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

[AbbyMumsnet]

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.

Eureka

love it!

And the tots theme park that used to be called 'pets corner'?

Sundown or something,

Wildwood - near Herne Bay in Kent.

Pecorama in Devon is great, especially for younger children. Light railway, model railways, gardens to explore, good playground, a show and facepainting etc. Low key, good family entertainment. Had a great time there.

Science Museum Launchpad
The whole of the South Bank down to the Pool of London (the fountains in the ground behind the Unicorn Theatre
A trip to see the Seals on the North Norfolk Coast through Temples or Bishops Boats here
Hever Castle - beautiful grounds, brilliant adventure playground, water fountain maze, programme of jousting displays etc BUT MUST TAKE PICNIC - ON-SITE FOOD IS HORRIBLE
Arundel castle - a brilliant castle with access to the keep, motte and bailey, nice days out along the river.
Battle - the Abbey and the Battle of hastings battle field with good interpretatipon - good for those with special interest and visitors from Normandy!
Port Lympe zoo - the one with the big gorilla enclosures, also safari trip and animals in spacious conditions
The Edinburgh International Children's Festival

Just to echo previous recommendations for
Bedgebury Pinetum, very good value for money as you pay per car, and the forest has so many different play areas for children we found it a struggle to actually get round them all in an afternoon!

We also like the Rare Breeds Centre in Woodchurch near Ashford, the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch railway and Groombridge Place.

The Crealy fun p[arks in Devon and Cornwall. Both great for kids of all ages, not too expensive, a mix of animals, indoor and outdoor play areas, funfair rides, etx and once you get in virtually everything is included. The food isn't too unhealthy or expensive either - at least compared to other funparks.

Can someone find a way of 'stickying' this thread somewhere so we can all look at it when the kids are climbing walls/we're off on holiday etc..? Or even get it organised by region (go on MNHQ, after all we did just write yer blardy article for ye...)

Diggerland, West Somerset Railway, Warwick Castle, Blackpool Tower

Maybe we should move it to Days Out topic once we're done - and stick it to the top of that? (If that's possible? Know we can stick things to top of active convo's but not sure about within individual topics... oh tech?)

Maybe we should even go whole hog and have a days out topic in reviews?

Drusillas near Eastborne.

FANTASTIC day out. Lots of different animals (unlike Twycross). Lots of activities for kids to join in (e.g. ZooOlymipcs, milking a fake cow) with certificates that reached home before we did. Also free train rides and small fairground area IIRC. Water/splash park too. Only negative was the price (althuogh made easier by clubcard vouchers).

Castle Museum in York.

Legoland closed down last year, (LGJ hopes to put people off going, thereby reducing the queues.)

Almond Valley Heritage centre is fantastic.

Second Trentham Gardens and the Monkey Forest - if you can avoid the shops!

Science Museum in London, and the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester - both v hands-on, good for refreshments.

National Railway Museum in York - lots of running around room, lots of vehicles to get into, lots of places to eat and an outside play area (when it's not been closed off for Thomas the Tank Engine Week )

Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood in Derbyshire has a fantastic hands-on children's exhibition but is closed for refurb. at the moment. It's National Trust, so again good for refreshments and lots of room to run and walk around outside in the grounds. They do a great Easter Egg Hunt.

Any suggestions for Northern Ireland?

lets not forget Wales!

folly farm

techniquest

Danyr ogof caves

ha, snap cali!

Science Museum
HMS Belfast
Museum in Docklands

Flamingoland

We love

The rare breeds centre

We can be first in and last out and still not want to go home!

My DS (who has SN) loves getting in the pens with the piglets, although they ate his shoelaces last week!

The walk through the woodland is decked/hard all the way so no problems with push or wheel chairs.

There are craft activities, pig racing, tractor/trailer rides, playground, picnic areas, zip slides (big enough for adults!), trails and quizzes and indoor play for when it's wet.

I also like it because it is a charity supporting people with learning difficulties (close to my heart), who can be seen working on the farm with the animals.

oh yes Forbidden Corner in Middleham!! Amazing, utterly amazing place - thouhg NOT suitable for Littlies or pushchairs, but 6yrs plus, you HAVE to visit! It is another place which is just as appealing for adults.

It is original and funny and bizarre and intriguing and scary and surprising and inspiring and set in beautiful countryside. It started out as a small series of surreal follies but is now a very uncommericialised memorable day out!

Martin Mere WWT - if your DCs like duck feeding, this is a must.

Also WWT in Barnes + Arundel, but IMO Martin Mere's the best!

here

Forbidden corner has the cleanest nicest loos of any attraction I have ever been. Wonderful place. Also Chester zoo bat cave. Smelly but magical.

Landmark Forest Theme PArk in the highlands of scotland is fantastic