In between London and Cornwall

[Hibernatalie]

Does anyone know of anywhere we can stop about half way between London and Cornwall? Somewhere we can spend a couple of hours. It will be pouring with rain.

Thanks for any ideas!

Do you need a couple of hours stop. It's only a 6 hour drive.

Pee and coffee stop for half hour would be ok.

Another vote for Darts Farm, particularly when heading from London to Cornwall as it's a fair chunk of the way there. I love that place, both with and without kids!

Stourhead is just off the A303, possibly not the best in the rain though.

Ah yes, great idea. I keep thinking we should go there!

"only"? 6 hours is most of the day! We'd probably stop twice for a journey that length.

Also, the A303 is usually clogged so it will probably take longer.

Most people stop on the road to look at Stonehenge, that's why the queues get so bad through there. That stretch of road needs a minimum speed restriction and if you fall below it your car blows up, Speed style...

We do it every year so are familiar with the journey, this year we are breaking it up with an overnight so just looking for ideas of places. Normally we stop in Exeter for the day but want something different - plan A was Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door but it will be tipping it down so figuring out a Plan B.

So many great ideas here guys, thank you. The front runner for this year is Bath as DD is fascinated by the Romans, but I've got a nice list now for future years and the way back!

This is why we go by train. Easy to stretch your legs and no traffic jams

Another vote for the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Good break point distance to eastern Cornwall. I couldn't recommend the cafeteria, or we didn't see it on a good day.

Really?!

Stourhead NT is just off A303 and is lovely.

• "only"? 6 hours is most of the day! We'd probably stop twice for a journey that length.

Also, the A303 is usually clogged so it will probably take longer.*

I have the joys of up and back on Saturday to get the eldest from Uni.

Will leave 4am and should be back by about 6:45 to 7pm.

Would go near the 303 in the summer.

Would go near the 303 in the summer.

That's a wouldn't go near.

M5/M4 can be bad enough

I'm a Bathonian so would recommend that!
We used to go to Yeovilton RNAS and it's brilliant
My boys were thrilled by the simulated helicopter rides!
A303 can be a nightmare at times though

We do Salisbury on the way back, usually

Darts Farm and Greendale Farm are about 3 miles apart and both just a few mins from J30 of the M5. Greendale has possibly more for children (free) but both are great stop offs.

Puxton Park is fun for kids, just off the M5 but perhaps a bit too far down

You can also use the A30 as an alternative to the A303 but it will take longer than the A303 on a good day (but probably no longer than a bad day, you keep moving though).

Another option is to take the "coast road" via Bridport and Dorchester - quite a few places to visit along there and you can cut back up to the A303 and rejoin it on the other side of Stonehenge (on the way back).

Any of the roads are bad really. We usually find Saturdays work quite well and come back on a Monday if going for the weekend.

We're going to Devon in a couple of weeks but will be going somewhere else first so can avoid the A303 altogether.

My parents are in Somerset, just off the A303 so whilst I would love to never use it in the summer, it's not always possible. I never travel on a weekend - usually try and go on a Thursday and back on a Tuesday or something! I also never go past Stonehenge in the summer but snicker through the Deverills etc and rejoin at Mere...it can be busy but is usually always moving, whereas the 303 gets clogged at all of the 2 lane into 1 lane merges.....

Anyway OP, I digress, and hope that you find a suitable pit stop somewhere fun and dry!

The Hawk conservancy is well worth a trip , I’ve been to lots of bird places and their afternoon flying display is the best I’ve ever seen , fantastic birds and lovely staff .

Bath in 2 hours is a challenge isn't it? You have to get off the main route, get near town, park. Possibly park and ride? Did I hear they have a congestion zone now? Once there it is lovely to walk about and sight see though.
Maybe do an overnight there?

PMSL at "only 6 hours drive"! When is this, in the middle of the night in the winter?

The Concorde museum at Patchway in north Bristol of SS Great Britain in Bristol Harbour.