I enjoyed Paddington in Peru a lot more than Paddington 2, but my daughter agrees with you.

Would walks along the river be a good starting point, or do you already do that? It's something M and I enjoyed when he was living in Oxford.

Your seaside trip sounds wonderful once you work up to it. I could do the sea in an hour's drive from here (nowhere direct by train), but my favourite seasides are about six hours away in different directions.