Where to stop between Devon and Lake District?

[TwoLeggedGrooveMachine]

Planning a camping trip to Lake District in the summer holidays. It’s a trek for us and we’ll need at least one night close by so we don’t arrive after a long day driving and have to set up camp.

Previous trips we have stopped at Blackpool and Alton Towers (it’s all up North to us). Thinking about Liverpool for a couple of nights one way but was hoping for ideas for a couple of nights the other way. Any suggestions welcome for teens 17 and 14 who like all sorts really, apart from team sports. History, nature, art, modern city stuff.

Chester

Telford could be a good shout https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/

And there's some good walking near there too.

Also Liverpool is an excellent place for a couple of days - there was a great thread on here last year about stuff to do with kids in Liverpool if you don't already have that bit of the trip planned. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/uk/5173806-what-to-see-and-do-in-liverpool#:~:text=Walker%20Art%20Gallery%2C%20Albert%20Dock,you'll%20probably%20be%20covered!&text=Bold%20St%2C%20Lark%20Lane%2C%20Sefton,fan)%2C%20NT%20Beatles%20Tour.

Herefordshire
Shropshire
Forest of Bowland

The Black Country museum is excellent (although Dudley isn’t the nicest place to stay overnight you could probably do a whole day at the museum then just stay at the premier inn over the road!)

Peak District

Jodrell Bank is on your route, between Stoke and Manchester, or there's Slimbridge and Aerospace Bristol nearer your end, and also Gloucester where there's the national Waterways museum.

Use https://www.whatshalfway.com/

Would Ludlow in Shropshire work? Lovely spot to camp and ancient town to wander

Ludlow's fab! Cinnamon buns at Csons! History. Architecture. Geology. Food. Countryside. (Bit of a way from the M5, mind you.)

Otherwise what about Birkenhead? A contact went there recently and raved about it. https://www.visitwirral.com/explore/things-to-do-in-birkenhead/

Thanks for the recommendations. I had a few days in Ludlow with a visit to Ironbridge a few years ago with my mum and the kids. Lovely area but probably looking for somewhere new this time.

lots more ideas for me to take a look at so thanks.

Love this place!!

How about the Cotswolds or nip into Wales.