Workout your Brain in 2018 with Breakout Manchester

You could give your brain a new year workout by playing an escape room with Breakout Manchester. With puzzles and clues to solve, objects to find and games to play, an escape room really gets your brain working. Team work and leadership skills are also put to the test as you attempt to escape from your chosen room in under sixty minutes. Each room is fully themed,  from the Wild West's Most Wanted to the horror themed Captured, which adds to the immersive feel of the games.

This Christmas we played the 5* rated room Madchester at Breakout Manchester and we managed to retain our 100% breakout record by escaping the room with four minutes to spare. Go Team McD!

Madchester takes place in the bedroom of a Manchester super fan, who has an extensive range of memorabilia from sporting venues, bands, teams and locations from the Manchester area. It's a great room to play with plenty of puzzles to solve and things to discover. When you get stuck, the game operator sends you some cryptic clues, shown on a screen in the room, keeping the gameplay moving. Madchester is a tough game, so we were really proud of ourselves for cracking the codes and escaping.

What I love most about Breakout escape rooms is that they are great for all the family. Freddy is 8 years old and has successfully participated in breaking out of the four rooms that we have played as a family. He often spots things that we miss. Every member of the team has a part to play and can bring their own unique skills to the table. Whether you are good with words or numbers, can solve riddles, have keen observation skills and an eye for detail or are good at physical games, there will be something in the escape rooms that you do best.

Breakout escape rooms really are a fun activity for all the family, whatever the weather. You can find out more and book at breakoutmanchester.com.

The British Music Experience Launches their Summer Holidays Programme

Throughout the summer the British Music Experience in Liverpool will be welcoming families of all ages to come along and experience the story of British Music through costumes, instruments, performance, memorabilia and some special activities exclusively for the summer.

During the school holidays the British Music Experience really does have something for everyone with highlights including the chance to get your hands on a top-flight electric guitar in the Gibson Interactive Instrument Studio, daily story time and sing along sessions for the little ones and fun craft sessions.

Open Sessions - 22nd July to 3rd September 1 pm-3pm

 Meet the Visitor Experience Musicians who are on hand every day from 1 – 3 pm in the Gibson Interactive instrument studio. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced musician, you can unleash your inner rock star with experts on hand giving valuable tips.

Story Time Sessions - Everyday at 1.30pm

Enjoy an interactive, fun for all the family, storytime session with a musical theme. Sing along to well-known tunes and embark on an adventure in the Summer of Love, meeting friends and helping solve some puzzles along the way. Suitable for all ages.

Craft A Dream Catcher - Everyday between 11am-3.30pm

In the spirit of the Summer of Love you can make your own dream catchers in a workshop that encourages kids to create a take home craft. Free and fun for everyone.

In addition to the activities, visitors can enjoy the museum, which has a collection which boasts outfits worn by legendary artists such as Freddie Mercury, Dusty Springfield, The Spice Girls, Adam Ant and X Factor finalists not to mention musical instruments played by some of the world’s most renowned artists from Noel Gallagher to the Sex Pistols. There are hand written song lyrics from Adele, the original statues from the Brits and the Apple Corp front door from Saville Row.

You can learn a musical instrument with the best music equipment available, from drum kits to keyboards and even try your hand on a Gibson guitar in the Gibson Brands Interactive Studio. Teenagers will love putting their singing voice to the test in the vocal booth while younger children can Dance the Decades in the dance pop routines studio.  Perfect for music lovers of all ages.

After the main event browse an exclusive range of gifts, clothing, books and memorabilia from the Merch Store or enjoy a selection of snacks and meals in the Star Café.

Tickets are available to buy online here and directly from the Box Office at The British Music Experience. 

Adult £16

Child Under 5 FREE

Child (5-15) £11

Concession £14.50

Family Ticket £43

For more information visit: http://www.britishmusicexperience.com/

Warwick Castle becomes The Haunted Castle this Halloween

Until October 31st, Warwick Castle is hosting six all new spooky attractions turning it into The Haunted Castle in the week leading up to Halloween. We were invited along to join in the fun and experience the family thrills and scares. Warwick Castle stays open until 9 pm everyday of The Haunted Castle event, giving some after dark excitement to the bravest visitors.

During the day, families can get lost in time and enjoy the all new Horrible Histories Maze. Children can explore gruesome eras in history from the Terrible Tudors to the Stomin' Normans to the Vicious Vikings, as they attempt to re-order history and escape the maze. Along the way, you stamp a passport and once completed, it can be exchanged for a treat in the castle shop. There is so much to learn and Freddy really enjoyed it.

The Haunted Hollows walk-through is a magical trail filled with spooky secrets where fairy tales become scary tales. You encounter a friendly washerwoman, a grumpy gargoyle and a mysterious scarecrow as you make your way to the Witch's garden where golden vegetables grow. There are bats, spiders, skeletons and crows to spot as you explore the haunted hollows. As darkness falls, things get more eerie!

The Warwick Castle courtyard is decorated with hay bails and pumpkins giving it a seasonal makeover. There are spooky stories brought to life by resident storytellers and little wizards and witches can help the witches of Warwick conjure up spells in The Witches Tower. Eagles, Owls and Vultures take to the skies in the Flight of the Eagles show. The birds are utterly magnificent!

Included in your ticket price, is a brand new live action horror mazes Tormented, which has a 5 pumpkin scare rating! It tells the story of a woman tormented by the malevolent spirit of a man excused of murdering her family. With creepy dolls, unnerving special effects and doctors trying to cure the poor tormented woman of her 'condition', this is not for the faint hearted. Don't take the kids into these mazes. (Somebody in my group did and the poor girl had hysterics and had to be escorted out in tears.) You have to collect a free timed ticket for Tormented, returning at a set time to enter. Tormented opens at 12 pm.

Outbreak 1349, which is a free-flow attraction, opens at 5 pm. You come face to face with the plague ridden residents of Warwick Castle. Can you escape the Black Death?

After dark, the action hots up as fearless knights take part in a thrilling fire joust and the trebuchet catapults a fireball in an exciting demonstration. 

With the spectacular state rooms and Great Hall, Kingmaker, the towers and ramparts, the mound, the mill, the gaol and the Time Tower to explore, there is so much to see and do. We took an autumnal walk in the landscaped gardens and enjoyed a coffee in the conservatory overlooking the Peacock Garden watching the birds proudly strutting about. It is a lovely place for wandering about in the beautiful grounds, getting some fresh air and exercise and of course making leaf angels!

The Castle Dungeon (extra charge applies) completes the scary attractions on offer this Halloween. You can make a short break out of your visit by arranging a sleepover in the new Knight's Village.

We had a really good day and enjoyed learning about the history of the castle in such an interactive way. The Halloween attractions certainly added some spooky fun and make Warwick Castle a great choice this half term.

Find out more and book tickets at www.warwick-castle.com.

Roald Dahl's Tremendous Adventures at Tatton Park

Marvellous things are set to happen in 2016 as Tatton Park embarks on a magical journey celebrating 100 years since the birth of Roald Dahl, the world’s number one storyteller. Working closely with the Roald Dahl Literary Estate and legendary illustrator Quentin Blake, the  programme of events at Tatton Park is just one of a host of activities taking place throughout 2016 as part of the Roald Dahl 100th birthday celebrations. 

Fans of Dahl's work will be delighted to discover favourite characters from his best loved stories, brought to life through fun family activities, exhibitions and performances. It is a great venue for some family fun this half term and with many other events coming throughout the year, Tatton Hall promises lots of Roald Dahl related fun to celebrate the world's favourite storyteller.

These are the activities and events at Tatton Park:

Cover to Cover: Roald Dahl around the World until Sun 30th October.

A fascinating mansion exhibition displaying illustrations of Roald Dahl book jackets from across the world and throughout time.

  

Phiz Whizzing Trails until Sun 2nd October.

Families can explore the surroundings of Tatton Park by following these fantastic trails: Danny the Champion of the World in the Gardens, Fantastic Mr Fox at the Farm, Matilda in the Mansion and 

The Enormous Crocodile in the Parkland.

 Fantastic Mr Fox Activities at the Farm  from Tuesday 26th July - Friday 26th August.

Mr Fox invites you to spend the most marvellous summer day joining him in a farmyard packed with fun. Go on a journey to find the den, get creative in the writing hut, listen to storytelling and enjoy one of your best days ever!

Danny the Champion of the World Outdoor Theatre at the Old Hall  on Saturday August 27th.

Enjoy a terrific performance of DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD as he masterminds the most incredible and exciting plot ever to save his Dad from danger. (Additional charges and opening arrangements apply to this event.)

Roald Dahl Big Picnic Day Sunday September 11th.

Pack a picnic and come and celebrate the month Roald Dahl was born. Bags of activities to make for a splendiferous time.

Willy Wonka Outdoor Cinema Sunday September 11th.

A late summer screening of  WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY starring the legendary Gene Wilder as Wonka. Grab your golden ticket and bring a picnic. (Additional charges and opening arrangements apply to this event.)

A Frightsome Halloween Saturday 22th – Sunday 30th October.

“Witches are easily the most dangerous of all the living creatures on earth.” During half -term families can be spooktaculary entertained by Roald Dahl witchy mischief….with plenty of mice thrown in!

A Gloriumptious Christmas Mansion - late November – December

"Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it”. Step into the Christmas mansion and into Roald Dahl’s magical world as his extraordinary storytelling weaves itself through the grand staterooms and into the bustling servants’ quarters. (Additional charges and opening arrangements apply to this event.)

Normal opening times and prices apply to the events (unless otherwise stated.)

  

Visit tattonpark.org.uk/RoaldDahl for details.

Bug Hunting to celebrate the release of Miniscule in Vue cinemas

This half term, Vue cinemas are showing Minuscule - Valley of the Lost Ants, courtesy of Lionsgate Films. Using amazing CGI animation combined with real life backdrops, Minuscule transports families deep into the undergrowth to share an adventure where the tiniest minibeasts are the stars of the show.

Fighting over a box of sugar cubes from a discarded picnic, two tribes of ants, red and black, go head to head in an action packed battle that threatens the very safety of the black ants' nest. A brave little heroic ladybird finds himself caught up in the fighting, and has to use his ingenuity to save the day. Take a look at the trailer, it looks like it's going to be a great family movie with brilliant visual effects and lots of humour!

        


To celebrate the release of the creepy crawly animated adventure Minuscule in cinemas on May 27th 2016, we have been given some bug related goodies to get us acquainted with the stars on the show in our own back garden. We received a Bug Safari kit, a My Living World educational toy from Interplay.

The Bug Safari allows children to learn about and explore nature on their own doorstep. There is such a variety of mini-beasts in the garden for children to discover. From the teeny tiny ants to the colourful spotted ladybirds, the bugs of Minuscule can be caught and studied and then safely released using the tongs, tweezers, brush, field lens and viewing pot. Children can get up close to the wonderful world of bugs, nurturing a love and appreciation of wildlife and nature.

My own little budding entomologist Freddy has really enjoyed learning about bugs and searching for them in the garden. Using the booklet that came with the Bug Safari set, he has found out where to find insects and has discovered some fascinating facts about the species. The majority of his finds so far have been slugs and ants, and he has avoided catching spiders because they scare him! Freddy is hoping to find a butterfly so he can look at its wings through his field lens.

The Bug Safari has been a great introduction to the world of bugs and has peaked Freddy's interest in minibeasts in time for the release of Minuscule.

Check out the timings at your local Vue Cinema from May 27th for some family half term fun.

Digital Kids Show in Manchester set to be hosted by Dick and Dom

Children’s TV comedy duo Dick and Dom have been confirmed to kick off proceedings at the exciting new Digital Kids Show at Event City, Manchester this October.  

The two-day event is the first of its kind bringing to life the exciting digital world in a fun and friendly format for children, parents, teachers and carers. The show features six zones each offering inspirational, fun and educational activities for families to enjoy together.

The Gaming and Retro Tech will celebrate the very best of gaming, past, present and future! With retro and next generation computer games, families can battle it out on their favourite games from Mario to Minecraft. Visitors will also get a glimpse of the future being the first to experience some of the latest tech innovation from the digital world including VR gaming.

Digital, STEM & Coding Skills Zone – this exciting and innovative zone will help to inspire children about the vast array of digital opportunities available to them with fun, practical challenges and experiences. The future is at their fingertips.

The Safe Tech Zone is all about helping to keep children safe online and will provide the very latest advice to stay one step ahead of the dangers and risks, from cyber bulling to predators, hackers to viruses .

Get physical in the Appletics and Kids Food Zone!  This zone celebrates the way tech can be used to aid healthy living: from fun physical challenges to learning to cook to keeping track of what your family is eating. You can exercise your body and mind with fitness trackers and health apps. Plus Children’s TV’s favourite Mr. Bloom will be stopping by to say hello and sing some veggie songs.

In the Children’s Media Zone, kids will be able to get hands on and learn all about blogging, vlogging and social plugging, with famous faces from Nickelodeon, CBeebies and YouTube dropping by. There’ll be lots to learn and loads of fun to be had from learning how to take amazing selfies to meeting online heroes.

Finally, the Digital Angels Zone is set up with tech experts to help you get the most out of the tech you have with plenty of helpful tips and jargon busting hints. For those looking to invest in new tech, there will be buying advice to help you get the best deal on the right products for you to match your needs.

The show has been created and curated by online child safety expert Aisha Tilstone and will take place on 29th and 30th October at Event City, Manchester, welcoming 10,000 people each day.

In addition to the digital fun, there’ll be lots of traditional fun on offer too with fairground rides, shows and performances on the main stage, an Admiral Young Driver driving zone for 11-17 year olds and plenty of other things to see and do including some Halloween fun on Sunday 30 October. Look out for more information coming soon and check out the website at www.digitalkidsshow.co.uk

for more information and for early bird ticket sales.

Geronimo Festival will be back in 2016

The Geronimo children's festival will be returning in 2016 and promises to be bigger and better than ever with two venues, Tatton Park on 29/30 May and Harewood House 1/2 May. This festival is aimed at families with children aged under 12, who want to play, learn and have fun together. We went last year and it was an action packed day out with so much to do.

With the biggest names in children's entertainment such as Mr Bloom, Alex Winters, Andy Day and Cook and Line from Swashbuckle, children will get to see their TV favourites perform in the Geronostage Zone and get to see them at special meet and greet sessions.

The Adrenaline Zone will give children the chance to climb trees, build dens and even whizz down a zip line at speeds of up to 60 km/h. Taster sessions of archery, fencing and parkour will introduce new skills to young guests. The Arena Zone will be home to live displays such as jousting, motorbike stunts, horse handling, falconry or sheep dog demonstrations.

The Library Zone will see children take part in dance classes, singalong to the songs of Frozen and watch Mr Yipadee bring musical instruments to life. There will be theatre shows and story telling in the Theatre Zone while circus skills and performances will keep everyone happy in the Circus Zone.

Animal lovers will love the Pasture Zone where there will be pony or donkey riding. Crocodile Joe will be hosting a reptile show and there will be lots of wonderful giant tortoises to meet. Tumble Tots sessions, balance bikes and baby yoga will be available for little ones in the 3ft and Under Zone. Live music will be played throughout the day at the Bandstand Zone.

The Funky Junk Zone will inspire crafty kids to get making. Totem Pole making, stone carving, hair braiding, face painting and fairy craft workshops will keep everyone busy. There will traditional fairground rides in the Fairground Zone such as a helter skelter and carousel. The Woodland Zone will let kids run off steam, make a mud pie, learn to make a carrot whistle, monkey around on the high ropes course or ride a mountain bike.

We have been asked to be ambassadors for this event and so will be posting updates on the Geronimo festival over the next few months. Here are some photographs from last year's event showing some of the fun experiences that Freddy enjoyed!

Tickets are on sale priced from £18.50 pp for one day. Under 2's go free.

Find out more and buy tickets at www.geronimofest.com.

Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment - Our Review

Last weekend we headed off to Birmingham to review the wonderful Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment  at the Barclaycard Arena. 

The show features four stories: Toy Story 3, The Little Mermaid, Cars and Frozen, introduced by Disney favourites Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy. With exquisite costumes, stunning scenery, amazing choreography, special effects, pyrotechnics and original Disney music, the magic of Disney is brought to life on the ice. The story takes us from Andy's Toy Box to Under the Sea to Radiator Springs to Arendelle. What a journey!

The Toy Story routine was beautifully done, telling the tale of when Andy goes to college, leaving his beloved toys behind. Their adventure at Sunnyside and their elaborate escape is brilliantly executed and includes Woody taking to the skies on a kite and Lotso being picked up by a garbage truck driver's giant hand. Highlights included the toy soldiers with their synchronised routines and the hilarious love story of Barbie and Ken. It is touching, heartwarming and exciting with lots of laughs thrown into the mix.

The Little Mermaid is one of my favourite Disney films. I love the story of Ariel and her fishy friend Flounder, and Ursula the Sea Witch is a magnificent villain. I loved seeing the underwater kingdom brought to life on the ice with flowing fabric waves and intricately detailed dancing fish. The ice dancer portraying Ariel was perfect for the role, telling the story of how she fell in love with Eric, made a pact with the evil Ursula and eventually broke her spell with a kiss from her prince.

After the interval, we were treated to one of my favourite parts of the show. The Cars from Radiator Springs came to the rescue of Minnie and Mickey's new roadster that had broken down. The full size vehicles are so beautifully made and look great as they drive and spin across the ice. Mater the Tow Truck and Lightning McQueen are brilliant with their fully articulated eyes and talking mouths. We were all enthralled with the four wheeled characters and loved seeing Mickey and Minnie drive away in the pimped up roadster.

Frozen is still the part of the show that everyone is excitedly waiting for and when Anna and Elsa step on to the ice, they deliver with a musical extravaganza. When Elsa brings winter to Arendelle, special effects see snow fall from the sky and fountains freeze before your eyes. Elsa's castle that appears during 'Let It Go' number is spectacular and the arrival of Olaf the snowman received the loudest cheer from the crowd. The ice dancing was exquisite and of the highest standard, and the tale is told with real heart.

This is the perfect show for families to watch together. Seeing a Disney on Ice show guarantees you are in for a treat. With amazing performers, music, costumes and effects, the show is simply stunning. My family love it! It is a perfect show for younger children, introducing them to ice dancing and live performance, with characters and songs they know and love.

To find out when Disney on Ice is coming to a town near you and to book tickets visit: www.disney.co.uk/disney-on-ice/worlds-of-enchantment. The show runs until January 3rd 2016 with Belfast, Dublin, Sheffield and London dates available.

Going Wild at Knowsley Safari

We were invited to visit Knowsley Safari, a 550 acre park located in the North West of England, and home to over 700 animals. We were given the opportunity to ride their Baboon Bus with a guided safari tour and discover everything that Knowsley Safari has to offer adventurous families.

Knowsley Safari offers an interactive experience for animal lovers where you can come face to face with the free roaming animals, have lions block your path and watch as baboons hitch a ride on your wing mirror. Anything can happen! In addition to the drive through safari, Knowsley has an amusement park, a walk through Wild Trail, Sea Lion Encounter, Bat Forest, play area, Flight of the Talons and much more to explore. It is a full day out for all the family.

Our first port of call was a ride in the Baboon Bus with a guided safari tour. The bus goes all around the drive through safari route including the infamous baboon enclosure, where the cheeky monkeys get up close and personal with the vehicle. The tour guide was a very friendly and bubbly Liverpudlian lass who regaled us with facts about the animals and the safari park as well as some zoo related anecdotes and general chatter. We actually learned a lot of really interesting stuff in a fun and entertaining way, and although I am not usually a fan of audience participation, she was very engaging and made the tour enjoyable.

It was very busy and quite hot when we took the tour so the bus got quite stuffy, especially when the windows were shut in the carnivore and baboon enclosures, so remember to take some water and use the guide book as a makeshift fan!

As it was so warm a lot of the animals were sleeping and not very active, but we had a great view of snoozing lions, rhinos and other animals. The baboons were, however, super active!  They leaped on the top of the bus, using the windscreen wipers as climbing aids as they scaled the windows. It sounded like they were having a real party up there!  From our window we saw other cars crawling with baboons large and small. The mums with babies were particularly wonderful to see. Some monkeys left little presents on the roofs of the cars. Seeing monkey poo on someone's nicely polished car made Freddy laugh his head off! Toilet humour never fails to impress my boy. Before exiting the enclosure, the baboons on our roof were encouraged off and dozens jumped down and scurried away, which was quite a sight.

After our Baboon Bus experience we went for lunch and were pleased to see veggie burger options for both adults and children in the restaurant. The restaurant was clean, reasonably priced and efficient and the fast food meals we had were not at all bad.

Following our lunchtime break we went to the amusement park where we bought Freddy a wristband allowing him and an accompanying adult on all the rides, which included a swing ride, a kids' rollercoaster, dodgems, a carousel and other similar rides. While Ian and Freddy amused themselves with that, my girls and I went to the Bat Forest. The walk through enclosure was dark, but our eyes quickly adjusted allowing us to view the spectacular Egyptian Fruit Bats in flight and hanging around. They buzzed past our heads, flying around us. Quite an experience! We also got to see the lovely sealions in their pool, which we loved.

It was at this point that the heavens opened and it absolutely poured down with rain. So we made a dash back to the car to do the safari drive through in our own car. We had been supplied with a Go Pro to record our trip around the animals, but as it wasn't waterproof I had to film through the window, which was being pounded by torrential rain. Needless to say, the Go Pro videoing was a bit of a disaster.

As it was much later in the day and cooler, the animals were more active and lively. We saw lots of varieties of deer, antelope and cattle and came face to face with a huge camel that ran beside our car. The lions were up and about, fighting and crossing in front of the queue of cars. Unfortunately, we were a few cars back and didn't get a real close up of the beautiful big cats. Our favourite moment was when a rhino walked out in front of our car and stopped right in our path. He looked a bit agitated and rocked from side to side and we were slightly concerned whether he was going to charge at us. But the reason for his agitation soon became clear when he raised his tail and did an enormous poo on the road right in front of us, before turning and sauntering nonchalantly away. True to form, Freddy was in fits of giggles at the steaming pile of rhino dung!

We decided to brave the baboon enclosure in our own car, deciding that the risk of having a wiper or trim pulled off was worth it for the fun of having monkeys on our roof! However, the wet weather subdued the baboons and they were all sat huddled up under the cover of the trees, not at all interested in hanging off our car. It was a shame, but we enjoyed seeing the monkeys cuddling together against the cold, looking so humanlike!

Knowsley Safari has been awarded the 2015 Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor. Until September the 4th you can get 20% off the price of entry when booked online, which makes the cost £13.20 for adults and £10 for children. The baboon bus costs an extra £5 per person and the amusement park wristbands cost £10 for unlimited access or £2 per ride.

It is a full day out for families and we really had a great day...in spite of the torrential rain storm!

www.knowsleysafariexperience.co.uk

Sling Your Hook over to IWM North for February Half Term

Ever wondered what life is like at sea? Where would you sleep? What would you eat?

This half term, visitors of all ages who visit the Imperial War Museum in Manchester, can delve into the true stories of men, women, and even animals who have sailed the seas.

Families can discover what life was like on the high seas, in a week of family activities  at IWM North. From submarines to sea mines, you can explore the past 100 years at sea through storytelling, craft activities and objects on display. You can discover the real life stories of those who served at sea, such as Thomas Clare, a seasoned sailor who served on HMS Centurion - a huge battleship known as a super-Dreadnought.

We were invited along to try out some of the activities, prior to the half term holidays next week, and to explore the museum.

Families are invited to get creative in daily craft sessions to make a Message in a Bottle or a Scratch Art Sea Horizon.  Freddy and Kezia enjoyed taking part in the craft activities.  Younger visitors can take part in interactive story telling sessions and learn about the strange and surprising animals that have sailed the seas, including Olga the reindeer and Tirpitz the pig.  We enjoyed the story of Wally, the merchant seaman from Manchester.

You can try out some sailor slang and learn when you should Pipe Down and when to Sling Your Hook. There are also live theatrical performances bringing to life the stories of two women who made their wartime contribution by working in the shipyards of the First and Second World Wars (on Saturday 14th and Monday 16th February).

The exhibitions in the museum are really excellent, bringing to life the realities of war and their effect on the people involved.  Freddy loved looking at the plane, the tank and the fire engine exhibits.  He also really enjoyed the hands on exhibits where he got to dress up as a schoolboy during WW2, try out camouflage gear, test his sense of smell with the smells from the trenches and listen to real life accounts of wartime through phone handsets. It is such a thoughtful and educational experience for children.  Kezia was really interested in all the artifacts and the information about them.

If all of that activity works up an appetite, you can visit the Watershard Café and Kitchen, which has some amazing waterside views. The kids can enjoy a ration pack including a drink, a sandwich and a selection of three more items such as jelly, yogurt, fruit, a boiled egg, a cake, crisps or a biscuit.  Both hot and cold meals are available alongside a selection of cakes and drinks.

If you are brave enough, you can ascend the AirShard to get a birds-eye view of what was once the busy Manchester shipping canal. It is very high and the floor is see through resulting in a nerve wracking experience if you are a little nervous of heights!

Entry is free but donations are welcome. Find out more at iwm.org.uk or connect with IWM North on facebook.com/iwm.north or on twitter @IWMNorth

Visiting Legoland Discovery Centre with a Merlin Annual Pass

We are big fans of the Merlin Annual Pass, which lets you get into thirty one fantastic UK attractions for 12 whole months. It's brilliant when you have a family that enjoys days out and exciting adventures together, allowing you to visit places such as Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Chessington, Dungeons, Legoland, Madame Tussauds, Blackpool Tower and SeaLife Centres all for one price.   If you order a Merlin Annual Pass in their January Sale, prices start at just £99 per person (for a standard pass for a family of 3, 4 or 5). It's the cheapest price they will be all year, making it a great time to buy.

We were invited to review one of the Merlin attractions that you can visit using a Merlin Annual Pass and we chose to go to Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester.

Legoland Discovery Centre is a great indoor attraction located in Barton Square at the intu Trafford Centre, right next to the SeaLife Centre (another great Merlin attraction).  Its location makes it the perfect place for MAP holders to pop in for a quick play when out shopping in Manchester.

We arrived just after the centre opened and were greeted at the door and shown through to the desk. You can buy fabulous activity packs filled with puzzles and LEGO facts that can be worn around the neck using a lanyard for just £3, so we treated Freddy to one.  You can collect stamps throughout the attraction, which is something Freddy enjoyed doing and ensures you get to see everything.  Going early meant we didn't have to do much queuing or waiting for rides or shows, so it was a really good time for a visit.

Before entering the main part of the LDC, you go through the fun factory tour guided by Professor Brick who gets the kids involved with working the machines to produce their very own souvenir LEGO bricks that they get to keep.  Freddy loves audience participation and is always first up to join in, so he was very happy to help Professor Brick make the pretend machines work by turning, jumping and shouting at the equipment!

There are three rides at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre. Kingdom Quest Laser Ride lets you climb aboard a chariot in order to save the princess by shooting the trolls and skeletons with laser guns.  There is also the Forest Pursuit ride where kids can become rookie cops and chase the bad guys around a LEGO City landscape.  Merlin's Apprentice is a pedal operated flying ride which takes riders into the air helping Merlin to conjure his magic.  Freddy went on all three of the rides and loved them all.  They are aimed at younger children, but grown-ups get to enjoy the fun on the Kingdom Quest and on Merlin's Apprentice!

Miniland brings to life the sights of Manchester and surrounding areas such as the Lake District, Birmingham, Blackpool and Alton Towers, in miniature built using LEGO bricks.  With the models going through a cycle of time, you can see Miniland by night and day.  When everything is all lit up it looks really effective.  The detail of the models is wonderful and there are so many things to spot. We loved the model of Alton Towers with the fully working Oblivion ride.  It made us look forward to visiting Alton Towers again when it reopens in March (using our Merlin Annual Passes!)

Miniature versions of the Man Utd and Man City stadiums and Aintree Race Course let little hands get interactive with the models as they try to score a winning goal or come first in a horse race.

There is a 100 seat LEGO Studio 4D cinema at LDC showing The Legends of Chima.  The fabulous 3D film and special effects, such as wind and bubbles, made a really entertaining show featuring the animals of Chima as they embarked on an exciting adventure.  Freddy was chuckling throughout, especially when the skunk let off his stinky smell, emitting a green cloud of gas!

Throughout the day, there are workshops for budding model builders to try their hand at making a model, assisted by a member of staff.  Each child is given a bag of bits and given step by step guidance to create a model.

Freddy made a really cute gingerbread house, complete with a candy cane and a marshmallow tree. He was very proud of himself and really enjoyed the workshop. He got lots of types about LEGO construction and I was really impressed with how well he followed the instructions to create his lovely little model.

Freddy and Ian both really loved the LEGO Racers where you can build a vehicle and test drive it on the various tracks.  They raced against other kids' and timed their cars as they whizzed down the slopes.

Other attractions include the huge, multi-levelled soft play area, LEGO Construction.  It gives parents a chance to sit down on the sofas and relax with a cup of coffee from the cafe whilst the kids let off some steam.  Big boxes of LEGO allow children to immerse themselves in bricks and get creative building anything they want to.  We all enjoyed making our own creations from the multi-coloured bricks.

The LEGO Friends area lets kids enter Olivia's House where everything is pink and somewhat girlie. With flower shaped tables where you can play with pastel coloured bricks, a full size LEGO kitchen and a pretty funky karaoke machine to sing favourite songs, it's a cool place to hang out.  Perfect for children who like things a little more feminine. Freddy was happy to get up on stage to sing a rendition on Incy Wincy Spider, even though he wasn't that keen on the pinkness of the area! However, I think it is good to appeal to all tastes and think that the LEGO Friends range offers something a bit different to children who prefer flowers and butterflies to racing cars and construction.

The DUPLO area is perfect for toddlers and includes a set of giant bricks for them to build with.  All ages are catered for so well and anyone who is a fan of LEGO will have a great time!

There is also a Star Wars Miniland Model Display featuring scenes from Episode III Attack of the Clones, with some interactive bits with buttons to press and some spectacular creations to view.  A NinjaGo Laser Training Camp lets kids practice their Ninja skills by making their way through a series of laser beams, trying to not set off the alarm.  Crawling, jumping and stepping over the red beams of light proved a lot of fun for my little Ninja!

There are lots of full size models around the centre including a cool F1 racing car, Harry Potter and Buzz Lightyear.  It is amazing what can be built out of LEGO!!

The LEGO shop is a fabulous store filled with all things LEGO, from clothing to accessories to full building sets.  The children each made their own LEGO mini figure using the mix and match body parts and accessories, which they really enjoyed doing.  At 2 for £4 it's not too expensive either. Merlin Annual Pass holders get 20% off purchases, making it another great reason to have one!

We had a really lovely time at the Legoland Discovery Centre.  We spent approximately two and a half hours there and did everything we wanted to.  The centre has good facilities including a family restroom, baby changing, pushchair park and cafe, plus there is a lift between floors.  It is open from 10am - 7pm daily and prices start from just £9.95 (for online booking) with under 2's free.  Merlin Annual Pass holders can enjoy unlimited access all year round!

Find out more by visiting the website:  Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester 

You can find out more about a Merlin Annual Pass, which gives you access to a year of family fun and awesome days out by visiting:   www.merlinannualpass.co.uk. I love the freedom it gives us a family to enjoy unlimited days out without worrying about the cost.

The MERLIN ANNUAL PASS January SALE is now on, so be sure to grab a Merlin Annual Pass at the YEAR’S LOWEST PRICES – from just £99*.

To buy your Merlin Annual Pass click here.

*The Merlin Annual Pass is just £99 per person when you buy a family set of four passes.

Our Day Out at Greenwood Forest Park

In Snowdonia, just an hour away from Chester lies Greenwood Forest Park, a place for challenging fun, action packed outdoor pursuits and active adventure for all the family.  We had tickets for a visit during their Halloween event and so yesterday, Freddy donned his favourite Halloween onesie and headband and we made our way to Wales for a day out!

I was glad that I had packed Freddy's wellies because it was pretty muddy, but thankfully the weather was kind to us and it was quite warm for late October.  Greenwood Forest Park is pretty rustic with attractions that blend into the forest setting, so don't expect flashing lights and fancy rides.  Instead you'll find lots of natural materials and things that rely on people power!

There were plenty of Halloween bits and bobs around the park to get us in the Halloween mood, and kids in costume received a free hot chocolate, which was a nice touch.

The Great Green Run is a 70 m  sledge run that allows riders to whizz down a hill in a toboggan. There is also a smaller version for younger children to enjoy.  Freddy tried out both of the runs and absolutely loved it!

The Crocodile Maze is a boardwalk maze in the forest.  Willow cuttings are dotted throughout the spaces between the raised platforms. When it is all fully grown it will be much harder to find your way through, but it was still a good challenge for Freddy who found his way to the centre to find the crocodile sculpture and then found his way back out, leading us all behind him.

The WildWEB is a 6 m tall double mast rope pyramid, which provides a great challenge!  Freddy did really well working out how to climb up the ropes.  Daddy looked on to help him across some of the trickier bits!  It's a great activity for kids looking for a physical challenge.

The Moonkarts are pedal powered one or two seater carts that can be ridden around the quite extensive track.  Freddy did really well getting the hang of the steering levers although he did have a few crashes, including an incident where he totally rear ended his sister's cart!  It was great fun though!

The Barefoot Trail proved to be a real favourite activity.  Children can walk through the trail exploring the different textures with their bare feet.  There was water to wade through and smooth stones, rocks, fossils, mud, pebbles and straw to walk over.  It is a real sensory experience that both Freddy and Kizzy really enjoyed doing.  It is quite a long trail and very well designed with all the different areas to explore underfoot.

There is plenty of storage for shoes and socks and afterwards, there is a foot cleaning station with soap, water and paper towels to clean up messy feet!

We all enjoyed the Jungle Boats where we had to propel our boat through a canal using only paddles and ropes to pull ourselves along.  It was a lot of fun and we went round twice, with Freddy being the chief oarsman!

There are lots of play areas including the brilliant wooden Tree Top Towers complete with netted walkways, tube slides and four tall timber towers.  The Tunnel Warren is a smaller version for the under 7's to enjoy, but Freddy loved the challenge of the huge Tree Top Towers.  The Giant Jumper was also very popular with Freddy.  It is a huge 1500 sq ft pillow shaped bouncy jumper that children can clamber up and bounce on.  It was a lot of fun!  The Zip Wires and Trim Trail were also good activities for active kids.

There is a people powered Green Dragon Rollercoaster that runs on a 250 m track through the woods. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to ride it.  Nor did we have time to take part in any of the craft activities, do a donkey ride or have a go at archery. There really is a lot to do.

The restaurant was really good, serving lovely veggie burgers, chips, kids' lunchboxes and traybake cakes. Four of us ate for £30, making it reasonable value.  Inside is an indoor play area The Enchanted Woodbarn for kids up to 1.4 m tall.  Freddy loved playing while we enjoyed a coffee after our meal. It is a really nice attraction for families whatever the weather.  There are other soft play areas for toddlers too.

Greenwood Forest Park is a good value attraction with most of the things to do being included in the entry price. We spent a good few hours there and Freddy totally tired himself out.  By the time we came home, Freddy was worn out and dirty after all his physical fun - just how kids should be after a proper day out!

It is nice to see a park that is eco-friendly, relying on nature and people power for many of its attractions. It was perfect for someone of Freddy's age as he could do everything, giving him the freedom to explore. And we were impressed to find a decent veggie option in the restaurant.  All in all, it proved a good day out where we had lots of laughs, which for me is what a family adventure is all about.

You can find out more about Greenwood Forest Park here: http://www.greenwoodforestpark.co.uk/