Attractions off the M4, between M25 and Bath.

[VenusClapTrap]

Any recommendations? We’re taking the kids to Bath for a long weekend and it’s a long drive. I’d like to stop off somewhere for a couple of hours en route, preferably on the stretch between the M25 and Bath. We like gardens, natural scenery and historic places. Somewhere for a nice lunch.

Windsor, but that’s pretty close to the M25 - do you want to stop a bit further along your journey?

Basildon Park is nice, close to Junction 12 of the M4

Dyrham Park! It’s beautiful 😊. Or Lacock?

Steam museum in Swindon? Good for kids, depending on ages. Historic but not scenic though.

Was going to say Windsor too but I often just look on Google maps to see what' nearby where I'm going. I've just seen this for example livingrainforest.org/ which is between Reading and Newbury. And this place www.buckleburyfarm.co.uk/ in the same area too.

Second Basildon Park. Added advantage of nearby Ikea for meatballs.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Windsor is a bit too early on I think. Dyrham Park is indeed lovely but we’ve stopped off there on a couple of other occasions in the past so fancy somewhere new. I don’t think we’ve been to Basildon Park, or Lacock Abbey, so either of those would work.

Swindon museum of steam could be interesting. As long as I don’t have to navigate the Magic Roundabout to get there - I may have some residual trauma…

I like the look of the Rainforest place! The kids would love that. I’m not sure Dh would be terribly enthusiastic but he can be overridden. 😁 Is the cafe any good though??

I’ll put these suggestions to the family and see which they fancy most. Thanks!

The cafe at the living rainforest. Is fine but pretty basic. Sausage rolls and jacket potatoes etc. it’s a really good stop off for the kids - we have used it several time between m25 and Cheltenham

Bowood House is nice.

Highclere Castle isn't far from the M4 either.

We went to a lake country park near Reading. Had a great playground. I think it was called Dinton pastures.

Second Dinton. There's a cafe and various coffee vans and a massive playground.

The rainforest thing is a bit lame, I thought.

Another vote for the Living Rainforest, your children will love it. And it’s warm inside 😄

the Living Rainforest doesn’t take long to go around so you could pop into Newbury after for lunch and a walk along the canal.

Di ton is rammed most weekends.

I'd go to the bird place between Reading and Hungerford. Beale Wildlife Park.

Bowood and Highclere both closed till spring.

The warmth aspect of the rainforest place appeals! It will be February. Baked potato lunches not so much. So Newbury could work for lunch, thanks for that.

Dinton looks nice but the dc are growing out of playgrounds <sob>.

Will look up Beale.