Running out of time! - day out somewhere nesr Worcester

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Help girls, I have run out of time, and the family expects me to come up with somewhere nice to run around, explore and either eat or have a picnic. We are travelling tomorrow from East Anglia to Bristol via Birmingham, so on M6, M42 and then M5. I thought maybe somewhere near Bromsgrove or Worcester might be good. Any ideas? Help or else everyone will moan at me !!!

I recently moved to Alcester, not far from the M42 and M5. A couple of good places that are not too far off the route are: Ragley Hall, near Alcester, off M42 junction 3. You can follow then follow the A46 towards Evesham and join the M5 further down (I think it's about junction 9), or go across country on the A422 towards Worcester and pick up the M5 at junction 7. Ragley Hall has plenty of open space for picnics and childrens' play areas as well. A family ticket to the park and gardens costs £17.

If you are looking for somewhere that is free to go, the Malvern hills are usually good and would offer plenty of space to run around. They are just off Junction 7 of the M5.

A final suggestion that may be too far off your route, is Hatton County Park near Warwick. There is a nice mix of places to eat or picnic, small craft type shops and animal farm to look at. You have to pay to go round the farm but you can enjoy everything else for free.

Hope you find somewhere suitable to go and have a good journey.

Are you NT members? If so, Hanbury Hall is great here and relatively easy to get to from Jnt 5 of M5. If you're not NT members, though it's £4-ish each per adult.

Also in similar area Jinney Ring Craft centre .

Bennett's Farm Park (very good ice cream), not far off jnt 7 over the new bridge. Don't think they have a website but their phone number is 01905 748345.

Finally, Worcester itself has a lovely path alongside the river with benches and there are gardens just under the cathedral.

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Great - thanks so far. Hatton Park sounds good, and the location is fine. We were hoping not to spend too much money, as its just somewhere to stop off on the way. Keep the ideas coming. Thanks everyone.