Going to the passport office in Newport - any nice places to visit w/children nearby?

[OldieMum]

We have to go to the passport office in Newport on Monday (a four-hour round trip from our home)in order to arrange a passport for DS. We'll be taking him (8 months) and DD (4). No offence to Newportonians intended, but my memory of Newport itself is that there isn't much to do or see there (I grew up in South Wales). Can anyone suggest somewhere nearby that we could also visit, to turn a tedious admin trip into a nice day out? Abergavenny looks a bit far to me - anywhere nearer? Can you jog my memory? Also, suggestions for somewhere nice to have lunch in or near Newport would be welcome.

Isn't it close to Cardiff - lots to see and do there

I'd go past Newport to the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans near Cardiff (signposted off the motorway I think and probably 15 mins drive past Newport?) It's a big open air park with lots of old houses from around Wales so your DD might enjoy exploring. You could certainly spend a couple of hours there. If it's good weather that is... don't go in the rain!

I'd definitely second St. Fagan's - it's not far off junction 33 of the motorway, and is wonderful when you've got small children - the tour guides will talk to you and lo's for hours if you want them too - the park is good, and the bakery does the best bara brith anywhere (well, except my mum's) The café is good too ....

If you didn't want to go that far, there's always Tredegar House near Newport - just off junction 28 of the motorway - nice for a couple of hours - but if you want to stretch it out, then St. Fagan's is your best bet.

Er - a bit far? The appointment is at 2.30, have to fit in nap times etc. I know Cardiff well, but really didn't want to go more than about 10 miles from Newport before heading home.

but Califrau, St Fagan's also has sheep, horses cows and pigs ... hours of entertainemtn (even though the piglets stink!)

If St. Fagan's is too far, then I'd recomment Tredegar House - and its ducks - there's a good quilt shop in the craft units too if you're into that sort of thing (there's also a leather craftsman and a couple of other things too)

Califrau - that was such a random bit of info that I'm speechless! please elaborate!

Or up to Caerleon - Remains of a Roman amphitheatre and baths? I guess there's a couple of cafes in the village for lunch too.

Or Chepstow Castle on the way to Newport? (If you come over the old bridge)

[Snort]

That's one of the worst jokes I've heard this week....

pmsl - impressive joke califrau - like it

I was also going to suggest Caerleon - I used to work there - and we all used to go to either the Ship Inn (take the right turn just before you go over the bridge into the village) or the Hanbury Arms - buried in the one-way system - for lunch - there's not much in the way of cafés there - too many pubs - I think it may be the village with the greatest number of pubs per head of population in Wales .... The museum there is good - and the amphitheatre is good for a stroll ... no ducks though ...

Yep I'd recommend Caerleon (and I should know living in the middle LOL- wanna coffee? )

Ship Inn is a fave here LOL! Not an awful lot in the way of cafe's actually, one in the Ffrrwwwymmm crafty thing though.

The ducks, btw are at Cwmbran boating lake- lovely on a sunny day for a walk

St fagans is fab but no way a 15 minute drive, more 30 mins I would say

muminfife - I think 'a bit far' was directed all those of us gushing about st fagan's!

Jojomamanbebe warehouse was v small (and only open for 2 hours on a Weds and Friday) when I went - mind you that was 4 years ago!

some of the locals going to the pub in Caerleon

PMSL Peaches- I was actually at that event LOL!

More like this in term time, and this the rest of the year!

LOL

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think we'll try Caerleon. I never did make it to the Roman Camp as a child. By the way, I was always told that Llandovery had the greatest number of pubs per head. A distant relative (a heavy drinker) was carried through there in a hearse on the way to his funeral. He had been an (unruly) pupil at Llandovery College many years before. The family speculated as to whether he would jump out and head for the nearest pub when he realised where he was.

I think it IS Caerleon, used to be the town in England where I grew up- seems to be something i follow