Perhaps you are visiting Wakefield for the day or maybe you live in Wakefield. but either way if you have found this blog post and you are interested in looking for things to do with your family in Wakefield you have come to the right place. First of all, we have some fantastic pregnancy – pre-school businesses listed in our Wakefield directory, you can find these local businesses by clicking here.
Our special guest today is one of our favourite bloggers Sophie from the fantastic Mama Mei blog. Sophie tells us about her favourite things to do in Wakefield as a family.
Favourite Things to do as a Family in Wakefield
Wakefield in West Yorkshire is often overlooked or seen as Leeds’ poorer sister but actually there is so much to do for families across the Wakefield District (which includes Pontefract and Castleford).
Here are my top 5 things to do in Wakefield
West Yorkshire History Centre
West Yorkshire History Centre has a free changing exhibition and free family activities, check out their facebook page for the latest news and events.
The Hepworth, Wakefield
Just a short walk from the History Centre (also known as West Yorkshire Archive Service) is The Hepworth Wakefield which is free to enter (although parking is £5 for the day but it is a short walk from Wakefield Kirkgate station). The Barbara Hepworth inspired gallery has a range of free crafts on during the school holidays and on weekends.
There is also an outdoor playground and UK’s largest public garden is currently being built outside the gallery next to The Calder building. There’s also stunning views from the The Hepworth Cafe over the River Calder and The Chantry Chapel (which has free heritage open days on select dates)
National Coal Mining Museum of England
The National Coal Mining Museum of England is also in the district in an area called Overton and it is steeped in history and great for an indoor and outdoor day out.
Angler’s Country Park, near Wakefield.
Anglers Country Park is free and there is a fabulous Room on the Broom trail.
Anglers Country Park is dominated by a lake, surrounded by grassland, woodland and a wetland area known as the ‘Pol’. At one time this was the deepest open cast coal mine in the country, reaching a depth of 250 feet.
Anglers has been awarded Green Flag status – recognising it as one of the best parks in the country. I’d also recommend trying out Hemsworth Water Park.
Pontefract Castle
Pontefract Castle is a hidden gem in West Yorkshire with outdoor ruins and an indoor visitor centre. Make sure you take time to visit the dungeons on a tour (these cost however, £3 per person at the time of writing).
So whether it’s exploring the outdoors at National Trust’s Nostell Priory or it’s a rainy day inside Wakefield Museum, Wakefield is not a place to be overlooked.
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As you know we have our pregnancy – pre-school directory where we display local businesses that may interest you and your growing family. To find out what is classes and businesses we have on in Nottingham please click here.
We are thrilled to share a guest post from the lovely Lydia who blogs over at Eyes of a Mum. Lydia shares a list of fun things for families to do in Nottingham.
There’s no doubt about it, Nottingham is a great place for families! No matter what day of the week, time of year or weather forecast, there’s plenty to do!
Some of the best classes include letting the little ones get messy (whilst keeping the house clean!) at Splat Messy Play, having a good old boogie and sing song at Wiggle and Giggle Music and Movement Classes and learning how to communicate through the skill of British Sign Language at the baby sign classes Little Signers Club. Even better, all of these classes run all over the city so you’re never too far away from a good time!
Soft Play in Nottingham| Fun for Families in Nottingham
If classes aren’t your thing and you enjoy the freedom of soft play, there are a vast array of centres to choose from. From the magic of Hocus Pocus Soft Play to the wild times at Jungletastic, you’re truly spoilt for choice. If you’re also wanting a bit of adult time whilst the little one has a rest in the pram, Nottingham also has some amazing garden centres that also have soft play. East Bridgford Garden Centre (just outside of Nottingham) is huge! They have a large soft play centre for babies, toddlers and children and the most luxurious garden centre with a wide variety of food, gifts and goodies. Cherry Lane Garden Centre is also a great spot. It’s much smaller but still has an onsite soft play. They also have lovely stock (with some bargains to be had) and delicious food and drinks in their café.
Fun parks and Playgrounds| For Families in Nottingham
Nottingham also has some spectacular parks which offer fantastic children’s playgrounds. Wollaton Hall and Deer Park is simply stunning. I think the whole of Nottingham could go for a picnic here and there would still be space for a kick about! Wild deer roam free, which are an impressive sight to see. They have two on site cafés with one connected to a vast wooden playground.
Another great spot is Rushcliffe Country Park. Full of hidden gems including beautiful wildlife, Natural Heritage trials, skateboard ramps, a large playground as well as the track from the Great Central Railway running through the park where, if you’re lucky you’ll see a historic steam train pass through
Attractions | Families in Nottingham
If you’re looking for more of a destination attraction, then Stonebridge City Farm is definitely worth a visit! It’s a hidden piece of the country in the middle of the city. Best of all it’s free (they are a charity, so they do welcome donations). With opportunities to feed the animals on the farm, view and buy plants and produce from the gardens and veg patch, let the little ones play on the play area and enjoy some lunch in the café, it really is a great community project!
At the other end of the spectrum and on a much larger scale, is Robin Hoods Wheelgate Park. This theme park is a great day out for the whole family. With loads of indoor and outdoor rides and activities for children of all ages. It’s a great attraction whatever the weather! They also host lots of seasonal events throughout the year including spectacular firework displays and visits from Father Christmas!
All in all Nottingham (and it’s surrounding area’s) offers a great range of activities for families with children of all ages to create memories that will last a lifetime!
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As you know, we are MyBump2Baby – A pregnancy – preschool directory and we love helping local families find fun things to do in Preston. If you would like to find local pregnancy – preschool groups, classes and businesses we have our local Preston family directory you can access by clicking here. You can also find a list of days out in Lancashire on our website by clicking here.
Today we are excited to share our guest post from the awesome Jennii, who also happens to be one of our favourite bloggers. Her blog is Chilling with Lucas. Jenni shares her top 5 things to do in Preston for Families.
Things for Families to do in Preston for Families;
Brockholes is set on the site of an old quarry which is now a 250 acre reserve with a network of trails and hides. You can also explore the woods or enjoy the lakes on site, which have all been specially designed to attract all kinds of wildlife. They have also catered for all ages with their play parks including a climbing forest, a miniature gravel quarry for scooping, digging and transporting fun, a bouncing flower, play hut, swings, balance blocks, chain path, see-saw and zip wire! Entrance is free but you do have to pay for parking. There is a visitor centre with an ice cream parlour, cafe and shop… read more here.
The Harris is free to enter and a treasure trove with something for everyone whether you are interested in arts, ceramics, costume and textiles or history. The Harris also has the Harris library within it. There is a cafe, shop and free WiFi. They also have regular events and classes for families and children between 5 and 12 years.
Salmesbury Hall is free to visit and has an abundance of things to see. There are art exhibitions with work available to buy. They have animals to visit including pigs, bees, rabbits, hens, goats and sheep. Next to the animal area they have a play area including a miniature Salmesbury Hall replica that children can climb through the windows to the rope bridge of the Mayflower ship! There is a wooden trail with bridges, swings and fun obstacles. Various extra family and children’s activities are offered during the school holidays. If you want to stay for something to eat there is a wafflery and restaurant. Read more here…
Ribble Steam Railway has a 3 mile return trip along marina, swing bridge and River Ribble, giving interesting views over Preston. Surrounded by naturally relaxing landscape you can discover the wildlife and fauna that live and grow along the riverside railway. There is also a hands on museum, complete with an indoor miniature railway. There is a shop and a cafe. Throughout the year they hold special events and activities.
Over 40 ninja warrior obstacles, a multilevelled harnessed high ropes course, 2 warped walls, a virtual reality arcade, cafe and soft play area for the little ones this is a great place for the adventurers in the family Read more here
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Today we have an amazing guest post from the fabulous Kirsty who blogs over at Navigating Baby. As parents, you maybe interested in finding things to do in London as a family. We have our free local pregnancy to pre-school directory of classes and business here but if you are looking for something a little different to do in London … carry on reading to find some awesome things to do in London as a family.
Fun Things to do as a Family in London
We have lived in South West London for the past 10 years (I have actually been here all my life) and we love it especially now as it is great area to be in as a family. People always think of London and see crowded spaces and loads of buildings, but our little corner of the city is a lot about being outdoors and large open spaces.
Here is my list of fab things to do in London as a Family;
Visit one of the Lidos for an open-air swim. There are fantastic outdoor pools in Brockwell Park and Tooting Common which make a perfect family day out in the summer months. For those feeling less brave Hampton Open Air Pool is also fabulous and has the added bonus of being heated. Be warned though you need to get to all of these early or face long queues.
Pack a picnic and head to one of the many commons. South West London is blessed with huge amounts of green space and a fair bit of woodland for tree climbing and adventure. We spend hours in the woods building dens.
To name but a few there is Tooting Common, Streatham Common, Clapham Common, Wimbledon Common, Wandsworth Common, Morden Hall Park, Richmond Park and Bushey Park. Each of these has playgrounds galore, there are also sandpits, tennis courts and often organised events such as Park Runs for kids or recently Easter Egg hunts.
Hampton Court Palace. This is one of my favourite places in South West London for a family day out and we don’t even always go into the palace. Being in the gardens is free and a lovely place for kids to run around. If you want to pay there are usually activities for kids organised during weekends and holidays and there is the amazing Magic Garden which is a fabulously designed play space for children. There are towers to be climbed, water to play in, sand to dig in and hills to roll or slide down.
If you do visit don’t forget the maze – I have been lost in there more times than I care to remember both as a child and an adult!
Visit Buckingham Palace and see the changing of the guard. You can combine this with a walk and a play in St James Park or a walk down the Mall will take you to Horseguards Parade where there are soldiers on horses. If little legs are not yet exhausted another short walk will take you to Westminster to see Big Ben.
The Wetlands, Barnes – there are over 100 acres of wetlands and marshes here where you can see butterflies, pond life and birds a plenty. If your little people love wildlife this is a total must visit
The more I write about it the more I realise how lucky I am to live somewhere so very full of history and amazing sites, but that still has extraordinary green spaces for my children to experience.
I am Kirsty from Navigating Baby and I write about raising my 4 crackers littles. I have two singleton boys and then after going for number 3 I was blessed to have very lively twin girls. My children can be found tearing around my house playing ninjas, loving one another or driving one other crazy. I can be found alternating between drinking coffee, pleading for order and writing about the chaos here.
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As you know MyBump2Baby has newly launched it’s very own MyBump2Baby Lancashire section of our website and app. Today we are delighted to share our guest post from the fantastic Nicola who blogs over at Mummy to Dex.
Top 5 Attractions in West Lancashire
Welcome to West Lancashire, an historic borough with so many family friendly attractions, you could spend months here and not get bored. Whether you’re a wildlife lover, a historic building aficionado or just a lover of being outdoors, West Lancashire has got something for the whole family. It was hard to narrow it down the top 5 attractions in West Lancashire, but these 5 family days out are definitely some of the best!
Our Favourite Attractions in West Lancashire;
Rufford Old Hall| West Lancashire
Located in the historic village of Rufford,Rufford Old Hall is a 500 year old fine Tudor building which used to be home to the Heskeths up until the mid-1700s.
While Dad is exploring the fine architecture of the Grade II listed building, Mum and the kids can tackle the large grounds, including a one mile nature trail, perfect for kids who love to spy butterflies and dragonflies.
When Dad gets bored of the Hall, why not take part in one of the garden games on the lawn- chess or croquet, or explore the woods and build a den? There’s so much to do at Rufford Old Hall and it’s a fantastic day out for the whole family.
There’s an on-site tearoom offering a comprehensive children’s menu, but if you’re trying to save money, you’re more than welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy your sandwiches and snacks in the sunshine.
Free entry for National Trust members, adult ticket prices with gift aid cost £10.50 and under fives go free. Check website for opening times as these can vary depending on the day of the week and season.
Martin Mere Wetlands Centre| West Lancashire
If you have bird mad children, thenMartin Mere Wetlands Centre is a must visit when you’re in the local area. Located on the West Lancashire Coastal Plains, Martin Mere, which was once England’s largest body of fresh water, has played host to over 280 species of bird on its wetlands, and every Autumn it welcomes 30,000 pink footed geese, as they make their journey from Iceland south for the winter.
There’s so much more to see and do at Martin Mere, whether you’re a bird lover or not. Kids love the outdoor play area, the boating trips across the wetlands and there’s even toddler story time on a Thursday morning for the littlest members of our family.
Open all year round, seven days a week, prices for entry start from £7.
Windmill Animal Farm| West Lancashire
If you’re looking for a family attraction that will keep you busy for the full day, then look no further thanWindmill Animal Farm, based just outside of Burscough.
Offering indoor soft play, a light railway, outdoor play areas, access to a huge range of farm animals, cute furry pets and a lovely cafe with coffee and cake to die for, Windmill Animal Farm keeps our energetic toddler busy for hours on end.
There’s an array of farming events throughout the year including pumpkin picking in October and the lambing season in March – two events not to be missed.
Open seven days a week, entry starts from £7.50 with discounted family tickets and half price weekday tickets available.
Mere Sands Woods| West Lancashire
Located just down the road from Rufford Old Hall,Mere Sands Woods named as such as this location was the shoreline of the now drained Martin Mere.
Within the reserve are lakes, sandy wet meadows, forest, six bird hides and several walking path routes which are accessible for both wheelchairs and prams.
As well as using the bird hides to look out for magnificent kingfishers, woodpeckers and sparrows, you can also see foxes, squirrels, deer and water voles around the reserve.
Truly a nature lovers paradise, Mere Sands Woods is like Martin Mere Wetland’s Centre cooler, younger brother. A really relaxing place to be at one with nature, and a serene location to spend a few hours with the kids, learning about insects, birds and mammals.
Entry into Mere Sands Woods is free, however it costs £2 to park your car for the day.
Farmer Ted’s| West Lancashire
The ultimate family friendly farm in the North West and a must visit destination for any child.Farmer Ted’s always has so much going on for children and adults alike. Located between Formby and Ormskirk on Flatman’s Lane, there’s a world of things to do when you arrive such as meeting farm animals, go karting, exploring the adventure maze, archery, watching birds of prey and an indoor and outdoor play area.
Check out the website for seasonal activities including Easter egg hunts in March/April, pumpkin carving in October and gingerbread decorating in December.
Prices start from £4.75 with prices going up slightly on the weekend. Open all year around except for January and two weeks in November
Nicola who blogs over at Mummy to Dex lives in a small village in rural West Lancashire with her husband, two year old spirited toddler, Dexter and newborn baby, Felix.
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I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a family trip to a pantomime around Christmas and if I did, well…. I would probably be questioning our relationship right now!
Pantomimes around Christmas are a tradition for most families, a tradition that has often been passed on from generation to generation. Pantomimes are often based around kid’s stories combining the perfect balance of magic, audience interaction and music peppered with witty humour creating an everlasting memory for all the family – whatever the age.
We reviewed the fantastic Mooky Doolitte Christmas pantomime this time last year and of course, we jumped at the chance when we got invited to this years “Aladdin Christmas Pantomime” at Blackpool Circus. I personally love the added edge that a circus panto brings above the usual pantomimes. Last year our son George was 18 months old and he really enjoyed the Mooky Doolittle Pantomime so I was really excited for us all to go again this Christmas.
You can read our Aladdin Christmas Pantomime, Blackpool Circus overall review below.
Parking
We parked in the Houndshill shopping centre car park in Blackpool, you can pay via card or cash when you return to your car. The walk from Houndshill shopping centre car park to Blackpool tower takes around 5 minutes. The postcode for the houndshill car park is FY1 4NY.
I would suggest leaving the pram in the car as they cannot be taken in to the circus and must be left in the buggy park downstairs.
Ticket Prices
The Blackpool Tower Winter Pantomime now! Season runs between 24/11/2018 – 20/01/2018
Save money if you can by booking online by clicking here
You can upgrade to VIP or second row seating by calling 0871 222 9929 or via the link above.
Adult (15+)
£16.50 walk up price
£14.00
Booked online
Child (3-14 years)
£13.50 walk up price
£11.50
Booked online
Toddler (Under 3)
£5.95 walk up price
£5.95
Booked online
Group of 4*
£54.00 walk up price
£46.00
Booked online
Safety
You will struggle to get telephone signal in the circus and it can get a little confusing when looking for your seat especially as it is dark during the show. I strongly suggest that you have a meeting point should anyone get lost.
Recommendations for babies and toddlers
2 hours is a long time to keep a baby or young toddler happy and interested – George can’t even colour in felt tips on our walls for that long so I knew he would probably get a little stressed sat in the same seat for 2 hours. I would suggest bringing milk and some snacks if you can. We brought a couple of emergency sweets that George could eat and we also treated him to an ice lolly and juice in the interval which kept him quiet.
The Refreshment kiosk had;
Alcohol (always handy if your child is giving you a hard time) Crisps Tea Coffee Fizzy drinks Popcorn Ben and Jerrys ice cream Ice lollies
The Aladdin Pantomime, Blackpool Tower Circus 2018
The Aladdin Pantomine at Blackpool tower circus is the perfect combination of theatre, music, dance, jokes, audience participation, and mild yet hilarious innuendos. We laughed from start to finish. The first half displayed the most beautiful rendition of “A whole new world” and once the circus ring filled with water, Aladdin and Jasmin sat on the magic carpet and made their way around waving at the audience – a tear actually fell down my cheek (ok, ok I may have had a few too many vinos the night before but it really was a beautiful moment)
By the second half it was clear to see that Blackpool circus had really upped their game since last year, the jaw dropping acts that were totally different to last year which was refreshing and showed how dedicated and hardworking the performers must be.
If you are looking for a pantomime with an extra sprinkle of edge from daredevil performers to keep you gasping throughout then look no further Aladdin Pantomime at Blackpool Circus is for you.
If you are a regular follower of my blogs, Instagram stories and other social media updates you will know that Peppa Pig and I have a kind of love/hate relationship – I mean COME ON… you have to agree that when you are forced to listen to anything on repeat it does begin to get somewhat torturous.
Initially, I must admit, I was filled with pure happiness when George finally got bored of Baby TV as the songs on Baby TV often made me question my sanity. When George first started watching Peppa Pig it was fun and I didn’t mind the pink little pig but as George’s obsession with Peppa grew so did my headache.
But, although the love George has for Peppa Pig is extremely intense – it is very real and I felt it was only fair to let him run riot in his version of heaven at the fabulous Peppa Pig World at Paulton Park. I am really excited to share with you my Peppa Pig World, Paulton Park Review so here goes;
MyBump2Baby’s Peppa Pig World Review, Paulton Park
Parking
I was impressed to see that parking was completely free of charge – big thumbs up for me!
Opening times
Opening times were 10:30am – 4:30pm. Please note that we headed here in November and these times can change depending on the day or time of year so make sure you check the website in advance.
Ticket prices
Ticket prices were FREE for children under 1 meter and £25 for anyone over 1 meter on the day. If you booked in advance online the price was £23. These were winter prices and I felt that these were extremely reasonable compared to other theme parks we had been to. Remember to check the ticket prices as they do adjust depending on the time of year.
First Impressions
Our bags were not checked upon entry in to the park.
Peppa Pig World is just one part of Paulton Park, we thought it was great how Paulton park appeals to ALL family members from excitable young toddlers right the way through to thrill seeking adults.
The place was clean and extremely pram friendly which is always good to see.
Changing Facilities
There are plenty of changing facilities to use and all were extremely clean and well kept, there was plenty of room and also a room if you wanted to breastfeed privately too which I thought was a great idea. The changing rooms also had a microwave to heat babies milk/food. George is potty training and I did notice that there was no foot stool so George couldn’t get on and off the toilet easily like he can at home.
Lost Child Stickers
We filled in a lost child sticker and stuck our contact details to Georges back in case we lost him – you know how toddlers like to run off.
Strollers
You can hire a stroller a single or double stroller for the day from £8.00, the stroller is suitable for children up to the age of 6 years, it has a sun canopy for additional shade and has plenty of room to carry picnics. We brought our pram so didn’t need to use one.
Peppa Pig World Rides
Peppa Pig world was truly magical and it felt like we were actually in the cartoon. There were 9 rides in total and George could go on them all. Even with no queue times we didn’t manage to ride all 9 rides in the time we were there. There was more than enough for children to do which is the way it should be and we left Peppa Pig world wanting to come back for more fun.
Peppa Pigs Balloon Ride
This was the first ride we went on, there were 6 of us and the kids absolutely loved it. This ride is great for looking over the whole park and planning your next ride.
Miss Rabbits Helicopter Flight
This ride was suitable for 4 people and George really enjoyed it. He did get a little frustrated when he couldn’t reach the control unit but once the ride started he soon got over it and we had plenty of laughs and screams.
Windy Castle Ride
This ride reminded me of a big wheel. Another great ride for having a good look over the park. This carried a family of 4.
The Queen’s Flying Coach Ride
The Queen’s Flying Coach was good fun Each carriage carries up to 4 adults and 2 children.
Grampy Rabbits Sailing Club
George loved sailing away with Grampy Rabbit, we were greeted with some great surprises including Peppa Pig and her pals. This ride fits 4 people on.
George’s Dinosaur Adventure
Our George absolutely loves dinosaur so this ride was something he was really keen to go on with his daddy. This ride is suitable for children under 1 metre and children under 8 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. This ride can fit 2 people on.
Daddy Pig Ride
We all know how much daddy pig loves his car, this ride gives you a chance to take a ride in daddy pigs car with your family and have a tour of the peppa pig village.
Grandpa Pigs Little Train Ride
This lovely little train ride is the perfect ride for all the family, a lovely circuit on Grandpa pigs train.
Grandpa Pigs Boat Trip
This boat ride is great fun for all the family, this would be a great ride in Summer.
Meet and Greet with Peppa Pig
Let’s face it, we came to Peppa Pig world because George is a huge fan of Peppa Pig so of course, when the opportunity arose to meet the famous pig and her little brother George we jumped at the chance. We queued for around 10 minutes and just as we got to the front of the queue and stood before Peppa Pig, George’s personality changed and as we posed for our picture the biggest tantrum you have ever seen began (typical). You may have seen my Instagram post.
We decided after the 36 minutes of pure hell we would take him back to see Peppa Pig and thank goodness we finally managed to get our picture. I loved that we were allowed to take pictures on our own phone.
Georges Spaceship Playzone
It began raining around 12pm so we decided to get our lunch but if it wasn’t lunch time we would have used this fantastic playzone. Initially, we headed in to this area for food but all the tables were taken so we went to the Café at the front.
I was really happy to see a play area as some of the parks I have previously reviewed don’t have an indoor play area which I feel is important on hot summer days and rainy days too.
Socks must be worn at all times in the play area.
Wild Forest Family Restaurant
The Wild Forest family restaurant was clean and affordable and I was impressed with the menu and the waitress service. You head to the till to order and pay but the staff members bring your food out once it is ready. You can have a look at the menu here
I also noticed that there was a charging point for phones in the resturant too which was handy.
Other food options are;
Base Camp which was a great place for a break, there isn’t much choice of food but you can see the menu here
Railroad Diner offering fish and chips.
The Ice-cream Kiosk
My husband and George enjoyed some sweet treats from the kiosk, I had stupidly started a diet the day before so sadly missed out but the prices were extremely reasonable.
What was Peppa Pig World missing?
I think Peppa Pig had it all covered in terms of indoor and outdoor activities. There were plenty of places to go including Peppa Pigs classroom and her house too. There were plenty of play areas too.
Peppa Pig world, Paulton Park overall review
I thought Peppa Pig World was extremely well priced in comparison to other theme parks we have previously visited. I really feel that Peppa Pig did think of everything for toddlers. There are plenty of play areas and distractions to keep queues to a minimum.
The Paultons Park app was also very useful and I do recommend you download it to plan your day effectively.
Our MyBump2Baby Peppa Pig World, Paulton Park overall Review
When we were invited to visit the amazing Knowsley Safari Park and review it – how could we resist? I mean who doesn’t love the idea of lions roaming around your car or monkeys hanging out of your wing mirrors? Where else can you get this close to animals without the risk of being eaten alive?
Knowsley safari park has the drive through safari and also the Safari on Foot too, you can do it in whichever order is best suited to you and you can go round in your car as many times as you like too.
Knowsley Safari Park is located in Prescott, not too far from Liverpool.
MyBump2Baby’s Knowsley Safari Park Review
Opening times
Opening times were 10am – 5pm but the safari drive closed at 4pm.
Safari drive opens
10.00am
Last entry to the safari drive
4.00pm
Safari park closes
5.00pm
I do advise checking the website for opening times before you go as the times above could have changed.
We spent around 4 hours in total at Knowsley Safari Park.
Ticket prices
I would recommend getting your tickets online if you can, ticket prices at the time of writing this are;
Adults (age 16 and over)
£17.50
Online £15.75
Children (3 and over)
£13.50
Online £12.15
Children (under 3)
FREE
FREE
60+
£13.50
Online £12.15
Family (2 Ad + 2 Ch)
£59.00
Online £53.10
Family (2 Ad + 3 Ch)
£72.50
£65.25
Please note: Prices may have changed since writing this review.
Introduction
I hadn’t been here since I was a child so I had no idea what to expect, I can’t deny I was a tad nervous about my husband’s car being pulled to shreds but I was secretly more excited about seeing the monkeys up, close and personal. I love monkeys, I used to ask for one every Christmas but Santa never got me one – but apparantly monkeys aren’t always as friendly as they look.
We drove to the entrance and we were greeted by a happy staff member which is always nice to see, we got our 2 maps – the foot trail map and the safari drive map, we also got some animal stickers to stick on the map as we made our way through the safari. The idea is to stick them on the map as you see them which is fantastic and keeps it fun for the kids. The stickers worked well for me in an educational as I didn’t realise how rubbish I was at knowing what animal is what, George was asking “What’s that?” and I would quickly look at the sticker book and respond like I was playing “The Chase”.
Changing Facilities
There are changing facilities before you start the safari trip, George likes to drink a lot of juice so we got out here and changed George’s bum, I also felt it was important to have a nosey at the changing facilities for you all. They were in excellent condition and regularly cleaned by the looks of things, dirty baby changing facilities really annoy me especially when you are spending a lot of money for a day out.
Knowsley Safari Park Drive Review
We set off in to the Safari Park, I was actually dressed in army colours which was a complete coincidence but I really felt the part. As we drove towards the animals I couldn’t help but try and speak Australian (don’t ask me why).
I was so happy to see the animals roaming free across acres and acres of land. It was a beautiful day and it was incredible to see animals that we never normally see just running through fields like they are supposed to.
We made our way through the land and you could comfortably pull over at any point and have a closer peek at the animals in front of you. George was so excited as he is not used to seeing animals outside our car before.
The Rhinos at Knowsley Safari Park
One of the things I love most about animals is just how unpredictable they are. We were stuck behind a group of Rhinos because they decided to block the road and stay there, it was brilliant. A big jeep eventually came with staff members on board and they slowly guided the Rhinos off the road.
The Monkeys at Knowsley Safari Park
The great news is that you can choose if you want to enter the monkey part of the park. They do state that you enter at your own risk and if your car is damaged that is your own issue which is fair enough.
This was the part I (cough cough I mean George) was most looking forward to so I made Danny drive through. Luckily, there was a huge jeep in front of us which was so much more fun for the monkeys to hang out of than a normal ca, giving us the perfect view because we were right behind them. Lots of the monkeys had babies which was really cute to see.
Plenty of food had been scattered round to keep the monkeys close to your car to give you the best experience possible, I was a little worried about running them over as they are literally everywhere – it was like that scene from Jumanji at one point.
I absolutely loved the monkey part, no damage was done to our car, we spent around 20 minutes in this part and no damage was done to the other cars that I could see either.
The Lions at Knowsley Safari Park
There is just something so exciting about Lions roaming round your car whilst you sit comfortably and laugh in the face of danger. We decided this was THE place we wanted to park up and eat our lunch in. So we got out our chicken sandwiches and Aldi Curls and ate them as we watched the lions slowly walk around the cars. They didn’t come as close to our car as we wanted, it was a really hot day and they seemed to prefer the shaded areas but it was really fun being in the presence of Lions. Remember to put the child lock on!
The other animals at Knowsley Safari Park Drive
There are plenty of animals to look out for on the Safari drive including;
Zebra
Wildebeest
Forest Buffalo
Camels
Nilgai
Kiang Bison
Knowsley Safari Park on Foot Safari
I didn’t realise that Knowsley Safari Park has a foot safari too, the size of the foot safari isn’t as big as a normal zoo but they have a couple of shows on throughout the day and lots more animals to see. There are also rides for children to go on but these are not included in the ticket price.
Amur Tiger Trail
Knowsley Safari Park have only recently opened the “Amur Tiger Trail”, where visitors can walk through the woods exploring the forest in search of Tigers. This fantastic new exhibit is not only an educational tour but it also allows you to come face to face with real tigers thanks to the full length viewing windows.
Our experience of the Amur Tiger Trail
We were really excited to visit this part of the park and we walk through the forest on the hunt of tigers, this experience was completely pram friendly which was handy as George was getting a little cranky…. story of my life, we loved the idea of this fabulous new feature but unfortunately we didn’t see any Tigers at all, we hung round for a while but … nothing! As I mentioned earlier, the weather was really warm so it could have been they were hiding in the shade.
Wolves on the Wild Trail
There was a wolf’s habitat that we could look in to using the peep boxes, the peep boxes made it difficult to see anything other than straight ahead, we then walked round the corner and found a bigger space where we could look for the wolves but sadly we didn’t see any.
Bird Show at Knowsley Safari Park
We found the bird show really funny and clever, it is amazing what you can teach animals. The show was full of interesting facts and funny tails – we loved the bird show.
Sea lion show
Who doesn’t love a sea lions? The show was lovely and put together so beautifully, we were introduced to the lovely sea lions and watched them in their extremely funny comedy sketch, we really enjoyed this part.
Food at Knowsley Safari Park
The restaurant is called the “Oasis Resturant”, it has a good mix of warm and cold meals. The prices in the restaurant are reasonably prices. Knowsley Safari Park also appreciates that some families may prefer to bring a picnic and with that in mind there are numerous picnic benches places around the park.
Although there was a fantastic park for the kids to play in, I would have loved to have seen a soft play area for younger children, it just means there is a place they can cool down in the hot weather or stay dry and warm in the windy weather. It would have been good if there was a specific time that the tigers and wolves were fed so we could make sure that we definitely saw them.
Our day out at Knowsley Safari Park was a brilliant day for all the family, the ticket prices were reasonable, the entertainment was excellent and we had a fantastic day, as mentioned above – it would have been nice to see the tigers and wolves as they were a big feature at the Safari foot park but unfortunately we didn’t see them on this occasion.
I live in a beautiful little town called Lytham, St Anne’s and just 10 minutes down the road is the lively, fun, sometimes a little strange town called Blackpool. I love Blackpool – there is always something going on and there are so many wonderful yet different things for families to do from playing on the slot machine on the pier to riding donkeys on the beach – there really is something for everyone!
I have spent many a drunken night dancing away in the clubs in Blackpool, even now if I fancy a good dance and a shed load of alcohol with my friends, we occasionally head in to Blackpool to forget about motherhood and party hard like 18 year olds again – mmm now I fancy a Prosecco… STOP CARLA – IT’S 7AM and this review is about Nickelodeon Land not your drunken nights with friends!
**** AND BREATH ****
When I was invited to come to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and write a review on the hugely popular Nickelodeon land – I was really excited. It was like reliving my youth to be honest, I have been to the Pleasure beach in Blackpool countless times, my dad used to pick me up from school on a Friday and we often headed to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and went on our favourite rides – it was so much fun and a big part of my childhood memories. Nickelodeon land is fairly new and it wasn’t around when I was young so I was looking forward to having a good nosey and seeing the Nickelodeon Land and the Pleasure Beach in Blackpool from a mother’s perspective.
As I have mentioned before I am a huge fan of theme parks so visiting and writing up the Nickelodeon Land Review is so much fun for me – it is really important to me that parents know what they are paying for before they part with their well-earned money.
MyBump2Baby’s Nickelodeon Land Review, Blackpool
Parking
Parking at Blackpool pleasure beach is currently £15 for the day and is paid when you enter the carpark. We didn’t use the car park, if you don’t mind a 10-minute walk, you could park a few roads away for free.
Opening times
Opening times were 10am – 6pm for Nickelodeon Land in Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Please note that these times can change depending on the day or time of year so make sure you check the website in advance.
Ticket prices
Ticket prices were all inclusive of both Nickelodeon Land and the Pleasure Beach which means you are free to go wherever you like in the park.
The prices at the time of writing this were £25 per adult and £23 per child if you book 5 or more days in advance or £39 per adult and £33 per child if you purchase a ticket on the day.
Children under 2 years of age are entitled to a free park pass, however please note that this only allows them access to the following;
Chinese Puzzle Maze
Pleasure Beach Express
Bradley & Bella’s Learning Garden
The spectacular Dancing Water Show.
If your child wants to go on the rides you have to buy them a wristband at £33.00 (£23 booked in advance) I felt this was a little disappointing as under 2’s go free in many other theme parks.
If you will not be going on any rides the park entry is £6 for the day but please note this means you will not be able to accompany your child on any rides.
First Impressions
As we entered the park our bags were checked, unfortunately you are not allowed to bring your own food – you can leave the park and return anytime you wish throughout the day so you are free to get food outside of the Pleasure Beach if you want to – there are plenty of places nearby to eat.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach do offer a food saver ticket which could be worth looking in to if you are going to be there all day (you can read more about this below).
Upon entering the park, I was impressed to find out that George (2 years old) can go on a MASSIVE 17 rides (12 in Nickelodeon Land and 5 in Blackpool Pleasure Beach) which is the largest amount of rides for toddlers in one theme park that I have heard of to date.
The Pleasure Beach was clean, the staff were polite and I do like the fact that no ride is ever too far away and there is always something fun to see.
Changing Facilities
There are plenty of changing facilities to use and all were extremely clean and well kept.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Ride Reviews
I love the fact that we weren’t only secluded to Nickelodeon Land and there were other rides in the Pleasure Beach that were suitable for George. The rides in the pleasure beach are old classics that I used to go on with my dad so I was keen to go on some of the same ones with George.
Alice in Wonderland
As we were making our way through the park we saw the “Alice in Wonderland” ride – one of my all-time favourites, the queue wasn’t too bad and this was on the list of rides George could go on so we queued up – the queue took around 10 minutes and he was quite happy watching the Cheshire Cat make its way around the track.
When it was finally our time to get in the Cheshire – he was very excited. The Cheshire cat took us up and through the looking glass in to the wonderful world of Alice in Wonderland. The ride is a bit dark in parts but full of colour and really fun – we even saw the Mad Hatters Tea Party. He did get a bit scared in parts but we reassured him and he didn’t want to get off the ride in the end so it was definitely a hit with George.
Eddie Stobart Convoy Ride
We couldn’t walk past this ride without George shouting “Lorry Lorry, Lorry”, this ride is located in Blackpool Pleasure Beach and it allows young children to ride in their very own Eddie Stobart Lorry. George and his daddy sat together as he drove the truck across the full 200 metres of track – he really enjoyed this ride and wanted to go on it again but I told George we have bigger fish to fry and we headed in the Nickelodeon Land – We did have a big tantrum as we pulled him off this ride but what’s new? Sign of a good ride I guess.
Nickelodeon Land Review
Our first impressions of Nickelodeon Land was how great it looked. It was very “cartoon like” with lots of bright colours and I loved the theme. George was very excited and was desperate to come out of this pram so we let him have a little run around whilst he had a look at all the rides and chose one to go on.
Bikini Bottom Bus Tour
George chose the “Bikini Bottom Bus Tour” ride as his first choice, he went on this ride with his daddy whilst I took pictures and waved to them. The Bikini Bottom Bus Tour was a fun and fairly fast ride for young kids. The ride lifts you and your little ones up in the sky and back down again. George loved it and we were lucky enough to walk straight on to this ride. The ride did last quite a while but he had a really good time.
Diegos Rainforest Rescue
Diego’s Rain forest rescue was definitely my favourite ride. It was fun and all 3 of us fit on the ride. The ride went really high and it was such good fun – we all couldn’t stop laughing. There was barely any queue for this ride either which was great and we did decide to ride this one again later on in the day.
Fairy World Taxi Spin
George loved being the driver for the taxi, he really enjoyed going up in the air with mummy and daddy – we loved this one too. On this ride you go up in the sky in a taxi steering and honking as you fly around.
The Entertainment
There was plenty of singing, dancing and appearances from some of George’s favourite Nickelodeon characters. We really enjoyed watching the outdoor show and George loved dancing along. There was a lot of interaction with the crowd which was great and it was really nice to see all the kids having so much fun.
I did ask for a picture of George with the Paw Patrol characters but unfortunately we were only allowed to buy pictures and we weren’t allowed to take any on our mobile phone which was a little disappointing.
Other Attractions in Nickelodeon Land, Blackpool
As you can imagine, with so many rides available and a limited time of “none tantrum time” we sadly couldn’t go on every ride but we definitely want to come back to Nickelodeon Land and have a go on the other rides.
Some of the other rides we didn’t manage to go on included;
Alpine Rallye
Backyardigans Pirate Treasure
Blue Flyer
Dora’s World Voyage
Ghost Train
Impossible
River Caves
Rugrats Lost River
Thompson Carousel
Wonder Pets Big Circus Bounce
Food at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
You can choose to be “all inclusive” for the day with the Pleasure Beaches “All you can eat” wristband. The price is £22.50 for adults and £17.50 for 11 year olds and under. There are limitations on the “all you can eat” wristband so make sure you check all rules before purchase but it is a great idea if you love your food like us. The only reason we didn’t opt for the “all you can eat” wristbands this time was because we had a big breakfast and we were only having one meal there so we didn’t feel it would be worth it for us but if we were getting a few meals there I definitely would have looked in to this option more.
There are some great places to eat in the Pleasure Beach and the prices are not ridiculous. There are tons of different food stalls with seating outside – this is a great option if you are just wanting a quick bite to eat on your way to your next ride.
With a huge lack of Burger Kings in the local area, every time I go to the Pleasure Beach I have to get a large whopper meal no matter what – I can’t help it, for me it has to happen even if I don’t fancy a burger that day!!
What was Nickelodeon Land missing?
Babysitters – so mummy and daddy can have some fun?
No, to be totally honest I thought the rides were great, the queue time in busy periods weren’t bad at all. I would definitely suggest an indoor soft play area – we were really lucky with the weather that day but had we have pre-booked tickets for a rainy day we would have been a little disappointed as there isn’t much to do indoors. I really think that an indoor soft play area is also a great place for parents to chill out whilst their little ones run wild.
Our MyBump2Baby Nickelodeon Land Review overall comment
The great thing about Nickelodeon Land was that we managed to get on quite a lot of the rides even through it was fairly busy without queueing for very long at all. We found that most of the rides fit a lot of toddlers on which seemed to reduce the waiting time massively. I was really impressed with this.
I was a little disappointed that under 2’s aren’t offered free entry In to Nickelodeon Land as it can work out very expensive for a young family.
The rides were brilliant and were actually a little scary even for us adults, so I felt like I had actually been on some fun rides too.
We were so lucky that we chose to visit CBeebies Land on what happened to be the hottest day of the year so far, I mean this kind of luck never happens to us – like ever! We packed up some sweet treats, sun cream, nappies, wipes and plenty of snacks and headed to CBeebies Land located inside the Alton Towers theme park.
Last time I visited Alton Towers I was a twenty something year old thrill seeking theme park lover whose only worry was paying my phone bill on time and now I am returning to the beautiful grounds of Alton Towers as a married mother of one and the only thrill seeking I seem to get at the moment is when I snoop down the reduced section in my local supermarket – so you can imagine my excitement when we were invited to review CBeebies land – I may have peed a tad to be brutally honest!
MyBump2Baby’s CBeebies Land Review
Parking
Parking at Alton towers is currently £6 for the day and is paid when you exit the park. A huge tip in regards to parking is to remember the letter of where you parked. The carpark was pretty empty when we got there and for some reason we never took note of where we parked – BIG mistake! Yes, we were the family wondering aimlessly around the car park at around 5pm with the screaming child.
Opening times
Opening times were 10am – 5pm for CBeebies Land in Alton Towers. Please note that these times can change depending on the day or time of year so make sure you check the website in advance.
Ticket prices
Ticket prices were all inclusive of both CBeebies Land and Alton Towers which means you are free to go wherever you like in the park. The prices were £32 if you book 5 or more days in advance or £55 for a day ticket which also includes a free pass for the rest of the season. Children under 3 go free (these prices are based on the 22/05/2018).
Our First Impressions
Me, behaving like the immature child I am, insisted that we had to get the monorail to the park to get the “full experience” we had just missed a train so had to wait a few minutes for another – when we did finally get on the monorail the Alton Towers theme tune began and it was truly magical – well for about 7 seconds anyway, as the theme tune was quickly drowned out by the deafening tantrums of our 2-year-old shouting for the one snack I hadn’t packed.
The park is definitely within walking distance of the car park so if you fancy the walk instead of the monorail then it isn’t too far.
As we entered the park our bags were checked, you are allowed to pack food and the grounds are absolutely beautiful so to save yourself some pennies and make a picnic if you can – I wish we did but to be totally honest with you, it is lucky we get out the house at all most days.
CBeebies land is one of the first areas we saw, it is perfectly placed right near the entrance of Alton Towers. I was so happy when I saw it, we have been to theme parks before and although my husband likes to think he is Google maps but we often end up lost! There was no getting lost today!
As we reached the entrance of CBeebies land we were greeted by a very happy staff member that took the time to speak to George and advise us of the show times which was really useful. She also directed us to the map so we could find exactly what we were looking for right away. We decided to have a wander round first and let George decide what he would like to go on first.
The “In the night garden magical boat ride”
George saw a picture of the in the night garden ride and ran towards it shouting “Pacca, Pacca” we decided to quickly dump the pram in one of the many pram drops (remember to note which one you leave your pram in) and get in the queue. The estimated time for the ride was 25 minutes and my initial thought was “how the hell will he cope in a queue for 25 minutes?” Luckily, I had a rucksack packed plenty of snacks and loaded my phone up with Netflix and IPlayer downloads. I was impressed to see that Alton towers had identified the fact that bored toddlers can be a tad difficult and they placed some fun noisy games in the queues which kept kids entertained.
The 25 minutes seemed to pass by quicker than I thought it would, with the odd slap to the face all in all it wasn’t half as bad as I thought it would be. We stepped on board a lovely little boat. The theme tune began playing and our magical “in the night garden” journey began. The boat ride was lovely and the scenes were set out exactly like the programme. The audio on the boat also told us the character’s names as we sailed towards them. When it was time to sail towards Macca Pacca George began excitedly screaming out “Pacca, Pacca, Pacca” until he saw Macca Pacca and then he went incredibly shy – it was really cute. To be totally honest I thought Macca Pacca was the blue character until I went on the ride so it was extremely educational for me and my husband too.
Postman Pat Ride
George has never expressed an interest in Postman Pat before our trip to CBeebies land but as soon as he saw other kids driving cars and their parents squashed in the back like sitting ducks, George being the bossy little monster he is, made a beeline for it. The queue for this one was 30 minutes long, I brought the rucksack of treats and had apple, crisps, raisins at the ready, I also had an extra tight grip of the Curly whirly in my pocket should things really “Kick off!” We showed George lots of Postman Pat videos so he got extra excited.
George laughed his head off the whole way round this ride, he loved it that much that we had major tantrums when his turn came to an end.
Something Special Sensory Garden
Now, I have to be totally honest with you – I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw “The Sensory Garden”. In my head this was the perfect excuse to let George run around like a maniac so that mummy and daddy could enjoy a meal in peace afterwards whilst he napped.
George loved running around the sensory garden, he copied the children in front of him and they were showing him what to do. It was a great break away from the rides and was a good place to go where George could let off some steam without feeling restricted.
The Numtums Number-go-round
This ride is like a merry go round and the children get to sit on their own numtum cart. The other kids loved the ride, George loved it until the ride started and then he saw it as the perfect opportunity to make a scene. I wanted to hide so badly but unfortunately when you are on a kid’s merry-go-round no matter how hard you try to look down in sheer embarrassment, you seem to make eye contact with the same people again and again and again. This was probably George’s least favourite ride but that could be because he was ready for his nap.
Get Set Go Tree Top Adventure
In hindsight we should have gone on this ride first so we could point out the different areas we wanted to go to. This ride is a high cart where you and your little one sit in a car and view the wonderful CBeebies land from the treetops.
The Furchester Hotel
If you love the “muppet show” you will love the furchester hotel. I loved the way the muppets interacted and played games with the kids, there was dancing and lots of laughs. The show didn’t last very long which was perfect for a 2 year old.
The Showtime Area
The showtime area is where the character meet and greets take place and the live shows are held. There were tons of games to play with and plenty of space for little ones to run around freely. We were in there for about an hour playing with the hula hoops and meeting the “In The Night Garden” characters.
A real bug bear of mine is paying a fortune to go to a theme park and then having to pay for pictures with your favourite characters. CBeebies land impressed me massively with the free meet and greets and they even offered to take pictures for you on your mobile phone.
Other Attractions in CBeebies land
Unfortunately, one day is never enough for a theme park and sadly we didn’t have time to go on everything but we definitely did make the most of our time in CBeebies land. Some of the other rides we didn’t manage to go on included;
Tree Fu Tom Training Camp
Charlie and Lola Moonsquirters and Green drops
Nina’s Science Lab
Justin’s Pie-o-matic Factory
Mr Bloom’s allotment
Oconauts
Jet Setters
Grub for the Belly
Anyone who knows me personally understands that I am a big of a drama queen – A slight grumble of the belly and I am up against a wall feeling faint (even though I had a full English breakfast a few hours previously) I can’t help it – I want to say it’s in my DNA but I am not sure being a drama queen is in someone’s DNA or not?
We decided to have a little walk around the Alton Towers part of the theme park and to my delight George fell asleep after he ate his sandwich. We intended to go on the hunt for some amazing restaurant but have you seen the size of Alton Towers? I was nearly lying on the ground in a hunger coma and then I heard someone say “Burger Kitchen” – my ears pricked up and I dragged myself there, my husband about 10 meters ahead.
The restaurant was a bit like a burger king, the burgers were great and the prices were reasonable. A big tip is to head to this place if you want an ice cream during the day they were like Mr Whippy ice creams and were only a pound WITH SAUCE.
So What was CBeebies Land missing?
Definitely a crèche facility, I am only joking – or am I?
In all seriousness, it was probably our favourite day we have ever had with George to date. Luckily for us the weather was amazing, I do think an indoor soft play area where mummy and daddy can get a brew would be nice especially when the weather is a little off.
