(2-part post):
Thanks for your reply, Fiona.
Prices quoted here are based upon the assumption that there would be 3 of you (i.e. yourself and your two children - one of whom counts as an adult for most travel purposes) travelling. If I should have included a partner or other family members please accept my apologies and adjust the figures accordingly.
I have to admit that I was hoping that you'd be fairly close to Stansted because there are some really great days out to be had from there. Your nearest airport, though, is East Midlands but there aren't many flights suitable for day trips from there.
However, if you've not been to Dublin it's well worth a visit. You could take the express bus into town and then take one of the 'hop on, hop off' tourist buses. If you travelled on, say, Wednesday 25 October (which is in the middle of the half-term holidays for Leicestershire state schools), Ryanair are offering 49p per person each way. (Adding in the taxes and charges brings the total, for the 3 of you, to �81.54). That's departing East Midlands at 0805 (arriving Dublin 0905) and departing Dublin 2100 (arriving East Midlands 2200). Dublin is an interesting city to explore. I can provide some suggestion if you want (and I can also tell you where to buy a great Irish 'boxty' for your lunch!).