The last time I was in the same room with both of my parents, it was 2018 – two years before the onset of the pandemic. We were at a wedding ceremony that already showed signs of a doomed marriage. Everyone hoped the marriage would survive against all odds, but we all learnt shortly after the wedding that hope is not a remedy for a faulty relationship.
Fast-forward to 2024 and I have an opportunity to see my parents again in the seaside town of Weston Super-mare in the UK. If you have never heard of Weston Super-mare (aka Weston), I would not blame you. It is not one of the towns that spring to mind when one is planning a holiday in the UK. But, it is worth considering if you are looking for a quiet place where you can hear your thoughts and walk barefoot without a care in the world. Weston is about 32 km South-West of Bristol and has a population of just over 82,000 people. It is a beautiful quiet town with a Grand Pier, seaside restaurants with delicious food and a sense of serenity if you can overlook all the tiny streets covered with cars.
The Grand Atlantic Hotel offers bedrooms with seafront views, a hot and plentiful breakfast and parking.
The boy and I decided to fly to London Gatwick and take the train down to Weston. Not the ideal plan if you ask me. You are better off flying to Bristol and taking a train from there. But, we both love trains (the boy more than I), and we were not in a hurry. My parents had no idea we were coming to see them. That’s how I like to roll.
“Surprise mom and dad! So good to see you after all these years. Also, here’s the boy I moved in with. You’ll have to like him because moving out is too much work to consider.”
We took the train from Gatwick Airport to London Paddington, and from Paddington to Weston – a total of 3 hours and 36 minutes. It is probably easier from London Heathrow where you can get from the airport to Paddington via the Elizabeth line and take a direct train from Paddington to Weston.
The boy had booked us to stay at Queenswood Hotel – a cute romantic hotel on a hill in Victoria Park. Queenswood is a short walk from the seafront and offers beautiful views of the sea. We booked it because everyone raved about the breakfast service, and it did not disappoint – eggs made to your liking, a mini selection of jams, tea, coffee and everything else that makes a good English Breakfast (minus the black pudding). When we arrived, the owner informed us we had been upgraded to a bigger room at no additional cost. What’s not to love?
After checking in, we prepared to go and surprise my unsuspecting 70+-year-old parents. Getting around Weston is easy if you have the contact details for the local taxi service – Apple Taxis. Unlike Uber where you can just order a ride, you have to call Apple Taxis to request a cab. The good thing is you can reserve a cab for later just like Uber. Sometimes, Uber doesn’t show up if you reserve them for later, but Apple Taxis always do. Also, don’t bother trying to get an Uber in Weston. I won’t go into details of how we surprised my parents, except to mention that my mom was so surprised and excited, she hugged the boy before she hugged me.
The rest of our time was spent exploring what was there to see at Weston.
We walked along the beach when the tide was low. I did not know how low the tide could get in Weston. The first time I visited a couple of years ago, the tide was high and the wind was so strong, I did not dare to venture close to the beach. But this time around, a serene walk, enjoying the morning breeze was what the doctor ordered.
We visited the Grand Pier. The Grand Pier is hard to miss when you are in Weston. It is what its name suggests – a Grand Pier. While you can walk on the bridge and enjoy the views, accessing the restaurants and the arcade on the pier requires a payment of £1 per person. Once you are past the gate, you have a choice of restaurants with delicious food and cider. We had a delicious lunch at Tiffany’s – one of the restaurants on the Pier. You can also choose to spend some time at the arcade playing any games that tickle your fancy. Most of the games will require payment of £1 per session – some of which might be worth it. I was surprised by the number of people hanging out at the arcade. Why aren’t you all at work? Are we all on holiday?
If you remember nothing else from this post, remember this: do not bother visiting the House of Mirrors in the arcade. A House of Mirrors is supposed to be a maze-like puzzle – equally exciting and disorienting. Well, not this one. It’s basically a passageway with mirrors on either sides and a disco light. You’ll walk through it in less than 15 steps and it will set you back £2. I was so shocked by how bad it was, I insisted that the boy and I stand there staring at the mirrors until we’ve had our two-pounds worth.
We went to afternoon tea with my parents at Dr Fox’s Tea Room. The tea room is by appointment only, located by the beach. I think the tea room provides outside seating during the summer months. But in September’s slightly frigid weather, we were treated to a selection of cakes, scones and sandwiches indoors. It was all delicious, but I found the amount of sandwiches too much. I am not a keen sandwich lover and seeing butter on bread makes me less likely to eat it. Yes, I know I am weird. There’s also a great selection of hot chocolates, tea and other delightful drinks. Afternoon tea will set you back £22.50 per adult.
We went to the Old Thatched Cottage for dinner. Now a restaurant, the Old Thatched Cottage is rich in history and dates back to 1791. In 2023, the cottage was recognised with an English Heritage Blue Plaque – a plaque that links notable historical figures with the buildings in which they lived and worked. The restaurant is located by the ocean front. It has tables outside with fire pits for those who might want to enjoy the night breeze, yet stay toasty.
In total, we spent five days in Weston, unsure if we’ve even scratched the surface of what it has to offer. We once walked past a karaoke bar with keen singers and an encouraging crowd. Many bars are open at night and the restaurants have good reviews. While it does not look like it offers much, it is still worth visiting for a relaxing, slow-paced holiday.
Most importantly, seeing my parents again after so long was the best part of my time in Weston. I saw how much can change in a person in six years. Parents do get old. It is scary to think about it, much less experience the changes they exhibit as they age. It is a humbling reminder of what lies ahead, so I do not take for granted these days of youth.
Also important is that my parents loved the boy. Now, when they call, I have to remind them that I, (not the boy), am their child.
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