Afternoon in stratford upon avon/bath

[amylou]

My ds, 5yr and I are going on a coach trip for bank holiday weekend. The main is going to longleat on saturday but friday pm we are in bath and sunday we are in stratford.. Dont think we will both with the shops.. any one any ideas of what to do with a 5yr in these cities which would fill 2 or 3 hours? I presume the coach will drop us off in the centre..

In Stratford there are loads of boats down on the river (obviously) by the theatre (the big one), you can go on a short boat trip. If you cross the river (to the opposite side to the shops/theatre etc) there's a HUGE playpark with sandpits and paddling pools etc. There's also a butterfly house, but that's a little further out.

Open top buses too if that's your thing. At that age my boys enjoyed looking at the canal locks and seeing how they worked, and also hearing a bit about Shakespeare.

You need to ask Jampots. That's her neck of the woods.

it certainly is!

There's loads to do in Stratford for a 5year old (and older) in fact 2-3 hours wont do it justice. Butterfly Farm is not far from the river, that itself can take a good couple of hours, there's the riverboats too, the chain boat which takes you across the river (as opposed to along), Ragdoll Shop (Rosie & Jim, Teletubbies etc), playground, etc. I wouldnt mind betting the coach drops you off right by the Butterfly Farm - warning it can get v hot in there so make sure t/shirt only inside. Have a lovely time.

thanks everyone! river boat and bus tour sound good! cant decide which one I would do! any favourite? lets hope the weather is nice on sunday!

Another vote for the butterfly farm. And in Bath there's a really lovely park a short walk from the main shopping bit (can't remeber name sorry) that would be a great way to while away an hour if it's sunny.

Hi - just returned from our trip away.. wanted to say how impressed I was of the Stratford itself and the park. The playground is great! if anyone else is going to stratford make sure you aim for there! its so well maintained - no litter, no graffiti and great and different things for them to do. unfortunately as you said a 3 hour visit doesnt do it justice! never got as far as the butterfly farm. would love to go back.