Museums National
Offers
Reviews
 |
Cadbury World (Birmingham)
by loopy-lou33 We live in the Midlands and have visited Cadbury World a few times since it opened, over 20 years ago. Recently, the kids (aged 7, 9 and 11) had been pestering me to visit, as we hadn't been for a few years. I checked out the website and the admission prices were as follows: Adult: £14.75 Child (4-15): £10.75 Under ... 4: Free Concessions: £11.10 Family of 4: £45 Family of 5: £53 As there are 5 of us, I felt that £53 was a bit steep for a visit to a chocolate factory, especially as in my experience, the whole visit only takes a couple of hours. Luckily though, I had some Tesco Clubcard vouchers and was able to redeem them and get us all in for free. Booking And Getting There Although I had vouchers, all customers are still required to book a visiting slot by phone to guarantee a place, as the factory gets very busy. I had to phone an 0844 number (not cheap) and was kept on hold for 10 minutes before someone booked be in for 12:20 the next day. She gave me a reference number to tell the receptionist when I arrived. Cadbury World is pretty easy to find and well signposted from the M5 and M6 motorways with brown signs. The attraction is located near pretty Bournville village, which was a special housing area built especially for the workers of the Cadbury factory in Victorian times. The entrance to the attraction is unmissable, with its trademark purple signposts and visuals. The car park is huge, with lots of spaces, and also has a large area for coaches. the car park is located a shork distance from the attraction, which is just as well, as it was pouring down with rain on the day we visited and I appreciated the fact that I could get inside quickly. I must admit, I was shocked by the cluttered reception area. There were people everywhere, all squashed in like sardines. I think the main problem was that the lobby had too many things going on: There were queues for booked tickets and unbooked tickets, a cafe and a large shop, not to mention the queue to enter the attraction itself. This made it very difficult to locate the correct queue, as the sheer volume of people heading in different directions was quite distracting. I did eventually manage to check in and the receptionist, like all the staff, was friendly and pleasant, taking the time to talk us through the attraction and how to get the most from our day. Entrance was by timed ticket, so when out time came up on the clock, we made our way to yet another queue to enter the attraction itself. Before we went in, the lady gave us a Crunchie bar and Curly Wurly each. My little boy didn't like the Curly Wurly because the toffee got stuck in his teeth. I think they would have done better giving out something like a fudge bar instead. Fourteen Zones Cadbury World is made up of fourteen seperate zones, or distinct areas: 1: Aztec Jungle The first area explains the early origins of chocolate. The area is made to look like a jungle, and is very atmospheric, with appropriate noises and atmosphere. there are statues, telling the story of the Aztecs and Mayans and how they prized the cocoa bean, even using it as currency. This area reminded me a bit of the crystal maze and i almost expected Richard O Brian to jump out and give us a challenge! 2: Journey to Europe This area consists of corridors which are lined with box scenes with little hologram characters inside, telling the story of how Cortez brought chocolate to Europe. My only criticism of this area is that the scenes were too high for children to see properly, and the narrow corridors were a but crowded and uncomfortable. 3: Bull Street The corridor culminates in a reconstruction of Bull St, where Mr Cadbury had his first shop. This area isn't so much a zone as a waiting area for the next attraction, which is in a seated theatre. This area gets very crowded and squashy as people pool in to go to the next part of the building. there is a lady with a microphone trying to chat and keep everyone entertained, but it got very noisy and my little boy got a bit scared of the crowd, noise and heat and the fact we had to wait for so long before moving on. 4: Cadbury Story We were then ushered into a room with lots of long benches. The seating was not tiered, so the people who were not seated at the front could not really see very well. The area used holograms of actors to tell the story of Cadbury and how they revolutionized working conditions in Victorian times. To be honest, it went over the head of the kids present, and my kids found it a bit boring. Also, it sounded a bit like an extended advert for the Cadbury brand, which was unecessary, as we already like Cadburys, or we wouln't have been there! 5: Making Chocolate Story After that, we were ushered into yet another theatre area, to much moaning and groaning of my kids! This area was quite good though, because it told how chocolate was made, and we saw what happens to the beans, with the benches vibrating and moving from side to side to illustrate the machinery, and large rollers and heaters descending from the ceiling to show the roasting process. Everyone enjoyed this part and most of the guests were laughing. 6: Manufacturing This area is the actual factory area, although you don't see much, other than a few machines shunting boxes. They have added a few attractions, such as some games and a couple of Wii games, but to be honest, I took my kids here to get away from the games consoles, so gave them a wide berth. There was also a green screen where you could have your photo taken against a funny background. We had our picture taken with our heads popping out of a couple of easyer eggs, but didn't buy the photo, as it was £6! 7: Packaging This area was shut, and has been shut every time I have visited Cadbury World. There is a lady at the end of a corridor handing out Dairy milks and a couple of metal chairs facing a screen on the wall showing another film about chocolate, but to be honest, it seems a bit of a badly thought out space filler. 8: Cadabra For me, Cadabra is the best attraction at Cadbury World. it is a little ride which takes you in a car around a fantasy chocolate land, the closest this place gets to Willy Wonkas factory. Unfortunately, the queue for the ride was a whopping 30 minutes, with nothing really to entertain you during the long, tedious wait. When we finally got on the ride, it broke down, but fortunately got going again in a short time! The ride was great, really magaical, and in my opinion, they should just make the whole place one big Cadabra ride! 9: Chocolate Making After Cadabra, we went to the chocolate making room, where a lady greets you with a plastic tub full of warm chocolate and a spoon! In this room, you can write your name in chocolate and also see the staff making the moulded chocolate and eggs. Visisbility was poor though as this was a very popular and crowded area, and it was hard to get near the demonstrations. 10: Advertising Avenue Cadburys have made some memorable TV ads over the years and this area showcases the best. The whole area is based on the clips that they used to show when they sponsored Coronation St a few years ago, with a little street where everything was made of chocolate, including the people. If you look in the windows of the houses you can see some of the classic ads. They even have the drum playing gorilla from the Dairy Milk ad, and who can forget the cool ad with the kids wiggling their eyebrows? 11: Purple Planet The idea for this section is good, it is an interactive area with high tech attractions. Unfortunately, when we visited, most of the things in this area were broken. My kids liked the floor which had projections of chocolates that you could tread on and squash. there was also a screen where you could have your photo taken and they would make a statue of you out of chocolate. 12: Cadbury Shop The shop leads you back to the lobby. There is lots of chocolate in the shop, but to be honest, I'd had my fill at this point! There is a factory shop, but there wasn't anything in the shop that was cheaper than the supermarkets. they had some nice Cadbury merchandise though. The shop also leads to the cafe, which was jam packed, but as we were thirsty, we had to grab a few drinks. The most basic drinks were £1.80 each, so it is a good idea to bring your own. They had some lovely looking smoothies and shakes, but at nearly £3 each, they were too expensive for our family of five. 13: Bournville Experience Not so much an experience, as a little room with some old Cadbury photos and packaging. A bit dull really. Just outside this area is a huge brand new adventure play area, which looked really impressive, but unfortunately was closed for the day as it was raining. Shame, as it looked fantastic. 14: Essence In this final area you get to watch another scene with holographic actors, before going into a room where the staff have lined up different sweets and goodies that you can cover in warm chocolate. I opted for marshmallows and so did my daughter. My oldest son opted for biscuits and my husband went for jelly babies. My youngest had had enough chocolate at this point and didn't want any! Summary Cadbury World was an enjoyable alternative to theme parks and other days out, offering something different. The high points were the lovely Cadabra ride, the great friendly staff and the fact that the place catered well for disabled visitors, offering good access and even having a special wheelchair car on the ride. They also had an audio guide in different languages to cater for visitors from different countries. On the down side, I found the place very crowded and cluttered and I think that some of the areas were badly thought through. The queue system needed streamlining. The emphasis on history was a bit boring for children in the way it was put across, and some of the areas offered poor visibilty for small children. Some of the attractions were broken and did not work properly. I would probably not bother returning to Cadbury World. I think that once you have done the tour, there is not really any reason to go back, as very little changes. However, it is a nice day out for families with young kids who want something a little different from the usual school holiday fare. Just make sure you pay with clubcard vouchers though. A chocoholics dream! Read the complete review |
|
|
Scottish National Portrait Gallery (Edinburgh)
by steves001 Formerly somewhat overshadowed by our other National Galleries, north and south of the border, The Scottish National Portrait Gallery has undergone a dramatic transformation recently. It reopened last December following an extensive (and expensive) redevelopment project, and the extended space open to the public is now much more ... accessible and welcoming. I wasn't surprised to learn that this gallery has just been nominated for the Art Fund Prize 2012, the UK's 'museum of the year' award. Apart from the building itself, as now revealed, what impressed me most was its novel interpretation of portraiture as 'people, places and events'. It's a fascinating take on celebrity and ancestry, but there's far more to see here than the traditional paintings of famous Scots. For example, it includes the Scottish national collection of photography, and the 'Hot Scots' display includes the likes of Karen Gillan and David Tennant from Dr Who. ~~A trip to the Gallery~~ My recent two hour visit barely scratched the surface of what the gallery has to offer, and I plan to return soon to explore further. Anyone else planning a trip should be aware of an apparent glitch with Google Maps that might have caused me problems had I not already been aware of the gallery's location. It's not next to the other galleries on Princes Street/Mound or Belford Road. It is in fact quite a short walk from the main bus station and not far from Waverley (train) station. There are also multi-storey car parks near the bus station. See full address below. ~~The 'new' building~~ Like so many recent renovation projects, this has been a delicate balancing act between modernising and preserving the best of the architectural heritage. The neo-gothic building may not be to everyone's taste but certainly retains its imposing presence in Edinburgh's New Town. The mainly warm red brick structure contrasts quite strikingly with the predominantly stone facades of the area, reminding me a little of St Pancras. Having just reviewed the Scotsman newspaper on this site, I was interested to read that the gallery was originally championed by the eminent historian Thomas Carlyle; but the building was only made possible through the philanthropy of a former Scotsman proprietor, John Ritchie Findlay. Edinburgh's Queen Street premises finally opened in 1889, shortly after the famous London Gallery moved to its present location near Trafalgar Square. The interior is if anything more impressive, with stunning architectural features, brightly presented galleries, exhibition spaces and an accessible library with some interesting objects. I was particularly taken with the Great Hall and its unique pageant/frieze. This immediately strikes you as you enter the building but I found it best viewed from the first floor balcony. But ultimately it's the collections that really justify the cost of the building. ~~Portraits and much more~~ Apparently the Scottish National Galleries permanent collection contains more than 65,000 items. With the opening up of the Portrait Gallery, 60% more of its treasures are on display than before - which I can well believe! But I was also struck by the number and variety of exhibitions on offer here - currently 17. This brief review can't begin to do justice to the scope of the gallery. But for some insight and highlights I'd thoroughly recommend visiting their excellent website - see address below. Meanwhile, suffice it to say, this attraction is not just about stuffy portraits of Scots 'worthies', though these are very well represented. In addition to portraiture, my initial visit took in the full spectrum of maps, prints, photographs, sculptures, landscape art and more besides. It's also bang up to date. I appreciated the arrangement by broad themes and trails and was particularly entertained by the trail entitled 'Fur Coat an' Nae Knickers'. Nothing stuffy about this attraction! The touch-screen information systems are also well worthwhile and truly imaginative. For other ways to explore and interact with this innovative gallery, visit its website (address below) or, better still, visit in person! ~~Cost and access~~ Admission is free. While a charge may be made for special exhibitions, I didn't actually come across this. Facilities for disabled visitors include wheelchair accessibility throughout, a specially adapted lift and toilet. ~~Other facilities and activities~~ *Café - large and well stocked *Gift Shop - not fully explored on this occasion but the books looked particularly interesting and informative *Events - currently 34 advertised events for adults, children and families *Educational - 'extensive learning and outreach programmes' ~~Opening hours~~ The gallery is open daily from 10am to 5pm (7pm on Thursdays). ~~Address & Contact info~~ *Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JD *Website : www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/298-intr​oduction *Phone : +44 (0)131 624 6200 *email : enquiries@nationalgalleries.org [© SteveS001 2012. A version of this original review may appear on other review sites] Read the complete review |
 |
Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery (Bristol)
by Ninski1 I visited the Bristol Museum and art Gallery in March 2012. It houses a wide and diverse range of objects from dinosaurs to the latest Banksy Paint Pot Angel. There are a total of 20 rooms/galleries over the buildings three floors, each room has a theme, such as the Egyptian room, which houses mummies, artefacts and a history of life ... in Egyptian times. There is also an impressive collection of stuffed animals such as a tiger, Dodo, and other birds. The whole building is child friendly; I had my two year old with me and he enjoyed looking at all the animals. Most of the exhibits have an education area, in the dinosaur area there were books and model dinosaurs that the children could play with, in the Egyptian room there were a number of computers that you could access to find out further information. All of the collections are very informative, there is an interesting Eastern art section, with pots and statues and such like. There is also an exhibition of the history of Bristol, including old maps and geology and a section on minerals including the Bristol Diamond. The museum has a number of exhibitions over the year so it's worth checking out their website to see if there is anything that looks interesting, as well as its fixed exhibits. The museum itself is located within the town centre, approximately 10 minutes walk from the top of the Christmas Steps, on Queen's Road next to the Wills University Building. The building has facilities that include a small shop, toilets, a café and an under 7's play area. This was more like an under 5's play area, it had dressing up costumes, soft play cushions, a microphone, and lots of soft animals and books to keep little ones amused for a while. It was secure, adults were allowed in and were expected to stay and supervise their children. We spent a few hours in the museum looking at all it had to offer and for free (donations greatly appreciated) it was well worth visiting. My overall impression of the building was good, Edwardian Baroque architecture, and the range of things to see was pretty impressive, it seems to be able to cater for all tastes, from young to old, so even if you are only interested in Eastern art or dinosaurs its worth checking out. Read the complete review |
Museum National |
||
|---|---|---|
|
1 review Museum National / Location: 8 Cathedral Green, Wells Somerset, BA5 2UE. |
|
|
Museum National / Museum of the old grammar school in Hawkshead, Cumbria. |
|
|
1 review Museum National / Chain Road, Creetown, Newton Stewart, Dumfries and Galloway, DG8 7HJ, Scotland. |
|
|
Museum National / Address: Southey Hill Trading Estate, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5NR. |
|
|
3 reviews Address: Albert Dock / Museum National / Liverpool / L3 4BB / Merseyside / England - International modern and contemporary art. |
|
|
2 reviews Address: Bovington / Museum National / Dorset / BH20 6JG / England - Over 300 tanks are on display here, ranging from WWI to the most recent Challenger. |
|
|
Address: Hitchin / Museum National / Hertfordshire / SG4 9TS / England |
|
|
2 reviews Address: Grahame Park Way / Museum National / London / NW9 5TW / England |
|
|
1 review Address: Port Sunlight Village / Museum National / Wirral / CH62 5EQ / Merseyside / England |
|
|
1 review Address: Manor Park / Museum National / Runcorn / WA7 1SX / Cheshire / England - Aside from the museum, one can enjoy the optical stimulus of the excavated medieval ruins, the spectacular St Christopher statue, the Walled Garden and the extensive woodland and sculpture trail. |
|
| Museum National recommendations 1 ... 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 ... back next | ||
| dooyoo Results 111 - 120 of 403 | ||
