Days Out Reviews and Recommendations

Our Mums' Network have been busy reviewing days out across the UK for all the family.  We're also delighted that Little Chef has joined us and we've featured several reviews from their 51 Days Out Guide as voted for by parents.

The following are genuine reviews from real Mums and their children and we hope that you are inspired this summer!  And a huge thank you to all our Mums' Network members for sending in their reviews.

And if you'd like to review days out and other products for us join our Mums Network!

Days Outs Destination Reviews

Bicton ParkBotanical Gardens	Hever Castle	Paulton's Park, Hampshire NEW	Paignton Zoo	Chester Zoo
Look Out Discovery Centre	Marwell Zoo	Hawk Conservancy	Dover Castle	LongLeat NEW
Weymouth Sea Life Centre	Wild Wood, Kent	Legoland	Drayton Manor	Hever Castle NEW
Charmouth Beach	RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve	The Forbidden Corner, Yorks	Blue Reef, Southsea	Dinosaur Isle
Blackgang Chine Fantasy Park	Watercress Steam Railway	Miniature Pony Centre	Camelot Theme Park	Pandamonium in the Park NEW 2011

  

Bicton Park Botanical Gardens reviewed by Sam and Alice (aged 4) 7/10

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We weren't sure what to expect and actually went because they had an indoor soft play centre and rain was forecast.  Luckily the weather held and we could make full use of all the facilities.  As it says in the name they have amazing gardens from beautifully landscaped to more natural.  We enjoyed a walk to the nature area.  But they have a whole lot more and mainly for children.  They have a train ride, covered skating rink and large out door play area, mini maze, play house plus the indoor soft play centre already mentioned.  It was a great day out for all of us!  Read more here

Blackgang Chine, Isle of Wight reviewed by Mel and friends from Hampshire August

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This well established Fantasy Park is on the spectacular south west coast of the Isle of Wight with plenty of ‘almost-free’ parking. Take a 20p with you and that is you parked for the day! The views are great and the efficient entry system meant that we were inside within a few minutes.

My memories of Blackgang Chine were from childhood and they were very fond ones of fun! - Pirates, Cowboys & Indians and Dinosaurs – and I wasn’t disappointed! Neither were our children - aged 18 months, 4, 5 and 7 there really was something for all age groups. Oh and let’s not forget Barney the Dog – another good point, they allow dogs in – obviously on a lead.

Blackgang is a mix of old and new with exciting rides such as the Cliff Hanger rollercoaster and Waterforce water Slide. Goblins & fairies, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, Giant bugs and Dinosaurs to climb on as well as a real mix of adventure areas throughout the wonderful gardens.

One of the favourites was the Cowboy and Indian ‘FrontierLand’ – a great Wild West setting which saw lots of Dads running around with their kids ( Never quite sure who the bigger kids are???)

As you work your way around the adventure areas of the park there are plenty of Café’s and Toilet facilities as well as Eating Areas and Parks with benches.

All in all a really enjoyable Day out for the Adults as well as the children …and the Dog!

Visit www.blackgangchine.com for more information.

 
Blue Reef Acquarium, Southsea reviewed by Katrina and Alex (aged 23 months) 7/10

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The Aquarium is easy to find as you approach Portsmouth with lots of brown signs, it doesn’t have a car park but there is lots of meter street parking. On paying you get a washable stamp on your hand which allows you to leave and return as many times as you want during the day. 

There are open top tanks, rock pools, and tidal tanks, containing beautiful coloured tropical fish, crabs, sea horses, coral reefs, turtles, sharks, a very shy octopus and lots of other fish I couldn’t pronounce the names of. We saw lots of weird but wonderful reptiles and amphibians but we all particularly liked the tunnel with the fish swimming over the top of our heads.  We watched the family of Asian short claw otters, fascinating even though a tad smelly but thankfully the door was open to the outside picnic, children’s large sand pit and water spray area.  Everyday there are lots of talks and feeding displays and numerous special events such as pirate weekends or shark week.

There were a few negatives – the baby changing toilet nappy bin didn’t have a lid so it stunk and was horrible to change my little girl in, all the bins were overflowing and the water spray in the outside play area wasn’t switched on but that said all in all an enjoyable couple of hours!  For more details visit www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk

Chester Zoo reviewed by Rachel from Wales in September

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"Situated on the outskirts of Chester, with easy travelling from the M53, M56 and M6 is Chester Zoo, a wonderful day out for all the family no matter what their ages! We took our three children, Ryan aged 6, Becky aged 4 and Ruby aged 2 and all three enjoyed themselves.

With lots of animals to see, a map is always a good start and you have the ability to download a copy of the map from the Chester Zoo website, helping you to plan your day in advance. Otherwise your first visit should be a visit to guest services for a map as well as a list of each time there will be a talk with the keeper about animals, which are at different times each day. Guest services is just inside the entrance, where you can also find lockers you can hire and they also have the option of hiring a pushchair for a small deposit. Although we had taken our own pushchair, I did wish we'd hired one for Ruby as the zoo pushchairs were styled as cars with a steering wheel!

At lunch time, there are plenty cafes, which seemed to reasonable priced, as well as tables and picnic areas dotted around the zoo for picnics, including two areas near the children's play parks, which my three enjoyed playing on.

As well as plenty of animals to see, there is a water bus which gives you a ride around the waterways of the zoo and was a favourite of ours. Especially as it gave us the chance to get closer to the giraffes than we would have otherwise. This cost a small fee as did the monorail which travelled around the zoo, again for a small fee. The only problem I found with the monorail, was that although the monorail did a circular route around the zoo, you can only travel from one station to the next and there are two stations in total!"

Charmouth Beach from the Little Chef Family Days Out Guide

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Fossil hunting at Charmouth Beach in Dorset is a brilliant excursion and fun in all weathers. Very popular with kids of all ages - just take a bag and a little hammer and you'll probably come away with a handful of real fossils. The fossil shop is worth a visit - it's more like a museum - and there's always fish & chips on hand to round the day off.                                      

Quote from Melissa Djukic of London: "Fossil hunting is fantastic and I defy anyone not to enjoy it whatever the weather. The beach at Charmouth is actually made up of millions of fossils, esp. ammonites and you'd have to be blind not to find them. Totally free apart from the fish and chips. Just make sure the tide's out a bit!".  More info on Charmouth Beach here.

Dinosaur Isle - Sandown, Isle of Wight review written by Charlotte (12 years)

Dinosaur Isle is a great time out for all the family. It is an interactive dinosaur museum which is great value for money at £15.00 for a family, £5.00 for one adult and £3.25 for one child. The facilities are clean and the gift shop has loads of dinosaur, fossil and gem products at reasonable prices. It is also good whatever the weather because it is on the seafront in a modern, white building.

I enjoyed solving challenges on activity sheets which are at reception. The activity sheets are for all ages and you can pick one to suit you. I also enjoyed hands-on activities within the exhibits like seeing through the eyes of a T-Rex, smelling like a dinosaur and guessing what I could feel when I put my hand in a box. Young children can enjoy coloring and making rubbings of dinosaurs using crayons, and finding dinosaurs in sand. Adults can enjoy reading and learning about dinosaurs. Overall I think this is educational, fun and great value.

For more info on Dinosaur Isle visit their website here

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Dover Castle Henry VIII Event reviewed by Zena, Beth (aged 11) and Benn (aged 8)

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We've all been to Dover Castle before, in fact I could say that Beth is an expert on the War Time Tunnels, she spends most of the tour answering questions that the guide should ask her and I think that her arm nearly broke off when the guide asked us all what DUMPY stood for!

But this was Dover Castle with a difference, we were taken even further back in time with a Medieval extravaganza that you could only imagine. The smells of the hog roast, the stories of the Alchemist and the kids most favourite which was the explanation of law, order and punishment (complete with severed head) all created a fab day out.

Our picnic lunch on the White Cliffs really was lovely, I'd recommend it to anyone, just don't feed the seagulls.

To find out more about Dover Castle and other English Heritage properties please visit  www.english-heritage.org.uk and kid check out their Time Travellers Go... Club! 

Drayton Manor reviewed by Julie and her family 8/10

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A short walk from the free car park and you are in. Thomas Land is a delight for any Thomas fan; all your favourite characters are there transformed into various rides. There are lots of places for good photos, a cafe, sweet shop and of course the Thomas gift shop! The whole Thomas Land area is compact and it can get a bit bustly so hold on to your little ones.  Make sure you take a train ride while you are there, it's like riding on the 'real thing' for little ones, especially if Thomas is up front!

Outside of Thomas Land, there are thrill rides for older children and adults, such as all with short queues. There are also smaller roller coasters and rides for those too big for Thomas Land but not big enough for the scary stuff.
 
There are plenty of picnic benches, lots of places to get food and no big commercial restaurants.  There were lots of loos dotted about, we used the baby change in one of them, a bit lacking in comfort but it was functional and clean.

This is a lovely family theme park with lots to do for all ages, pick out the bits you really want to see and do to make the most of your time there.  Visit www.draytonmanor.co.uk

The Forbidden Corner from the Little Chef Family Days Out Guide

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It's amazing what you can find in the Yorkshire Dales and Forbidden Corner is the ultimate 'best kept secret'.  Originally created as a private folly, Forbidden Corner is a wonderful adventure for every member of the family. You can explore the unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises above and below the ground. Follow the clues to get the most out of your day and don't forget to explore the beautiful Tupgill Park. A weird and wonderful family day out! * Please note tickets must be purchased in advance.  Visit www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk for more information.

Hawk Conservancy nr Andover reviewed by Sam and Alice (aged 4) 10/10

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If vultures flying just mm above your head, owls swooping past your nose and watching the 8ft wing span of a bald eagle fly in from the horizon is something you'd like to experience then the Hawk Conservancy is an absolute must.  Children under 4 may not have the attention span but older children, mums, dads and grandparents will love this day out!  Very well maintained and incredibly knowledgable staff.  We also treated ourselves to afternoon tea in the meadow served on table and chairs from a wicker basket!  So good we became members, we will be back as missed flying a hawk ourselves! Visit their website for all the details www.hawk-conservancy.org.


Hever Castle reviewed by Zena, Jamie, Beth (12) and Benn (9)

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Hever Castle was everything we could have wanted and more. There was plenty of free parking and helpfull staff to make sure you knew where to go. As you enter the Castle gardens be sure to stop and take in the beautiful surroundings, as I entered the Italian gardens I was taken aback, I have never seen such immaculately kept gardens an smelt such lovely arromas as the flowers in bloom. The Castle itself although small had plenty of information for the children to read and take in.  The childrens adventure playground was so good it became a dad and childrens adventure playground! One word of advice though, if you are going to have a go at the water maze be sure to take a change of footwear and clothing - you will get very wet! Find out more about Hever Castle here

Legoland, Windsor from the Little Chef Family Days Out Guide and also reviewed by Mums, Juliet and Sam, and their children Max and Alice (aged 5) and Callum (aged 2) 9/10

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Engaging fun for all the family, Legoland is a theme park with a difference. There are more than 50 interactive rides, live shows, building workshops, driving schools and attractions, all set in 150 acres of beautiful parkland. The Lego skylines are amazing and the Hill Train is a brilliant way of seeing the park from a new angle. Bigger kids are catered for too.   See www.legoland.co.uk for more details.
                                                                                         
Quote from Martin Porter of Maidstone in Kent: "At Legoland you can take things as easy or fast-paced as you like.  Having recently experienced Legoland California, I can still safely say that, as much as I love America, the Windsor park still holds its own."

"Legoland is a great day out for the family, almost too much to do!  Like most big theme parks it does get very busy so we tried out the Q-Bot which means that we could "virtually" queue for the most popular rides.  You have a little device and you select the ride you want and it give you the time to turn up - can be from 10 minutes to over an hour in advance and you can only pick one ride at a time.  It was really good not having to wait especially with 3 children and on a rainy day.  We probably saved about 3 hours of queuing time!  So if you can stomach the looks you get when you "jump the queue" and pay the £10 a head for the Q-Bot is definitely worth considering.  Worth also mentioning how nice all the staff are at Legoland although we queued in the car on the way in and way out - take the alternative route signposted."


Look Out Discovery Centre, Bracknell reviewed by Mums, Sam and Juliet, and Alice, Max (both aged 4) and Callum (aged 2) 8/10

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The best thing about the Look Out Discovery Centre is that it's perfect for all weathers.  It has a massive ajoining play area set in woods with play equipment for all ages including a life sized fort for 7+ and there is a cafe for all ice cream needs!  The surrounding woodland has picnic areas, bike and walking trails and all this is free.  Inside are difference zones with 100% hands on experiments for all the family covering water, air, sound, human body, mind and light.  They have a small theatre and are currently running The Brain Drain show. Suitable from 2+, find out more here.

LongLeat Wiltshire reviewed by Sam and Alice (aged 6)

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We shrewdly cashed in some Tesco Clubcard vouchers for a family day trip to Longleat. It was the perfect weather, warm and sunny but not too hot, which did help but Longleat has something for all the family. We last went when Alice was 3 so then focussed on the mini-Zoo, Postman Pat Village, boat ride and safari. Now Alice is 6 we shifted our visit to take in the simulator rides, maze, mirror maze but still managed the mini-Zoo, boat ride and safari. The catering is very good when compared with other similar days out destinations with more grown up and healthy options – and proper coffee! Don’t miss the boat ride to see the hippos, seals and gorilla (you can just about make him out in the background of the photo of my little monkey!) – and the deer feeding on the safari!  Visit www.longleat.co.uk



Miniature Pony Centre, Devon reviewed by Sam and Alice (aged 5) 10/10

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A fantastic day out for younger children!  Hugely impressed by the immaculate facilities and friendly staff.  There is so much to do here and many well thought out touches that make the day even more special.  The miniature ponies and donkeys are the stars of the show and are very tame so getting up close and personal is no problem as you can see from the photo.  There is animal feeding, pony grooming, pony rides, excellent indoor and out door play for different ages, toys tractors, small animal handling, bird of prey display and in the holidays extra activities like face painting and clown/magician entertainment.  There is a quiz sheet for different ages and everyone gets a prize.  The setting is stunning and there is also a wildlife area.  The cafe is very good with simple but good quality food and caters superbly for young children.  There are also free dog kennels that we made the most of.  If you're holidaying in Devon do not miss this place!  Visit www.miniatureponycentre.com 

Paignton Zoo, Devon reviewed by Sam and Alice (aged 4) 8/10

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The best thing about Paighton Zoo were the elephants! At least according to Alice.  The zoo has all the animals you'd expect (we also loved the parrot show and the crocodile swamp!) and is very well laid out although a bit of a hike back to the car.  The restaurant is exceptional with a wide menu including very healthy options and a real coffee bar!  The zoo was very clean and well kept, well worth a visit if you're in the area.  See more here.

Pandamonium in the Park reviewed by Kate Jackson and family

This was a chance for my children and their 10 month old cousin visiting from Australia to have a fun day out together for the very first time. Getting there was easy and the venue was ideal - plenty of parking, easy access for pushchairs, great layout. As soon as you saw the Chinese lanterns swaying in the wind, and the giant kites flying high, there was no mistaking that the theme of the day was all things Chinese. There were plenty of activities, for all ages, from mini Olympic games with fun challenges which were not too taxing, cookery demonstrations, to opportunities for children to cover themselves in sprinkles and chocolate whilst decorating cupcakes. Fortune cookies were in abundance with the future holding Nectar points rewards inside the cookies! The performances were eye-catching, with an interesting mix of new and ancient culture. Laughter was in abundance when Po the Panda arrived at the stage but he couldn't get on as he was unable to climb up! Everyone seemed captivated by the skilled dragon dancing, and the Shoalin Warriors engaged the audience wonderfully. There was a really good variety of delicious food and beverages made available, and all in all the whole family thoroughly enjoyed their day out.

Paultons Park, Hampshire reviewed by Sarah and Holly (7) and Harrison (5) 8/10

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This was our 3rd visit to Paultons Park and we were particularly excited about a new ride called 'The Edge'. I, along with my husband Andy, and our children Holly, 7 and Harrison, 5 arrived armed with our map and we decided to head for 'The Edge' straight away. Wow! It looked awesome as Holly would say! The ride travels along a w shaped track, swooping and spinning the riders around on a giant disc, reaching a height of 15 metres. Harrison decided to sit this one out so, whilst I stayed with him, Holly took her dad with her to experience it! Watching the ride is great as you can get up close and join in the excitement! They both thought it was brilliant fun and promptly joined the queue again for another go!

Paultons' Park caters for all ages and whether you are a thrill seeker or not, you won't be disappointed. We had a great time and are already planning our next visit in December to see Santa at the fabulous Winter Wonderland!

Also reviewed by Juliet and Sam (the Mums) and Max, Alice and Callum

Paultons Park must be the best theme park for younger children.  There aren't the big rides but then the young children can't go on them.  Callum (aged 3) could go on nearly everything (and wanted to!).  We also liked that you could fit an adult and 2 children in a single car on several rides which helped us with going on these rides together.  There is plenty of time to do all the rides without feeling you are rushing around trying to make the most of the day.  We went on a sunny day in the Easter holidays and only queued a max of 15 minutes.  There is also some beautiful landscaped areas for picnics.  This year they have some special visitors from Cbeebies so if your little one is a fan then try and tie in a visit on these days - see their website site for more details www.paultonspark.co.uk

Marwell Zoo Nr Winchester reviewed by Sue and her two daughters (aged 2 and 4) 10/10

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If you are looking for a great day out with your children this summer, I can thoroughly recommend Marwell Wildlife Park near Winchester in Hampshire. We have two daughters aged 2 and 4, and recently took them to Marwell for the day. They absolutely loved it and keep asking when we can go back for another visit!

Marwell has a great variety of animals, from lizards and bats to rhinos and tigers. Our daughters loved the monkeys and lemurs, and were thrilled to see the gorgeous new baby giraffe! The animals are all in beautiful condition and obviously extremely well-looked after. We were really impressed with the enclosures and with the layout of the zoo as a whole. There are lots of open spaces and it never felt crowded, even though lots of people were obviously enjoying a family day out there. Between the enclosures, there are wide open paths and grassy areas, and the girls enjoyed walking along, trying to spot which animal they would see next. There's also a little land train which goes around the zoo stopping at various points, so you can hop off and on and save your feet for a bit!

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I felt that the Sea Life centre was very expensive when compared to some other places.  It wasn't really a full day out.  That said the attractions were very good and we saw lots of amazing fish, seals and otters, the seals were definitely a highlight for Mum and Dad.  They had a small fair ground which was all included in the price and probably saved the outing for us all as Alice spent ages on the rides, absolutely perfect for her age (pictured).  They also have a water play area but the weather was against us for using this - but on a hot day this would have been fantastic!  See more here.

Watercress Steam Railway, Alton, Hampshire reviewed by Sam and family 8/10

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"We were desperate for a family day out for our extended family on a rainy day so we headed off to the Watercress Line steam railway that runs from Alton to Alresford.  And what a great day we all had!  We boarded the steam train at Alton and chuffed the 35 minutes to Alresford stopped twice at other stations.  The trains were beautiful as were the stations.  We had little cardboard tickets (even I remember these from getting the train to school) and the conductors were in full uniform.  I actually commuted to London in the 90s on slam door trains so again rather familar – the years of my life I spent in steamed up carriages just like we did yesterday!  At Alresford we had a short walk to the Bell hotel and had a long and delicious lunch before heading back on a disel train.   We even saw the “real” Thomas The Tank engine having a sleep in a siding – I kid you not!  So a great day and highly recommended for all the family, especially on a rainy day in March."


Wild Wood, Herne Bay, Kent reviewed by Beth (aged 11) and Benn (aged 8)

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Wildwood animal park is an amazing place to visit, it is a charity organisation in Herne Bay, Kent.  When my family and I went the sun was scorching sending red hot rays down to the earth so the animals were tired and not really up to performing for us. Some of them hardly came into view.  Despite this we saw badgers devouring a meal of lovely fresh chicken, to watch them was amazing and the red squirrels were so cute, with tunnels they could run right over your head.  The wolves looked sleepy but were still scary.   As you finish off your stroll through the woodland you get to the play park, it was simply massive and there was loads of room to let off steam with a handy cafe, we all needed an ice cream!  Overall we had a fantastic time.  For more visit www.wildwoodtrust.org

Camelot Theme Park, Wigan reviewed by Paula and family

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We spent a family day at Camelot, a small theme park just off of the M6 near Wigan. We took a 2 year old, a 5 year old and an 11 year old, and our friends came along with a 5 month old baby.

I have to say that I have mixed feelings on Camelot, there were quite a few good things but also I think there are some downsides to the theme park as well. The good points were that it did have rides to suit all ages, we managed to find something that everybody enjoyed and could go on. The medieval show was very entertaining (with knights joisting, fire eaters and jesters to keep the kids amused) and all 3 children enjoyed it; even my 2 year old managed to sit through it although he did start to get a bit fidgety towards the end. There was also a magic show but we didn’t go to this. The facilities were good, there were a couple of indoor play areas in case of bad weather, and also an outdoor childrens playground next to the picnic area which meant that the kids could go and play while we finished our lunch and we could keep any eye on them. There was also a feeding room available which my friend used to breastfeed her baby (although she did say that there was no lock on the door so she didn’t feel very comfortable in it). The toilets and food areas were all clean and there were plenty of them all around the park. Camelot has a small area with animals, and you can buy food (£1) that can be fed to the goats, some of whom just wander round freely. Be warned though that if you buy the food the goats do jump up at you to be fed, and although my kids loved this some of the children there didn’t seem as keen. 

The bad points were that the park is quite expensive for what is actually there – the price is £22 for adults and children over 1 metre, with no concession price for children. I don’t think there was a massive amount of rides to go on and the park itself was quite small. There were a couple of things in the park that you also had to pay extra for – the Go-Karts and the Childrens Driving School rides both charged extra, which I think is unacceptable when you have already paid an entrance fee; if you have a few children with you this can add a lot onto the cost of your day. The park itself needs updating, I think all the rides were quite old and to say that it was the beginning of the season I think that the whole place could do with a lick of paint; it was quite drab and dull compared with other theme parks that I have visited. 

All in all we had a good day but I don’t think I would rush to visit again. I think if you have a few kids of different ages it does cater for everyone, but there isn’t really enough there to amuse just one age group for a whole day. I searched the internet and there does seem to be quite a few offers and discount vouchers you can get for Camelot, and if you could get in for a discounted rate it might be worth a day out if you are near by, but I think if you were looking for a really good family day out there are other theme parks that charge a similar amount of money that are a lot better value and have a lot more to offer. For more on Camelot visit www.camelotthemepark.co.uk