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.

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

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

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

I recently visited the Library of Birmingham and had a brilliant experience from start to finish. The building itself is striking and modern, and inside it feels open, bright and welcoming. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the spaces are spotless and well organised, whether you’re looking to read, study, or simply explore. One of the absolute highlights is the outdoor terrace and viewing platform at the top. The view across Birmingham is incredible — you can see right over the city skyline, including Centenary Square, the canals, and some of the landmark buildings that make the city so unique. It’s a peaceful spot that really shows off how impressive Birmingham looks from above. Overall, the Library of Birmingham is a fantastic place to visit. Whether you’re a regular reader, a student, or just someone exploring the city, it’s well worth the trip — especially for the view from the top.

This library is a wonderful addition to central Birmingham. It has many rooms all of varying sizes with many spaces for study, reading or simply relaxing. It had a vibrant feel and it was good to see people using its facilties. There were also some wonderful views of the city from a number of vantage points located on the higher floors of the building, and I particularly liked the secret garden on the 7th floor. The only two gripes for me were the initial escalators on ground floor (very dangerous) and the lack of a restaurant or cafe.

Worth a visit just to ride the escalators and enjoy the sunshine out on the terrace (level 4) or the secret garden (level 7). Elevators are available but were not functioning today, but the 90 step climb to level 7 for the secret garden was worth it. Great views over the city and delightful spaces to sit. And of course they have an enormous collection of books, media, maps and more. Such a cool space with the escalators going back and forth across a large central open space.

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

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.

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.

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

Almost 5 stars but this was our first visit & entering the carpark we had no idea or signs to say which way to the entrance or instructions to pay for the carpark. It wasn't very busy today but we thoroughly enjoyed our time spending over 4 hrs. The staff were delightful & oh so helpful. Fish & Chips were utterly delicious, best I've had in a long long time. The houses & shops were wonderful, bringing back so many memories. All in all a truly wonderful day, thank you.

Such an amazing experience. The museum and what it offers is phenomenal and the staff and volunteers are so engaging. The way they have set this up is exemplary and we learned so much from the people there and the exhibits. The forging and Army and Navy store were two of our favourites as well as the canal and chain shop area. A must see if you are here, a short train ride from Birmingham New Street to Tipton and it's about a 15 minute walk to the museum. Excellent day.

Well worth a visit. Great family day out. We have two boys 7 and 11. They engaged really well. The fun fair cost more but parents of little ones went on free and they were great. Staff were super 👌. The fish and chips were amazing much better than we get these days and cheaper. The demonstrations were informative and entertaining. Definitely go down the mine but watch your head! The gift shop was reasonably priced.

Really enjoyed it and here. Took my 8 year old. Lovely to walk around and really takes you back. Even I remember houses like these when I was alot younger. The boat rides do have an additional cost. There is alot to see and do. Although they do have some eateries we didn't bother. I think I'd have preferred a packed lunch regardless. Definitely recommend a visit here!

Open air museum, this is more like a small, Industrial Revolution, town with plenty to see and do. Very good parking facilities with plenty of disabled space as well as spaces for families, especially those with younger children giving easy access to site. A quick 2 minute walk from the car park to the main entrance where you are greeted into a large atrium in a modern building with a comprehensive gift shop to the right on entry. To the left there is an eatery serving up hot and cold food, and the usual coffees/teas and soft drinks etc. Exiting the main entrance the is a world of history in front of you starting with a tour of the mines. Sadly even early In the morning 10:30 (30 mins after opening) there was a long queue however this was accessible during the day. Old buildings galore, presented in various period decor all accessible to view both upstairs and down as well as black smiths, foundries, smelting, brick production, the list goes on. Heritage building with cars and bikes for viewing. The museum also runs a bus service with busses from 1940’s. They operate an early funfair with several period rides including ghost train, carousel and penny slot machines, well worth a ride. To the rear of the museum there is a modern building dedicated to the canal trust and preservation with the ability to take passenger on a boat ride through the caves where they mined line stone. Several found outlets in the various building, accessible toilet throughout the site, actors on site who interact with the public. All in all a fantastic day out FYI, I travelled from Essex the morning of the visit. Worth every penny.

What an amazing day we had at the Black Country living museum. We got there about 10am and stayed about 5 hours . So much to see and do. The staff was very friendly and helpful and willing to answer any questions. The fish and chips was amazing . Had one or a few beers in various locations. Then we went back for peaky blinders night . What a great time that was. Music and attractions all over the museum. Can’t wait to go back for a 40s or 60s night next year.

Absolutely incredible experience, we do come quite often due to being in the midlands but the new updates are fantastic and there is so so much to do. I actually don’t think the museum is open long enough to do everything they now have on offer. Not to worry you are able to return as many times as you like within a year with those tickets! Incredible! Such a good time had by all!

Lovely experience. It was a wonderful time, spent around 2 hrs. The best part was the 4D movie which was just wow. And then the avenue was the good experince. If could show more about how chocolates are made nowadays then it would be more interesting. I have seen cadbury making process in a different country and that was more into the process making, so thats what a gap was I feel... rest everything was an amazing experience. It was my best birthday present.

Its not a very big place, but informative and there were things to do. We also got a taster cup of chocolate, it was nice. Saw a demo about how the chocolate was made. Unfortunately when we went the rides were not working and my child was so disappointed! The ticket was not cheap, so all the rides should work properly!

Terrible place to visit, definitely not worth £52 for 1 hour and 20 mins after traveling for over 2 and a half hours. Press and play features not working, other functions not working. Interactive machines not working and one that was working went into error mode when we tried to use it. Nothing for adults and it is more themed for children under the age of 8. The 4D attraction was not good at all unless your of a toddler age, motion seats just move a little and vibrate and the other motion seats in the other video tour slightly move from left to right and was over in 5 minutes. Staff at each station do not explain what to do and what you can do at the chocolate making feature which you don't actually make any chocolate or decorate anything, instead they just say the initial hello and tell you to start and then talk amongst each other in front of you about their personal life's. Booking online isn't any quicker as they have a zigzag queue line for any prepaid visitors. The price of a ticket for an adult ticket is the same price for a child under 15 and the whole experience is far from value for money, it is not something you want to plan as a day out. There is lots of places marked on the map as no visitor access also, and when it came to an abrupt finish ending up in the gift shop to spend more money, we where not told if there was anything else to go to or see and nobody creating us at the door or giving us wishes on our way. Parking is free and about good thing as the whole place appears run down, washed out and offers little to do for the whole family. It is more like walking around a mirco museum with a family playground and cafe.

Loved it, was a lot of fun, even as an oldie. Would loved to have seen more of the factory and some more of the history of cadburys. Also has a lovely afternoon tea while we were there. Please take your time to look and use all the activities or you will be out in less than 2 hrs but saying that I think the entry fee is reasonable.

I visited Cadbury world in Birmingham on a weekday as I predicted this to be a little quieter than a weekend which it was. I managed to get a few snaps of the factory as you take a trip an a good history lesson of the beginnings all the way to present day. I like the tour and I think it’s pretty cool, especially seeing the chocolate makers on the ground floor making the chocolate fresh and shaping these for souvenirs to buy or for special events coming up. The gift shop is also pretty cool and worth a visit, having some cool novelties you can buy and take home with you. HOWEVER, for being a chocolate tour, the ride was not working when I was there, which was disappointing. Also, you only get 2 free bars of chocolate included in your tour visit, which is a little ridiculous considering that you pay a decent price to go.

A place that offers information, fun filled activities and entertainment. Booking tickets in advance is must. It will save you a trip and money. Arrive by about your time of entry, they let people queue and enter in batches. The tour begins with a historic display of cocoa production and evolution of chocolate while it travelled across the world. Then the first chocolate shop and birth of Cadbury, some stories of the family and how they ventured into this business. Followed by the making of chocolate, staffs demonstrating the process and later you get to do it by yourself. Inside they also sell some crazy structures of chocolate. Then you get entertained by 4D movie, dwelling into the world of characters Cadbury has introduced. Followed by a nice exhibit narrating the story of Bournville village and a fun filled ride where you collect the ingredients (virtually) to make your own chocolate. If you may have forgotten to collect something, don't worry you can buy them from their store that has EVERYTHING CHOCOLATE!!! A one of its kind place to engage all age groups. You get some free chocolates on entry and can buy more at exit. There is a cafe inside this building. Parking available. Cloak room is only for large luggage bags. Enough numbers of toilets available in intervals throughout the tour.

It's not just about chocolate (although that's rather a key theme …) but also about how the workers were treated. Very well. A quite interesting self-paced tour. Three free (well, included in the admission price) bars of chocolate for each guest, plus a sample towards the end of the tour. Then there's the museum to see, too. Oh, and the shop, just in case you haven't already got enough chocolate.

Went here with wife and kids. Had a brilliant time, all the staff are friendly and kind. The theme was Halloween. The houses were brilliantly decorated and care was given with having younger children being kind and friendly with he kiddies.

Visited the Halloween 🎃 night last night, it was amazing! The kids loved it. Been here lots of times but definitely the best one yet! A lot of effort has been put in and it shows. The characters were superb! Definitely coming back!

Haven't been for a about 4 years due to the price increases however not much has changed. Had a great day but think now kids am 6 it's just overdone and more for younger ones. Had a great time for the teachers' day made the most out of every part and kids round rides countless times. But don't think we will return now till they have kids.

We've visited Wonderland for 3 years in a row. Each time has been a good experience. Whilst the attractions remain the same, there's always new & fun things to do at the park. From face painting, hair braiding, decorating biscuits, performances from characters, meeting princesses and having a tea party with the mad hatter. The kids always enjoy the experience. There is an inflatable obstacle course within the castle that is overseen by a member of staff and plenty of toilet facilities. There are a couple of food places where I had a really sickly beautiful biscoff waffle. Coffee isn't great but they can't have it all! Also good to note, the Mad Hatter is played so so well by the member of staff employed. He really goes the extra mile with the children. 10/10 for him!

I want to thank one member of staff in particular, emily duff. We came to the halloween night friday evening, My son has autism and he couldn't handle the jumping out and screaming at him, he was so frightened we just couldn't calm him down. Emily came and sat with him, showing its just dress up and even walked round with my son, calming him and making him smile. She went above and beyond for him and we are so extremely greatful. Thank you so much emily, you truly are a angel xx

Excellent for young and old. Having returned as an adult with two kids after many years this place brought back some fond memories. It was a little dull and overcast with the odd shower but still plenty to do. The staff were very friendly and helpful and really made an effort. The Mad Hatter kept everyone entertained and the inclusion of the rides and crazy golf made the day very good value.

First time visiting for the Halloween event. Brilliant day out despite the rain 🌧. Lots of activities going on, staff were approachable and friendly. Trail was very interactive, and our son enjoyed it. We will visit again.

Fun, historic town. Lots of great little shops that have been used to fill lots of the buildings with authentic businesses from around 1900. In proper dress and character docents. Terrific stop for anyone driving through ironsgate village. Super nice area for kids to play and experience what it was like 125 years ago. Loved this place, but too many stores had no one to explain what you were looking at. The fish and chips were fresh and delicious

A truly wonderful, insightful visit. It was amazing revisiting as an adult after coming here as a child, what a fantastic experience to share with my 13 year old son, who was just as impressed as I was. A huge mention to the wonderful staff who make this experience incredible. Every member of this team from the reception throughout all the staff who are in full Victorian character are absolutely amazing. A real credit to this set up are you guys. You were all so welcoming, engaging, knowledgeable and totally endearing. What a fantastic landmark we have and to share such an incredible part of our history. It makes us and you feel proud of our heritage. Thankyou 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Really enjoyed our visit to Blists Hill Victorian Town. I haven’t been here since I came with my primary school, so glad to see it’s still as amazing at 23 as it was back when I was 8 (I walked in and remembered the layout and the fun memories of my school trip there, if that doesn’t speak volumes of how amazing this place was and has continued to be then I don’t know what could) . Went as a family day out with our dog, we were amazed at how dog friendly it was, out of everything there were only two places we couldn’t go with our dog which was no bother and completely understandable (sweet shop & bakery). The animals located in the town were well cared for and friendly with knowledgable handlers who were more than happy to answer questions, clearly knew the animals likes and dislikes and spoke fondly of their quirks showing a love and dedication for their four legged cast members. Our favourite Victorian character was the local police man (and his “cousin” singing in the pub - who was a very good singer). We met him on our way in and straight away were greeted with a welcoming warmth before he directed us towards our first stop of the day the post office for our very own dog licence which was decently priced as were a lot of items sold in their other shops around the town. My mum’s favourite activity was George’s carriage ride. The beautiful boy took us both and our dog around the town, he looked happy and well taken care of which as long term animal people it was a joy to see him comfortable and enjoying his work. My favourite stop off was the last one of the day for us. It was the printing shop which we visited after having a ride around the town in George’s carriage. Inside the printers we were taken through the different printers, how they are used to help create prints for the village and answered our questions from possibilities of injuries to how the different printers work in terms of changing letters, sizing of letters etc (it looked like a lot of fun and now I wish I could own one). we came away with a couple of notebooks and a postcard that fit perfectly in with Halloween. We will definitely be looking at Blists Hill Victorian Town for future day trips out, and we hope next time we visit we’re in the season for the use of the fair ground as it would have been lovely to have seen those in use.

Wow..What a excellent Victorian Town Everything as it was back in the day. You feel like you're in the Victorian Era. I got myself a one off adult single ticket, £27 Oct 2025 prices, you can buy a multiple pass to see other extractions which works out cheaper in Ironbridge area. It started with a short guided tour at 11.30 with Emily, She was so friendly, kind and so enthusiastic and told us all along short history about the town. The Town itself has shops,Bank, butchers ,bakery, clothing shop and a forerunner to WH Smith with a post office, and plenty of other shops. And don't forget to have a sing song at the pub on the corner The mine as well is a great reminder about how hard it was to work here and the forge, and the tile factory. The houses are open so as you enter you will find now and again a person dressed up and he or she will tell you about the house. There's a few places to eat and have hot/cold drinks. I had a trip as well in the carriage with George the shire horse pulling us around the town. The car park, you pay on exit ,just make a note on what time you actually park. I paid ( £6 for 5hrs, Oct 2025 prices) A must visit while you're are in the area of Ironbridge.

I visited Blists Hill Victorian Town about 20 years ago, and it was great to come back and see how it’s changed. It’s still a fun and educational day out! I loved the traditional fish and chips from the old-fashioned chippy and the Victorian-style photos. It’s a shame you can’t get some of the old-fashioned sweets they used to have, but we really enjoyed the singalong around the piano in the pub which was definitely a highlight of the day.

Definitely would recommend visiting Blists Hill. We spent numerous hours with our 10yr old son and he loved it as did we. I’d suggest going on a dry day as there is lots of walking outdoors and the fish and chip shop should you choose to go to doesn’t have indoor seating. Staff were all very pleasant and knowledgeable. Well worth the visit.

Visited for the Blists Hell Halloween event The spooky atmosphere was fantastic the setting and ambience were really well done and made for a really eerie vibe. Of the few scare actors I managed to see, those I did encounter were absolutely brilliant especially the clown with the balloons, the plague doctor, and the Nosferatu-style vampire. They really brought the event to life and deserve a lot of credit. Unfortunately, the event was let down by overcrowding. It was difficult to see everything due to the sheer number of people, and the queues were SO long. I queued 45 minutes for fish and chips, and another 20 for the bakery, not the fault of the vendors, but a clear sign of how overcrowded the event was. There were quite a few intoxicated and stumbling guests, which did feel inappropriate given how many young children were present. At one point, several areas were closed off due to fire alarms, which caused a lot of confusion and crowding. The movement of the crowd during that time was very chaotic almost like a stampede and raised concerns about how well safety was being managed. Finding staff was also hard with so many visitors in full costume, it was hard to tell who was part of the team. The atmosphere was affected by some rude behaviour from other attendees pushing swearing, and a general lack of courtesy. While the event itself had potential, the crowd size and lack of control made it hard to enjoy. Wouldn't rush back but that has more to do with the overcrowding and rude attendees than the event.

Fantastic day out, the journey along the line is wonderful, there is plenty to keep the enthusiast and someone looking for a good day out interested. Will be going back and still a lot to see and do. Would recommend investing the parking first, it's incredibly limited at Kidderminster and if you need special parking needs you may be a little ok let down but there is also the main station carpark next door

The Severn Valley Railway is a great affordable heritage Railway 🛤 steaming between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth. We had a marvellous time, having lunch in Bridgnorth and walking around the Castle 🏰 Gardens and Thomas Telford's church ⛪️ where we were made to feel very welcome and had tea, coffee ☕️ and biscuits. A grand day out!

Had a truly lovely day today. 12/6/25. We had my Fathers ashes scattered here today in a lovely area along the journey. The staff were so kind and caring towards us. They gave us pride of place at the front of the first carriage behind the engine in our own private area. We had a lovely cup of tea along the way. All the staff on the station and the engine driver and fireman and train staff were very informative and very kind lovely people. Thankyou all for helping to give my father the send off he wished for!

Visited the SVR for a trip on the magnificent flying Scotsman with my neighbour & his brother. we all had a great day out. thanks to all the SVR polite staff.

Great place to visit, like going back in time, beautiful scenery along the way and some lovely places to stop off at, Arley has been our favourite stop so far!! Just be careful when parking your car the severn valley railway parking is to the right as you drive in not the main Kiddiminster train station parking! got fined for parking in the wrong area!!!

Well worth a visit, we had a great day visiting the station shop, and having a trip on the SVR to Bridgenorth. Also called at Highly to visit the visitors centre, a great café and an amazing museum. Dropped of at Arley for a quick walk to the Arley Arboretum puckibg up an iiceceam on the way🫠👍

Excellent steam train trip. Nice scenery and the stations are great and full of history.

A mixed bag. The drive round is hit and miss, as with any zoo/ animal attraction. Animals are their own boss and you can't predict when or if they will make an appearance which means you aren't guaranteed to see them. Not feeding the animals anymore is the right decision for the park but also means animals are less likely to come up to you. We paid extra for the safari tour so we did get to go closer than If we were in a car and had the knowledge of Tim telling us all about the different animals. Road has alot of pot holes so please be wary of that! The actual park is a bit dated now but the rides are still fun for the youger ones. The ice age walk and dinosaurs could do with a bit of TLC due to wear tear and weather damage. Hopefully the money they get from the lodges (approximately 500 for 2 adults per night)will be out back into the animals and actual attractions. All the staff were lovely, friendly helpful and knowledgeable. Take your own packed lunch. Food is expensive and overpriced. For the sake of 45 minutes I'd drive the extra and go to Dudley zoo personally.

We had an absolutely brilliant time at West Midlands Safari Park! I went with my family and from start to finish it was a perfect day. The safari drive-through was amazing — we got so close to the animals, and they all looked really healthy and well cared for. The lions, giraffes and rhinos were the highlights for us, and the staff along the route were friendly, helpful and clearly passionate about what they do. After the safari, we spent the afternoon in the theme park and it was just as good. There was something for everyone — fun rides for the kids, a few thrill rides for the grown-ups, and plenty of places to stop and relax in between. The whole site was clean, well organised and full of energy, and we never felt rushed or crowded. It’s clear that a lot of care goes into both the animals and the visitor experience. My family left with huge smiles and lots of great memories — we’re already planning our next visit! If you’re looking for a full day out that combines adventure, learning and fun for all ages, I can’t recommend West Midlands Safari Park highly enough. A solid 10 out of 10!

Get to see the animal in their own environment and you are inside your car . The entrance to lion, hyena, tiger, are all controlled thru electrified gates and reminded of Jurassic park !! The giraffe can be fed. Cottages are there for weekend stays and relax in a serene atmosphere. One feels very near to nature and animals . Kids will enjoy the Jurassic times , ice age, reptiles. stalls for food , snacks, coffee, gift items are there. A must visit place either children

I went with my family, my parents and my partner so as 4 adults. It was really great, I have always heard of such good things about this safari park and have been excited to visit for a long time, and it was really impressive and lived up to expectations. I have visited both Knowsley and Longleat before, and they were both impressive in their own right. What West Midlands Safari Park did best that made them different, was the lack of queues, the way the routes in the enclosures we laid out so you could get really close to the animals whilst the animals remained safe, some of their enclosures were huge and i absolutely loved just how much the park had to offer with all of these extra events, shows, talks and the walking part - we didn’t quite realise just how much the park would have to explore and adventure and we wish we had arrived earlier to truly experience it all. The staff were amazing, at every point they were kind, informative, friendly and helpful, a few initiated some small talk which really showed they cared, that they were passionate about the animals and their work, it made my day and really cheered me up just how nice everyone was. I will definitely be visiting again, considering just how much there is to enjoy the price is worth it. I really loved just how up close and personal we could get with the animals and my only complaint would be I wish there were more signage, it was confusing where we needed to go at certain points and we nearly missed the tigers during the drive thru and would’ve been great if they had their own dedicated space without having to look through bars or the plastic viewing points, and we sadly didn’t get to see the cheetah however I’m aware they are very shy animals so I can’t blame them! The animals we did get to see were amazing, I loved feeding the giraffes, I loved the sea lion show and how passionate the staff were, I loved seeing both the tiger on the drive thru feeding and the lions on the walk ripping at bones. I feel like we were very lucky with everything we got to see, and I love that there’s Dholes, I have never seen a Dhole in person before and I don’t know any other parks that have them, I found them the most exciting part of my trip just because I’ve always wanted to see a Dhole and I didn’t realise they were here :) I would love more merchandise specifically tailored and made for the park! Such as artwork, and anything to do with the Dholes c: I loved all the recycled plushies however and we got one of each thing that had been branded by West Midlands Safari park, we like to get souvenirs as memories specifically tailored to each park we have visited, and it’s our way of supporting the park.

All you could spect from a salary park that takes cares of animals and also visitors. Well organised, cleaned and very friendly staff. Animals look healthy and well take care ok. There are some rare species like white lions and large anacondas. Particularly amazed by the bats room where the animals fly arround. Food was also good in the Dyno Diner.

Great zoo. Ample space for the animals who roam a large area looking very happy. This location has a drive through safari as well as a walk through part, similar to a normal zoo. Lovely variety of animals often very close to the road. Food options are available in the zoo. Great sea lion show. Amazing theming. A large proportion of the zoo is also a theme park with lots of rides. Lots of huts you can stay in near the drive through safari. Good zoo with large paddocks.

We were totally thrilled with everything, the lodge was charming with huge windows that the tigers came right up to….. one looking deep into my eyes! I was excited for 48 hours. The meals were excellent too . I would recommend it to anyone who loves tigers as I do. I’ve waited 75 years to get so close,and Naresh gave me an enormous thrill.

Interesting to visit, national Trust have completed essential maintenance and left the house as it was occupied so a point in time house. Opportunity to see the way of life in times gone by. Nice gardens to visit and the church offers hot drinks and cake. Opens at 13.00 but check website. Parking available with a downhill walk through fields to the house and return is uphill through fields.

It’s beyond belief to note that both post codes shown in the book and Google throw you a distance away from the entrance car park that is also located an uncomfortable walking distance away from the main house. However, once you get to the house the staff are helpful and welcoming. The interior of the house is reminiscent to more like a chamber of horror with badly worn out furniture, uneven steps and creaking floor boards. There’s smell of old decaying wood and masonry and with no taste of decor who lived there in the past. It’s a great eye opener. It’s a bonus to be served tea and coffees by very helpful and polite staff in the well looked after church. The gardens are beautiful and very well maintained with tastefully trimmed hedges and plants. 👍

Amazing place. Untouched, still as it was when the last occupier left. Great nostalgic atmosphere here. Lovely gardens. Staff very knowledgeable and friendly. Lovely church next door that serve hot drinks and cake 😋 There is a bit of a walk from the car park through a farmers field down to the house but there is a disabled drop off spot nearby.

Beautiful place to visit. The history of a family who have lived in a house for generations has been left as is when the last generation moved out. It's poignant to see the different furnishings and uses through the ages. Only open in the afternoons. Accessible parking much nearer than main car park if you need it. We even had tea and cake served in the church by the local mothers' union, which was very welcome on such a hot day. Well worth a visit and really friendly and helpful guides.

Beautiful house in its original style with a garden full of vegetables and fruit trees. Cute cafe inside a church where you can sit on church benches to drink/eat. Parking is somewhat of a long walk from house although there is parking for disabled people closer.

Lovely national trust property with the interior left as it was and not polished up to look nice. Very interesting. Nice walk down to the property. Lovely gardens and walks around the setting, even a game of croquet on the lawn.

I would recommend doubling up on anti histamine before you arrive. I can appreciate authenticity but you can also dust the property. Also the male "guide" in the kitchen yelled at me for taking a video and embarrassed me in front of a room full of people. I feel there was a better way he could have communicated the no video policy with me. Still a beautiful house and lovely church next door.

We visited Cotswold Farm park last Christmas and wanted to provide a review for anyone considering booking this year. We had a number of things that were disappointing, but the main one was the santa experience... The worst part was though that you had several santa huts on the go at once and no attempt was made to mask this from the kids. So my 6 year old daughter is immediately asking questions 'is this the real santa?', 'how come those kids are coming out at the same time?'. You could literally hear the santa in the next hut along while heading into our own one. That was by far and away your biggest issue, but outside of that there were loads of other disappointments. - The Santa himself looked great, but he wasn't very jolly and conversation was very strained. - Most of your stalls were closed, but still had signs up, e.g. 'Smores' cue my daughter getting excited about the prospect of smores, but then we are told the fires aren't going so we can still buy one but can't toast one?? All other food stalls were also closed but still had signs out telling us what we were missing out on - The bouncy pillow for under 5s was closed so our youngest had to miss out - Most (atleast half) of the pedal tractors by the barns weren't working - The reindeer food station wasn't up and running when we first arrived The experience was really disappointing, and not worth the money - we spent around £200 for the 4 hours we were there. £140 for the tickets, £40 for a couple of burgers and some pasta, £10 for photo with Santa (which in itself is extortionate). We had high expectations for the day, and it had all the issues above, plus it generally just lacked any 'magical atmosphere'. We have done a number of these sorts of events previously - none of which were as expensive as yours, we have been to Attwell Farm Park and National Adventure Farm, and they set our expectations much higher than what we experienced at Cotswold Farm Park. Furthermore I emailed several times with the above concerns but got no response.

A wonderful family outing. The whole layout is excellent and the animals look very well cared for. Lots to do for the children. We ate in the cafe and, while it seemed on the dear side, the food was absolutely delicious 😋

For younger kids this is an amazing place. It's really accessible and a great variety of animals to see. There's also lots of play equipment, mini tractors, soft play and sand play. The cafe is a bit pricey, but you can always bring your own stuff as there's plenty of seating outside. Our 3 year old loves it. There's lots to see but it's not too big for little ones to get round.

One of the best farms I have visited so far. Clean facilities with lots of fun activities for kids so perfect for families with young kids. A lot of rare breeds to see, kids were able to feed the lambs and stroke rabbits and little chicks a fun day out for the families. Plenty of parking, hand washing facilities and toilets. Also, the tractor ride is great, it runs once every hour (3pm last ride) and a pound each person including kids however only allowed 28 each ride so get there early for this.

Amazing day out! Great value for money and a good day out for family of all ages. Kept really clean and lots of things to do. Food and drink was all fantastic. Animals look brilliantly looked after. Already looking at when we will return.

We had a great day out at Cotswold Farm Park with our boys. The highlights were definitely feeding the animals, as well as the playground and bouncy trampoline, which kept them entertained for hours. However, we were very disappointed with the on-site restaurant. The food was overpriced and poor quality. For example, a small bowl of kids’ pasta was £7.50, and a very basic cheese toastie was £13. There’s no table service, long waiting times, and the restaurant felt chaotic and messy overall.

One of our all time favourite places to go. All the staff, even down to the ladies on the ticket desk are so friendly and welcoming. So much to do, and so worth the money, even when it’s wet. Also love how accessible the site (and now their website) is too. They really care about people and animals and it shows.

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.

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).

Loved this park. Well laid out and loads of animals to see. Great for kids and adults alike. Really nice to get up close with the various animals. Good parking area, shop ans restaurant available. We will be back.

Great place to visit. Never been before and I was so surprised we have place like this near us. So many different animals, taken great care of them. I would recommend to anyone. Its a great place to spend a day there. There is something for everyone.

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.

Less of the castle may be toured than expected, because it also continues to be a private residence, but the historical exhibition, gardens, and rooms that are open are all very well presented - a glimpse into a fascinating chapter of Saxon & Tudor royal history and contemporary restoration. Unfortunately, they prohibit any photography inside, making the travel photo album less rich and devoid of the nicely appointed castle interior.

Spening a few days recently in the Cotswolds Sudely Castle research promised to be a 'must visit' place. Great decision and a great experience. The displays are some of the best we have ever seen and the history attached to Sudely Castle fascinating. We got completely absorbed in it all. If within an hour of the Castle then well worth the journey. Most enjoyable day, thoroughly recommended.

Ok. Very pricey as we hadn't realised that a family ticket only counts up to ages 15 as children. So £78 for a family of 4 with two teens. The law doesn't count them as adults, but this place does somehow 😊 Cafe staff were clearly having a lovely time, but forgot to put our food order through and when asked about it they batted us away. Turns out it hadn't been ordered, so an hour wait. Rectified by giving a refund and free food, but would have preferred to eat when we needed to and our enquiry to have been properly looked in to first time. Ghost talk was ..... not really a ghost talk. I'm not sure if the lady was standing in for someone else, but she didn't seem to know much and had started 3 minutes early so we don't know what we missed. . We felt sorry for her, but it it had a low sense of drama and there weren't many stories despite the promotion. A lovely drive and an impressive venue. Helpful tour guides and some nice displays. The maze has seen better days though. All in all it was a beautiful building with some great artefacts and films about the wealthy family who lovingly restored it. But it's a very expensive day out unless you have under 15's and it felt a little uncoordinated in all honesty. You may have better luck than us and had it not cost so much as might not have been disappointed.

A beautiful stately home to visit. The history that comes with this Castle tells us about King Henry VIII and his wives in particular Catherine Paar. Queen Catherine is in a tomb in the beautiful Cathedral on site. It was an interesting tour from a historical point if view through to today. Elizabeth, Lady Ashcombe has now been the chatelaine of Sudeley Castle for over 50 years. She has overseen the survival and ongoing restoration of this beautiful place. The gardens are just beautiful and meticulously cared for.

Sudeley Castle is a breathtaking blend of history, beauty, and tranquility. The rich royal heritage including the resting place of Katherine Parr is fascinating, and the castle interiors are captivating. The gardens are simply spectacular, with colour, charm, and peaceful corners everywhere you turn. Friendly, knowledgeable staff make the experience even better. A must visit gem in the Cotswolds memorable and inspiring.

I think because this castle isn’t enormous it’s possible to really get a feel for the buildings and grounds. The history of the castle and its occupants is told with artifacts, drawings and dramatic displays. Beautifully presented by volunteer guides who all demonstrated a passion for the castle! The landscaped grounds are interesting and the bordering fields, complete with sheep make this a truly bucolic scene! The chapel on the grounds is definitely worth visiting; Katherine Parr is entombed here. Also, a large chart which traces the lineage of the castle owners, back to Henry VIII, is fascinating. Great lunch there, too! No photographs allowed in the castle, since the owner lives on site.

Fantastic place to visit & so much to see. Well laid out circuit that takes you round the castle, gardens & chapel. So many exhibits and a ton of information covering the 1000 years of Royal history. Great day out.

A beautiful place to worship, celebrate, seek solace, and just enjoy the moment. It’s free to enter but they welcome donations! Our little pooch was able to join us for a self guided tour around the abbey. Plenty of information boards to learn about its history. There is an adjoining cafe with toilets. Well worth the visit!

Beautiful church. If you have a couple of hours, don't miss out on the riverside walk along the Severn and the Anglo-Saxon chapels of St. Mary's and St. Odda's. Things you hardly get to see anywhere!!

This magnificent Abbey started life as a Benedictine Monastery in 1102. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540 the Abbey Church survived destruction because it was sold to the local parishioners for £453 and became the parish church. It has the largest Norman church tower in existence and is also famous for its beautiful stained glass which dates from the medieval period.

Intense resonant acoustic as a music venue. We came to experience some sublime polyphonic sacred music from the wonderful Tallis Choral Foundation. Allegri’s Miserere was a particular highlight.

Really impressive church. They were preparing for a talk about the moon, hence the gigantic moon in the pictures. I assume it'll be gone shortly. There are some very moving memorials to those who died in the wars. There is also an interesting section where medieval knights (I think) are buried. The absolute highlight for me was the shop. Probably the best church shop I've ever happened across, not big, but stocked with beautiful hand made items, all tasteful and reasonably priced. Over all worth a visit!

It's a beautiful building with an interesting history. Saved after the reformation by the local people who paid for the abbey to become the parish church, only the lady chapel and the abbey buildings were lost. Inside the Norman columns stand tall and give it a grand atmosphere along with the many heads looking down. There is some lovely stained glass from different periods, a gift shop with guide books and other items. Volunteers and staff are happy to chat and share the history of the abbey and the town. Parking is near by and there is a cafe near by

Wonderful experience. Visually stunning with much to see. It was a bonus to hear the organ being played. Top tip - look up! The ceilings are particularly beautiful.

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

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

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

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

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

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

An excellent parish church which is large and grand enough to be a Cathedral. There are plenty of interesting exhibits inside the church, including some amazing monumental brasses and a Lego model of how Cirencester Abbey used to look. There is also a shop and a visitor book inside.

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

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

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

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

Brilliantly presented museum. Small enough to get round in an hour or two yet packed with great exhibits. One of the best range of Roman exhibits I've seen. Kids really enjoyed the interactive elements and the light and open layout.

Such a fabulous museum tucked away. I can't believe we hadn't been here before. Incredible Roman mosaics. Such a swathe of Gloucestershire history. Amazing resource. Lovely volunteer showed us around the Roman section. Do visit.

Entered tobe met bt informative reception staff ! A very nice lady volunteer offered to show us around the museum. We accepted and the the 3 of us will forever be grateful for the knowledge she had and the information and explanation of the museum's wonderful displays!! Thank you !! 😊 13/11/25

This must be one of the most beautiful Cathedrals that I have visited. You can feel the history as you walk round. There are a number of wonderful chapels throughout. The vaulted ceiling is stunning as well as the stained glass windows. I would recommend going up to the whispering gallery. The views down into the Cathedral really worth it and tovaee the magnificent organ up close.

We really enjoyed visiting Gloucester Cathedral.The construction began in 1089 the Nave was completed in 1130.Over the centuries mor parts were added with different architectures styles. A magnificent building and it's said to be one of the finest ecclesiastical building in the UK.We really enjoyed ambling around the ethereal cloisters(a special treat for Harry Potter fans) and the beautiful stained glass windows

The Cathedral and its grounds are amazing. Entry is free but they recommend a donation and there are two tours that do cost extra. They are the crypt and highlights tour. We went on the crypt tour and our guides Peter and Graham were excellent. There are many hidden gems here and the staff and clergy we met were excellent. A great few hours can be spent here, it is very disabled friendly and there is a suprise for the Harry Potter fans.

Poppy Fields by Luxmuralis - Premium Experience Great experience. A premium ticket allowed us fast track entry (it was raining, so this was much appreciated) & a faster entry to the 1st experience. It also allowed access to an upstairs section which had good views, plus a cheeky glass of sparkling wine. The cathedral looked lovely lite up. Great experience overall & a good reminder of the sacrifices made during war & that peace is better than war.

Absolutely stunning. Voluntary donation to get in £5 or £10 for a family. Harry potter was filmed here it's stunning 😍 well worth a visit. We met up with friends and kids from ages 2 to 13 had an amazing day. So much to see and the architecture is truly breathtaking, there is 12pm prayers, you can light candles and so many interactive things. Wheelchair friendly and also visually impaired friendly (blind and deaf) absolutely brilliant day out.

Visited this amazing cathedral which holds the tomb of Edward II among others. Having visited Westminster abbey this was just as impressive. It was a pleasure to visit, and not to be missed. We did find parking available and entry to the abbey is via donation.

What a magnificent building! I can't emphasis how must have this cathedral is. Search for top 10 facts about it, learn about its history and enjoy visiting. If you are a history lover, you need at least three hours (maybe five for a best visit) to completely appreciate the whole visiting experience. Would highly recommend donating as it costs a lot to maintain this fascinating building.

We went to see the Swindon Youth Project production of Annie. Such a brilliant show!! However, the theatre was far too hot, no air conditioning and the doors were kept closed. It’s a great theatre and there isn’t a bad seat, it just needs some investment (or a completely new one if the council ever pull their finger out!!). The staff are friendly and the food and drink is extortionate!!

Small personal theatre, seats comfortable. Reasonable prices in bar. Plenty of parking, either a small car park out & multi storey just a few minutes away. Only issue was that it was so hot..take a small hand held fan.

The show was amazing (Annie) the theatre was far too hot. Everyone in the audience was struggling with the heat. Make sure you bring a fan. The staff were lovely.

A lovely compact and bijou theatre which has a wide & diverse range of entertainment. We saw The James Bond Concert Spectacular which was wonderful & actually narrated by an original Moneypenny, Caroline Bliss. The staff were lovely and very helpfully, which added to our wonderful evening.

Great venue, always clean and staff are friendly and helpful. Seats are fairly comfortable and most have adequate legroom. Good range of shows and plays throughout the year.

Went to see Tap Factory at Wyvern recently. Car Parking is not easy as very limited spaces close to the Theatre. Nice cafe/bar area selling good drink options. Food options pretty limited. We had a great view of the stage from our seats in the Stalls. Sound quality was very good. Staff were helpful and friendly.

Well a fantastic show, however the ventilation is appalling. Even the band performing complained how hot it was inside. Half time looking going outside on to the balcony, looked towards the court building, visitors are greeted with overflowing bins and homeless people's tents. Not very indearing for the reputation of Swindon. Considering it's closeness to the Civic offices and the amount of community tax we pay, can we not keep areas seen by visitors to our town clean and less seedy looking?

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

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

Ha drinks before visiting the museum and then food in-between all the exhibits to allow a bit of rest for the old brain - the cafe is small and not on the ground floor and the toilets are down stairs There is a menu and the jacket potatoes were nice

Good value food and portion size, really friendly staff

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

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

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

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.

Beautiful gardens. Especially in autumn with all the autumnal colours. I would think it is stunning through all of the seasons. Very well maintained with lots of interesting information about trees dotted about. I learnt a few things. There is a 2000 year old lime tree that doesn’t look that old. I found that fascinating. Very good for children. You walk along a lovely wooden bridge amongst the tops of the trees. It’s a bit cheaper to go in the week than at the weekend. You can buy a membership that is well worth it if you intend to go a few times. It was busy so it seems it is very popular there. Lots of parking. You can’t do it all in one visit so we will definitely be going again. They also do concerts there.

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

We visited in late October—and wow, it was absolutely breathtaking. You honestly can’t imagine how beautiful a forest can be until you see this place. The colors, the atmosphere, everything felt straight out of a painting. Totally worth the trip.

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

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

The trees at the arboretum were amazing but a part from the trees there is no much more to see. I do appreciate that arboretums are for trees mainly but other parks I have visited before offer more interesting features such as sculptures, ponds, pagodas and other types of focal point that make the experience more memorable and unique. The map provided was not easy to read, so finding your way around was challenging .The entrance price was very steep at £21, so no much value for money.

Perfect day out in a beautiful environment. We have 2 dogs and there’s areas to let the dogs off, walk them on the lead as well as areas dogs aren’t allowed. There are literally miles of pathways to walk along. An autumn visit means you get to see all the beautiful colours- there’s a fabulous walkway through the trees that gives stunning views over the parkland - which has a lot of interesting facts for both adults and children. The food deserves a special mention - there’s a separate bbq station as well as the main restaurant with a great choice if you are gluten free or vegetarian.

This is a must visit in the UK. So peaceful and calm. There is ample space to park your car. You will have to have a look at the photos for you to get a glimpse of what you will experience, if you happen to plan a trip. A small play area designed for toddlers and also a range of farm animals, your toddler will be excited to see these. Some outdoor play facilities have been arranged as well.

Dropping a star because the booking info wasn't clear.. Given two booking times, 10am and 2pm.. it's not explained until after you've booked that it's "any time from 10am..." Plus.. it is a little pricey when you can access other parts of the forest for free.. BUT... It is like stepping into another world. The forest is magical. Even with other people there, it was quiet and beautiful. Lots of places to sit and enjoy nature. Steps are a little slippery so wear good shoes. There's also some farm animals to look at and an indoor and outdoor play area. Gift shop shuts at 5pm though the actual place shuts at 6pm.. something to keep in mind if you're saving your gift purchases until the end.

We spent a wonderful morning in this enchanting, magical forest. We wandered through there for about 3 hours, trying to make sure we didn't miss any of it, and back tracking to see views from different directions. We were lucky to go on a day with some sunshine, the sun light light hitting the mossy trees and lighting them up was just beautiful. Good facilities too, and friendly staff.

Please be aware , wear proper shoes, non slip and waterproof. A lot of mud, slippery, very slippery, and around 300+ stairs up and down, made out of wood and solid rocks. Beautiful views and there is a picnic area as well, enough for 100+people You can buy tickets on the spot. Just £9.90 The walk, depending of how you're moving around, it's about 2 hours, so you can enjoy the views. You can stay as long as you want, there are benches all over the place, made it off wood of course. Enjoy😊

The most stunning place. Very picturesque everywhere you look. But very slippery when it's raining. Make sure of good footwear.

The nature walk was fantastic. Feels like you're in the Ewok village. Be prepared for some mud. I would definitely visit again if I was in the area.

Gorgeous forest! I did feel let down that you have to pay to enter such a beautiful natural spot and of course I would have loved it to be bigger and to have gotten lost for considerably longer than we did. But even at the smaller scale that it is it really is quite stunning.

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

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

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

A beautiful National Trust location. The surrounding village is absolutely charming, with classic English atmosphere. There are also three wonderful pubs nearby — perfect for lunch or a relaxing drink after exploring the abbey.

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

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

It’s a pity we didn’t have more time to explore the area around the abbey — it was just a short stop for us, mainly because we were excited that Harry Potter was filmed here 🙂 We arrived right after opening and were the very first visitors to enter. The entrance ticket also includes the Photography Museum, as the very first photograph in history was created here. A wonderful place with a unique atmosphere.

This is my second time at the Tintern Abbey, the Abbey sits on the border between England and Wales but on the Welsh side. I loved it here both times, this time they also had a trail for children to follow and uncover facts. Highly recommend a visit to Tintern Abbey if you are nearby or even passing through to Wales. With rich history, and amazing views, don't miss out.

I’ve driven past Tintern Abbey countless times over the years, always admiring its setting but never quite stopping - maybe because from the outside, it just looked like a quiet ruin with not much going on inside. But I finally made the visit, and I’m so glad I did. The moment I stepped into the church nave, everything shifted. The soaring arches and the magnificent west front with its seven-light window are breathtaking. It’s hard to believe this place was stripped bare after the dissolution in 1536, left to decay for centuries before being rediscovered by artists and poets like Wordsworth and Turner in the 18th century. You can see why they were drawn to it - the ruins are hauntingly beautiful. For just £9, it’s a deeply worthwhile visit. The abbey’s location in the lush Wye Valley adds to the magic, and there’s a convenient pay-and-display car park plus a pub nearby if you want to make a day of it. If you’ve ever passed it thinking “just another ruin,” I’d say don’t wait as long as I did. It’s far more than that.

A very nice side trip. I'm not sure it is worth travelling a long distance for. There are some nice places to see in the small town. Parking is refunded if you enter the abbey. Tickets were £18 for 2 adults.

A beautiful place to visit with some very interesting history and some significant preservation challenges. It was a weekday afternoon with very few people around which made sitting, in what was the original church hall and the surrounding grounds, and incredibly peaceful experience. There was a lot of scaffolding up and areas cordened off as they fight to save the crumbling building but it is still well worth a visit. A local pub make parking and grabbing a drink afterwards easy

What a wonderful abbey. Well worth a visit and a nice short walk through the village and over the bridge. How on earth did they build such structures so long ago! Must be the power of religion 🤔🤔

It is a fantastic place. Very imposing in a peaceful area. I realise renovation works are crucial, but over the building is closed off. Not sure the entrance price reflects that.

Magnificent ruins, quite well interpreted. In a setting that's beautiful even in mid November. The staff are very friendly in the ticket office/shop and also in the tea room. I was glad to congratulate the baker of the cakes in person.

This beautiful castle has insane aura. The moment you pull up in the car park its presence is something that leaves you in awe. Me and my partner came here for the first time and we spent a few hours here just taking it all in, imagining what it would’ve been like to be here in the medieval times. There are information boards located throughout to give you a run of the history which is fascinating. We loved it and highly recommend it.

Definitely worth going if you're into castles. Good price compared to others and a lot of area to roam around. The story is good and building is great to show kids what and who built it. Still standing in some form over 900 years. You can climb the spiral steps to get great views over the river and town. Car park was under £3 for quite a while. Town is busy but interesting. Would go again.

Gorgeous large remains with lots of history to explore. Accessible and free for disabled visitors and carers. There will be parts that are obviously inaccessible. Lovely views too.

An absolutely gorgeous castle experience. Fascinating history of expansion and development. Love how the core original parts still show and were grown around. The old wooden door is remarkable! The view from the riverside balcony above the cellar is something I'll remember. Absolutely recommended. Ample (paid) parking by the entrance but also other parking nearby. Some parts being repaired or renovated early October 2025 but nothing stopping enjoying the majority of this fantastic castle

Chepstow Castle was amazing to visit. First of all, the castle is huge! You don’t realize how big it is when you first enter, but you keep going from section to section and it feels like it is never going to end. One of the very cool things is it is built on a cliff on the river. When you go over to that side of the castle and look out the windows, you can see that you were looking straight down onto the water of the river. When you go to the far end of the castle, you can look back and see that some of the sections actually overhang the cliff top. This is an amazing work that they did in building this castle. The great Hall is amazing as well, it is huge. It is hard to imagine what it was like when it was complete and finished, but it must’ve been very amazing and well done and it’s day. I would definitely recommend visiting Chepstow Castle if you were in the area or nearby. It is a must see for sure. I would give a couple of hours to amble around this one. There wasn’t any presentations or talks while we were there, but we definitely spent over two hours checking everything out. You could probably do it in under an hour, but you might be missing some of the key things by rushing it.

Chepstow Castle is a fantastic spot to explore. The ruins are well-preserved, with plenty of towers and walls to wander through. We loved the views overlooking the River Wye—it adds a really dramatic touch to the whole experience. There’s lots of history packed into the site, and it never felt too crowded, which made it easy to soak everything in. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area!

The people of Chepstow wanted a way to attract tourists but were not overly keen on building yet another theme park. They decided to build a castle. The foundations for Chepstow Castle were laid in 1978 and the building was completed by 1985. The castle was constructed using prefabricated blocks manufactured in Germany, they were shipped to Wales and locked together giving the appearance of age by utilising sandblasting to accelerate the process. Unfortunately in the early ninties faults appeared causing some of the prefabricated panels to fail and fall from the structure. The castle owners blamed the German manufacturers however they refused to accept any blame and pointed 👉 the finger at shoddy construction practices by the contractor who assembled their panels. The matter is still being dragged through the courts, no decision has been made as to who is liable. Meanwhile the crumbling debris has been removed and the castle has remained in its dilapidated state for many years. I paid nine quid, the crinkley rate, to enter Chepstow Castle 🏰. Do yourself a favour and walk around the outside for nothing. It looks very much the same from either side of the walls. You get to see crumbliness and save yourself nearly a tenner.

We had a great time at the American Museum. There's something for everyone, with a great variety of artefacts on show, from folk art, to reconstructed interiors through the ages. The staff were consistently friendly, helpful and informative. We were pleasantly surprised by the delightful gardens, which we weren't expecting, but really added to our visit. The museum was easily reached from the City centre by bus (alight at The Avenue stop). Whilst not particularly well signposted, the museum was reached by a short 10-15 minute walk along a path next to the road.

A lovely museum with fabulous gardens and walks around the grounds. We enjoyed the space exhibition and having a picnic in front of the house over looking stunning views. The staff/volunteers were very friendly and knowledgeable, we learnt a lots about the different periods of American history and loved the quilt room! A great day out!

A fascinating place, especially the basement which has history of the indigenous American people. My husband enjoyed the Space museum too. The volunteers are friendly and informative. There is a lift and the top of the beautiful gardens are accessible by wheelchair.

The gardens and the setting are spectacular, especially the New American Garden. The gardens offer color and interest and are beautifully maintained. It’s a wonderful place to spend a morning or afternoon. The staff at the entrance/ticket booth are very welcoming and helpful. As an American, I found the collection in the house to be a bit odd and outdated, but kudos to the founders for offering the opportunity to visit and soak in the beauty of this wonderful spot and to the current team for reimagining the possibilities of the landscape. Definitely worth visiting.

Before visiting, I didn't quite see the allure of simply a museum. I was mistaken from the moment that I regarded the American Museum as just another museum. Although the cafe is just fine, it's completely overshadowed by the picturesque estate and gardens. Upon entering the museum, I suddenly feel the tinge of root beer in my veins- more American- not just because of the impeccable atmosphere of some of the recreations but because I yearn to sail off to new land, assert my colonial dominance through completely ethical means with 100% no ethnic cleansing and build millions of American Museums and Gardens, which will certainly 'civilise' the land. Thank you for creating this beautiful sanctuary.

Really enjoyed the day here. We spent several hours enjoying the gardens, the museum and the space exhibition. The accessible routes round the garden and museum were very helpful. There is a lift in the museum to get you up to the first floor and down to the lower floor. The toilets were clean and tidy and the cafe served good food and drinks suitable for all ages and tastes. The views from the terrace are lovely in the Autumn. There were also fun activities laid on for children in half term.

Despite the rain and half-term crowds we really think this place is worth visiting. Gardens are beautifully maintained and the exhibition was well laid out and plenty to do with children

We have visited the festival of light for a few years and this year’s has been our best experience yet! The lights were very well thought out and we thought that the theme was fantastic! The animals on the drive round safari were also more active than usual which was brilliant too.

Brilliant day out! So much to do and see here. Especially if you visit when the lanterns are out. The animals were all well looked after and settled in their enclosures. We went through the safari twice as the animals were just incredible! Would love to visit again soon!

Festival of lights is incredible! We had a lovely day at the drive through safari and a wonderful evening taking in the wonderful lights. This is the 4th time I have been to a festival of lights and this was by far the best one!

Great family day out with the choice to opt out of the safari should you wish. Plenty for children to do to keep them occupied and the Bat Cave is a great experience too.. The Festival of Light is becoming an annual visit for us and we love the different themes each year. This year's Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run went down a storm with the children..🥰

We were at longleat for the festival of lights and enjoyed a full day exploring the park including the jungle cruise and safari bus. There was plenty to see and do one of the favourites was the bat cave and on both trips the staff were very helpful and informative. In the evening we enjoyed an amazing light festival and Christmas stalls.

Wow!!!! What an amazing day. Can't wait to do it again some time. The whole day had the wow factor. The safari was amazing, the light festival exceeded our expectations. We were able to take our own food, we could navigate the day at our own pace. So much to see, good variety of animals to see and up close too. Not too over crowded, loved the big tent for children to do activities in, sit down and relax on bean bags without having to pay additional charges, good value for money and will definitely recommend. A wonderful treat for the family.

Such wow factor. Everything was great. A bit busy and wet onThe Saturday but Friday was lovely and relaxed. We saw soooo many animals up close and the Farmhouse is stunning. We will be back!

We had a fabulous day out at Stourhead. The views and walks were amazing. The house was also so interesting! Unfortunately I can't rate it a 5 star this time as the lake had blue-green algae (lots of good warning signage though) and the flower beds and gardens were looking very dry and a bit unkempt. We will definitely visit again in Spring!

Lovely walk around a lake. Easy access and nice views. Busier than expected at October half term. Good setting off point for other walks outside the grounds of Stourhead house. Large car park, pub (check opening times), farm shop.

One of the most beautiful places ive visited recently, the architecture and the scenery is just amazing, absolutely perfect for a family to visit or walk the dog . Stourhead estate on the Wiltshire-Somerset border is the perfect day out for everyone. A breathtaking 18th century landscape garden with lakeside walks, grottoes and classical temples is only the beginning. You can also visit Stourhead House, a Palladian mansion with a fantastic regency library and beautiful art collection. Then why not climb the 205 steps to the top of King Alfred's Tower, an amazing red-brick folly, for vistas over Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire, or explore one of our Iron Age hill forts.

We went on a weekend in October and there were queues to get in, but once on the grounds it didn't feel too busy at all. The autumnal colours made made the scenery all that more stunning. If you don't want to grab a sit down meal before or after your walk, I'd recommend packing a picnic

Excellent place for a day out, lots of things to see! Definitely one of my favourite National Trust places so far, highly recommend it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We had a lovely day at stourhead visiting with my parents. The National trust House and gardens was really well set up. Probably the best National trust House and gardens for children to visit - obviously have to be careful of them around the lakes but lots of interesting things for them to do and see including in the house. The house itself you could only see downstairs which was slightly disappointing but the bits that you could see were really impressive - that included interesting architecture plus an extensive set of paintings, the furniture and the library outstanding from my perspective. The volunteers were really enthusiastic and explained about the different rooms and previous owners of the building. The house gardens and lakes are of course also very photogenic. The walk around the lakes takes about an hour we stopped on occasion because it was very hot to look inside the different grottos and buildings around the lake. Most of the refreshments and facilities are up near the house so it's worth getting ready for the walk. There are some steep cobbled sections which can be slippery in wet weather. We found a photographic exhibition was very interesting actually displayed in the gardens of the house.

Second time visiting, but in the rain which was different altogether, in a good way. Lots of features to look at when walking the vast grounds and the house is interesting, full of beautiful books and furniture as well as paintings with hidden features. Definitely worth a visit.