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...

What about a train and a ferry/hovercraft? Can be done in under 3 hours from Waterloo.
Isle of Wight has a good bus network and has a mix of different beach types. There is a hospital with an A&E and you'd only ever be about 30min away from it no matter where on the Island you were.

There are direct trains to Exeter from Clapham Junction. Slower than the direct train to Teignmouth than from Paddington at about 3 hours 10 but probably about the same once you factor in getting there from yours. From Exeter to Teignmouth is then 30 mins.

Could you brave Lundy? Like the Isles of Scilly you are dependent on air ambulance but it’s magic there. Air ambulance takes people to Barnstaple or sometimes Exeter (regularly…)

northumberlsnd is magic tho and maybe easier

We had one of our best ever holidays in Northumberland, highly recommend

It's slightly longer but you can get to Edinburgh in just over 4 hours.
Plenty to do for all ages, excellent hospital facilities and a beach at Portobello