Help -- what is there to do near Silverstone race track for three/four hours on Sunday afternoon?

[frogs]

What it says on the tin, really -- dh is running in the Silverstone half marathon on Sunday afternoon. Because he's not a driver, we all have to go along for the ride.

What can I do with three children (ages 3-11 years) while he does his thang (which presumably will take a couple of hours + faffing around time) that won't cause me to lose the will to live?

Did you decide against the zoo? Or have the tickets not materialised? I sent them on Wednesday. I will be seriously p**sed off if they haven't got to you as I had considered driving round and sticking them through your letter box.

I'll take that as a No, then shall I?

No, Posey, the tickets have materialised, but we're going to use them at London Zoo next Saturday instead. The logistics of combining whipsnade and silverstone were a bit too much, in the end.

Was going to email you this am when tickets arrived, but have been chasing round in circles all day. Many thanks!

hmmmmmmm shopping at Bicester village - they have a clarks outlet store - not fun but will fill in the time?

Actually posted them Tuesday so you should defo have got them by now.

Oh thats good. Was about to get really annoyed at the post!

Though actually, looking at the map, you can get from Silverstone to Whipsnade without going back on the motorway -- maybe I should revert to plan A. How long would you think I'd need to allow for Whipsnade? Maybe I'll drop dh off early and pick him up late [evil cackle emoticon]

Whipsnade is fab, and better in many ways than London Zoo. If you want lots of space to see big animals, Whipsnade is the place. London Zoo is great for the smaller stuff. As for time, well on a nice day, you can easily spend all day there. Not too sure how nice Sunday is going to be and Whipsnade can be a bit raw as it is quite exposed.
Not much help am I?!

What's the deal for visiting Whipsnade? The website says something about driving round the site, but I'm sure I remember walking round. Haven't been since I was tiny, though. Their website doesn't really give you an idea of the layout or what the different sections are.

Silverton takes about 40mins from Junction 10 on teh M1 (dh and fil go to grand prix every year) Whipsnade is about another 15mins from there if you go via slip end just of junction 10.

Sorry should have added you probaly need a good 2 or 3 hours to see most of it. And wrap up warm as it is very cold as zoo is on a hill

siverstone too far away from Whipsnade, try either Stowe Gardens (gorgeous) or Woburn safari (much closer than Whipsnade)

there is a forestry commission wood called Bucknell wood very close to silverstone, with trails and childrens playground. at least there was 20 years ago.
look on the map for it.