Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

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

Original poster

Any ideas for child friendly place to visit somewhere between Padstow and Gatwick?

11 replies

mrspink27 · 09/08/2006 23:06

Wonder if anyone is up for a challenge of finding a place to stay and a place to visit next thursday night and friday next week as my mother( I must be mad) the dds (2 and 4) and I will be setting off from Gatwick area to Longleat and then off to the Eden Project, followed by Heligan and Padstow.
We'll travel on Tuesday to Longleat and stay in Exeter, drive to Eden on Wednesday morning and stay in St Austell, do Heligan and Padstow on Thursday and then we need to start heading back east so that we are half way ish home on Thursday night. Want to do something on Friday but not sure what really.... Any ideas for what to do which will in turn inform where to stay?

OP posts:
QueenPeaHead · 09/08/2006 23:13

why don't you go back via m5 m4 m25 and get off on the m4, go to cotswold wildlife park and stay somewhere around there (lots of places). it is a really lovely place - wild animals, adventure playground, petting zoo, mini railway etc. perfect for that age. much smaller and more gentle than longleat. alternatively get off the M4 a little earlier, stay somewhere near chippenham/calne, and spend the day at Bowood (lovely grounds, fantastic adventure playground, might not occupy you for the entire day).

MercyTung · 09/08/2006 23:17

Definitely agree with QPH's idea re Cotswold Wildlife Park and Bowood House (v busy though).

Original poster
mrspink27 · 09/08/2006 23:18

Thanks QPH, dd1 is determined to go to longleat, but cotswold wildlife sounds great, will investigate Bowood to.

Any other ideas?

OP posts:
QueenPeaHead · 09/08/2006 23:19

longleat is fantastic! I just meant that it has a different feel completely to longleat so you wouldn't feel like you were doing the same thing twice IYSWIM.

Original poster
mrspink27 · 09/08/2006 23:21

The dds cant get enough of wildlife parks and farms, and having had 2 'cultured days' will be longing for a fix of animal life again! so cotswolds sounds good.
Just trying to break up the drive from Cornwall to Gatwick!

OP posts:
QueenPeaHead · 09/08/2006 23:22

cotswold wildlife park sounds just perfect for you then.

QueenPeaHead · 09/08/2006 23:23

there is also a place between swindon and highworth called Roves Farm which is very nice - farm animals, tractor rides etc. great for your ages.

UrsulatheSeawitch · 09/08/2006 23:42

We once went to Slimbridge on our way home from Bridport to Lancs - broke our journey up nicely - are the distances similar? (Is Slimbridge en route for you?)

MamaMaiasaura · 10/08/2006 00:49

Longleat is FANTASTIC. Not only is there the animal safari but lots of other things too. The kids play area is brilliant. LOvely surroundings, cannot rate it enough tbh.

MamaMaiasaura · 10/08/2006 00:50

QueenPeahead - Roves Farm is fab - you are right ds loved the tractor ride there and is cheaper than longleat. Am hopefully going there (Roves Farm) on Sunday.

ZippiZapata · 10/08/2006 06:35

please bear in mind you may not be able to post freely here in future

New posts on this thread. Refresh page