Does anyone live near Swindon??

[SniffyHock]

We have to go and pick up a car from Swindon - I had the great idea to make a trip of it, stay somewhere nearby and then go to Legoland. Plan has been scuppered by the fact that Legoland is closed at this time of year!

Does anyone have a great suggestion for a family day out somewhere nearby? Children of 2 & 4 plus 36 weeks pregnant Mummy!!

[vonsudenfed]

I don't live there, but posted a similar query (we needed to stop on the way to a family meal) and got sent to [http://www.farmergows.co.uk/
Farmer Gow's]], which was a great half day for my 2 year old DD - and not too much walking involved for you!

[vonsudenfed]

here it is

that will teach me not to preview

[crumpet]

Try Butterfly World near Swindon - not enough for a full day out but my dd enjoyed it (caveat - I have not been!). No idea if the Cotswold wildlife park is open or not - might be worth a google?

[SniffyHock]

That looks great vonsudenfed - thanks. DD would love butterfly world but I would be freaked!! Have been to Cotswolds Wildlife Park before and loved it - We're coming from the SouthEast though so I'd quite like to find somewhere on the way.

[abraid]

The Steam museum is full of trains you can climb on with lots of bells and whistles to pull on. It's near the retail outlet centre in Swindwon and is called STEAM.

[stealthsquiggle]

So anywhere along the M4 corridor then?

[ponders]

Would Windsor Castle be too boring for DC? 4yo might like the dolls house?

[GossipMonger]

Windsor is fab! Lovely park for the kids to play in and nice coffee shops etc

Lookout in Bracknell is great too. indoor bit and outdoor park which is fab

here

[Frieda]

Bowood House www.bowood.org/ has a great adventure park, but I think it might be closed until end March/early April. There's also Lydiard Park www.lydiardpark.org.uk/ if you like outdoorsy things. Just off the Junction 16 roundabout there's a nice garden centre (can't remember its name, but it's well signposted and I know it sounds boring, but there's lots of kids things to do there, like a very good outdoor play area, a ball pool and pottery painting activities etc.

And, yes, agree Steam Museum is good for kids, too.

[SniffyHock]

Great suggestions - thank you! I think we're going to try the Steam Museum (DS will Love it) and we think we might stay overnight in Windsor to really make a trip of it

[misshardbroom]

I would definitely not bother with Butterfly World - it costs an arm and a leg and it will take you about 10 minutes to walk round the whole thing. Steam is much better, also Lydiard Park, and even the Art Gallery and Museum in Old Town is mildly entertaining (and free!) and opposite Pizza Express to tie in nicely with lunch. Or here is lovely.