Halfterm trip by train

[ThatWildMintSloth]

Hi,
We're looking to do an overnight stay during the October half term to do some general exploring. Myself, hubby, ds 10 and dd 7.
We ideally want to travel by train and so are looking for cities and towns that are easy to walk around exploring from a train station. Travelling from Birmingham.

(Dont mind museums, mooching about a shopping centre, walking alongside water, anything really.)

We really loved Liverpool.
Not quite ready to tackle London just yet!
I've been thinking maybe Cardiff, Newcastle, Bristol?
Is Leciester any good (just as its close)?

All suggestions welcome

Thanks

York is great for dc lots of museums, boat trip, shopping.

What about Dorset? You can train to Bournemouth and then either train or jump on a bus from the bus station outside the train station and go to Poole / Swanage, steam train to Corfe Castle.

Birth Bournemouth and Poole have Premier Inn / Travelodges Close to the train station. In Poole you can stay in the RNLI lifeboat training place as it has a hotel.

We did Bristol by train, and did a day trip to Bath which is about an hour away. We also went to the zoo - took the local train to Clifton Down and it was a 10 min stroll, past Clifton Suspension Bridge, to the zoo.

You've left it quite late to book trains and accommodation!
I don't think Newcastle is the best place for a city break although you could combine it with a day in Durham or even Alnwick.
Manchester might suit - Museum of Science & Industry, Salford Quays / Media city, imperial war museum of the north, man utd or city stadium tour, trafford centre, manchester museum.....
York is great for kids that age and Edinburgh would be good but it might too far for you (half term in Scotland is next week for most kids so it might be quieter than England)

Cambridge? Direct train from New St.

Plenty of museums, colleges (by water), some shopping, Botanic gardens ...

Agreed!

I love York. Two and a half hours straight through from Birmingham and everywhere there is walkable. Lots of spooky ghost tours taking place in October if your kids like that sort of thing!

Bristol zoo is now closed- most transferred to the wild place.

Agree with York - love it there!

Chester? Could to the city one day - museums, walk the walls, river boat etc then the zoo the next day (a full day as it's huge!).

Would never have thought of York at all so thanks for that. Seems like it could be a great fit!

I bought a family railcard earlier this year so that gives a nice discount on train tickets and then we will be going midweek, as hubby works weekends, so finding accommodation is never usually as bad, especially as its just 1 or 2 nights. So shouldnt be too bad😅

Thanks all