Yahoo Finance The UK's best city breaks with kids
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The UK's best city breaks with kids
Cities are often thought of as a grownup getaway domaine only, but a city break with kids can be fun for all ages. The UK is bursting with fascinating destinations offering up a host of child-friendly attractions and activities.
While England's capital might be the first place people think of, family city breaks in the UK aren't limited to London. Britain is chock-full of historical gems, from medieval castles in Edinburgh and Nottingham to ancient city walls that you can walk around in York.
The kids will adore the Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester, while animal-lovers can get their fix at Chester Zoo.
There's an array of fantastic museums that will leave the kids wide-eyed with excitement, like Liverpool's World Museum where you can go on a rocket ride through Space or head back to the pre-historic era and meet the dinosaurs. At the National Museum of Scotland, there's a giant T-Rex and all sorts of interactive fun.
We've rounded up some of the best city breaks with kids below for all sorts of family memory-making fun, as well as the best hotels to stay while you're there.
Get ready for all the city lights and city sights on a child-friendly city break with kids, whether you're looking for half term ideas or the best family getaway in the UK.
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2) Liverpool
Buzzing Liverpool is excellent for parents and children alike. Tuck into lunch at the Royal Albert Dock before treating the kids to a trip on a Mersey Ferry, where you can look back at the UNESCO World Heritage waterfront on the River Explorer Cruise.
Kids will also love Liverpool's World Museum, where you can go on a virtual rocket ride through space at the Planetarium; head back to the prehistoric era and compare your height to a dinosaur's at Clore Natural History Centre; or go on a 5,000-year-old adventure to the land of the Pharaohs in the Ancient Egypt section.
Further afield, Knowsley Safari Park and Chester Zoo are also accessible day trips. How's this for an all-round city break with kids?
Where to stay: INNSiDE by Meliá Liverpool offers sprawling family-friendly suites and interconnecting rooms and is a cool contemporary hotel in the centre of Liverpool by the Waterfront.
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3) Manchester
There's a host of things to keep the kids entertained on a city break with kids in Manchester. The Legoland Discovery Centre is ideal for kids aged 3-10, and is an adventure playground offering rides, interactive fun and a 4D cinema.
Manchester's Science and Industry Museum shows how the city's famous inventions shaped the world, from the world’s first steam-powered mill to the splitting of the atom, and is located on the site of the world's oldest surviving railway station.
There's also Sea Life and football stadium tours to keep everyone happy.
Where to stay: Young (and old) football fans will be bowled over by Hotel Football, owned by five former players and located next door to Old Trafford. It features football-themed decor, has a retro sweet shop, and a minibar of sweets in the rooms.
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4) Nottingham
There's something for all generations to enjoy on a family city break with kids in Nottingham. Set in the heart of the city, Nottingham Castle offers an epic retelling of the story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
For a real adventure, you can also journey into the depths of the Castle and discover the mysterious underground cave network below. There's also the Nottingham Arboretum, a historic park with over 800 trees where kids can play and picnic, as well as the Nottingham Bowl – the biggest bowling centre in the UK.
Where to stay: Check in at the Mercure Nottingham City Centre Hotel for a brilliant central location and fun decor.
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5) Edinburgh
Historical Edinburgh is bursting with exciting sights for parents and children alike. The ideal city break with kids, the fact that it's the birthplace of Harry Potter (JK Rowling famously wrote the first novel in the Elephant House cafe), makes it an easy sell.
The magnificent Edinburgh Castle is a must-visit, where you can see vaults where pirates were locked up, Scotland's crown jewels and where kings and queens held their parties. You can visit The Georgian House, which is restored to reflect life in the 18th century; or visit the National Museum of Scotland to see everything from fossils to a giant T-Rex in the Natural World gallery.
Where to stay: The stylish Rutland Hotel has views to Edinburgh Castle and boasts serviced apartments that are perfect for families.
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6) York
Jam-packed with beautiful sights for everyone, York is a lovely city break with kids. Start off by walking the medieval city walls for an excellent free attraction. Discover York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe, where there's a whispering gallery for the kids to enjoy.
Head to the cafes and shops on the famous cobbled streets of The Shambles. And, of course, you can't visit without taking the kids to York's Chocolate Story, a museum looking at the city's passion for chocolate with Rowntree and Terry's hailing from the area. Chocolate tasting is, of course, required.
Where to stay: Less than 200 yards to the city centre, kids will love the fact that you can eat breakfast at the Dean Court Hotel while looking at the famous York Minster.
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7) Bath
The gorgeous glow of Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is appealing to people of all ages. City breaks with kids can include a trip to the amazing Roman Baths, where children's audio guides and costumed characters help immerse them in Roman life.
Let the kids run wild in the play area in Royal Victoria Park, have fun with crazy golf, or complete the family trail on the Bath Skyline Walk. And don't forget to visit Sally Lunn's for a famous cake. Outside the city, Longleat Safari Park is just a 35-minute drive away.
Where to stay: Located in the heart of the historic city, the Francis Hotel Bath is a Regency-style townhouse with excellent family rooms, and children under 13 can stay for free.
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8) Cardiff
There's lots of things that you can do for free on a city break with kids in Cardiff. Walk or cycle along the Cardiff Bay Barrage for a lovely group activity with views across Cardiff Bay and other sights. One of the most popular heritage attractions, St Fagan's National Museum of History, is also free.
If you want to bring a packed lunch, you can head to Cardiff Castle Public Square and enjoy a picnic with views of the castle. Kids will love the Treetop Adventure Golf, a mini golf adventure with two indoor courses in a rainforest setting.
Where to stay: For a city-centre location and good-value family rooms, you can't go wrong with the Hilton Cardiff.
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9) Bristol
There are exciting activities galore on a city break with kids in Bristol. See sharks at the Bristol Aquarium, travel through space in the Planetarium at We The Curious, an interactive science museum in the heart of Bristol's historic Harbourside area, where you can also discover Brunel’s SS Great Britain and climb the rigging on a giant ship.
And you can spot dinosaurs and Egyptian mummies at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery.
Where to stay: Enjoy a stay at the Hotel du Vin Bristol, a historic hotel just 10 minutes' walk to the bustling Waterside area, and 20 minutes to the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge – another great sight to see.
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10) Salisbury
There's family fun around every corner in Salisbury. Head to the Salisbury Museum where you can get hands on with artefacts. At Salisbury Cathedral, kids can enjoy exhibits about the Magna Carta, and even have a go in the stocks.
During summer holidays, there's also craft sessions, workshops and children's trails around the cathedral. Over at the Old Sarum, the original site of Salisbury and the ruins of the original cathedral, there's regular family-friendly events in the school holidays, from Roman invasions to jousting.
And, of course, just eight miles north of the city, you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Stonehenge.
Where to stay: Set in 1.5 acres of scenic gardens, the Riverside Hotel is a family-friendly oasis with room for kids to run around yet just a few minutes' walk from the centre of Salisbury.
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11) London
We couldn't recommend the UK's best city breaks with kids without mentioning London. Whether for their first trip or a returning visit, the cosmopolitan capital is abuzz with family-friendly activities.
Delve into its historic past with a trip to the Tower of London and see the Crown Jewels. Enjoy Madame Tussauds and its array of celebrity waxworks. The London Dungeons, meanwhile, offers a thrilling and scary look into a macabre past. While you're at the South Bank, take the kids on the London Eye, Europe's tallest observation wheel.
Kids will also adore the Natural History Museum, where you can see a titanosaur up close, and the Science Museum, where you can trace the history of the Space rocket. And, for a truly magical day out, head out of the city centre and into the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London The Making of Harry Potter, where you can see the Great Hall and drink Butterbeer.
Where to stay: Make your base The Resident Kensington, where rooms can have extra beds or cots at no extra cost. There's also a mini kitchen in the rooms for preparing your own snacks or light meals.
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12) Brighton
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside! Brighton is a brilliant city break for families. Play the Dolphin Derby on Brighton Palace Pier, go shopping in the Lanes or visit the deliciously gaudy Royal Pavilion, the summer home of party boy Prince Regent.
Younger kids love to visit the SeaLife Centre or get dizzy in the Upside Down House, while older children and teenagers can brave the Brighton Zip, a 300m-long zip wire along the front. And if you don't want to brave the English Channel, the whole family can take a dip in the new Sea Lanes outdoor pool on Madeira Drive.
A highlight for all the family is a ride on the Brighton i360, a space-age glass pod which rises 162m high for far-reaching views across the channel and along the coast.
Where to stay: The DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole bags a prime spot on the seafront. It offers family-friendly rooms, dining and even an indoor pool for when the Brighton weather is not playing ball.
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