13 Mother and Daughter Weekend Trips in the UK [2024]

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For culture vulture mums | A cultural trip to York

York’s medieval streets are encircled by 13th-century walls. Follow the ancient circuit – 3.4 kilometres – and see the city’s most enduring treasures from a new angle. The entire route takes around 2 hours to walk, and on the way you’ll pass five main bars or gateways, one Victorian gateway, one postern (a small gateway) and 45 towers.

Make your way to The Treasurer’s House – it is one of York’s most haunted spots. Join the free cellar tour and sink into the underbelly of the building, the setting for one of the most famous ghost sightings of all time: Roman soldiers who were seen in the cellar by plumber, Harry Martindale, in 1953.

The York Cocoa House is an unexpected and enchanting pit stop for sweet-tooth mums and daughters. Order from the extensive chocolate menu, both savoury and sweet dishes and drinks are on offer.

You won’t be short of wonderful hotels in York to choose from. But should you fancy something a little more bespoke and rural then try the fabulous THE BOXBNB. This lovely high-end North Yorkshire glamping venture comprises of 3 cleverly transformed shipping container cabins sitting side-by-side in a private field: The Rabbit BOX, The Duck BOX and The Pig BOX. All 3 are just 30 mins from York in the foodie capital of North Yorkshire, Malton. From £125pn, min stay 2 nights.

For right royal mums | A weekend in Windsor

Royal it may be, but reserved Windsor ain’t, when it comes to things to do. And if you and Mum would like something a little less regal than the castle or its residents, look no further than Windsor Duck Tours.

Step aboard the 26-seat amphibious vehicle for a Road, River, Splash Tour of the crown estate, and strap yourselves in for a ride that ends in the Thames itself, complete with otherwise-hidden views of the castle and Eton College.

Make your mother/daughter base the four-star Castle Hotel. Just five minutes’ walk from the castle, it boasts a historical back story few can match, and today promises a smart blend of individuality and sophistication. It’s boutique with real soul.

A one-night weekend stay in a twin room, with breakfast included, costs around £200.

No trip to Windsor is remotely complete without visiting the castle. From the majesty (literally) of The State Apartments to the miniature-scale magic of Queen Mary’s Doll’s House, you’ll discover unmistakable grandeur in every feature, and a regal sense of pleasure at sharing the same carpets and corridors as the castle’s world-famous owners.

Cups of tea and mums. The best combination since, well, pretty much anything. And in Windsor, celebrating both has never been more satisfying.

Take your mum for an afternoon tea treat fit for a queen; Windsor has plenty of options to choose from. The Castle Hotel does its own afternoon tea, so you can add on champagne and not worry about the walk home. Alternatively, try the Fairmont Windsor Park, a luxury hotel serving a lovely afternoon tea in its Orchard Tea Room. Or the Sir Christopher Wren, overlooking the Thames and only a short walk from Windsor Castle.

Reading for the weekend – just up the road from Windsor, and a great urban mini break with plenty of things to do for mums and daughters alike (yes, really). Including the magnificent Thames Lido.

For sweet-tooth mums | Tea for Two in Bath

Before the teapot starts doing its thing, the best way to enjoy the small-but-oh-so-perfectly-formed city is on foot. So my advice (if you and Mum don’t mind the odd hill or two) is to get out and walk.

A stroll around Bath is a series of richly rewarding steps into the past. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it positively oozes historical beauty. The medieval Abbey, Roman Baths, Georgian Pump Rooms – they’re all waiting to join you on your journey of discovery.

Tip: if you’re looking for an expert guide to the city’s sights and delights, book yourself onto one of its many walking tours.

If there’s one thing Bath does better than pretty much anywhere on the planet, it’s townhouses. So they’re a must for every visitor.

Heading out of the shopping centre, up to the Circus and Royal Crescent, you’ll soon discover why the city has such a stellar reputation when it comes to domestic style.

Let’s make no bones about it. You and Mum are here for the tea, right? Well, Bath does tea. And then some. The oldest – and most famous – tea room in Bath is Sally Lunns. Tourist trap or not, when we went to Sally Lunn’s, we loved it.

Sally Lunn’s is home to the Bath Bunn – a regional speciality known the world over. Part bun, part bread, part cake, the Bath Bunn is a must try when in the city. You can go for breakfast, lunch or dinner and have your Bath Bunn served a variety of delicious ways, topped with sweet or savoury goodies.

We stayed at the Abbey Hotel when we enjoyed our Easy Peasy Weekend in Bath – central and comfortable it’s a good base for you both and a reasonable price from around £150pn. Of course, there are some more luxurious options, including the sensational Bathen House Boutique Hotel and the Chestnuts House Boutique B&B.

Take mum on one of Savouring Bath’s wonderful Food Tours. During your tour you’ll meet the city’s BEST artisan producers, taste delicious local flavours (savoury and sweet) and discover Bath’s fascinating history and heritage.

For gin-loving mums | A taste of the Cotswolds (and gin)

For a truly typical Cotswolds’ experience, then Boundary Cottage in Broadway (one of the many lovely villages in the Cotswolds) is the place.

Sitting pretty in the Northern Cotswolds, Boundary Cottage looks curiously like it’s just swanned off The Holiday film set. With honeyed looks and original features, it sleeps four so would be a great place to share with another mother and daughter on your weekend away.

Broadway and Chipping Campden are only a heartbeat away by bike, by car or along one of the many Cotswolds AONB walking trails. If you’d prefer a boutique hotel, we love The Old Stocks in Stow-on-the-Wold. Trendy and chic, it has gorgeous rooms and serves great cocktails.

Head to Piston Gin Distillery just outside of Cheltenham for a fun 3 hours of gin tasting and blending. Here, in a sleek loft space gleaming with mini copper stills and stainless steel overheads, you’ll learn discover gin’s starring role in the Dutch battlefields and its darker days in the gin palaces of London.

You’ll also discover the secrets of gin alchemy, including the botanical building blocks of great gin and how to use the equipment for the best results. Plus, you’ll get tips you can use to create your own gin blend. Next up, you get to blend your own 700ml bottle of gin to take home, using over 70 botanicals and inspiration from the brilliant Piston Team. Safe to say, our visit was a riot of laughs and tipples that left us Pist-on gin.

Gin, of course. Savoured in whichever way you like. But you will need a good meal at some point; luckily the Cotswolds has plenty of decent places to eat to choose from. One of our favourites is Roots and Seeds Kitchen Garden in Cirencester (and not *just* because of the brilliant cocktails).

How about getting out and about foraging for your supper with mum? The Cotswold Forager is a born and bred local guy – and professional forager – who’ll show you the foraging ropes. He offers different day and half-day experiences for whatever your tastebuds desire.

If you crave a sweet treat that’s a little less on the wild side, how about baking with mum in a beautiful Cotswolds’ home? The Old Bakehouse near Cirencester offers a range of cooking experiences for mums and daughters.

For outdoorsy mums | Vintage Forest of Dean Glamping

The UK glamping scene is positively booming right now, with luxury coming to the great outdoors like never before, and eco-friendly exclusivity right on our doorsteps.

One of our particular glamping favourites, and a Mum-pleaser if ever there was one, is the brilliant Mrs Mills’ Yurts – 4 Jazz Age yurts purr with 20s’ sophistication, set on the lower slopes of May Hill in Gloucestershire.

Book yourself a visit, and you and Mum will be getting up close and personal in one of the super-comfy themed yurts: Gatsby, Tanaduke (with a wood-fired hot tub), Hildegarde or Zelda.

All yurts come with enough height to stand up in, private terraces, designated pastel-coloured beach hut bathrooms (with hot showers and flushing loos), wood burners, central peepholes for night-time stargazing, a kitchenette with everything you need to self-cater, firepits with cast iron cookware, and picnic tables.

Nearby, a short walk from your yurt, there’s a communal Snug in the barn, filled with board games to borrow and WiFi to connect to, as well as an honesty bar.

But no matter how tough, leave your bed you must, so make sure it’s worth it: indulge in a morning or afternoon’s floatation therapy at Float in the Forest. Once in your flotation pod, you float on the surface of warm water saturated with Epsom salt. it’s an out-of-this-world experience that’s a perfect mother and daughter weekend treat.

Alternatively, you could always treat mum to one of the indulgent holistic treatments provided on-site, including massage and a home-cooked evening meal.

If you and mum are feeling very adventurous, how about canoeing on the mighty River Wye and exploring its glorious castles and scenery loved by the romantic poets? Or you could head out on a standup paddle board (SUP) adventure.

The brilliant Inspire2Adventure guys based in Monmouthshire have a range of thrilling outdoor activities to enjoy, including stand up paddle boarding (they have a mega SUP for 6 people), gorge scrambling, rock climbing, guided canoe and kayak river trips.

You get professional, comprehensive instruction and a heap of laughs as you wibble and wobble your way down, or up, river!

For animal-crazy mums | Go Llama Trekking in Surrey

For literature-loving mums | Discover Daphne Du Maurier in Cornwall

Nowhere in Cornwall – or anywhere for that matter – says Daphne Du Maurier more evocatively than Jamaica Inn.

Discovered by Du Maurier after she and a friend became lost in fog while riding on the moors, its tales of ghost and smugglers were the inspiration for her most famous novel. You and Mum can enter this world of legend and romance if you choose to stay for around £95 per night. But beware: it is said to be haunted to this very day.

Should the idea of sleeping with ghosts not appeal to you, we recommend the brilliant small luxury hotel Boscundle Manor, only a short drive from Fowey. This country house hotel is owned by two of the nicest and friendliest hosts you could wish for: Jason and Louise. Together with their exceptional team, they’ve created an adults-only boutique hotel that has manor house vibes but comes with a throughly down-to-earth heartbeat. Oh, and they serve the most wonderful – and colourful – afternoon tea, too.

Make a beeline for Fowey – another source of great inspiration for Du Maurier and home to a stunning estuary, cliff-top paths and mum-friendly woodland strolls.

If you can, take a boat up the River Fowey on your mum and daughter getaway to see the house where Du Maurier lived and wrote, Ferryside. Daphne loved Cornwall and spent time at Ferryside in Fowey whenever she could, it was there that she wrote her first novel The Loving Spirit.

Also be sure to see – and possibly stop at – Readymoney Cove, where du Maurier once lived, and experience the coastal views that inspired her.

To the west of Fowey you come to Menabilly, made famous as the Manderley of Daphne Du Maurier’s novel Rebecca. Although you can’t visit the house itself, you can walk the same countryside, footpaths and coves where Daphne du Maurier walked and drew inspiration for much of her writing.

While you’re in Fowey, follow in Daphne’s footsteps by enjoying Afternoon Tea at The Fowey Hotel.

It was at this beautiful hotel that Daphne du Maurier met regularly with her mentor, the academic and writer Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. Fill up on sandwiches, indulgent scones and mini cakes – and make sure you have a Tarquin’s Gin as a special mother and daughter treat.

For glamorous mums | Capital Cocktails in London

If you’re going to a show in the West End, then pre-show: do cocktails. And nowhere does them better than One Aldwych. From its statement home on the corner of The Strand, the restaurant’s Lobby Bar serves cocktails that are more about imagination than inebriation.

For the ultimate pre-show cocktail experience, try the Showtime Cocktails menu, in which a every delicious drink is paired with a theatre show, and accompanying bar bites. Cocktails from this grandstanding selection start at £16. PS: We also love The Ned for a high-end cocktail splurge.

If you’re going to treat Mum, treat her to food and drink fit for a Queen (Mum). And that’s precisely what The Goring Hotel offers.

Renowned as the Queen Mother’s preferred spot to take tea, book yourselves in for a Traditional Afternoon Tea and look forward to the finest amuse bouche, sandwiches, cakes and scones, as well as the very best hot beverages you’ll find anywhere.

Admittedly, at £70 per person, it’s on the pricey side, but mum will be thanking you forever more.

Mum is sure to love stunning Lulubelle Houseboat in Limehouse Marina. Sleeping 4, her plush interiors are serious in style. Her rooms are decadently spacious and her private marina location is a sublime. From this spot you can sashay around Canary Wharf in 5 minutes or see a show at the O2 in just over 3 minutes.

Then, just 50 yards from the boat, is Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen and one of London’s oldest pubs, The Grapes (once frequented by Charles Dickens and owned today by Sir Ian McKellen).

If your mum loves a thrill ride, take her on the nerve-jangling Thames Rockets Speed Boat Tour. The Ultimate London Adventure (from £49.95pp) is 50 minutes of white knuckle fun for everyone who wants a unique London experience full of famous sights with added thrills and spills.

You’ll blast off from the iconic London Eye taking in the incredible sights from Big Ben to London Tower Bridge. You’ll be entertained on the way by quick-witted award-winning tour guides straight from the stand-up and acting circuit.

For busy mums | Luxury Spa Stay in Devon

Total immersion in a boutique private spa, on the stunning North Devon Coast? A place to unwind in the lap of luxury? A detox weekend that brings you both back to you? Yep, Wildwood Spa from Ravendere Retreats really does promise it all.

This eco-friendly, adults-only oasis of calm is just the place for you and Mum to unwind, detox and de-stress. You can lose yourselves in the infinity pool with hydrotherapy pool loungers, soak away cares in a hot outdoor shower, steam it out in the cedar sauna, and laze by the open fireplace.

Best of all, the whole ‘spa’ is yours – and yours alone, because it is built into your accommodation. There are two cuboid timber spaces either side of your infinity pool. In one cube there’s a well-equipped kitchen and living area. In the other, there’s a bedroom and bathroom. It is a very special place for you and mum.

A two-night break doesn’t come cheap, at £650pn (with a two-night minimum stay), but if it does suit your budget, it delivers rich rewards.

As you might expect, a stay of this calibre also offers exquisite extras for you to book, including a range of spa treatments. If you and mum fancy a facial or reflexology, delivered in the privacy of your retreat then you can. Wildwood Spa work with established local therapists who can ensure you both feel a million dollars.

Because you’re with mum, special has to be on the menu. So why not book a private dining experience with Coastal Cooks? Headed up by Chef Graham Brundle, who has been personal chef to Richard Branson and HRH King of Jordan, Coastal Cooks have created a bespoke menu for you. Delicious.

If you fancy something a little more affordable, but no less tasty, pop along to Ilfracombe which is only 10 minutes away by car. Head to the harbour which is home to a fantastic fish and chip shop as well as a fishmonger, selling freshly-caught seasonal fish and shellfish.

For chocaholic mums | Chocolate heaven in The Wye Valley

OK, so let’s get down to business. Chocolate business. Head to Harts Barn Cookery School and book mum and you in for one of their ‘Chocolate Dreams’ classes.

You’ll receive a brief introduction to the history of chocolate, before letting your imagination (and taste buds) run wild in the creation of your own sweet, sweet inventions.

Classes last around 2-3 hours and start at approximately £65 per person.

Woofield Accommodation in the majestic Wye Valley is an elegant treat that’ll definitely sate your style tastebuds – and is only 20 mins’ drive from Harts Barn.

Owned by two professional, award-winning interior designers, this grand Georgian house is made up of three beautiful, dog-friendly apartments: Palm House (sleeping up to 5), Steeple View (sleeping 2) and Cathedral View (sleeping 2).

Boasting interiors that are worthy of any high-end magazine, Woofield’s three apartments are the perfect base from which to explore the Wye Valley.

Prices start from £125 per night with a 2 night min stay.

More places to stay in the Forest of Dean

It’s not hard to see why Puzzlewood is said to have inspired JR Tolkein. With its twisted ancient trees, tumble of paths and steps, and velvety moss-covered crags, this incredible wood is a dead ringer for Middle Earth.

And that’s not it’s only famous accolade: Star Wars VII, Merlin and Dr Who were all filmed here. Find it half way between Wales and England, near Coleford in the Forest of Dean.

You may not have room after all the chocolate (and that’s fine, we don’t judge), but if you do head along to Tudor Farmhouse in Clearwell.

This former farm is not a intimate and cosy boutique hotel serving up first-class grub. According to Tatler Magazine Tudor Farmhouse is a ‘culinary oasis’.

As well as dinner and lunch menus (tasting and grazing options are available), Tudor Farmhouse serves up Afternoon Teas between 2pm – 5pm.

For ‘ancient’ mums | Make history in Durham

In a city famed the world over for its history, there are one or two shining examples of how the present can embrace the past to stunning effect. Step forward Hotel Indigo.

Just a stone’s throw from the city’s historic centre, the uber-chic Hotel Indigo has risen rather stylishly from what was the Old Shire Hall building.

That puts you just moments from Durham’s ‘holy trinity’ – the university, castle and cathedral – reached by way of the cobbled streets and labyrinthine alleyways that criss-cross the city. And it’s all played out to the laconic tune of the River Wear, arching its way around proceedings.

A standard room starts at £150 B&B.

Durham may not be the largest city, but there’s no shortage of perfect mother and daughter things to do on a weekend trip to the city. For any first-time visitors though, a riverside walk is an absolute must.

Accessible for almost every part of the city, you and Mum will soon find yourself following a path that takes in bridges, woodland and weirs – with little more than nature and the odd rower here or there to break the spell.

Once you’ve seen the city, you can always take advantage of the glorious countryside nearby. Head a little further north for Northumberland where castles are waiting and so is the must-see Hadrian’s Wall.

When it comes to ‘seeing’ in Durham, there is only one winner – the cathedral, one of Europe’s truly great buildings.

Arrive by train, and you’ll be treated to its glory before your feet have even kissed the platform. Standing proud and protective alongside the castle and above the city, this glory to gothic architecture is both part of a World Heritage Site and a wonderful place to make memories with Mum.

If the two of it are up for the challenge (and want the stunning reward) you could tackle the winding staircase to the top of the cathedral tower. Otherwise, if terra firma’s more your thing, you can simply lose hours exploring the stunning building from the ground up.

You can find full details on opening hours here.

To round off your historical weekend in meaty fashion, try Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill, in Hotel Indigo.

Situated in the old Durham Council Senate Chamber, it sources local produce to give you the very best Durham has to offer – along with a smart selection of cocktails to put a spring in Mum’s step.

For fashionista mums | Retail Therapy in Cheltenham

Cheltenham has quite a smorgasbord of accommodation options, but No.38 The Park ticks all the boxes if you’re looking for something towards the luxury end of the scale. And its handsome Georgian style makes it unmistakably ‘Cheltenham’.

If it’s glitz and glam you’re looking for, then head to Cheltenham’s only rooftop restaurant, The Nook on Five. Aside from the food, the biggest thrills come from the wrap-around floor-to-ceiling glass windows and the wonderful cocktails.

As well as your usual retail suspects, John Lewis, House of Fraser, Joules and Karen Millen, Cheltenham boasts an array of independent shops where you’re sure to pick up something unique.

Try Catherine Colebrook on Andover Road, Tivoli (a little off the beaten retail track, but worth a visit) – the gifts here are as exquisite as they are quirky. And we’re big fans.

For magical mums | Alice in Wonderland adventure in Brighton

Looking Glass Holiday Cottage in Brighton is an Alice in Wonderland play pen, set right in the heart of Brighton’s famous lanes. The cottage – which is over 500 years old and sleeps up to 6 – has been carefully and thoughtfully transformed with quality furnishings and imaginative touches.

From the playing card themed wallpaper that flutters magical around the Mad Hatter’s Lounge to the multiple mirrors and quilted silk ceiling of the Looking Glass Bedroom. All the charm of the storybook is here in some form, waiting for you.

Should you have a huge family and want a bigger celebration for a magical mum, then Wonderland House in Brighton is the second brilliantly themed party pad for you. Near the beach it sleeps up to 24 in 6 individually-theme bedrooms and comes with a Mad Hatter’s banqueting room, dress-up costumes, props and bolt-on party activities.

If it’s glitz and glam you’re looking for, The Coal Shed on North Street. This exceptional steak and seafood restaurant has a simple, delicious menu with the highest quality ingredients, sourced as locally as possible, and expertly cooked over coal. As well as a seasonal à la carte menu, they  offer daily sharing specials, a great value express lunch menu, and Brighton’s favourite Sunday Sharing Roast.

If mum likes her wine, we also recommend Ten Green Bottles in North Laine. A unique, bespoke wine bar it offers tastings and nibbles in a relaxed, stylish setting.

If a wood-fired sauna on the beach sounds like your idea of heaven, book a session at Beach Box Spa. Find it on Brighton Beach – open all year round. You can sweat it out in the sauna, then plunge into the ice bath (extra charge) or run into the sea to cool down. There’s also a plunge pool, fresh water showers and changing rooms on site.

Head to the gardens in Sussex Square in Brighton to see the real-life ‘rabbit hole’ that is thought to have inspired Lewis Carroll.

Lewis Carroll was a regular visitor to Sussex Square where his Oxford friend, the Reverend Henry Barclay, ran a boys’ prep school between 1874 – 87. The ivy-strewn tunnel which goes under the coast road and towards the beach, fascinated Carroll and could have been the inspiration for the hole through which Alice falls.

Look out for the plaque located at 11 Sussex Square to commemorate Carroll’s stays in Brighton.