

Any thoughts on these itineraries?
any suggestions on cool places to stay to impress DD and where she can have a good time?
Thanks!

Those strikeouts weren't meant to happen 😬

Somewhere around Conway and Llandudno for north wales maybe?
Then maybe Bakewell or Ashbourne for the Peak District. The blue John mines at Castleton might be fun and Chatsworth House is a good day out.

OK, think I might have a plan...still needs fleshing out
I'm pretty attracted by the midlands - never really been there and so much to do! I like the peak district but I think with the geography it's either Midlands and Peak District or Wales and Peak District or it's too much distance and seems that N Wales area might have more to offer?

Day 1: Drive from heathrow through cotswolds, stratford upon avon --> overnight in Warwick Castle
Day 2: Warwick Castle --> over night birmingham
Day 3: Birmingham (Decide between Cadbury world, living museum, legoland)
Day 4: Go through Ironbridge (or maybe do that going back to London) to North Wales (place myself west of Snowdonia park )
Day 5 and 6: N Wales
Day 7: Drive back to London

When you're in N Wales definitely go to the Fforest Coaster at Zip World. It's great!

How about Liverpool?
www.donthibernate.co.uk/liverpool/

Then this route to llandudno and Conwy then back through snowdonia?
www.donthibernate.co.uk/route-1-llandudno-from-m62-m56/

www.donthibernate.co.uk/conwy/

Think I'll give Liverpool a miss this time as we have Birmingham and London. We live in an Asian mega city, yearning for some gentle rolling hills and drizzle 😀

I feel Shropshire and North Wales will impress you both, the country side is really nice.

I’m very biased but the midlands is fabulous (my home city is there ).

I recently took dd for a short break and I could have easily filled a week there - I would vote for the living museum, it’s just awesome - get the fish and chips if you have no dietary requirements meaning you avoid beef (dripping).

Birmingham city centre is pretty good for a wander around, the museum is only partially open for a renovation but it’s still got some good displays and the town around there is just scenic and pleasant to potter around. One birmingham landmark is the floozy in the jacuzzi (fountain) but it wasn’t operating when we were there (they’re currently tarting up the city for the commonwealth games - which is a point - double check you’re not going in the middle of these. They’d be great but they do disrupt getting round the city) and the library, canals etc.

if you do decide on Cadbury world keep in mind it’s not really an all day thing, I think 3 hours is recommended. If it’s a nice day I would recommend heading up to cannon hill park with the midlands art centre and big play areas. There’s also the Nature centre right next to it which is lovely to see some animals. If the weathers a bit iffy there’s lapworth museum (dinosaurs and impressive rock stuff) in the university campus which is free.

birmingham public transport is great although I did get caught out on the buses, one card per passenger to pay for fares and there’s a limit on how much you can spend so make sure you have cash/coins on you - it’s daft but you can get day tickets for a few quid.

Oh and you can always pop to the lickey hills (south birmingham) if you feel the need for some rolling hills/landscapes 🙂

I'd do less.
Whenever we tried to pack too much stuff into a trip home, we had fractious kids. They were much happier staying in the same place for a few nights rather than moving every day. I'd base yourself round Warwick for a couple of days (the castle is great but £££) and do Dudley and some countryside stuff from there. Then move to Birmingham for a couple of days. Think tank is good, along with your other ideas.

@KarrotKake
I always try and do too much. My kids tell me I'm like a drill sergeant on holiday 😂
I feel like I'm being quite good restricting only to two areas!

@smashmakesmash it took us a few years of "try to show the kids the whole of their homeland in a couple of weeks" for us to rein it in! But trips home were much better when we attempted less.

We took DD to the Black Country Museum when she was about 5 or 6 and we all loved it (albeit nearly 10 years ago).

Another thought if you are going to be in Stratford. Mary Arden's Farm is quite good. They had DH and DD herding geese and there was a (low flying) birds of prey display, which was very good and quite funny.

Final thought. I am guessing you live somewhere hot? How about a one to one ski lesson in the snowdome at Milton Keynes or Tamworth?

If you do go into Birmingham itself the National Trust "Back to Back" houses were good with young children (maybe too samey if you do the Dudley place) and do visit the library. It has a nice roof garden and the Shakespeare Memorial room is a surprise.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games is being hosted in Birmingham this summer so check your dates. You might find hotels very busy if its the weeks of the Games or just before.

I can recommend Think Tank Museum if in Birmingham. West Midlands Safari Park was good too.
I know a few people who were disappointed in the Lego land at Birmingham it’s nothing like Legoland in Windsor.

It might be worth looking in to a family and friends rail card if you’re travelling by train. You may get some discounts at some of the places that you’re planning to visit.
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Thanks for all these suggestions! I'm really looking forward to Birmingham especially as I've never been there and now I feel that I should have! Seems like a bit of a gem!!