Manc/Preston/Warrington or Birmingham day out for children top tips?

[Drizzlehair]

I'm travelling from Lake District to South coast in a few weeks. Plan is to divide the drive into quarters or approx 2 hours each and stop for a few hours.

Drive first quarter, stop for lunch / play
Drive second quarter, stop overnight
Drive on final day is fine, we're visiting friends in somerset

I have vaguely in mind that the first stop will be somewhere near Preston or Manchester or Warrington. I don't mind where, so I'm after tips for places my 2 and 5 yr olds will enjoy a break.

Preferably something outdoors eg petting zoo or a nice park, ideally with a half decent cafe

Second stop probably in the vicinity of Birmingham, again any tips for somewhere we can kill a couple of hours before dinner? Maybe even somewhere with a child friendly vibe where we could get dinner?

We don't have any accommodation booked yet, so any tips on that welcome too.

Huge thanks!

Preston would only be about 1 hour into your journey from the south lakes.

Have you checked to see if any service stations you’re passing have playgrounds? Otherwise your journey of about 5 hours (non stop) is going to take all day!

Or you could go in the early hours with the aim of getting past Bristol for the driver to have a few hours sleep in the car while the other takes the kids off somewhere fun.

I’ve just re read and seen you want to do the journey over 2 days?! Madness! Get there in 1 or 2 longish legs and have holiday time instead on day 2.

I've worked out the optimum plan for us having done early mornings etc for the last 4 years. We've got ten days holiday, so rather than hit it hard on the 11th day we're going to drive 2 hours, have some family time (rest of the holiday will be with a million in laws so nice to do something small solo after this) somewhere nice for a lunch and a couple of hours play, then another 2 hour drive, leisurely dinner and all bunk up in a hotel roomwhi h we never do - kids will find it a real treat and I'm quite looking fwd to bathroom sink beers and whist perched on the loo.
Then next morning another 2 hours to visit friends in Bristol, then 2 more hours home

We're staying in North lakes so Preston is 1hr 45 drive, Manc just over 2 hours.

I'm happy with my plan, just after some suggestions for having a nice long leg stretch somewhere around Manchester and again somewhere vaguely Bham / Wolves / Kidderminster

We are leaving South Coast at 3am to get there in one big blast, but the way home is very different - don't want to leave so early, want to have breakfast together and say goodbye to in laws etc. And can't leave late or DH will fall asleep at the wheel

Warrington - Walton Gardens is nice and there are a couple of pubs you could eat at nearby, there are soft play centres (depends on ages of DC's), the town centre hasn't really got much for children but plenty of places for lunch. If you are packing lunch then Birchwood Forest Park, Risley Moss and Pennington Flash (Leigh, not too far from Warrington) are also good parky places for a wander around :)

Thanks @samlh I'll look into all those suggestions

Brockholes nature reserve near one of the Preston junctions really nice and a great place to take children.

Walton is lovely for this age, also Tatton Park- not too far off the motorway and a nice cafe.

Yes, Brockholes, or Samlesbury Hall, would be good. Brockholes entrance is right by the exit slip coming S, Samlesbury about 5 mins away.

Both have cafes.

www.brockholes.org/
www.samlesburyhall.co.uk/

Samlesbury does weddings though & is closed on Saturdays (& often Fridays)

@AnneTwacie - I totally forgot about Tatton Park. I love it there! They sometimes have events on as well so would be worth checking the website for the dates you might be there x

Or (still nr Preston) there’s Mrs Dowson’s - only open weekends & school holidays though. About 10 mins from M6

You mention Kiddy - are you going down the M5 then? Hanbury Hall off J5 is good.

Sandwell Valley just off J1 is a bit rough and ready, but has a city farm and play areas.

Will think of others.

Thanks, loads of suggestions to Google!

No fixed plans yet but as we're visiting friends in Bristol we'll prob head down M6, stay around brum somewhere then down M5 the next day to Bristol. I think that makes most sense

Another vote for Walton gardens here - we only discovered it recently, huge play area, animals, train - brilliant.

Another vote for Tatton Park, or Dunham Massey. Both just off the M6.

www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.z-arts.org/events/world-inside-a-book-gruffalos-dragons-and-other-creatures/&ved=2ahUKEwi_4fva3oziAhUypnEKHU6JC9gQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw0TkXUqqi1fcsN-m0KBbt8D

This is inside but near Manchester. Exhibition / interactive thing based on the Julia Donaldson books