Less obvious places to visit by train

[wheneverwhereverwhatever]

Afternoon,

Due to various circumstances, I'm completely in charge of the holidays for my children this year (3 of them, aged 8-13). DH has various work related commitments coming up, so we've decided that I will book what I feel like for us, and if he's able to join us, he will. Slight catch - we won't have the car. I'm happy to travel by train, and we've done a number of city and coast day trips and short breaks by train, and have one city break planned already for this year, to Liverpool. I'd like to keep it to the UK ideally. We may have a Eurostar trip at some point, but the last couple of years we've had holidays abroad, and I like the idea of staying at home.

I'm finding it easy to come up with ideas for cities and various coastal resorts, but I'm wondering if there are less obvious places that are reachable by train that we should consider, either for a day trip or a short break. Any recommendations? For reference, we've been to Birmingham, York, Southend, Brighton, Great Yarmouth, Hastings, St Albans, Canterbury, Rochester, Whitstable, Margate and Stratford-upon-Avon among others in recent years. I'm maybe looking for smaller, quieter seaside resorts, or smaller cities and towns which maybe have some interesting museums, or walks, or parks, or are particularly pretty and easy to amuse ourselves. Happy to do hotels, caravan parks, apartments or house. Probably not camping (don't fancy lugging the gear) but maybe one of those glamping type places could work. We can get to any central London mainline station pretty easily, so hopefully we should be able to get to most places without too many problems. Don't mind a long-ish journey if there's somewhere good we can stay for a few days.

All recommendations welcome! If we don't use them this year, can always keep them in mind for the future.

Malvern is a nice little town with a good hill/small mountain to climb. Worcester has a few National Trust properties close by or in the town, plus a nice cathedral. Oxford & Cambridge are pretty but can be too busy in the summer. Peterborough has a lovely cathedral. Ely is lovely. You can get to the Jurassic coast trail from Exmouth (plus it has a nice beach).

Great suggestion, especially Llandudno. Depending on when, there'll be glow worms and/or seals on the Great Orme. Cable cars! Funicular! Copper mine!

Train to Beccles

Hell yes! Great day out at the museum.

Although isn't the castle a hugely expensive fancy hotel/restaurant these days?

Avid more on the Caledonian sleeper! Such an adventure for the kids!

Peterborough has a lido too!

Sheringham and Cromer.

King’s Lynn has some interesting history.

Leeds. Art gallery, royal armoury
Lincoln, castle, cathedral, museums

Aviemore, obviously. Autocucumber fail!

Oh and Cambridge. Some great free museums, botanical garden, punting.

How do you access the Norfolk B-roads by public transport?

I think that's an autocorrected Broads... probably not suitable for the OP with kids but you could get to them by train and hire a boat.

Portsmouth is a very walkable city with plenty to do. Day trips by ferry or train to Isle of wight, Winchester, Chichester, Southampton.

I was going to suggest that line (though I didn't realise you could go on to Carlisle) - the Silverdale area just north of Lancaster is often overlooked. If you're into wildlife RSPB Leighton Moss is just by Silverdale station, and there's lovely walking in the area especially from Arnside.

I went once to a steampunk day at the museum and once to a Land Rover day; a friend works there. I'd love him to get me a job at the place!

I was treated to a surprise afternoon tea at the castle on a special birthday so I can't comment on price but it was delicious...

Get the sleeper to Aberdeen. It’ll be an adventure.

Maritime museum, art gallery, provost skene house, one of those run around in it fountains, sandy beach (albeit cold), working harbour with boat trips to look at the supply boats and dolphin spotting. (Supply boats guarenteee, dolphins most of the time). Short train ride to Stonehaven and walk along the cliff path to Dunottar castle (standard stock photo image favourite of castle on a headland).

Bristol is worth a look, there are a few threads on MN with ideas for things to do with kids. There are some quirky hostels / Airbnb if you don't fancy a hotel stay.

You could also add on a few days in Cardiff, the castle and severl large parks park, Cardiff Bay - Techniquest (interactive science exhibit), lots of shops and food. Several events/ festivals with things going on over the summer.

Northumberland. Train to Alnmouth which is a lovely place with a beautiful beach. It’s not too bad by bus from there to Alnwick and other places nearby, or you could get the train back down to Newcastle to do city centre things. Or train to Newcastle and then use the metro to get out to the North Tyneside coast (e.g. Tynemouth, Whitley Bay).

Train to Glasgow then fort William on the West Highland line. You can do lots of trips from there- the Jacobite steam train to Mallaig- lots of walks around glencoe, cable car up glen nevis.

Perth in Scotland is quite a good base to get to other places in Scotland via rail. You can get to Dundee, Stonehaven, Aberdeen, Inverness, Stirling and then also Glasgow and Edinburgh quite easily- either as a day trip or creating a little circular route. Perth is also worth a visit for a day or two.

Sheringham, and the steam train to Holt?

Close to Norwich - you wont have the ring road to navigate, also you can go to Wroxham and hire a boat on the broads and/or take the Brue Valley steam train.

Oh & Roys of Wroxham department store!!

https://www.roys.co.uk/

You can get to Edinburgh in about 5 hours from London. Or possibly book the overnight train which means you all set off late at night sleep on the train and arrive about 7am

then from there most main cities in Scotland can be reached by train in under 2 hours.

so depending on how long you want to go away from you could travel to Edinburgh and have a couple of nights then move further up and see some of the north or book a place in the highlands etc.

A super easy break as a single parent is the Center parcs in Bedford. They pick you up from the train station. Great long weekend that works for all ages.

Lincoln - the cathedral is awesome.

Southsea seafront,got the arcades and the funfair.visit the Portsmouth historic dockyard have a coffee overlooking Portsmouth harbour at gunwharf,you
could go across on the Gosport ferry only takes 4mins then bus to lee on the Solent has a lovely little seafront,you could then get a bus to Fareham pick the train up to Southampton and visit the sea city museum.and art gallery

Winchester has a beautiful cathedral too

Glastonbury is quite an experience. When my kids were younger we stayed on an organic farm just outside (walking distance to the town). There was lots to get involved with on the farm but we’d go into the town or walk up the tor as well. http://paddingtonfarm.co.uk
You can get a train to the station and then it’s a fairly short taxi ride.

Paignton, and then Brixham or Dartmouth or anywhere round there, lots to choose from.