Hawkini

So my work have offered me the opportunity for a trip back to the UK for 6 weeks to work on a local project, and also to help with costs with the family coming with me.

Of course I'd be going back for work, would have a week off probably at the same time, and my wife works for the same company so she'd be working to.

However, we have 4 kids - two teenagers, one 5 year old and a 2 year old. Grandparents will be looking after them for most of the time, but 6 weeks in the UK - what would YOU do? Bearing in mind Mon-Fri i'll be in London, and they'll be in Wiltshire some of the time and North Wales the rest.

Apart from me, the wife and kids haven't been back to the UK for 3 years, and my youngest was born here, never been - what would YOU do on the weekends to entertain them?

My ideas ran to: Sainsburys Mega Brunch and that's about it.

Pulaski

Drive around and see stuff. It sounds like Stonehenge is nearby, then there's Windsor Castle. Down to the south coast, and/or the north Wales coast for the beaches. The caves in Cheddar Gorge aren't too far away either, and between Wiltshire and north Wales there's Gloucester Cathedral, where sizeable chunks of Harry Potter were filmed. Also the Severn Valley Railway, one of the biggest preserved train museums in the UK, and the narriw guage railway at Ffestiniog.

Uncle_Bob

typical tourist stuff

Stonehenge

roman baths
http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/

family type places

Bowood
http://www.bowood.org/bowood-house/

Longleat Safari and Adventure Park
http://www.longleat.co.uk/

Jungle Park
http://www.jungleparc.co.uk/

Hotscot

Tintagel Castle
http://www.tintagelcastle.co.uk/

Hawkini

Thanks for suggestions so far - we did Longleat Safari many years ago, probably lots changed so worth a re-visit.

I know at least my mum would prefer a "run and dump" where she drives the kids somewhere, she sits on a bench drinking coffee while the kids sort themselves out. She loves the kids but she is paranoid that she wont be able to cope!

Pulaski

I was going to suggest that too. Goodrich Castle in the Wye valley is another good one.

Hotscot

We went there last year and got there just as the front pay gate was closing.
So we went in the out gate

sir_eccles

Pack a brolly!

Uncle_Bob

Of course you could venture down to paultons park.

https://paultonspark.co.uk/

Peppa Pigs world will drive you nuts.

kins

Beach, castles, National Trust properties, country pubs.

Bob

Do the tourist thing around London...

kins

Wells Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral - both are also set in lovely historical towns that are nothing like your kids will ever see in the US.

Wander round Bath. Then head out here http://www.ifordmanor.co.uk/ for afternoon tea and a snooze by the river. Also wander round Lacock.

In North Wales go to Portmeirion.

Ash UK/US

If your kids are Harry Potter fans take them to do the studio tour.

penguinsix

I was going to do that with my kids (7 & 5), but opted to wait until after they see the movies. Didn't want the 'curtain pulled back' just yet.

Hawkini

Yes - the teenagers have seen all the movies but obviously the younger two haven't. I remember going to Paultons Park sometime in 2007 - I guess that might have changed since... might need to start thinking about two different things - one for teenagers the other for the younger two - very difficult to find something they'll all be interested doing at the same time.