Wicksteed park? Anyone been?

[stressed2007]

Has anyone been here and is it good? Thinking of driving a long way to go there tomorrow and any feedback would be great. Thanks

Yes I've been regularly with the DS's - great fun - lots of open space to just run around, and a fabulous playarea (free) as well as all the rides

Is there anything inside if it chucks it down?

It is great but it is 100% outdoors.

Not sure I would drive more than an hour or so either. I drive 45mins, but meet my brother their who is in Northants. It is v good....but there is obviously a limit as to how far to drive for it.

It is great for 5-7yo's as (depending on their height - check webste) they can go on everything on their own. Good for younger kids too, when accompanied by a parent.

I am going with 2.5 year old.

We are N, London/Hertfordshire and want to go "out " for the day. Bit stuck for places to go and saw this advertised. If anyone has any other suggestions they would also be much appreciated.

Whipsnade? Perhaps a bit more expensive, and not necessarily any more indoorsy though.

Put a new call out for ideas.

what about this.

i now nothing about it - jutst saw it in active Convos.

i wouldnt drive along way to go wicksteed, its not that big. I go every week to take kids to swings (live very close) its £6 to park your car, its a great park to go for an afternoon, but not all day (if you have older kids. they only have a pirate ship, log flume and small roller coaster. It is good for the younger ones though (4-7)The new log flume is rubbish. and definitly dont go if its raiining, nothing indoors at all. Car boot sale is good there though.

milton keynes gullivers world and eco park. thats very good.

crikey - my kids can spend half the day just playing on the big play area

So can mine FAQ...it isme that can't spend 1/2 a day lifting them up on all the high climbing things, pushing them on teh swings etc.

yes thats all we do, fantastic play area. we dont go on the rides because that costs money!!!

the best thing about wickeys is the playground

sorry didnt read that op had little uns, i thought op ment for older kids.

stressed what about paradise park near to where you live in cheshunt. thats got an inddor soft play area, animals and rides.

theres a road just near wickys that a few people park on then walk into the park save paying for the parking there

Cascade we go there every week - ww have season tickets just wanted somewhere a bit different. It is good though.

what "fantastic play area" were people talking about - at Wicksteed or somewhere else?

Gullivers is definitely better than Wicksteed for small children. It's in Milton Keynes, although i think it is outside as well

the play area is at wicksteed, but a lot ot the climbing frames would be too big for a 2 1/2 year old. (well for me anyway cause im a paranoid mother)

I wouldn't go a long way with a 2.5 yr old, but I would with a slightly older child/ren, especially if there is more than one.
My dd is 6 and I think just about the right age now. She went with her nan & grandad when visiting in the summer hols, and spent all day there, they had free vouchers from their Tescos club for the pay rides and hardly used any of them, cos she was just on the swings and slides etc. She did go on the train and on the rowing boats.
It was my favourite place ever as a child, we hardly ever had bought tickets (only for birthdays or similar) but I could spend forever on the playground bit.
I also spent a lot of time hanging out there as a teenager, but that's a different story

Those of you in Kettering, have they still got the swimming/paddling pool at wickys?

no im sure there isnt,

No pool. Imo Wicksteed is no great shakes, certainly not worth a long car journey ride or for a wet day. It's got a big playground which is its best bit imo, including a toddlers' section which is the sheltered bit that contains a 2 climbing frames, one with slide, a tube shaped like a train and those animals that rock back and forth. The rest is what I would describe as seaside type entertainment - coin op machines that you pay for. If you go, park off the road that runs opposite the main gate near the college.

TwinLakes near Melton Mowbray, Whipsnade, Gullivers are all better. If you don't want the big venues, another place near Wicksteed is West Lodge Farm, Desborough which has a toddler friendly outdoor play area and indoor play barn, free barrel-rides, feed the animals, pig racing, restaurant, my dcs love it.

Sad to hear the pool has gone. I agree that somewhere like West Lodge Farm is probably a much better bet than Wicksteed with a tiny - probably would be something of the sort nearer to you than Desborough though?

well it's raining alot in Hertfordshire so not gone anywherw! Are there any websites/books that have all this sort of stuff in then (i.e. just for kids) it is becoming increasingly difficult to source these sorts of days - if it was n't for you lot on mumsnet don't know what I would do !