For the great outdoors: Edale
The start of the famous Pennine Way in the Peak District national park makes a great spot for a day immersed in nature, and the Manchester to Sheffield train line, which delivers you there, is one of the UK’s most stunning routes. Up for a challenge? Hike Kinder Scout, a hillside (read mini mountain) around one mile from the station in the heart of the national park. Cross streams and spot wildlife along the way before climbing Jacob’s Ladder (a steep, rocky staircase) to be rewarded with magnificent views at the top.
Travel for two adults and two children from Manchester to Edale costs £20.60 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £15.70).*
Walk the Pennine Way in Edale
For culture: Winchester
This historic city, less than an hour from London by train, offers a wealth of heritage sites, including Winchester College (believed to be the oldest school in the country); Winchester Castle, where the Great Hall houses a medieval imitation of King Arthur’s round table; and a magnificent medieval cathedral (at which train travellers get two-for-one entry). Picnic by the River Itchen, then walk along the banks to beautiful Hospital St Cross, home to a Norman church, buildings dating back to 1132, and 25 monks. End your trip with a show at the Theatre Royal.
Travel for two adults and two children from Southampton to Winchester costs £12.60 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £9.60).*
Explore historic Winchester
For food: Whitstable
Kent’s fashionable coastal town has more than its fair share of fantastic dining experiences in a scenic seaside setting. Arrive by train and it’s a short stroll along Cromwell Road to the harbour, where you’ll have little trouble spotting candyfloss-pink Wheelers, which has been serving up oysters in its tiny dining room since 1856. You could also try the nearby Whitstable Oyster Company, for fresh seafood served in a converted warehouse. If the weather’s fine, share a huge portion of lobster baked in chilli and chorizo, with a side of fries, on a picnic table at The Lobster Shack, on the harbour’s south quay. Later, work up an appetite for supper by walking east along the coast to Tankerton, which boasts a quieter beach and JoJo’s restaurant, a local favourite serving excellent cured meats from a tapas-style menu.
Travel for two adults and two children from London to Whitstable costs £42.00 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £32.10).*
Wheelers Oyster Bar; a seagull overlooks Whitstable beach; huts at Tankerton Beach
For bucolic beauty: Moreton-in-Marsh
The Cotswolds is one of the prettiest parts of the UK and Moreton-in-Marsh, with its honey-hued cottages set in the beautiful Evenlode valley (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), makes for a romantic day out. Alight at the train station and explore the high street, which is lined with 17th- and 18th-century buildings; the oak-beamed White Hart Royal Hotel, which sheltered King Charles I during the civil war, has a pretty terrace that’s perfect for a cream tea. Stroll around beautiful Batsford Arboretum, home to the UK’s largest private collection of trees and shrubs, before a glass of bubbly in the walled garden of the Bell Inn, said to be JRR Tolkein’s inspiration for the Prancing Pony, Middle Earth’s famous pub. Want to stay over? The Manor House Hotel has four-poster beds and freestanding bathtubs.
Travel for two adults and two children from London to Moreton-in-Marsh costs £72.40 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £55.40).*
Walk through the trees at Batsford Arboretum
For sea life: Cromer
Who knew Britain had a barrier reef? North Norfolk’s Cromer Shoals Chalk Beds, a designated marine conservation zone, can be found just a short rail ride from Norwich, off the coast of Cromer. The chalk beds, which stretch for 20 miles, are not far from the shore, meaning starfish, anemones, sea slugs, blue mussel beds, and shoals of fish are just a short paddle away. Murky water permitting, you might even catch a glimpse of seals and porpoises. Those preferring to stay on terra firma can go crabbing off the Victorian pier and tuck into fish and chips on the large sandy beach.
Travel for two adults and two children from Norwich to Cromer costs £15.50 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £11.80).*
Cromer is a classic spot for fish and chips
For urban adventure: Leicester
Overlook this Midlands city at your peril: Leicester has heaps to do for all ages, and the train drops you right in the thick of it. Stroll to New Walk, a pretty pedestrian street with an impressive museum housing Egyptian treasures and dinosaur fossils, then on to the King Richard III visitor centre to discover (with interactive displays) how the king’s remains were famously found beneath a city car park. Budding Tim Peakes will appreciate an afternoon at the National Space Centre, where kids can enjoy the excellent planetarium and take a ride in a vibrating space shuttle; the cafe serves well-priced bites beneath a smoking space rocket.
Travel for two adults and two children from Birmingham to Leicester costs £19.90 with a Family & Friends Railcard (save £19.90).*
Leicester’s New Walk
To find out more about getting a third off your train travel with a Railcard (plus 60% off children’s travel with a Family & Friends Railcard), visit railcard.co.uk
* Prices based on return standard travel off-peak on weekend of 31 August, as checked on 30 July.
