It is true what they say, you know! The grass is always greener on the other side. Every year thousands of Brits flock to America to spend their summer vacation. At the same time, we Yanks take that long flight over to the shores of the United Kingdom. If you have never been, I bet you are wondering whether England is worth visiting? Well, I can tell you right now that it is! There are so many fun adventures to have and sights to see, particularly, if you are heading over with children. Even if you do not have any kids, England is still worth the trip. In fact, I would say England is worth the trip to London alone. Although, you are certainly missing out if you spend two weeks and never leave the confines of the nation’s capital. Join me as I uncover some of the best activities for families in England and places that you simply do not want to miss out on:
Sights And Locations
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Let us start off with things to see rather than things to do. We all know that kids get pretty tired of staring at things, rather than being able to engage. That is why you probably do not want to take them to any more than one museum when you are on holiday.
If you are starting off in London, I suggest you do have a look around some of the most famous sites. There is Buckingham Palace, St James Park, Westminster Abbey, and The Tower of London. A lot of people ask me, what is the best way to get to these different places. My answer is always the same. Use the tube! It does take a while to get the hang of, but the London Underground is the easiest way to travel the city. If you get lost, just ask someone, and they will be happy to help you. The stereotype of the cold Brit is not true, particularly in London. Your only the problem is that you might accidentally ask someone who is on vacation and is just as lost as you.
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If you venture out of London, there is still a lot to see. You can explore some of the British cities with architecture that dates back to the Roman times. Or, find yourself lost in musical history by taking a guided tour through the streets of Liverpool. Almost every city in England has a guided ghost tour at night, so be sure to try at least one. Be warned, though, the stories they spin can be a little frightening for younger children.
If you have older children, you may want to take them shopping. There are two places that spring to mind that almost rival New York for shopping. There is Oxford Street in London, packed full of all your favorite brands. Then, in the North, there is the Trafford Centre. It does depend on what area you are visiting. Although, if you take a look around Manchester, it is clear as day, the city is trying to be the London of the North. Now that we have uncovered some of the sights let us have a look at some fun things to do. There are quite a few!
Amusement Parks
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There are plenty of amusement parks spread across England and the rest of the United Kingdom. However, there are four that stand out above the rest. They are are Legoland, Pleasure Beach, Thorpe Park, and Alton Towers. Again, it depends on where you are staying and what you are interested in. Be warned, though, none of these Theme Parks are going to rival that of Disney World, but they will certainly give Six Flags a run for it is money!
Thorpe Park is the Theme Park closest to London and it is brimming with rides for children and adults alike. Queuing is often a little crazy during the summer season, particularly when all the kids are off. For this reason, it is best to pay a little extra for their version of the Fastpass. There is only one main problem with Thorpe Park, and that is accessibility. If you get the train, it is a good twenty-minute walk. If you drive, the carpark is still quite a distance. There is really no escaping it. Once you get there though, it is great fun with plenty to do, including an Angry Birds 3D ride.
The other main theme park in London is Legoland Windsor. It is a great theme park, quite literally built for the entertainment of young children. Your kids will have a fantastic time, however there is not that much for the adults. Still, it is brilliant watching your child pass their driving test in a lego car.
There is not much to say about Alton Towers, accept it is a little further North. It is almost a replica of Thorpe Park with the same rides under a different name. They are, after all, owned by the same company.
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Pleasure Beach in Blackpool is best described as cheap and cheerful. It is certainly smaller than its rivals, but there is a lot for kids. This includes a Nickelodeon land. It is packed full of their favorite characters and a Spongebob Rollercoaster. If you have older kids, some of the other rides here will certainly fill their need for a thrill. As well as this, Sandcastle Waterpark is just over the road, and it has some brilliant water rides of its own.
Extra Points
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If you want to wait a couple of years until you head over to the United Kingdom, I suggest going in 2019. This is the year when a theme park that is designed to rival Disney World is scheduled to open. Based on the Paramount movie properties, there will be plenty to see and do when this ambitious theme park opens in South England.
If you are heading over this year, you may want to enter the Harry Potter ticket draw. Harry Potter And The Cursed Child Stage Show is sold out and has been for months. However, every week, they throw a lottery and give away the best tickets at budget prices. If you enter, you just might get lucky. Do not bother looking for resold tickets online. It is this year’s Hamilton and they are selling for thousands.
Finally, if you want somewhere quiet and peaceful with sun and surf, I suggest heading to the South Coast. Cornwall, in particular, is very beautiful and the perfect location for a relaxing family vacation.
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