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Early Stages of Planning May Trip

We are in the very early stages of planning a 2-3 week trip on May 2016 with our 3 children (6 months, 3 years and 5 years). We have taken the kids on many trips to mainland Europe, so are not concerned about traveling with them. Although this will be our first trip to England (I have been several times before but m husband has not). We will be flying into London Gatwick (not booked yet) and have not yet decided if we will rent a car or use public transportation. We will probably focus our time in Southwest England, Central/Northern England and Wales.

With the kids we generally travel at a slower pace and choose to stay in one place for several nights and take day trips, so we aren't moving around so much. We will plan to rent apartments or do farm stays as much as possible. Our preference is to visit countryside and smaller towns but still like to visit cities that have historical centres or small-town feel. We will not be visiting London on this trip. We definitely want to visit Bath and the Cotswolds and are interested in all eras of English history (but no museums with such young kids). We'll want to visit some of the great cathedrals, Roman Ruins and Abbey/Monastery Ruins.

I am looking for any suggestions on towns or regions we should consider visiting, great central locations to stay from which we can take day trips, not-to-miss things with such a young family, great farm B&Bs for young kids.

In particular, I'd love suggestions on where we should go for our first night or two after arriving at Gatwick Airport, which wouldn't require a long drive or train ride as everyone will be very tired after the overseas flight.

Posted by
3428 posts

The Snowdonia area of is lovely. I think your older kids (and you) would really enjoy the cog train ride up Mt. Snowdon. We stayed in a small village called Betws-y-Coed the one time we were there. It's a stop in the rail route, so if you decide to use trains, it would work. There are a good number of B&Bs, and I'm sure there are apartments or what the Brits call 'self-catering' cottages/homes. Beautiful small streams, lots of waterfalls, trails, etc.

While it is a city, York is a great place! The Minster, the Shambles (shops located in very old timber and daub buildings), and a good market. The Jorvic museum is fun (it's a sort of Disney-esque ride through the history of York, including the Vikings) and it has a decent shop. We haven't gone outside the city, but the Yorkshire Dales are supposed to be very nice and there are some castles and churches and Hadrian's Wall, and other places to see if you use York as a base.

Brighton might be a good place to visit, too. It would be a change as it is a seafront town. Pebble beaches, etc.

If you need to spend a night or two near London (upon arrival or prior to departure), consider Windsor. It is a lovely small town.

Posted by
205 posts

Northumberland. End of.

(Okay, plus Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Durham Cathedral, the greatest building In Britain).

Posted by
6113 posts

With three young children, none of which are old enough to manage any luggage, you may struggle to manage them plus luggage for five on public transport, so I would suggest that after your first night, that you hire a car. You can't do farmstays without a car. Spend two nights in Windsor. View the town and the castle and visit Legoland from here.

Where you go to will depend on whether you are doing a 2 or 3 week trip. The children will be bored in the Cotswolds. Instead, visit Rutland Water for a couple of days en route north. Hire bicycles and cycle round the reservoir on the cycle path, so no cars. The villages are just as pretty as the Cotswolds but not as spread out and with fewer tourists, so parking is easier.

Head for York (great train museum) and Whitby (tales of smugglers, a ruined abbey, Captain Cook museum plus great coastal walks). These museums are children friendly. There are several ruined abbeys including Bolton Abbey and Fountains Abbey nearby.

Then head to Northumberland with its great beaches, castles and walks, Holy Island, Alnwick where Harry Potter was filmed and Beamish near Durham which shows how people lived in previous centuries and everyone dresses in period costumes.

On the way back to London, visit Lincoln or the north Norfolk area.

Posted by
7175 posts

I'd suggest 4 or 5 days in four different locations ...
#1 East Sussex - explore from Canterbury to Dover to Rye to Hastings to Battle to Brighton
#2 Cotswolds - explore from Salisbury to Stonehenge to Bath to Stratford to Oxford
#3 Chester - explore from Liverpool to Conwy to Caernarfon to Snowdonia to Peak District
#4 Norfolk - explore from Lincoln to Norwich to Cambridge to Norfolk Coast to Norfolk Broads

We had a week here in July 2011 ... http://www.blackdowncottage.co.uk/
About an hour's drive from Gatwick, we found It a very well appointed country retreat, and perfect to explore the south coast of England.