Ideas for short holiday with five year old granddaughter

I wonder what they did...or are doing?

It's a long way for a short trip with a five year old.

I expect they've been and are home again now.
The weather's been lovely in the UK this year, so there's nothing better than a bucket and spade and icecream holiday by the seaside here for little ones!

Newdawn

We live near London and think it would be nice to take our five year old granddaughter for a few nights holiday in the summer, preferably no more than about 2 hours drive. We don’t want her to be bored. Any suggestions welcomed. Thanks.

I’d highly recommend Northern Cyprus. It’s family-friendly, has beautiful safe beaches, fun boat trips, and plenty of history to explore. Many resorts there are perfect for children, with pools and activities to keep a five-year-old entertained.

Magenta8

I advise you to read the Tripadvisor comments on Butlin's Bognor before booking. I took the children many, many years ago and it was grim but it may have improved since then.

My DDIL used to take my granddaughter and assorted family to Bognor Butlins for a family long weekend. They went several times.

Thank you

What lovely ideas, Feelingmyage! I'd have loved all those things when I was 5.

@1Summer, Cromer is lovely but it is a long way from south
-west London even these days - probably a three or four hours’ journey. I think the south coast areas are much more doable.

For the past 3 years I have taken my granddaughter to a little caravan site almost on the beach in a small village just outside Cromer. Which is a lovely old fashioned sort of holiday town.
My friend used to have a caravan on the site for about 20 years and we took our children every year, now we rent one from the site. It’s a small site very quiet but has a pool and a playground.
My granddaughter loves it, and is already doing a list of things she wants to do again this year.

Centre parcs is very expensive. Everything costs extra except the pool.

silverlining48 Same here.

Caravans on the south coast so much to do for kids. They have good deals if you look online. Centre parcs great but friends say it’s very exspensive and u have to pay extra for activities

That sounds like fun feelingmyage.
Something that entertained my then 5 but now 15 year old was an old sheet a few pegs and four chairs which she made into her own camp in the garden. Spent ages in it.
Enjoyed planting veggies too, which they harvested later in the year.

Are you sure about taking her anywhere? Staying with you at home, helping make pancakes for breakfast, going to the park with grandad, helping in the garden, cooking and baking with you, maybe do french knitting having made the gadget/cotton reel with four nails then choosing colours and making a little coaster with the knitted tail. So much to do, ludo, painting stones, playing with neighbours’ children, going to town on a bus, taking a very short train trip to next stop, going to a different park with a picnic, setting the table and eating outside, set up a spray in the garden an a tarpaulin to slide on. Go to a fruit farm, make fruit jellies and ice cream sundaes with the fruit. Sort out your cabinet, look at old photos, read books, make a cardboard dolly and paper clothes (childsafe scissors). The most valuable thing you have is time and walking to the park with her between you holding hands and swinging her is priceless. She is only five - simple pleasures.

I don’t think she’ll be bored whatever you do - my 5 year old granddaughter just seems to keep herself entertained with with some minimal input from us ! Long journeys are boring though so I wonder if day trips from home would be best ? Also not weather dependant …Do you have a garden ? Bug collecting , castle making, dress ups, make up or puzzles, swimming . I’m sure you know all this. Maybe an overnight you could do by a short train journey .I’d stay clear of buses in the summer - very sick making - Everywhere will be having and you’ll be lucky to get accommodation now . The most important thing is make it easy for yourselves - hot and bothered tired grandparents are boring so do what would best suit you. Sure it will all be an adventure for her anyway !

We took all our children to Butlins when they were young. Really great for children and so much to do.

Center Parcs or Potters Resort Hopton.

Southend. Beach, fun fair. There are a couple of holiday parks that have playgrounds, pools and plenty of folks to keep her entertained, and friends to make. You could go by train as part of the holiday.

You can leave the science, natural history museum for when she is a little older.

woodenspoon

If you can get to Peppa Pig World that is fantastic for little ones. Lots of rides. Also a premier inn nearby to stay over. Our grandchildren loved it there.

We found a hotel on Paultons Park website (which is where Peppa Pigs World is) it had an indoor swimming pool, family rooms and good food. Very family friendly.

The package also included second day entry for free, along with all the little sit on rides which normally cost in supermarkets and other parks were free.

The younger GC had loads of rides, parks and soft play, over the side were roller coasters for elder GC.

Can thoroughly recommend this.

I agree with the Isle of Wight suggestion. There is so much to see and do even if the weather is not kind. One lovely place is the Donkey Sanctuary, which is free entry but relies on donations.

If you can get to Peppa Pig World that is fantastic for little ones. Lots of rides. Also a premier inn nearby to stay over. Our grandchildren loved it there.

My grandchildren (male and female) used to simply love Thomas the Tank theme park - brilliant place for little people. If you stay in the hotel on site, you can stay in a Thomas themed bedroom. Peppa Pig World always very popular with little people too. Would have thought either of those would be perfect for a 5yo. Have fun!

Broadstairs has great sandy beaches and plenty to do eg Open topped bus to Ramsgate to the boating pool, crazy golf, low tide paddling pool to go searching for crabs etc. Wildwood animal park plus Howletts, etc etc

We have also taken them to Portugal, Cyprus and Majorca, along with Centre Parcs with their cousins, but Butlins is their favourite.

We have stayed at Legoland (2 nights) in a caravan next to the beach (4 nights) a hotel close to Paulton’s Park (2 nights) and Butlins, Bognor Regis with two of our GC.

This year they are 10 and 5, I asked where they would like to go and there was no hesitation by either of them - Butlins. So that is where we are going in August.

I am rather particular, wouldn’t be my choice (DH and I have just returned from Barbados) but this holiday is for the GC not me/us). It is excellent value for money.

The shower in our apartment was not the best, I wouldn’t go into the buffets for breakfast or dinner. We will have breakfast in our apartment and go to one of the many restaurants onsite for dinner and probably go into the town one night for dinner.

We have been fortunate that we had good weather on all occasions.

Newdawn

BlueBelle

Is any child bored at the seaside ?

I think on her own days on the beach wouldn’t be enough. It is also very weather dependent and we would need accommodation. I would like access to a beach if possible.

That's so sad, it seems that kids are so used to permanently being entertained that they no longer have the ability to entertain themselves. Days at the beach used to be more than enough, just a bucket and spade was always mote than enough when my kids were small.