Driving from London to Colchester anything near or on the way

[Muninem]

We're driving from London to Colchester. Is there anything on the way worth a visit or that's a good lunch place? Will have some time to kill.

I can help !

Are you coming down the A12?

Where abouts in London are you starting from? (A12 or M11 and A120) And which area of Colly are you going to ?
TBH I would possibly prefer to do the journey and spend your time in Colchester.

Sorry- Although if you like gardens RHS garden at Hyde Hall near Colchester is worth a visit and there is a restaurant, and you can carry on to Colchester via Maldon, which used to have loads of pubs and restaurants inteh centre of time and some Thames barges and good bird watching

I’m struggling with this one as it’s really just the A12 /A120

There is an outlet shopping village outside Braintree - google Freeport

Garden centres - OK but not amazing - nearer Colchester.

Coggleshall village, again near Colchester is pretty with a couple of good pubs.

Having said that, Colchester itself is a nice town for a mooch, but if you’ve really got time to kill perhaps look a little further along the A12 at some of the Suffolk villages, like Dedham? Milsoms is nice for a fancy lunch.

Well, if you like Garden centres Perrywoods on the edge of Tiptree is probably the best of the bunch ( Poplar at Marks Tey is runner up IMHO) but if you are in Tiptree, Wilkins Jam factory do a good afternoon tea and there is a little jam museum there which is interesting (never been for lunch).
Depending on when you are travelling the NT properties in Coggeshall ( Paycocks and the Grange Barn ) reopen on 16th March. Bourne Mill in Cochester is open this week for half term and then goes back to Saturday and Sundays Winter opening times. ( These are for visits, not sure they do lunches)
If you want Suffolk villages, Lavenham and Long Melford are gorgeous, with plenty of food outlets. ( And free parking unlike Dedham!)
Depending on your routes in Colchester please be aware there are some major road works towards the East of the town centre (Ipswich Road/Cowdray Avenue) which have some epic queues at various times and will impact on anyone aiming in the University of Essex direction.
In the Centre of Colchester, the Castle is worth a visit- there is a hoard of jewellery there from when Boudica ransacked the town.

Hyde Hall is not near Colchester and it’s quite a detour from the A12, if that’s the route you’re taking.
If you just want a good cafe, then Lathcoats Farm Shop is excellent and really handy for the A12. www.eapples.co.uk
If you want somewhere to stretch your legs, then Hylands House is a good option. There’s a cafe, gift shop and second hand book shop as well as lots of parkland, some gardens to wander round and a very exciting adventure playground!

Sorry for being cryptic!

DH, DD (aged 6) and I are spending a few days staying near Colchester. We don’t have a car so have rented one and I thought we’d get the maximum use out of that by stopping somewhere on the way there/back.

TopBitch—yes, we’ll be taking the A12 from London.

Some good suggestions, many thanks - any more welcome, as are things to do while we’re there (not so much in Colchester, since we could take the train down some time and stay in the town).

If you're there for a few days I'd recommend Suffolk Food Hall for a family day out. There's a good playground if the the weather is nice.

suffolkfoodhall.co.uk

Sorry-my typo Hyde Hall is 5miles (12 mins) from A12 near Chelmsford on the way to Colchester - but maybe not the greatest place for a 6 year old.
Colchester Zoo is out of town and not easy on public transport if I recall correctly, so might be worth thinking about while you have a car. And you can use Tesco vouchers.
There is a Visit Colchester website which is worth a look.

It's like an hour away?

There isn’t really anywhere or any need to stop to be honest. It’s only an hour.
Stuff close by while you there though.

Colchester Zoo is fantastic. If you can get there I'd highly recommend it.

We check in to our accommodation in the afternoon but have the car all day (it wasn’t any cheaper to rent it just from later on). So I thought I’d take the opportunity for us to visit somewhere we’d never normally get to see. When you don’t have a car, some places might as well be on the Moon.

Some great suggestions, Hylands Hall looks perfect—thanks Ricekrispie—but there’s also the journey back so any more ideas welcome…

maldon is good for youngsters if you get a nice day the Prom park has a good playground and you can see the Thames Barges. The smoke house (local food), there used to be a craft beer place on the high st.

Or mersea Island for the oyster shack and a bit of beach

What does your 6 year old like?

Mersea is a good bet.

You could also come further west on the way back (via the A120) and pick up the M11.

You could do Hatfield Forest if the weather is good - they usually have half term activities.

Or a bit further to drive up the M11 is Duxford. If DS likes planes that's a good bet!

On the way back you could stop at Thames Chase Forest Centre www.thameschase.org.uk/visitor-centres/the-forest-centre/about-the-forest-centre There’s a cafe plus loads of plays areas scattered about.
Or Old MacDonald’s Farm which has lots of animals to feed and pet, a handful of rides, indoor soft play, adventure playground and go karts. www.omdfarm.co.uk

Thanks to everyone who replied. I wish you all a happy half term!