Help me plan a few days away on a budget please!

[marriednotdead]

We had been looking for a last minute deal for the bank holiday week but have now decided that staying in England would be cheaper and easier, there's lots of places we've never been to. No kids to factor in this time, we are the far side of 50.

Wanted to drive north-west with a couple of stops in a B&B/SC (starting from London), DP has suggested Blackpool which I'm not sure about and I had said perhaps Bristol, Bath, somewhere in Wales not sure really. I don't want to spend a week on motorways!
We like unusual places, museums, nature trails, stately homes, quirky markets and I do like a beach or at least an opportunity to swim or paddle. He is a bit of a geek and will no doubt want to Geocache and walk miles! Our idea of hell is a shopping centre or a soulless town. Don't need anything fancy, as long as it's got Wi-Fi and not too many stairs then it's all good. Cooking facilities would be a bonus.

I've spent a couple of hours trying to figure it out but it's overwhelming when I have a blank page! I'll be ok once there's a few points of interest to create a trip.
Any suggestions for areas to head, places to stay, things to see would be gratefully welcomed 😊

Shropshire? No beach, but loads of historic sites, some great walking, interesting towns, markets, independent shops etc.

Blackpool is a shit hole, why does he want to go there? Wells is lovely and you could move on to Bristol area.

Anywhere but Blackpool!!!
lytham is lovely

That looks just the kind of thing I was hoping for, thank you!

I'm trying hard to convince him that we don't need to go there! Wells will be added to the list.

Lytham does look much nicer, thank you. I am a bit wary of the distances we are looking at, I get wiped out if we spend too long travelling.

I've always fancied Dungeness.

Don’t swim or paddle at Blackpool, united utilities like to release sewage into the water.

jodrell bank is worth a trip

Thanks but that's down south from us so the wrong direction for this trip.

😮

Sussex isn’t to far from London, Hastings, Eastbourne, Rye, Brighton?

Not Blackpool, there’s always Barry if you want something cheesy. Having visited Bath a lot, I’d also skip that unless you’re interested in the spa.

try an early evening walk and dip at the welsh waterfall walk <a class="break-all" href="https://c2cpackhorse.co.uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://c2cpackhorse.co.uk/four-waterfalls-walk/stay, stay in the quirky town of Hay On Wye (very bookish), walk the Gower coast, walk Pen Y Fan horseshoe (stunning and quieter then the main drag up Pen Y Fan) www.welshmanwalking.co.uk/horseshoe-ridge-circular-brecon-beacons-4-peaks-10-miles-4-5-hours/ , paddle in a boat down the river Wye, have lunch in the quirky pub underneath the ruins of Llanthony Priory, try spotting the wild horses going over Gospel Pass.

Blackpool is about an hour from us, we go once a year for the lights I don't feel it's worth the trip. But everyone should go at least once.
North Wales would be a great place, Llyn Peninsular then travel up or down the coast, great walks, beaches Snowdon isn't far away.
Abersoch, Criccieth Nefyn, Porth Merion, Barmouth, Harlech the Ty Coch inn its a pub on the beach 20 minute walk from the road, its in the top 10 beach bars in the world, just a fantastic location and a nice beach, you can walk around the head land and often see seals.

Thanks for those suggestions @TwoWheelz and @Funf. I'm not sure about heading into Wales properly, we haven't got enough time to see much and I feel we will likely make a later trip to do it justice.
So far we have decided to stay at my Dsis's near Birmingham for Saturday night and head to Leeds for the carnival on BH Monday via somewhere around Derby. That's probably as far north as we'll go. DP is looking for a little more lively stuff than me so we will strike a balance.

Just glad you are sorted, I feel I could easily do two weeks in North Wales.
Carnival sounds a good idea

For future reference, around Liverpool, the Sefton Coast, Tatton park, Chester, would have hit all of the wants. So would Cardigan Bay in Wales, around Barmouth/Harlech.

@Ponoka7 Have almost certainly committed to basing ourselves in Chester for a couple of days, thanks for the suggestion. That way we can visit a couple of relatives in the Midlands and potentially still get to a nice Welsh beach. I know the weather is turning but it's still going to be nice.

Plenty to see and do near Chester
Zoo
Knowsley Safari Park
Crocky trail
Ice cream Farm
Liverpool is a great day out and about 30-40 minutes drive

I was recently surprised at how nice the beach at Rhos on sea was and it is literally 2 minutes off the main A55 road making it very quick from Chester (come off A55 for Old Colwyn, turn right and your on the seafront)!

We are planning a trip to Chester soon too, having always whizzed through the county on the way further north previously, so placemarking for ideas.

I went to Blackpool for a couple of days this summer. It's everything everyone says it is. It was acrltually funny for 2 days if you embrace the awful tackiness and embarrassing behaviour of Brits on their hols, but I wouldn't have wanted any longer and I wouldn't go as my one trip for the year.

We went on the way to the Lakes which is always lovely.

Will have a look at that!

There are some lovely places around the Hereford/Worcester/Gloucester, Forest of Dean and Wye Valley area.

Rhos is a hidden gem, nice little place, great beach, good kids playground nice shops and eating places, clean public toilet too. The whole sea front had just been refurbished too.
Just along the road is Angel Bay you can see seals depending on the time of year, only a short 10 minute walk from the road. Its a great day out and free