Things to do along the M4 corridor?

[chicaguapa]

We're travelling to Wales in half term but are looking for somewhere to do/ something to do en-route between Newbury and Bristol without taking too much of a detour from the M4. DC are 13 & 10.

Any ideas please? Bristol jumps out but other than the usual array of museums and/or animal parks, nothing stands out.

Would love some suggestions please. Thanks.

SS Great Britain??

Thanks. We live near Portsmouth so we have a few ships to visit nearby.

I've found the Museum of Computing in Swindon which looks quite quirky and DC will find interesting. That will fill an hour. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much else there.

Swindon has outlet village and a fab train museum at STEAM. If the DCs are little there is a butterfly farm/soft play/animals at garden centre just off junction 16. Far more fun though is just off junction 18 - national trust Dyrham park. Huge space for kids to run, walk around, kids activities, gardens, house to look at and nice cafe!! My boys favourite place (and if your travelling at weekend the marsh field ice cream shop is just down the road!!)

Thanks. I think the whole family would feel stitched up if I took them to the outlet village.

Not sure where Go Ape is but think your in the right age range

just marking my spot for the same reason

@bristol? Bristol zoo - also has zooropia thing. Climbing centre? There's a good bouldering place. Or crack on until Cardiff then do Dr Who experience?

The Living Rainforest at Thatcham?

Longleat Safari Park

Westonbirt Arboretum might have something on too.

Bowood House

Those are a bit far off the M4 in

What about Lydiard Park in Swindon? Good place for picnic, and there's a Go Ape type place there too. Also a small, minor stately home to look round.

Agree that STEAM museum in Swindon is very good. There is also a nice enough cafe at National Trust HQ, or the food court in the outlet village (both practically next door).

Tywysoges, the Living Rainforest is at Thatcham Norreys, 4 miles from junction 13 of the M4 and Bowood House is 9 miles from the junction 17 M4 and Westonbirt is 10 miles from M4 junction 18?! Not so far really?

Longleat is a bit further, I'll give you that...

I'm marking Lydiard Park for future reference though Tywysoges!

Why are you going on the M4 if you are driving from Portsmouth to Wales? Don't you go up over Salisbury Plain? I'd stop in Bath.

Why are you going on the M4 if you are driving from Portsmouth to Wales? grin Don't you go up over Salisbury Plain? I'd stop in Bath.

Because whilst that may be shorter in miles, it is usually longer in time. A right pain.

Agree they're not too far off the M4 if they are your final destination. But for a stop off on the way to somewhere else, I think a round trip of 20 miles is too far. Not that they're not great destinations though. All good suggestions for a day out.