Eureka vs. Legoland Discovery Centre - opinions wanted!!

[ClareV]

Hi
Has anyone been to the Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester? What was it like? Worth the money and what would be a just-under-90 minute drive? How long would you expect to spend there with kids ages 6, 3 and almost 1?
Also, what about Eureka? I've heard more about this place, but how long would you expect to spend there?
Any thoughts much appreciated. We are going to spending a week with grandparents in Yorkshire so both quite accessible (and can be paid for in Tescos vouchers!!)
Thanks!
Clare

Eureka is looking pretty faded but I've been taking my DSs regularly over the last 8 years! Having said that if you haven't been before it is good - especially for children your ages. If I suggested taking my 12 or 10 year old they'd refuse point blank.

If you do go get there at opening time or it's a nightmare. The outdoor area is nice too with a massive sandpit. They usually have special activities on in the summer hols.

The cafe is ok but gets busy so I'd take a picnic. If it rains there's an old railway carriage with picnic tables.

I'd really recommend that you look on tripadvisor.

Where in Yorkshire are you staying? I'll see if I can recommend anywhere else.

We went to legoland discovery centre and the kids enjoyed it (DD 4.3 and DS 1.5) but not so enjoyable for us - really hot and stuffy, far too many coffee shop tables taking up too much of the floor space and not much space for the kids to actually run around in so spent most of the time trying not to lose them in all the other people! We had easily had enough after a couple of hours but the kids lasted a bit longer!!

On the plus side there was all the shopping in the Trafford Centre afterwards

Thanks for the comments!! The reviews I'd read about the lego place are just like yours, OoopsWeDidItAgain. Thought I'd post on here incase it had improved - probably give that a miss!
Ptangyangkipperbang - we're going to Ilkley - I grew up there and there is lots to do in the area - just looking for something we haven't done before, and ideally cheap/free/pay by tescos vouchers!!

We're going to go to the Railway Museum in York (DS is train mad) for a day, probably go walking somewhere one day, potter round Ilkley, feed ducks, playground.....

We've just been to the Discovery centre, and thought it was very average. We went with Tesco vouchers, and it was just about worth that amount of money. I wouldn't go again. The factory thing was 'babyish' according to DD, who's just turned six; 8-y-o DS spent most of the time reading a book.

The highlight of the day was going to John Lewis afterwards.

Eureka: we used to go there a lot, and we could always spend a whole day there. I haven't been for a while, but would happily go again if we lived near enough.

I bet you've done Hesketh then! My boys love it.

What about Bradford Industrial Museum? We haven't been for a while but they used to have a shire horse which would take you on a horse and cart down a recreated street.

Eureka is fine if you're not travelling too far.

Hebden Bridge? Nice on a sunny day. Duck feeding, canal barge ride (hunting for crocs), visit to the park, lovely cafes. Walked through it today and thought what a great place it would be to come to on hol. Lovely drive over from Keighley over the moors too.

Would choose Eureka over Lego Discovery although as another poster has said we've been going to Eureka for nearly 8 years (DS1 now 10) it doesn't hole quite the same excitement that it did.

Went to Lego Discovery a couple of months ago with DS1 and DS2 aged 5. Wouldn't go again. It's a glorified play area and even though it hasn't been open long a lot of things were broken and not working. Boys lasted an hour and a half and they lurvvvve anything to do with Lego.

The Museum of Photography in Bradford is fab. There is a 3D cinema, interactive activities and you can choose all sorts of programmes to watch in your own personal cinema (watched a series of Danger Mouse). We had to drag boys out. well worth the money.

Hesketh is excellent, isn't it? We've only done it once. Didn't know it existed until about 6 months ago (I was amazed!).
It had to be designed by a Mum - soooooo many highchairs, indoor picnic tables etc etc

Like the Hebden Bridge idea.

Went to the Photography museum place a million times as a kid (school trips, family trips, guide/brownie trips....)but it must have changed rather a lot in the last 18 ((ouch!) years. Kids would like it.

Thanks everyone!!!

Should keep us busy this trip and half term too!!

I would allow 4-5 hours for a Eureka visit (including picnic time). Be warned that if you go on a rainy day in the school holidays it will be very busy, but I would expect that your children will still enjoy it even if it is busy. Queues at the cafe can be long at busy times and IMO the food is nothing special, so I would take a picnic and eat in the train carriage which is available specifically for picnicking.

Our DS loved Eureka and we went loads of times when he was Infant school/early Junior school age. Am hoping to take my GC soon so I can enjoy it again.