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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.

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Original poster

We are going on a tour of UK for summer hols- where shall we go???

21 replies

ilikeyoursleeves · 28/03/2009 20:48

We have decided to holiday here this year, mainly due to the credit crunch and also the fact that I will be about 28 weeks pregnant by the time we go (start of May) and we're a bit scared that something could go wrong if I fly or go abroad when PG!

We live in Glasgow and plan to drive south (me, DH and DS who will be 18 months by then). Where is good to go? We are thinking of travelling about and spending just one night at each place we stay. Thinking of going to the Eden Project, London Eye, Tate Modern, Cadbury World and maybe Legoland. Anywhere else????

Thanks!

OP posts:

MegBusset · 28/03/2009 20:52

That's a lot of driving, and a lot of moving about -- not very relaxing imo, let alone when pregnant and with a toddler! Why don't you pick one or maybe two places to use as a base for a few days each, and just visit nearby attractions?

mollyroger · 28/03/2009 20:55

and to be blunt, the admission prices alone to those places you have listed would pay for a fortnight in Mauritius, let alone accomodation, petrol and food!

janeite · 28/03/2009 20:56

Oxford.
Chester.
York.

janeite · 28/03/2009 20:56

Nice cities rather than huge attractions would be the way forward I think. Durham too.

EachPeachPearMum · 28/03/2009 21:28

Glasgow to Eden Project? You're very brave, esp if 28 weeks pg....

I'd stick to the Great North... York, Durham, Alnwick (inc treehouse gardens), Banburgh, Lindisfarne (over the causeway), Hadrian's Wall...
how long are you holidaying for?
Lake District, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield... Peak District is nice too, but I certainly wouldn't go south of there in a fortnight.

mamamea · 29/03/2009 02:32

18 months is definitely too young for Legoland. Not worth the ridiculous drive.

Going to Eden Project is madness surely, another 250 miles on to your journey and you'd be better off at Kew in any case.

Gmarksthespot · 29/03/2009 05:04

We did a tour of the Uk in 3 months (we are from Australia). We had dd 9, ds1 7 and ds2 4. We spent a week in each place and it was exhausting. I can't imagine one night each. Arriving - unpacking - sightseeing - repacking and moving on every day is a big task especially when you can't check in until 2pm and you have to vacate by 10am.

In the north of the country we loved York and you could take your ds to the railway museum. We also loved Chester and you could do Chester Zoo. We also took the dc to Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh.

I would recommend at least two to three nights in each stop.

purepurple · 29/03/2009 08:20

all that travelling is not very relaxing

we are having a week here in july

www.lochend-chalets.com/

and also a week here in may

damsoncottageholidays.co.uk/default.aspx

I am looking forward to doing lots of nothing

my life is too hectic normally

my advice would be to pick somewhere for a base and then return there every day

brimfull · 29/03/2009 08:35

Hey we're going to glasgow for our hols!

Cadbury world is shite- don't bother.

If I were you I'd concentrate on a couple of areas like the Lake district and a coastal area.

brimfull · 29/03/2009 08:38

Gmarksthespot-love the name btw.
Thanks for the tips,we plan on taking a few days to drive up to glasgow form the south coast -good to know a few good places to stop.
I love York ,ds loves trains !

sassy · 29/03/2009 08:41

Midlands - Stratford, Birmingham city centre Not Cadbury World. Expensive and not that great.

MargaretMountford · 29/03/2009 08:41

Go Dorset - it's my favourite place ever, beautiful countryside,lovely coastline - good beaches for children-Weymouth has lots of nice sand...

brimfull · 29/03/2009 08:59

New Forest is nice for kids.You could come and see me!!

ilove · 29/03/2009 09:06

I wouldn't do the Eden project at 28+ weeks...it is VERY hot, humid, BIG and boring for a toddler!

Gmarksthespot · 29/03/2009 13:15

ggirl - thank you.

janeite · 29/03/2009 13:18

Yes - don't bother with Cadbury World - it's a rip off. We live near there so just go to the outdoor play area and then buy the girls some chocolate at the shop and ignore the rest of it. You can get into the outdoor play area without paying and there's often free entertainment on in that bit. Deffo not worth driving from Glasgow for though!

hf128219 · 29/03/2009 18:08

If I were you I would go to the Western Isles of Scotland!

Anifrangapani · 29/03/2009 18:18

2nd the Peak District - and we are only 4 - 5 hours away ( depending on number of stops and how lead footed you are / poor the weather is)

You can be in the country and still get to Manchester in an hour. There are loads of walks, caves, cycling, pubs. Manchester has several cool kid friendly museums and The Tate in Liverpool is only an hour and a half.

Call in if you are decide to visit our lovely part of the world.

catinthehat1 · 29/03/2009 18:31

NB it rains in the Lake District. Check it out on national weather maps, there is a permanent black cloud. I know I will be flamed* but I will never go there again as I had to sulk for 5 days solid when we went.

*and rightly so according to my family

Original poster

ilikeyoursleeves · 30/03/2009 14:38

Thanks for all the advice! We travel loads (done several road trips across USA and NZ etc) and DH does the driving so it wouldn't be that much to drive, mind you we have never done a driving holiday with DS... Thinking about it though a holiday in the UK will probably be more expensive than going abroad at this rate. Not quite sure what to do. Does anyone know how many weeks PG you can still fly at?

OP posts:

happywomble · 02/04/2009 08:09

If you really would rather go abroad you could go to the South of France by train fairly easily. You can take the Eurostar to Lille or Paris and then change to a high speed TGV train to the south of France. I realise you are coming from Scotland so maybe you would need to stay in London or Paris for a night on route.

Alternatively you could holiday fairly cheaply in the UK by booking a self catering place for a week. Have a look at Hoseasons brochure. They have a large range of properties, locations.

Or if your budget would stretch to it you could go somewhere where you could book your 18 mth old in a childrens club for the odd session to give yourself a rest. If you are not going in school hols centre parcs might be a possibility (for the spa!) or the child friendly hotels such as Bedruthan steps in Cornwall.

I agree with what some others have said that the theme park places are hugely expensive and that when you have an 18 mth old they would not get so much out of them. I would instead get National Trust membership (if you don't already have it). Once you have paid for a year there are so many places you can visit..some have adventure playgrounds, you can normally get a childrens lunchbox in the cafe and enjoy a nice walk.

At 28 wks pregnant I was barely able to walk at all due to SPD..I could not possibly have imagined doing the type of sightseeing holiday you describe. Unless you want to see the sights yourselves I don't think its worth paying for them as your 18 mth old will enjoy them all a lot more when he is over 3. Maybe you have a lot of stamina!

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