Awesome experience,amazing staff!! They have designated talk and feed times for penguins and otters, so you could enjoy that. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Specially enjoyed the penguins. Would have given a 5 or even more if otters were close instead of on screen. However I understand and appreciate that they need to adapt first to this environment before exposing them to public. Overall, it was a very fun experience and Happy Weekend instead!!

There is a helpful little tip for visiting - in the corner of the gift shop there is a lift back up to the toilets. These are back at the beginning of exhibition so you can head round again to pick up any bits you missed! It is a great half day out with the kids. The centre feels like it could do with some updating and refresh on some of the side activities but the exhibits are all great, and the feeding / talk times flow quite well through your visit. The staff are all super friendly and helpful, our daughters especially loved the roaming pirate!

It was am awesome experience! I'll be honest when I first went in, I thought it was quite small, however it is extended at the back so it was indeed quite spacious. Easily took us 2-3 hours to explore the entire place at a slow pace with a 5 month old. The penguins were adorable at the start, the amount of fish in each aquarium space was quite adequate. I did wish we could see the otters though, only managed to catch s tiny glimpse in the room at the far back. The area with the jellyfish was so mesmerising. There were different photography stations located at multiple areas. You could take photos at each station, and at the end you could choose which pictures you'd like to buy and what package. Overall there was a lot of cleanliness, tanks were clean, the walkways were clean too. We ended up going at a busy weekend, but still could easily manage to get around with a baby pram. There was however a pram parking area, if you will, to store the prams if you'd rather do that. Definitely worth a trip.

Had a lovely visit here on Saturday, wasn't too busy and no wait to go inside. We booked it in the morning through our Merlin passes and there was plenty of admission availability. So many things to see if you take your time, but it's easier said than done. Lot's of talks going on throughout the day, we really wanted to watch one of them but there was too much pushing and shoving from other adults and didn't want my child getting trampled on. Some better crowd control would be ideal at the talks/feeding times. Nice gift shop at the end with plenty of stock and very lovely staff.

Good for a one time visit. Gets busy and cramped with the crowds but nice variety of fish and aquatic life to see. The tunnel at the end is the best and provides a nice visual experience where you get to see underwater from all angles.

Visited the National Sea Life Aquarium with my kids and we had a beautiful, exciting time. It was such a delight discovering different aquatic creatures—there’s so much to see and learn! The only downside for me was how crowded it was. Maybe it’s just the holiday season… maybe not. Either way, it was a bit too packed for my liking. Also, I was a little disappointed to learn that the big sharks are no longer there—they were apparently removed a while ago. That said, the kids didn’t seem to mind and had an absolute blast. Overall, a delightful experience and we’ll definitely be back—hopefully during a quieter period.

I have never been to a liquid zoo before, I am 30 and my fiancé is older, we had the BEST time! We loved the penguins and the fish, we had photo opportunities and they came out perfectly. Yep my fiancé was taken from me by a beautiful and friendly penguin! The staff were kind and lovely! It’s not hot or cold in there, it smells lovely, the lights are dim so we can see the sea life better. At the gift shop we each got something and I got a mini penguin for my kitten! We will come again soon, many thank you’s to all the staff there!

The relatively new library is architecturally beautiful but I’m knocking off a point because the Library closed its cafe. When you send long spells in a library it’s helpful to be able to get a drink. In the British Library there are about four or five cafes on site which enables you to work, take a comfort break and return to researching or studying. Not sure why the second city’s main public library doesn’t have this important feature. I also think the business section could do with more resources and event to support businesses and business start up. That said, staff are helpful and professional. It’s easy to take out or renew memberships. I love the light and airy space on each floor and the statement elevators. The roof top garden is beautiful and a great amenity space on a warm day for us to catch up on phone calls. Again I may have remained there if I could have gotten a drink. Instead we leaf after two hours just to get refreshments.

I visited the Library of Birmingham today. Last year, there was a lovely water feature just outside the library — a great spot where kids could play and cool off. I checked several times this year, but unfortunately, it hasn’t been turned on at all, which was a bit disappointing. That said, I did discover a small children’s play area at the lower level of the library that I hadn’t seen before. It includes sand, water, wooden toys, and natural materials — a very fun and creative space for children to enjoy. Great to see the library offering more for little ones, but I really hope the water feature returns soon!

The largest public library in the UK, Birmingham library is a great place to study. They have a large selection of books- academic, fiction and non-fiction self help books. You can also listen to audio books if you have a membership of the library which is relatively easy to get. The staff is always helpful with information relating to books and other related topics. You can find and reserve a book online on their site. They will find the book in their and other libraries and keep the book aside for you for a period of time. Having a cafe would be good given that you’d want to take a break from studying. Nevertheless it’s a beautiful place and a must visit from those outside the city. The balcony gives an amazing view of the city. 💖

Library of Birmingham – Modern, Inspiring, and Full of Character The Library of Birmingham is one of the city’s most stunning landmarks, combining modern architecture with a peaceful atmosphere for reading and learning. The terrace gardens and rooftop views are must-sees — perfect for relaxing or taking photos of the skyline. Inside, there’s a great mix of study spaces, archives, and exhibitions, with the Shakespeare Memorial Room being a real highlight. It can get busy and the layout takes a little getting used to, but the staff are friendly and the space feels welcoming to everyone. A true gem in the heart of Birmingham — ideal for book lovers, students, and anyone looking for quiet inspiration.

The library is beautiful! As a tourist, it is a wonderful place for anyone coming to Birmingham. On the top 2 floors, there is a beautiful terrace with lots of flowers and benches to sit on. There is an exhibition that explains the history of the library. I recommend taking the elevator up and turn down by the escalators. As a student, it is a great place to study, do your homework, it has internet, very private spaces, you can get your membership card to request books. It is a great place for group study or even to read a book.

Amazing place to visit I love the design of the facade and interior design, the view fr the terrace this is the best library I been to in the UK

Beautiful, grandiose, and modern. I got a bit confused with finding which floor the fictional books where. It has a massive collection of educational books. If you are a student, a researcher, or curious intellectual, it probably has what you need. The spiral floors are lovely to look at. Sit down and admire the view. Read a book and relax. See the secret garden on the 7th floor and admire the view. Go to the top floor and ponder about Shakespeare.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is truly a treasure in the heart of the city. The building itself is breathtaking, perfectly combining history with architectural beauty. Inside, the galleries are thoughtfully arranged, showcasing a rich mix of exhibitions—from timeless classical art to captivating historical displays. Everything is organised in a way that makes wandering through the museum both easy and enjoyable. The atmosphere is peaceful and inspiring, ideal for spending a few hours surrounded by culture and history. The staff are warm, approachable, and knowledgeable, always ready to help or share insights, which really enhances the visit. The museum is also kept in excellent condition, with spotless facilities and plenty of comfortable spots to pause and reflect. What stood out most was how the museum truly has something for everyone—whether your interest lies in art, history, or simply enjoying a relaxing, enriching day out. It’s a place that deepens your appreciation of Birmingham’s heritage while also connecting you with cultures from around the

The building is really mislabeled. There’s one room with Art which may have 20 canvases. One of them is quite a nice place but otherwise if you’re coming for Art, you’re not going to find anything that you want. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a museum with a great coverage of the history of Birmingham, the top floor of the building has a very excellent series of exhibits on this topic. That’s not why I came here, but I did enjoy it quite a lot. If you have kids, there’s a dinosaur exhibit on the lower floor. I think it’s 9 pounds for adults and free for kids. Otherwise, the museum is free. There’s a nice coffee shop.

The museum was outstanding. Very clean, staff were very knowledgeable and friendly, and very considerate when providing assistance, especially to those with additional support needs. There's portable chairs behind the doors, a great personal touch when you're spending a few hours in there. I visited from Manchester to see the Ozzy Osbourne exhibition, the Made In Birmingham exhibition, and paid in to see Giants whilst I was there. Highly recommend and will be returning in the future. Gift shop was great, with lots of different quirky items connected to the exhibitions.

really great place, went for the ozzy osbourne stuff but i was pleasantly surprised by the rest of the displays. I like how everything in the museum is relevant to Birmingham or England. I felt like i got to learn tge place’s history. Everything was really informative, interactiv, and the whole experience was beautiful.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery is a true gem in the city! The museum offers a wonderful mix of art, history, and culture, with something to interest everyone. The galleries are beautifully curated, featuring impressive fine art collections, fascinating local history exhibits, and world-class pieces like the Pre-Raphaelite paintings. The building itself is magnificent, with stunning architecture that adds to the experience. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly, always ready to share insights or help guide you through the exhibits. It’s a great place to spend a few hours learning, relaxing, and being inspired — a must-visit destination for anyone coming to Birmingham.

Great exhibitions. Highly recommend the Giants exhibition. Makes you reflect on how small humans are compared to these massive creatures. Lots of stairs, lifts, and seats, so very accessible. I love the 'The Elephant In The Room'. I wished it was a larger exhibition. Go as soon as it opens on the weekend. It gets very crowded. It's always best when you appreciate art when you have an unobstructed view of the piece.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is one of the city’s most popular cultural landmarks. It houses an impressive collection of art, including Pre-Raphaelite paintings, ancient artifacts, and decorative arts. The museum showcases Birmingham’s rich history and creativity, offering visitors a mix of local heritage and world-class exhibitions.

Really great theatre. Plenty of toilets, so queues move quickly. Lots of space front of house while waiting to go in. Comfy seating, and leg room not too bad. Had an incredible view from row B of the circle. Very expensive though compared to other non-London theatres.

Went to see Moulin Rouge. Went in my wheelchair. We were welcomed at the entrance and directed to the lift to take us to our seats. The staff gave us a rundown of all the facilities that we could use and were already aware of my needs from my access card. This made me feel very welcome and safe. Staff took our intermission drinks orders and delivered them to us with a smile. They regulally checked in with us to make sure we were ok. Fantastic service, venue, staff and experience. Oh, and Moulin Rouge was amazing too. Will be going back.

Went to see Moulin Rouge. Lovely venue. Great show. The lifts to the top floor were not working so this could limit accessibility for some guests.

Easy to find. Great city location. Staff all helpful and friendly. Reasonably priced bar. The theatre is lovely, but pretty much zero legroom so choose seats wisely. We saw Moulin Rouge here.... excellent performance 🎭

Really enjoyed Moulin Rouge at the Hippodrome. Great production, good sing along at the end. Not a great deal of leg room in the seats for taller people.

Wonderful venue. Saw Moulin Rouge. Excellent views from seats. Sound quality was exceptional. Would like to visit more often but the traffic situation currently in Birmingham is a complete nightmare. Took over an hour to travel 2.5 miles to reach the Mailbox carpark. Not the theatre's fault but not putting myself through that again.

A Fabulous theatre. One of the best we have been to. Very well organised. We also prebooked their pre-dinner dining at the same time as we booked the theatre tickets. We were so impressed by the quality of food served, the attendance by the restaurant staff was spot on. Then nipping back to your restaurant table at the break and having a pre ordered dessert and drink sat waiting in comfort, was just amazing. Would definitely book here again. It was all done so well.

We went on a day when the Aston Martin Owners Club had turned up. Lots of great cars parked in the keep. The Castle is extremely interesting and it's history extraordinary. Despite growing up in Gloucestershire, I'd only been once before and a v.long time ago. Brilliant place to visit. Cafe lovely, in the walled garden. Wonderful for an private event.

We enjoyed our visit to Berkeley Castle. Beautiful setting and gardens and the castle rooms were very fine. We got in free with our Historic Houses Card and the kids enjoyed the little historical critter show. There is a playgrounds in the woodland but my kids were probably too old for the playgrounds (age 8 and 9) bit it kept their interest for a few minutes.

An amazing castle that's still lived in by the same family for hundreds of years. A good sized car park, beautiful gardens, and a lovely café/gift shop by the entrance. We didn't book a guided tour, but there were guides at strategic places en route to provide information and answer questions. There are quite a few stairs to navigate, but there are a few blue chairs dotted around if you need to rest. You are allowed to take photos, as long as you don't use a flash. The ticket allows unlimited visits for a year, as long as you agree to gift aid. I'm looking forward to visiting again next year

Living history covering the last 950 years or more of Lords and Crowns activities. An excellent 'To Do' bucket list visit. The guide is excellent. Well worth every penny.

Wanted to visit here since I was a kid 30+ years later was not disappointed. Fantastic artifacts with plenty of historical information. Well kept for a period property in comparison with others I have been to. The guides were all friendly and helpful. I didn't visit the cafe so can't rate that but will visit another time. Plenty to do in the area if want to visit the church next door the Jesters grave who was said to have been murdered in the castle is buried there and Edward Jenner's house.

Historic castle owned by one family since 1070. We decided to pay £2.50 and go on the guided tour. It was excellent, with a really knowledgeable guide who brought out the human stories as part of the historic events. Thank you! We returned to the principal areas to take photos and take in the extra information provided in the rooms. There's a snack kiosk near the castle, with a café at the main entrance near the car park. Well worth a visit, allow at least 3 hours if not more to take it all in. 😎👍👍👍👍

Visited the area and had no plans. Looked around and fancied seeing a castle type building. Was a toss up between this and another in the area. Glad we chose this one. Easy to get to, directed where to park and made our way to pay admission. Entry was well priced and located in the main castle restaurant and shop. We didn't stay for food but it did look good. Made our short walk to castle and was immediately impressed. Wondered what all the noise was and below the castle in the grounds was a period reenactment happening...sword fighting. For a reenactment is looked pretty real and brutal. Great to see the guys getting into character and getting the crowd involved. I found myself involuntarily shouting and cheering. Much to the wife's embarrassment. We wondered round the castle and grounds. What a great place. Guides were in certain areas to answer any questions. Was like stepping back in time. The castle has an on-site coffee and drinks pod and we also noticed a food van. We didn't have anything but all looked good. I thoroughly enjoyed our visit. If your in the area and want to entertain the kids and yourself, head on down

It's a lovely place for a day out. Kids absolutely loved it. The staff was very helpful and amazing. Farm animals had little babies, and kids loved interacting with them. Combat zone was also fun and free of charge, just required time slot booking. Have toilet and refreshment facilities but to make the most of it . Take your little picnic with you.

Absolutely LOVED our visit to Hatton adventure world. Loads to do and see, wonderful, Well looked after animals and areas. The tractor tour was fantastic. Lovely driver, educational,fun and wasn't expensive at all. Really good day out for the kids mine aged 8 and 9.

Wonderful day out with a 4 yrs old. There's magic show, animal feeding session, bird talk session, snake/guinea pig holding session, tractor ride, playground, bouncy trampoline, slide, coin mine session and medal, ice cream and picnic. Absolutely brilliant!

This is such a wonderful place where you can easily spend 3–4 hours — if not more! It’s packed with engaging experiences for children, with both indoor fun and, most importantly, a fantastic outdoor area to explore. One of the highlights is the variety of farm animals, which the kids absolutely loved. They even had the chance to pet some of the guinea pigs and rabbits — such a sweet, hands-on experience. We purchased a summer ticket, so we’re planning to visit at least once every weekend. It’s one of the best ways we’ve found to keep the kids entertained, active, and happy. Our children especially enjoy the outdoor soft play area and the toddler rides, which run until 4 PM and are always a big hit. The tractor ride was an unexpected treat — the driver’s storytelling was captivating, and the pass through the “swamp” added a fun little thrill to the journey

Had an amazing day with both my children (aged 6 & 8), from start to finish, there was so much to do. With the summer foam party and Maize Maze being a new addition since our previous visit 2 years ago was a bonus, they absolutely loved it and were more than ready to fall asleep in the car on the way home!

Came here yesterday as a family with our 2 girls. The girls had a brilliant day as did we. The whole place was very well maintained, clean and tidy. I would like to mention the lady who done the falconry showing was very informative and a very pleasant person. She was great with the girls and even took the time at the very end of the day to chat with the girls on their own about the birds. I think she deserves a special mention. If we are in the area again we would definitely go back in. Plenty to do and see in the park. We spent the whole day there.

Great day out. Can not recommend the falcon display enough. The woman was fantastic, knowledgeable, friendly, and did a phenomenal display despite a stroppy bird not wanting to perform. Plenty to keep the children happy and busy all day

Always a great place to visit anytime of year but it is special in the autumn. Walk further away and you soon lose the people. Take time to read about the specimen trees. Lovely quality shop and cafe. Wonderful to visit trees that were living long before you were born and hopefully still there for great grandchildren. Puts life in prospective

It gets very busy when the weather's good, but the autumn leaves were very beautiful. The bridge was really good too, and there were plenty of vans selling different types of food and drink. It's worth getting a map, and you can pre-book online

Such a beautiful annual tradition my family and friends have of going to see the beautiful colours of autumn at Westonbirt. It never disappoints, and the further you go in, the less busy it becomes! Most of the area is accessible to wheelchair users, which is good!

Fabulous experience walking around Westonbirt. We took Teddy and be aware you're not allowed to take dogs into the Old part of the Arboretum so had to leave him in the car for that bit. It's one of the most impressive areas so it's a must visit. Giant redwoods and amazing colours despite the iffy weather.

Beautiful trees manicured to perfection, one thing i would say though is there wasnt much in the way of wildlife, no squirrels not many birds found a few mushrooms but other than sheep and horses jist the occasional robin, of course not the fault of the arboretum but a little concerning! We arrived at 9am when they open and the place was relatively quiet really amazing autumn colours 😍 loved seeing all the perfect trees the beeches and norwegian spruce were a personal favourite. Accesible woth food stands cafe and benches signposts and learning resources couldnt say more in favour of the arboretum!!

This has to be the best place to see so many of the worlds loveliest trees form all over our planet. Their maple and Acer trees have to be seen to believe how stunningly beautiful they are, we were totally taken aback my their presence. What a brilliant place to spend several hours in absolute heaven on earth. I think it is a must do, if you are anywhere near it, at any time of the year.

Lovely place to visit, amazing trees and setup. The place can be busy but they're geared up for it, parking was very easy and quick, I'd recommend booking to speed up getting in. You get given a map on entry and are free to wander round, we visited the Acer glade and maple loop for the autumn colours. I guess the only thing I'd think about is bring layers, it was quite cold when we went and there's not much space indoors so you may end up on a bench outside for seating. It's not cheap but it's worth it.

Excellent exhibits with great educational elements! The whole family enjoyed it. The people were very informative as well.

I told one of the staff that the mannequins looked too real and were a bit scary, and then she kindly showed me around the exhibition and told me some stories. All the staff were so nice and helpful, and I learned a lot about the history of Cirencester. It’s one of my loveliest memories in Cirencester. Thank you very much!

Made the mistake of "bigging" the Corinium up in my mind before entering. Big mistake. It could never live up to what my (former) drug addled brain could imagine and when you've taken as many hallucinogens as I have in the past I was expecting to be mugged by an iron age thug or Roman centurian around every corner. It's a museum and is full of museumy things from the past. Daft thing to write as I've yet to visit a museum which looks to the future. Thought it was a tad pricey even though I got the crinkley discount. The staff were nice in the extreme. They put up with the mouthy northern one (me) without banning me from returning at some point. I hope they've forgiven me for leaving my 'up the boro' message before I departed.

An excellent museum with some quite beautiful mosaics and engaging history of Cirencester over the millennia. Let down by some sloppy attention to detail with their timeline boards. Guy Fawkes' assassination attempt was a year later and Edward VII was crowned a whole 3 years before.

This is a super museum, primarily for the Roman period but others as well. I spent 2 hours there and didn't properly see it all. Very helpful staff too. Well worth the visit.

Interesting museum primarily about their authentic Roman collection. Not a large museum, I would say that 1 hour will be enough to walk around. There is a free art gallery next door. Adult tickets were £7.90. We visited during a weekday so it was relatively quiet. We parked at the nearby Old Station car park and it was only a few minutes walk.

Very impressed with this museum which unfortunately- I just did not have the time to "do" it properly. It is an educational centre as well & good ol' me actually does like it this way - where origin, history & heritage is clearly labelled & tells a continuous story of this area to the relatively modern era. The Roman mosaics, burials, sound & light projections & the recreated neolithic/stone age dwelling etc added to an immersive experience. Sadly I just had to whizz through it all in an hour before closing time. Do give it the time this museum deserves. I visited on Thurs, late Sept 24. Very quiet & thankful the school kids were not around! 😉😁

Worth visiting for some fine architectural and other features. A large and impersonal building lacking atmosphere. Large number of unused pews in the main building while a service was on, attended by four people, in a side room. Not a church that is welcoming . But as an historical relic worth a look

I am aware of how many houses of the holy I'm getting through looking for the smiting one. Let's be clear, they're all magnificent structures. They're all remarkably well built, the craftsmanship is second to none and this example is fairly typical of how good they all are. My mind is blown on a regular basis and will continue to be blown as long as I remain untouched by lightning 🌩 bolt.

I’m not a Christian, but I love visiting churches when I travel, because I can feel the history, culture, and life in them. St. John the Baptist Church in Cirencester is a symbol of the town. I was captivated by its delicate architecture. I recently saw the musical “SIX” and became interested in the six queens, so when I found that there was a “Boleyn Cup” here, I was so excited!

The Church is beautiful, lovely service and I was made to feel very welcome ❤️ there is a fantastic selection of things to buy in the shop and the staff are very helpful. I will never forget my time here and I will definitely be back in the near future. God Bless you all 🙏🏻🕊️

Fantastic town excellent Baptist Church not religious but love buildings this is definitely one to go look around

Free entry to cathedral in the city centre. Beautiful working church and there's an interesting Lego model of it inside. Worth a stop.

Free to visit but they do ask for donations. Little shop inside, very pretty well worth a visit.

Great place to visit with the usual high standard from the National Trust. Cafe serves good quality food. Plenty of benches around the generous gardens and a children's playground. Very good museum all about the history of photography.

Friendly and welcoming staff and a picturesque place to visit, perfect for a photoshoot (it was lovely to see so many families taking photos and enjoying themselves) and although I didn’t have time to explore the entire area, the abbey was beautiful. Will be back soon to discover the museum and enjoy the autumnal colours. Terrain is somewhat difficult to traverse as a wheelchair user in terms of suspension and gravel, but it is possible.

Good car parking. £5.00 for non National Trust members. A beautiful Abbey with amazing grounds. There is a National Trust cafe before the property and inside the property. Enthusiastic National trust Staff with willingness to share their lnowldge. information. Part of the Harry Potter films.

Lovely place to visit, stunning house & grounds. Beautiful village to walk around but we found the pub food prices quite pricey. 4 min drive up the road is Whitehall Garden centre with a lovely reasonable restaurant or tea room.

We visited Lacock without knowing anything of it's history, or indeed anything about it at all beforehand. Both the Abbey and the village are lovely. It's difficult though to get beyond the obvious and predictable 'Harry Potter' hype that the village attracts, and whilst it is is a very pretty village, the volume of cars did affect my view of the place. The Abbey though was a different kettle of fish. The place oozed centuries of history and the cloisters were beautiful. The house has seen many changes over the years; to some extent a victim of the vanity of owners through the centuries as tastes, fashions, and styles, have changed. And with each generation of change, so the house has been altered. The National Trust has obviously focussed on the work of William Henry Fox Talbot, photographic development pioneer and polymath who ived in the house for a period of time in the 19th century. But his life is just a small part of the history of the place which begins it's story in the 13th Century, 600 years before William Henry Talbot. Its a glorious place, well worth a visit with knowledgeable guides in the house and hospitable staff in the cosy café. We didn't have time to visit the gardens but this will definitely be on the itinerary for our next visit here.

Really Pretty. There is a fancy mansion and a very plain, historic abbey at one site . Great photography museum also The village is very cute

Lacock abbey is special. As you enter this ancient homeand throughout, you meet volunteers able to answer any question as you walk through the many centuries of the building. Culminating with the birthplace of photography. All set in a picture perfect village with a lovely pub! Add in the photography exhibition and gardens this is a good gentle day out worth savering with the NT doing what it does so well. Recommended.

I had some time to kill and a dog to walk. Great location, lots to see, good information, generally friendly dog walkers, hikers and canal users. There's a lack of dog poo bins given the popularity of this space with dogs, I asked and was directed to one near the café. Lots of birds, nice views.

Stunning series of locks. We arrived just after the last boat had been allowed to come up, so we're fortunate enough to see it going through a lock. Also the proudest kingfisher I have ever seen 🤩

If you like canals then this is the perfect place for you. The flight of locks and narrow boats. The little cafe serves a variety of hot and cold food. Walking boots recommend up and down the lock path or into the forest. Parking £3 all day.

Beautiful walk or cycle within easy reach of Devizes (which is also nice for a wander). If boats are travelling along this stretch of canal it's great to see the technology in action enabling them to travel up/down hill. Great day out with a nice cafe at the top of the hill, enjoyed by the whole family, the kids even managed to get in on the action helping boaters through the locks.

Great place to visit and walk, I came here with family and it was just lovely way to spend an afternoon. The view is beautiful and the locks are very intriguing. There’s a nice cafe (with toilet- always useful) too for a welcome drink.

It is peaceful and beautiful great place to visit.

Spectacular! Popular with the narrow boats, despite really being hard work. A scenic spot to visit, and the cafe near the top serves a welcome cup of your favourite hot beverage. Perfect when the weather isn't great.

What started as a quick detour on our way back to London turned into the most relaxed shopping experience we've had in ages! Arriving two hours before closing on Friday was absolutely brilliant timing - no crowds, no stress, just peaceful browsing through a genuinely charming outlet. The £2.50 parking felt totally reasonable, and honestly, it was refreshing not getting gouged like at some places. The covered design is genius! While most UK outlets leave you battling whatever weather throws at you, this place keeps you cozy year-round. Perfect for our unpredictable seasons. We snagged some great sporting goods and fashion bargains - yes, "discount" designer prices are still pricey, but definitely better than full retail madness. The food court and coffee shops were perfect for a quick break, and everything felt clean and well-managed. Two hours flew by exploring this compact but well-curated space. It's refreshingly manageable - you can actually see everything without feeling overwhelmed. Our spontaneous stop turned into a thoroughly pleasant shopping adventure that left us both happy and satisfied!

Visited the Swindon Designer Outlet mainly for clothes and shoe shopping and was really pleased with the variety and the deals available. Lots of well-known brands and genuine discounts, so it’s easy to find something good without paying full price. The whole outlet has a nice, relaxed atmosphere, clean, bright, and well organised. It’s great that most of it is covered too, so the weather doesn’t spoil your day. There are several cafés and restaurants, and I appreciated that a few have halal options, which made eating there much easier and more enjoyable. They also got solat / prayer / multi-faith room near to Clarks, Slim Chickens, French Connection. It’s also very family-friendly, with play areas for children and plenty of space to walk around with buggies. You can easily make it a half-day trip with the family; shopping, eating, and letting the kids have some fun. Parking can get quite busy, especially on weekends, but overall it was a really good experience. I’d definitely recommend it for a relaxed shopping day with family or friends.

All I can say is this is the best Designer Outlet I have been too! Although M&S Outlet didn’t have any air con it was too hot in there. Besides that they have a very good brands at the Outlet. Worth a visit if you’re driving along the M4.

This place is a hidden shopping gem in Swindon. There are a host of Mid level brands available to shop at. There are also a lot of food outlet like Five Guys, Starbucks, Mexican etc. The toilets are clean and makes me feel ive got a bit of Dubai in Swindon.lol. It was a good place for me to kill time before my train. There is also a dedicated play area for children.

I really do like this mall. Although its not massive, it has a good variety of stores for shopping, and particularly boasts a great selections of places to eat and drink. I frequent this place regularly and can say that its always been impeccably clean and seemingly well-run. Kudos to the staff and management.

It's ok. Best part is that the management company were able to use a world class old building to develop as an outlet, complete with stream locomotive and historic plaques

Great outlet with many useful items and well known brands. I got some kitchenware here at a really good price. Worth a visit!

The Platform One Cafe has been taken over by new owners and it is absolutely super, serving the most wonderful paninis I've ever tasted! They were reasonably priced, very generously filled and huge! The chips (not needed as paninis were so big) were very good, very well fried so they were crunchy and soft inside. You don't need to visit the actual museum to enter the café, which is a great bonus! Keep up the great food!

Great food well cooked and not a bad price at all. Coffee really good too

Good value food and portion size, really friendly staff

The food and service here is excellent. Above and beyond usual cafe standards. Jacket potato and fillings a highlight and coffee is really good

I visited the museum yesterday which was great. The food choices for lunch were poor and no hot food menus were on displayed so I just had a sandwich and a soft drink. I paid by card and was not offered a receipt. My bank statement shows a payment to Zettle yesterday with a location given as York ( not Swindon!). This cafe could be so much better with a little bit more attention.

I had the crispy chicken wrap , salad and fries, it was delicious!

Could do a lot better, not a great choice of snacks available. We both had a coffee which was taken back as only luke warm. They were replaced. It really lets the whole museum down as the exhibits inside were really enjoyable to see. Could the cafe take on a GWR period feel to enhance the experience of what is to come inside?

A magical place. So wonderful to just wander around the stones, the trees. Plenty of places to eat and drink. The 'Elements' shop is incredible.. Don't miss it. The museum is pretty small but worth visiting. Parking in Avebury is a problem... Only paid.. But if you want to do a bit of walking, you can park outside the village in a by lane and walk in as I did getting extra sites in like 'The Sanctuary ' and some barrows too. Totally worth visiting!!!

I always enjoy neolithic ruins/monuments and this is definitely one of the better ones I've been too. Plenty of formations and other things to see and walk to in the surrounding area as well. Definitely recommend.

Avebury is a magical place, defo worth the visit. The stone circle here feels more alive and peaceful unlike Stonehenge that can get very crowded as you can imagine, it's freely open to walk among the stones and feel the ancient energy of the place! The village, the museum, as well as the nice nearby trails making it a perfect day-trip for anyone interested in history, spirituality, or just a beautiful walk through the English countryside.

This was an amazing site to see and visit. The stone circles were spectacular. The fact that you can still go up to them and touch them, is a huge positive. The only thing lacking were benches, for older, handicapped or special needs people to sit on.

Beautiful area. Incredible countryside. The ancient stones are a really special place & I would advise anyone to visit.

As a member of English heritage we didn't have to pay parking but people were moaning about having to pay for a full day no other options and £8 to much. We went in the museum which explained a lot about the excavations and all the artifacts that were found in the ditches. The walk around the stones was getting muddy with all the rain but it was still a good day out.

Worth the visit. I thought better than going to Stonehenge, only have to play for parking, you can walk around the stones and village for free. Bigger layout than Stonehenge, but not quite as spectacular stones.

I didn’t go through the visitor center — instead I took a lovely, easy path through the fields. The walk was beautiful and peaceful, and it leads you right up close to Stonehenge without needing to pay. The site itself is amazing and well-kept. Totally worth it, especially if you prefer a quiet nature walk over the crowded official route.

Plenty of parking, free to cadw, English heritage, and historic Scotland. Very Busy even at 10am. Free Busses taking visitors down every 5 to 10 mins. And bringing back. No going on the stones. Very impressive visitors centre. Toilets, shop, cafe. All wheelchair friendly. Great audio guide app. Friendly staff. Soooo many nationalities visiting. Heard soooooo many languages. Wonderful place to visit. Better when not so many people, but over a million people visit so not any quiet time.

This is a beautiful English heritage site is a must visit when you are in UK. There is a paid option and an unpaid visit. Paid takes you closer to the monument and you can have a good look. You get a bus ride as well in the paid option. The unpaid option requires you to walk the distance of approximately 2 km. You can take the road or the field path which was my preferred choice. It was a bit longer than the road. You will only be able to look one side if not the paid option. Restutunt though was a deferent story. Didn’t like the service. Staff were a bit partially towards some nationalities. Only my observation and could be incorrect and subjective.

Visiting Stonehenge was enlightening and enhanced by our Evan Evans Tour audio guide. Visiting around 9am on a weekday resulted in smaller crowds and a minimal wait for a shuttle. The surrounding countryside make it a peaceful, scenic and even solemn historic site during yoru stay in the United Kingdom. Highly recommend considering a coach tour with a group! The exhibit was appreciated to learn more about the monuments build! A brilliant modern marvel!

Our experience in Stonehenge was stunning. It's just amazing to think these stones have stood for such a long time, from around 3000 BC. This stone circle, built between the late Neolithic period and the early Bronze Age, deserves a one-in-a- lifetime visit. I think a two-hour visit is more than enough to grasp its significance.

Nice place and a big riddle. Better to visit in specific hours for nice photos. I didn’t take the tour and can’t say if it worth it, anyway you can’t get close to the stones. Nice place for hiking couple of hours at the green fields.

Visiting Stonehenge is honestly a pretty unique experience and I would say it is worth checking out if you are into history, mysteries, or just want some epic photo ops. First off, the landmark itself is absolutely iconic. Those massive stones just standing there in the middle of the field have this weird humbling energy. You cannot help but wonder how people 4,000 to 5,000 years ago managed to move them around seriously it is mind blowing. The site is set up for visitors pretty well. There is a visitor centre where you can grab tickets, learn a bit about the history, and check out some small exhibitions. The shuttle bus to the stones runs every few minutes which is handy, but if you are feeling energetic you can walk the 30 minute path through the fields which is actually really nice and gives you some different angles for photos. Once you are at the stones there is a path around them so you can see everything from all sides, but you cannot touch them anymore which is a bit of a bummer if you were hoping for a hands on experience. The whole vibe is kind of peaceful but also slightly eerie, especially if you visit early in the morning or later in the evening. Sunset is actually a great time to visit because the low sun lights up the stones beautifully and gives the whole place an almost magical feel. The stones were positioned to line up with the sun on the summer and winter solstices which is insane when you think about it. Ancient people studied the sun and seasons carefully so the sunlight would hit the rocks at exactly the right time of year, marking important events in their calendar. The surrounding area is lovely too rolling fields and quiet countryside, which makes the whole trip feel a bit like stepping back in time. Just a heads up though weekends can get busy so be prepared for a crowd and a few selfie sticks blocking your view. Overall Stonehenge is one of those places that is more about the atmosphere and the mystery than just looking at some rocks. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area and it makes for a cool story to tell friends afterward.

Entry to the museum is free. The museum is multi-story (5 floors). It contains artifacts from ancient and modern times and from all past and present civilizations. The museum is enjoyable to spend time in and gain knowledge about past civilizations and take science, knowledge and lessons from them. If you get tired, you can take a break in the museum café located in the basement or the museum restaurant located on the fourth floor. Visiting the museum is enjoyable and culturally rich.

I was completely amazed by the sheer number and variety of items in this museum's collection. From ancient pottery to classical paintings, there was so much to discover. The way the museum is divided into different geographical and chronological sections is brilliant—it felt like taking a trip around the world and through the ages. It's an absolute must-see for both tourists and locals. Don't miss it!

I wanted to see the Tradescant collection, from the English settlement period of Virginia, Powhatans mantle specifically. It was an easy day trip from London Paddington station. Ut turned out to be my favorite museum! So many world treasures! Beautiful exhibit designs, lovely lighting. The rich colors compliment the objects and time periods. Labels easy to read. Nice, quick-lunch cafe, big enough to rest a few minutes before going on. More manageable size compared to The British Museum.

The museum is wonderful. I visited in very limited time. I recommend that you take enough time to get better information because there are many galleries in the museum,from Ancient History to modern art. I recommend that you take enough time to get better information because there are many galleries in the museum. My favourite galleries were Ancient Greek, Roman galleries and painting galleries. The Pissarro gallery, which includes the works of C.Pissarro, V.Gogh and E.Manet, is definitely worth seeing. I hope to travel again. Because it was a very good experience.

Fabulous museum! The collection is diverse and beautifully presented. There is something for everyone: stairs and sculpture, portraiture, artifacts, and fashion. The staff are very welcoming. This should be your first stop during a visit to Oxford. Try to go midweek in the afternoon for a more quiet experience.

Amazing experience. Really worth a visit. Car park is difficult, but during the week you can park at Westgate which is not so busy. They do not charge your entry, but a donation is welcome and I think they well deserve it. Most of the time they have a tour guide who volunteer to show you some spotlights and explain what you are seeing. They have a lot more info they it's displayed, so worth the tour also. Good to visit with family and friends. Whether you like history or not, they have very interesting artefacts.

Brilliantly presented museum in the heart of oxford with amazingly crafted sculptures and artwork. Recommend spending a few hours here and bring a camera. Few admission with donations that can be made via contact less card. Definitely recommend a visit if your nearby. 5*

Stepping into this museum feels like walking into a cathedral of knowledge. The grand Victorian architecture itself is breathtaking soaring glass ceilings, beautiful ironwork, and light flooding the halls. But what truly makes it magical is the collection inside. From towering dinosaur skeletons and giant prehistoric creatures to dazzling minerals, fossils, and rare specimens, every corner sparks curiosity. It’s a place where both kids and adults can feel the excitement of discovery. I loved how interactive and engaging the displays are you don’t just look, you learn. It’s not just a museum, it’s an adventure through time, nature, and science. 🦕🌍✨ Whether you’re a science lover, a history buff, or simply curious, this museum is an absolute gem in Oxford. And like the best treasures it’s free to explore!

10/10 museum, free entrance, great display and not too big. The coffee shop upstairs even has great prices with views over the whole exhibition. I truly recommend to go when visiting Oxford. The staff is very kind and the temperature inside is perfect.

FREE entry, another amazing museum in Oxford, opened in 1860, was established to consolidate the university's scattered scientific collections and facilities into a single, purpose-built space. Its Gothic Revival building, designed by Deane and Woodward (which is amazing). The museum is known for its architecture, research contributions, and the famous "Great Debate" on evolution held there in 1860. The only problem is that you could spend the whole day here. We will definitely be back again.

Free admission to a museum over two floors. Cafe on the 1st floor. Lift available. Gift shop available. Toilets in basement floor. Not the largest natural history museum but plenty to see for 1-2 hours. Few dinosaurs specimens. Live insects in a glass cabinets on the 1st floor. Interesting to see cockroaches upclose.

Highly recommended to visit if you’re in Oxford. A lot of interesting exhibits and inspiring for not only children but adults. Must avail more time for a fruitful and educational trip though.

I visited this museum with a group of school students. It was really worth the trip! Fantastic displays with a few art installations included. The masks and tools section was particularly amazing to me! I would highly recommend a visit!

Absolutely fabulous, creative exhibits that really capture the imagination and inspire discussion. Our 9 and 11 year old loved this museum and were completely enthused following the visit.

Visited Christ Church mainly for the Harry Potter sights and it did not disappoint! We saw several iconic spots from the films, like the staircase from the first movie and the Great Hall that inspired Hogwarts’ dining room. It was a bit crowded and the entrance fee is on the pricier side, but it was still absolutely worth it. The guide shared some fun facts and behind-the-scenes stories that added a nice extra touch to the visit. A must-see for any Potter fan (or history buff, honestly)!

Christ Church is breathtaking and full of history. As a Harry Potter fan I loved the references even though the main hall scenes were filmed in the studio. Still I cannot believe they built such a detailed set without shooting at least a few moments in the real hall. The stairs alone are iconic. One suggestion would be to offer a self guided tour option as the place is so rich in details that wandering freely would be an amazing experience

Visited Chris Church and was truly captivated by the experience. Firstly, the exterior of the church is magnificent and grand, while the interior showcases exceptional craftsmanship. As part of Oxford University, it is imbued with historical significance and cultural heritage. The well-maintained gardens are tidy and aesthetically pleasing, adding to the overall charm. Additionally, as one of the filming locations for Harry Potter, the church carries an extra layer of mystery and enchantment. Highly recommended for a visit!

The Christ Church tour was absolutely stunning and far beyond what I expected. I originally went just to see the famous Hogwarts staircase, but the whole place is breathtaking and much larger than I imagined. We explored at our own pace and ended up staying longer than planned. The audio guide seems more suited for those interested in studying at the college, as it includes detailed academic and historical information that casual visitors might skip. For tourists like me, wandering around freely was perfect. Just remember it is still an operating school, so a few areas are restricted and visitors should keep noise to a minimum. Definitely worth the visit for every Harry Potter fan.

Excellent self-guided tour (with a concise and relevant audio guide) around Christ Church, its quads and its gardens. Avoid visiting between 12 and 2 pm, since the Great Hall will be closed (students' lunch time).

Christ Church is a truly magnificent college with an inspiring academic vibe that makes you feel part of Oxford’s long intellectual tradition. The architecture is breathtaking, and every courtyard and cloister seems to tell a story. The Great Hall is simply spectacular.

Marvelous place. Couldn’t go inside as tickets were sold out, but the church’s grand architecture and serene grounds were stunning. A must-visit in Oxford for any classic architectural enthusiast or a Harry Potter fan - just book ahead to avoid missing the beautiful interiors.

Worth a visit, especially if you have the English Heritage membership and have been to nearby Stonehenge. There isn't a lot left of the old castle, but it is in a nice, elevated position overlooking the "new" Salisbury Cathedral. We spent an hour or so looking around the ruins and admiring the lovely autumnal colours in the surrounding countryside. There is a small shop on site, it sells the usual memorabilia and EH stuff (always seems to be a new mead variation to buy). The staff members were friendly and helpful, we had a pleasant conversation. About 25 car parking places, the road up to it is quite steep and narrow, but there are passing points on every corner.

One of my favourite days out, this place had such beautiful views, great history and the people who worked here were very welcoming, up for a chat and overall friendly, also got some ice cream which i was quite happy they had a decent amount of vegan options. You can easily spend a good few hours here just walking around and reading everything, even just sat relaxing. Great place for dogs to come and run about, even children and it was fun watching the sky divers. i'd love to revisit here in the future. (For anyone wondering, you pay for the small middle part over the bridge, all the outer bits you can walk around for free)

Staff super friendly and helpful. Lovely to explore and learn. Only managed few photos as having fun with kiddies exploring. Little gift shop and picnic benches. Beautiful views and dogs welcome on leads.

Interesting place to visit. Cadw free entry. Has toilets and visitirs centre/shop does hot and cold drinks. Friendly staff. Car park free. Original cathedral foundations on the outer ward. Inside the inner castle is well described on info plaques. Stunning views of Salisbury.

Beautiful views of the surrounding area and the town of Salisbury. You can see the cathedral clearly from one of the walls. Lots of history related to kings of the past. Highly recommend if you’re a tourist buff and it doesn’t take too long to explore.

Incredible, eerie, lovely place to take an autumn walk. Literally layers upon layers of history. Hiking around the perimeter of the hillfort is a must for the beautiful views across Salisbury and the Wiltshire countryside.

Another fabulous and well preserved piece of important history. There were plenty of information boards around the site and we found the guidebook very helpful. The staff were very willing to answer any questions we had and, in fact, went above and beyond. A real credit to the organisation.

An amazing place to visit. Had an experience day here with the Owl's, was a bit wet but that doesn't actually matter if I'm honest as there is plenty of cover around the park, just bring a brolly and you wouldn't care. Staff are so dedicated and full of knowledge they help make it a seriously enjoyable visit and the afternoon 1400 show had around 15 - 20 birds flying all around us at the same time rather than other places where it's just a single which just made for an amazing viewing opportunity. The trust needs our support for the great work they do some come rain or shine, summer or winter get along and enjoy a great day out.

We visit once a year and always have a great day. The flying displays are excellent, I recommend getting to the Trust 15 mins before the first one, then get lunch and have a look around before the 2pm one. The staff are all brilliant too.

A day at the Hawk Conservancy Trust is a total treat. The place is dedicated to the conservation of birds of prey, and you can really feel the passion. The flying demonstrations are the highlight. They have several throughout the day with different birds, from falcons to eagles, and the handlers are super knowledgeable and engaging. You get to see the birds in action, which is way more impressive than just seeing them in an enclosure. Beyond the shows, you can walk through the aviaries and get up close to all the birds. The grounds are lovely and well-kept. It's a great place for families, but anyone who loves nature and wildlife will have a good time. It’s an easy and enjoyable day out.

I have visited here several times in the past year. The Owl Encounter was excellent, the photography day was fabulous, and the Owls by Moonlight so atmospheric. A day visit is also great with 3 flying displays per day during the summer, plus talks about the birds. All the staff are so knowledgeable.🦉 The cafe is also excellent for lunch or cake. 🧁 🍰

This is the 2nd time we’ve been as we had an Afternoon tea for two gift voucher. If you want anything as an extra, such as the tea for 2 or a handling experience. I’d recommend booking in advance due to limited spaces but if you’re going for a normal outing then you can just turn up. There’s alot of space in the carpark & it has spaces for electric cars. Well kept out door areas, lots of outdoor seating, several toilet areas, disabled access, nice open cafe/restaurant. The staff are really friendly & helpful, you can tell they love their birds and want to teach everyone about them. The shows are incredible with birds flying so close you have to duck!

An unforgettable experience! We had the absolute delight of visiting the Hawk Conservancy yesterday, and what an incredible experience it was from start to finish. The staff are truly outstanding — so knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly devoted to the care and wellbeing of the birds. The Woodland Owl Experience completely wowed us. The combination of the tranquil woodland setting, the beautiful music, and the owls gliding out one by one created such a magical atmosphere. It’s an experience I will never forget. A special highlight for us was watching Gavin the Raven take to the skies — especially knowing it was only his second time flying in the meadow. It was such a beautiful and heartwarming moment to witness. My partner and I loved our visit so much that we’re now seriously considering becoming members to help support this exceptional conservancy. Thank you to everyone at the Hawk Conservancy for such a memorable day — we can’t wait to return!

Always so amazing here, with so many wonderful staff, that you get to know so well. My favourite birds here are the following: Tiara- the Stellar's Sea Eagle, Angola - the Secretary Bird, Ian - the wild Red Kite that often joins in the sessions, also named after their wonderful volunteer, and Gavin - the Raven, who I finally saw flying today 😻, making my favourite birds here now lovingly and collectively called Kaig

Absolutely stunning Castle and very informative and professional tour. We also had a wonderful lunch and tea service with plenty of cakes and desserts along with our pre-booked castle tour. Our tour guide Sarah was wonderful and gave us all the details necessary to truly appreciate this beautiful castle. We learned a lot about the Lord and Lady Carnavron and about the history of the castle and the families who have called this beautiful place home. We were able to walk among the gardens and that was stunning. There should be an entire page dedicated to the fantastic Egyptian antiquities exhibit found as part of this tour!

Beautiful grounds to wander through with loads of benches dotted around to sit and ponder on! House is stunning to walk-around the outside before you enter. The inside was very interesting too and felt surprisingly cosy although still opulent in parts. Lovely tea shop which was very reasonable. I paid £3.50 for a fresh scone with clotted cream and jam. Gift shop is a bit different with some interesting bits too... including bottles of their own gin.

We enjoyed our time at Highclere immensely. The staff was very helpful and friendly, answered all our questions and we even walked down the beautiful staircase. Unfortunately you are not able to take photos inside but it was lovely to be in the moment taking it all in and enjoying it. Do go and take the picnic tea, however note that it could easily work for 3-4 people not just 2! Wonderful day. 5 stars.

This was an great stop on our way to Heathrow after disembarking from our cruise ship in Southampton. We enjoyed the gardens however suggest if you get to castle at 9:30 to 10:00 am cue up for the castle first then do the gardens. Oh, and if you already have tickets printed, don't get in the cue, go to the right and scan for direct entrance. Thanks to the lovely women who mentioned that to us. The self guided tour of the castle and gardens is great. We purchased the Tea lunch which was super fun. More than enough for for two...we were three and could have easily fed four. Overall a nice way to cap a great 10 days of cruising before a 16 hour journey home back to Seattle/Tacoma.

Wow, what an exceptional property! We had to visit Highclere Castle after watching Downton Abbey and were not disappointed. Such a stunning building and estate, lovely walks around the grounds and a nice little cafe to top it all off. Would highly recommend anyone visiting, even if you’ve never heard of Downton Abbey.

The house was breathtaking when we saw it for the first time, walking up the drive and was even bigger than it looked like in Downton Abbey. The grounds are huge with lovely gardens and walks. The only down side being that you can’t take bags or eat your own picnic in the grounds. Nevertheless, a day very well spent!

It is a beautiful historical castle and the connection to the Downtown Abbey series and films makes it even more interesting and fascinating. The great architecture and the Nature that surrounds the castle make the whole visit worthwhile. The tour inside the castle was great and the members of staff so lovely, polite and helpful. The Egyptian exhibition took us back to history, full with unique pieces from the ancient Egypt. Unfortunately the afternoon tea was the downside of the whole experience. So poorly organised and of no standards at all. We have been to many afternoon teas living in England for 23 years and all of them in similar historic and aristocratic venues, it is the first time to see an afternoon tea to be served like a fast food in a canteen. It took place in a small coach room next to the castle, not followed by the traditional English afternoon tea etiquette, no menu, the tea selection was the typical teas in a bag that you find in the super markets, the selection of food it was of similar quality, the scones hard and cold, no table cloths, only paper napkins, not in a proper room in the castle that the afternoon tea should be served, I can go on and on about it. The photos will speak the truth of my words. What is wrong with the standards and quality of certain people? The owners of the castle are not aware of what is going on in their company? I can understand that they want to maintain the castle by taking our money but please 'sell us ' the story in a proper way and not insult us with a low quality, low standards of an afternoon tea. Most of us in my opinion we know how things should be done and organised. £85 per person not value for money. We would have been in a better position if we only had paid for the tour and then eat at a marquee that they had set up next to the castle.

We had a splendid time at Basildon Park. The house is beautiful, my favourite room was the Seashell Room. Volunteers from National Trust were so friendly and full of historical information. We didn’t get a chance to have a long walk outside but we did manage to have a lovely short one after picking up a bite at the cafe. Look forward to coming back for a longer walk & a visit to the gift shop.

Fine manor house with plenty of woodland and pasture to explore. There’s ample parking which is a good thing as it’s only really possible to get there by car. The manor has great architecture and is very well maintained. There’s a cafe there but the food is a little below the standard I’d expect for a national trust venue.

Basildon Park is such a charming mix of history and glamour! Built in the 18th century for Sir Francis Sykes and later owned by James Morrison, the house even fell into disuse during WWII before being rescued in the 1950s by Lord and Lady Iliffe. I loved exploring the rooms and viewing framed personal family photos and other mementos. It was also fun discovering the home’s on-screen fame—right now there’s a 20th anniversary exhibition celebrating all the films and TV shows shot here, from Pride and Prejudice to Downton Abbey, and The Crown. The National Trust has done a great job keeping both the house and its lovely grounds inviting, so it’s easy to imagine life here across the centuries.

The lush green fields, meandering river Thames, glorious countryside, and the Mansion full of colourful history. Each room tells a story and the Mansion was the shooting location of at least five films between 2005 - 2020, Pride & Prejudice, Dorian Gray, Downton Abbey, The Gentlemen, and Belgravia. The staff are very helpful and knowledgeable who are ready to answer any question you may have. The whole palace is kept immaculately clean and the public facilities are excellent.

Lovely NT property in stunning surroundings. You can see why so many film makers have chosen it! Stunning house interior including one of the UK's last surviving Georgian ceilings. Nice courtyard team room in the house too. Highly recommended.

Lovely house. Helpful staff to tell you about the history. There is lots of walks. We were just stopping for a short time on our way home. Unable to check out the walks. Another gem of national trust membership.

Beautiful house with an interesting history. Exciting to visit if you're a fan of historic drama showa like Downton Abbey or Pride and Prejudice. Has lovely walks around the parkland. Loved the sea shell collection - never seen anything like it. Was amazing to see the Downton Abbey dresses on exhibition.

We travelled from the Midlands to take my wife's nan who lives in Reading to Beale Park as she has always wanted to go. It was well worth the 5 hours of driving. The place has plenty of parking and was spotless inside. The staff were all really helpful and cheery. Lots of lovely places to sit and eat. All the pathways are nice for a wheelchair too. Plenty of animals and well maintained gardens to look at. We liked the fact that you just go round in two big loops so no dead ends to get lost in. We all had a great time thank you. Only thing is that when we go out to a place as a family we get a fridge magnet and you didn't have any with your place name on. Shame we don't live closer as we would deffo return for another visit.

Love Beale Park, well maintained gardens, great for adults and kids, good food and lovely animals to see. The only thing that was sad was the reindeer enclosure. They were all walking round in a big circle and you could see on the floor where they do it out of constant habit and boredom. They definitely need more room and stimulation. Would be definitely nice to see an improvement there

A perfect day out with kids! Beale Park has so much to do — a great outdoor play area, an indoor soft play, and even a little train that takes you around the park. The small water pool is brilliant for kids of all ages to splash around safely, and there are plenty of animals and birds to see too. The Wild Café has tasty food at reasonable prices, plus there are ice cream vans around the park which is always a hit with the little ones. Entry fee is fair for everything that’s included, and they also put on different shows to keep everyone entertained. Such a fun and family-friendly place — highly recommend!

Very very nice place. A lot to see and do with your children. Animals, sand pit area, a pool, a miniature train to ride, an inflatable giant pillow and much more. There's a whole day to spend there and a very good reason to visit it over and over again. Nicely maintained and looked after , shame it didn't have a lot of photos on Google maps as we didn't bring our daughter's swimming costume. Free parking, a cafe and a lovely ice cream from the ice cream van located nearby the miniature train.

Fabulous day out, £20 for 2 adults. Lots of beautiful grounds to wander round, fantastic playground, bouncy cushion and splash pool for smaller kids to play in and enjoy. Cafe was very busy but there are loads of shaded areas for a picnic. There was a lovely ice cream van with gluten free whippy ice cream I could have in a tub. The little train was a lovely way to see the whole park. Wished I’d booked the feeding of the capybara as sadly this was booked up already. Highly recommend.

Absolutely loved this place. A really interesting selection of animals, including some unusual ones. A trip on the little train is included in the price, and the train carriages have roofs so it's good if there's a rain shower. The weather turned in the afternoon and it's nearly all outside so be warned. I used a mobility scooter and although it worked pretty well, there are some muddy paths and uneven surfaces. I also had to park and go into buildings quite a lot, so be aware if you're a wheels user.

Beale Wildlife Park is a real hidden gem and such a wonderful day out for families, nature lovers, and anyone who enjoys being outdoors. The park is beautifully set along the River Thames, with wide open spaces, woodlands, and gardens that make it feel both relaxing and adventurous at the same time. There’s so much to see and do here. The wildlife is the main highlight – with an impressive mix of animals ranging from playful meerkats and curious lemurs to wallabies, capybaras, owls, and birds of prey. There’s also a farmyard area where children can meet friendly goats, pigs, and smaller animals up close. The park does a great job of caring for the animals, and it really shows in how healthy and well-kept everything looks.

Great place!! I loved the atmosphere. We did the tour and the guide was absolutely incredible. When I got into the green house it smelled like my country (Colombia). The smell of the tropical plants made my hart happy.

What a fantastic time here at Bombay ! From the initial movie, tour of the grounds, green house where the flowers/herbs are displayed & of course the cocktail making classes made for an unforgettable experience. The entire staff are so knowledgeable and friendly. If you're a Bombay Sapphire Gin lover I would highly suggest a day here to truly get to know the history of this fantastic gin ! You won't be disappointed & be very sure you have a designated driver to you can experience all the different flavors of Bombay !

This is one of the best distillery tours I’ve ever done! The Bombay Sapphire grounds are really beautiful, everything from the greenhouse to the building itself. The tour was really informative about the Gin and history of the Brand. The cocktail masterclass was so well done, really fun and interactive, the drinks were great too and really focussed on completing the alcohol, not sickly sweet and packed with sugar like other masterclasses I’ve done. You can definitely spend a whole day at this place in the gorgeous setting! I’d highly recommend this to anyone.

Very enjoyable and informative tour. You get to see the stills, the process is explained. The plants and ingredients are shown. Its also set on a beautiful site on the banks of the River Test. The site contains a shop café and a bar. There is decent parking. The tours are limited to 25 so it maybe worth booking in advance.

Loved visiting the distillery and would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes gin. We did the tour which was good and includes a drink. Loved seeing the history and our tour guide was very nice.

Fantastic 1.5 hour tour of the distillery with a gin and tonic or mocktail to kick off the tour. Luke our guide was very informative and entertaining. There is a gift shop, cafe and bar to stretch out your visit.

Lovely experience, beautiful picturesque campus. Gorgeous brick buildings. Tour is informational to the distillery and the property itself and there is some pretty good gin onsite.

You need more than a day to explore everything here!! That was our only complain. It is a great place to spend time with kids. No water related rides/pools for adults which we found disappointing as we came prepared for one (without checking in detail online). That's why the 4 star. There's a splash area for kids and that's it for anything water related as far as I can tell. Would give it 5 star purely for everything kids related. There's lots to explore here. I read on one the reviews to get a packed lunch and I'm glad I read it and we did bring something to eat during the day which did save us some ££!!. We went on a weekday during the school holidays and it wasn't that crowded. Parking is hassle free and they guide you to an empty spot. We went to Peppa Pig World first and managed to get on few of the rides without queuing for long. We found this to be better than Legoland based on our overall experience. Would be going back to explore the unexplored sections/rides hopefully soon!!

Paultons Park is a beautiful, well kept and very themed in the seperate of areas in the park. There is so so many family rides what everyone can enjoy. The ride access pass was so easy to use. The food in the Route 83 diner was really nice. Amazing price value in the shop & food outlets. The toilets was very clean. If the rides are getting to much you have got the gorgeous well kept gardens and animals to walk round. Paultons deserved the best theme park of the year as I had no faults with anything. 🤍

Stunning grounds, went in the summer and it was beautiful just been now(end October)and the work they have put into the grounds for Halloween are fantastic, great to see all the kids excited even before they got to the rides... So clean, the ground staff do an amazing job.. Definitely buy tickets in advance. And I would advise to take food and drink with u as it is a bit pricey. It's a cashless site but you can get a card on entry and put cash on it

Great theme park, not only for younger kids but also for big boys along with adults. Went in Halloween and it was all Pumpkins everywhere. Nicely decorated, enough rides. Visited for 2 days with short break, but if either young or old kids only or if managed properly, all rides and parks can be covered in a day.

Ample free parking, easy check in, well done with the halloween theme, waits on some rides are reasonable. Their phone app is super useful showing locations and waiting times. Staff is friendly, rides are all safe, place and toilets are clean. On stage shows were entertaining. Great place for a family day.

What a lovely experience for my little man, even we the parent joined in and had good fun. The organisation was excellent, friendly people good atmosphere. The fact that you get to ride on all the rides and fun fair they have to offer.Definitely recommending and we will be going again that is if mummy pig decide to have fourth piglet

The rides are good, waiting times not too bad. A spacious site with plenty of places to get food and drink. Ive reduced by 2 stars as, when my son lost his phone on a ride, they couldn't be less interested if they tried. They said there was nothing theu could do and didn't take our details in case they did find it. I do understand that this probably happens all the time but also bit of compassion isn't hard. Won't be going back.

A lot to see and take in, both in the large interior areas, as well as small details and specific features as well as having a exhibit about the building's history. Worth a visit. Easily spent about 1h and a half looking at burrial sites, architecture, history and art.

A beautiful cathedral, worth a visit to see the architecture, carvings and stained glass windows. Jane Austen is buried in the cathedral with her memorial stone in the nave. Those interested in history will find plenty to see. Anyone in search of a peaceful place with find it here. There is an entrance fee but it allows free further visits for 12 months.

An amazing piece of history. We spent a couple of hours looking round. And they have a lift which is great for the disabled and extremely unusual in a cathedral. I’m not sure I agree with paying to enter however.

It is such a nice spot to just have a sit down, not very loud and obviously has a incredible architecture! During my trip to Winchester I stopped by here a few times - the inside of the cathedral is beautiful and worth seeing but tickets are overpriced. Also if you enjoy books, there is a great shop round one of the sides that has something for everyone📚

The guided tour that comes with the admission price is easily worth it. I was bowled over with our guide's (Michael) depth of knowledge and fantastic anecdotes about the cathedral. The ticket is open for a year. There's so much more to find out about this splendid building we will probably be back. Winchester's nice to walk around too. Probably best to avoid peak times.

The staff was really friendly and the cathedral is pretty big and beautiful, definitely worth the time. We chatted for 15-20 min with the staff member in the library (yeah they have an amazing library with beautiful old books) he told us really great stories and gave us some insights on how big of a work goes into working with these. The cathedral overall is really detailed and has an interesting story, it even has a small museum inside.

Highly, highly recommend visiting and taking the guided tour! The volunteers were enthusiastic, welcoming, and very friendly. There was so much history to see, including an exhibition. We had Robert Little as our tour guide, and he truly brought the history to life. He was very knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging in his storytelling! One of the many details I enjoyed was when he pointed out some of the different architectural styles, such as Norman or Gothic. Since the ticket is valid for a full year, he even recommended joining tours with other guides to get different flavours of information and perspectives. Overall, definitely a fantastic experience!

A real gem. Hands on, so great for kids. We spent 2½ hours in the museum. Our grandchildren 10 and 12 loved it, we found it very educational for them. We had a light lunch in the cafe which we can recommend. All of the staff were friendly and helpful throughout. Free parking, and plenty of it. Milestones often have extra attractions running in school holidays.

A fantastic day out at Milestones Museum! We spent four hours there and the time just flew by — there was so much to see and enjoy! The exhibits were excellent, beautifully curated, and full of fascinating details. But what truly made the experience special was the staff. From the reception to the café and the shop, every team member was welcoming, professional, kind, and clearly passionate about both customer service and the museum itself. Their warmth and enthusiasm made all the difference. I highly recommend Milestones Museum for a day out with family — it’s a place of great learning, wonderful staff, and outstanding exhibits. A truly fantastic museum!

Great museum with plenty to see. From a modern exterior, you walk into a piece of history. You can have an audio guide to find out more about the exhibits. There were a lot of people in costume walking around and explaining everything. The sweet shop lady and the barman were very friendly, in fact all the staff gave a friendly smile. You can purchase a ration book and get your choice of ration sweets from the sweet shop, a really nice touch. There are lots of vehicles from fire engines, trams, cars etc. Several places to eat, the garden pavilion or rooftop cafe. There is also a 1940s pub. Wander around the shops fully of memorabilia, take a walk along the pier complete with penny arcade machines... you can exchange modern money for old pennies. They teddy bear museum was very cute. There are also costumes for you to try on as you walk around and get the perfect selfie. A very enjoyable place to visit, made extra special thanks to the staff.

Hadnt visited for 10 or 12 years so it was interesting to see changes and additions. A very quiet afternoon with hardly anyone there so taking pictures was easier and pleasing. Lady who runs the gramophone shop was very pleasant and informative about what was on display. Will visit again in the future.

Really good fun! Loads to see and do to keep kids entertained, as well as interesting seeing and reading for adults. Love it. Didn't eat in the cafe but it looked great.

This is not an ordinary museum with exhibits in the glass cases (well, you will find some of these here), but very thoughtful and detailed historical reconstruction of the town through the time, with streets, shops, houses, garages, workshops, local transport, interiors with daily living attributes, seaside holidays attractions with working arcade games and the teddy bear museum. 🧸 Perfect for kids, as placing exhibits in context enables much better understanding of past life. You can enjoy a pint in the working pub, buy some old-fashioned sweets in the sweet shop, get some great coffee and cake or a proper breakfast/lunch in the cafe. The staff/volunteers are dressed up in the historical outfits, and they really care to give you the best experience. Tickets are not cheap, but at the moment there is a promotion on lovetovisit.com. There are discounts for kids, students, seniors, and disabled people who can bring their carer free of charge. The museum is fully accessible, with lifts, accessible toilets, and wheelchairs provided at the reception for anyone with mobility issues. Tickets are valid for the whole year, so you can revisit as often as you like and take advantage of different special events.

Purchased tickets online at a cheaper rate of £10 (for a limited time) entry is only after 1pm. advertised as a 'quieter less busy' time which would suit us. Unfortunately when we arrived there were three coach loads of screeching six year old running around like a massive ADHD experiment. Luckily they departed after a while so we were left in relative peace. Exhibits are very well displayed with plenty of the relevant information. Plenty to see so give yourself a good 2 to 3 hours. Usual expensive cafe, Americano coffee was okay but £3.50 for a tiny slice of cake that would dissolve before it hit your stomach was a bit steep. Gift shop selling good old British memorabilia (all made in China) worth a look but definitely not at full price.

I've now seen 2 shows at the Mayflower theatre and I've been very impressed! Both views, although different, have been unrestricted and have given a good view of the stage. There is always a good selection of shows here and it is a good distance from the train station and a couple of car parks

Theatre is as good as any in New York or Toronto. Sightlines were good. Nice feature was rental opera glasses at the seats for a pound. Production was high quality including many complex aerial performances and nice sets. Highly recommended

We travelled down to Southampton to attend a recording of ‘Sorry, I haven’t a Clue, last night at The Mayflower Theatre and had a brilliant evening. As expected, the show was very funny….but I was most impressed with the theatre itself. The staff were so friendly and helpful, the theatre is beautiful, and the prices of the refreshments was so reasonable. There’s no need to try to smuggle sweets in when they sell two bags for £6. The lovely coffee was £3, so cheaper than my local coffee shop. I wish I was local….. I’d be here every week. Thank you all so much for a fabulous evening.

Fabulous local venue. Easily accessible by public transport or if you prefer to drive there is a huge multi story on the next street. Beautiful old theatre with a number of bars so the queues don't get too long!

First time at the mayflower, lovely old theatre , staff were really nice too. However the security who did the bag search was very brusque, he barked at me "bag search" as I'm older and the traffic was busy I didn't quite hear. He then barked again , just a suggestion but a more pleasant attitude would be good. The only thing I struggled with was the toilets , old building very small toilets but that can't be helped . The production of mama mia was brilliant can highly recommend it. Would have given 5 stars apart from the security person

Great venue with excellent facilities for limited mobility Staff incredibly helpful and the show was incredible, superb music with orchestra, amazing sets and hugely talented cast

Had a lovely day watching Mary Poppins at The Mayflower. Not the first time at this theatre, but it never disappointments. As far as Mary Poppins The musical goes though - it's incredible!

Decent medium-sized Zoo, with a wide range of animals. Giraffes, snow leopard, rhinos, Lemurs, ostriches, and more. Catering prices were reasonable. Layout not very intuitive though - plan your route around. On a fairly steep hill. Staff friendly and helpful.

Just got back from an amazing day at the zoo. The animals are so well cared for, massive areas which are all beautifully designed. All the pens immaculately clean. Every area well cared for. My children loved seeing the huge range of animals. The different parks kept them busy when moving around. The shops were reasonably priced so we got something there as well.

This was my first trip, and we visited as a large group but split up in to small groups. Tickets were pre-purchased in advance, which made entry quick and easy. There was plenty of car parking available. Staff I saw were friendly & helpful. Despite low expectations set by friends, I found this place to be fantastic. The animals appeared well cared for, and we managed to see all the ones we hoped to—and more. There are lots of picnic spots and climbing areas for children, which made it very family-friendly. Food and gift shop items were reasonably priced. The only downside was that it was a hot day and all the drinks we bought from the cafe there were warm due to broken fridges—an issue we were told has been ongoing. While this didn’t ruin our experience, it did feel like a waste of money. I’d recommend bringing your own picnic and would definitely visit again.

lovely day out with the little one. thoroughly enjoyed. lots of animals to see and lots of areas for the little one to explore. some food bars with "normal" food would be nice. chips, hotdogs, burgers etc. but bought own picnic so was ok.

What a great Zoo as Zoos go. Animals have plenty of space in their enclosures with many of them being out to be seen. The Lego feature currently on show is great with guess the mammoth bring much entertainment. The little zoo tour on the overland train is worth doing. Be prepared to walk a few steps and enjoy.

Really nice day out a lot of animals where not in the mood to be seen so was a bit disappointed but they are wild animals at the end of day so can I really complain no. We did get very lucky and saw the tiger but that was because it was feeding time which we had no idea about so if you want to see the tiger I would find out when the feeding times are. If you have bought your tickets from a third party seller you could be in for a wait on entry as they don't scan the virtual tickets you go to a separate area to have your ticket s hand written down so if there's a phew of you in the qué could be a long wait we went early so was not a problem. There alot of walking involved I was quite tired at the end which was good as I like exercise but if you have old people in your party I would suggest you use the on sight train (not sure if this is free) there is an old manor style house on sight but unfortunately it's badly in need of Restoration as at the moment the interior looks like a half way house for prisoners leaving long stay in jail very disappointed as it was once frequented by king Henry eighth and really should be more of an attraction. All the staff where friendly and helpful toilets where clean and in good working order and they sold some of the best ice cream I've had in a long time and it was reasonably priced top marks ! So was it worth ticket price yes especially if your taking young family members as it seemingly is more geared towards that demograph.

Had a brilliant day out here. The park is really well designed so there's a chance to see the animals from different sides. Staff are all really friendly and helpful.