Collaborative post
With the nation still in lockdown, everyone’s main focus is naturally staying as healthy as possible.
But part of providing hope for the return of some sense of normality is making family plans for the future. Once you’ve exhausted the Netflix offerings, your kids are bored of TikTok, you’re tired of the trusty PlayStation4 and the novelty of Zoom and Houseparty has worn off, talking about your first physical excursion after lockdown can restore a little harmony.
There’s a lot of uncertainty over when foreign travel will be possible, but there’s a good chance we’ll be able to rediscover everything that’s brilliant about holidays in Britain before too long, so suggesting a staycation is definitely a good shout.
But how can you convince kids who are used to sun, sea and sand that staying in these shores can compare?
Help is at hand – we’ve prepped some info on the perfect post-lockdown British city breaks to arm you for the great family debate!
Newcastle
If you’ve never been to North East England as a family before, you’re in for a treat – there are loads of dynamic distractions for kids of all ages.
The Life Science Centre is a dream come true for the budding scientists in your tribe, with countless interactive exhibits bringing nature, construction and even outer space alive, but more bookish kids might prefer the Seven Stories museum and art gallery, which (appropriately) has seven floors of exhibitions and storytelling activities from favourite kids authors.
Extra Tip: if you love horses, look out for equine specialists Stepney Bank Stables reopening – this excellent equestrian centre suits everyone from novices to advanced riders.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh might be Britain’s most beautiful city – you’ll find it hard to disagree when you sit sipping a coffee on main thoroughfare Princes Street and gaze out over its sunken gardens, steepled Old Town and castle perched dramatically on top of a volcanic plug.
But Scotland’s capital is great for families too – the aforementioned castle is a pretty good place to start and, as well as its fascinating history, if you happen to be there at 1PM, you’ll see (and hear!) the famous one o’clock gun being blasted from the battlements, which is always thrilling. Other attractions include Camera Obscura and the World of Illusions, which projects a live moving image of the city onto a giant interactive viewing table, and the National Museum of Scotland, which is one of the top 10 attractions in the UK and features everything from a full-sized T-Rex skeleton to an awesome animal world gallery.
Extra tip: pick up a sturdy SUV from car hire firm Enjoy Travel and Edinburgh is the perfect base for exploring Scottish Highlands hotspots like Glenfinnan Viaduct, the iconic bridge which the Hogwarts Express powers across in the Harry Potter franchise.
Even if these couple of cool UK holiday ideas don’t float your family’s boat, they’ll at least allow you to start a lively debate – good luck reaching a consensus that satisfies everyone!
Where are you heading post-lockdown? Let us know in the comments section!
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