Day trips and weekend breaks UK?

Question

I'm looking for places to go for short breaks in the UK. I'd be travelling from the Northwest and am looking for places that I can get to by rail. I'm not opposed to a long journey as long as the rail fare is reasonable, since I'm working on a budget. Virgin used to do really good deals on it's trains but not any more, unless you book way in advance or happen to stumble across a cheap ticket. I'm interested in Wales as long as it's not Llandudno, I've had enough of that for a while. Someone mentioned the peak district but I know nothing about it. Tell me all you know!

Answer 1

As a native New Yorker I found London a bit too much like home.  But I enjoyed visiting the southern part of England, especially Brighton, Lyme Regis, the Isle of Wight and Land's End.

I had a rental car but I'm guessing you can get around in those parts by rail without too much trouble.

Although I must say, going by my (just adequate) map, there were drives that would have taken a few hours in the US, that took all day on those medieval roads.  : )

Answer 2

Use National Express, and go to Birmingham on a Wed, Thurs, Fri, or Sat, when the markets are in full swing. The bus drops you half a mile away, and it is a great day out

Answer 3

To Go to the Peak District, you wouldn't need to go far. Indeed, you can get to buxton by train from Blackpool & Preston, with Northern.

From Manchester, Trent Barton run the "Transpeak" to Nottingham, via Buxton & Bakewell also.

It really does depend what exactly you want to do. You could also maybe go to Newcastle or the Metrocentre for the day. If its Cumbria you are from, Stagecoach run loads of buses that way (and from Carlisle there's the Arriva/Stagecoach Hourly 685 service to Newcastle).

Also, how about Scotland. Shouldn't be too much if you can get a Virgin Value ADVANCE ticket, or transpennine's similar offer.

Alternatively, Stagecoach run an X8 from Manchester to Keswick on Saturdays, so you could have a day out in the lake district

Answer 4

The Peak District is a beautiful part of England.  You may wish to have a look at

http://www.peakdistrict.org/index/visiti...

for further information.  One of the nearer railway stations appears to be at Buxton, and there are direct rail services there from Manchester, for instance.  

See: www.thetrainline.com

You may be able to contact someone from the Peak District website and enquire about buses or some other form of transport from Buxton to Bakewell, and accommodation.

Hope you have a good break.

Answer 5

go to london, the free museums out weigh the cost of a train ticket, also when booking a train in the uk it is always cheaper to book multiple tickets,ie from norwich to say newcastle it is cheaper to book from norwich to peterbourgh and then from peterbourgh to newcastle than direct because you change from anglian to northern and anglian charge a booking fee to book you onto northern, do this yourself on the phone and save about 20 quid(you can do it in one call but they wont offer it to you unless you ask) this applies to all rail tickets

Answer 6

come to West Wales, it beautiful, we have Tenby, Saundersfoot, Manorbier, Fishguard, Carmathen,  plenty to do and see.(ps the sea is blue)

Answer 7

Take a trip to Grosmont near the North Yorkshire Dales. Nice surroundings and really peaceful if you want to escape to the country. Steam loco rides to Whitby is also a nice touch. Good luck and happy holidays