Nice selection of birds, so many pretty varieties that we had never seen before. The parrots and cockatoos were entertaining with their chatter and whistles. There are a couple of walk-through areas where you can get up close to the birds. The main cafe area at the entrance is nice with outdoor seating overlooking the gardens. There is another cafe/kiosk, but this was closed when we visited. They are building a new play area which looks like it's going to be quite large. We spent around 3 hours there slowly walking around. For the kids, there is a dinosaur trail. The car park is large and free. Toilets and baby change areas were clean. There is quite a large gift shop. We had a nice half day wandering around.

Larger than expected but very interesting. There are all sorts of birds and plenty to see. For those with children, there are plenty of play bits for them to play and for those without there are benches where you can sit and watch the birds. The park is accessible for wheelchair users. Visually impaired folk will definitely benefit from taking a sighted guide.

Good place to visit after the upgrade made for kids but could have also added play center for toddler separately. The dinosaurs were good additions. Food-wise need to have more options and for the entry price paid the experience is bit on lower end with the birds. The bird world itself has not been updated fully and they seem old n neglected. Finally the parking facilities are lacking with very small spaces considering most visitors are with toddlers and kids and are of low quality.

I am disabled and cannot walk. Please see the end of the review for the only problem i had. Visited today with my wife daughter and her husband and two granddaughter's. We had a great time loads to see and do the birds are great and well displayed. The granddaughter's loved the play areas. All the staff are great. Helpfull, polite and a credit to bitdworld. on the whole it was easy to get round on a mobility class 3 mobility scooter. I have only one complaint and that there was a problem and that is with the disabled toilets it may not sound much but if you are like me on A Class 3 mobility scooter and cannot walk at all it is impossible sitting on one of those scooters and opening a door towards you. I do wish the people who designed these toilets would actually try to get in there whilst at on a large mobility scooter. It takes away your independence completely when you can't even open the door to get in. To pull a door open and hold it open while you driving is completely impossible. I really really wish that somebody would actually try it to see what I mean. Is bad enough being stuck on one of those things without having to ask a complete stranger to hold the door open for you. Please would one of your staff get hold of one of those scooters and try it.

New park is amazing. The kids loved the activity sheet and the dinosaur trail. Can't wait for the new play barn. Food was fresh and good. Only down side, they do not have a changing table for disabled guests, but we were told we could use the first aid one.

A popular day out for us or even a quick stop after nursery to run off extra energy. We invested in the membership this year and have visited Birdworld very regularly to explore every nook and cranny it has to offer. The bonus features of the dinosaur trail, bird bath and adventure play have been a treat too. There are so many beautiful birds and really helpful information about them to learn and raise awareness of endangered species, as well as regular talks from the team who present it so well. The birds are well looked after and the park is so pretty with greenery, flowers, water features, bird photography and beautiful interactive displays of information. There is lots to do for all ages. The paths are wheelchair and buggy accessible and plenty of loo facilities around the park. Lots of parking space and the check-in process is simple and quick even on busy days. Even when the park is busy it doesn’t feel crowded as there’s lots of space to run around, and benches to sit on.

Perfect for all. Not too long to walk around (you could probably rush it in half hour) took us a couple of hours to see everything, but there's plenty of extra play areas and games to keep kids entertained. Special experiences like feeding the penguins are extra, but well worth it.

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.

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.

The great cathedral is the primary reason why we wanted to visit Winchester and it did not disappoint. We jumped into one of the tours being offered at the ticket entrance and had such a great experience. The tour took just over an hour, and we spent another hour afterwards exploring the massive space, checking out some of the many sacred and historical items on display (including the Winchester Bible), and paying our respects at the Jane Austen memorial with the added bonus of occasional organ music in the background. A perfect way to spend a half day.

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!

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!

We had a wonderful time at Highclere Castle .It was the second last day on my trip to the U.K . The grounds are beautiful and the castle stunning . Could not take photos inside it take my word it is worth a visit. The staff are very knowledgeable and passionate about their job . When you walk through those huge wooden doors you think you have walked into a Downton Abbey set .

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.

Simply amazing visit. With the castle decorated for Christmas in a victorian style this year it is currently only open for prebooked private tours. Visiting on a day when the rain made the sky's dark and deluged us all just added to the atmosphere. A lovely afternoon tea in a very cosy marquee competed our visit. Although not a cheap day, it was certainly worth it for the experience. A lovely welcome from the countess herself and a truly excellent guide for the house as well as the very atmospheric Egyptian collection in the cellar made this a true day to remember.

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!

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.

Well looked after grounds, well tended gardens and beautifully managed Manor House. The facilities are more than adequate and volunteers are helpful and knowledgeable to explain and answer questions. However, we found the lights were very dim in most of the rooms downstairs and it was difficult to see or read the information provided in the pamphlets and walls.

No queues, not a lot of people and one of the most comprehensible and easy to navigate National Trust houses in England. Absolutely fascinating to learn more about English history; Disraeli, wartime mapping, and secrecy. Knowledgeable staff who like what they are doing. We visited on a glorious sunny weekday afternoon. A light lunch to start, nothing really special, served quickly and efficiently. The house is very well presented and the gardens are a delight to walk around and sit and admire while reclining in a deck chair.

Lovely building with a fascinating story. Loved all of the information on the production of the maps during WW2, especially interesting that they are still finding out about people who were there during that time. Cafe has plenty of seating with the usual menu of quality fare. The gardens are gorgeous and extensive.

Amazing House and gardens and with a lot of history, with roots dating back to before the Domesday Book. It became known as the country home of Benjamin Disraeli, Queen Victoria's favorite Prime Minister, who purchased it in 1848. If you're a National Trust member you should definitely visit.

A beautiful place to go. Gardens are well kept with lovely colours, the staff were friendly, and happy to help. House was amazing to look around. Water bowls in the courtyard for dogs and Toilets were clean.

A place for everyone. A beautiful house, well worth a look around as there is so much history there. Beautiful gardens and lovely walks. There is also a play area for children, a second book shop and tea room.

As National Trusts site go this is very small.. Staff are friendly/ helpful and knowledgeable and everything is very well kept. Very hard to spend a whole day here and so therefore feels an expensive day out for non members. As we were

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.

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 had a great day here! Lovely live music from an excellent pianist and super guides... Thank you! Ace idea for a room file in each room, very informative!

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.

Stonehenge is such a fascinating and historic site, the place is visible from the road itself and is also very good for capturing photos, especially during sunrise or sunset when the light hits the stones beautifully. The visitor centre is well-organised with clear information about the history and significance of the site. Definitely a must-see spot in the UK

Fascinating experience. This place is free to visit for English Heritage and National Trust member. There is shop, cafe, toilet and exhibition at the visitor centre. Shuttle bus is available every 5 to 10 minutes to take visitor from visitor centre to the stones. But if you choose to walk to the stones and enjoy it is convenient too. The staff are extremely helpful and friendly. Plenty of parking and it’s free if you are an English Heritage member or else you need to pay £3.

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.

Stonehenge is iconic for a reason—the sight of the massive stones rising from the landscape is truly impressive. The visitor centre has good information and a shuttle that takes you to the monument, making the experience smooth and well-organized. Parking is available on-site and easy to navigate, though it can get busy during peak hours. The walking trail around the stones is well laid out, offering great views from different angles. You can’t get too close, but the path still gives you plenty of opportunities for photos and quiet moments to take in the atmosphere. Overall, a memorable visit if you appreciate history, engineering, or a unique landscape.

Absolutely breathtaking! Visiting Stonehenge was such an unforgettable experience. The site is peaceful, fascinating, and has this incredible sense of history and mystery about it. Seeing it in person is completely different from photos, it really makes you stop and take it all in. The area is well maintained, the shuttle service is convenient, and the museum and exhibits add great context to what you’re seeing. We went as a family and everyone enjoyed it. Even the kids were amazed by how massive and perfectly arranged the stones are. Definitely worth the trip if can squeeze it in when visiting England! If I was local, would be cool to see during the winter and summer solstice.

Decent place to visit. 1. 30 pounds to visit is outrageous. Better to walk the trail (visitor car park to stonehedge- 30 min each way) and view for free. 2. After reaching the entrance a lad would ask if you have tickets, if you say no he will show you from where to enter the trail. 3. There's a long queue for the bus, to and fro, wait time is minimum 15 mins, walking could be quicker

Really enjoyable visit to this stately home although it was built as a museum to house the possessions of the Rothschild family. Fantastic collection of art works, ceramics, tapestries and furniture and grounds. Entry needs to be pre-booked via their website there is a long walk 20 to 30 minutes from the car park to the house or you can book a shuttle bus for £2.50 return, free if you’re a blue badge holder.

Easy to find with large ticket office and excellent parking capacity inc disabled with a shuttle bus to the house and stables. Property has an interesting history and easy to walk through the various rooms. Large gardens for outdoor walking. Plenty of food and drink available. House has timed tickets available online or at the ticket office on arrival. Staff friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.

A good wee place to explore and walk (in the garden), learn about history, architecture and art. Perfect for couples and families as they have a nice cafe(outdoor sitting) and wine shop. Some of the areas were closed when we visited(they were doing some renovation/maintenance work). They have spacious parking. Overall a very good experience.

Lovely day out, and very beautiful architecture. Lots of walking, if you like that sort of thing, which we do! The Manor's history is also fascinating. We enjoyed it here. The gardens are particularly beautiful.

We had a great family day out here, the house is beautiful and full of amazing artifacts, and all manner of priceless treasures. I enjoyed the Solomon's temple exhibit, interesting to see how it may have looked in it's original form. The grounds looked incredible with the autumn colours, and walking around a finding little hidden details was interesting. The outdoor cafe next to the gift shop had lovely, tasty food and drinks available. The gift shop was very pleasant aswell. Every interaction we had with the people working/volunteering there was very positive. Thankyou for a great time.

Beautifully kept manor. Lovely to walk around. Kids can run free and have a look at the birds. Kids also have a nice playground to go in. The whole place is pushchair friendly. There is a steep slope down to the play area and stables bit. The shuttle bus is great if you don’t like too much walking. Car park was spacious. Great day!

I think this was my most enjoyable National Trust visit. One of many Rothschild properties in the area but must be the jewel in the crown. A very good tour round the house King Louis writing desk and so much more it was just amazing. The grounds were also extensive and very beautiful

We visited Bletchley Park today and had an absolutely fantastic day exploring this incredible piece of history. From the moment we arrived, the experience was first class. We were greeted at the entrance barrier by Jake, who gave us a lovely warm welcome — full of good humour and friendly banter — the perfect start to the day. Inside, every member of staff and volunteer we met was just as friendly and engaging. Their enthusiasm for the site and its history really brought the stories of The Codebreakers to life. A particular highlight for me was the Radio Team, who were exceptional. They not only explained the radio technologies and the process behind them in fascinating detail but even offered me a chance to have a go myself! Their knowledge and passion were infectious and added so much to the visit. We took our time exploring the Mansion, the huts, and the surrounding grounds — everything was beautifully presented and full of atmosphere. The attention to historical authenticity and the care taken in preserving the story of Bletchley’s wartime legacy was evident everywhere. The Gift Shop was excellent too, well-stocked with books, souvenirs, and thoughtful keepsakes. I was thrilled to find a book I’d owned as a child (a long time ago now!) — something I never expected to see again. All in all, it was a day filled with learning, nostalgia, and wonderful interactions with passionate people. A truly memorable visit, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Five stars without hesitation.

Excellent museum to visit, very good & humorous tour guide - Robert - entertained and informed us for an hour in the heat of the afternoon - really brought the place to life. I paid the night before & the ticket allows unlimited further visits for 12 months. Loved the sound effects in the outside areas. Great ice cream 🍦 kiosk. A smartly presented and well thought out museum, recommended.

An amazing place and well worth a visit. The guides are all volunteers who give their time and expertise completely free of charge. In my opinion this makes them even more valuable to the whole experience and definitely worth listening to if you can get on one of their guided tours. Your entry ticket will allow you to return as many times as you like with a year of your first visit, completely free of charge, and you’ll need it as there so much to see and learn.

This is an amazing Living Musuem of history. The splendid work both highly intellectual people accomplished, together with every day men and women during WW2 is shown here. Without this secret team WW2 may not have ended when it did and with the British victorious. There is so much so see we needed 3 day visits. When you purchase your ticket you get a year to return and Thank Goodness for that.

After having heard so much about this place we finally made the long journey to visit. There was a barrier at the entrance, reminding one of the fact that this was once a secret military establishment. There is much to see over several buildings. We joined a guided walk which was useful with much information about this history of the site. The main museum is where the story of the code breakers is told and there is much to see and read related to this significant work done during the Second World War. It is significant to see how most of the work was done by women.

Interesting visit to learn more about the WW2 Codebreakers and see the technology they used. Informative and entertaining video presentations. Friendly staff and good interactive displays. Quite expensive at £28 pp (we won't be going back in the next year even though the ticket says you can) and disappointed that the museum of computing was another £10 each next door. The website says the cafes have gluten free options but they didn't have any gf cakes or sandwiches, only a main meal.

An amazing time in our countrys' history, remarkable work carried out by extraordinary people. We learnt a great deal more about the events that occurred there than we previously knew. Definitely worth visiting, as your entry tickets are valid for 12 months multiple visits.

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.

Nice museum, well spaced, they have free entrance but encourga donations. I donated buy gettin the map which is 2£. It was walkable and had well structured displays. Also had some interactive ones. Worth a visit if you are in Oxford.

The museum’s huge , we had the luxury of time so did each floor on separate days. It’s well planned so you can walk around in a seamless tour. Lots of detail explaining exhibits. Nice cafe in the basement and I could have spent a fortune on the shop!

We visited this museum to specifically see the exhibition THIS IS WHAT YOU GET STANLEY DONWOOD | RADIOHEAD | THOM YORKE Running until 18 Jan 2026 I’d definitely recommend seeing this exhibition before it finishes. What a find! Free entry to the rest of the museum. So much to see we didn’t get to see it all. Some fascinating pieces.

It is a lovely day to visit Oxford on 20 nov 2025. First stop to visit is Ashmolean Museum. There are many exhibitions round the round. Egypt, Greece, middle East, India , Asia. Comprises of many floors. Lift is available for special needs people to visit. Very well illustration of every display. Require many hours to go through slowly. It is free entry. Donation is appreciated. Thanks

Another good session here. Our 13 year old boys have done the 1 day course reaching level 4 back in April, now they are doing level 5 and 6 in the 2 hour lesson. Super instructors and good facilities. A great way to prepare for a ski trip.

Staff here are so friendly, passionate and supportive! Did snowboarding for the first time the other day with Marian who was so so friendly, patient, amazing and kind. Also had skiing lessons previously with Charlotte who was extremely kind, helpful and patient. I also met Claire - the manager who went above and beyond for me and was also really helpful. Thank you to each of you, you really are special people. Hope we meet again :)

First day of my sons ski course. The parking was easy and aprox 100m from the Snozone desk, all flat and accessible if needed. The staff were efficient in organising his boots, putting him in his team and supporting him over the next hour or so. No complaints from either of us. I only gave 4 stars as the available cafe for me to spend my time waiting could have provided more options for breakfast, like a bacon butties. I did have a nice hot chocolate though.

Visited Snozone for a Snowboarding beginners day course. Had a fantastic time. Jago was super friendly and helpful in teaching technique and providing advice. Lunch was included in the price and we were offered a choice of pizzas, jacket potatoes and a few other options. Course lasted around 7.5hrs from 1015 to 1745. Group size was five, which worked well and Jago did a great job of supporting individuals with varying degrees of experience. Great fun, had a few hard falls, but perseverance is key! I will be back.

I’ve visited Snozone several times over the past six months. I started with a 1-1 session, followed by a Level 2/3, then a Level 3/4 session, and was due to have my Level 4/5 lesson next week. By the end of my Level 3/4 session, my instructor had ticked off all sections of Level 4 except the final box, mentioning that “with 10 more minutes, you’d have completed the level.” That would have allowed me to progress straight to Level 5/6. However, this week I received an email stating that Snozone no longer offers combined-level sessions and that my upcoming lesson would only cover Level 4. I called to explain my situation and asked whether I could move directly into Level 5, given my progress in the previous session. Unfortunately, I was offered very few options—almost none—and it felt as though the issue was being treated as my responsibility. I even suggested arriving early to complete Level 4 before moving on to Level 5 on the same day, as I was simply trying to continue the training I had already paid for. The staff member I spoke with wasn’t very helpful, and I eventually had to ask for a refund myself, which I would have expected them to suggest.. I later called back to ask about booking a full 7-hour Level 4/5/6 day instead. Thankfully, the second staff member I spoke to was much more professional and understanding. Although the available dates didn’t work for me, she processed my refund promptly. I’m really disappointed, as I had thoroughly enjoyed every session up to this point and was genuinely looking forward to continuing.

Amazing beginners snowboard course last Friday. Tony (and Dave) did an amazing job of making us feel comfortable and helping us to progress throughout the day. From never standing on a board to completing some relatively good turns in a few hours. The facility is great, easy to get to, cheap to park at, everything you need under one roof. The best bit was the instructors. Tony really put 100% into the job and was awesome. Had loads of fun and learnt so much. He was helped by Dave who was great too. It's a hard day, and physically demanding but so worth it

My first time trying snowboarding. Had a great instructor, Rachel, who was very patient with the group. I plan on coming again for more lessons

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

Nice set of shops, not the largest outlets around though. Parking is plentiful and free for blue badge holders. Nice system of scanning the blue badge when returning to the car to get the free parking.

The palace is very nice. If you're passing through Woodstock and have the time go in and visit the place. Beside visiting the inside of the palace you can have a nice walk around the place. For Harry Potter fans if you cross the Vanbrugh's Grand Bridge and turn left you'll come across The Harry Potter Tree from the 1st movie in the series. In the park you'll find The Column of Victory. The staff are nice and can answer your questions. Best is to buy tickets in advanced. In the summer be prepared for large groups. The parking lot is big, coaches can also park inside. The inside is very nicely decorated, you'll find many paintings, sculptures. Beside seeing how the upper folks lived, the palace is also very famous for beeing the birthplace of the 1st Duke's famous descendat, Winston Churchill. The back grounds offer a nice view over River Glyme. The cafeteria looks nice but the prices are too high.

We had an amazing day here. The staff were very friendly and were quick to let us know that the palace was not in its usual appearance due to the Christmas trails and Palace of Oz. There were amusement rides and also Christmas Markets. But it was still amazing. We almost didn't go however as the website didn't give us the option to purchase any tickets saying there were no spots available. We rang and the information line said show up and there may be tickets. There were, the Palace was not busy at all. So there maybe a website issue. We got here easily on the bus from Oxford. An easy walk from the bus stop. No need to bring a car if you can walk. We loved the special event and walking the grounds. A great day.

The place is stunning, surrounded by beautiful lakes and gardens. However, we arrived only two hours before closing and were not informed that this wouldn’t be enough time to explore the whole palace. We purchased the highest ticket category, but it would have been better if the staff had advised us to choose a lower one. The ticket prices are quite high, and I suggest providing golf carts inside the grounds due to the large area

Came 25th October 2025 for the Halloween event. First impressions weren’t great as the advertised fairground was just three attractions - one of which (the ghost house) was laughably bad. The food and drink vans were also poor - I was expecting better than something you’d see at your local Sunday market! The Halloween trail itself went some way to making up for that and was fantastic in places. The live actors were also great and weren’t too scary for the kids. The placing of a toasted marshmallow seller and bar at the half way point was also a great touch and broke up what otherwise would have been a 20 minute walkthrough. We ended up going round twice as we didn’t anticipate it being so sunny and wanted to see it in all its glory during twilight. There is significant room for improvement though e.g. the UFO scene was a great idea poorly executed with no attempt to dress the lighting rig up as a spaceship. A live actor dressed as an alien here would also have helped. Overall it felt sparse and needed more. In saying that, my niece and nephew both enjoyed themselves so maybe I’m being too critical. Still, I expected more for the money.

It is worth a visit. It is a beautiful palace, with beautiful history behind it. I enjoyed the visit. Also it has a small restaurant on the premises, the soup I had was delightful and matched the cold weather. The palace also contained a small shop, it contains beautiful things and since Christmas is coming the shop is full of Christmas decorations and ornaments. Since I am from a foreign country, we don't have such beautiful ornaments here. I had to buy a lot to bring home with me. Hopefully next time I visit the palace ( definitely will ) I will try to visit in summer so I can enjoy the beautiful gardens more.

Marvelous palace...each detail perfectly managed. The beauty....the art is magnificent. The gardens are breathtaking... The place get still more special with the kind people that work there. Everybody that I have meet. Already planning the next time..... Not just five stars, a constellation 😘😘😘

Christmas at Blenheim. The Palace theme was Wizard of Oz. Lots of beautiful decorations and animations. Very busy attraction, which made the journey round abit slow, but it didn't spoil the walk around. Christmas market had a nice selection of small stalls selling alsorts of trinkets, food and drink. The food trucks were varied but all very expensive. The light trail is different again this year. New additions throughout the trail which is great if your an annual visitor as I am. Great displays along the whole trail. We enjoyed the whole experience and will definitely return next year.

Great wildlife park to visit. It's in the middle of nowhere, parking is great, animals are super accessible and the people are so nice. The cost was very reasonable. There are loads of different animals (wolverine, red panda, rhinos, lions, giraffes, ant eaters, rover otters, and lemurs to name a few.) The train around the park was quaint. I'd recommend visiting anytime. Ooooo, and there is an adventure park for the kids to play at if you just want to chill for thirty minutes with a 10" sausage!

Really good day out, helped by being very reasonable weather for the time of year. No rain, not too cold, some sunshine. It was busy, being half term, but manageable and well organised. The restaurant was very busy at midday but is was moving quickly and tables being cleaned regularly. Not too long to wait for decent hot food. The animals looked well cared for and their enclosures really well thought out. Definitely more than enough to see in one day. The Rhinos seemed to be part of a successful breeding program. Throughout my childhood there were only 3 then 2 rhinos. Now there seemed to be 7 including some very cute looking young ones. The grounds were particularly impressive considering the time of year. Clearly a lot of effort goes into maintaining it this well. All in all would definitely recommend for a day out.

We couldn't access cheaper tickets as we were buying tickets on the day. However the price seemed reasonable. We had a fabulous daym. The grounds and gardens looked beautiful especially as it was autumn with all the beautiful colours. Plenty to keep us occupied and we wished we had arrived earlier. Lots of fascinating frogs, insects, snakes and bats. Some animal such as the apes and birds seemed a bit limited for space although all seemed well cared for. The lions were lively and the range of animals great. Highlights have to be seeing baby rhinos Mo and Marcus. Mo was indoors staying close to mum. Marcus was outdoors with mum and extended family...he put on quite a show with excitable bounds. Great to see such an endangered species thriving here. The train wasn't running as it was off season.

Had a very nice day. Very nice experience during the visit. The park is very easy to find with plenty of parking. The staff is very nice and helpful. The gardens are very nice and full of vivid coloured plants. You can stroll around the park in a relaxing enjoyable atmosphere and with a dog friendly policy. The park is easily accesible for wheel chair users and the benches around the park come in handy for those who have issues walking longer distances. The park beeing situated in a field away from towns, villages is very nice and gives you a better touch with nature. The large animal section is very relaxing with benches placed along it, you can have a picnic while watching the rinos, giraffes, elephants. Also note that lions might take a nap exactly when you want to film or take a photo of them...with patience you can still catch them moving around. The in park restaurant offers good food and you can enjoy the food outside in nice weather. Kids playground close to the restaurant. There are food&drink kiosks around the park. Toilets also around the park. There's a train that takes round the park for extra cost. The souvenir shop is nicely organised, affordable prices. The plush animals are very nicely made. Definitely worth a day visiting. There are tours available for groups or private. Best to buy tickets in advance. You'll find a nice biodiversity animal range.

I have visited with my kids. The place is very well maintained, the animals all seem happy and well kept, and there are some gorgeous spieces. You may need a full half day to enjoy possibly more if the weather is good. The restaurant (self service) is ok quality, the queue to get food may be about 30 mins and outside (so if it's raining you'll get wet).

Really beautiful place. Just a lovely park with thid anazing array of animals very thoughtfully housed to feel like you are amongst them. Lots of walk through areas to share spsce with birds and lemurs etc. Highly recommend. Very serene and wonderful. Not zoo like at all.

As someone who often goes to zoos I would say it's one of the best in the whole country! So many animals to see and you can get nice and close. The walls are placed well for toddlers to see without needing to be picked up the whole time and my dog was able to come and adored seeing zoo animals for the first time. The animals looked very well looked after. The staff were very friendly and chatty and really knew their stuff. We even met the owner who knew every staff member by name and was very polite. The site is well laid out and very clean. There is even a little train which goes around most of the zoo which was the perfect way to keep a toddler moving on with promise of seeing the train to past. Overall such a lovely day.

We went for a comedy show that I surprised my partner on valentines day. I loved the atmosphere, very friendly and supportive staff. The arena was absolutely full, people were laughing mostly... some people were a bit shocked by the amount of extreme language and black humour... It was extremely difficult to find parking and to come our at the end, we waited more time to come out of the parking then the actual show time.

This is a wonderful theatre. Great service provided by the staff and always a great atmosphere here. Parking nearby is very convenient and the acoustics within the theatre is perfect. Watched Roachford and Level 42 on their UK tour. A great night out made special by the venue itself.

Northampton is privileged to have a great theatre. I had the best experienced while attending a recent show called Jamaica Love. A wonderful, educational and funny production, the whole communit enjoyed. It was easy to access, the seats were comfortable, the sound was great for such a big modern theatre, no echo's or sounding distant. Well worth a visit. Thanks for putting on a great show!

Great venue with amazing front of house. Northampton is lucky to have such a venue with multiple spaces and uses. Top class programme of theatre music etc bringing people into the town. Close to carparks.

We love the Royal and Derngate theatre. Always original and full of variety. Stalls seats generally best, but avoid front left or right stalls if you are going to see a rock band - you might be deaf for a couple of days! Upper circle (front) are super seats with a panoramic view of the stage.

Nice theatre. Staff are friendly. Bat out of Hell is amazing. The cast are incredible 🤘

This theatre is looking very tired. The seats are in a very poor state of repair with exposed foam on the seats and about 50% sporting poorly sewn patches. Also the seating is not offset or raked sufficiently, I was unfortunately seated behind a large man who completely obscured the centre of the stage.

Booked a tour online for our wedding anniversary. Turned up to be greeted by very friendly staff who explained where we needed to be and more importantly where the toilets were (needed those after a 2hr drive). The tour starts off with a video which took about 10 minutes. James then took us around the site and explained how everything works and what they do with the byproducts throughout the process, it's a nice feeling knowing that you can drink something which doesn't leave much waste. Once the tour was complete, we were taken to the tasting room. I won't ruin your experience, so I'll leave that for you to find out (very positive I promise). If you are the designated driver, don't panic, there's something for you to take home as well, you won't miss out. We opted to add the pizza and drink option to our tour. It definitely pays to do this. It's cheaper than ordering from the table. There is a choice of pizzas from their menu, which should suit most tastes. Of course you can buy what you sampled, we've walked away with a couple anniversary gifts for each other. A pleasant day out, and we'll be back with friends very soon, that's for sure.

We had a fantastic time at the Cotswolds Distillery! This visit was part of a gift voucher experience we had been meaning to redeem for a while - and we are so glad we finally did. Our guide (Jo, I believe) was excellent - friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about the distillery’s history and the whisky and gin-making process. It was fascinating to see how everything comes together to create such high-quality spirits. The tasting afterward was great fun - my partner enjoyed sampling the whiskies, and since I was driving, I really appreciated being given a few miniatures to take home and try later. Such a thoughtful touch! The premises are lovely, with a welcoming café/restaurant (the food looked delicious) and a well-stocked shop. We would definitely love to come back - next time, probably by taxi so we can both enjoy the tasting fully. [Date of visit: 08 November 2025]

What an absolutely wonderful time spent here ! Hattie does an amazing job guiding us all thru the tour and provides so much information. From the beginning of the tour to the end of tasting, she was amazing, and her personality is like we've never experienced! Absolutely love her ! I was super impressed that we were allowed to view so much of the making process up front instead of behind a glass wall. I am a huge, huge fan of all Costwolds Gin they produce. In fact, I've been able to try each and every one. Too difficult to say, which is a favorite as they all are incredible. So when I visit the UK, I bring home a mix of the smaller bottles that can be purchased at the end of the tasting. Also, I must comment how impressed I was that they provide a care package of samples to your designated driver. Who does this? Most tasting couldn't care less if one walks out and gets behind the wheel under the influence! Great job, Cotswolds! Much RESPECT!! Thank you, Hattie & Cotswolds for such an enjoyable day ! Definitely will be back during my next visit!!

Absolutely fantastic experience. Probably one of the best distillery/brewery tours I've ever done. Our guide, James, was fabulous; fun but knowledgeable, keeping us engaged while helping us to understand the process of creating whiskey and gin as well as the history of the distillery. He really made the experience for us. The tasting was fantastic! The group size was small (around 15 people) and we had a private room where we got to sample around 6 different options each. I am not a huge whisky fan, but thats ok, as you can just sample the gin (and vice versa). The cafe was lovely, though did get busy. Food was exquisite and not overly priced all things considered. The shop is small but has a wonderful family feel to it. The staff greeted us as if we were old friends bot when we first entered and when we went back at the end of the tour to buy some bits. This was just a great day out. A beautiful location, fabulous staff and some very tasty gin 😋 Oh, and, if you are a diver, don't worry, they cater for you too! We got a goodie bag to take home with 6 tasters (4 of which you can choose yourself). Its like they've thought of everything!

My husband and I went for a tour and tasting and had such a great time, we returned a couple weeks later to bring friends! The tour starts with a video to detail the history, vision and commitment to quality, then a tour of the production facility and ends with a tasting in a beautiful and comfortable private room. We've been drinking Founders Choice since visiting their tasting room in 2019 and enjoyed getting a chance to try all their other whiskey's and gins, plus a couple additional unique offerings (amaro + cream whiskey) I really want to highlight our tour guide/host, Charlotte. She was spectacular and made the tour so much fun!!! She was super knowledgeable about the production and products and was very easy to talk to. We had a million questions and she answered every one. Also - super important to know, she told us about an upgraded tasting which allowed us to try their higher end whiskeys! We didn't know about that in previous tours so she made this tour extra special - and the upgraded cost was minimal - definitely worth the £12. Thumbs up to Charlotte and the tour and I'm sure we'll be back.

I was gifted a visit to the distillery for the whisky masterclass from my wife and daughter and was lucky enough that my daughter very kindly offered to drive. (More of this later). I had been to a Scottish distillery a long time ago so was not expecting to be so enthralled this time. We started off with some history of whisky distilling, which was very interesting and then moved on to the process and storage. The staff were really knowledgeable and answered any questions easily and made the whole thing so much better than I could have imagined. The highlight for me was learning about the blending and then making our own whiskey using the knowledge that we had learnt. It has to be said that you do not want to drive after you have sampled all that is provided! It was a fantastic afternoon out with lovey staff and I can't recommend it strongly enough. Thanks very much.

Great spot. They were full for the tours but the Shop had samples for tasting. Nice brunch menu and all the staff were very helpful and friendly.

This is a picturesque and historic attraction nestled in the Cotswolds. Built in the late 18th century, this iconic folly sits atop one of the highest points in the region, offering breathtaking views that stretch across multiple counties on a clear day. We arrived after closing time after 5pm. So, we parked just on the side road close to the entrance without needing to pay. I would say :narrow road nearer to the tower to drive. Didn't go in the tower but the views are worth the hike. Great shop and cafe. There is a pay park at the top during opening time. Not recommended for disabled access as there's a moderately steep hill & a good 10-15 minute walk. Lovely views over the countryside when you get there though & the Tower is majestic when you come to it. As it's quite small, you do have to wait for others to come so we didn't go inside on our visit. It's £5 to park, £14 per adult to go up the tower and £12 for the nuclear bunker experience. Views from the hill outside the tower however are free and spectacular, Visitors can explore its small but informative museum, enjoy peaceful walks through the surrounding country park, and even tour a Cold War-era bunker nearby.

First time visiting Broadway Tower and its park. You can visit the park for free and see the deers and the beautiful view overlooking the countryside. It’s nice if you like to have a long and quiet walk. I personally haven’t walked around much as if was raining but I visited the inside. The tower is quite small with only three rooms to see and a rooftop. You always have an audio guide with some audios and videos to see. Here you can learn about the history of the tower and also some immersive stories. It is very interesting. The tower is beautiful inside and out. During Christmas it’s decorated so even more magical. The view from the rooftop is also amazing. I spent around 45 minutes inside but I listened to the audioguide. If you don’t, you can visit the tower for 20 minutes or less. So I recommend only if you’re interested in history and want to take your time. However I think the ticket is a bit expensive for the size of the tower. At least you contribute to the maintenance so it’s a good thing but the ticket could be a bit less expensive.

Wow simply an awesome little find on our travels in the Cotswold. We Drove straight past it and saw a busy carpark, and as we drove around the corner saw the gorgeous view's and the glorious Tower. So we did a U-Turn and drove back to the carpark, which from our days experience was really cheap £3. We had totally no Idea what we stumbled across , so parked up and went for a stomp around to see what it was all about. We spent a magical couple hours walking, looking around the tower and around the Nuclear Bunker. We only walked the outside, and didn't go inside, but what an amazing gorgeous walk with a couple of distance options for young , old and the enthusiastic. When you decide you have seen enough and had enough fresh air, the Cafe Bar, is a real mix of Joe blogs general public just wanting a coffee and snack or indulge if fine wine and fine food . It's a real mix lovelyness inside. This place is simply a must stop off point on your journey. It was

An impressive landmark with great views but massively overpriced. We paid £3 to park and a further £4 each to access the “grounds” as we couldn’t justify an extra £10 each to go inside the tower. The grounds themselves were nothing special with no clear signposting or information boards, so even that felt like £8 wasted. There are also two car parks, two cafes and a clothes shop for some reason. I’d advise trying to park close to the entrance, where parking appeared to be free, and taking in the views from there. Walking to the tower is also a good option if time and mobility/fitness allows.

Amazing experience! We booked tickets in advance and got to the tower early, before opening, to walk around and enjoy the view. Our tickets also included touring the WW II bunker located on the property nearby.

Lovely walk up to the tower. Lovely view of the countryside. Deer park with a stag and lots of does. Plenty of benches on the way up. But I didn't go into the tower as £14 entry!

The Tower is a beautiful landmark, nearby there is a nice café with a second one just further down in construction nearly finished. On a nice day You can enjoy the panorama and is perfect for a nice walk. Near the tower there are some red deers. The 14£ to go on top of the tower a bit overpriced to my opinion, considering the £5 for parking. Also the Nuclear bunker is interesting but I am not sure if there is an extra charge for that one as well.

Beautiful riverside in the sunshine. Brunvh menu , no greenn red or fungi to bother with. Beautifully cooked poached eggs wgich could have done with being reheated. Excellent hash brown. Gluten free a difficulty as limited meny and staff didnt know and the one we had resented having to find out. Cumberland sausage was advised as gf and tasred good. Fingers crossed it was. This is a beautiful setting but nowhere as good as the restaurant on the 3rd floir. Lets the brand down. The manager said she would adress issues, i hope she does.

We went on my birthday for a pre-theatre meal. The service was exceptional. I was made to feel very special. There was a full vegetarian menu. The food was delicious. After the meal I was given a special birthday cake plate. Thank you.

We had a lovely pre-theatre dinner at The Rooftop Restaurant at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, and it was the perfect start to our evening before Cyrano de Bergerac! 🎭 The food was beautifully presented and full of flavour — from the delicious tomato soup and smoked salmon starter to the perfectly cooked main and heavenly desserts 🍰✨ Everything felt fresh and well-balanced. The service was attentive and friendly, and the view over Stratford-upon-Avon made the experience even more special 🌆💫 Even though I was fighting off the flu and stuck with tea instead of wine 🍵😅, it was still a wonderful birthday evening. Highly recommend for anyone visiting the theatre or looking for a relaxing, elegant meal in a great atmosphere! 💖

Came here for pre-theatre dinner on a Friday evening. At £35 for a three course meal, this was excellent value for money. The menu had lots of options and the we both agreed that the food and service were excellent. The restaurant decor was cleverly done, with great views across the park and river. This place most definitely exceeded our expectations.

We often eat at the Rooftop restaurant and have enjoyed excellent food and service, everything served in time for us to go downstairs and enjoy the theatre experience. However, on Monday evening, in spite of the restaurant not being very busy, we had to wait quite a while for our drinks and then we were served with such a delay that we had to rush our main course in order to ensure we were not late for the performance. Disappointing.It seems staff are much more efficient when they are busy as they seem to focus better: my g&t was presented with almost completely melted ice cubes , it seemed it had been prepared much earlier and then had sat on the bar counter for some time.

Lovely evening pre theatre with excellent service. Huge wine and drinks list (almost too much!) and nice food options. We had the vegetarian options which were delicious and they catered for GF very well. Overall will return and recommend

Special mention for the lovely Louise who made my mother and I feel so very welcome. She was friendly, knowledgeable and really took the trouble to ensure we had everything we needed. She is a real credit to you. Give her a pay rise! The “small plates” are a great idea. A full meal would have been too much for us so soon after breakfast and before sitting through a show. The interesting and delicious selection of small dishes and sides was ideal.(The little cubes of black pudding hash were especially yummy). It was also a very pleasant surprise to be offered complimentary sparkling water. This trip to the theatre was my gift to my mother for her 95th birthday.I can’t think of anything she would have enjoyed more and it will be a very special memory for us in the years to come. Thank you!

With not a lot of time to spare, we ran through this wonderful landmark and got a wonderful experience. Shakespeare’s birthplace felt like a familiar home even though it was our first visit there. The volunteers were incredibly helpful and friendly, went above and beyond to help and support each visitor. The tickets that we bought only covered Shakespeares birthplace but there was an option to see Anne Hathaways home which due to time constraints, we couldn’t do. I also believe that the tickets also allow you to go back over a 12 month period as many times as you want to. All in all, a wonderful place to see, visit and enjoy.

Drop in short visit to Stratford upon Avon, Shakespeare Birthplace. If you start from The Shakespeare Centre then gradually work around from there. Adult price was £30 might be worth seeing if there's discount codes to see if you can pick up cheaper tickets, there are concessions available. I would advise you to pre book online. The price includes Shakespeares, Birthplace, Ann Hathaways cottage and Shakespeares new place. As you walk through Shakespeares Birthplace you come through a large gift shop that's well worth a good look around, my apologies to the ladies in the sop for taking a video, however there's no problem if you care to take a picture. As you walk towards your next stop you'll pass the statue of Shakespeare ideal photo opportunity, to the bottom of the street turn right and just before the Guild Chapel is Shakespeares New Place. Ann Hathaways cottage is further away so maybe hop back into the car and set the GPS to get you there. A very nice walk is to be had along the river and around the park. As we had limited time we will be returning when we have some nice weather and we will make a whole day of it.Theres plenty of gift shops , cafes and bars a a reasonable variety of shops and through the summer there's boat trips to be had. All in all a nice place to visit with plenty to do.

I was very pleased with my visit. I travelled there via the park and ride. I was happy for it to be open on a Monday and as it was not too busy it allowed me to walk around the exhibition in my own time. It was a very informative visit as it included clear and easy to read information as well as volunteers who were well-informed and attentive to visitor questions. I would recommend the visit.

A fascinating place for those who love Shakespeare’s work. If you’re not familiar with his life or literature, it may feel a bit slow or less engaging. Plan anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours depending on how deeply you want to explore the museum and the surrounding exhibits.

I really enjoyed our visit to Shakespeare’s birthplace. We bought the 3 site pass at the door and visited here first. We started by going through and exhibit with some background and information on Shakespeare and then outside and in the queue to enter the house. There was about a 10-15 min wait to get into the house itself as we were following a school group. Inside the house there were staff in multiple rooms who provided background to the spaces and information on Shakespeare life and the home. We found it very informative. Before or after entering the house you can walk through the beautiful garden right outside it. The exit is through the bookshop/giftshop.

Lovely experience. Had a live theatre with famous lines being enacted by wonderful actors. Saw Macbeth / Romeo Juliet. There were guides inside to tell us about Shakespeare’s early life with his family. Lovely garden and a very nice gift shop. Bought some lovely souvenirs from there. Weather was perfect. Good reminiscent of life of Shakespeare.

Very charming street with a lovely park. BUT … VERY touristic. If focused on learning about Shakespeare, then this is the place to be. If focused on the Cotswolds and charming villages, then you may wish to skip Stratford Upon Avon and venture to smaller villages that offer a more peaceful experience.

This was a late in the season visit. Not all the attractions and vendor stands were open. It did not spoil the visit. The best attraction was the falconry quest. The birds were amazing and the handlers ensured that everyone was buzzed by a bird. The barn owls was majestic and graceful. The peregrine falcon was fast and precise. When looking up at the condor as it flew over was awesome. At the end of the show I couldn't tell you what the birds were, but the sky was full. It was amazing, worth the 3 hour drive for this. The horrible histories maze was fun and informative. There are peacocks everywhere. Other wildlife in abundance squirrel's, Robin's and ducks. There are plenty of seating and concession stands. There are plenty of staff who are helpful. Yes there are a lot of areas accessible for wheelchair users but it is hilly in places.

The knights lodge was big enough for 3 of us nicely dressed with a modern bathroom- breakfast was good too - I'd recommend as a short stay. Castle speaks for itself don't miss the dungeon tour - absolutely brilliant my son is 8 and loved it best £6 pp I think iv ever spent

Had a fantastic day with my dad. Birds of prey are fantastic! Really loved seeing them! Lots to see and do. Lot's of choice of food and drink. It's well worth the money. The car park has plenty of space. It's a good day out for the family or just going your own. The castle was really good! Something for everyone. 😁👍. Plenty of toliets. Clean.

Amazing! I enjoyed spending half a day visiting this stunning castle. It’s so big and beautiful, I could stay there the whole day. I love to go again.

Absolutely amazing visit to the castle for Halloween!! The special touches everywhere for Halloween were super fun. It was a great day out with the family with lots of performances, some Karaoke, plenty of food options and lovely views from the top of the towers. Definitely a must visit!!

My friend and I had a wonderful day at Warwick Castle. Such beautiful grounds and such an interesting place to visit. We loved the guides tours, so engaging and informative. The bird of prey show was absolutely outstanding.

A Truly Magical Day at Warwick Castle! From the moment we arrived, Warwick Castle completely exceeded our expectations. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and every corner feels steeped in history. The live shows were absolutely fantastic — the Falconer’s Quest was a standout, and the actors really bring the medieval atmosphere to life. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about making the experience memorable. We especially loved how interactive the exhibits were — perfect for families and history enthusiasts alike. We left feeling like we’d stepped back in time for the day. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun, educational, and truly magical day out. We can’t wait to return!

It was great to see so many vehicles designed and built in Britain, but suddenly, to see the decline, even though it's been that way for a while, was a little depressing. Great experience though. The kids (2-7yo's) loved it too. Particularly the land speed cars at the end. Tickets are valid for a year so can go back again and again.

This experience is truly exceptional and perfect for the entire family. Whether you're looking for an exciting adventure, a chance to bond over shared activities, or simply some quality time together, this destination has it all. I highly recommend you visit and see for yourself the delightful attractions and engaging experiences it offers. Don’t miss out on creating lasting memories together! Cars are fun for all ages.

There is a lot to take in here. If you have children (currently Children 5-16 £8-£9, Under 4 s free - but cheaper with GO CV 2025) then it is filled with activities for them to do. I think it is always like this - not just during school holidays when I visited. There is a good range of locally built cars, bikes and motor cycles. The Jaguar 'section' brings a modernity to the historical units here, as does the Land Speed Record Thrusts 1 and 2. I was hoping to see a Jaguar C or D type but sadly not here. There are a few tractors, light military vehicles, trucks and buses, but the vast majority of the displays are cars and (motor) bikes and cycles'. The Triumph / 1970's / 80s sections were good - the range is fairly narrow as they are Coventry or locally built models. I couldn't quite get why there were some examples from Birmingham and surrounding areas - there were a lot missing if that's the rationale. Still, better to see them than not. It isn't as big as I thought from the outside. I like to see inside the vehicles but there were a lot where I couldn't do this, partly because of the way they were displayed - maybe not enough room? I think it was the unpainted monocoque shell of a Jaguar XJ220 hanging vertically - but I couldn't see any info on that. Signage was generally OK. The basic floor plan map (attached) could do with a bit more detail I thought, as could some of the displays. The 4D simulator wasn't working on my visit (30th Oct 2025) However, apart from the small bits of nit-picking above, there were so many interesting things to see. There were several unexpected delights too. Cars using fabric instead of metal, cut-aways of cars and car parts, some really unique cars, the 85th anniversary Blitz section, a huge collection of model die-casts (e.g. Matchbox) and much more. Definitely worth the entrance price - which is cheaper if booked online. The ticket is valid for readmission for a year. So, maybe when I come back (and I will) I will get to try the 4D simulator. I had intended to adopt a vehicle(!), but for £100 a year, that didn't seem good value on inspection. I also had a coffee at Baxter Baristas (enclosed in the museum. It was pretty good. The home-made cakes looked tempting too. The toilet facilities only seemed accessible if you used the cafe? I parked very close-by at Bishop Street Car Park CV1 1JN. Cash - i.e. change, or app only. A reasonable price for a heavily pot-holed lot. Not sure if there are any security cameras here - certainly not visible. No directions to the museum from here though and about a 4 minute walk.

Easily a must see if visiting Coventry. I'm personally not a huge car fanatic, but there's no other place where you're gonna get to see the two fastest land vehicles ever made. That alone is worth the visit. Tickets are £15 if booked in advance and a around £16.50 if booked in-person on the day (for adults). However, while the ticket is valid for multiple entries for a span of 1 year either way, I'd recommend booking online in advance simply because it's cheaper.

Brilliant vehicle museum devoted to products made in Coventry or nearby. Huge collection very well presented. Interactive section for smaller children. Cars, bikes, motorbikes, lorries, armoured cars, buses, fire engines and the world's fastest cars.

Great museum, with lots of interesting cars and bikes from all times. Including the record-breaking Thrust 2 and similar vehicles. Takes around 2 hours to finish the whole museum, take that into consideration when parking your car. The one day tickets are only available for Coventry residents.

Interesting museum showcasing the various forms of transport originating in and around Coventry. So, not as much scope as some in terms of makers but does include both motorcycles and cars, trucks and buses - plus bicycles.

Bradgate Park is truly a gem, an incredible place to unwind, take a long walk, and just breathe. It's the kind of spot where nature does all the talking. The landscape is vast and beautiful, with open spaces, ancient trees, and a peaceful atmosphere that helps you disconnect from everyday life. It used to be quieter, and while it's more popular now and can get busy, there are still those rare, quieter days when you can enjoy the serenity and really take it all in. If you're lucky enough to visit on one of those days, the peacefulness is something special. Perfect for a picnic, a long stroll, or even just some time to sit and think. Just a tip bring everything you might need, because you might find yourself staying longer than planned. It’s that kind of place.

Bradgate Park itself is beautiful – really enjoyed walking around and especially loved seeing the deer roaming freely, which made the visit feel quite special. The scenery is lovely and it’s a great place to spend time outdoors. That said, the parking felt quite extortionate, which does take away from the experience a bit, and the men’s toilets could definitely be improved in terms of cleanliness. Overall, worth visiting for the park and wildlife, but a couple of practical things could be better managed.

Bradgate Road leads to the stunning Bradgate Park, a truly beautiful and expansive place that’s perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors. The park is filled with wildlife — from grazing deer to a variety of birds — and its natural scenery makes it ideal for both relaxation and exploration. Whether you’re after a quiet stroll, a scenic jog, or a full day out with family, the area offers something for everyone. There are designated BBQ spots, picnic areas, and clean toilet facilities that make visiting convenient and enjoyable. The walking and running tracks are well-maintained, offering routes for all fitness levels and interests. Overall, Bradgate Road and its surroundings provide a peaceful escape from the city, combining nature, history, and recreation in one truly lovely destination.

The park is beautiful. What I didn't like was the amount of dogs off leads near the deers. This included a pit bull. Owners need to be wary at all times as deer are loose everywhere. Great for photographers. I parked in the south woods carpark as it is £2 all day.

A beautiful park and a great place for hiking, walking, and simply relaxing. It’s always thrilling to see wildlife up close here. Toilet facilities and cafés are available both at the entrance and in the middle of the park, which makes it very convenient. You can easily spend the whole day enjoying a picnic and connecting with nature and wildlife. There’s plenty of parking available — £5 on weekdays and £6 on weekends for the full day. It’s also good to see that bins are placed throughout the park, helping to keep it clean.

What and incredible place! Visit the ruins and the gardens. Take a walk alongside the stream. Or hike up the rocky hills to take in the panoramic views and pay your respects at the war memorial. Deer and Peacocks wonder freely around the grounds. This really is a stunning part of the midlands. When you need to rest your legs you can pop into the cafe to refresh, grab a bite to eat and take bathroom break. There's something for everyone to enjoy regardless of your physical abilities. I came via public transport from Nottingham. The number 9 Kinchbus took me from West Bridgford (Notts) to Loughborough (Auberry Gap stop), and then I got the 154 Centrebus from the Auberry Gap stop to the reservoir at the Bradgate Park. The stop which takes to back to Loughborough is also right next to the reservoir wall. I believe the last bus back to Loughborough is at around 18:30, and then there are multiple late buses back to Nottingham from there

Fantastic parkland with a large expanse of green space, some striking landmarks and remarkable prehistoric rock formations. Bradgate Park dates back around 800 years, when it began life as a deer park, a role it still fulfills today with a large herd of Fallow and Red deer. It's also home to the impressive ruins of Bradgate House, one of England's oldest brick built houses, and amazing ancient oak trees, many of which date back over 500 years. The park is maintained to a very high standard and has a number of entrances, each with their own parking area (charged daily at a reasonable rate) and public toilet facilities. Tearooms are located near the reservoir and the Newtown Linford entrance. The path is crossed by a network of well maintained and clearly signposted paths, ideal for dog walks and popular with families. The Newtown Linford entrance is best for short, easy walks past the stream to the house, while the Hunts Hill entrance in the upper part of the park is best for more challenging walks to Old John Tower and the Leicestershire Yeomanry War Memorial. These high points offer expansive views over the surrounding countryside and the Leicester skyline, with rugged rocks in the foreground. We stopped here on the way to the Peak District thinking the park would be a more interesting way to break the journey than a motorway service station, and were very happy to have done so. A real suprise that exceeded all expectations.

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.

Lovely gallery! Lovely and huge and lots of things to see in there aswell as a lovely and spacious cafe, bigger than the cafe in my local gallery!!! I enjoyed my pumpkin spice latte that I had in the cafe it tasted just like the one at Starbucks, but better than Starbucks 👌🏻 and the Ozzy Osbourne exhibiton that's on at the moment is fab 🖼️! I will be back! We both loved the gallery with a passion 😊

Really interesting place to visit. Lots of variety in terms of exhibits and things to do. Plenty for people of all ages. The Staffordshire Hoard is a great section and displayed excellently.

I came here many years ago. Back in the days when they had a museum full of art. Now there's very little but there was a nice section on the history of Birmingham. As much as that was a nice touch and it being free, it felt like there was so little to see. There's the classic over prices gift shop and coffee shop inside. But you'll not spend long in here any more sadly. Hope you enjoy it more than I did. Enjoy.

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.

Visited on a Saturday with pre-booked tickets and went straight in. It was as busy as you would expect on a weekend. Theres a route to follow and as long as you are patient in certain places you can see everything (unless creatures are hiding) There are some additional options like photos taken and a VR experience included in the admission charge. There is quite a bit to see and different areas. There are toilets at the start and halfway through, there is a shop at the end but no cafe. It takes around 60-90 mins to go round but we didnt do any photos or VR. It does look a bit tired and dated in places and the enclosures look a bit on the smaller side especially for the Penquins and Sea Otters. We used Tescos Clubcard vouchers to pay but our tickets would have been £55.00 which is steep for what you get but, if you used all the things offered it might seem better value for money

National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham: A Submerged City Escape ​The National SEA LIFE Centre in Birmingham offers an engaging and surprisingly intimate exploration of the underwater world, making it a perfect family outing in the city centre. While its footprint is smaller than some coastal aquariums, it packs a real punch, particularly with its signature attraction: the UK's only 360-degree Ocean Tunnel. ​Walking through this clear acrylic tunnel is genuinely jaw-dropping, providing an immersive experience as sharks, rays, and the beloved giant green sea turtle, Molokai, glide directly overhead and beneath your feet. This highlight alone justifies the visit, offering incredible photographic moments and a true sense of being submerged. ​Beyond the ocean tunnel, key exhibits include the playful Gentoo penguins in their icy habitat and the charming sea otters, Ozzy and Ola, who reside in the Mammal Rescue Facility. Interactive elements like the rock pool, where visitors can gently touch a starfish, keep younger guests highly engaged. Other sections, like the jellyfish displays and the Clownfish Kingdom, are vibrant and well-presented. ​While tickets can be pricey, seeking out available discounts or utilizing combination passes with nearby attractions like LEGOLAND Discovery Centre offers better value. Allow about 90 minutes to two hours for a comfortable tour. Despite sometimes being busy, the SEA LIFE Centre remains a truly "splash hit" and a memorable journey into marine conservation and discovery.

We had a fantastic afternoon here with my daughter and grandson! It’s such a wonderful place, and we especially loved watching the feeding the sea otters, Ozzy and Ola. The gentleman narrating was so friendly and knowledgeable, answering all our questions with enthusiasm. He’s a real asset to the centre and made our visit extra special — we only wish we’d caught his name!

It's OK for young children, not a long experience for the price so would definitely plan other activities around this if you are travelling into Birmingham. Staff are very friendly and knowledgeable and the venue is clean and tidy. The immediate area, Brindley Place, is clean and well presented and has parking nearby.

This was my 7 yr old daughters first visit to a proper theme park she absolutely loved it. I am not so keen on rollercoasters as I have gotten a bit older, however the roller coasters here, although fast at twisty, did not feel like they were trying to fling you out of the atmosphere. Very enjoyable rides, and my daughter is already itching to go back, and also eager to try something bigger and faster. The whole family enjoyed the small zoo which is there also. The Red Panda, Gibbons and Meerkats were the favourites.

Our family had the most wonderful stay-and-play experience at Drayton Manor Resort, and I can’t recommend it highly enough! My wife, our 5-year-old son, and I visited recently during their Halloween special, and it was a magical experience from start to finish. Everything — from the themed décor to the warm hospitality — made it one of the best family getaways we’ve ever had. The highlight of our trip was, without a doubt, the Thomas Land theme park. Our little boy is a huge Thomas the Tank Engine fan, and seeing his face light up when we entered was priceless. He absolutely loved riding on the Thomas-themed trains, meeting his favourite characters, and exploring all the fun rides designed especially for younger children. The park was beautifully decorated for Halloween with pumpkins, friendly ghosts, and cheerful seasonal music, creating a festive yet family-friendly atmosphere. Every corner had something new to discover, and it was clear that a lot of thought had gone into making the experience enjoyable for both kids and parents. We also stayed overnight in one of the Thomas & Friends-themed rooms, and it was simply amazing. The attention to detail was outstanding — from the Thomas bedding and wall art to the little touches that made our son feel like he was sleeping in Sodor itself. He was so thrilled that he didn’t want to go to bed, and the next morning, he didn’t want to leave! In fact, he kept asking if we could stay “just one more night” so he could go back to Thomas Land again. The staff throughout the resort were friendly, helpful, and always smiling, which made the experience even better. The food options were great, and everything was clean, well-organized, and family-oriented. Overall, Drayton Manor Resort is a dream destination for families, especially those with young children. We created some truly special memories and can’t wait to visit again — maybe next time for Christmas or summer!

Wow, what a season, and it’s not over yet! Well done Drayton Manor for the friendliest welcome, be it customer services, ride staff, and catering staff. New entertainment, more atmosphere, and an incredible Halloween theming, and the light and firework show last night 😱. We have had a brilliant year and look forward to Christmas! Keep doing what you do - great value great family entertainment 🙏

We had a wonderful day at Drayton Manor! The rides were fantastic, and we were pleasantly surprised by how many of the thrill rides our children were able to go on. The Halloween entertainment was excellent — our children especially loved the trick-or-treating experience. There was great entertainment and a fun atmosphere all around the park, with lively music adding to the Halloween spirit. The park itself was really quiet, so we were able to walk straight onto most rides, which was a huge bonus. All the staff were super friendly and really embraced the Halloween theme, which made the day even more enjoyable. We had lunch at Safari Pizza, and the family deal was great value for money. Later, we treated ourselves to Halloween milkshakes and a Halloween waffle while watching the water show — both were delicious and again, very reasonably priced. The water show was a lovely extra touch that we all really enjoyed. The zoo was another nice addition to the day, and it was lovely to see how well cared-for the animals looked. A few rides, like the rapids and the pirate ship, were closed, but honestly, we wouldn’t have had time to fit them in anyway — there was so much else to do! It’s a shame we don’t live closer, as we would definitely buy an annual pass. However, we’re already planning to return soon for the Christmas celebrations 😀 thanks !

Loved the Halloween theme. The park was not very busy. We had fast passes but didn’t have to use them. It’s great that they allow you to use the fast passes at a later date.

Drayton Manor is perfect for children up to about 13, or for teens who prefer medium size coasters. My pre teen enjoyed all the rides, it was the perfect fear level for her. There are 5 big rides, plenty of medium size rides and loadsss of little rides for toddlers. The theme was Halloween and the whole place was decorated lovely! We didn't get chance to visit the zoo, but we will definitely be back to do it all over again and make sure we save time for the zoo.

I did the stay and play offer for myself and my son. We had a free room upgrade when we arrived which was lovely. Included in our stay were two days entry to the park, fast track passes for rides, free parking and breakfast. Friendly helpful staff, clean and comfortable rooms. The park itself was tidy. Wait times for some rides were long, especially The Wave! Took ages for them to load the trains , giving half the train to fast track and half to regular waiting customers, just felt wrong considering how long we were waiting. Great for younger children with the Thomas land. My son is 17 and we still had an amazing time.

We had a brilliant day out here. The house is really interesting and all the staff were very knowledgeable and super helpful. The gardens were lovely, as was the church. The cafe and restaurant were great and the shop and book shop were full of tempting goodies. Loved the whole day.

There is a LONG drive to the entrance. Be sure that your GPS takes you to the correct one. Calke Abbey is maintained a bit differently from other National Trust Properties. The Trust chose not to try to bring it back to its original glory, but rather, to leave it in the condition in which it was received, which includes wings of rooms in disrepair. Tour is self guided but volunteers are frequent to offer explanations or answer questions. One of the unique holdings is a state bed made for King George I in 1715. The bed linens were found by the Trust rolled up in the basement. Since they were in perfect condition, the bed is set up as it would have been and preserved behind glass. Another was the caricature room whose walls were covered with humor satirical pictures. I found it to be quite entertaining. The dining room featured some outstanding decor, simply presented. The main entertaining room was filled with glass cabinets loaded with taxidermy. Not my favorite but that is how the family had left it to the Trust. One particular wing has rooms that are in complete disrepair with the ceilings falling, wall paper peeling, and loads of broken furniture haphazardly tossed in the room. Not at all what one would expect while walking through a National Trust Site. Calke Abbey is perfect example of a country estate that was barely held together in the 20th century. Many similar country houses did not survive to tell their story. We are National Trust members (via Royal Oak), so I cannot attest to the cost of entry. Parking lot was within easy walk of the entrance. No reservations were needed.

Had a lovely dog walk around the beautiful grounds of Calke with friends, I can’t believe I’ve never done this before, being fairly local. The gardens were beautifully maintained and the gardener was happy to stop his work and have a chat. There were outhouses with interesting artefacts to see. We walked the tunnel, dogs weren’t quite sure about this, but we loved exploring. All of the staff were friendly and helpful. What a pleasant place to work at. Had a light lunch in the cafe, it was extremely busy, so there was a bit of a wait for the coffees, but by the time the drinks were served, the warm quiche was ready, so perfect timing. There were plenty of dog water bowls dotted around which was good, as it was a hot day. I will return to this national trust gem.

Superb property, that's been kept as the trust found it in its decline. The house has loads of interesting items in it and the room guides are very knowledgeable. The brewhouse tunnels were decorated for Halloween and were good fun. The church is also worth the walk. The usual cafe and giftshop on site.

I came here today with my partner for a couple of hours, sadly didn't take many photos. The restaurant is nice, the gift shop is cute. The house and the tunnel is great too. As a National Trust Member it is great that we get access to this place. Because it rained we didn't end up looking at the gardens/trails. I definitely recommend a National Trust Membership to come here to visit and other places around Derbyshire.

Fascinating " unstable home" Handed to the National TRUST in 1981 in a very run down state. Continues to be preserved as the family left it. Servants tunnels, ancient kitchens, cases of taxidermy, antiques and general decay. Amazing place. Wonderful gardens, great dog walking and lovely cafe. A full day out to explore.

Calke Abbey is a really interesting house to visit as most of it is in it's original state so you can appreciate it as it was. The volunteers are very knowledgeable about the history of the family. Outside there are grass areas and woodland to take a walk and there's a lovely walled garden and cafe area to visit.

A truly breathtaking cathedral. The Gothic architecture is stunning, with its three spires creating a unique silhouette against the sky. The stone carvings and intricate details on the façade are remarkable, each statue and ornament telling its own story. Inside, the stained glass windows glow with vibrant colors, filling the space with a quiet, almost sacred light. The vaulted ceilings and fine woodwork show an incredible level of craftsmanship. It’s not just a place of worship, but also a masterpiece of art and history,worth taking time to explore slowly.

Today I finally did the tower and roof tour. It was amazing and the views from the tower are stunning. Got to see a lot of stuff you don't normally get to see too. The tour guides George and Alan were very knowledgeable and I learnt a lot of new stuff about the cathedral and Lichfield in general. Well worth the £18 as the tour was nearly 2 hours. Made my day and now when I look up on future visits I can say "I've been up there" 😁

One of the best Anglican churches in the region and in England. The church building has a great character don't forget to walk around the church to appreciate the lovely location and features of the church building. Going inside the church has no ticket, but donations are appreciated which goes towards the maintenance of the Cathedral. Volunteers were kind and helpful and can guide you around the premises. From the East side of the building you can go up yo St Chad's terrace and is quite and peaceful for a prayer and specially very positive vibes when hearing the choir. The giant table made with 5000 year Dark Oak wood! Worth visiting! Recommend checking the website, there is plenty of activities specially in the summer. For concerts recommend booking tickets in advance.

Lichfield Cathedral truly is a hidden gem. Although it’s only a short drive from the M6 motorway, it’s like stepping back in time. The cathedral itself has a grandeur to it which is unlike many other, smaller, more modern cathedrals. The outside of the cathedral is beautifully designed, in proportion, and well appointed with a variety of statues. The West door is huge and impressive with a variety of ornate Victorian carvings outside. Once you enter the cathedral, the visitors’ desk is staffed by polite and helpful members of staff who will guide you around the cathedral. The ceiling of the nave is particularly impressive and the grand arches are second to none in the UK. The stained glass throughout the cathedral is particularly impressive. However, when you get to the far east end of the cathedral, you will see the Herkenrode glass which is unlike anything you will see in any other cathedral in the UK. There were several treasures contained within the chapter house, such as the Saint Chad Gospel which make this cathedral a real pleasure to walk around and visit. There is parking nearby in Bird Street car park and the public toilets are easily accessed. The Minster Pool next door is also worth a visit to feed the ducks. Although Lichfield is not on the usual tourist trail, it is worth a detour. I can’t recommend this cathedral strongly enough.

A very good cathedral for visiting with family and friends. You will enjoy the outside area as well Inner sanctuary. Very well maintained. We visited during the time when there was a showcase of wild life photographers photo’s.

Such a beautiful peaceful place of worship. I am not a Christian but felt so welcome by all patrons I came across. I was astounded by the amount of colonial history from the empire, from flags, priests, infantry.

Large cathedral in centre of scenic Lichfield. Costs £5 voluntary donation admission. Extra to go into tower area. The cathedral has many beautiful stained glass windows. Lots of other interesting areas to visit within the building. A nice little shop selling a variety of souvenirs etc.

I enjoy all the fun slides. The changing room is clean. You get a cheaper price when you book in advance. The downside is a lack of signage of where the water park car park is located and one of the claw machines is faulty.

A really nice and atmospheric water park, with plenty of theming. The water was warm and clean. The staff were polite, even though it was busy, they still had time for everyone. The only problem was the amount of time we spent quing to get an inflatable for the slides. It was also a cramped waiting area for the inflatables. But apart from that, we had a really nice day out.

We enjoyed it. Fun place to take the kids and we will comeback. The toilets however were dirty I attribute too it being very busy. Also it took a while to find a parking spot at least 20 minutes so I suggest arriving at least half an hour before your booking.

Was quite anxious as my 7 and 10 yo went off in different direction. Staff friendly and had the use of AI life guarding, continually scanning swimmers and those in trouble. Rides where great, queues manageable, pools warm , food was a bit pricey. Parking free.

Never been here before so took the grand children who had a wil of a time. Recommend fast track if you can afford it as there are long waits og up to 2hrs on some rides.

Pretty average water park. Firstly, there is only one big slide (master blaster) which I waited about 70 mins for. There are also lots of reliability issues with the slide and almost every time I get in the queue for this slide it end up stopping for 10 mins. The changing rooms and even parts of the water park smelt terribly of urine and a lot of the changing rooms are dirty. Also the lockers require 20p so keep that in mind. There are also some flumes outside which have a short queue for each one but are really fun. I also enjoyed the smaller ring slide which I only waited 5 mins for. It seems everyone just goes to the master blaster leaving the rest of slides with barely any queue. The water park is quite crowded and areas like the lazy river and pool get really busy. If you really like water parks then I suppose it’s worth a visit but if you aren’t that bothered then I’d give it a miss.

It all started with Doug in reception who was polite, helpful and welcoming and it just got better after that. The 20 Pence man was fabulous and then all the staff poolside were great. The pool was warm, exciting and really fun. My 6 year old loved it. We will definitely be coming back. Well done Alton Towers.

I'll start with the car park. It's decent size and well maintained. I completely do not agree with flat rate you have to pay on top of the entry tickets. Regardless if you are there for just couple of hours, half a day or full day, still have to fork out another £12. Park itself is spread out across vast space. There's lots and lots of walking. Rides are decent. Other attractions are good as well. For us it worked out quite expensive as we've come with a child under 2 years old mainly to visit CeBeebies Land. I've managed to pop on some rides when he had a power nap. Overall we've enjoyed our time in there and definitely rate it higher than any other UK theme park. Problem is, once you've been to Universal Orlando and other Florida parks you gonna find all rides in any UK park not as thrilling and stunning as what they have in there. We've found all staff to be friendly, helpful and polite. Cleanliness throughout the park was decent including rest rooms. We've even found a nice kebab takeaway on site which was a plus.

We’ve been to Alton Towers three times now, and it never disappoints! Whether you’re a family, a couple, or a solo rollercoaster thrill seeker, there’s something here for everyone. With a little help from Cadbury’s (who will you take vouchers — are a huge help! As it can be a little pricey) we were able to enjoy another amazing trip. The whole park is lovely and clean, and all the staff we met were really friendly and helpful. If you’re planning a visit, just be aware that during peak times the queues can get quite long for the rides. We went out of peak this time, and it was incredibly quiet — barely any waiting at all, which made the day even better! Just a heads up also food in the park is very pricey if you don't want to take food with you, but as a one off it's ok. like us going three times we learnt to take sandwiches and snacks and bought a coca cola refillable drinks beaker we take everytime. We noticed families taking the travel trucks with their bits and bobs into carry around for the day of there is a large amount of you who which is a brilliant family hack. Some of the food wasn't that spectacular and very cheaply made as you would get in most big theme parks but some little hidden gems in the park were lovely like the coach house confectionary in gloomy woods serving up there social media viral black ice creams and sweet foods. Overall, Alton Towers is an amazing day out full of excitement, laughs, and memories. Can’t wait to go back again!

We had an amazing day in Alton towers. We went on a Scare fest event, it was brilliant. I really recommend to download the app to see the waiting times in queue as well as if it’s closed or having a weather delay. It’s good to see every ride update so you don’t make any unnecessary walk. To be honest even the 45mins ques were quick. Staff were very friendly and helpful, food is nice but pricey. Bring comfy shoes and snacks!!! We went for opening which allowed us to go on every main ride. The scare mazes were fantastic, the themes the actors were spot on!!🖤🧡 Both day and night time all the resort looks very stunning with the rides lighted up and the Alton Castle! 🏰 all the park is very looked after. Definitely coming back next year!

Great visit everytime. The food stalls are expensive but if you can take some food to save yourself some money. Definitely recommend visiting during scarefest even if you dont do any of the scare mazes. Staff are brilliant they keeps things moving quickly so the ride times stay as low as possible and the park stay open 9pm meaning you can get to go on the rides in the dark. Which is well worth it!

Honestly hands down best theme park in the UK. The theming is immense and absolutely mind-blowing. Has the best rollercoasters in the UK and the best inverted coaster in Europe. The food is amazing Sand is worth it, especially the loaded fries on Tower Street. The Smiler is one of the most intense rides out there and is definitely a coaster worth going on, even if you are far away from the park it is definitely worth a visit. Loads of kids areas to adventure but some big areas for the thrill seekers. My favourite coasters in order: 1. Nemesis Reborn (Got on it 2 times in 1 day and got front row) 2. Smiler (Can be rough sometimes but is so thrilling) 3. Galactica (Really underrated and immense fun) 4. Wickerman (Best wooden coaster in the UK bc of Megafobia) 5. Oblivion (Short and boring after the drop) 6. Rita (The launch into the turn is amazing and forceful) 7. THI3TEEN (The droptrack's airtime is absolutely stunning) 8. Spinball Whizzer (Quite painful and colours don't suit Alton) Haven't been on: Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure, Runaway Minetrain. Honourable mentions: Toxicator (Best flat ride in the UK coming in close with Samurai. Sharkbait reef (I love fish and this was cool for a Theme Park) Hex (I love the story and the ride is quite unique) Congo River Rapids (Great family ride) So overall the price is worth paying and the food is worth eating. You should go to Alton Towers if you are wanting thrill and you can also go if you need a family day out with the kids. (Scarefest at Alton Towers is the best Halloween event at a major theme park throughout the whole of the UK and the vibe of the park already fits a Halloween vibe)

Look I totally get that there may have been issues with staffing as it was the last day of scare fest, but we still paid the same amount then any other days. Ultimately I have seen a huge difference in the service from staff at the resort, I’m not talking about the ones on rides or at the guest services, the main issue is the food and restaurants staff and the facilities. Shocking difference, the attitude on some of the staff and the serious lack of any customer service. It was like they have just grabbed a load of teenagers out of school and plonked them down, in all the restaurants and food stalls. 1. Total mess around the food stalls including hotdog stand. 2. Unlit areas when they have organise for night rides and attractions there were broken lights everywhere and massive dark spots across the park, including near the food stalls as. 3. Toilets, this shocked me as I had never experienced issues with unclean toilets at AT before. Really smelly and no cleaning staff in sight. Almost every toilet in the resort had an issue . 4. Lots of areas of the park were closed as they were setting up for bonfires night, it was almost like an excuse for staff to behave like the resort was half closed. 5. Monorail stunk of alcohol, first thing in the morning and generally needs to be cleaned up it’s old worn and looks uncared for. 6. Staff at the video stalls after a ride has some serious attitude problems, not all of them, but sone would just stare at you, not saying anything, and then mumble and give annoyed looks. The attractions/rides, as always were great. And the actors of the scare mazes were brilliant. but what makes Merlin entertainment brilliant is the whole magic of the resorts and the magic was definite missing and most of the staff just didn’t care, this could be because of the way they’ve been treated who knows but I was very disappointed, it’s lost its magic for me.

Absolutely amazing place! Definitely recommended for all the family If you're an older family I would recommend two days - would also recommend looking at the Waterpark as it is fantastic for all the family Only negative that you would expect, the food, drinks and merchandise is expensive so make sure you save up if you intend on eating and drinking on park

Beautiful gardens with free street parking if you can find it or loads of paid parking either around the town or in the gardens which can be located by the main road. Free public toilets, a small railway train that goes around the park for £2.50 per person, lasts around 5 minutes and is very cute, allowing you to see and take in the park from different angles. Theres loads of different paths, trees, wildlife and plants, some with information plaques, as well as frequent benches, bins and play parks for the kids. Extremely child, disabled and pet friendly. The streams, ponds and riverways are very well kept, as is the whole park and its lovley to see the ducks and wildlife enjoy it too.

Nice easy walk round a pond. Lots of water birds, ducks ,geese, herons. Quite a bit of duck poo on paths near pond. Nice bar, cafe, swimming pool, music venue.

Love the pavilion gardens here in Buxton. Some nice snack/eateries, locally made beers and I particularly like the "hot house" garden, and walking around the park.

What a lovely and unique place. We walked around gardens for a bit, lots of wild birds, small water lakes, had live music playing, which made atmosphere really nice.

Disability freindly in most of Buxton pavilion.Family freindly clean beautiful park and buildings, small train ride in the park lots of geese and other birds in the park.a small river running through the park.you have Buxton opera house with a tea room and inside garden area.not far away is the famous Buxton spring water well you can use your own bottle and fill it for free.You could have a full day out here all while including a day at the opera.

Absolutely stunning area. Great park with wide clean pathways. Plenty of wildlife around. Lovely facilities in the pavilion

Beautiful, well maintained gardens and old heritage buildings. Would be lovely to see more of the Pavilion buildings themselves open and used though.