Toddler friendly long weekend

[Etherealhedgehog]

So, I'm finally getting married (third attempt due to COVID!) in mid-May. Original plans are all somewhat out the window as there will now be a 19 month old in the mix. We want to stay somewhere for 2-3 nights right after the wedding. Criteria are: self-catering (assuming Airbnb), no more than 4 hours drive from north London, enjoyable with a 19 month old in tow (so toddler friendly activities, eateries etc but also nice enough accomodation that DP and I will enjoy hanging out there during naptimes and evenings). My default plan is the little Essex beach town we have visited in the past (with Colchester Zoo within striking distance for the animal-crazy little one) but I would love to see some other options. Any ideas?

Hi, we went to Dorset with our 14mo last summer as our first family holiday away. We stayed in an air bnb in wareham which was about 15min drive from plenty of toddler friendly attractions. We would do an activity each morning and afternoon around his nap. Lovely beaches - lulworth cove, durdledoor, Studland Bay. We also got the ferry over to sandbanks on the drive home and stopped for a nice lunch. We also visited corfe castle and a modle village which was perfect for toddlers and farmer palmers kiddie farm. We visited swanage one morning which has the best playground aimed at toddlers I've ever seen.
We mostly self catered or ate in national Trust type cafes as our boy doesn't sit still! There were some lovely pubs/restaurants in wareham and the pig at Studland Bay would have been amazing.
Enjoy your holiday!

Knowle Farm or North Hayne Farm in Devon

Another vote for Dorset