Living the electric dream: 5 amazing road trips from Milton Keynes that won’t cost the earth from Stratstone BYD
With summer holidays looming and lovely light evenings for after-work road trips, everyone’s looking to be inspired by staycation destinations for July and August.
We’ve picked five amazing days out, all just an hour or so from Milton Keynes, and each offering something magical and memorable. And with an electric car like the BYD Atto 3, which has a range of 260 miles, your relaxing road trip is every bit part of the adventure.
For the history lover
Warwick Castle is a full day of adventure, packed with events and heritage to entertain all ages. As it’s the home of the world’s most powerful catapult, it’s the perfect place for historic invention to meet a modern-day marvel. Cruise from MK centre to Warwickshire and you will use less than a quarter of the battery life* in your all-electric BYD.
Warwick Castle has beautiful grounds, and there’s often sword displays or jousting – pick a good day, pack a picnic and enjoy a fun-filled, yet chilled, day out, making the most of the sunshine and touring the battlements.
Top tip: Electric car drivers like getting plenty of miles per charge – reducing fuel costs is a big draw; in a similar vein, you might want to consider getting more bang for your buck with an annual pass to Warwick Castle, from £49 per person, compared to a one day pass from £26 in advance or £39 on the day.
Decode a great day out
Bletchley Park was a well-kept secret not just during the war, but for many years after, as those who worked there had signed the Official Secrets Act. Now, of course, we know it was home to some of the brightest brains in the country, where the Enigma machine helped unravel messages from Germany for the allied war effort.
Being on the doorstep, you hardly have to factor in travel time to get there but you should probably allocate at least four or five hours at Bletchley Park to get the most out of it, including all of the indoor and outdoor activities.
Top tip: It might be a boffins’ paradise, but it’s not all lab and tech – don’t forget to pack your wellies and anoraks in the BYD’s 440 litre boot space so that the weather doesn’t stop you from exploring the magnificent gardens and grounds.
Going green
If you are considering an electric car, you’ve clearly got an eco-conscience … maybe your first day trip should be to the Stockwood Discovery Centre near Luton, where your carriage literally awaits. This free-to-enter venue has beautiful gardens to delight all green-fingered visitors, an interactive visitor centre and Europe’s largest collection of carriages, when horsepower really was king.
They also do a delightful afternoon tea and have regular events, including comedy nights. It’s no wonder they’ve picked up a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.
Top tip: It’s one of 20 museums in the Bedfordshire area – why not download your BYD charging app (so you never have to worry about running out of range when away from home) and make a day of it.
It’s a kind of magic
Nip down the M1 in your BYD Atto 3 and you’ll find Harry Potter’s Studio Tour London – now this is a great day out on many levels. One, it’s just 35 miles away, so it cuts down on ‘how long till we get there’ on repeat. Two, exploring Diagonalley, Privet Drive, the Forbidden Forest and more is a multi-generational hit. And three, with 22 charge points provided on site for Warner Bros’ visitors, you can top up the car while you spend time with Hermione, Ron and the boy wizard himself.
Top tip: While the studios are outside the current ULEZ congestion zone, you might want to make the most of your car’s range and add in trip into greater or central London. All-electric cars are ULEZ exempt, saving you up to £12.50 per day.
Take a punt
Ah, the teaming spires of Oxford … walk in the footsteps of famous former alumni Stephen Hawking, Margaret Thatcher, Albert Enstein, Oscar Wilde, Hugh Grant and Tim Berners Lee, and soak up the heady atmosphere and the glorious architecture showcased on TV’s popular Morse.
Oxford and Cambridge are the perfect partners of the punting world, and you can try it for yourself with boat hire for five starting from just £30. Don’t forget decadent strawberries and champagne (and a tasty non-alcoholic alternative for the driver) to make the most of a day on the water.
Top tip: Make a weekend of it and hire bedrooms at a prestigious Oxford University college while the students are home for summer, with an impressive 440L boot space to pack everything you need. Costs start at just £51 per night – great value and it includes breakfast in the great hall. Why not use the car’s impressive battery range to go exploring the beautiful county while you are there. Spreading your wings? A top up charge takes just 29 minutes, to let you go further for longer. Passengers, don’t forget to look up – the panoramic sunroof gives you lots of light and plenty of views.
About BYD
Electric cars have made impressive leaps in recent years, and the ATTO 3 from BYD has 5-star NCAP safety ratings, a 260 mile range* on a single charge and DC Charging (30-80%) in under 30 minutes.
According to ZapMap there are dozens of charging points around MK, with more being added across the UK every day.
For more information visit https://www.stratstone.com/dealers/byd-milton-keynes/
*(WLTP Combined, *Note: CO2 emissions combined: 0g/mi.
The actual energy consumption in real conditions varies depending on the driving style, the nature of the route, the outside temperature, the use of heating and air conditioning and any additional weight. The energy consumption was determined on the basis of EU 2017/1151 and