Chessington and Legoland binned - any recommendations for days out?

[CrispieCake]

We've recently had shit days out at both Chessington and Legoland. Just dreadful from start to finish. I have a fairly hyperactive 7yo and the expectation that young children will queue quietly for hours for rides that last a couple of minutes max is just unbelievable. DC is a bit of a wuss too so a couple of times we waited in line and then he decided when we got to the front that he didn't want to do the ride. So we paid a fortune to... queue. I would rather have a wisdom tooth extracted than spend another minute in places like this.

We're not badly off, but like many other families feeling the pinch a bit. We're not doing an abroad holiday this year, just a few days seaside break and day trips. I can't afford to spend £150+ for my DC to have a shit time and to come home feeling stressed and mugged.

Any recommendations for days out? Any places that you'd blacklist/put in the bin? Useful to know the ages of your DC too.

Based south-east but happy to travel/camp.

I'll start.

Bin
Legoland
Chessington
Thorpe Park

Recommend
Hobbledown
Bocketts Farm
Roarr! (Norfolk)

You need to plan the trips.

Aim for a day when it is raining, and most of the schools are in.

You will be cold and wet but get to go on lots of rides with no queues!

Paultons park is great and rarely any queues for rides outside of the peppa pig but (tiny section of the park).
we also love bewilderwood. We are based in Chester and have been to the one there but I know they have one in Norfolk too.

We went to Chessington once and never bothered again, think my kids got to go on about 3 rides as the queues were so long!

Had a fab time at Chessington recently. We didn’t queue for more than a few minutes as we bought the ‘virtual queue pass’ that means you do other stuff until it’s your turn to get on. We did the same at Legoland. I don’t think any theme park is worth it without the virtual queue pass. But it isn’t Chessington’s fault that you didn’t buy it.

Anyway.

Huckleberry Woods, Godstone Farm, Priory Farm, Hangloose BlueWater, GoApe Bedgebury, London museums…

I'm not prepared to take my DC out of school so that does rather limit us to peak times, unless we can exploit the odd inset day.

I completely accept your point, but I'd rather not have to plan a military campaign in order to have a decent day out at a destination I'm already paying £££ for. Likewise getting soaked!

What I'm looking for is ideally the sort of places where you can just turn up and be guaranteed a good time even if it's busy because they're half-decent, good value for money and care about the customer experience.

Had a fab time at Chessington recently. We didn’t queue for more than a few minutes as we bought the ‘virtual queue pass’ that means you do other stuff until it’s your turn to get on. We did the same at Legoland. I don’t think any theme park is worth it without the virtual queue pass. But it isn’t Chessington’s fault that you didn’t buy it.

No, but it is Chessington's fault that the basic customer experience - which is still very pricey - is shit, especially for young children.

Wildwood is good but can get busy.
How about somewhere like Richborough Roman fort in Kent - won't cost you more than £30 and lots to see, space to run about etc?

I see that you like farms so assume your DC like animals,

I would recommend Kew Little Pigs (near Amersham, Bucks) and Eagle Heights (near Dartford, Kent)

At Kew Little Pigs they can get in the pens and play with the pigs and piglets and at Eagle Heights they have bird of prey displays and also you can walk Alpacas or Huskys

Beaulieu car museum in the new forest. There’s museum part, monorail without Queues, large play areas.

leeds castle - Kent. Castle, road train, boat, large play areas, mini golf,

Thanks for all these recommendations. We've also enjoyed days out at the Postal Museum (central London) and the National Maritime Museum in the past six months. You've all reminded me to check the London museums again!

"Had a fab time at Chessington recently. We didn’t queue for more than a few minutes as we bought the ‘virtual queue pass’ that means you do other stuff until it’s your turn to get on. We did the same at Legoland. I don’t think any theme park is worth it without the virtual queue pass. But it isn’t Chessington’s fault that you didn’t buy it."

Shit attitude...but a nice one to be able to have.

godstonefarm.co.uk

Cotswold wildlife park is wonderful if they like animals. It's absolutely enormous, definitely a full day. Nearly is also Adam Hensons Farm Park and Crocodiles of the World which is much smaller but cool if they like reptiles!

Yes, I'm not interested in attractions where you have to pay extra on top of an expensive entrance price to make it bearable.

I can understand add-ons like "Meet the Meerkats" but the basic day out should be a decent product.

English heritage sites ? Castles etc are amazing places for kids. Usually not challenging behaviour wise either.

Definitely Paultons Park - loads of stuff for all ages and no fast track access so shorter queues for everyone. Rarely queues past 15-20 mins even for the most popular rollercoasters

Tower of London is a good one. Plenty of outside space, castle towers to climb, excellent guided tours with the Yeomen Warders/Beefeaters. I seem to recall a moving walkway thingy to view the crown jewels.
Also HMS Belfast, clamber all over a warship, good views of the river.
Ride on the Uber river bus boat service.
South Ken museums. Even the National Gallery, they have kids' guides and Trafalgar Square is just outside.

There’s a lovely fairground at Littlehampton. I think it’s £20 a wristband with unlimited rides. Queues are no longer than 5/10 min wait at peak times. From memory I think there are around 10 rides. Suitable up to early teens.
Bonus is there’s a beach, a boating lake and pirate golf close by. Places to picnic or eat fish and chips.

Silverstone Museum and Coventry Transport Museum if they like cars.

National Space Centre.

Yorvik Viking Centre

Drusillas near Eastbourne. Still fairly pricey but can easily do a full 10-6 day there. My dd love it, recently took them back at 15/12!

"Yes, I'm not interested in attractions where you have to pay extra on top of an expensive entrance price to make it bearable."

Nope, neither me. The audacity...and the tastelessness of the haves and have-nots divide.

"Not Chessington's fault..."
It is. It is Chessington's fault.

Diggerland is fantastic. Can get busy but you're queuing for a couple of minutes not hours like legoland. We've been twice to the one in Castleford and highly recommend, there's 3 other locations over England.

I’m relieved mine don’t like rollercoasters! We’ve done Paultons though - we went on a cold December day in the Christmas holidays and walked straight onto every ride.

Sounds like you’re in South East so these are places that we’ve been to and enjoyed:

Four Kingdoms
Chobham Farm Adventure Park
Kew Gardens
Moors Valley - love the nets adventure (but book in advance)
Whipsnade Zoo
Dover Castle
Hever Castle
Hawk Conservancy
Fishers Farm Park

paultons always a good day out. Get there as gates open. Take picnic and stay until it closes. Think it is great value for money for full good day out

Beaulieu is also a good one if you like cars

Historic dockyard. Depending on where you live. One ticket last al year. We have been going for many years and both mins still love going. Very good value for money if you can got 2/3/4 times in a year

Gulliversland

Digger land