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

210 replies

AbbyMumsnet · 27/02/2008 13:47

Afternoon all. We've got to pull together a piece for Sunday Telegraph v' quickly on the top ten visitor attractions for kids in the UK. (Hence the title of this thread.) Would love your help - and feel free to add a line or two about what makes your nomination worthy of inclusion! Thanks ever so.

OP posts:
Bellie · 27/02/2008 14:01

Another vote for Moors Valley, Nr Ringwood, Dorset. Fab Fab

DD loves going there and can easily spend all day - we take a picnic and she is over the moon with the playground, the woodland trail and then the steam railway....

LynetteScavo · 27/02/2008 14:02

Snibston Discovery park in Coalville.

Built on a disused mine, is free for under fives, very hands- on and educational. Great outdoor play area

Keeps my 3 DC's who are 9/4/2 happy all day.

Tiggiwinkle · 27/02/2008 14:02

Bedgebury Pinetum-has a lovely adventure playground set in the woods and very uncommercialised.

LynetteScavo · 27/02/2008 14:03

No one mentioned Eurika in Halifax? Never been myself, but my sister raves about it.

sparklesandnowinefor9months · 27/02/2008 14:04

Leeds Castle - fabulous and probably one of my favorite places ever!

also Dinosaur Park in Norfolk is a great day out

Threadworm · 27/02/2008 14:04

Forbidden Corner in N. Yorks is also good. Very quirky and unexpected.

MorocconOil · 27/02/2008 14:06

My DC loved the Yorkshire Sculpture Park even though it was a wet, cold rainy day. It really inspired them.

My2Weegirls · 27/02/2008 14:07

kelvingrove - it's free and lots to see

saltire · 27/02/2008 14:08

Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh - brilliant, told the story of earth from the beginning of the planet. Really enjoyed it, as did the DSes and DS2 was only 5 when we took him.

Blair Drummond Safari park. Well typical safari park really but great fun

National Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile (that's in Edinburgh for those who didn't know) it's free and a great way to spend an hour or two, includes toys going back over 100 years and a few that any MNetter who goes is bound to recognise

The Secret Bunker, near st Andrews. More for older (as in over5) chidlren, but really fascinating place

Gingerbear · 27/02/2008 14:08

The Deep in Hull - for the underwater glass lift, the Saw Fish and HUGE nurse sharks! Excellent for rainy days.

Chester Zoo for the batcave, meercats and the elephants. There are lots of picnic areas as well as decent cafes, a monorail to get a zoo overview (or for tired little feet to get back to the exit) and a water boat ride.

Forbidden Corner in Yorkshire Dales www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk/ For all round spookiness.

The Yorkshire Museum in York - another good rainy day visit.

Cannon Hall near Barnsley. Children's farm, adventure playground, acres of green for ball games and picnics, a little stream full of ducklings in the spring, and an old House with a Country Life museum.

marina · 27/02/2008 14:09

Second Fio's recommendation for Bedgebury and also The Enchanted Forest at Groombridge Place in Kent.
It's a really fun and original day out, and refreshingly free of corporate advertising and products.

Gingerbear · 27/02/2008 14:10

Woodside Falconry centre, near Lincoln, for the racing pigs, flying display, and tropical house if it is cold!

bozza · 27/02/2008 14:11

National Railway Musuem.

FioFio · 27/02/2008 14:12

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sparklesandnowinefor9months · 27/02/2008 14:12

Oooh yes Bozza i forgot that one, NRM is fab too!

tortoiseSHELL · 27/02/2008 14:13

Bede World in Jarrow is great during the holidays - they do special events for the children.

Horse World in Whitchurch - lovely lovely surroundings, beautiful horses, but it's also a charity so you are doing good by visiting! (They rescue horses that have been badly treated). Also has a great tearoom, beautiful garden, soft play for the children.

Cotswold Farm Park - lots of farm animals (obviously), tractor rides, really friendly staff, perfect for all ages. If you go in Spring you can see lambs actually being born which is amazing for the children to see.

FioFio · 27/02/2008 14:13

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tortoiseSHELL · 27/02/2008 14:14

Oh, and the SS Great Britain in Bristol - you can go back free for a year afterwards, and the children love seeing the ship and going below decks. And then you can get chips at Brunel's Buttery!

jellies · 27/02/2008 14:15

Moors Valley

Gingerbear · 27/02/2008 14:15

The Pencil Museum in Keswick is great.
Magna in Rotherham is good for older children.

bossybritches · 27/02/2008 14:16

Second Gingers recommendation for Forbidden Corner in the Dales!

they have timed tickets so book early

In fact the Yorkshire Dales in general - never very crowded even in August & there is always LOADS tos ee & do for the kids!

peanutbear · 27/02/2008 14:16

Blue PLanet aquarium very child friendly loads to do and see the sharks are fantastic

THe Maritime museum at liverpool docks is fantastic very breast feeding friendly they even made me a cup of tea lots for the children to see a floor for different children's activities and its free

Gingerbear · 27/02/2008 14:17

Save me the bother - here, all the best places in Yorkshire are here [http://www.yorkshireattractions.org/]]

janestillhere · 27/02/2008 14:17

National Railway Museum, York - totally brill even if you're not that interested (As I wasn't) I am a convert and stand open mouthed at the size of those trains!
Kid activities always on, picnic areas if you take your own butties, nice grub in the restaurant on the platform. Oh I'll shut up now. It's great. And it's free.

GrinningSoul · 27/02/2008 14:18

The natural history museum in Oxford - like a mini - and therefore much more managable - version of the London one. Great free activities in holidays, links with The Northern Lights trilogy (Lyra visits it!), spooky shrunken heads in the Pitt Rivers museum (which is hidden at the back of the main museum.)

Also, Museum www.horniman.ac.uk in SE London. Fab interactive music gallery, new aquarium, changing exhibitions, beautiful huge gardens, location on top of hill so views over s london are great, free, easy to get to by public transport or car as is on the south circular.... great cafe and picnic spaces...