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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

M4/M5 services - best playareas?

8 replies

toomuchtooyoung · 06/06/2012 10:39

Travelling to Cornwall this weekend and wondering if anyone can remember any services with particularly good childrens play areas and/or facilities? Have found a website listing which junctions they are at, but seem to recall some being better than others.
Anyone's memory better than my current pregnant head?

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 06/06/2012 10:53

Stop at Cribbs Causeway instead of services around Bristol - theres a softplay area, and obv plenty of space to stretch legs

toomuchtooyoung · 06/06/2012 11:36

Thanks, sounds good. Guess I should qualify by making sure its suitable for an energetic and adventurous 20 month old

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 06/06/2012 11:44

softplay - it has an area for under 3's, but tbh at that age ds was most happy exploring the fountain area and going up and down stairs

toomuchtooyoung · 06/06/2012 12:52

Oh, an actual shopping centre! My idea of hell, but if it wears dd out......
Thanks for the tip

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toomuchtooyoung · 12/06/2012 16:56

To answer my own question (and hopefully get any other suggestions!) stopped at Leigh Delamare on M4 and Exeter on M5 - both listed on website as having play areas, both piss poor.

When I asked at Exeter I was told there was a grassy area where the dogs are exercised!
At Leigh Delamare there was a tiny fenced space with a blackboard that chalk wouldn't work on, and the gate wouldn't shut.
Tried to wear her out/get legs going for a bit whilst in her reins but she wanted to go shopping for tat or play on the gamblers - which we got thrown out of!
Didn't get to stop at the suggested Cribs Causeway near Bristol as dd had finally fallen asleep by then.......

Any good services play areas on the m4 and m5 for a 20mth old?

OP posts:
DorisIsWaiting · 12/06/2012 17:54

If you're heading into Cornwall a good stop just off the A38 at Newton Abbott, Stover country park there's toilet's and a big lake to walk around. It's literally just off the A38 round about (no chance of getting lost etc) Further up I struggle to think of anything remarkable!

thewalrus · 17/06/2012 08:01

We do this journey fairly regularly, and think Exeter and Leigh Delamere are among the best places to stop (in a pretty weak field, it must be said!). The hill at Exeter has served us well in reasonable weather, to be fair, and never seen any dogs on it. We also go to Cribbs (living in Cornwall I'm tempted by John Lewis, but with the kids we never make it past the cafe in Asda... ah well)

Murtette · 21/06/2012 20:38

Bit late for OP but, about 1 mile from j22 of the M5, is Sanders Garden World. As its name suggests, its a garden centre but has a good playground & there's an aquarium there too. At Xmas (so from about Oct) they have amazing displays of decorations & DD loves looking at them all. The cafe has an OK selection of food (better than MacDs or your average service station food) & does childrens meals for about £5 for, say, sausage & mash, ice cream & a drink.

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