Hard to pick just 5.
Stonehenge.
Cheddar and the Gorge.
White Cliffs area of Kent.
Land`s End, even if it`s a bit over commercialised you can still see past all that and appreciate the grandness of the cliff scenery.
Almost anywhere in Cornwall.

not heard of cheddar and the gorge. Where is that please?

We are spending a full week in Cornwall.

Cheddar Caves and Gorge information HERE

More information HERE.

Pippy

Are you only going to England, not Scotland, Wales or Ireland?

St Ives, Cornwall
Keswick, Cumbria
York

My 2 other favourites are in Scotland though, Loch Lomond and Edinburgh

Just a word of caution. I live in a beautiful area, much visited by people from all over the country at all times of year. But how fed up the children can get... there is only so much scenery they can look at before boredom sets in. Especially if the weather is bad. I realise this may come across as a bit negative and apologise for this but remembering my own children at that age 6 weeks is a long time to be away from home and friends.

I disagree Hubby being a teacher we used to take our 3 away for the 5 weeks holiday in August in our caravan every summer they only got excited once ! we used to mix visiting friends and visiting places we wanted to see we, left Barmouth (mid Wales and went to stay at the water sports place near Nottingham so we could see old friends and the kids asked to go to the beach they did not realise we had moved!!!! it was a great way to see England and there is still a lot I haven't seen but now my youngest is 23 we tend to travel further afield but are thinking of going back to a touring van

Gillc7 -it sounds idyllic but I'm not sure 3 children on holiday together in August is comparable to one child in December. An evening with children playing in August would be a lovely thing but December... it's dark at 4.30pm. Not to mention cold and probably wet.

Agree woudnt recomend .Christmas as an ideal time at all

Hi Joydee

The other thing to bear in mind, is that some tourist attractions in the UK can be seasonal and will shut down for the winter period. Obviously places like London won't be affected, but when planning your itinerary it would be worth checking that where you want to go is open and if they are,whether they are on restricted opening or not.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with previous posts that for such a long length of time Christmas isn't the best time to be here. If you want to avoid the summer, September/October is probably good as the weather although unpredictable can be nice,plus the Autumn can be very pretty. You would also catch the tail end of opening season, as our October half term will mark the end for those places that are closing.

There is so much to see and do in the UK and I'm sure you will have a great time.

Pam

i live in Nottinghamshire .. right in the heart of Robin Hood country.. so my fave places ( if you include Scotland too in this)

Sherwood Forest/Clumber Park/Rufford Park
Pets Corner
York
Edinburgh
North Berwick

There are some beautiful places to visit around Christmas time, Warwick Castle has special Christmas events, Rochester (Kent) has the 'Dickens festival', Most Cities have their 'Christmas Lights'.

My 5 favorite places to visit at that time of year would be ...

* York (the whole city is beautiful, & lots of attractions are open all year round)

* Warwick Castle / Stratford Upon Avon (Shakespeare plays on all yoear round)

* Cardiff & Surrounding area, Cardiff Castle, Castel Coch, St Fagens (Also at Christmas the city centre is turned into a winter wonderland, with outdoor iceskating, funfair & markets)

* London .. Virually everything is open in London over the holidays & London always seems really magical around christmas

* The eden Project, Im pretty sure they are open all year round, & if you have a week in Cornwall, it really isnt to be missed.

York: The vast majority of it is very nice, although I bet they wish the 70's hadn't come along.

Bath: Very nice thoughout and pretty compact as well. Would recommend the Roman Baths and also a walk through Victoria Park. There is some excellent resturants here, as well as bars and fantasic shopping.

Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales is very nice, great countryside, lovely little village, and if you get a nice day there is a waterfall walk with some of the best waterfalls in the UK.

Beamish Museum - it's outside and in the winter not open on a Monday or Friday, but it's excellent. They have taken buildings and shops built in ages between 1860 and 1920 and restored them to there orginal state. There is an old pub, old style trams and buses, a steam train, a home farm with animals, a sweet factory, it's all here if you get a fine day.

Science Museum in London is a fantasic day out for both adults and kids. Several stories of facinating stuff which will intrest adults as well as youngesters, plus on the lower level there is a fantasic kids educational zone. The National History museum which is near by is also worth a visit.

Can I have a 6th?

Whitby in North Yorkshire is a fantasic fishing village and a great place to get some fish and chips! - Robin Hoods Bay next door is another great place to visit on foot (the steep slope is not for the weak walker though). Both Whitby and RHB, for me at least, give me a sense of an old fishing village still living its life in a tradional setting.

Oh can I vote Stone Henge as the UK's biggest rip off - as Bill Bryson says - people stand around it determined to extract their £5 admission worth of exposure to the rocks. Oh and thats good book to buy before you set off, Bill is an American who travelled around the UK on public transport, it's very funny - its on sale here

Hope thats helpful, have a fantasic time!

For Cornwall (where I live):

Clear day: Minions and the Cheesewring
Mousehole: To see the christmas lights (ensure they are still on first)
Eden project: Check if they are doing the skating again. Visit towards closing and see Eden lit at night.
A short break: Isles of Scilly. Catch the helicopter from Penzance to avoid the sea trip at that time of year. Spend some time choosing the island to stay on and the accommodation as they vary greatly in price. If this is a trip of a lifetime these islands are not to be missed. Pity you aren't going in summer but at least you will be able to get accommodation in winter! Summer is booked years in advance.
Visit the Minack theatre to look around. I don't think there will be any performances in the middle of winter.

For Devon (on your way into Cornwall) (where I used to live) Divert to North Devon. Could do a short break to Lundy Island. Propertes bookable with the landmark trust using helicopter from the mainland. An amazingly different experience. Have the island to just yourself and the few others renting.
Exmoor. Lorna Doone country-Oare and Exford plus Lynton and Lynmouth.

Lake District for me

Always fancied a trip to Portmerion but have never been

Visit Wales!!

I second Portmeirion - I live about 30mins away and it really is beautiful A little Italian village in the heart of North Wales - if you've seen the Prisoner series, you'll be familiar with it...

Also North Wales - Beddgelert and a drive by Llyn Cwellyn is beautiful. At that time of year Llanberis would be a good choice as Santa is there sometimes, and a very interesting mining museum with little miners houses you can go into from all the ages (more interesting than it sounds!!) and a steam railway around the lake... not to mention of course Snowdon also in Llanberis - you must take a trip up!!

Not to mention Caernarfon, where I live :P, to see Caernarfon Castle where Prince Charles was crowned Prince of Wales

Also from North Wales you can go to Holyhead and take a ferry over to Dunlaoghrie (sp) in Ireland....

YOU HAVE TO COME TO WALES

Pinkladywales, I didn`t realise they still ran the train to the top of Snowdon in the winter. I`d also reccommend a visit to Betsw-y coed as well, it`s beautiful around there.

Not necessarily my favourite places, but in December as others have mentioned some of our cities will be great, but you may struggle to enjoy our beautiful countryside.

Chester
York
London
Liverpool
and as a visitor to our shores - give Blackpool a go. It's cheesy but you won't ever have seen a place like it! Unfortunately the illuminations will be finished by then but the tower is open and the pleasure beach runs all year round.