M5 stop offs?

[Bearsinmotion]

I am driving the DC (7 and 4) from Lancaster to Bristol soon. We have plenty of time and I would like to make a couple of stops, preferably near the motorway but more interesting than the average service station. Any suggestions?!

If you have National Trust membership (or don’t mind paying) Tyntesfield House is only a couple of miles from the Gordano services/junction and is a Gothic treasure - large grounds and teashop. There are 2 other good NT properties further down, one near Exeter beginning with C and another one a few miles from the motorway near Taunton - having a mental block just now.

Also, Noah’s Ark Zoo is just off the M5 in north Somerset. It is quite compact & do-able as a stop off. Noteworthy for the creationist ‘origins of life’ displays in the barn near the soft play. The dioramas with dinosaurs AND humans as contemporaries are quite special. Apparently the zoo is owned by creationists.

Gloucester services - its such a nice place to stop, really good food, and it has a nice and relaxing garden to stretch your legs. Google it before you decide I'm a nutter for getting excited about a service station 😂

It was Killerton near Exeter and Knightshayes near Tiverton. 🤦‍♀️

Gloucester services is wonderful, lovely farm shop, coffee etc. Very easy to spend money

www.gloucesterservices.com/

Both towards the end of your journey, but still worth looking at:

Slimbridge WWT centre www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge

Berkeley Castle www.berkeley-castle.com/

I second Gloucester Services and raise you Berkeley Castle. It is lovely and kids will enjoy the Butterfly House. I used to live just down the road from there.

Thanks! They both look good! Any further North?

Came on to say Gloucester services! Bloody love it there am a saddo We drive past it every time we go to the in laws in the Midlands, but upsettingly it’s too close to our destination to warrant stopping. I was once pretty happy when DS pood his pants and we had to stop there!

We stopped at a NT place near Droitwich whose name escapes me now but it was nice for a wander round even if DH left his phone on the roof of the car and drove off without it

Is Gloucester services the twin of Tebay? It’s lovely there!

Definitely GLOUCESTER SERVICES. It's a little under an hour to Bristol from there, so a nice final stop with a smooth last part of your journey, along with a wonderful farm shop and delicious patisserie.

Further north, it's not glamorous, and depends on your route, but Nortn Canes on the M6 Toll is nice and green and pretty good.

Webb’s of wychbold
Worcester Woods

boatyardblues Do you think Lancaster is in the south west in Cornwall or something? The OP is looking for stop offs on her journey from Lancaster to Bristol. Lancaster is in the north.

Tyntesfield is actually slightly south of Bristol and Noah's Ark slightly west of Bristol. So neither are any use for stop offs! Tiverton and Exeter are also WAY south of Bristol.

OP About 1 hr 40 from Lancaster just off the M6 (which is what you're on until West Bromwich) 5 near Stoke on Trent is Trentham Gardens. You can have a good wander around the lake, there are some shops, places to eat but also Monkey Forest which I really like. Or if you're NT, Shugborough Hall & Estate is not far of the M6 near Stafford, so just a little bit further on than Trentham. Both would more or less split your journey in half and then if you want a further stop on the M5 part of the journey Slimbridge WWT is fabulous but the sort of place you'd spend a good few hours. If you've spent a while at Trentham or Shugborough then Gloucester Service would be a great quick stop off.

Ha Shatners, have you met my DC?! The older one is nicknamed “Monkey” because she is always climbing, Trentham looks ideal!

And Gloucester services seems unanimous for stop 2, thanks everyone!!

Bearsinmotion My work here is done

I read the OP in a hurry so missed that Bristol was the end point. The thread title is sufficiently generic that my recommendations may be useful to other who dip in. My geography is just fine thanks. 🙄