Midlands Mumsnetters- help us plan our Midlands family road trip!

[Labradabradorable]

We've finally given up on plans for an Alpine adventure this summer. But, undeterred, we are going for a Midlands road trip instead. We already have two nights camping booked in a bell tent in The Cotswolds. But we'd like to show the kids some of the things the Midlands has to offer too. Here are the ideas I've had so far (based on my very limited experience of having once had a Brummie boyfriend)....

Warwick Castle
Cadbury World
The Black Country Museum
West Midlands Safari Park
We'd probably stay at Premier Inns in glamourous locations like Stourbridge.

Other ideas of visits/places and activities to suit a 10 and 12 year old would be great!

Drayton Manor, Conkers, Go Ape (Cannock Chase) That’s all I can think of at moment, need more coffee!

Alton Towers
Conkers
Chester Zoo
Waterworld
Ironbridge/Blist Hill Victorian Town
Sealife Birmingham
Cosford air museum
Cotswold wildlife park

Coventry Motor Museum is always worth a visit. It has been free entry for many years but I'm unsure whether this is still the case?
If you do visit Coventry there is also The Belgrade Theatre .
Both of the above are based in the centre of Coventry and within walking distance of each other as is Coventry Cathedral which is a lovely place tp visit.

@Fliss444

Coventry Motor Museum is always worth a visit. It has been free entry for many years but I'm unsure whether this is still the case? If you do visit Coventry there is also The Belgrade Theatre . Both of the above are based in the centre of Coventry and within walking distance of each other as is Coventry Cathedral which is a lovely place tp visit.

Unfortunately not. You have to pay now.

www.transport-museum.com/admission_prices.aspx

Stratford if you/they have any interest in Shakespeare. There's also the Butterfly Farm there. Pricy and not huge so I recommend using Clubcard vouchers.

Hatton Country World is near Warwick. There's also Jump In indoor trampoline park if the weather's bad.

In the Cotswolds, there's Cotswold Lavender which is supposedly nice - I think people mainly go there to take nice photos of their kids walking through lavender.

Cotswold Water Park
Climb the Malvern Hills
National Space Centre (Leicester)

If you’re in the Cotswold at the right time, go to the circus: www.giffordscircus.com/

Blenheim Palace is impressive and sometimes does events like open air cinema.

Dudley zoo
Cosford raf museum
Black Country museum
There's a bear grylls adventure place in Birmingham which is good for kids/teens
Stratford upon Avon is lovely
Stourport is good for younger children with a nice park and a small fair

If visiting Black Country museum/Dudley zoo there are hotels within walking distance and it's also close to baggeridge country park which is lovely and has nice walks, a pool you can fish in with little nets, a park and a high ropes go ape type thing

Red House glass cone is worth a little wander around if you're in Stourbridge.
I was quite impressed with the Dudley canal boat tours next to the Black Country museum.
Severn Valley railway

National Space Centre and Twycross Zoo are worth a visit, you could also see if there are any events on at the Great Central Railway that coincide with your visit. Nottingham Castle has also recently reopened after a long refurbishment.

Birmingham thimble and pin museum, fascinating

I quite like Stourbridge! There’s a pub and huge antiques emporium by the canal and Bonded Warehouse. Also the glass cone, as mentioned by PP.

From there you could go to the Black Country Living Museum (though I prefer Blists Hill and the other Ironbridge Museums).

Kidderminster has the Museum of Carpet plus a small Severn Railway Museum. From there you can go on the SVR and perhaps stop off along the route - river at Arley (not a lot else!) then the engine shed at Highley then the river (again!) at Bridgnorth plus the cliff railway.

An absolute lack of cinemas near us (Midlands but rural) but there is one in Dudley. We often go in the evening when on holiday.

Coventry is city of culture so there should be plenty going on. Haven’t been there in years!

In Birmingham we like the city Museum and Art Gallery. Not so struck on Think Tank. We like having lunch in the Chinese Quarter and keep meaning to go to the BBC studios.

Also, my sons love the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham (which surprised me, when they spent hours looking in every shop window!) There are good cafes and they also enjoyed the museum.

Loads of National Trust places in the Midlands including the Back to Backs in Birmingham, Snowshill in the Cotswolds etc.

Keep thinking of more!

Broadway Tower is good and has a ROC post (Cold War bunker) in the grounds, though that is not open very often.

There's the wave swimming pool in Coventry as well which could be fun

@NoSquirrels

Cotswold Water Park Climb the Malvern Hills National Space Centre (Leicester)

If you're swinging by Leicester, maybe the Richard III museum.

Thanks so much. There are lots of great ideas here. We’ve meant to visit the National Space Centre for years. Love the idea of a canal boat ride too. I think we might do a couple of nights in Birmingham too.