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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

tips for visiting Eden Project please

13 replies

GeorgeEliot · 12/04/2011 16:23

Planning a visit with dc (12 and 9) this weekend.

Will it be horrendously crowded at this time of year?

Grateful for advice from others who have been. Thanks.

OP posts:
cornishpasty · 12/04/2011 19:35

Saturdays tend to be their quietest day.
My dp said last one was, which I was surprised at as it's now school hols.

Rosa · 12/04/2011 19:41

comfy shoes and layers ....it gets hot in the tropical biome!

wearymum200 · 12/04/2011 21:02

Get there early? Park and ride gets further and further out the later you go and the return bus goes all round everywhere it felt to us. You need lots of water to drink in the tropical biome.

theoldbrigade · 13/04/2011 12:29

It's brilliant and we have taken various kids there over the past decade. Admittedly not for a while now but at 9 and 12 sure they will really enjoy it.

Agree layers are a plan but not that many ! Let's face it you will only end up carrying them.

We ask the kids which plants they really want to see - always in the tropical biome of course - and then agree that we see all the other biomes first. Well, a bit of education one hopes !!

Never known it to be vastly overcrowded although it does get busy. The walkways preclude anyone moving anywhere that quickly.

Do take water. The cafe is not cheap but neither is it OTT.Getting there early a must.

Have a great day !

Divawithattitude · 13/04/2011 19:51

Check when you arrive for special activities for the Easter holidays and what the times are -

Have a giant pasty and chips for lunch

You can take your own picnics, there are palces to sit and eat.

Visit the shop - its great and not expensive

travellingwilbury · 13/04/2011 19:53

Take a picnic , it can get expensive to eat there . But over all it is fab , you will enjoy it . Even when it is busy it doesn't feel ridiculously so .

AnonymousBird · 14/04/2011 18:51

Sorry, I disagree with pretty much everything everyone has said.

Don't go, it's such a let down. We went on a really quiet day years ago, car and coach parks virtually empty and you couldn't move once you got inside the venue itself. And it wasn't as if it was raining or anything, just cramped and oh so underwhelming. Certainly not somewhere you would spend longer than an hour or two. And we are real nature lovers - plants and the environment and all that really float my boat. Poor specimens in a drab surrounding. Very scrappy indeed.

So if it was crowded on a day when hardly anyone was there, it must be horrific when it is in fact "busy" or at least approaching busy.

That is my honest blunt advice!

piratecat · 14/04/2011 18:57

if it was years ago, do you mean at the start when it was getting established? like things still growing. it's only been open 10 yrs.

AnonymousBird · 14/04/2011 19:07

About 6 years ago I reckon. Hopefully they have significantly improved/extended the displays since then!!!! But I don't see how they can overcome the crowding in the domes thing. The domes are the same size as they ever were, and with a virtually empty car park for the domes to be unbearably cramped and crowded must surely still be the case....

travellingwilbury · 14/04/2011 19:07

We went the first year it opened and then again five years later and as much as I did enjoy it the first time , I loved it the second time . There is much more to see and do now .

Original poster
GeorgeEliot · 14/04/2011 19:18

Thanks everyone for all these helpful suggestions.

OP posts:
Original poster
GeorgeEliot · 20/04/2011 20:25

Just back and thought it was fantastic!

DC were impressed with the biomes - rainforest one was extremely hot - and they then did the rock climbing while I got to look at all the outside planting schemes at a leisurely pace. Didn't feel too busy on glorious sunny day in Easter holidays.

Food was fantastic - emphasis on organic, seasonal, local stuff, and interesting system where you help yourself to what you want freshly cooked and eat at communal tables, and pay at the end, just re-launched the cafe- and I felt it was good value considering the quality, although people with fussy dc might not find it so child-friendly. Best food I've ever had at a place like that.

There was enough to keep us all entertained for 5 hours, and I could have happily stayed for longer. I was very inspired.

OP posts:
glencoe · 21/04/2011 07:54

Do you have to go for the full day? They have reduced entry charges if you go later in the afternoon and it is also much quieter then, plus no traffic problems.

We went last summer and our children (then 7 and 4) loved it. We went several times using the annual pass you get free for one visit and spent many evenings there.

Most popular with the children was the water tube play feature on the sloped lawn! Not sure if this is always there though.

If you are going in the domes I would suggest doing it early in the morning before it gets too warm, and be warned, the children may be get bored with it after a while i.e. before you reach the top :o

It's a fantastic place so have a great day!

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