Somewhere for a run round/picnic/perhaps cafe off M40 about junction 8

[Orangedaisy]

Travelling from Staffordshire to South London tomorrow with 1 and 4 yo DDs. Journey up yesterday was sheer hell so want to make the return leg nicer. Ideally we’d like a free play park with a few picnic benches and a supermarket between motorway and it to grab a picnic (staying with mil so bringing our own sarnies from her is too difficult). We really don’t want to stray far from the motorway. Any suggestions? I’ve spotted the spiceball country park in Banbury.....

Blenheim Palace isn't too far from J9

Spiceball Park is OK (and free) but Blenheim is a gorgeous setting although you do have to pay.

Thanks for your reply-I did look at that but it’s very expensive and we only really want to stop for a quick picnic and run round really.

Ah, OK. There's a shopping centre across the road from Spiceball, so you can stock up on sandwiches etc from Marks or Greggs

Fab. Thanks for the local knowledge! I shall try it and report back.

Rectory farm at Stanton St john? Or just off junction 8: there is an Asda in Wheatley, i don't know it well but there must be a park there somewhere, Wheatley is a big village.

There's a retail park with Costa, M&S Cafe, Mc Donald's literally on the M40?

Asda with McD at High Wycombe junction...

Rectory farm looks wonderful but DDs will insist on the sandpit which we don’t think is such a great plan if they are then sat on the m25 for hours with itchy sand everywhere (especially as dd2 has heat rash). We should have stayed at home. Thanks for all the others, will see how we get on and decide depending where we are.

Just to update-we made very good time so ended up stopping at Beaconsfield-picnic from Sainsbury’s (used the loos there too) eaten at Malthouse Square recreation ground followed by a play. Just what we needed.