wickstead park

We had a lovely day at Wicksteed in August. You can camp there and we stayed over the night before (birthday treat!). There are some new rides since the last time I was there in 2010. My children are 5 and 8 so just the right age to not notice the shabbiness of some of the rides. We took a couple of boats out for a row round the lake but the lovely bit was that the children could take a canoe out on their own - DD spent over an hour canoeing herself about! It is probably not a great place for older children or those very used to the super-parks, but suited our needs perfectly. As an aside, there is a fabulous free play area with swings and slides and climbing frames etc. There's a little cafe there in the free bit too (not a good one, but better than nothing) (Carpark is £6)

Had a lovely trip there in good weather recently, which helped. Super little rides, quaint feel to the place, and quite cost effective as we bought a sheet of tickets rather than a wrist band. Little one loved the little steam train and the vintage cars, older kids went on a roller coaster and a log flume thing, as well as other rides. Queues surprisingly modest for a theme park. Food stalls looked a bit unappetising but it was nice not to have catering and souvenir concessions forced in your face - lots of people having picnics in lovely gardens instead and really enjoying themselves. Staff particularly polite and friendly. It's possible to get a nice ice cream and a decent coffee there, and stroll around the gardens spending comparatively little money if that's what you want. I'd recommend this place.

Low key rather old fashioned in a nice way park more suitable for younger children than older ones as no thrill rides but still quite a lot to do including a nice boating lake and little train and monorail. Quite a good water ride and great play area and mini golf/crazy golf etc. Take your own nosh as lots of great picnic spots and food to buy is pretty grim . you can either buy a wristband for all rides or just buy tickets which you can use on another day if necessary. dogs on leads are ok