MNHQ needs your best "visitor attractions for children in the UK"

The thing about ALnwick Castle is I think those old landowners are ripping off the proles by charging a lot ofmoney to get into the castle and then charging you a whopping amount all over again to visit the gardens.

And then they buy teh most expensive velvet wallpaper to do up the dining room in original style for the duke's birthday.

My crossness at the injustice of past bufton tuftons taking land, splitting it up between them and then getting the plebs to pay them for the privilege of eking a living, marred my enjoyment slightly.

Another vote for Beckonscott. And Alice Holt Forest near Farnham is lovely too.

Wimpole Hall (NT), Farm and Gardens.
Great day out with a lovely NT restaurant.

Near Royston, Herts.

Just took my boys to paradise park, and there was children aged 11, 9, 5, 4, 3 and 1 and they all loved it there, will definately being going back there, it was a bit cold, but there was places that you could go inside to warm up and grab a hot drink!

Our favourites are:

Landmark Forest theme park near Aviemore
Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness
Chessington
Alton Towers
Moors Valley
Splashdown, Poole (indoor waterslides)
Odds Farm Park
Science Museum
Natural History Museum
Museum of London
@Bristol
SSGreat Britain
Warwick Castle
The New Forest

DaphneHarvey

Definitely do - it is great. Not cheap, but if you plan, you can make a day of it, stopping off half way at Ropley for a picnic and to see the engines in the yard.

They do loads of special events - look here

I hope you enjoy!

The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester in West Sussex - fabulous, safe place for children to run free. Lots of old houses with staff dressed up as Tudor or Medieval people. There are activities, food to try, lots of animals to feed and see, a lake, a great (and v healthy) cafe - we love it.

Also Haredown All Terrain Boarding Centre in East Dean near Chichester - so much fun, with special sledges and karts for younger children.

But my kids love Farmer Giles near Salisbury best of all. They never get tired of it! And the owners and staff are so lovely.

Centre for Life in Newcastle. Makes science fun and they have fantastic events through the school holidays.
www.life.org.uk./

Fibernie has also recommended this one, Seven Stories. It is great!!!
www.sevenstories.org.uk/home/

Kittochside - visit the working farm, meet Blossom the calf, take a tractor ride, milk Daisy, the cutout cow, and have a bowl of hearty soup at the visitor centre...

www.nts.org.uk/Property/41/

Oh spamm, just read your post, it was just above mine. I used to go on the Watercress Line with my mum and big brother from Winchester to Alton to visit my Grandma when it was a real proper working railway line. Was in the late 60s. Feel very nostalgic! Next time I take my dcs to see my Mum in Winchester will def. take them on this trip. Thanks for the post.

Chester Zoo gets my vote!

For South East Londoners and Kent:

Godstone Farm, Surrey (doesn't cost a fortune, lots to do).

Christmas Tree Farm, Kent. Incredibly cheap entrance fee only £2 or so, but not allowed picnics on site and the food is terrible, so go just after a big breakfast or a big lunch, or there's a pub nearby who appear to tolerate little children quite well.

The V&A museum of childhood in Bethnal Green - but don't drive. You can't park anywhere nearby for less than £3.50 an hour. It is only 1 min walk from the tube.

The Princess Diana playground in Kensington Gardens. Pirate ship and humungous sandpit much appreciated by all. Last time we were there saw Mariella Frostrup and little ones in tow.

On hols in Devon/Dorset we loved the Donkey Sanctuary (Sidmouth) Abbotsbury Swannery and the children's farm nearby.

Another vote for Moors Valley Park nr Bournemouth - great for kids of all ages
The Watercress Line railway - Alton
Danbury Hill - nr Stockbridge - great for kite flying, to see sheep and cows and for picnics
New Forest - for the walks, playing pooh sticks, seeing ponies, picking blackberries etc...

Chester Zoo, there's always something new.

Longleat excellent but expensive.

Moors Valley Park as already discussed.

Monkeyworld.

Almond Valley Farm in Livingston is great.

Lots of animals, get close to the animal demonstrations, a museumy bit about mining (on the site of a former pit), Indoor soft play, tractor rides, holiday playschemes, and treasure hunts. There is a really nice cafe, and also outdoor picnic areas as well as covered picninc barn, and an adventure playground.

We had our DSs birthday party there once and all the kids (and parents) had a great time.

Bowood - nr Calne in Wilts - fantastic outdoor adventure playground. Beautiful landscaped parkland/garden.

Mid-Hants Steam railway. - family rover ticket v reasonable - chuff away all day, hop on and off.

London Zoo.

The Tower of London - fantastic place - whole day out.

Robin Hill Country Park IOW - great for all ages!!

Another vote for Bekonscot Model Village. Lots of model trains, a ride-on train, good play area and lots of picnic space. Great for little boys!

We love Gullivers and echo what has already been said.Great value and great for little ones.

Also love Blackpool Zoo.Very educational and lots of tiny monkeys that the children really loved.Animal enclosures very good too and animals looked v happy.

We've been to loads, my favourites are:
Legoland
Science Museum
Railway Museum (York)
National Space Centre (Leicester)
Glasgow Science Museum
Go-Ape!
Eureka

Longleat
at-Bristol Interactive Science
Crealy Adventure Park (the Devon one)
Alton Towers

someone mentioned something that used to be called 'pets corner' - do you mean Sundown Adventureland near retford notts?It's like a bizarre fairytale under 12s theme park that's grown organically over the years and has an endearing ramshackle air.

Rufford park near sherword forest is free and has a lake, ruined abbey, sculpture trail, cafe, new playground (opens easter) that reminds me of teletubby land, kids music sculpture bit, lots of space with beautiful trees for picnics/football, pushchair/scooter friendly.

Has Alnwick Castle been mentioned yet?

Great for slightly older children (although our 3yo and 5yo loved it too). It is "Hogwarts School" and has lots of interesting things for the children to do. They also have owls and other birds of prey.

You can make a day of it and visit the Alnwick Gardens, absolutely lovely gardens with fantastic water features that the kids can play in.

Our kids also loved Chainbridge Honey Farm near Berwick/Tweed. They have a great visitors centre with lots of info on how honey is made, a big display of vintage vehicles.

The cafe is in a double decker bus. The kids were like this

The other attraction there was the footbridge that connected England to Scotland which the kids loved running back on forward on. "Now I am in Scotland, now in England"

Oooh, another Stoke MNer.

Trentham Gardens and Amerton Farm both ok locally.

Love North Yorkshire, especially Forbidden Corner.

Plus another vote for Bewilderwood in Norfolk. Had a fab day there last October.