Ideas for 9 year old daughters birthday trip

[oywiththepoodlesalreadyy]

My daughter is 9 in June, and I'm thinking of a 'doing' present this year as there isn't anything she needs/wants and I think she would love it.
I did look at cheap flights (cheapest i could find was Madrid for 2 nights) but then hotels seem a bit steeper so looking at other ideas. She loves sightseeing, historical stuff, art etc, so somewhere to visit where we can do that kind of stuff.

We live in North West so if in UK wouldn't want to travel too far (max 2/3 hours ish)

Are there any UK cities I'm not thinking of where we could have a busy 2 days enjoying ourselves? Or even not UK if we can get there for not too much.

I think budget would be around £300 for travel and hotel stay.

Don't know current costs but Dublin? Belfast?

Sounds like York might fit your brief - great, compact historical city with lots to do with children.

York?

Definitely York!

We did a 3 day/2 night stay in York last summer, and we live less than an hour away! I'd recommend the Novotel as it has a pool, and is an easy walk into the city centre, albeit just outside the city walls. I've stayed in the YHA too - family rooms are good value, slightly further out of the city, but an easy walk along the river.

Edinburgh

I'm taking my 7 year d GD to Edinburgh for 3 nights for her birthday.....we also going to see Annie Musical whilst we there....we live NW ....train.tickets from wigan and Preston were far cheaper than going to London...hotel in Edinburgh v reasonable cost city centre location

Liverpool is a fantastic often overlooked city loads to see and do for all budgets, it even has beaches
www.donthibernate.co.uk/liverpool/

Thank you for all the suggestions! I think we're going to do York as Edinburgh hotels are a little bit steeper.

@Funf I agree Liverpool is a fantastic city, but we live there haha.

Another vote for York - lots of historic stuff, chocolate museum and it’s compact so easy to go around.

Look at flights to less touristy destinations eg Lyon for instance that has lovely Roman ruins - book a hotel with a pool, food is reasonable off the set menus in the old town. Nice walks along the river. Not your typical trip so might be reasonable too

Love Liverpool by the way, went for the first time last year and can't wait to go back next time we head to Scotland, interesting sights and so so friendly

I'm taking Dts to Cardiff for a couple of nights

York has loads for 2 days. Also if you are on a bit of a budget

• Railway museum (sadly a bit limited as they are doing extensive work on it but still worth a look), exploring shambles/market, city walls, outside of cathedral and museum gardens are all free
• Dig/Yorkvik centre and others in the group you can use Tesco tokens for
• Clifford’s tower is English heritage and worth a look for the view over the city if nothing else

My slightly younger kids (8/6) loves the castle museum and the chocolate story.

We’ve often stayed at the holiday inn and the central travelodge with the kids which are decent and generally inexpensive.

If it’s not too far Newcastle/Durham (15 mins apart by train) might be an alternative. Newcastle has a great science museum (centre for life), some nice free ones (discovery & great north museum), a compact but interesting castle and is very close to Durham with the cathedral/castle and cobbled streets and a short ride by train to the coast to Tynemouth where you have the Priory (has remains of the older priory and the fortifications from
WWII), small shops/cafes and a lovely beach where you can try out surfing in warmer weather. If you came by car it’s also an easy day trip to see the Roman wall or some of the old houses/castles in Northumberland

I've just had a lovely day in York with my Harry Potter mad 9 year old twins and the Hole in Wand Wizard Golf was a hit!