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?

Leeds is fabulous. Such a compact and fun city, its easier to visit than Manchester as everything is easily walkable.

I think you've pretty much exhausted the major cities within 3 hours of Edinburgh!
Durham is tiny, you could be round it in half a day. Lovely city but unless your teens are interested in applying to the university I wouldn't bother
Blackpool is dump and if you're not interested in the rides at the Pleasure Beach I would stay well away. There must be something on the dates you looked at it's usually one change at Preston on the train from Edinburgh.
If you're willing to jump on a plane then Belfast has loads to see and do.

We went to Durham last year it is lovely was just me and Dh though but we really enjoyed it, also go to London it isn't far as we think from Scotland its great we stay at the premier inn at kings cross

Newcastle,
Liverpool,
Leeds,
Loads to do for all ages

Lincoln is lovely.

Do NOT confuse Premier Inn with Travel Lodge. The one at kings cross was the most disgusting hotel I have ever stayed at in the UK and I travel a lot with work.

@Middleagedstriker I've stayed at the Premier Inn at St Pancras before and it was great. I did read bad reviews of travelodge though.

Yes we have been most places, I was just seeing if there was anything we'd missed. Will look at Lincoln, not been there. Considering York again.
Would like to visit Belfast but my son doesn't want to fly

Agree that Durham doesn't have anything touristy to offer teens unless they like looking at very old stuff and pretty riverside views. Lumiere is on this autumn, though, which is great fun when the weather cooperates.

Leeds is fab.
Royal Armouries and then water taxi to the city centre. Shopping galore if your teens like that, loads of big stores and then the beautiful Victorian arcades full of independents. There is also Leeds city museum and art gallery (free entry). The kirkgate market now has a food hall area with street food and is an interesting walk around.
You can take a bus out to Harewood House if you like big country houses.
You can take a train to Harrogate for the day and get an afternoon tea at Betty's.
Bus/ train to Bradford for the media museum and to check out one of the amazing curry houses.

Leeds sounds a good choice.
My family regularly take the ferry to Belfast is that an option?

Another one for Leeds if you want a fresh city. Depending on their interests, there's the Armouries, the Medical Museum, wandering round the shops in the Arcades, Tropical World and just the general park at Roundhay, MathsCity in the Trinity Centre, the Arcade Club (retro arcade gaming), the Industrial Museum... Some of these might be a little young or not to their tastes but it's a great city, and accommodation is generally far more reasonable than Manchester or York.

The travellodge was it ? We always go premier since we got a revolting TL in near Manchester it was horrible .

Actually might have been St pancreas we stayed at.

What dates are you travelling that Blackpool is 5 hours away? Should be 3 from Edinburgh.

I would still choose Morecambe and Lancaster over Blackpool but obviously the Pleasure Beach is a good attraction, as is Sandcastle. Stick to the promenade and you’d be fine

You have to change at Preston (I'm sure) then on to Blackpool.

For me it's a one horse race.
Liverpool, has loads to see and do
Several beaches. Crosby, Southport, New Brighton, Formby etc.
The speed boat trip around the docks is fantastic and if your up for it after the trip they take you to a section of dock that has no speed limit, didn't stop grinning for days!
https://liverpoolwatersports.org.uk

Williamson tunnels.
Museum's, just check what's open, Smuggling section in the Maritime is great
Baltic market, great for odd things and food
Great Homer street market, just a traditional market but bargains to be had.
And all the usual stuff in the city.
Bold street the one that eats up to the Bombed out Church is good for food.
Lark Lane a short ride out of the city is also a good food location.
The Train will take you to Chester or Southport too.

Yes you do. Several times a day it’s between 2 hr 55 mins and 3 hr 15 mins depending on the connection

Yes Travelodge honestly it was so vile I kept my shoes right by the bed so I never had to stand on the floor.
I have to say the staff were unbelievably lovely and young and putting up with lot of horrible drunk people. But the state of the place was😱
Premier Inn is usually a really solid if quite boring shout.

Urgh , the 1 I went to was the same. There was groups of young lads pissed and running up and down corridors thankfully i.was only there a night.

Try Leeds (2.5hrs by train). Teens will love the Royal Armouries Museum, Junkyard Golf, and Kirkstall Abbey. Or Durham (2hrs) for cathedral views, river kayaking, and escape rooms. Both are compact, teen-friendly, and easy from Edinburgh!