Kid-friendly place for rest stop between Oxfordshire and North Wales?

[GoingonHoliday]

We're headed to Bangor on holiday next week, and we're meeting relatives on the way: is there a nice rest stop in between Oxfordshire and Bangor that we could meet up at? Somewhere with a playground or another tourist attraction would be ideal, as well as food and loos - SIL has suggested Cadbury's World, but that seems to take another 3 hours to Bangor from there, and you can't actually drive in to Stratford-upon-avon, her other suggestion.

Any other ideas? SIL is coming from abroad, its the first time for many of her kids in the UK, so she is keen for the family to see more of the UK. But I'm Not Keen to drive 1.5 hours to Cadbury's World and then another 3 hours plus to where we're staying, if I can avoid that! (Plus autistic DD won't do terribly well with four hours plus in a car).

Trentham Esate - there’s loads to do, including a large adventure playground and a monkey Forest trentham.co.uk/estate-gardens/adventure-in-the-gardens/

Blist’s Hill at Ironbridge www.ironbridge.org.uk/visit/blists-hill-victorian-town/#overview

Chester zoo?

Thank you - off to google!

Trentham Estate and Blist's Hill both look great - I knew mumsnet would come up trumps.

NotDavidTennant (great name, but how dissappointing that you're not the actual David Tennant), DD would love Chester Zoo, but not sure about SILs teenagers (she's got five kids, ranging from teens to a toddler).

Yes to Trentham and the monkey forest.
If National Trust is an option, Powis Castle in Welshpool has decent grounds for children to run around and Erddig in Wrexham has a good outdoor play area.

You can drive into Stratford - what makes you think you can’t?

I thought Stratford wouldn't have much parking centrally, much like Oxford, and we'd need to use something like a park and ride - is that not correct?

Nothing like driving into Oxford at all. I know both very well. It is busy in summer but you can park very centrally - we usually use the open-air car park at the recreation ground, next to the river, or at the Bridgeway multi-storey.

Stratford is horrendous in the hot weather, I would strongly recommend avoiding it if you don't want to sit in traffic. Which route are you taking? The monkey forest is lovely and shady if that's on your way, you might also be going nearish to Dudley castle and zoo.

I think the monkey forest is the one we're going to.persuade SIL.to go for, though interesting to know that Stratford may potentially be doable : there's a cat cafe there that DD would love!

Thanks for all the advice: this is so helpful

Also came on to say Trentham Estate and the Monkey Forest!

On the way back there is a wacky warehouse at catch corner (Staffordshire) that is one minute off the motorway. Not lovely but good for a shortish stop with small ones (under eight I'd say) and a pub dinner if you want as it is attached to a pub.

Or a more wholesome option in the similar area would be the stepping stones on Cannock Chase (google it).

I hadnt even thought of the way back yet!

Those stepping stones look lovely...

Chester zoo
Crocky Trail also near Chester
crockytrail.co.uk

I think teenagers would still like the zoo- they have good ape collection which for even teens not that interested in animals do find fascinating to watch. It really is a top notch zoo and teeens could take themselves round with an agreed meet up point and time .

Tatton park
Delamere forest - walks or go ape
chester itself- walk around Roman wall to stretch legs.

Roman wall is a good shout too: SIL has to fork out for 7 tickets for her family, so thingscan get really expense really quickly. So free stuff is good!

Sad to say Stratford cat cafe is over 10s only