One night stopovers between Essex and Northumberland?

[Queuing4Fergs]

We are based in Essex and heading to Northumberland for a week in August. Looking for places to stop over for 1 night each way, to break up the journey.

We have DS12 and DS9 so looking for somewhere that would occupy them for an afternoon and morning - water park? Themepark? A decent fun museum or place of interest?

I'm not from the UK and my knowledge of any place north of us is pretty woeful 😳 so I'd be grateful for any recommendations. Accommodation-wise we would do a cheap and cheerful Premier Inn or similar

Thank you!

You don't say where you are in Essex but if you are near the M11 I would pick M11/A1 over the M1. I often drive the A1 to Scotland and find it quite an easy drive. We don't need to break the journey overnight, although we do take a long lunch stop and sometimes a second. Yorkshire is the right sort of distance so the Wildlife park seems a good recommendation. I like Harrogate or York but I am not a 12 year old boy.

It could take as long to get to Alton Towers from Essex as it does to get to Alnwick and then it would be very busy.

Eeek - some of these suggestions (Liverpool) are miles off the A1!

Tbh Op, I doubt you'll have time to squeeze in big attractions like Lightwater Valley etc if you split the journey. You'll spend most of the time in queues. And Beamish - lovely as it is - is so close to Northumberland that you won't be splitting the journey equally.

Halfway from Essex to Northumberland is around the Notts area. I reckon an afternoon at Sherwood Forest is probably your best bet. Lots of space to run around, good nature trails, places for picnics etc.

@Titsflyingsouth , I did say it was a wildcard - I picked it at random as somewhere that might be worth a detour, and explained that it was probably no more off the route than Alton Towers

Wheel gate park nr sherwood forest is lovely, they have an outdoor splash area if the weathers warm.

Don't bother with doncaster dome for swimming, it's very tatty now, in desperate need of a refurb.

Leicester space museum with stay at the Marriott (pool, £80 for family room). We went down curry mile too.

Also York. Premier Inn was £50 a night.

Hopefully you have a plan. We tried out this app at Easter which has stuff all across the country and you can book last minute. The website has information as to what to do in different towns and cities too. I think it's more flexible and your money goes further - You're not tied to any one place and can use on different things. Might be worth having a look. It's called Keetoo.com

Sorry, me again, Birmingham has loads to do too.

it might have but it's hardly en route from Essex to Northumberland!

Wow, you guys are all amazing, thank you! I will discuss with the boys and finalise a plan. Thanks for all the Northumberland tips, too. I'm really looking forward to the trip!

I second Yorkshire sculpture park and the mining museum is brilliant if you are ok with being underground . It's v close to the sculpture park

Take some books that the Dc have grown out of to trade at the second hand book shop in Alnwick... love it there