Family trip to UK without running yourself ragged

[Anonymous]

DH suggested UK for a family vacation. I have never been there (but have travelled extensively across Europe + Asia). Anyway, I'd like something more on the relaxing side and am inclined to skip London altogether. I don't know where to begin to plan. (If this were Italy, I'd know pretty much exactly what I'd do, but I've been there many times before.). Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Is anyone comfortable driving?

[Anonymous]

I don’t really get why “something on the relaxing side” would mean skipping London?

“Running yourself ragged” vs “relaxing” is about style of travel not London vs Cotswolds or whatever.

But maybe you really want to be in countryside? You could do a walking tour which, again, some people would consider relaxing and some would consider way too active.

[Anonymous]

DH probably would be

[Anonymous]

Why can't you do London for a few days? There are lots of museums to see. Tower of London is worth a look, especially for the kids.

If you are ok driving on the other side, you could do Cotswolds, Lake District, south coast (Jurassic coast), Cornwall (Biodome is there). But, that's a lot of driving and will take a while. Dh is a Brit, and we've done all of that when we visit his family, but not all at once. This is over the several years we've been back there.

How long are you going for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t really get why “something on the relaxing side” would mean skipping London?

“Running yourself ragged” vs “relaxing” is about style of travel not London vs Cotswolds or whatever.

But maybe you really want to be in countryside? You could do a walking tour which, again, some people would consider relaxing and some would consider way too active.

Relaxing meaning - not a big city with the sensory overload that large cities tend to have. So yes, countryside, relaxing environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you do London for a few days? There are lots of museums to see. Tower of London is worth a look, especially for the kids.

If you are ok driving on the other side, you could do Cotswolds, Lake District, south coast (Jurassic coast), Cornwall (Biodome is there). But, that's a lot of driving and will take a while. Dh is a Brit, and we've done all of that when we visit his family, but not all at once. This is over the several years we've been back there.

How long are you going for?

This would be 1 week. We are not keen on trying to hit numerous places - or at least don't want to cover too much ground. I prefer to avoid crowds and we have a teen who is HFA who gets sensory overload.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH suggested UK for a family vacation. I have never been there (but have travelled extensively across Europe + Asia). Anyway, I'd like something more on the relaxing side and am inclined to skip London altogether. I don't know where to begin to plan. (If this were Italy, I'd know pretty much exactly what I'd do, but I've been there many times before.). Any suggestions?

Fly to Edinburgh. It is less intense than London. Spend a few days exploring there. Then figure out if you want to go north to the Highlands or south to Lake District (rent smallest car possible if you are going there) and northern England.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest Dorset/Devon/Cornwall -- beautiful areas of the UK, wide availability of cream tea, gardens, the coastal path, etc. We had a terrific trip to Lyme Regis before the pandemic -- we went hiking, fossil hunting (great program through the local museum), paddle boarding and stopped at Stonehenge on the way down from Heathrow. Far more accessible with a car, though.

Personally I would still spend a few days in London, but London is my favorite city. And I love cities.

[Anonymous]

Fly into London and spend at least two nights so your kids can experience London and see the typical sights. Then take a train or car service to the Cotswolds or coast if you want low key.

A cool trip would include Scotland as well. There’s an overnight train, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

If your husband suggested the UK, presumably there's a reason -- what appeals to him? Scottish trains over viaducts? Palm trees in Cornwall? Walking tours and pub lunches? WWII spycraft?

[Anonymous]

Oxford
Cambridge
Use Richmond in SW London as a base and visit Kew Gardens, Hampton Court, Richmond Park etc.
Stay in Kent and visit castles and Canterbury Cathedral

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fly into London and spend at least two nights so your kids can experience London and see the typical sights. Then take a train or car service to the Cotswolds or coast if you want low key.

A cool trip would include Scotland as well. There’s an overnight train, fwiw.

Train travel actually sounds nice.

[Anonymous]

What time of year? I go to the UK a lot and love London but it is absolutely heaving in summer. If you want something quite chill then avoid London in summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t really get why “something on the relaxing side” would mean skipping London?

“Running yourself ragged” vs “relaxing” is about style of travel not London vs Cotswolds or whatever.

But maybe you really want to be in countryside? You could do a walking tour which, again, some people would consider relaxing and some would consider way too active.

Relaxing meaning - not a big city with the sensory overload that large cities tend to have. So yes, countryside, relaxing environment.

That's not london. OP, you need to go there and try it. It's not NYC