A Wookey Whole lotta cash! (Wookey Hole)

Member Name: NaomiGibson

Product:	Wookey Hole
Date:	17/07/09 (82 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The cave is breath taking

Disadvantages: Price

I'm back from our day trip there today. Fairly tired to be honest, but here is the low down.

Travel
I drove by minibus from the West Midlands, and it took us over 2 and ½ hours. Past Bristol the roads started to get very narrow and we had to reverse a few times to let people past. This would have been the same for a car. We planned our route using Satellite Navigation.

Picnic Area
There are about 8 tables split on two levels. They are both up a hill with steps and would not be suitable for wheelchair users. I am unsure if there are other areas. When we started to have lunch it came on to rain. There were tables available under the shelter of trees but these were being used. We found shelter in a clearing under trees and enjoyed a lovely picnic.

Toilets
Facilities are at the entrance to the attraction. They were clean, well stocked and with ample cubicles in the females.

Price
I have to admit that as a group we try to get the best deal possible. We have a limited budget and try to get the most from it. For four students 16-19 on the Autistic spectrum (two with student ID - not presented) and three carers we paid £55.00 - don't ask me for the breakdown of how or why - it should have been £95.00 so we took the tickets and ran! That's right, standard adult price is £15.00 per person, children - £10.00.

Guide book/leaflet ~ Map
We were not given a guide with our ticket. It was advertised that SOUVENIR guide books were £2.00 - we bought one for our notice board but I thought that given the standard price they might throw a cheap map in for good measure!

THE CAVES
These were.....OUTSTANDING. Were they worth the drive and the price? I think for what we paid- certainly but for the standard entry fee, perhaps not. Lots of mood lighting and an interactive guide who let the students help him in his presentation. He was very friendly and I tipped him (my own money, not budget money) as he really made the experience a good one. He told us they filmed part of Harry Potter The Philosopher's Stone in them... when he saw the movie he couldn't be 100% sure where, but as a group they thought it was the scene with "Fluffy" the three-headed dog. He also said David Tennant had been there recently recording scenes for Dr Who.

The rest...
A bit 'nothingy' really. Some arcades and exhibitions... A few soft play areas... they were able to make paper which was, 'ok', but as it takes 3days to dry they didn't bring anything away with them and because of this I don't think the concept of what they had done was fully grasped. There is a mirror maze which gave us a few giggles - most notably when everyone notice I was walking along like a spaceman, arms outstretched in fear of bumping into myself!

To conclude
It was an ambitious day trip and we had to leave promptly. I don't feel we missed much though and we were there for less than 2hours.

I wish it was cheaper because it is well worth a look, maybe even more than once. At £15.00 a time though, my conscience only allows me to leave it up to your discretion, rather than a "you just HAVE to go"!

Summary: Not great value for money