Best cities to visit with a four year old

[user159]

Before my DD starts school, I'd like to take her on some short breaks in the UK. Train or car are options and we're in the east so happy to travel anywhere!

Any recommendations for some great cities with plenty of kids activities? We'll go to London for a show and the science museum but would love some recommendations.

DD loves being busy so any museums, soft play type places, theatre, food and outside space suggestions welcome.

Thank you

We love Southend. There's a zooquarium, a train out onto the pier (with cafes etc at the end of the pier), arcades and fountains to play in if you can time it for a hot day! We never get fed up there x

Birmingham - Cadbury World, National Sealife Centre, Legoland Discovery Centre, Thinktank Science Museum, Cannon Hill Park (small zoo, swan-shaped pedalos, a train that rides around the park, and a fun fair with rides for little kids up to 10), butterfly house in the Botanic garden…

York. Lots for kids there.

Liverpool. Took my son when he was that age and we had such a great time. The Tate is brilliant for young children, the staff very warm and welcoming. He loved wandering by the docks too and we stopped by the beach before we went home. I took him back again couple of years after and we both still loved it. He asks when we will go back.
I like Birmingham but personally find it a bit too busy and less easy to navigate. The science museum is excellent there.

A couple of days in West Yorkshire exploring a variety of places, all within close reach? Tropical world at leeds, National Science and Media museum at Bradford, a steam train from Haworth, then over to Halifax for Eureka, the National Children's Museum? Loads of other things in the area but these were what my kids loved

Edinburgh is great with kids - national museum, museum of childhood, the meadows and princes street gardens for a run around, beach at portobello, the zoo has the only pandas in the uk (although they’re not here for much longer), boat ride of the forth, dynamic earth, soft play at the commonwealth pool……