Night away with dc. Chester, York or London?

[Minieggbrownies]

Bit of a variation I know, but looking at having a night away soon with the dc and can't decide where to go.

We've done London before but not for years, it would just be sightseeing, Hyde park, eating out, a night or two in a hotel.

Never been to York but have always fancied going, not really sure what there is to do with dc though.

Other option is Chester Zoo and then checking out anything else in the area.

Where are you, how old are the kids and what's your

Chester zoo is brilliant, would you stay in Chester after? There's shopping either in Chester or Cheshire oaks, Roman walls etc. it's quite like York to be fair but York has more history focus but not the zoo

London obviously pricey but so much to do
Where are you travelling from and when?

• budget

York is much nicer than Chester (I've lived in both) and there's more to do in York - Railway museum, Jorvik, ghost walks, wizarding shops in the Shambles, the Minster, walking the walls etc.

More to do in York, lots of interesting history. Just a warning though - it is very popular for stag/hen dos. I took my dcs there a few years ago and by Saturday lunchtime it was pretty unpleasant, quite intimidating, lots of shouting groups of pissed blokes. It was in July though, maybe that is peak season.

I have been to both York and Chester with mine. Chester we did the zoo and then a city walking tour the next day.

York there is loads - chocolate museum, Jorvik (I wasn't so keen on that), castle museum was fab. Also do stour digging thing if they are youngish.

York!! The dc and I had a mink break there last summer, and we only live an hour away. We stayed in the Novotel because it has a pool. It's just outside the city walls, but so slightly cheaper than the chain hotels 100m away inside the walls. There is a really nice YHA that does family rooms and us about a mile walk into the city centre, probably less.

The dc were 10 and 13 at the time, but I'd say anyone of any age could spend 3 or 4 days quite happily in York and still only scratch the surface.

We did :
York chocolate story
The cat trail (walking trail)
Watched street performers
River boat ride
The Shambles (street than inspired Diagon Alley, with a really nice Harry Potter shop)
Clifford's Tower (an old favourite)
Van Gogh experience (I don't know if this is still on)
Walked the city walls
Wizard Themed Crazy Golf (The Hole in Wand)

We didn't do (because we have done before):
National Railway Museum (free and brilliant)
Jorvik (so do and pricey)
Rowntree Park
Castle Museum
York Minster

We ran out of time for:
York Art Gallery
Bus Tour
Wizard Walk (all booked up whilst we were there)
York Dungeon (DD not keen!)

We ate at:
Panda Mami - global all you can eat (an old favourite)
A sweet little bakery on Copmanthorpe
Spark - lots of little independent places in shipping containers under one roof, you can all order different things to your table

Definitely York!

Definitely York but....

The Shambles (street than inspired Diagon Alley, with a really nice Harry Potter shop)

...as beautiful as The Shambles may be, it did not inspire Diagon Alley.

www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18467443.j-k-rowling-speaks-tweet-suggests-shambles-inspiration-harry-potters-diagon-alley/

OK. I didn't know that, I fell for the urban myth.

But I'd still vote York for a short break with dc.

Will you have a car for Chester? There are Cheshire Ice Cream Farm, Bewilderwood, West Kirby Beach and Delamere Forest within a 30 minute drive. Chester itself has a new street food market, the Grosvenor museum, taking a boat/pedalos out on the river, tours of the city by a ‘Roman’. You’ve got shopping in Chester but also Cheshire Oaks Outlet Village next to the zoo which is absolutely massive and has a great playground too!

If you do Liverpool you can easily do Chester Zoo and Knowsley safari park as they are both great but different
Liverpool has a lot to offer, loads to see and do even has beaches.
www.donthibernate.co.uk/liverpool/
www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk