City break suggestions for elderly mother this Autumn please Post Reply

[FLH03]

Any helpful suggestions please as to where to take my elderly mother for a short city break in the Autumn?  Easy train ride out of Kings Cross or St Pancras, as she lives in Hertfordshire and I can get her into there on her train line to meet up.

My mum is 81 this summer, we missed out on doing any proper celebrations for her 80th last year with lockdown and restrictions, so I would like to take her away just the two of us, for 2/3/4 nights somewhere in the UK to an interesting town or city, nice central hotel, (friendly and welcoming rather than gourmet food and luxury), with a bit of history, architecture, museums, theatre, galleries, type place, all within a very easy tottering distance, broken up with lots of coffee stops.  She is really not very sound on her feet, with hip and knee problems, can walk but not long distances at all, and far too proud (and stubborn!) to accept a wheelchair.

I was thinking somewhere beyond Oxford and Cambridge as she already knows those cities well, and my first thoughts were York, Harrogate, Lincoln, Chester, Stratford.  My mother is Scottish, grew up near and loves Edinburgh so a mini flat version of that would be ideal!

Any thoughts, suggestions, recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you. 


 

[SWSWSWSWMUM]

Bath is gorgeous, small, lovely shops and restaurants. The Roman Baths are very interesting to look at.

[justfornow]

I second Bath. Sheffield could be another option easily accessible from King’s Cross, if that’s not too far.

[chorister]

Bath is lovely and the Roman Baths fascinating.  But it sounds as if it's in the wrong place for you.

We've been to York, Lincoln, Chester and Stratford and all are excellent for 3 - 4 nights max.  Chester is a bit if an issue to get to by train as far as I remember - I think you have to change - and Lincoln is quite hilly, unless I'm thinking of somewhere else.  Stratford is fascinating and if you like theatre a performance at the RSC is definitely worth taking in.  We stayed at the the White Swan Hotel and would really recommend it.  York is wonderful too - splash out on Grays Court Hotel, right next to the Minster.  And if you go to York, think about going to the railway museum - we were dragged to it by an enthusiastic brother-in-law and loved it!

Hope that helps.

[Commonalitie]

Lincoln is rather hilly. York sounds like it would suit very well, or Harrogate. Both lots of history, cafes, quirky museums, music, tea shops. The shambles in York might make some very totter-friendly browsing.
I haven’t been but I’ve just been learning that Leeds is positively heaving with theatres and dance companies if she likes theatre etc. Stamford - a ten minute extra train from Peterborough, so very close - is completely delightful, though not a city. Small but bustling market town. The George or its sister inns are all central and very well set up. 3-4 days might be a stretch if you like to be busy unless you’re happy to do a couple of big house type days out - Burleigh is a great visit and there are some national trust places nearby too.