Showing posts with label Animals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Animals. Show all posts

Thursday 29 August 2019

Our Visit to Marwell Zoo, Hampshire - A Review

Over the past few years we have been very fortunate to visit several zoos in numerous destinations around Europe. Whilst providing visitors the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful animals in the world up close, I believe that zoos also educate and inspire people to consider the part that they can play in conservation and learn more about animals that may be facing extinction.

I have heard and read great things about Marwell Zoo in the past, so whilst visiting the area recently we paid the zoo a visit and enjoyed a fantastic family day out together, amongst the beautiful surroundings. Located in Hampshire, the zoo is situated within the grounds of a 140 acre park, which is home to hundreds of different animals and birds. I have seen it described as being one of Hampshire's top attractions and following our recent visit, it was clear for me to understand why.


We arrived at approximately 11am after an early start from our home in North Wales. I had been slightly concerned that we may have had an issue with parking, but we were pleasantly surprised to find a very large FREE car park, with numerous attendants who guided all guests into their spaces. It was then a short walk from our vehicle to the entrance, which had several tills and lines to welcome visitors in a friendly and quick manner.

The admission prices are really reasonable and there is also an annual membership option available if you would like to visit more regularly. An adult day pass including donation is £21, whilst a child admission is £17. As you can see from the image above, there are also discounted prices available for seniors, students and family entry.


As we entered the zoo, Riley was excited to see some advertisements for the Brickosaurs event. Lego and Dinosaurs are two of his favourite things, so he was delighted at the thought of seeing some huge dinosaurs made completely out of Lego bricks. He was provided with a map and competition entry form so that he could locate all of the different dinosaurs throughout the zoo. This also had the option to enter a competition by guessing how many bricks were involved in the making of the spectacular Tyrannosaurus Rex.

As we began to make our way around the zoo we came across some beautiful penguins. They had a huge enclosure and it was fantastic to be able to see them so close. You have two options of being able to view the penguins and this can either be from above, or alternatively you can also see them swimming in the water below. My children loved being able to see them both walking and swimming around.


One thing that soon became apparent, was how well laid out the zoo is. It felt really spacious and well maintained, which meant that despite being really busy, it never felt too crowded or enclosed. We also really liked how many picnic and seating areas there were located around the site, so that families had plenty of places to enjoy a refreshing drink or a bite to eat.

As we continued to make our way around the zoo, we came across the Giraffe House. The giraffes were all inside feeding as we arrived and I could have quite literally stood there for hours just watching them. They were so beautiful and graceful as they walked around and Riley was fascinated to see just how tall they were up close. The Giraffe House was a large area which provided plenty of space, but there was also a fantastic outdoor enclosure that gave them plenty of space to roam and enjoy themselves. I was really pleased to see how much room they had and they all looked very happy and healthy.


As we left the Giraffe House, we went to visit the Lemur Loop, however although it was open for guests the lemurs had decided to go inside following a heavy downpour of rain, so a staff member advised us to come back later in the day. It was a very strange day for weather as one minute it was glorious sunshine and the next minute torrential rain. We therefore continued to make our way around the zoo and searched for some more animals and dinosaurs.

Riley soon spotted several more dinosaurs and after also spending some time watching the playful meerkats, we found a picnic bench to stop for a drink and a snack. The picnic benches had lovely views over a field that contained some zebras and there were also plenty of wild birds around us that my youngest son enjoyed spotting in the trees.


The kids then decided that it was time for a park stop, so my husband and I sat down nearby whilst the children spent half an hour playing. There were several parks located around the zoo, which I felt really helped to break up the day. It meant that in between seeing the animals or searching for dinosaurs, my husband and I could have a sit down and chat, whilst the children could enjoy a play.

We also really enjoyed the educational element of our day out and my children really enjoyed reading all the facts about each animal. Marwell Zoo displayed plenty of factual information and there was also details about how endangered they were. My 12 year old daughter found some of these very surprising and I think it helped her to realise the importance of zoos in preventing extinction.


Our next stop was the incredible Tropical House which spans across two floors and is home to a large variety of animals, insects, birds and 2500 fish. I had no prior knowledge of this part of the zoo prior to our visit, so I was quite taken aback by just how special it is.

It was amazing walking amongst beautiful butterflies and tropical birds as they flew freely around the building. We also saw turtles, frogs and lizards as we followed the route around, but our favourite certainly came towards the end, as we stood and observed the fascinating team work of the leaf-cutter ants. Watching them work together was fantastic and my youngest son Riley was absolutely mesmerized. My children also really enjoyed the aviary and seeing such a wide variety of different birds.

As we came towards the end of our visit, we were very excited to see some pygmy hippos, an animal that I don't ever recall seeing previously. I loved watching them in their large Aquatic Mammal house and they really were absolutely beautiful.


Overall we had an absolutely wonderful day at Marwell Zoo. It may have been our first time visiting, but it certainly won't be our last, as we were left extremely impressed by just how lovely it was. We spent approximately 5 hours there, which was just the right amount of time for my family, but we noticed that they also had a hotel on site, so we would definitely be tempted to spend longer there in the future. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Marwell Zoo to others looking for an enjoyable day out in beautiful surroundings.


Attraction Details

Address- Marwell Zoo, Thompson's Lane, Colden Common, Winchester, SO21 1JH

Opening Times - Marwell Zoo is open all year round from 10am apart from on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Please check the website for closing times as this can vary throughout the year.

Entry prices - Information regarding entry prices can be found on the Marwell Zoo website here.

If you would like to find out more about Marwell Zoo, then you can visit their website or social media pages on the following channels:

Instagram: @MarwellZoo


*Disclaimer - We were provided with complimentary admission, for the purpose of writing an honest review of our visit. All opinions are my own unless stated otherwise. Any prices, times or dates are believed to be correct at the time of writing, but are subject to change. I would therefore always recommend visiting the attraction's own website in order to obtain the most up to date information.


Monday 1 April 2019

L.O.L Surprise!™ Fuzzy Pets Makeover Series - Toy Review

As you may have seen from our previous blog posts, my youngest child absolutely loves the unboxing of items and the revealing of surprises, whether this be watching someone else do it on YouTube, or discovering the toys for himself, it certainly provides him with plenty of entertainment. Therefore when the opportunity recently arose to check out the new L.O.L Surprise!™ Fuzzy Pets, he was more than happy to assist.

These fabulous little toys allow you to unbox seven surprises, with this all new product from the series. Each item provides a little hint as to the pet that is hiding inside and which fuzzy animal you are likely to receive. Not only are there plenty of surprises inside, but these gorgeous little pets can also be customised, by applying your makeover skills to change its appearance and remove the outer layer of fuzz. It is a fabulous addition to the L.O.L range and is sure to bring plenty of excitement to any L.O.L Surprise!™ fans.


My youngest son Riley is aware of the L.O.L Surprise!™ range, but has not played with any of the products previously. However, as an animal lover with a great sense of creativity, he was really eager to take a closer look at the Fuzzy Pets series and find out some more about the toys. As soon as they arrived in the post, he was very keen to begin unwrapping the packaging and discover exactly what was inside.

The product is aimed at children aged 3+ and each set comes complete with a fuzzy pet, a magic mirror, a feeding bottle, a secret message, a pooper scooper, an accessory, and an outfit. All of these items come presented in a shampoo shaped bottle, which is also multi-purpose, as this can later be used as the bath for your new L.O.L pet, or as a fashion accessory.

Riley began to open his first fuzzy pet packaging, to reveal a shampoo shaped container. Inside this were numerous blind bags, which Riley excitedly ripped apart. The first items he came across were a secret message (which his elder brother helped him to decipher) and a glittery mirror. For an adult the secret messages are very simple, but for the age range that they are aimed at, it really encourages children to get thinking and my son was really pleased when he managed to figure it out. If you do have any trouble though, then the answer is written upside down underneath.



Riley continued to open the packets and the next items he came across were a drinks bottle and a pooper scooper! He found the idea of a toy pooper scooper quite funny and as we have not played with these toys before, we were unaware at the time that we would get to use this later on. Further packets revealed what we initially thought was a bracelet (but soon realised was a carry handle), a fashion accessory and of course a fuzzy pet.

At the bottom of the shampoo shaped bottle there was also an oval shaped container and Riley was very keen to see what was inside. My first thought was that it may contain slime, which seems to be a common theme amongst toys at the moment, however we were both pleased to find that it was actually kinetic sand, which has been a favourite of all of my children over the years. We put this to one side initially, whilst we set about removing the fuzz from the pet.


The instructions explain that you can also customise this by drawing your own patterns on to the fuzz with a wet cotton bud, however Riley was more excited to try and reveal the pet beneath the fuzz, so we went along with his preference and set up the shampoo bottle bath. It is important to remember to add the handle to the bottle at this point, as this closes two of the holes which are at the side of the bottle and prevents any water from leaking out. The handle also makes it easy to transport it to the sink and bin, once the fuzz has all been removed.

The removal of the fuzz is a really simple and fun activity and you just need to fill the shampoo bottle bath with water, then place your pet inside and rub to remove the fuzz. Riley really enjoyed this part of the process and enjoyed watching the colour of the water change too. The tub is quite small when the pet is placed inside, so if you did find this too fiddly then you could always use a large bowl as an alternative.


The bottle has a clever draining system, which I thought was a great idea, as this means that you can remove the lid at the bottom of the bottle to release the water into the sink, but the fuzz remains captured in the sieve type contraption. You can then simply empty this into the bin, making it really easy to clean after use. Something which is always a benefit to parents.

On reading the instructions, we discovered that there was also a further treat hidden amongst the kinetic sand. We did not know this originally, so it was an added bonus and Riley was delighted to have the opportunity to use the pooper scooper to dig out his treasure. Once the hidden accessory had been discovered, it meant that Riley could also play with the kinetic sand, which gave another element of play to the toy.

Riley decided to remove all of the fuzz on one of his pets, but on his second one he decided to try something a little different and chose to only remove the fuzz from the head, leaving the blue fuzzy body in tact. This means that he can change it in the future if he wants to, but he was determined to have a blue pet, so has decided to keep it that way for now.

The pets can also squirt water from their mouths or cry, once they have been fed some water from their bottles. Riley really enjoyed squirting water at us and it provided plenty of laughter throughout the afternoon.


Overall, we had plenty of fun with the L.O.L Surprise!™ Fuzzy Pets and the whole family were involved when it came to removing the fuzz. We had such a good laugh and a giggle whilst Riley revealed the pet and I found that the product was actually far better than I had initially expected it to be. With an RRP of £13.99, I think that these are great value for money and they certainly kept Riley entertained for quite some time. I would be more than happy to purchase some more of these for Riley in the future should he wish to expand his collection. Ultimately I would recommend this product to others for some fabulous L.O.L Surprise!™ fun.

The L.O.L Surprise!™ Fuzzy Pets Makeover Series, can currently be found at good toy retailers including Smyths Toys, The Entertainer, Argos, Asda and Amazon. For further information on this product or others in the L.O.L Surprise! range, then you can visit the L.O.L Surprise!™ social media pages on the following channels:

Facebook: facebook.com/LOLSurpriseUK
Instagram: @lolsurprise.uk


*Disclaimer: We were provided with two complimentary L.O.L Surpise! Fuzzy Pets, for the purpose of writing an honest review of the product. All thoughts and opinions are our own. This post contains an Amazon affiliate link, which means that I may receive a small commission should you choose to purchase from this retailer.

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Puxton Park Review & Upcoming Christmas Events!

Earlier this year, we visited the wonderful Puxton Park which is set amongst 40 acres of countryside, in Somerset. There was so much to do there, that we didn't get the chance to do everything in one day, so we were delighted to have the opportunity to return a couple of weeks ago, for another fun packed family adventure!


Like our previous visit, there was no issue with parking as there is a huge car park available for guests, which is also free of charge. The young girl on reception was very welcoming and we purchased tickets for my parents, who had come along to join us for the day. Our entrance was slightly different on this occasion, as due to there being a Halloween theme running that week, we had the chance to walk through the spooky tunnel to reach the main site.

As soon as we were outdoors, the kids were adamant that we needed to take the obligatory funny photo, before continuing with our visit. 


When we last had our day out at Puxton Park, we missed out on a few things, which included the tractor ride & falconry display, so before we set off anywhere, I made sure that I checked the timings for these events to ensure that we did not miss them this time round. The children remembered the meerkats from their last visit, so we decided to start from the back of the attraction where they are located and work our way forwards throughout the day. 

As we made our way to the Meerkats, we passed some beautiful animals, so we stopped at regular intervals to say hello and take a look. One thing that really impressed us was how clean and tidy the whole park is. The paths are clear and well maintained, which made it great for Grandad to be able to walk along, without having to worry about any bumps or holes. As we got closer to the meerkat compound, the fence maze caught Riley's attention and he quickly ran in, determined to complete it all by himself. He did manage to do it on his own, then he did it again, and again, and again! In the end we sat down on a nearby bench as he seemed more than happy just running round and round the maze, whilst Emma and Ben enjoyed bouncing on some nearby trampolines.


Once I had finally managed to convince Riley to leave the maze (of course on the promise that he could return later) we went over to the meerkats, where we literally could have watched them for hours.

Opposite to the Meerkats is a large animal barn, that contains a variety of farm animals including sheep, goats, shetland ponies and alpacas. There is also a lovely petting zoo area where you can stroke and hold guinea pigs and rabbits. This whole area is nicely set out and very clean and tidy. Each enclosure has plenty of space for the animals and their homes are designed around a little town theme. Our personal favourite was 'Miceland'!



After spending some time with the animals, my phone alarm went off to alert me to the fact it was nearly time for the tractor ride. We therefore made our way over to join the queue. Riley was very excited by this point and couldn't wait to climb onboard the tractor trailer to go on a little journey. We hadn't been waiting long, before a young man arrived with the tractor and reversed the vehicle to the start of the queue. We took our seats and set off on our bumpy ride towards the large cow sheds. The driver stopped for a short while in each shed so that the children could see all the animals. He told us about the different breeds of cows and what food they could produce. The jersey cows were my favourite, they are so adorable! It was also very interesting to learn about all the work that goes in to producing some of the food & drink that we take for granted, such as milk, butter, cheese and ice cream. These are all so readily available in the supermarkets, but I hadn't actually thought much about how they were produced beforehand. It was therefore a bit of a learning curve for me, as well as for the kids.


Once our tractor ride was completed, both the kids and Grandad were hungry and thirsty, so we headed over to the Meadows Restaurant to get a bite to eat. There was a lovely selection of cakes available, as well as delicious looking hot meals. As I had already eaten a large breakfast that day, I decided not to purchase anything but Nana and Grandad both bought some sandwiches each and the kids all bought a lunch box that contained a sandwich, drink and some snacks.


After lunch, it was time for the falconry display. We were all really looking forward to watching this as hadn't had the chance to do so on our last visit, so we walked over to the display field and took a seat on one of the benches. The falconry expert introduced numerous birds to us including an Eagle and an Owl and told us more about each species. It was fascinating watching the speed that they can travel through the sky and it was also incredible to see them up close.



Riley's favourite part of the day however, was on the lovely little train ride, that took us on a journey around the small lake. This was really enjoyable and it was great to see Riley enjoying himself so much and making 'Choo Choo' noises as we travelled around.


The remainder of the day was spent enjoying the many play areas that are available for the children. These range from large adventure playgrounds, to fun filled sand play areas, as well as a huge three storey indoor soft play zone. There is certainly plenty of choice and more than enough to keep families of all ages entertained.


Once again we had an absolutely fantastic visit to Puxton Park and it is certainly one of my favourite attractions that we have visited in the South West of England. On both of our visits I have found the customer service to be exceptional, the whole park clean, tidy and well presented, and wonderful facilities and events to keep you busy in all weathers. We have been very lucky that on both of our visits we had lovely sunshine, but the soft play area, animal barn & cow shed are all indoors, so there is still plenty to see and do on a rainy day too.

Puxton Park Christmas Events

Puxton Park is open all year round except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. They have a great range of fun festive events planned for the next few weeks, that are sure to delight and entertain families of all ages.

They have gone all out with their plans for this year and have even created a brand new attraction especially for Christmas! The space between the JCB Dig Sandpit and the Crazee Golf Course, has been transformed into a Santa's Grotto, with adjoining events room. This new feature will be a comfortable home to both Father and Mrs Christmas, as well as their loyal elves. Santa's Grotto will be open every weekend in December from 10am til 4pm and December 19th to 23rd from 10am til 4pm. The Grotto will also be open on Christmas Eve from 10am til 2pm. Guests are invited to enjoy the new Cosy Cottage and Events room where they can visit the Puxton reindeer, enjoy Christmas stories, create beautiful crafts and even watch some Christmas films. For an additional charge of £5 children can also visit Father Christmas and recieve a special present.

In addition to the Santa's Grotto, Puxton Park will also be hosting their very first Grand Light Switch On Event, which shall be taking place on the 2nd December. The event will commence at 3pm, with the light switch on at 4pm and closing at 5:30pm. There will also be some very special guests in attendance as the cast of the Weston Playhouse's Aladdin pantomime come along to enjoy the festivities, including TV celebrity John Altman, who played Eastender's Nasty Nick. An official ribbon cutting ceremony for the parks newest attraction 'The Cosy Cottage' will also take place.

From the 19th to the 22nd December, Puxton Park will also be hosting their annual supper with Santa. This event includes a buffet tea, ice cream, funky disco and a present from Santa. After the meal, children are invited to play in the spectacular 3-story soft play area, whilst parents can sit back, relax and enjoy a tea or coffee. This event does carry a charge, so to obtain the most up to date information or to reserve & purchase tickets, please either visit reception or call on 01934 523500.

Attraction Details

Puxton Park, Cowslip Lane, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset
Parking - Yes, there is plenty of free parking available.
Opening times - Daily from 9am til 5:30-pm Monday to Sunday (excl. 25th/26th December and 1st January).
Entry prices - Entrance costs vary, so please visit Ticket Prices to obtain the most up to date information.
Website - www.puxton.co.uk/
Twitter - @PuxtonPark
Facebook - Puxton Park

*Disclaimer - We received a complimentary family ticket to provide our honest opinion and review of the attraction. We purchased three additional tickets for our accompanying guests. All opinions and photographs are my own unless otherwise stated.

Wednesday 9 August 2017

It's Time to Play! at Chester Zoo

Chester Zoo is well renowned for being one of the best conservation, animal and leisure attractions in the world. It's regular animal care programmes, vital conservation work and enhancements to the zoo have seen it's visitors grow to over 1.9 million guests a year which really is an incredible achievement. It is only a ten minute drive away from our family home and so we have seen the changes that have been made over the years and have watched the zoo grow with the addition of the Island's habitats that opened in 2015.

The zoo has now invested in a brand new Play! space as well as installing fun Play! challenges throughout the attraction which have all been designed to encourage families to have fun together. Families can be assured of enjoying a laughter filled day of exploring, that is packed full of fun and adventure. We were therefore very excited to be invited along to Chester Zoo last week to check out the new Play! Base Camp and try their fun Play! activities which include skipping, balancing, climbing and lots of laughing.

On arrival at the zoo we were provided with a play map which gave us an explorers guide to non-stop play. The activities we could enjoy were marked out on the map and the main Play! Base Camp was highlighted in the middle. We were also given one of the normal attraction maps, which my son Riley very quickly placed himself in charge of, as he began to march through the attraction towards his favourite animals. The first stop was the giraffes, which Riley couldn't wait to see up close.


Riley was amazed by how tall they were and he couldn't believe that even the baby giraffes were taller than him! Once we had walked through the giraffe enclosure and then through the tropical realm next door, we came to our first play activity which was the tortoise shells!


My children each took it in turns to be a tortoise and imagined what it must be like to carry a huge shell on your back every single day. The tortoise shells are a very simple idea but encourage imaginative play and they are large enough for adults to fit in and join in the fun too!

Next up was one of my favourite animals which is the Sloth. I absolutely love this picture that my husband took of one of the sloths travelling along the rope under the beautiful blue skies.


Mr F was on great form with the photographs and also managed to take this photo of one of the stunning jaguars in the Spirit of the Jaguar enclosure. The animals are just so beautiful and it was great to be able to see them in such close proximity.


As we continued to make our way around the zoo we came across two further activites which were "Follow the Line" and the "Flamingo Balance". Riley loved attempting the flamingo balance and although he didn't get it quite right, he was more than happy at just being able to stand on one leg. As you can see it isn't the perfect flamingo stance, but he had lots of fun trying all the same, which is what Play! is all about.


After attempting the flamingo balance, Riley took control of the Play! map once more and noticed that we weren't far away from the Play! Base Camp. We therefore made our way past the penguins and towards the lions, which the base camp is adjacent too. We could see the large slide housed in the 9m high Baobab tree in the distance. This really stood out and so the kids all excitedly made their way over to the play area ready to burn some energy, climb like a monkey and ultimately have some fun!



The play area was absolutely fantastic with so much to do for all ages. There was a large sand play area that provided a fun and safe environment to play in, as well as some more challenging play equipment for older children such as the spider web ropes and climbing nets. The whole area has been really well thought out and covers a large space. This means that despite it being really busy, it didn't feel too chaotic or dangerous in any part, as there was plenty of room for everyone.



In addition to the high energy play areas, there were also some quieter areas that offered you somewhere to go for a more chilled out play. There are also activities such as Tots Story Time and  Animal Game Shows that are held in these areas at certain times, as well as Play! dates events that are scheduled throughout the summer. You can find the most up to date information on these here: Play! Dates & Activities



There is a large cafe area opposite the Play! Base Camp and so this also gave us somewhere to enjoy a drink whilst watching our kids enjoy themselves. We stayed here for just over an hour, but I am sure my children would have happily played there much longer. After all that play, it was only fair that they had a little rest and enjoyed a delicious ice cream.


The Play! theme continued all around the zoo and we kept a look out for any challenges that we came across. Some of our favourites were the Monkeys Balance, Hot Lava Stepping Stones and the Skipping Lane. We also enjoyed making our way along this path by hopping like a frog. It was great to see so many parents & grandparents joining in with the fun too.


In addition to all the wonderful Play! that you can have at Chester Zoo, there are of course many other fun things to see and do. The Zoo is home to over 15,000 amazing animals as well as featuring some stunning gardens to enjoy. The Islands habitat which was introduced in 2015 is incredible and one of our favourite areas of the attraction. You could easily believe that you had been transported to South East Asia if it wasn't for the British climate reminding you of your real location.



The Islands also offer some great places to capture some memories with some lovely photo opportunities scattered throughout. I think that these are a great idea and provide you with the perfect background to remember your visit and look back on in the future.



As our visit came to an end, we made our way to one of the shops where Riley had earlier spotted an inflatable giraffe. These were only £5 and he thought it would be hilarious driving back home with a giant giraffe in the car window, so how could I refuse!


Overall, we had an absolutely fantastic day at Chester Zoo and I would like to thank them for inviting us along to Play! There is so much family fun to be had, with activities for guests of all ages. The animals are very well cared for and we were very lucky to see one of the new baby Rhino's that was recently welcomed to the zoo. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and well cared for, with the whole zoo appearing immaculate and tidy in appearance. We had a really enjoyable day and cannot wait to see Chester Zoo continue to achieve great things in the future.

Important Information

Address - Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester, Chester, CH2 1LH (Sat Nav CH2 1EU)

Opening Times - Opening times vary throughout the year and so I would always recommend visiting the Chester Zoo website for the most up to date information prior to visiting. Opening time information can be found here: Opening Times

Entry Price - Prices vary and the most up to date information can be found on the website here: Ticket Prices & Online Booking


Chester Zoo can also be followed on social media and there social media accounts are as follows:

Facebook - Chesterzoo1
Twitter - @ChesterZoo
Instagram - @ChesterZoo
YouTube - OfficialChesterZoo


Disclaimer: We were invited to Chester Zoo as guests to experience the new Play! at Chester Zoo, however we were not asked to write a review and have done this of our own accord due to having such a fantastic day. Opinions and photographs are my own unless stated otherwise. Thank you to Chester Zoo for inviting us.

Sunday 9 April 2017

A Family Visit to Puxton Park - A Review

We are very fortunate to get the opportunity to visit numerous attractions throughout the year, and we love to share our opinions with our readers. Whilst many of the places we visit are indeed fantastic, occasionally an absolute gem of a place will crop up, as was the case with Puxton Park, located near Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset.


For the past week we have been staying in a beautiful lodge in Burnham-on-Sea which was approximately a 30 minute drive away from Puxton Park. I had taken a look at the website before visiting and the attraction was described as "The ultimate fun-filled experience for the family". Following a browse through the online photographs, I had expectations of the attraction being a farm park with a large indoor play area, and whilst it does contain both those elements, Puxton Park is actually a whole lot more.

Our journey to the attraction was really easy, with it being located a short distance from the M5 motorway. It is very well signposted, and there is a very large sign located at the main entrance, so it would be hard to miss. The sun was shining and it was an absolutely lovely day to be visiting, so we were slightly concerned that parking may be an issue, however we were pleased to find that there was a huge car park, with ample parking spaces for guests.

On entry we found the reception area within a large foyer where there is plenty of room for guests waiting to enter the park. The staff on the desk were very friendly, and we were provided with directions to the entry doors, and a map so that we could find our way easily around the attraction.
In the past we have visited and reviewed attractions as a family of five, however on this occasion, the grandparents had come along too, and so it was great to be able to also obtain their opinion on the day and views from their perspective as well.


There are some toilet facilities located near the main entrance, and so we had a quick loo stop before entering. The toilets were quite low down, and so it meant that Riley was able to use the toilet without any assistance, and Nana also commented that the facilities were extremely clean. This was at the start of the day, however we visited them again several times throughout our visit, and they remained spotless.


On entering the park, we decided to make our way to the back of the site, and then work our way forwards. However, on the way, Riley spotted some electric tractors and quickly hopped on. These carried a small additional charge of £1, but lasted for three laps, and were very easy for Riley to control. He really enjoyed this, and we returned to this part of the attraction several times throughout the day. Next to this were some pedal powered tractors, all in a range of different sizes and aimed at under 5's. Riley really enjoyed making way around the tractor course and it was a lovely activity to start the day.



We then continued to make our way to Pets Village and the animal enclosures. We were immediately very impressed with the cleanliness in this area, and could clearly see that it is very well cared for and maintained well. Whilst here. we had the opportunity to watch an animal show, where the presenter provided information on several different animals including a chicken, goat, and a hare. The presenter spoke loudly and clearly, but also in an engaging manner that kept even the youngest of visitors interested. Guests were then invited down at the end of the talk to meet and stroke some of the animals, and the staff were also happy to answer any questions.




The bunny and guinea pig area was lovely, and the hutches had been cleverly decorated to resemble small town buildings including the local supermarket 'Miceland' a school and 'Toast Tails Fire Station'.



Our particular favourite was Meerkat Manor, where it was lovely to see the busy meerkats interacting with one another in their large enclosure. There were viewing windows all around the enclosure to make it easy for children to see, and the wall was short enough for adults to see over, so there was ample space for everyone to get a good view. There was a beautiful moment, where the meerkat on watch was joined by two others, and they all stood together perfectly still for several minutes. Absolutely adorable!



Next stop was the Puxton Farm & Dairy, which houses an organic herd of 150 pedigree Holstein cows as well as some beautiful Jersey cows. This part of the attraction is so well thought out, and the cow shed also features a maternity paddock, and nursery section. The walkway is located above the cows, so that they remain undisturbed, whilst guests get a view of the expectant mothers, and newly born calfs. There are also clear signs full of fun and interesting facts at frequent intervals along and around the walkway.




Just outside the main animal area, were some trampolines that were built into the ground. Riley, Emma and Ben burnt off some energy here whilst we had a quick sit down in the sunshine, before they ran over to the maze located next door. The maze is a simple but fun idea made out of fencing, and the kids absolutely loved it. Riley kept bursting into giggles every time they realised they had made a wrong turn.


It was at this point that Grandad commented on how fantastic the disabled access was around the park. There were ramps to reach the cow shed area, and the ground was very even and flat throughout the attraction. There was ample space between each area, to allow room for wheelchairs or the use of mobility scooters, and benches were sited near each activity to provide a comfortable place to sit down. We have visited numerous places in the past where due to uneven ground, Grandad has had to hire a mobility scooter, but here he was able to get round fine with the use of his walking stick and found plenty of places to have a rest when needed.

We all began to get a little thirsty at this point, and so we decided to find the restaurant to stop for some lunch and a drink. On the way, we came across a lovely miniature railway which took you on a quick tour around a small lake. This was really enjoyable for all of us, and a wonderful activity to have within the park.


When we reached the restaurant, we were really impressed with the prices of the food. Most places over inflate the prices, but we found it to be really reasonable here, and the meals looked absolutely delicious. We had eaten a large breakfast prior to setting off that morning, and so didn't need a big lunch, which was a shame as the carvery looked spectacular, and I must admit that I was slightly envious of other peoples plates. The kids all had tubs of ice cream which were tasty, Mr F enjoyed a large slice of cake, whilst Nana enjoyed a wonderful Tuna Salad. We also all had some drinks, which again were fairly priced.

Whilst making our way to the restaurant we had noticed a large JCB Dig & Play area, which was a huge sand play zone which featured several large JCB models that children could climb on. Riley absolutely loved playing here, and could have quite happily sat here for hours. Emma and Ben joined in for a while, before heading over to the Jumping Pillow area whilst the queue was small. I was happy to see that safety was of importance, and noticed that the man in charge of this activity would only let a few children on at a time. We have been to a few places where there isn't even any supervision on these and so this was a great thing to see.


When we had first arrived at Puxton Park, and were travelling down their long drive way, we had noticed that there was a sign for a car boot sale to be held in one of the fields. Never one to miss a bargain, we decided to take a stroll down the drive to have a little wander around, and so we checked with the gentleman on reception that it would be ok to return in a short while. He said this was no problem at all, and stamped our hands to ensure there would be no issue when we came back.

When we returned from the car boot, we topped up our sun cream by the car, and dropped off our coats to save carrying them around, and headed back into the park. We went straight over to the bumper boats, which seemed to be the most popular activity as there was a large queue, however this did reduce quite quickly. There was also plenty of seating for anyone not riding the boats, which gave you a nice place to stop and have a rest whilst other guest in your party queued for the ride. This was the highlight of the day for the kids, as although they have ridden on bumper boats before, these ones could also spray and squirt water on other riders, ensuring that you got very wet! Children had to be over 1.4 metres to ride this on their own, but an adult could ride with any children smaller than this.



As our day out was drawing to a close, we paid one last trip to the fantastic outdoor adventure playground before ending our visit in the huge indoor play area featuring slides galore! The kids had an absolute ball in here, and there was plenty to do for all ages. The slides also included two scary drop slides which my son plucked up the courage to do, but my daughter passed on this, and I definitely didn't blame her as I wouldn't have done it either.

Overall we had an absolutely fantastic day at Puxton Park, and it is easy to see why they have recently won 'Experience of the Year' in the Bristol Lifestyle Awards 2017. The whole attraction was beautifully laid out, well cared for, and spotlessly clean throughout. All staff that we encountered were courteous, polite and friendly, and we felt that the entry prices offered excellent value for money. We could have quite easily visited for a second day had our schedule for the week not been full, as there were several activities that we did not experience including the crazy golf, falconry display and tractor ride, and so we will definitely make a point of returning should we be in the area again soon.

Entry prices are as follows:

Adults: £8.90
Children: £9.90 (2-16 years)
Children under 2 can enter for free.
Concessions £6.90
Family Ticket (4 persons) £36.00
Late Entry (After 3:30pm) £4.00

There is also a reduced rate available for disabled guests, who can pay the blue badge holder price of £3. As mentioned earlier in the review, the park is completely wheelchair friendly. Carers are also permitted entry free of charge, as long as relevant identification can be provided on arrival. For further information please visit this page of their website: Entry Prices

For further information on all the facilities then please visit the Puxton Park website here: Puxton Park

Disclaimer: We received a complimentary family admission for the purpose of providing an honest and impartial review. All opinions and photographs are my own unless otherwise stated.