Unusually, we don’t have to just blast back up the M1 to get home tomorrow, so can take an hour or two to stop off and explore somewhere.

So, somewhere between Luton and Derby, just off the motorway, needs to have somewhere to stretch our legs, café to eat in, and something to interest a 10 year old and 14 year old.

What do we know? Canals, locks and towpaths were my first thoughts, but open to any ideas.

Walk around Bradgate Park, Leicestershire.
10 mins off J21A just by Anstey/Newton Linford.
Big open space, nice cafe in middle, ice cream at one end, deer to look at.

http://www.bradgatepark.org/#

They aren’t very accommodating when it comes to riding your bike there mind 😉

Space museum was impressive when I went there, few years ago now though

http://spacecentre.co.uk

Space Center previously done to death, but never been to Bradgate Park

Bletchley Park? Would interest my two at that age.

Foxton Locks ?

Foxton and Bradgate both good shouts.

Newtown Linford where Braggy Park is has plenty of eating options and is a lovely village, despite its anti biking inhabitants 😀

Need more time than the OP has for Bletchley really.

Any of the above
Abbey Pumping Station, Leicester Not sure about the cafe, there’s one next door at the Space Centre
Great Central Railway
King Richard III
Stoneywell You must pre-book though. Closest to the M1

Another canal one, Stoke Bruerne. Very close to M1

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/museums-and-attractions/the-canal-museum

There’s lots of parks in Milton Keynes for the kids.

Willen Lake in MK?
Ampthill Park

Marston Vale Forest Centre 5 minutes from J13. Cafe, free parking, walks, cycle paths and a bird watching area.

Indoor climbing or skiing at Escape MK.

Whipsnade zoo or the Dunstable Downs are also within easy reach of Luton.

How about Dunstable Downs near Luton? Or Woburn/Whipsnade if you can take a break for longer than a couple of hours

I came here to make dogging jokes… But then read the bit about kids. So I’ll just leave 😆

Well?

What did you go with?

Stoke Bruerne was the choice. Sat outside the pub eating an excellent lunch watching the boats go through the busy lock.

Thank you – will look at some of the other options next time.

Much better than half an hour at Coddington with a lot of hungover Huddersfield fans 😆

Stoke Bruerne was the choice. Sat outside the pub eating an excellent lunch watching the boats go through the busy lock.

Thank you – will look at some of the other options next time.

Much better than half an hour at Toddington with a lot of hungover Huddersfield fans 😆

Excellent, remember going there as a nipper.