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Teenage Survival Guide

Teens, we’ve all been there. The social awkwardness, the weird haircuts, the endless backchat- or perhaps that was just me. Without making too many sweeping generalisations, I’d say your teenage years are some of the weirdest, and nothing was weirder as a teen than having to holiday with your parents.

If you’ve got a sullen youngster in your brood that won’t put down the smartphone, why not coerce them with a cottage holiday in the UK? Britain offers plenty to occupy the grumpy adolescent, and there’s no chance of getting stung with a nasty phone bill should they refuse to log out of Facebook.

Not convinced? Then check out our shortlist of teen-friendly attractions below.

Scare them senseless in York

York tower

Do your teens love horror flicks? Then treat them to a city break in York, reputably Europe’s most haunted city. Here, amongst the ancient, gabled streets, over 500 restless spirits are said to wander. For predetermined terror, make for the York Dungeon, a blood curdling house of horrors complete with a resident plague doctor and murderous Viking bloke. Alternatively, if you’re feeling really brave, head to 35 Stonegate, a 700 year old haunted house where a ghastly ghoul is said to have put Derek Acorah in a strangle hold.

Surf’s up in the South West

surfing in cornwall

Even if they’re useless at it, we guarantee that surfing will put a smile on their face. One of the best places to try this invigorating water sport is in the south west, where the wave battered beaches of Cornwall and Devon await. If they’re wave riding newbies, we’d recommend enrolling them in a surf school at least for a day. The South West is home to loads of affordable surf training centres, so they could be hanging ten before you know it! To find out more about surfing in the UK, check out our blog on the UK’s best surf spots.

Treat them to a day of retail therapy in Chester

shopping in chester

One thing that’s certain to rouse the attention of your teen is the prospect of a shopping trip and where better to spend some dollar than in the fabulous city of Chester. Home to a dazzling array of historic architecture, this picturesque city is the perfect place to treat the kids to some new threads. One of the city’s most interesting features is its Rows, a series of medieval walkways which effectively create an upper and lower level to the High Street, doubling the amount of space for all those lovely shops and eateries.

Scare them senseless in Snowdonia

Snowdonia

The Snowdonia National Park is home to a plethora of teen-friendly attractions including a massive mountain, lots of extreme sports and of course, plenty of good looking Welsh folk.

And, as of 2013, it’s also home to the longest zip line in the northern hemisphere- cool, they will mutter. Stretching for over a mile, this record-breaking zip will carry riders over the dizzying heights of Penrhyn Quarry at speeds of over 100mph, providing a bird’s eye view of the spectacular North Wales coastline. Find out more about Snowdonia’s Zip World.

Rent a teen-friendly holiday home

Here at Sykes Cottages, we’re convinced that we’ve got a holiday cottage to suit everyone, including cantankerous teenagers. If you’re planning a UK holiday with your young adults, why not take a look at our cottages with a games room, which features a pool, snooker or foosball table? Or, try cottages with swimming pools or hot tubs; they’re sure to keep the kids content for hours!


 

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