What about East Sussex? There is plenty in the SE of England. There is a good beach at Camber http://www.camberlife.co.uk/ (some photos of the beaches on here). Rye is very pretty but not really aimed at Teenagers I don't think http://www.visitrye.co.uk/ What sort of place do you want to visit? If you want to stay at a caravan park, Park Holidays have a few caravan parks around the SE: http://www.parkholidaysuk.com/ You are not far from the channel so a day trip for France is possible. In Hastings you have the Blue Reef aquarium but don't know if that is your type of thing? Eastbourne is quite good for shopping?http://www.visiteastbourne.com/

It depends what you like really. Isle of Wight is another lovely part of the country, http://www.iwight.com/just_visiting/ with some lovely beaches, etc. It feels like you are going "abroad" so to speak as you have to travel on a ferry to get there.

Just a few suggestions of the top of my head.

My teenagers dont like to be away from the x box for too long so this last summer holiday I did 3 1 night trips with special offers on hotels with pools. All in 1 room with breakfast for under £100. We did York (Stanford bridge, Yorvik, Minster) coming home via Ilkley moor and the Brontes. Then we did Brighton (Quadrophenia, fantastically cool shopping, the pier and slot machines, and a drag race was on) We then did Derbyshire tour of the Tors and stayed in the Sheffield Hilton for £90 (Artic Monkeys and Jayne Austen theme)
We also did Hadrians Wall and Newcastle (Harry Potter Castle, Tour of St James'Park) once too. Another year we did Bath with Stone Henge and the white horse on the hill etc,They know their UK geography better, they dont mind leaving the house, and I dont have to do the massive preparation and after wash. Its grab a toothbrush, your underwear and swimming stuff. We also listen to their choice of audio book or channel on the radio.

If you can bear the idea of taking someone elses kids away a three bedroomed villa at Centre Parcs is not much more expensive than a two bedroomed one.

I find if they have a friend with them they don't much care where they are.

It wont be cheap for a midweek break in the school hols, but still much cheaper than going abroad for a week. The pool complex is free, they can take their own Xboxes or similar and there are various restaurants and a spa to make the adults feel they are on holiday. If you pick a parc in a part of the country you haven't been to you could possibly book yourself into a travel lodge for night and do a day out to a local attraction on the last day.

can't beat Butlins for kids that age..........

Hi

We had a Thorpe Park 2 day break in October,took 2x15yr olds by the time we got home they were too tired for x-box,so didn't miss it!!!
Good prices on their own site.T.

Or if you live down south and have done a lot of Thorpe Parking, you could go the otherway and go to Alton Towers, I beleive it has its own hotel, and from what I can remeber is in a very pretty part of the country, you would only probably want one night in the hotel and perhaps a few others in a B&B. Would love to go there myself.

I think a company called superbreak does mini-packages to these sorts of places.

Alton Towers hotel has the pool with slides etc and themed rooms,but most importantly, after a nights stay, you get into the park early, at the right end for the biggest rides with the longest queues.
The hotel is expensive, I am not sure pirates rooms are so good for teenagers, and the pool is usually full of younger families also.There are loads of B+Bs and you are right, it is a beautiful part of the country. From around here you can do Peak district too.

Thanks for all your suggestions, a tour of theme parks may be a good idea

still think you can't beat Butlins - I took my daughter to Minehead butlins a couple of years ago when she was 14, and she loved it. not only is there plenty for them to do, the camp is secure with security guards at the gates, so I felt happy letting her go off with some friends she made, without having to worry too much...

kev