UK holiday ideas needed for dad and son
Discussion
I am hopefully visiting the UK for 10 days between Xmas and early new year later this year to spend time with my son.
He's 11.
I'd really welcome some accomodation/activity suggestions of where to go/what to do for the 10 day period that aren't going to bankrupt me.
I looked at Centre Parcs but it's about £200k for 3 days and Dec/Jan isn't exactly an 'outdoor' time.
Suggestions?
He's 11.
I'd really welcome some accomodation/activity suggestions of where to go/what to do for the 10 day period that aren't going to bankrupt me.
I looked at Centre Parcs but it's about £200k for 3 days and Dec/Jan isn't exactly an 'outdoor' time.
Suggestions?
Edited by Pommygranite on Sunday 24th July 05:03
Pommygranite said:
I am hopefully visiting the UK for 10 days between Xmas and early new year later this year to spend time with my son.
He's 11.
I'd really welcome some accomodation/activity suggestions of where to go/what to do for the 10 day period that aren't going to bankrupt me.
I looked at Centre Parcs but it's about £200k for 3 days and Dec/Jan isn't exactly an 'outdoor' time.
Suggestions?
Blimey that's a lot even for centre parks...
Assuming You mean £200 that's a bargain and snap it up
He's 11.
I'd really welcome some accomodation/activity suggestions of where to go/what to do for the 10 day period that aren't going to bankrupt me.
I looked at Centre Parcs but it's about £200k for 3 days and Dec/Jan isn't exactly an 'outdoor' time.
Suggestions?
Blimey that's a lot even for centre parks...
Assuming You mean £200 that's a bargain and snap it up
Edited by Pommygranite on Sunday 24th July 05:03
I wouldn't limit yourselves to a single activity, if your lad doesn't take to it your holiday will be ruined. If you're definitely staying in the UK there are plenty of places to visit and things to do and see throughout the winter, just make sure you have a selection of indoor and outdoor activities so you can switch depending on the weather. Where are you going to be based?
Thanks chaps.
I did mean £200k sarcastically for centre Parcs - crazy expensive.
I'm coming from Oz so there's a cost already so trying to keep costs down but would like to be doing joint activities of possible and happy to be based anywhere but am flying into Heathrow. Would love Skiing but too much cost
Centre Parcs appeals due to all the activities and so wasn't sure if there's an equivalent - it'd be great to fly in, grab the car rental, grab him then go stay somewhere for roughly 10 days and spend the days doing stuff.
I even thought about getting on an EasyJet flight to Bologna, head to Modena and do the car thing for 8 days but think that's a 3 day thing and perhaps not possible late December.
I did mean £200k sarcastically for centre Parcs - crazy expensive.
I'm coming from Oz so there's a cost already so trying to keep costs down but would like to be doing joint activities of possible and happy to be based anywhere but am flying into Heathrow. Would love Skiing but too much cost
Centre Parcs appeals due to all the activities and so wasn't sure if there's an equivalent - it'd be great to fly in, grab the car rental, grab him then go stay somewhere for roughly 10 days and spend the days doing stuff.
I even thought about getting on an EasyJet flight to Bologna, head to Modena and do the car thing for 8 days but think that's a 3 day thing and perhaps not possible late December.
Winter holiday with a single child in the UK? Really? You just know the weather is going to be absolute shyite don't you? It'll be dark from 3pm onward and everything will either be shut for the winter or wallet rapingly expensive with hour long ques in the rain to do anything worthwhile. Traffic everywhere will be mental 'cos the Sales will be on and everybody will be seriously pissed off with everything and everybody else. Centre Parcs will no doubt be rammed with obnoxiously aspirational people shoving everybody else out the way to get to the activities they want and having monumental rows with each other in between constantly moaning about school fees and how appalling the latest nanny is.
Nah, UK winter breaks are just bearable if you can shut yourself up with your OH in a cozy cottage with a huge pile of firewood and books and enough booze to stun a rhinoceros for a few days but with an 11 year old and no other children for company? - Forget it. Been there and tried that with my own kids. Hopeless.
The only thing I can suggest is take him for a short break in the Canaries. Plenty of outdoors stuff to do if you look like swimming, deep sea fishing, boat trips, cycling and jeep or buggy safaris. Lots of beginners courses for stuff like body and wind surfing and diving too. There's fantastic beaches and big variety of food and lots of organized activities for kids in most hotels. Most of all you'll almost certainly have wall to wall sunshine everyday and might actually come back with both some money left and the will to live as well.
Nah, UK winter breaks are just bearable if you can shut yourself up with your OH in a cozy cottage with a huge pile of firewood and books and enough booze to stun a rhinoceros for a few days but with an 11 year old and no other children for company? - Forget it. Been there and tried that with my own kids. Hopeless.
The only thing I can suggest is take him for a short break in the Canaries. Plenty of outdoors stuff to do if you look like swimming, deep sea fishing, boat trips, cycling and jeep or buggy safaris. Lots of beginners courses for stuff like body and wind surfing and diving too. There's fantastic beaches and big variety of food and lots of organized activities for kids in most hotels. Most of all you'll almost certainly have wall to wall sunshine everyday and might actually come back with both some money left and the will to live as well.
In the middle of winter, the only place I can think of where there is a wide range of attractions which will be open or aren't weather dependent is London. Try to get in early when rooms at Travelodges etc are released.
Somewhere like York would be an alterative for a couple of days, but you'd struggle to find much to do for a longer break.
If you go by train, you can get 2 for 1 entry to lots of attractions.
Somewhere like York would be an alterative for a couple of days, but you'd struggle to find much to do for a longer break.
If you go by train, you can get 2 for 1 entry to lots of attractions.
desolate said:
Jaguar steve said:
Stuff
Or wear a coat. Maybe a pair of gloves.Loads of great things to do on a budget.
We've done UK winter breaks often enough with our own kids in the past to know what a really bad idea they all to often are.
Warm sunshine, agreeable food, plenty to keep the kids occupied and not getting absolutely shafted every time you open your wallet as well as peace and quiet spells a proper winter break to me.
Jaguar steve said:
You could, but I can't see why on earth you should. Multiple layers of clothing, waterproofs and thermal hat and gloves and umbrella whilst paying an absolute fortune for a couple of hours parking if you're lucky enough to find a space then jostling and shoving in a enormous queue for some tacky overpriced attraction and gagging on a lukewarm mush of greasy convenience food afterwards because that's all there is on offer in the permanent gloom and filthy wet weather of the UK winter doesn't even begin to spell holiday to me.
We've done UK winter breaks often enough with our own kids in the past to know what a really bad idea they all to often are.
Warm sunshine, agreeable food, plenty to keep the kids occupied and not getting absolutely shafted every time you open your wallet as well as peace and quiet spells a proper winter break to me.
There are loads of things you can do with kids that cost nothing or very little.We've done UK winter breaks often enough with our own kids in the past to know what a really bad idea they all to often are.
Warm sunshine, agreeable food, plenty to keep the kids occupied and not getting absolutely shafted every time you open your wallet as well as peace and quiet spells a proper winter break to me.
A small amount of time on the internet will point you towards the best local chippy or cafe. Or Tesco.
He is flying over from Aus to see his son and has made strong implications that there is a budget restriction. A road trip could be a great bonding exercise.
I too have had great times with my kids in warm places and 5 star hotels. We have even been to Centre Parcs.
We have also enjoyed some great times for no money in various apparently gloomy parts of Northern England.
desolate said:
There are loads of things you can do with kids that cost nothing or very little.
Hence my suggestion of London - some of the best museums in the world, with free entry, such as the British Museum, the Science Museum, Art Galleries, Hendon, Imperial War Museum, the British Library....plus loads of great paying attractions - London Zoo, HMS Belfast, Tower of London etc.
Food needn't be too expensive either - Brick Lane curry for instance.
what about a road trip to Scotland, first stop the borders rent cottage/lodge type place go do some outdoors type stuff like mountain biking? ok your gonna get soaked/ muddy, but you know that before you start and can have a proper good laugh. then there's 'go-ape' in peebles.
Edinburgh under an hour away, lots of museums, the castle, the royal yacht britania, the whole Christmas markets/shows/ ice rink thing on princes street. also in and around town the usual- bowling, swimming pools, cinema etc..... if the weather is really crap. there's a massive artificial ski slope on the outskirts of Edinburgh too.
then trip over to Glasgow, again check out another city- kelvingrove art gallery (not half as dull as it sounds, its an amazing museum and free!) transport museum on the clyde side. maybe see if there's any gigs or music/ shows on as there's usually a lot of stuff on in Glasgow in December.
in between Glasgow/ Edinburgh- you have stirling/ falkirk for more castles, Wallace monument, the kelpies, falkirk wheel.
head north you could go west coast- glencoe/ fort William direction for a quick stop off at james bond location in glen etive, spectacular views etc.... also the cable car at fort William at the ski centre to go see some snow if its around. or go north/east to aviemore, lots of nice hotel type places with pools etc.... then also cairngorm mountain for a trip up to the top of a mountain in the train/ funicular probably be some snow around up there by December if your lucky.
actually all that sort of stuff would cost a small fortune and you could probably get a cheap week skiing in the alps/ or sunshine in spain for less than that!
Edinburgh under an hour away, lots of museums, the castle, the royal yacht britania, the whole Christmas markets/shows/ ice rink thing on princes street. also in and around town the usual- bowling, swimming pools, cinema etc..... if the weather is really crap. there's a massive artificial ski slope on the outskirts of Edinburgh too.
then trip over to Glasgow, again check out another city- kelvingrove art gallery (not half as dull as it sounds, its an amazing museum and free!) transport museum on the clyde side. maybe see if there's any gigs or music/ shows on as there's usually a lot of stuff on in Glasgow in December.
in between Glasgow/ Edinburgh- you have stirling/ falkirk for more castles, Wallace monument, the kelpies, falkirk wheel.
head north you could go west coast- glencoe/ fort William direction for a quick stop off at james bond location in glen etive, spectacular views etc.... also the cable car at fort William at the ski centre to go see some snow if its around. or go north/east to aviemore, lots of nice hotel type places with pools etc.... then also cairngorm mountain for a trip up to the top of a mountain in the train/ funicular probably be some snow around up there by December if your lucky.
actually all that sort of stuff would cost a small fortune and you could probably get a cheap week skiing in the alps/ or sunshine in spain for less than that!
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