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Original poster

We are travelling up north, via Birmingham. Does anyone have any recommendations of somewhere to visit for children aged 9 and 12 years old for a few hours? Ideally, just off the M42/M6.

57 replies

supersun23 · 09/04/2025 11:31

We are travelling up north, via Birmingham. Does anyone have any recommendations of somewhere fun and easy to visit for children aged 9 and 12 years old for a few hours? Ideally, just off the M42/M6. We like National Trust Places, wildlife, science and playparks.

OP posts:
Boopear · 09/04/2025 11:33

Trentham Gardens?

Boopear · 09/04/2025 11:35

Or the National Space center in Leicester but that may be at wrong end of the M42.. It is amazing though, if you haven't been.

SpringHasSprungGrassIsRizIWonder · 09/04/2025 11:36

This is a useful website. I use it to find playgrounds or parks where the kids can let off steam, and somewhere which isn't motorway services prices for food and petrol.

https://www.whatshalfway.com/

Whatshalfway.com - Find great places to meet or stop halfway

Find out what's halfway between two or more locations in over 120 countries. Plan meetings and find places in the middle of everyone with our Meeting Planner

https://www.whatshalfway.com

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Holidays
Iwishihadariver · 09/04/2025 11:36

Try Thinktank- birminghammuseums.org.uk

Anonym00se · 09/04/2025 11:36

Definitely Trentham Gardens/the Monkey Forest.

Liondoesntsleepatnight · 09/04/2025 11:37

Warwick castle?

CyberStrider · 09/04/2025 11:37

Calke Abbey (NT)

Ignore, I just saw the M42 bit, it's the wrong end of the M42/A42 if going up the M6

Original poster
supersun23 · 09/04/2025 11:49

Some great ideas, thank you. Any more are very welcome too!

OP posts:
Crikeyalmighty · 09/04/2025 11:50

Black Country living museum

HippyChickMama · 09/04/2025 12:05

Packwood House is a nice NT place just off the M42 and Baddesley Clinton is just up the road from it (also NT) if you need to kill more time. You can usually walk between the two but the walk is closed at the moment.
Thinktank is the science museum, quite pricey but very good.
Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is a lovely small conservation zoo, very good value for money.
If it’s a weekend, University of Birmingham has Lapworth Geology Museum and Barber Institute Art Gallery, both free to visit and small but interesting

Whylurkwhenicanjoinin · 09/04/2025 12:07

Twycross Zoo isnt too far from the M42

MadisonAvenue · 09/04/2025 12:12

There’s the Monkey Forest at Trentham, you’d leave the M6 at Jct 15.
I’ll also give a second a previous poster and recommend Black Country Living Museum.

Everyothernamewasalreadyinuse · 09/04/2025 12:15

Black Country Living Museum or if you are open to do a non-educational you could consider Cadbury World - Thats off the M42

ARichtGoodDram · 09/04/2025 12:17

Lower Drayton Farm is good.

If you use the M6 toll then you pass Chasewater country park

ViciousCurrentBun · 09/04/2025 12:21

I will third Black Country Livung Museum. Plus if you have Tesco clubcard vouchers they can be traded on their site for admission. I went for free with the family a few years ago.

Gardendiary · 09/04/2025 12:28

HippyChickMama · 09/04/2025 12:05

Packwood House is a nice NT place just off the M42 and Baddesley Clinton is just up the road from it (also NT) if you need to kill more time. You can usually walk between the two but the walk is closed at the moment.
Thinktank is the science museum, quite pricey but very good.
Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park is a lovely small conservation zoo, very good value for money.
If it’s a weekend, University of Birmingham has Lapworth Geology Museum and Barber Institute Art Gallery, both free to visit and small but interesting

The Barbers closed for a refurb.

Blingismything · 09/04/2025 12:29

Black Country Living Museum

LittleBigHead · 09/04/2025 12:30

Um, where in the north? It’s most of England, not just one place!

Nearer to Birmingham, Cosford RAF Museum was a hit with DC roughly those ages, as was the Museum of the Black Country.

After that, it really depends on whether you’re going west or east.

TheNoonBell · 09/04/2025 13:03

LittleBigHead · 09/04/2025 12:30

Um, where in the north? It’s most of England, not just one place!

Nearer to Birmingham, Cosford RAF Museum was a hit with DC roughly those ages, as was the Museum of the Black Country.

After that, it really depends on whether you’re going west or east.

Cosford is a great (and free) museum.

HippyChickMama · 09/04/2025 13:10

Gardendiary · 09/04/2025 12:28

The Barbers closed for a refurb.

Show quote history

Thank you, I wasn’t aware and was actually thinking of going this weekend so I’m glad you said!

HangryBrickShark · 09/04/2025 13:12

Drayton Manor
Twycross Zoo

ZookeeperSE · 09/04/2025 13:15

Definitely the Black Country Living Museum! My DDs loved it, and we did a canal tour there too. Another plus is they sell the best fish and chips I’ve ever had in my life 😁

MadisonAvenue · 09/04/2025 13:16

ARichtGoodDram · 09/04/2025 12:17

Lower Drayton Farm is good.

If you use the M6 toll then you pass Chasewater country park

I’m wondering if you’re near me if you know both of those 😂

Puppupandaway · 09/04/2025 13:17

Dudley zoo is on the same road as the Black Country Museum. Both would be good.

Thinktank would be a brilliant idea, there’s plenty of parking too right next door (multi storey). It does get busy in the holidays, might be worth prebooking tickets.

Ineedanewsofa · 09/04/2025 13:17

Some great suggestions above, I’ll add Hatton Country World (although might be a bit young for your kids) and Kenilworth Castle. Tamworth Castle is also good for a wander on a nice day.
If the weather is awful, Resorts World at the NEC has bowling, cinema, shops and food places which might be a good stop off point.