Stopover between Scotland and Kent

[capecoralfl]

Hi,
We regularly visit friends in Tunbridge Wells (love there!) but this summer we would like to have an overnight stopover on route south (mid way), just to break the journey for a nice dinner and a (dog friendly) hotel. Happy to go off motorway for a few miles for a market town or nice beer garden. (maybe south of Manchester). Any suggestions please?
Thank you

[mickeyspal]

Not a particular place to stay but york is lovely and about 1/2 way ish

[disney332]

M6 or M1 ?

Disney332

[capecoralfl]

We generally go down M6 as coming from the west of Scotland

[disney332]

Why not look at the Stratford Upon Avon area or Leamington Spa? That gets Brum out of the way.

I have no suggestions and would not wish to mislead you that I had.

Disney332

[AhoyShipmates]

How about Knutsford? Small Cheshire town with literary associations (the setting for Mrs Gaskell’s Cranford) and nice pubs. Groupon has a £79 overnight B&B stay at the Mere Hotel nearby at the moment if you wanted a country hotel. It’s just south of Manchester and close to the M6. Altrincham and Wilmslow are nice too.

I can also recommend Stratford but it can get so busy (book a restaurant ahead), plus it’s a further 90 minutes of driving.

[AhoyShipmates]

Oh and pay for the M6 toll - so worth it!

[saratogajan]

Can highly recommend lancaster. 2 minutes off the M6 and great for dogs, especially Williamson’s park overlooking morecambe bay.
Can recommend The Borough (gastro pub with rooms), the toll house, lancaster house hotel and the holiday inn which are all dog friendly.
Photos of the park

Lovely historic city with a castle. You can tell I like where I live!