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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

UK city break with tween

30 replies

Sandramademedoit · 02/03/2026 18:14

I’d like to take DS age 12 away for a few days over Easter. DS is history and science mad so I’ve narrowed options down to Oxford, York or Edinburgh. We’re going to be relying on public transport so we need somewhere that’s easy to get around without a car. Anyone have and opinions on what might be a good option?

OP posts:
Whatkindoffuckeryisthiss · 02/03/2026 18:18

Highly recommend York. It’s very walkable. And steeped in character and history. So many fabulous restaurants too.
Chester is another really good option!

Kickingoff · 02/03/2026 18:22

I came on to say York. Yorvik centre, shambles’s are very Harry Potter. If he likes food spark York is a cool place to eat

Dangermouse100 · 02/03/2026 18:23

We’ve been to all of them and they are all good options. York is good for history.

Edinburgh is good for history and has a good museum opposite Holyrood castle I think from memory. It had a lot about climate change etc.
Also the main museum in the centre was great too. Lots of amazing restaurants.

Oxford was good but my children were very young then so I can’t quite remember. There were some good museums I think.

ginasevern · 02/03/2026 18:25

York is obviously loaded with history but Oxford has more in the way of science, like the History of Science Museum and Science Oxford Centre. Both are very walkable and both are beautiful cities. I've only been to Edinburgh once a long time ago and it was lovely but can't comment on it's walkability. I only remember the Castle!

Eucatastrophilia · 02/03/2026 18:50

I would choose either Oxford or Edinburgh - depending on which is a bigger adventure, or which has an unmissable event on at the time. (I live in one and have lived in the other - both are perfect choices, though Edinburgh has the advantage of Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, which is a proper phenomenon in the middle of a city.)

GOAT26 · 02/03/2026 19:11

York is very easy to cover and has great museums. Railway Museum is free and very interesting (close to station in the heart of city.) You can walk the city walls for free. Yorvik Centre for vikings. Dig if he's into archaeology. Victorian Street in Castle museum and cells from the old prison are accessible there too.
Yorkshire museum in the museum gardens had dinosaur bones I think.
Also there's a cold war bunker to visit.
York Dungeons for historic gore!
You wouldn't be able to fit it all in but loads to choose from.

Dangermouse100 · 02/03/2026 19:36

If you go to York and your dc has a blue peter badge you can get reduced/free entry into some of the attractions

MiddleAgedDread · 03/03/2026 11:06

They're all better done on foot/ bus than by car so that's not really a deciding factor! I don't know Oxford but York and Edinburgh definitely have enough to keep you occupied. I think Edinburgh is a nicer city and more impressive in some ways than York. Have you checked accommodation availability and prices?

lllamaDrama · 03/03/2026 11:13

Since I live in the SE for a short break I’d opt for Oxford as the train there is cheaper for me! Although Friends and Family discount helps.

Oxford also has Pitt Rivers museum which is fabulous - one of my absolute favourites. History of Science museum is fascinating too, and there’s the Ashmolean.

Also it can be beautiful to walk down Merton Passage in the early spring morning sunshine and head down past a Christ Church meadow to the river for a stroll, you might see cattle and learn online about who has the right to graze their cows in the fields…and some rowers keeping their skills up in the vacation.

Sandramademedoit · 03/03/2026 20:58

Thanks everyone, we’ve decided on York so hit me up with any suggestions for accommodation & activities.

OP posts:
frightright · 03/03/2026 21:08

Love York! I was a student there many moons ago so it’s got a special place in my heart.
Last time i visited with my family we stayed in a private room in the YHA. It’s about a 20min walk into town but it’s clean comfy and very reasonable, my DCs liked it.
We did the Railway museum, walked the walls, strolled around Museum Gardens (my favourite place). We didn’t get to go to the Jorvik Centre as it was booked up, I went 30yrs ago and it was fun! There’s the York Chocolate Story but it’s pricey (we didn’t do it).
Hopefully Clifford’s Tower is back open, it was undergoing renovations when we were there.
The Minster is stunning.
The Shambles gets very busy but is still a really lovely street to wander down.
A boat trip could be nice (again. I last did that 30yrs ago!)
You’ll have a great time.

EwwSprouts · 03/03/2026 21:37

Join us during the Easter holidays for artist led workshops and drop-in activities for all ages, inspired by Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
There are Samurai exhibits too.

https://www.yorkartgallery.org.uk/making-waves-the-art-of-japanese-woodblock-print-events/

Wet weather option - Hole in the Wand indoor crazy golf opp the Jorvik museum.

If sunny, lunch outdoors at the Judge's Lodging eating from small plates & nibbles menu (fair prices). If you like tapas - Ambiente Tapas on Fossgate is good.

EwwSprouts · 03/03/2026 21:42

For the fab setting www.askitalian.co.uk/italian/restaurants/york

EvelynBeatrice · 03/03/2026 21:58

Edinburgh is my favourite, but all your options sound good.

Edinburgh is walkable but also has a superb bus service that is widely used by visitors and residents alike. Just remember to thank the driver as is customary on getting off!

Dynamic Earth next to Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament was a huge favourite with my kids - kind of interactive science museum where you ‘ go back in time’ in lift to start of the universe and then go through galleries over the ages to the present day through earthquake, tundra, iceberg etc. Incudes ride, 3D filmshow, rainforest and another film show at end.

The free Museum of Scotland has a good science hall with a racing car, hot air balloon and Dolly the Sheep, the first cloned animal. Inspired my niece to study bioscience! It’s opposite Greyfriars Churchyard ( many gravestone names are to be found in Harry Potter) and of course you must rub the statue of little Greyfriars Bobby’s nose outside.

Camera Obscura near the castle is great fun too. Great optical illusions and enjoy ‘shaking’ the tourists you see through the camera.

In the old town you can do a Witchery or other history tour telling you about the bodysnatchers for medical dissections, Deacon Brodie etc. Also see the site of the last witch burning outside magnificent St Giles Cathedral. Walk down to princes street through the gardens or via lovely cobbled twisty Cockburn street with its nice cafes, shops and gelateria.

Back down on Princes Street, climb up the inside of the Scott monument ( you’ll get your steps in) and recover in the cafe at very top of John Lewis in the new St James Quarter shopping centre. Fabulous views. Then visit the Lego shop or food court.

And, if after all that, you’re bored, hop on a fifty minute train to Glasgow and go to its science museum or transport museum.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 03/03/2026 21:59

Cambridge!

EvelynBeatrice · 03/03/2026 22:03

Ah sorry - see you’ve gone for York. The railway museum is great. Also loved the Castle Museum and The Chocolate Story. Particularly appreciated the Chocolate Story being so easily inclusive and accommodating of my niece with nut allergy.

Betty’s is of course compulsory. But, if you can’t face the queues, go for early dinner elsewhere and go back later on for cake for kids and champagne for mum.

Baboutheocelot · 03/03/2026 22:09

I’m taking mine to York soon, we are going to the wonder lab at the railway museum and the tower trip at York minster, hopefully the castle museum too if we get time. The hop on hop off bus tour is good too, handy when their legs get tired.

Whatkindoffuckeryisthiss · 03/03/2026 22:38

Sandramademedoit · 03/03/2026 20:58

Thanks everyone, we’ve decided on York so hit me up with any suggestions for accommodation & activities.

Yay for York!!

Restaurants in abundance!! My faves are -

Los Moros - outstanding North African food
Blue Barbakan - Polish
Any of the Ambiente tapas bars
Spark is great for street food and vibes.
Also Shambles Market for street food.
Yakamoz - Turkish

Honestly think Bettys tearoom is overrated and gimmicky. The queues are silly. Bennet’s cafe is absolutely fabulous as a better alternative.

If you are looking for drinks,
Habit
Victor J’s
Fossgate Social

tothesea · 04/03/2026 08:01

I know you’ve decided on York but if you ever go to Edinburgh please don’t rub Greyfriars Bobby’s nose as PP advised. This is made up nonsense and is damaging the statue.

Pandorea · 04/03/2026 08:05

I second a private room in the YHA in York. Lovely walk into town along the river. It has nice food, rooms are good and it’s a nice place to hang out in the evening

Funf · 08/03/2026 17:27

York and Liverpool are both easy with no transport with different but great

Eucatastrophilia · 08/03/2026 17:48

Oxford is virtually impossible if you’re unreasonable enough to bring a car …

ConflictofInterest · 09/03/2026 08:55

York dungeon is fantastic, I took teens recently and it was far better than I expected I would really recommend it. You also get a third off if you travel by train, you can get it via the 2 for 1 days out guide if you Google it. York is really easy by train and a lovely city.

5foot5 · 09/03/2026 23:46

Sandramademedoit · 03/03/2026 20:58

Thanks everyone, we’ve decided on York so hit me up with any suggestions for accommodation & activities.

DH and I had a few days in York last November. We stayed in the Minster Hotel on Bootham. Really close to Bootham Bar so everything we wanted to do was walking distance.

I think the highlights are covered on this thread already. We always love the Railway Museum and the Castle Museum.

If you can persuade your DS to go in any shops there is a fantastic Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop on Stonegate. I have been in their main shop in Rothenburg and, admittedly, the York one isn't that big. However it is the only shop they have in the UK and is pretty incredible. If you like Christmas stuff. DH was prepared to tolerate a visit. The cuckoo clock room was amazing!

ETA: We also did the Chocolate Story. Quite interesting but I felt it was a bit expensive for what it was. You do get to eat quite a few samples though