What to do 1-2hours north of Harry Potter Studios?

[sapphirestar]

I'm thinking of taking my daughter to the Harry Potter studios in the summer holidays this year. We are in North Yorkshire which makes it roughly a 3.5/4hour drive so i was thinking i might do a 3 day trip, travelling half to 3/4 of the way there on day 1, stopping off and doing something on route, staying overnight and then travelling the rest of the way and visiting the studios on day 2. Same plan for on the way back so we're not spending long periods in the car and also getting to see and do a bit more.
Last time i did something like this and visited an unfamiliar area you lot were so helpful in offering suggestions for the best things to do so I'm for a bit of advice again please!
So, I know nothing about the area, any ideas for what we could do that is maybe an hour or 90mins from the Harry Potter studios if coming from North Yorkshire? Quick look at route planner suggests we would be travelling down the M1.
Thanks so much in advance

We live in Yorkshire and did Whipsnade Zoo on the way down, stayed overnight in Watford and did the studios in the morning. I drove home after the tour.

The second time we went I drove down in the morning, did the tour in the afternoon and stayed overnight before driving home. For me to drive both ways and do the tour on the same day would be too tiring.

How old is she?
There are some v pretty countryside bits near Northampton or shopping and ski zone at Milton Keynes?

Thank you, yes that's what i was thinking, that it would be too much to try and do it all in a day. Also gives us a mini holiday if we eke it out over 3days.
Sorry, should have said, she is 10, will be almost 11 when we go.Just having a quick look at availability, can't believe how quick it books up! The week i was originally looking at only has tours left starting at 6pm and after! So plan B is the last week in august which has tours either first thing or 2.30pm onwards

Woburn safari would be well worth a visit and is just off the M1.

Paradise Wildlife Park is good

National Space Centre in Leicester? That might be a bit far North though

Warwick Castle

I have been to the National Space Centre, actually off the back of a suggestion from here the last time we had a few days away, that was fantastic!
Thanks, lots of great ideas for me to research so far

If you did MK you can do Snowdome as suggested also Willen Lake is great either for free or with water sports / go ape. Salcey forest nearby is also a lovely walk with a cafe.

If it's holidays, there could be some cool free stuff around the ENORMOUS shopping centre plus there's loads of cheap chains for food.

The theatre has excellent productions touring but would be spendy.

Jurys Inn is very central or there's a Novotel closer to Willen.

Not much character around MK but there's a few small villages swallowed up by the metropolis eg Woughton plus the grand union canal goes through so there's a couple of nice canalside pubs

Ricekrispie22 Warwick Castle is nowhere near the M1, and is miles out of the way.

@TapasForTwo I really like the idea of Whipsnade Zoo, but it's a 3hr 25min drive for us, did you find the drive down and then a day in the zoo all in one day ok? I've booked a hotel not too far from there and Harry Potter studios for that night.
I've also always wanted to go to Warwick Castle, and don't mind a bit of a detour, just trying to avoid long periods in the car without breaking it up with something. Warwick would be 90mins from HP and then just over 2.5hrs home, so think it would doable.
Thanks for everyone's ideas, just need to work out which would be the best wet weather options if it decides to chuck it down in true August bank holiday style!!

Don’t go to paradise wildlife park, animals are in tiny cages

Go to HARRY POTTER STUDIO tour as early as you can in the day

With the new area it could take you 6 hours ++ to go round if you are potter heads and fans of the films

(it took DH & I 5 hours a couple of weeks ago and it was our 4th visit there so we didn't look at everything)

If it does take you that long then no worry about running out of time

If you get round quicker then also fine

If you are on a very strict budget take your own food/drink but butter beer to drink and ice cream version is worth getting one of to share to see if you like it before buying for everyone. We didn't eat there cos we ate before leaving home but had butterbeer ice cream

Charge your camera and phone before you go and also make sure you have lots of storage for all the photos and videos you will be taking

The shop is much much bigger now, still expensive but huge, if your DD wants to dress up then fab

Arrive before your ticket time to give you a chance to look around the foyer

Have a great time

Oops "me"

Great, thank you!! I've booked us in for the 9am slot, that way if we want to spend all day there we can. We are massive HP fans, me even more so than DD so there'll be no sneaking past without getting a proper look at everything!

Brilliant news

BTW make sure you speak to the staff at all of the positions that you see them in

They will show you props etc and other things that you might not notice or be able to see like inside the potions books or Harry's scar or buttons on costume

They also have a wealth of knowledge and information to share with you

I know I am biased cos a family member is one of them and loves interacting with the public hence the job title of interactor

You can dress up too if you want

Thanks so much, can't wait!
Wow, what a job! Getting paid for being a potterhead!