Traveling up north from London

[Littleduckeggblue]

I'm driving up north from London next week, probably driving up the A1. Can anyone suggest somewhere to stop and stretch out legs. Will have DC with me. Maybe a nice pub within a mile or so of the motorway for a Sunday lunch? Perhaps Somewhere in between Peterborough and Leeds?
I'll be making a few stops at service stations too but thought that perhaps there's a hidden gem within close proximity of the A1 motorway to properly break the journey up

I'm going to lurk if you don't mind. I started a similar thread a couple of years ago asking about the M1 and got some useful responses!

Sherwood forest? Or is that too far north?

If the M1 is also a possibility Bolsover castle is not far from the motorway. Not much else in the town, but there's a café at the castle.

Belton House near Grantham, it’s National Trust. It’s been a few years since we last stopped but I remember it being lovely.

Hichingbrooke Park in Huntingdon has a nice playground and lovely walks. There are no pubs right there, but Brampton Mill is close by. You come off at Brampton for both.

Sherwood Forest isn’t on the A1, so would add quite a bit to your journey.

It really depends at what point you're joining the A1(M) if you're starting on the M1, but Clumber Park is very nice and is about halfway between London and Newcastle-ish (it's a bit of a drive from the M1 but very close to the A1); or have a look at www.justoffjunction.co.uk/index.php for a few suggestions (motorways only - I could have sworn it used to list A roads as well but it doesn't seem to be the case any more).

This pub is meant to be nice, does Sunday lunch and you can have a walk too. thechequersinn.com/

Thanks everyone.
That pub suggestion looks good. Might have to give that one a try.
Any other pub suggestions maybe slightly further south of Leeds?

Try Newark on Trent . Smack on the A1 lovely market town lots of places to eat and a river and castle too