Any advise on family holiday in UK?

[Balance wheel]

With 3 kids like the OP's family, I would always arrange things around them: adolescents are a difficult audience. Endless drives and long walks surrounded only by breathtaking scenery doesn't cut the mustard. I already suggested (van a PM) surflng in / near Wales. But perhaps there are other destinations. A few things that I can come up with: Harry Potter movie locations, Clarkson's Farm (with a lunch), Beaulieu Car Museum, Red Bull's Factory Tour and of course: London.

Ask me this about the Netherlands and without hard thinking, I can come up with 10 spots interesting for older kids. I'm sure that the UK has a lot more to offer than 10. Perhaps this will help the OP's itinerary?

If wales is on the agenda I’d recommend going to Go below near the beautiful Betws-Y-Coed

[awright101]

I would definitely go to Cornwall. The beaches are super, and it’s a completely different vibe. The drive is worth it.

[Balance wheel]

I would definitely go to Cornwall. The beaches are super, and it’s a completely different vibe. The drive is worth it.

Definitely we had lots of nice holidays in Cornwall when the kids were little, I’d recommend a boat trip mackerel fishing St Mawes is a nice spot

[djacks42]

OP I would recommend Suffolk and Norfolk. Norfolk in the area around Sandringham all the way round to Southwold in Suffolk. Britain at it's best.

I was going to say very similar to this for nice places within easy reach. Both lovely.

[Wimm]

Another fan of Suffolk here. Had plenty of family summer holidays there over the last ten years. I can't remember any of them being a complete wash out. A couple of days rain in a fortnight perhaps.

As already said London, Cambridge and Ely are a day trip away(although London may be an early start).

Cornwall is a long old shlep from Dover and probably best broken up by an overnight stop on the way. It can also get very crowded in the summer which can be tricky on the narrow lanes.

South Wales is a good call, it probably offers everything that Cornwall does except, possibly less busy. Friends of mine have been summering in Tenby for years and absolutely love it.

[blackal]

Another fan of Suffolk here. Had plenty of family summer holidays there over the last ten years. I can't remember any of them being a complete wash out. A couple of days rain in a fortnight perhaps.

As already said London, Cambridge and Ely are a day trip away(although London may be an early start).

Cornwall is a long old shlep from Dover and probably best broken up by an overnight stop on the way. It can also get very crowded in the summer which can be tricky on the narrow lanes.

South Wales is a good call, it probably offers everything that Cornwall does except, possibly less busy. Friends of mine have been summering in Tenby for years and absolutely love it.

5hrs 30min from Dover to Looe…………….. ?

Maybe need an overnighter in a Hillman Minx, but …………..

[Saint-Just]

Seriously though, download this (or the equivalent on Android) before you decide on your destination/choice of activities :

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/safer-...e/id1458786821

[Wimm]

5hrs 30min from Dover to Looe…………….. ?

Maybe need an overnighter in a Hillman Minx, but …………..

Once a year I travel down to Exeter from J28 of the M25 and it usually takes between four and five hours. Cornwall is a bit further beyond.


Obviously it does depend on time of day and day of the week you travel. Friday evenings are the worst. Made that mistake once and it took seven and half hours.

Perhaps a break is a bit extreme but I find driving long distance in this country hard work. I like my holidays to be relaxed so splitting up long drives helps. I'm sounding twenty years older than I am.

[JackW]

Thanks again for all your input. I'm leaning towards the Norfolk route, but I will have to persuade my wife. If we choose Dover-Cornwall I'll take your advice and plan an extra stop halfway there.

[BillyCasper]

I'm leaning towards the Norfolk route.

You’ll certainly feel at home.



Ps. I’m not deriding East Anglia, I remember having great times at places like Brancaster, Wells, Cromer, Southwold, Dunwich…..


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[JackW]

Just a quick update to this thread, because your suggestions have been very helpful. We chose a shorter circuit with less driving time and more opportunities to relax.

- short stay in Canterbury, as it's close to the tunnel
- longer stay on the Jurassic Coast, near Swanage
- few days in Oxford + visit to the Cotswolds
- couple of days in London (near Shoreditch Park)

Then back home. It's all been booked, so please don't tell me I've made a grave mistake. ;)

Any must sees in these locations are of course very welcome (and I will bear in mind all the excellent advice in the thread so far).

[DavidL]

If you're around Swanage go to Chococo (assuming you like chocolate).
If there is time do the coast road drive from Weymouth to Bridport, it's a great trip. Stop in Abbotsbury and go to Dansel for quirky wooden things and take a walk up to the abbey.
Even better there is the Jurassic coaster open top bus that does this very trip.

[noTAGlove]

If you're around Swanage go to Chococo (assuming you like chocolate).

And if you prefer beer (who doesn't), a pint, pasty and a pickled egg in the Square and Compass, Worth Matravers.

About 4 miles (and up a very steep hill) from Swanage. Great views from the garden out to sea too.

[Skier]

As you're staying in Oxford, visit The Trout Inn for a meal.

[JackW]

Thanks for the suggestions.

If you're around Swanage go to Chococo (assuming you like chocolate).

That's brilliant! My wife will be so pleased when I take her there.

And if you prefer beer (who doesn't), a pint, pasty and a pickled egg in the Square and Compass

This was already at the top of my list and we'll definitely go there, thanks.

As you're staying in Oxford, visit The Trout Inn for a meal.

Just checked the site and it looks good, thank you.

[Wimm]

As you are staying in Oxford you'll need to visit the Pitts Rivers Museum.

https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/

A cracking place on a par with (and perhaps even better than) the Natural History Museum.

[Mr Curta]

As you are staying in Oxford you'll need to visit the Pitts Rivers Museum.

https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/

A cracking place on a par with (and perhaps even better than) the Natural History Museum.

That's an absolutely astonishing collection. I'm also rather fond of the History of Science Museum: https://www.hsm.ox.ac.uk/home

[aa388]

Depending on the kids, if your into military history there’s the Tank Museum at Bovington and the Army Air Corps museum at Middle Wallop.


Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

[JackW]

Thanks again. I would love to visit all of these museums, but I can see the look on my kids' faces already. This looks brilliant:

As you are staying in Oxford you'll need to visit the Pitts Rivers Museum.

https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/

A cracking place on a par with (and perhaps even better than) the Natural History Museum.