Where to stop for lunch near Stokenchurch with a toddler?

[MaggieFS]

We'll soon be making a long journey and will need to stop somewhere for lunch where DS can have a good run around. Some sort of play area would be ideal but just a grassy park would be fine. We'd like some decent food but nothing fancy. Pubs, garden centres all fine.

M40 J5 - J6 area.

I've had big help from mn on previous trips for hoping for some more wisdom!

Bump

Your best bet for food in Stokenchurch would be the Fleur De Lis pub. It has a garden but from memory I don't think there is kid's play equipment.

Junction 2 is Beaconsfield which has a lot of nice pubs but not so many that are child-friendly. Alternatively at Junction 3 (Loudwater) there is a Premier Inn with a Brewers Fayre. It doesn't have a playground attached but there is one just at the bottom of the road where it is situated so you could feed the children then let them have a run around after?

Junction 3 is a bit weird as you can only get on/off going in certain directions. I'm a non-driver through disability so I'm not certain on the technicalities, but I do know that if you come off at J2 then it is only a short drive from Beaconsfield to Loudwater J3.

Alternatively, J4 brings you down into High Wycombe where there are a few pubs that would meet your criteria, but they are on the outskirts so you would have a bit of a drive once off the motorway and a bit of a drive to get back on (about 15 minutes max!)

This is my local area so feel free to inbox me if you want to pick my brains.

And I've just been informed by DH that Beaconsfield Services at J2 also has outside space although he says "you'll pay through the nose for the convenience!"

Thank you @Stillinbedat10am Any suggestions a bit further west? Hoping to get a bit further away from the M25 before we stop (but keeping track on all suggestions in case we're delayed!

Marlow would be worth the short detour. Lovely big park at the end of the high street which has lots of cafes/restaurants. I think there may also be a model village in Beaconsfield for kids but it’s a long time since I checked.

If you can get as far as Bicester this place is good:
www.bluediamond.gg/eat-and-play-bicester-avenue-garden-centre

PMme if you want. Im pretty local. What about the Waterfront in Benson. Or the Cartshed near Wallingford.
Watlington (jn6 is pretty and has lovely pubs and a non chain cafe for brunch.
It's lovely!!

Tetsworth
Jct 6- ish I think?
www.theoldredliontetsworth.co.uk/home/menus/
Opposite the village green which has an enclosed childrens play area

Getting to central Marlow could take you a good 20 mins off the M40 depending on traffic. I would stay on a bit longer and get off at junction 7. You have the Three Pigeons rights off the slip road that does decent food. If you are heading west you can’t actually get back into the M40 at the same junction but the back road to junction 8 only takes 5 mins. The pub is based at a Lassco (fancy architectural salvage) which is fascinating to walk round but you’ll need to keep an eye on the little one.

Otherwise you could drive into Thame (5 mins or so off the M40), and go to the 6 Bells or the Thatch, both have gardens and Thame has a great park with playground a couple of minutes walk away from both.

You could also stay on until 8A and go to Waterperry where there are lovely gardens, a garden centre, cafe etc.

Thanks everyone, I'll dig into these when I get a break at work. Sounds like there's loads to choose from.

Hi OP I'm afraid that my knowledge doesn't extend beyond Junction 5 although it looks like you have had some good suggestions from other posters! However, having been there for a work meal I can second Shemakesmewait's suggestion of The Waterfront at Benson which is absolutely lovely!

West Wycombe has a nice garden centre and a big hill for your toddler to run around on. Can't remember the junction but have been there many times with friends and their toddlers.

I think J5 would be your best bet for West Wycombe. It's kind of in between 4 and 5 but 5 would be a more pleasant journey to the garden centre.

Benson is a bit too far off track, West Wycombe looks like it would be ok, but I can't find a garden centre there? Any clues? Thank you again for the help!

The garden centre at West Wycombe no longer exists, unfortunately.

Ah - sorry for the duff info. Shame, as it was a nice garden centre.

If you wanted to make a longer stop, Odds Park Farm is near Beaconsfield services and absolutely great. Too expensive for a brief stop though.

I'd go to the McDonalds in the Asda at high Wycombe (is it still there) practically on the M40....

The leisure centre isn't far either.

There's the Golden Cross pub in Saunderton a couple of miles from West Wycombe. Nothing fancy but nice little pub and has a reasonable pub garden with climbing frames, slide etc.