Holiday by train 3ish hours from London

[TwigTheWonderKid]

I'm trying to find a UK holiday destination which we can reach from London by train in around 3.5 hours and where we can get about a bit by public transport whilst we are there. And ideally no more than 30 mins from a hospital with an A&E department.

DH would like to be beside the sea but only likes rocky beaches so we may need to sacrifice his preference...

York and get the train to Scarborough for the day. York has a decent hospital with an A&E department.
You can get to Whitby by train but it is a bit longer than 3 hours. Lots of rocky beaches along the cost including staithes and robin hoods bay

I really like Weymouth

Portmeirion feels like Italy and has a beach, lovely walks etc and they'll pick you up from the station by taxi. There is a hospital in Caernarfon (37 mins away).
https://portmeirion.wales/

I'm also going to suggest the New Forest. It's easy to get to by train. Once you are there, there are buses to get around. It's close to Southampton with a university hospital and A&E.

Actually forget Whitstable. It is not particularly near an A&E hospital.

Liverpool Street to Cromer or Sheringham could work.

I'd say Weymouth. Train station is right behind the seafront, near lots of hotels and B&Bs. Buses are fairly good (as far as any buses are), and there are some lovely beaches, both sandy and rocky (try Portland for rockier bits). You could go on the Jurassic Coaster bus to places like Lyme Regis, West Bay and Swanage if you fancy day trips too.
The nearest A&E is in Dorchester, which is 15-30 mins away depending on where you are exactly.

Thanks for all your suggestions. We did have a few days in Lyme Regis which was lovely but public transport not great and we spent a fortune on taxis. Will definitely cinsy Lymington for a short break.

But for a holiday I think Northumberland might be it. I'd discounted it as it's such a long drive but actually only 3.5 hours from King's Cross on the train. And my best friend lives there so that also deals with another one of my anxieties - ending up in hospital miles from home and the rest of my family having to either leave me there or having to find somewhere to stay.

Just need to find a house or cottage now.

@TwigTheWonderKid

I'm sorry to read of this, OP.

I wanted to suggest the Isles of Scilly for you,

Could you go to the Islands for a few days and then finish your holiday in somewhere on the mainland, such as St Ives? There is a small hospital on St Mary's and access to the Royal Cornwall at Treliske by air when necessary.

I was trying to think of somewhere really special for you.

https://www.visitislesofscilly.com/

Sounds like you are sorted but I’d you go off that I would suggest Teignmouth in Devon. Train is right in centre of town, everything walkable with other things in short train rides. 2.5 hours from Paddington. Torbay isn’t far for hospital. Beach is sandy though!

That's so kind of you to think of me like that. I've always wanted to visit the Scilly Isles but Cornwall just feels that bit too far away. I've had a couple of recent hospitalisations for infections and blood clots on my lungs and the thought of being "trapped" in a hospital that far from home really bothers me.

@TonerNeedsReplacing thanks, that's also a good suggestion. Had forgotten about faster trains from Paddington, we live near Clapham Junction so I was looking at trains going southwest out of Waterloo. It's impossible to tell from maps which are easy/quick lines so that's really helpful.

@TwigTheWonderKid I think @TheSquareMile 's suggestion is great (Scilly is magic), but knowing Treliske like I do, I woudn't wish an unscheduled stay there on anyone.
Take care and I hope you have a restful break in Northumberland. Also a lovely place xx

Caernarfon doesn’t have an a and e and is for community rehabilitation only, otherwise it would be lovely

Maybe too far, but Anglesey? Direct train from London to Holyhead. Beautiful beaches. Hospital in Bangor.

What about getting the train to Alnmouth and a quick bus/ taxi hop to Alnwick and basing yourself there?

We love Alnwick with the castle, gardens, the bookshop, independent shops. Morpeth and Newcastle are both on the same train line and this gives you an idea of the different bus services and where they all stop to give you an idea. https://www.northumberlandcoast-nl.org.uk/files/Downloads/BusRoutee_Map.pdf

Second this

From Exeter you can get the train to Exmouth or on the other side of the river Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torquay or Paignton. Both Exetet and Torquay have A&E department's. None of those beaches are pebble though.

When we went to Northumberland, we had a day in Alnmouth and wished we’d spent more time there. You might need a wind break on the beach though!
We also went to Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island (presumably there’s a bus?). Depending on how you’re feeling you might manage a boat trip to the Farne Islands, which is from Seahouses, to see the puffins.

It was a great holiday, remember it as being really nice. It rained for one day and we went to Berwick-on-Tweed, which is about 15 mins on the train from Alnmouth.

Wherever you go, I hope you have a lovely holiday. Great news that you have a friend there for backup help if needed.

Morning Op, totally do Northumberland, when I was diagnosed with BC we travelled the 4 odd hours by car and had a lovely weekend before I started chemo.
We're currently here again! If you want any ideas for restaurants etc, please give me a shout.

OP, for those people suggesting Northumberland, Alnwick, Alnmouth, Bamburgh etc. are lovely, but it can take 45 mins to 1hr (or longer) to the hospital with an A&E in Cramlington as the A1 is a busy road and depending when you go, there can be a lot of tourist traffic.

By ambulance, it would still take 30 - 40 mins. And if you were in Bamburgh, it would definitely take over an hour by car - maybe 50 mins by ambulance. There are nice beaches at Tynemouth, South Shields etc, further south and then you have the Newcastle hospitals on your doorstep. Not as scenic, though. (By the way, I know you won't have a car, but I'm guessing you would take a taxi.)

Do not go to Wales, especially North Wales, if there is any chance you will need the hospital. If you think the NHS is shite in England, then wait until you’ve experienced Wales. Took 4 hours for an ambulance to arrive for my tiny baby who could barely breathe - I was stuck with a panicking first responder. And that was 6 years ago. It’s even worse now!

That's a very reasonable concern to have.

In the case of the Isles of Scilly, you would be airlifted of the Islands immediately to be taken to Truro, but I've realised that Truro itself is actually still quite far away - it's 4 hours from London by train.

I'll try to think of something else for you.

Thirding it!