Need help on somewhere to meet up between Sheffield and London with 6 dcs aged 3 mo to 5yrs

[loueytbg]

Need suggestions for a day out somewhere between Sheffield and London. Family get-together with 6 children aged 5, 4, 3, 3, 2.5 and 3 months. Places which have already been suggested are Drayton Manor, Conkers, Gullivers Kingdom (Milton Keynes), Twycross Zoo, Woburn Safari and Whipsnade Zoo. I've been to Whipsnade several times, but haven't been to any of the others.

Would appreciate any comments on these places and I'm sure there are lots of places we don't know about - would particularly be interested in any farm type places and places which have good indoor activities as well as outdoor as knowing our luck it will be raining. We are going the 1st weekend in September.

We live in Warwickshire - which must be about 1/2 way?
I would recommend Tycross zoo, Hatton Country World, or if you are feeling brave then Stratford Upon Avon or Warwick. Rather than a 'venue' you would get the best of town, river, food, St Nicholas Park, Butterfly farm, soft play at Stratford Amouries.
HTH

Not worth going to Gullivers (MK) unless you have lots of adults (not clear how many are going from the OP). A lot of the rides need one adult per child. I went alone with my 2 dcs and it was hard work and they got frustrated at missing out on lots of the rides.

It's about 6 years since I've been to Twycross zoo, but I do remember it as being an enjoyable day out with children. (Also used to like going there as a child myself!) Can't remember whether there's much inside though if weather not good.

mrsjd we've got an adult per child so that's not an issue - would you have recommended gullivers if you had gone with 2 adults?

ladders thanks for the info - will check out hatton country world. Was hoping someone from your area would post as its often the smaller local places that are good on these occasions but you don't know about them unless you live there.

keep the suggestions coming...

It is ok. Dcs loved it, not really my cup of tea. It looks very shabby and down at heel but the rides all seem to work fine. Take your own food if you go. The stuff you can buy there looked pretty grim! The only other thing, that occurred to me after I posted, was that children under 90cm can't go on lots if the rides. They do rigorously enforce it (my 89cm tall 2yo was turned away from many rides).

I honestly don't know if I would recommend it. We live fairly near but have never bothered to go with dh as a second adult. There are many nicer places to go IMO. Also quite expensive fir a whole fdmily yo go (£13 each?).

On your list I'd go to Whipsnade, but that is obv much nearer London than Sheffield.

Conkers!

I went a while ago but my kids loved it, however we are not that keen on theme parks (bit of a nightmare with 3 kids or varying ages and queuing for rides).