Best UK northern city break with teens

[nwilson12]

Looking to do a 2 night break from Edinburgh (max 2-3 hours on train).

Done various cities before Newcastle, York, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool so looking for somewhere different that we can get to on the train with things to keep young teens occupied.

Where do you recommend and what can you do there?

I love Liverpool, would they enjoy the Beatles tour

We did both Manchester and Liverpool recently. Teen DD enjoyed the Northern Quarter, the football museum and the two stadiums. She also wants to head back and do more of the traditional shopping areas. In Liverpool she enjoyed the Docks and the Cavern Club (I thought that would be rubbish but it was lovely). We ate at Bundabust in Manchester and a food hall place in Liverpool both of which went down well.

Not quite city break but how about Blackpool? They have a zoo, water park theme park, madame tussauds and the blackpool tower. As you have alredy done most of the big cities in the north, I was coming to suggest Manchester or Liverpool.

We have been to Sheffield with young teens. We did find things to do - there a retro gaming museum, however we enjoyed that more than the dc. We know the area ourselves but there didn't seem to be as many options of things to do as Manc/Liverpool.

We have done Liverpool although a few years ago so might look at it again. Never been to Blackpool, will investigate that.

Oh Blackpool is 5.5 hours on the train, could go to London quicker. Anyone been to Durham? Carlisle? Looking at the map again, might have to go back to one we've been to.

Leeds is on the east coast mainline and missing from your list of places visited so far

Plus exactly 3 hrs away!

Durham is tiny, there won’t be enough there to entertain teens for a weekend.

Leeds is great .

Depends what they like, mine are both into history and like smaller cities with castles, city walls etc, museums, not bothered about shopping but like eating out, we are off to Lincoln soon.

Definitely Carlisle. The draw for me was getting there via the scenic Settle to Carlisle railway as we were coming from the south. Carlisle has a historic quarter and plenty of shops and places to eat. We loved it.

Hmm I did check and Blackpool was approx 3h from Edinburgh with a change at Preston.

Blackpool's an absolute dump. I wouldn't waste your time there tbh. Chester is lovely with lots to see and do.

Edinburgh is the main one you have missed from your list - have you acted like a tourist in your own home town? It can be fun

can you run to Cardiff ?

most others are smaller and so have less going for them

Chester doesn't have a great amount of things to do for young teens personally. The zoo is amazing and worth a trip by itself, and it is a lovely city. However for entertaining young teen not amazing when compared to other placed OP has traveled to.

@DeathMetalMum unfortunately on the dates I'm looking at, there's 3 changes and minimum 5.5 hours.

Never been to Leeds, will check it out

@andtheworldrollson we are 20 mins from Edinburgh and go there most weekends, done the main tourist attractions multiple times as have annual passes for most things.

Lancaster.

The castle and police museum
williamson park
kanteena if the sun is shining and they like music and street food
buses or trains to morecambe
heysham village inc the Viking graves
loads to do in Morecambe especially if you choose a festival weekend

Don't go to Blackpool. It's awful. We love Liverpool, three teens.

Manchester has loads happening.

@CountryQueen lancaster sounds nice, will check when festivals are

https://morecambemusicfestival/

https://heyshamvikingfestival.co.uk/

Festa Italia in Lancaster next weekend if they like supercars and Italian food, music etc.

Bradford. It's a beautiful city and it is city of culture this year so loads of events on. It has the Science and Media museum, the Police Museum which does courtroom reenactments, walk round Little Germany, the Alhambra Theatre, and the mirror pool fountain.

Scarborough. Beach obviously. Surf lesson? Boat trip to see dolphins. Museum of fair rides. Live music https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/scarborough-open-air Sealife Centre. Water park with big inflatables, zip line etc.