Holyhead to Longleat and back from Southampton

Only

We are just starting to plan part of a trip in the UK.
Initial planning is as follows:

Day 1(Tueday): Dun Laoighre to Holyhead arriving at 3.45pm
Planning on travelling some way towards Longleat that evening and staying overnight enroute (Travelodge or the like).
Day 2(Wednesday):The following morning we will head to Longleat and spend the day there.
Unsure whether to spend the night in Longleat or Travel to Southampton that evening.


Return journey(Monday): Travel from Southampton to Holyhead - stay in Travelodge in Holyhead to get ferry following morning.

I have a few questions if anyone can help:
Where would the best place be to stop on Day 1 to spend our overnight (we will have 2 small children travelling with us)?
Have read the M6 can be a nightmare so want to avoid jams as much as possible..... would it be best to try and get past Birmingham that evening?
Is there a better route to take?

Any improvements / suggestions appreciated

billie1b

Would you not consider Rosslare to Pembroke, cuts your drive down to about 3hr 30 mins and maybe on the way home go through Holyhead. I get the boat to France often and drive to the south (9hrs) with 3 kids all under 8 years old, I know what its like on the long drives with them

Only

We looked at the Pembroke crossing but we're in the West so the drive to Rosslare would be over 4hours 30mins plus the crossing is 4 hours so the saving on the other end is cancelled out ... thinking the shorter ferry crossing may be the best as at least in a car you can stop enroute

munchkin_utd

Only wrote: »

We looked at the Pembroke crossing but we're in the West so the drive to Rosslare would be over 4hours 30mins plus the crossing is 4 hours so the saving on the other end is cancelled out ... thinking the shorter ferry crossing may be the best as at least in a car you can stop enroute

indeed, the rosslare ferry timings are very driver or child unfriendly.
You have an 8am or 9pm option, the first means you'd nearly need a cabin to recover from the early drive yourself(which I did the last time and it was well worth the few extra euro).
The latter means you have kids beyond their bedtime going ballistic through over tiredness.
Both a balls.

Anyhow, If going via Holyhead you could try the Premier inn Bromsgrove, just south of Birmingham off the M5
www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/BROBRE

Just booked a room myself for the journey after the later (cheaper) stena afternoon ferry. Its 3hours dead from Holyhead according to google maps. Youre just beyond Birmingham so no risk of morning traffic madness around there.
And its only 29pound for a family room on an advance bookers deal so also good on that front.
Travellodge can be marginally cheaper, but unless its one of the renovated ones you may end up in an awful kip, so be careful with them.

For the way back theres a travellodge at Bangor just off the dual carraigeway, so just before heading onto Anglesey island, which we stayed at before and despite not being renovated was spot on and had a deal going when there wasnt one in Holyhead. Room was grand and lovely fella on reception. Not even a half hour on an empty road to Holyhead so it suited us spot on and would stay there again without hesitation.

EDIT: should you need acomodation in Southampton, then the Holiday inn express chain is very family friendly and theres 2 or 3 of them about southampton and their rates include breakfast. Otherwise, premier inn/ travellodge and Novotel also do family rooms to cater for 2 adults and 2 kids at no extra cost - but the nearer you are to the centre the more chance you'll be paying for parking.

Only

Thanks a million for your advice munchkin_utd!
The Broomsgrove Premier Inn looks perfect!
We actually have a cancellable booking for one of the Premier Inns in Southampton but may rethink this yet ... do you know if there is any real advantage/disadvantage of staying within Southampton itself or would we be as well off in the likes of the Holiday Inn (the one North East of Southampton) .. we are planning on going to Paultons Peppa Pig World and a day in Butlins Bognor Regis (to check it out for a possible stay another year)?
The Hoiliday Inn has free parking and breakfast whereas the Premier inn is £5 per night parking plus about £10 per adult breakfast so about £100 more plus for the 4 nights. The Holiday Inn is only about £10 per night cheaper room rate.

I hadn't looked at the Travellodge in Bangor - we had seen the one in Holyhead (its been renovated) and its cheap (I think £29 for the room) ... would we be better off in Bangor or Holyhead do you think?

And thanks for the tip off on the travelodges, didn't really realise a lot of them can be kips

Thanks again for your help. Any more input gratefully received

munchkin_utd

regarding Travellodges, they needed a 500million pound bailout last year which is an indication of why they hadnt the cash to invest in the upkeep of their properties. But, they have the cash now so are going full out to remedy the situation, but till that's completed you have to check if the place is half decent - so either half ok reviews or is renovated.
When we were staying near Holyhead the options near the port were all over 50 pounds but Bangor was 29. If the one in Holyhead is renovated and is as cheap then it might be the better option.

We visited Peppa Pig land twice at this stage, once staying at a holiday inn express and once in the Novotel. Once you are near a motorway you're flying. We actually stayed at the one you are thinking of and it was grand. Theres a different one to the west of Southampton, so nearer PP land, but with the motorway its only a few minutes difference between the hotels at the docks or the Holiday inn in the north east of Southampton.
As I said the Novotel is a nice alternative, they have a pool and is just that bit more comfortable for a longer stay. The current prices are probably a little dear compared to the others, and breakfasts are an awful price. BUT, they have flagged a sale coming in a fortnight with 40% off and they (for the first time) are throwing in a free breakfast. Thats for stays from the 15th dec to 27th April and booking begins on the 19th November for accor group loyalty card holders (which is free to join) and a week later with smaller discount for normal mortals.
EDIT: here is the link which will lead to the sale in 2 weeks: http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/promotion/specials/crazyprices.shtml

kingshankly

munchkin_utd wrote: »

regarding Travellodges, they needed a 500million pound bailout last year which is an indication of why they hadnt the cash to invest in the upkeep of their properties. But, they have the cash now so are going full out to remedy the situation, but till that's completed you have to check if the place is half decent - so either half ok reviews or is renovated.
When we were staying near Holyhead the options near the port were all over 50 pounds but Bangor was 29. If the one in Holyhead is renovated and is as cheap then it might be the better option.

We visited Peppa Pig land twice at this stage, once staying at a holiday inn express and once in the Novotel. Once you are near a motorway you're flying. We actually stayed at the one you are thinking of and it was grand. Theres a different one to the west of Southampton, so nearer PP land, but with the motorway its only a few minutes difference between the hotels at the docks or the Holiday inn in the north east of Southampton.
As I said the Novotel is a nice alternative, they have a pool and is just that bit more comfortable for a longer stay. The current prices are probably a little dear compared to the others, and breakfasts are an awful price. BUT, they have flagged a sale coming in a fortnight with 40% off and they (for the first time) are throwing in a free breakfast. Thats for stays from the 15th dec to 27th April and booking begins on the 19th November for accor group loyalty card holders (which is free to join) and a week later with smaller discount for normal mortals.
EDIT: here is the link which will lead to the sale in 2 weeks: http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/promotion/specials/crazyprices.shtml

Was looking to do peppa pig world next year myself was debating what way to go Holyhead and drive or fly to southampton(not cheap) or fly to London and train down
Any advice?

jjbrien

kingshankly wrote: »

Was looking to do peppa pig world next year myself was debating what way to go Holyhead and drive or fly to southampton(not cheap) or fly to London and train down
Any advice?

Theres direct trains from Gatwick down to Southampton so you could get ryanair into it and take the train from there would be pretty cheap if you get an advanced rail fare.

kingshankly

jjbrien wrote: »

Theres direct trains from Gatwick down to Southampton so you could get ryanair into it and take the train from there would be pretty cheap if you get an advanced rail fare.

Was thinking this would work out cheapest (plus I have complimentary travel on uk trains) but you haven't the freedom of your car

munchkin_utd

kingshankly wrote: »

Was thinking this would work out cheapest (plus I have complimentary travel on uk trains) but you haven't the freedom of your car

Peppa pig world is in the middle of nowhere so getting there without a car is tricky and there's no indication on the website if it's even possible by public transport. Even if a bus stops on the main road there's a nice wee walk sped down the lane to the park itself

The one positive of having a car is that you're flexible and can do things like a day trip to Stonehenge easily.

billie1b

kingshankly wrote: »

Was thinking this would work out cheapest (plus I have complimentary travel on uk trains) but you haven't the freedom of your car

Honestly your better off on the boat, I did Thomasland in Birmingham, would of been lost without the car, these places don't have great public transport access plus with the car you can go a lot more places than being stuck in or relying on Public Transport or taxis

The Red Ace

getting off the boat at 3.45pm after leaving Mayo earlier in the morning the kids will probably be tired by then but my suggestion would be put Stafford on your sights. A 5 to Chester then look out for the A51, its mostly dual carriageway and in roughly 35+ minutes you are out on J12 on the M6, southbound 2 Junctions to 14 for Stafford North up to roundabout and on your left you have the Premier Inn, The Shire Horse Pub is right by the side of the inn with great food. Much easier to find at night time. It will be busy in the morning on the motorway but at least its bright, watch your lanes for the M5 around Brummy . A lot of places of interest on your route, Shakespere country, Stonehenge etc you should knock a week out of it, enjoy the trip.