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Original poster

'Funfair' for a 4 year old

45 replies

GoodChat · 06/05/2023 14:50

Help please!

My LO is 4 soon and for her birthday she's asked to go to a funfair. Her birthday is on a Monday so I'm thinking a theme park is the obvious solution. We're in South Worcestershire and fairly new to the area and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions, preferably less than an hours drive but can be flexible if not.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 06/05/2023 14:53

My geography might be a bit off so this is possibly too far but there's Gulliver's Kingdom in Milton Keynes.

Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 14:56

Needmorelego · 06/05/2023 14:53

My geography might be a bit off so this is possibly too far but there's Gulliver's Kingdom in Milton Keynes.

Ah perfect. It's 90 minutes from us but somewhere I didn't even consider might be so close!

We used to live an hour further north so everything below Worcester is still 2.5 hours away in my head Grin

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 06/05/2023 14:56

Sorry.... it's Gulliver's Land in Milton Keynes and Gulliver's Kingdom in Matlock (Derbyshire). There's a third one in Warrington.

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Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 15:02

I google mapped Gullivers Milton Keynes and got it. It's perfect. Thanks so much!

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 06/05/2023 15:08

Drayton manor for that age would be great. It’s got Thomas land and a zoo and other rides

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 06/05/2023 15:09

Drayton Manor or Paultons Park for that age group.

Hohofortherobbers · 06/05/2023 15:09

We did a stay in gullivers mk, stated in a really sweet beach hut, was a bargain stay as entry to the park, splasland and Dino world included, really good weekend.

Gymmum82 · 06/05/2023 15:10

Thomas land at Drayton manor. Pretty much on your doorstep. My kids loved it at that age

Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 15:11

I'm useless - for some reason I thought Drayton Manor was a couple of hours away too but it's not! You guys are fab!

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TheGirlWhoLived · 06/05/2023 15:11

Drayton manor definitely- we are in Worcester too and my 2.5 year old adores Thomasland!

Bunnichick · 06/05/2023 15:13

If you Google "theme park near me" a list should come up, with distances

Floralnomad · 06/05/2023 15:21

West midland safari park has a small theme park as well and the safari park is excellent , that’s in Bewdley , Worcestershire

Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 15:40

Floralnomad · 06/05/2023 15:21

West midland safari park has a small theme park as well and the safari park is excellent , that’s in Bewdley , Worcestershire

We've already got tickets for a few weeks later for the Safari park - good shout though

OP posts:
Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 15:40

Just checked Drayton Manor and they're only opening the zoo on her birthday, not the rides, which is pants because the new water ride in Thomas Land looks cool!

OP posts:
Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 15:41

Bunnichick · 06/05/2023 15:13

If you Google "theme park near me" a list should come up, with distances

I didn't know if I was missing any gems as we quite often have days out that don't appear on google searches

OP posts:
Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 15:43

Oh Gullivers is closed on her birthday too!

I've just remembered about Treasure Island in Stourport which might be my fallback

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 06/05/2023 18:14

Treasure island is quite run down now. so may be a disappointment.

Gymmum82 · 06/05/2023 18:24

You could do CBeebies at Alton towers. It’s not that far from Worcester. I used to live there and used to take a little over an hour maybe 1.5 hours. So not too bad

Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 18:29

Danikm151 · 06/05/2023 18:14

Treasure island is quite run down now. so may be a disappointment.

Oh is it 😭 probably been 20 years since I've been!

OP posts:
Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 18:30

Gymmum82 · 06/05/2023 18:24

You could do CBeebies at Alton towers. It’s not that far from Worcester. I used to live there and used to take a little over an hour maybe 1.5 hours. So not too bad

I'm a bit south of Worcester. It's 2 hours from where I am so don't really fancy that if it's avoidable

OP posts:
FinchHinch · 06/05/2023 18:31

Can you not take her on a weekend before her birthday? It's only the bigger theme parks that are open outside of school holidays TBH.

Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 18:33

FinchHinch · 06/05/2023 18:31

Can you not take her on a weekend before her birthday? It's only the bigger theme parks that are open outside of school holidays TBH.

We've got a younger one, too, so my logic was keep her off nursery on her birthday so she can get our full attention (we've both booked the day off work) and still send the little one, as it's her last birthday before she starts school.

I didn't realise they only opened at weekends and holidays. I thought it was just reduced hours through the winter, which is clearly very naive of me Grin

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 06/05/2023 18:43

You must be very near me! At that age ds loved WMSP for the rides, I def wouldn't go to Stourport. Having spent far too much time on the other side of the river looking at it, there isn't much there for little ones.
I don't know if Barry Island rides would be open on her birthday, but its a really easy drive

WhyDoesItAlways · 06/05/2023 18:56

Drayton manor is open during the week term time. They do an adult and toddler ticket for these days. It looks like in may it's zoo only on Mondays/Tuesdays but open Wednesday - Friday and then 5 days a week in June.

Original poster
GoodChat · 06/05/2023 19:01

CMOTDibbler · 06/05/2023 18:43

You must be very near me! At that age ds loved WMSP for the rides, I def wouldn't go to Stourport. Having spent far too much time on the other side of the river looking at it, there isn't much there for little ones.
I don't know if Barry Island rides would be open on her birthday, but its a really easy drive

We probably know each other. I'm not doing well with this anonymous discretion Grin

We've got free tickets to WSMP about 3 weeks after her birthday and at the time I though "oh great she keeps talking about rides" but now she's insistent that's what she wants to do for her birthday 🙈 thanks for the confirmation on treasure island though. I could see it ending up an expensive but disappointing day.

I've had a look at Barry Island and it looks like they open at 12 but we'd need to be back by 17:30 to pick the youngest up so I don't know if 3 hours would be enough time there. Is it good for that age?

It likes like the alternative might be 90 minutes up to Derby Gullivers or slogging it in the Weston indoor funfair on the pier (which I also didn't realise was so close!)

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