The best summer holidays for families? If you can rob a bank first that is…

AS you will know if you have been reading Havealovelytime.com so far, we are all about finding options for you and your family to well, have a lovely time - whatever your budget.

Yes we carry reports about exotic or far-flung destinations for those who are lucky enough to be able to afford to go, but we recognise that the number one consideration for most families will be price.

That’s why articles such as this from yesterday’s Observer irk me so much.

It’s a list of where are considered to be the best places to take kids – with prices to make your head spin.

What about Pembrokeshire to marvel at the puffins on Skomer? How about seeing Mooky get up to his tricks at Blackpool circus? You could take the family to witness the beauty of a Scottish loch or accompany David Bellamy on a nature lovers’ tour of a UK caravan park.

Have you ever spent the day looking for castles in Cornwall or been on a family walk in the Lakes? How about laughing your head off at a talent competition laid on by Haven, Butlins or Pontins? Our writers have done those things and their children loved it. We think you may love it too.

We’re not sure if they would love Bulgaria, Morocco or Sardinia so much, and we can’t afford to risk it. To be fair, the Observer piece is accompanied by a round-up by writer William Gray of places to go in the UK, with some fantastic suggestions, but of course it doesn’t get the same prominence as the list of where to go beyond these fair shores.

I think we’ll put together our own Top 20 list thank you very much. One compiled for people living on the same planet as me! Please contact me on linda@REMOVETHIBITpassionatemedia.co.uk or leave a comment under this post.

Tell us – where is your favourite place in the UK to take your family and why?Then we can have a list of places to go – where people can actually afford it!

* Picture shows my daughters having a lovely time with Bradley Bear at Quay West Holiday Park, West Wales.

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http://www.dulwichdivorcee.blogspot.com Dulwich Divorcee

I don’t think the Observer has heard that ‘staycations’ are the new black! I’ve had lovely recent weekends at Westgate on Sea in Kent, with beautiful, deserted sandy beaches, unpretentious cafes and lovely sea views, all without a £1,000 price tag in sight!
http://www.beingamummy.co.uk zooarchaeologist

We have a fab time whenever we go up to North Norfolk, golden beaches, bird reserves, fossils, lovely food and funfairs. We usually stay at wells- next-the-sea.
I can also recommend, Lyme Regis, Skomer (like you!) and The Peak District.
For us, foreign climes are a bit of a no-go as its far too costly!
http://www.havealovelytime.com Linda

Hi both,
Thank you for your suggestions – we have never been to either as a family, though I have hazy memories of fleeting visits to Kent and Norfolk when I was a child. Because we live in the Midlands, we have always tended to favour Wales – we discovered Skomer for the first time just a couple of weeks back, my daughter got some brilliant pics of puffins and at some point I’ll be writing about it. If someone could just sort that 25th hour in the day, that’d be just right, thank you!
http://bringingupcharlie.blogspot.com/ Tim Atkinson

Although it’s miles away from Lincolnshire, we’ve become big fans of Bournemouth in the last few years. Wonderful sandy beaches, safe swimming (RNLI-patrolled), a pier, the Bournemouth Eye (a hot-air balloon) and pleasant gardens in the town centre. And if you’re sick of sand, a short drive (or bus-ride, via the chain-ferry) to Swanage gets steam-trains and a castle (Corfe). And there are some great hotel deals, too.
http://www.itsasmallworldafterallfamily.wordpress.com Victoria

We’ve had loads of brilliant seaside holidays in Norfolk, Suffolk, and a few miles outside Hastings. Here, the beach is sandy at low tide, the fisherman’s museum has a real boat, inside, and the area around the net huts is really interesting. You can watch the fishermen landing their catch on the beach, and eat the results in one of the many excellent chippies. I think any activity at the seaside is about as good as it gets for small children. See my blog post ‘How to catch a crab’ http://itsasmallworldafterallfamily.wordpress.com/2009/05/30/how-to-catch-a-crab/
http://www.passionatemedia.co.uk Carol Garrington

Having just spent an amazing weekend in Pennine Lancashire visiting amongst other things the Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, East Lancashire Steam Railway and the stunning gardens at Pendle Heritage Centre (which I’ll be telling you all about in more detail very soon), I certainly won’t be considering spending over £3,000 on a watersports holiday in Corsica this year!
http://www.camillachafer.co.uk Camilla

Gosh, the average price of those (lovely sounding) Observer holidays seems to be around the £3000 mark! For a week!
My vote goes again and again for the Lake District for the vast variety of things to do and see and also Cornwall for sun, sand and surf…and castles! All for a fraction of the price!
http://englishmum.com English Mum

I know you said UK, but check out Irish Ferries’ special offers to Ireland at the moment – from £59 (one way crossing) for a family with car! Some lovely camping places up here in Cavan by the loughs, or head across to the the beautiful beaches in Cork… Wondrous! And a darn sight cheaper than 3 grand.
http://gritsday.blogspot.com/ Grit via www.britishmummybloggers.co.uk

We travel this country sniffing out cheap deals… for me one of the best bargains has to be the English Heritage membership. The places to go are great destinations, proper castles an’ all, and the event days are fantastic. Great value, and dare i say it, educational too!
http://www.havealovelytime.com Linda

Thank you so much for all the replies so far – I’m glad it’s not just me who thinks paying £3,000 for a week’s holiday may just be a tiny bit out of reach! Of course the holidays sound fantastic but what I’m trying to show is that a good time for a child doesn’t have to have that price tag! (Good job really…)
http://www.littlemummy.com Littlemummy

My top picks? Centre parcs in sherwood forest or Lake district for a getaway.
Edinburgh for a city break, come during the festival, you’ll experience street entertainers including fire eaters, mime artists, live music…. Edinburgh is fab for kids try – Our Dynamic Earth, the museum on chambers street, the childhood museum on the Royal Mile, or Edinburgh Castle – ok I feel rather moved to do a post about Edinburgh now.
http://exmoorjane.blogspot.com Jane Alexander

Have had fabulous holidays in North Wales, in Northumberland (gorgeous, gorgeous), in Cornwall (but crowded) and Pembrokeshire. Or try my own gorgeous Exmoor – perfect for outdoorsy children with loads of activities going on or just mucking around in the rivers, poodling round farms….we’ve got a little zoo and there are theme parks around if the weather gets really crap.
Travel pages make me blink with amazement.
http://www.kidstart.co.uk/livingwithkids Liz (LivingwithKids)

One of my favourite cheap and cheerful holidays has to be the Isle of Wight – particuarly Ventnor, which is just lovely. Very easy to get around on the bus, too. St Ives and Polperro in Cornwall. And Cork – you can grab really cheap flights to there. Take the train to Cobh, where the Titanic sailed from, and practice your rendition of My Heart Will Go On to your heart’s content.
http://www.rosecottagesennen.com Andrew Webb

I still think a traditional beach holiday is good – Sennen Cove in Cornwall has everything – a mile and a half of sandy beach, fantastick surfing, a restaurant and a pub, not to mention the lifeboat. Even when it’s raining, you can still go surfing or head into Penzance to the cincema – children love it!
http://www.ocean-florida.co.uk/disney-world-florida-holidays.aspx disney world florida holiday

My answer to the question asked in the topic will be places like a lion safari in africa,disney world of florida,New York,cruise trip to bahamas,etc.
http://www.salestiffany.com/ tiffany yu

in Northumberland (gorgeous, gorgeous), in Cornwall (but crowded) and Pembrokeshire. Or try my own gorgeous Exmoor – perfect for outdoorsy children with loads of activities going on or.
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