Eureka National Children’s Museum Review by Elsie aged 9

We’ve got a visitor from Wiltshire at Harrogate Mumbler this week, my gorgeous niece Elsie (Aged 9) has come to stay. We have been out an about having fun in Yorkshire and Elsie wanted to share her own review of Eureka Museum in Halifax with you. Elsie has created “Funbler” which are her own reviews of fun places to visit for kids. Here is her very first Funbler review…

   Welcome to our funbler review of Eureka in Halifax.  Eureka is a science museum that is way more fun than just looking at things. First let’s start outside…Outside there is a big sand pit that is on the grass and games to play with and musical instruments. There are lots of places to sit and you can even explore a train. You can bring a picnic if you want. (There are picnic tables inside & outside)

As you walk into Eureka you can see the cafe.  The cafe is big with a lovely menu you can have a kids lunch box, a hot meal or just a cake and tea.  As you go back to the main building you walk to the science area were you can learn about sound and control lights and sometimes they do shows that are very interesting. Unfortunately Aunty Sally forgot to book us into a show this time so we missed it.

As you leave that area on the ground floor you will find a little phone box that you can pretend to call the emergency service and tell them what the emergency is.

Then you move on and you come to the bank. At the bank you can stamp paper like you are a real bank receptionist then if you walk to the back you find a room full of gold ( not real ) that has lots of safes in it. You have to figure out the code to the safes by answering questions. Each safe has  film characters things in them.

Next you will find a dark room that is full of light that can see you and sensors that you can put your hands on.  Further along on the ground floor you come to mini Marks & Spencers shop where there are tills,  little shopping carts, baskets and plastic food that you can play with. Behind M & S you will find the house that is just like a mini two story house.  It has a kitchen and a lounge and a washing room.

In the middle of all that is a musical fountain where you can throw a penny in & make a wish and the bath where the Eureka man takes a dip every half hour. 

Upstairs, on the top floor there is a body room where you can learn sign language and see what you will look like when you are old and very old and test all of your stretching and you can talk to a robot called zoom. You can see your body through a heat camera and test your reflexes. Along the corridor there is another dark room but this one is more arty. You can ride a bike to spin a wheel that makes pictures on a screen. Then there is a machine that makes designs on its own.

At the end of the corridor there is a desert area for ages 5 and under. Inside there is a reading area and a ball machine that takes the ball up and then they falls down. Behind the desert area you come to a room that has the princess and the pea bed but you can’t go on it . There are building blocks that you can build things withand a rhino that you write your bad dreams on and feed them to it (which makes them go away)

If you walk through the curtain it gets dark and then it feels like you’re in space! The room is covered in mirrors that make feel that you are high up in space.  When you come out the other side you can see lots of old toys and a dress-up area that you can dress up in then there is a balcony where there are binoculars and a spinner that controls a big fan.

Back inside you go into a different room full of rubber ducks and water play. There is a bath, a toilet and a sink (but you can’t use them!) You can see what it looks like inside when a toilet flushes and how a bath with jets works.  There is a bubble machine that makes huge bubbles and there is a water table with floating rubber ducks.

If you want to get something to remember your day at Eureka then go downstairs, back to through cafe and there is a little gift shop which has toys, cool stones, note books, pens and pencils. Then you can go back home after a fun day out. Eureka opens at 10:00 am to 5:00 pm during the school holidays. It is amazing.

By Elsie, Aged 9.

Eureka! The National Children’s Museum Discovery Road, Halifax HX1 2NE

You buy your tickets once then you can return as many times as you like within a year for free.

August 2019 ticket prices:  Adults £13.95,  3-15 years £13.95,   1-2 years £5.95 Under 1 years FREE

Free Harrogate Walking Tour – Mumbler Reviews

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of finally going on the Free Harrogate Walking Tour.  I’ve been meaning to do this since I first saw Harry and his big blue sign wandering around Harrogate for the last year or so.  It was a cold, wet Wednesday Morning – but that didn’t seem to put anyone off – there were around 20 other people on the tour.  Come armed with waterproofs, brollies, some decent footwear and maybe even some sunscreen (we can dream can’t we!) – come rain or shine the tours take place!

The tours take place Wednesday to Sunday , plus bank holidays four times a day, he even does tours on Christmas Day!  The tours last about 1 hour 20 minutes, setting off from opposite Bettys Tea Rooms at 10.30, 12.00, 13.30 and 15.00. It’s worth noting that Harry will be taking a well deserved break from 14th – 25th October 2019.  

If you’ve got really little ones – and by that I mean ones that will stay in their pram – then I’d definitely recommend.  The tour is fully accessible for wheelchairs and baby carriages. If you’ve got older children I think they’d really love it too.  Harry is so engaging he’d have your children mesmerised in no time! My 10 year old nephew has been on the tour, and he loved it!  What i’d say it isn’t suitable for are toddlers. My daughter has just turned three, and we’re at that tricky stage where she won’t get in the buggy but at the same time couldn’t last on her little feet for the full tour.  And as engaging as he is, I think even Harry would find it tough to keep her interest for that long. Even Peppa Pig can’t do that! Well behaved dogs can also join the tour!

We kicked off the tour promptly at 10.30am.  If you’re a bit late, it’s not difficult to spot him to catch up!  As I said, there were probably about 20 people on our tour – some local, but mainly tourists – coming from as far as Australia.  What I loved about Harry is the amount of interest he showed in his audience, and I’m not sure how he did it but he remembers everyone’s name!

The tour starts off opposite Betty’s where we hear about the history of Harrogate, including William Sligsby and The Stray.  Did you know Harrogate was built on a two million year old volcano?! From there, we walk down Montpellier Hill, taking in lots of snippets of information on the way.  Its then a quick walk round to the Pump Rooms – where you can even sample the sulphur water – if you dare!  

After the pump rooms, we walked around to the front of the Turkish Baths and Royal Hall – where Harry regaled us with more brilliant tales and interesting facts.  I don’t think I’ve met someone who loves what they do as much as this man – he loves Harrogate too and it totally comes across in his tours. 

From there we walked up to the Old Swan hotel, where he shared some real tear jerker stories from the war time.  There’s also lots of humour though so don’t worry. In fact, the favourite thing I learnt from the tour was it was the Old Swan Hotel that Agatha Christie was found at when she went missing!

Then it’s a quick tour round Valley Gardens then off to the Winter Gardens.  You walk through the Winter Gardens, which has to be the most beautiful Wetherspoons I’ve ever been to!  If you do have a buggy – there are a few steps here, but there’s always someone to lend a hand!

The tour finishes at Bettys – and without even knowing it you’ve done a full loop without realising you’ve climbed that dastardly hill!  The tour is great and we’d highly recommend it. In fact, Harry mentioned to us that the tour is now getting so popular with families that he’s going to start dedicating one tour a week especially for them – think more Horrible History style facts and less dates!  This will probably be introduced around Christmas time.

I came away from the tour thinking how lucky I was to live here, and from what I can gather its always been a fabulous place to live!  As Charles Dickens once said “Harrogate is the queerest place with the strangest people in it, leading the oddest lives of dancing, newspaper reading and dining.”

As well as the scheduled tours, Harry also does bespoke and group tours.  For more information click here. The Free Walking Tour of Harrogate gets a big thumbs up from us all at Harrogate Mumbler!   

Mumbler Reviews: Children’s Theatre at Harrogate Theatre

Our first trip to Harrogate Theatre as a family was back in 2019 to see Ben and Holly.  My little girl was only two at the time but she still talks about it now.  There is something about children’s theatre that is so magical – it really captures children’s imagination and keeps them engaged for the entire performance.  With most children’s performances usually lasting around an hour, without an interval – you don’t have to worry about your kids getting bored.  At the same time, if your child does get a little agitated, it’s no big deal – everyone knows the score when it comes to going to the theatre with children and everyone at Harrogate Theatre is super accommodating!

After a couple of years of no theatre (thanks covid!), we’ve been back to Harrogate Theatre with a vengeance!  Firstly, back in December 2021 for their eagerly awaited pantomime Cinderella, to more recently Oh no, George! at Easter and Zog and the Flying Doctors last weekend.  We’ve loved every performance we’ve seen – and so has everyone else in the audience!

I have to say, it’s not just my 5 year old that loves going – everything I have seen so far I’ve been blown away by!  It’s been lovely to see some of  our favourite books, which we’ve been reading together every bed time brought to life.

Oh no, George!  was a book given to my daughter when she was born, and Chris Haughton has fast become a popular author in our house!  We’d just got a new puppy when we went to see this – which made it even more hilarious!  It’s amazing how the production company bring a short story to life – using acrobatics, slapstick comedy, Sign Supported English and live music!

Zog and the Flying Doctors we had to go to!  For this year’s World Book Day my daughter went as Sir Gaddabout!  Freckle Productions  did a brilliant job!  We absolutely loved it – and were singing the songs all the way home!

If you are considering a family trip to the theatre,The Tiger That Came to Tea will be showing Monday 30th May – Wed 1st June and then The Queen’s Knickers on Sunday 10th July.

Book your tickets here.

We are so lucky to have such a wonderful theatre on our doorstep that really invests in their younger audience!

Reviewed May 2022

Disclosure: We were gifted some of our tickets to the performances we mentioned above, however we pinky promised to only write a truthful account. Phew, we really enjoyed it! (otherwise that could have been awks!)

Mumbler Reviews – Clue HQ Harrogate

This year I got the responsibility of organising our Christmas Day out for Harrogate Mumbler.  Nerve wracking stuff, but theres something I’d been wanting to do since I’d moved up here and this seemed like the perfect opportunity!  So when Steve invited us to  ClueHQ Harrogate to review their live escape games we jumped at the chance!  I’d done a couple of these games before, but the rest of the team (there were five of us in total) were all novices.  Its really hard to try and to explain what to expect, and to be honest thats part of the fun – not really knowing what’s about to happen!  But what I will tell you is its absolutely brilliant and you will LOVE it!

The games are for groups of 2 to up to 6 people, you’re locked inside a room and given 60 minutes to work as a team, searching for clues and solving puzzles in order to escape the game in time.  Steve told us the optimal size for a group is probably 4-5 people, any less and its almost impossible for 2/3 people to complete in the time and anymore and things tend to get a bit lost!   The games are suitable for those aged 10 and above, but if you’re under 16 there must be an adult (18 years plus) participating in the game.  I think it’s a brilliant way for parents with older children to spend some quality, fun time together.   My husband’s been itching to go to one of these for ages – so he’s taking his older nieces and nephews for Christmas.  In fact, if you haven’t sorted your Christmas party yet – then get in touch with Steve and get down to ClueHQ Harrogate.  To give you a good chance of getting out, I’d advise doing what we did – and starting on the booze afterwards!

ClueHQ Harrogate is based in the centre of town on Prospect Crescent ( just behind Lakeland).  You’re advised to arrive about 5 minutes before hand.  Be warned there are quite a few sets of stairs to climb!  Steve the Director of ClueHQ Harrogate was there to welcome us, and more importantly take our team photo!  Team Mumbler just incase you were wondering!   You’re then shown a short video on what to (kind of) expect in the rooms and the rules you need to follow.  By this point we were all completely terrified!   It didn’t help we were told we’d chosen the hardest game to play!

There are three games at Clue HQ Harrogate to choose from at the moment.  The Betrayal of Cluetankhamun, Cell Block C, and CSI: The Panic Room.  We chose CSI: The Panic Room, usually chosen by professional escape game players (yes – there is such a thing!) or at least people who had played an escape game before!  So you can understand why we were all pretty nervous!  Off we went to the room, with a pit stop at the toilet for everyone (I blame the nerves) first!  Next to the room was the leaderboard for that room.  Steve went through a few groups on the boards; a group of professional players topped the boards, with amongst others – a group of Accountants, and a group of University Lecturers!  At this point I was massively regretting my decision, but it was too late now.

Steve opened the door and let us in – it felt just like being on the Crystal Maze!  The adrenalin was pumping and in we went.  I would love to have seen a video of what happened yet.  Basically a bunch of middle aged women running round like headless chickens not having a clue what was going on – which now i think about it is pretty normal behaviour for a group of Mums!  Now obviously, we can give away what happened – where’s the fun in that?  But lets just say the next 41 minutes  and six seconds were SO MUCH FUN!  Really high paced, high energy but above anything else just really really brilliant! You have 60 minutes to escape – so we SMASHED it!  Going into the leader board at Number 5!!!!  Beating the University Lecturers.

After we’d finished it was time for another (victory!) photo and to have our names put on the leaderboard.  I can’t tell you how happy we all felt afterwards, we were all on a proper high!  A great start to our brilliant  Christmas day out.   So if you’ve been thinking about doing an escape room – get it booked NOW!  It’s safe to say Team Mumbler loved it and would definitely recommend it!

Prices per team start from £44 and the rooms are open everyday; Mon – Fri 10am-10pm and Sat – Sun 9am – 10pm.  For more information and to book visit their website or call 01423 524 658.

Disclosure: Mumbler was lucky enough to try out this escape game for free however we pinky promised to only write a truthful account. Phew, we really enjoyed it! (otherwise that could have been awks!)

Mumbler Reviews Deershed Family Festival

Deershed isn’t a cheap way to spend a weekend, so Harrogate Mumbler went along for the first time to see if it is worth it. What can I say? we absolutely loved it and have been raving on about it ever since. Is it for you? Read on to find out…

To set the context, I’ve been to plenty of festivals in my time, throughout my misspent youth, and even as recently as Download in June 2018, however never before had I considered (for a second!) taking the kids. Honestly, I had always viewed the festival experience as my away-time from the kids, a chance to listen to loud music and basically, well, not be mum for a weekend!

It was impossible not to hear the buzz about Deershed though, it’s only about half an hour away from Harrogate, near Thirsk and many of my friends already go year on year. I decided to give it a try with the famalam and managed to blag the motorhome off my parents (you can read about our 2017 adventures in “Dora the Explorer” here)

Deershed isn’t a day event, the tickets are for the whole weekend. You can either camp, take a caravan/ motorhome or if you really like a proper bed, it’s close enough to drive home each night (not that I’d recommend that- there were far too many delicious gin cocktails on offer… more on that later!)

My two daughters are 7 & 9 years old and they were incredibly excited at the prospect of going to their first festival. We had done our prep and had purchased glitter & hair mascara- Even Mr Mumbler’s beard got the festival treatment! My first impression of the site was how colourful, welcoming and relaxed it felt. The camp sites are all just outside the main arena and within easy walking distance. The campsites have porta loos and (chargeable) showers. It’s not glamorous, but as a seasoned festival goer I can report that as festival loos go, they were as clean as I’ve ever seen. The campsites were well spaced and they were quiet after dark- everyone is in the same boat of wanting to get their kids to sleep after a full day of festival fun. Basically almost everyone who goes to Deershed is a family- from brand new babies right up to teenagers and every age in between.

Inside the arena, it’s big enough to keep everyone entertained without feeling vast or unsafe. I was able to give my two girls a bit of freedom without feeling like they would get lost or overwhelmed. Moreover, the younger children are given a specific coloured wrist band and if a member of staff spots them alone, they will help re-unite you (for once, my girls actually didn’t test this facility!)

The main stage is situated at the bottom of a gentle hill which ensures that everyone has a god view. Families wisely took in camping chairs, rugs, sunshades and the true Deershed professionals took lights and decorations for the fabulous little pull-along carts that you can hire. (These are invaluable for pulling along little-ones or allowing them to snooze when they’re legs are done in)

The mainstage, wasnt actually the highlight for me though, whilst I really did enjoy the bigger bands, it was the smaller stages that did it for me. Sitting in the sunshine while the kids did some crafting, listening to some immensely talented young musicians whilst sipping a gin was just perfect!

Keeping the kids happy and entertained was where Deershed excelled. Our 4 favourite bits were as follows:

1. The Wilder Wild. This is a smallish area off the main stage in the shade. Mainly for crafting (most of which was free) my girls could have spent the full weekend in there. Particular highlights were the clay crafting (free) the Willow Weaving (free) and the free junk modelling (mercilessly shoving the kids aside, I made an amazing jellyfish model- I love a bit of crafting! ;)) My daughters also made a vinyl record mirror, leather bracelets and rode a cart pulled by a beautiful Newfoundland dog, they also listened to a fantastic interactive bedtime story around the campfire before bed.

2.  The Science Tent. What a cool place! With everything from programming, bodies, planets, music, Meccano, slime making, VR, and so much more (again, most of it free). I embarrassed myself by not being able to order the planets correctly (My nine year old could do it of course: “There’s a nemonic, don’t you know Mum … My Very Enthusiastic Mother Just Served Us Noodles”- alright sweetie, no-one likes a show-off…” )

3. The comedy tent. I loved this! Some of the acts were pretty risqué,  but they went entirely over the head of my 7 year old. My 9 year old however, thought that the acts were hilarious- any mention of toilet humour or body parts and she’s a fan.

4. The Food & Drink. What can I say, Wow, just wow! I had intended on making packed lunches and generally economising on refreshments but this idea went straight out of the window when I saw the quality and variety of the food on offer. Naturally, only because I want to give a thorough review of the offering, I sampled as much as possible…. From Greek food to Indian, Churros, Pizza’s Burgers, Cheese on toast, Fish and chips, fish finger sandwiches (yes, a whole van dedicated to the provision of this awesome food!) Tibetan, Tacos and just about everything else that you can think of.  And it was ALL amazing! With regards to the bars, they were plentiful and the offering was varied. There were plenty of beers, cocktails I could go on at length here but i will give you the idea that I’m some kind of lush, who sits in a field at a festival drinking copious amounts of gin… ahem. Anyway, the bars were great- one was actually like someones front room, complete with sofas-a-plenty!

I’m running out of space now, to tell you more about this amazing festival, some of the things that I haven’t even mentioned are the MASSIVE sports arena, which hosts tons of sports. All of the time. Quiddich anyone!? More traditional activities included Yoga (it was lovely to see our favourites, Go Yoga there, crazy & disk golf, football, parkour, sock wrestling ( I have no idea what that is either…).

There was tree climbing (with harnesses right up into HUGE oak trees) and walk about entertainers seemingly everywhere. I bumped into this BRILLIANT marching band on my way back from the loos.

I haven’t even touched on the DJ’s, the theatre, the shows, the cinema (showing family favourites such as The Greatest Showman & Moana) the poetry & spoken word, the canoeing on the lake, the shopping or any of the pre-bookable workshops.

What I really loved was the attention to detail for families. The NCT were there and they hosted a group “baby bathtime” They also had bottle warming facilities, equiptment seterilising facilities and highchiars. You could even buy nappies on site if needed. The toilets had hand wash at 2 heights to ensure that little hands got cleaned too. There were swing ball sets all over the site, which allowed you to sit back and watch while your kids played safely. There were ear defenders on sale and the whole place had a total “families completely welcome” vibe.

Don’t get me wrong, taking your kids to a festival is never TOTALLY relaxing. By the end of the Sunday, you could see parents nerves were getting frayed (or maybe that was just me, trying to stay cool and all festival-chic” whilst nursing a slightly throbbing (and totally deserved) gin- hangover.) but all in all it was completely memorable and a brilliant experience.

Would I go back? Absolutely, in a heartbeat. I spent more time with my kids, crafting, playing and just chilling than I ever normally do; even at a weekend away somewhere. 

If you’ve ever wondered about festival-going then I can’t recommend Deershed high enough. It’s just fabulous. 

Deer Shed Festival began as a one-day, 1000-capacity event in 2010, in contrast, 10,000 attended Deer Shed Festival 9 in 2018 to witness its biggest ever music, arts and science line-up, with household names like Goldfrapp headlining the music bill and James Acaster headlining the PG comedy big top tent.

Deer Shed 10 will for the first time, allow general ticket holders to say on Sunday night. Previously, the Sunday night offering was an additional extra, with the festival proper closing at 6pm to allow families to get home at a sensible time.This new change means more bands, more acts, and the biggest Sunday night party Baldersby Park has ever seen, all at no extra cost to the festival goers!

2019 dates are 26th-28th July (one week later than usual)  Deershed is at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorkshire

Disclosure: Mumbler was lucky enough to receive press tickets to this festival for free however we pinky promised to only write a truthful account of our weekend. Phew, we LOVED it! (otherwise that could have been awks!

Mumbler reviews…. Harrogate Climbing Centre

Mumbler was asked to go and try out Harrogate Climbing Centre, see what we thought and write a review. I thought, “great – it’s Half Term, that will fill up a morning/afternoon and the mini Mumblers (Harry, nearly 6 & Louis, 4) were dead keen. Fast forward to this afternoon, as we are getting in the car, Harry changes his mind and doesn’t want to go!!!! By the time we arrive he is in a full blown “teenager-style strop” so it was with a certain amount of trepidation that we went in.

The Climbing Centre was about half full and a very nice man spoke directly to the boys and took them off to get their safety harnesses on. As you can see from the picture, moods had not improved much!

However as soon as we went in and they saw the Climbing walls and their instructor, Rory started a game where they had to run around and when he shouted “sharks coming” they had to get their feet off the floor, spirits definitely lifted. (Phew!)

The boys took it in turns to climb with constant encouragement and instruction from Rory, and whilst one was climbing, the other was sitting and was attached to the same rope to anchor his brother. I really liked the fact that it was teaching them to keep each other safe (the instructor also had hold of the rope just to allow for lapses in concentration!!).

They played various different games to teach them to trust the ropes that were holding them up, listen to the instructions, concentrate and (miraculously!) to do as they were told. (I’m hoping that some of this will transfer to their behaviour at home.)

The boys were given the chance to have a go on several different climbing walls and to go into the “Bouldering Room” – which is small walls, no ropes and squidgy floor.

I am very pleased to say that after a rocky (!) start they absolutely loved it and have asked to go again tomorrow and maybe even start lessons.

The facilities were great, lots of much higher climbing walls than i was expecting, a safe place to watch, although there was only 1 sofa, so if it’s busy be prepared to stand and watch. Cafe Indulge, next door, has lots of seating so you could always escape for a coffee whilst the kids are climbing.

The staff were really friendly and patient and I would have been totally confident leaving the boys to have their lesson  – they didn’t actually come over once during their hour-long session.

Although we have been invited along for a free taster session, we would not recommend anything the kids hadn’t enjoyed…….but they loved it (Rory, we will be back!).

There’s lots of kids session on over Half Term and they offer group sessions, parties and the opportunity to work towards national climbing award schemes.

http://www.harrogateclimbingcentre.com/climbing-centre/

Reviewed February 2018

Mumbler Reviews: Harrogate Tipple The Gin School Experience

Last week, on the hottest day of the year we were kindly invited along to review Harrogate Tipple’s Gin School Experience.  Drinking Gin in the sunshine, what’s not to like – we immediately said yes and off we went!  The experience is all based in Ripley, there is plenty of parking, but you’re advised to leave the car at home!  The number 36 bus runs right through Ripley to Harrogate.

Check out our hilarious Instagram Reel from the day here.

Once the tour is over we walked over to their Gin School, which is located within Ripley Castle.  You enter via a secret door from their shop next door.  To say we were getting serious Harry Potter vibes was an understatement.  We were served the most delicious, and rather large, Gin and Tonics over the next few hours .  I think we had 3 or 4 G&Ts over the course of the afternoon, but my memory is a little fuzzy!  We also got to taste their Rum too – which was delicious.  You get the most gorgeous canapés throughout the afternoon too, all prepared by a local chef.

At the Gin School you get to create a personal recipe for your very own gin. Choosing from over 80 dried and over 60 seasonal fresh botanicals, with Andrea on hand to provide you with his expert advice!  The fresh botanicals are all grown on site in the castle gardens.  We spent about 30 minutes here – tasting and smelling all the delicious herbs, picking any that took our fancy.

We all then headed back to the school to make our very own gin – using our own unique blend of dried and fresh botanicals, as well as Harrogate Tipples own blend (a gin isn’t a gin without junipers!) .  We each had our own copper still, again lots of Harry Potter vibes/ chemistry lesson flash backs.  It was great fun, and by this point it was fair to say we were a little sozzled!  It took about 40 minutes for our own gin to be distilled – we all got a little try.  You have to name you gin, Harrogate Tipple will keep your recipe safe and if you ever want to reorder some they’ll make it for you!  They had a couple come and do the tour who then asked ordered 12 more bottles to be served at their wedding.  Sally named hers Mumbler’s Ruin and I fell in love with all the different types of sage in the gardens so called mine Sage Advice.  You then get to bottle up your gin and take it home, along with a lovely little hand santizer.

We really did have an awesome afternoon – Ripley is just gorgeous and the beautiful setting really added to the experience, as did all the staff we met – you can really tell they all have a real passion for what they do.  We appreciate it’s not a cheap experience, but we do think it’s the perfect gift/experience for a really special occasion.

Reviewed  June 2022

Disclosure: We were gifted our Gin School Experience, however we pinky promised to only write a truthful account. Phew, we really enjoyed it! (otherwise that could have been awks!)

Mumbler reviews…. Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour

So, the tricky thing for me writing this is to not spoil the surprises in store at Warner Bros Studios. For any fan of Harry Potter this is a fantastic trip worth every penny. The magic starts from the moment you arrive and the die-hard amongst you will notice that even the cones in the car park are shaped like sorting hats – a great attention to detail! From here on in we were wowed at every opportunity!

Your tour starts with a guide and a short film presentation. At this point anyone with a birthday is invited forward and without saying too much it’s worth having a birthday!!! From then on you are free to wander around at your own speed although there are many staff around to answer questions and impress with their Harry Potter knowledge. You visit various sets from the Harry Potter films and there are many displays of props, costumes and info on how they created such fantastic effects throughout the films. You can do an audio guide if you wish and for children there are lovely passports they take round, hunting for snitches and finding stamps.

There are loads of things to experience too – broom stick flying, wand training, how to work with a green screen and how to look as big as Hagrid! It was great fun for my 2 kids to dress up in robes and fly over Hogwarts. Ok, it was fun for us big kids too and that is what this place has in huge abundance – fun at every corner. Speaking of corners, try your hardest to go into the Forbidden

Forest on your own for waiting around the corner is the biggest (and scariest) surprise of them all. We went through this bit a few times and screamed every time!

This year new Goblet of Fire displays have been added and that’s the great thing about Warner Brother Studios they are constantly improving and adding to it as well as maintaining what is already there so each time you go there is more to experience, hence why my two daughters nag me every day to go back again. Apparently, the average time spent there is 3 and a half hours but we were there 6 so you really can make a day of this place. Our advice would be to bring a picnic or there is a café selling hot and cold food and most importantly the famous Butterbeer. £5 gets you the drink and a cup to take home with you!

Can’t write about a visit here without a mention of the Hogwart’s Express – simply wow, no other words! You’ll see what I mean when you vist!

The final bit of your journey takes you into a room with a model of Hogwarts – I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil this for you but a friend told me in advance that it was spectacular and she wasn’t wrong. If ever you can feel the magic of Harry Potter then it’s in this room.

All in all, we think this is one of the best days out for all ages and good value for money. It’s not overcrowded so you can easily see all the displays and you don’t have to queue long for anything and even if you are in a queue you are surrounded by interesting things to see – they really have thought everything through.

I asked my 10 and 7 year old daughters what their favourite bits were. The eldest said all of it and the youngest said The Great Hall, The Dormitory, The Hogwart’s Express, Diagon Alley, Broomstick flying, Wand training, The Forbidden Forest…….I think she means all of it!! We are definitely planning a return visit!

To find out more or buy tickets online visit the Warner Bros Studio Tour website here

Mumbler Reviews… Hesketh Farm Park

*This is a review post for Hesketh Farm Park, we received our entrance tickets in exchange for this post but as always, this is our honest and fair review.

Hesketh Farm Park is set just outside the beautiful village of Bolton Abbey, boasting stunning views and in our opinion, a great family farm experience! It’s about 20 miles from Harrogate (on the way to Skipton) and takes us around 30 minutes to drive there. Come rain or shine (both of which we experienced today) Hesketh Farm has something to keep the whole family entertained.

We haven’t had a family trip to Hesketh Farm Park for ages so we were very excited to see the new additions which we have heard so much about. We arrived bang on 10 am as the farm sprang into life. With plenty of parking available we ditched the car and headed in. There was plenty of staff on hand to greet us and we were given a timetable of the live events running; there was a lot on offer!

Our first stop was the guinea pigs. I can honestly say I’ve never been a huge fan of small furry creatures but getting up close & personal with these little cuties have certainly changed that!* The Mini-Mumblers loved holding and brushing them and members of staff were on hand to answer ALL their burning questions.
*Please don’t tell the kids I said that – they are already begging for one!

Next, we couldn’t help but be drawn to the worlds loudest lambs! With only minutes until the Lamb Feeding Session, they were impatient, as were the kids, who couldn’t wait to try their hand at bottle feeding! The park assistants arrived with buckets full of bottles and were very clear on the correct technique to use to ensure the lambs didn’t get poorly tummies from too much air in their bottles and why it was very important to wash our hands after we touched the animals. There are hand washing stations in each area of the farm. Each child who was waiting (and today there were loads) got to have a turn at feeding the lambs.

Hesketh also had calf feeding, Egg collecting & donkey feeding or pony brushing sessions running during our visit.
The Mini-Mumblers really enjoyed learning about the different stages of the newborn chicks, from just hatched to 4 weeks old, we loved happening upon the giant tortoise as he wandered around the farm, and my highlight of the day was being lucky enough to get to stroke a brand new piglet. We then brushed a gigantic pig and fed another with a motorised tractor!

We headed down to the indoor play & cafe areas, the Mini-Mumblers explored the straw maze, played in the indoor sandpit and on the tractor slide while I ordered a cuppa and a cake from the cafe. I can highly recommend the caramel slice! The cafe also offers sandwiches and kids lunch boxes at a reasonable price plus there is ample space both indoors and out to bring your own picnic. After we had refuelled the kids raced on the indoor tractors circuit and then on the outdoor go-karts.

We timed it well and the rain had stopped so we made the most of it and explored outside. The new outdoor sandpit was a big hit! They built sand castles, used the diggers to dig craters and got completely covered in sand. What kid is not as happy as Larry when digging in the sand?

We spent an age climbing the full-size tractors, seeing the horses and the chickens and had another race on the go-karts – it has to be the best of three, doesn’t it? Then it was onto the park. Just as we had enjoyed our first slide the tractor ride opened so, of course, we raced over. This was the highlight of the day for my son! Farmer Chris on the tractor, pulled the trailer around the farm fields, stopping to answer questions and looking at all the animals out to pasture… I now know the difference between a meadow and a pasture – do you? The route is the bumpiest track it could possibly be, hence the kid’s HUGE enjoyment. Mums I’d recommend a sports bra! 😉

Mumbler Reviews Stockeld Park Winter Illuminations

We had a fantastic time at Stockeld Park this week. We visited in the early evening to ensure that it was dark so we could make the most of the winter illuminations, and wow what a spectacle it was!

***MUMBLER DISCOUNT FOR ILLUMINATIONS: HARROGATEMUM

The code is for £2 off per ticket and is the ONLY discount available for Stockeld tickets this season. These codes are valid on Illuminations Only tickets on the following dates: 23rd – 26th November and 30th Nov – 3rd December.***

As we were visiting quite early on in the season, it was unusually quiet – but I don’t feel it impacted on the atmosphere, it made it even more magical I suppose as we had most of the place to ourselves! There was plenty of parking right outside the entrance. Tickets must be purchased online before arrival, and they are offering specific time slots to adhere to the Covid-19 rules and restrictions. Our ticket was booked as “illuminations only”, but this also includes entry to the snowflake maze. All the staff we met around the park were very pleasant, approachable and friendly.

The light installations are of high quality and are really effective dotted around the forest, some of them are synced with music which our little boy loved! We were really impressed with the amount of sanitising stations placed throughout the forest, especially next to/near the interactive attractions. For those who have been to Stockeld before, you will know how much there is to entertain the little ones (play areas, musical instruments, interactive models etc.). As it is all outdoors, you will need to dress for the weather and take wellies/boots if it’s wet. We had no problem pushing the pram around the track, but it was quite bumpy in places as you would expect. The toilets were open, but I’m not sure if there are baby change facilities as we didn’t need to use them.

We spent a good couple of hours, but we did take our time going around and taking it all in. There is something at Stockeld to entertain people of all ages. My husband and I visited with our 8-month-old son, who was in awe of the lights and sounds! The highlight for us had to be the music and light show on the lake (towards the end), we stopped at the little cabin there for a hot chocolate and sat for a while taking it all in.

It was a truly magical experience for both my husband and me, we both said we would have visited even without a child! I think because of the fairytale theme that runs throughout the forest, it really is enjoyable for all ages; after all, in the famous words of Roald Dahl “those who don’t believe in magic will never find it!”.

The ticket included entry to the “snowflake maze” which was the usual maze decorated with white fairy lights. It did look impressive from the tower at the top! Some of the walkways had been gated off to make it a little easier, so it only took us 20 minutes or so to get around. That worked well for us as, by this time, our little one was getting tired, so after this, we headed home. The maze was a nice bonus, but if your ticket includes both I would definitely see the illuminations first as that was the best bit!

Our visit was the perfect start to the festive season. It was the first time I had visited Stockeld Park, and it’s fair to say I was very impressed. I can see this becoming an annual event for my family and me!

By Guest Blogger Elfie

Disclosure: Mumbler was lucky enough to enjoy the Winter Illuminations for free however we pinky promised to only write a truthful account. Phew, we really enjoyed it! (otherwise that could have been awks!)

Mumbler Reviews: Stump Cross Caverns and The Time Cafe

Our last (and first) visit to Stump Cross Caverns was back in February, and we all loved it.  The world has very much been turned upon its head since then!  And time and time again throughout the lockdown days my daughter use to say to me “When everyone’s better, can we go back to Stump Cross Caverns?”  I promised her once it was reopened, we would go back up to these magical caves. 

And that’s finally what we did this weekend!  It’s very much a family run business up at Stump Cross.  As I said, its only my second time here and I was welcomed like a family member!  That’s exactly how they treat everyone that walks through the door, and that’s one of the reasons that everyone is raving about this place.  Don’t take my word for it – read their reviews!  Some of the things I’ve read on Trip Advisor have brought me to tears!  Lisa, Nick and their team go above and beyond to make your trip to Stump Cross Caverns as magical as possible!  It’s no wonder they received a 2020 Travellers’ Choice award from TripAdvisor. 

Since they re-opened back in the summer, they’ve done everything possible to not only make your experience as magical as possible but also as safe as possible.  They’ve taken every COVID-19 measure you can think of, and then some!  As Lisa said to me, it’s on her head if anything happens.  If you’re feeling practically vulnerable, then get in touch with her – she’ll talk you through everything, and has even been known to open the caves up early so her customers have had the added benefit of being the only ones on site! 

It’s so nice to go somewhere that’s put so much time and effort into making their establishment as COVID secure as possible.  That now nearly constant fear I have going anywhere indoors in public wasn’t there when we went this weekend.  A true testament to how much Lisa, Nick and their team care! 

We went on a cold but Sunny October Sunday at around 12.30pm, probably their busiest time!  You can pre- book online for their café and the caves but if you just turn up (like we did!) they’ll try their hardest to fit you in!    We were looking to eat first then go down to the caves.  The café was pretty much at capacity – so we were given the option of waiting for a table indoors and going to the caves first, eating in their cinema room or eating outside. 

We opted to take advantage of the weather and eat outside!  It was a bit nippy, but the glorious autumnal sun was out and we loved it!  If you’ve never been up here – the surroundings are beautiful!  Right on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales!  Plus, we have a 4-year-old, so she was loving running around in garden – there’s a mini maze, a huge dragon (!) and a giant sandpit to keep her amused.  Which was so much easier than keeping her amused sat at a table indoors!  Therefore, my top tip – if the weather allows it – eat outside!!  We loved it! 

The food at The Time Café is all freshly made by their much loved and REALLY talented chef!  Everything is made freshly to order, so you will have to wait a little longer but believe me it’s worth the wait!  This isn’t any ordinary café – the food here is top quality!  Think of it as more like going to a gastro pub!  They’ve got a great menu, lots of smaller offerings for kids too which are really reasonably priced!  They also have a pretty extensive specials board, which included Fish and Chips and a Crayfish and Prawn Sandwich whilst we were there. 

We opted for a sandwich and ciabatta for us parents, with a side of chips (goes without saying!) and our little one had the home-made chicken goujons, chips and peas (which comes with a free drink!).   Everything was amazing – seriously, gastro pub standard!  Such a refreshing change when you’re on a family day out!  Usually food choices are just a means to an end – but not here.  I couldn’t fault anything; portion sizes were on the large size which is always a bonus in my books!  The chips here are ridiculous.  They remind me of the chips my Nan use to make when I was a little girl – what I like to call PROPER chips!  

If you’re not looking for a full-on meal – then you need to try their sausage rolls!  Although having said that – be warned they are HUGE and could easily pass as a meal!  You only have to look on their media sites – whenever they post a picture of their legendary sausage rolls – they get so many comments!  They’re flaming delicious! 

 All their cakes and tray bakes are freshly made in house too.  Oh, my days.  Please do treat yourself – the Rocky Road is immense!  I’m salivating just thinking about it!  They do some delicious ice creams too – and it’s a licensed café!  You can even enjoy a Stump Cross Ale!! 

I cannot recommend the café enough.  The food is faultless and so is the service!  The waiting staff are so friendly!  They all made such a fuss of my little girl – and all the other children that were there!  As I said – it was pretty busy when we were there – but they were all doing a brilliant job and still made the time to make sure everything was perfect!  It was! 

After we’d been fed, we headed down to the caves.  You’re allowed down in time slots in one booking at a time.  Essentially, you go down there in your own bubble.   You’re sent down at staggered time, so you’re less likely to see another bubble.  But there are times when your paths will cross.  You’re asked to pass at the passing points where there is more space to socially distance.   Masks are worn at all times in the caves. 

Before you go down you’re given a briefing about what to expect, how long it will take etc.  The caves take about 50 minutes – so if you’re going with little ones make sure you’ve done a toilet stop first!!   There is a little fairy trail to follow, and the younger guests are given little torches so they can investigate all those little nooks and crannies!  

You’ll go down to the entrance where there are hard hats.  There are two different containers – new and used.  After each hard hat is used its thoroughly cleaned before going back in the new container!  There are also a lot of adult sized wellies.  They’re usually not needed – but they were this weekend.  Whatever the weather I’d advise you take your kids in wellies – they’re always a puddle or two! 

There are lots of stairs to content with and you’ll be bending down a fair few time – the hard hats are definitively a necessity!   The caves are just brilliant – the kids just love it!  It’s a bit magical, a bit mysterious!  My daughter loved looking out for the fairy doors, and I loved finding the answers to the fairy door quiz – the quiz was really interesting!  It’s one of those family days out that the whole family can enjoy!  Something a bit different and really interesting.  A much-needed change of scene to soft play! 

One of the great things about Stump Cross Caverns is it’s a perfect day out all year round!  Come rain or shine, it’s a constant 7 degrees down there and always a bit wet!  If it’s been raining heavily some of the walk ways will be flooded – but that just added to the sense of adventure for us! 

All in all, we had a fab day at Stump Cross Caverns!  A day out for all the family – you can even bring the dog if you want (although they’re not allowed down the caves!). 

Check out their website for latest offers and to see what events they have going on.  We love it here, it’s my daughter’s favourite place!  She remembered all the names of everyone we met they made such an impression on her!   So if you’re looking for somewhere safe to go in these funny times, somewhere extra special with amazing food and somewhere the whole family will enjoy the SCC is the place to go! 

 And if that isn’t enough to tempt you did you know they had a cinema room too!!!  You can rent it for only £6 per person! 

Stump Cross Caverns.

Book online

Christmas

Review October 2020

Mumbler reviews……the brilliant Stockeld Park!

Stockeld has always been a firm favourite in the Mumbler household and this Summer’s Adventure doesn’t disappoint!

We went with two 8 year olds but have been in the past with kids as young as 18 months and up to teenagers who have all thoroughly enjoyed them selves.

We started with the Enchanted Fores & Maze which had a knights & shields theme. Our Mini Mumblers loved the trail and finding the different coats of arms & gemstones along the way.

We loved the boats (£6 charge per boat) which they were able to drive themselves, leaving us a few minutes of sitting in the sun by the lake ( very nice!!).

The den building and sand pit areas were brilliant, and to be honest, they could have stayed there all day.

We took our own picnic, but there are lots of options available to buy inside the park, from sandwiches to pizza and, of course the obligatory (delicious) ice cream.

There was also a new food/ice-cream cart near the sand pit area which was very handy for snacks on the way round.

All in all it was a great day (we spent 6 hours there – and could have stayed longer) and will remain a feature on our school holidays calendar every time!!

Book here

Although we received free entry to Stockeld on this occasion, no amount of den building, boats, sand pits and brilliant outdoor fun would make us write a dishonest review……. we love it there!!!

Mumbler Reviews: The Wizard Walk of York

Great Fun for your little Wizards! – The Wizard Walk of York! 

Last weekend I took my son and his friend (both aged 11) along to enjoy the Wizard Walk of York!  

Whilst aimed at 5-10 year olds I knew the magic and Harry Potter connections would intrigue him! The Wizard meets you at the bottom of The Shambles at the time you’ve booked and then whisks you all around the corner to a quieter location so he can properly introduce himself, the wizard tour and he immediately puts all the children at ease with a few silly jokes! 

At the point of booking you have the option (for an extra charge) to order a Wand Kit (including a wand and several magic tricks to perfect) and these are handed out at the beginning so you can join in with a little magic along the tour.. 

The tour then heads off winding around the streets and alleyways of York stopping off every so often on the search for 7 creatures. At each stop the wizard entertains the audience with some fabulous magic tricks, silly jokes and audience participation! 

The tour lasts about an hour and the distance covered and stop offs worked really well for the little and old ones alike! The tour centres around The Shambles, Low Petergate and works its way up to the stunning York Minster! 

The wizard kept the attention of my two boys throughout the whole hour and they were even practicing a few magic tricks to show the wizard at the end of the tour! 

While aimed at a younger audience, rest assured the wizard would keep older siblings engaged for the hour and his friendly, funny approach even gets the adults giggling along as well! 

Overall a great walking tour for your little wizards to enjoy around the stunning city of York! Book your tour now!

Children aged 3+ need their own ticket, babies in pushchairs are welcome at no charge. Prices are currently £9 for adults and £9 for children. Optional Wizard Wand Kits are available for £5 each, subject to availability.

Reviewed June 2022 by Emma

Disclosure: We were gifted this tour and wand kits, however we pinky promised to only write a truthful account. Phew, we really enjoyed it! (otherwise that could have been awks!)

Mumbler Reviews: Urban Circus

We’ve been working with Urban Circus for a while now – our biggest Mini-mumbler Tilly is a big fan, and whenever we post about Urban Circus online we get such a positive response from you guys!  So when Natalie Aka Captain Circus invited us down for a private Mumbler party we bit her hand off!

Urban Circus offers alternative fitness classes in Ripon & Harrogate, open to all!  They pride themselves on offering fun, addictive and rewarding classes you will look forward to each week!   Based across 2 venues, offering 40+ exciting, alternative classes including, but not limited to, Pole, Aerial Hoop, Aerial Hammock and Children’s Classes! These classes are open to EVERYONE – all ages, shapes, sizes and genders!   Their wonderful instructor team are experienced, insured, qualified and continually trained to ensure the highest quality of instruction and with your safety as our number 1 priority. Instructors are first aid certified and those working with our younger students are also DBS checked.

As well as classes, which you can find here.  Urban Circus also offer parties, and that’s what we reviewed!  There were 7 adults, and of course our little Mumbler mascot Baby Trilli (10 months).  The class was about 1.5 hours long, and we were able to try out the pole,  aerial hammock and aerial hoop.  Seven worked perfectly – we all had our own pole, as did Natalie, and then when it came to the aerial hoop and hammock we had one to use between two.  Believe me – you needed the break when your partner was taking their go!

Everything and everyone at Urban Circus is really chilled out and relaxed.  They’d set up a play area for Trilli, which kept her amused for the whole class!  We started up with a warm up – which was hilarious, fun and actually really hard!  We all had quite a sweat on once we’d finished, but I can totally understand why it was necessary.  What I loved about Urban Circus was that, apart from the warm up, nothing seemed like a work out.  It was all good fun, yes a bit of huffing and puffing now and then – but I certainly didn’t feel like I was doing actual exercise.  It wasn’t until the next day, that I realised that that had probably been the best work out of my life!  EVERY muscle in my body ached, muscles  I didn’t even know existed.  I’m no gym bunny, so to do something that was such good fun, and didn’t seem like a work out at the time is a big big sell to me!

First up was the pole dancing -harder than it looks!  I thought this would be the easiest of the three but I think we all found it the hardest.  We couldn’t quite master the sexiness of the moves!  But what a laugh – it was such good fun, spinning around, giving  our best Beyonce impressions!  Some of us even managed to get quite far up the pole!  Not me – I think I managed half an inch of the floor at one point!

We then moved onto aerial hoop.  This was my favourite!  I thought this was the opposite of the pole – it looked almost impossible, but with a little help and words of encouragement from Natalie was actually quite easy!  I have zero upper body strength – so when I realised we had to get ourselves up on the hoop – there was no little step ladder on hand, I had kind of ruled myself out.  But if I can do it – anyone can – a bit of a pep talk from Natalie and she soon had me hanging upside down, and even sitting in the hoop.  Even if I do say so myself, I looked like I knew what I was doing!  I was by far the worse in the group – some of the others in the party were amazing!  Fancy getting to your 40s and finally realising your sport is aerial fitness!  By this point in the class the arm aching was starting to set in – so having that break whilst your partner took a go was much needed!

We then moved onto the Ariel Hammock – this was probably easier than the hoop, but there was a lot of hanging upside down on this one.  Given I get dizzy getting out of bed, this wasn’t for me! I managed a good old swing though!  The rest of the team loved it!  When Natalie showed us how to do it – there was a lot of gasps and wows.  It looked amazing, but difficult – there was no way we’d be able to pull off some of the moves she did – and look as good as she did!  But boy was I wrong, everyone that had a go could do it – and looked pretty amazing too!

Time went by so quickly, but at the same time I was amazed at how much we’d managed to fit in.  Natalie was such an awesome teacher – we all had an absolute ball.  We all came away with massive grins on our faces, a bit of a spring in our step and we all felt massively empowered!  It really is amazing what our bodies can do!  We felt it the next day (and the day after that) but it was so worth it!

We couldn’t recommend Urban Circus enough – I’ve already signed by daughter up for some classes, and a few of the ladies who rocked at the aerial hammock and hoop have signed up for courses too!

Thanks for having us Urban Circus – it was AWESOME!

Mumbler Reviews: World of Their Own Play and Dine Experience

Did you know that World of Their Own is not just for parties?  During school term-time their day time Play and Dine experiences are aimed at pre-schoolers, toddlers and crawlers.  Our Mumbler Champion Elfie and her little boy Rowan went along to one of these experiences.

When we were offered a chance to visit World of Their Own (WOTO) I was so excited – never mind my little one! I had heard such positive things about this place – the only fully immersive Wild West themed play village of its kind. At 2 and a half years old, my little ‘Outlaw’ is only just dipping his toe in to the world of pretend play, but from the moment we entered it was clear there is so much more that WOTO offers; for children and grown-up’s too!

We were greeted by Crista, who owns WOTO with her husband Lee. What an amazing team they are. Their love and dedication to their business is palpable, and they offer such a personalised experience to each and every child, taking the time to talk to the little ones and immersing themselves in the whole experience. I was amazed when I learnt that ‘Sheriff’ Lee, Crista’s husband designed and created the whole thing – what an achievement! Lee’s meticulous attention to detail did not go unnoticed – strategically placed props and perfectly painted murals along with hidden tunnels and passageways is just an absolute triumph. I cannot praise this couple highly enough for the experience that they bring to both the children and adults alike.

It was our first time not only at WOTO, but in anything like this of its kind, and so my little one did take some time to “warm up”. Crista showed us to our table (which was ours for the duration of our session) and we took the opportunity to explore our new surroundings. The actual play space is not huge, which is a positive thing, as it allows the children to explore freely but we as adults needn’t worry as we can see them playing.

One of the first things I noticed were the smiles on faces – both little ones and the grown up’s too! In fact, I over-heard a parent saying to their partner “this is great, I feel like a kid again!”, and I could certainly relate to that. There was a time when we were dressing up our dolly’s or playing cops and robbers, and seeing and experiencing the children’s imaginative play was really evocative of my childhood (and quite clearly others too!). There is a wealth of research out there to support that imaginative play helps support our little one’s creative and emotional development but also important skills such as negotiating, sharing and problem solving. And at WOTO there are so many opportunities for this! A firm favourite was the Wild West Bank and the jail – not to mention feeding the ponies in the barn and riding them! He also loved trying his luck at Tin Can Alley and exploring the spooky gold mine.

In addition to the Wild West experience, there is a fairy tale ice cream parlour upstairs, which offers fantastic photo opportunities for budding princesses, knights and dragons. The fancy dress is good quality and there is so much choice! Again, the upstairs area is meticulously detailed – from the breath-taking hand-painted fairy tale castle mural on the wall, to the storybooks and ‘glass’ slipper decorations.

Included in the Play and Dine experience was a choice from the Little Outlaws menu (we went for the cheesy toast – yum!) and a drink. Hot and soft drinks are available for the adults, as well as a selection of light meals on the menu, which are all very reasonably priced. I think WOTO offers fantastic value for money – at just £14.95 for a 2.5 hour Play and Dine session with so much to get involved in; it really is a unique and inspirational place. I think my little Outlaw has learnt a new favourite word: “YEEEHAH”, as he has been repeating it all day!

To find out more, and to book your experience visit World of Their Own.

Reviewed June 2022 by Mumbler Champion Elfie and Rowan

Disclosure: We were gifted this experience by WOTO, however we pinky promised to only write a truthful account. Phew, we really enjoyed it! (otherwise that could have been awks!)

Mumbler Visits Mother Shiptons in Knaresborough.

Mother Shipton is England’s most famous Prophetess, predicting amongst other things The Great Fire of London in 1666. She was born in 1488, in a cave next to the river Nidd – now affectionately known as Mother Shipton’s Cave.

Mother Shipton’s is located in the beautiful Knaresbourgh, about a fifteen-minute car journey from Harrogate. I took my husband, 19-month-old daughter and my 8-year-old nephew to check out England’s oldest visitor attraction (open since 1630). It was once owned by the late great Paul Daniels – we were expecting magical things and we weren’t disappointed!

Admission is £7 per adult and £5 per child, with under 3s going free. It’s worth pointing out that parking is an additional £2. They provide the kids with a little activity sheet to complete as you go through the park.

The park itself goes from the car park entrance, next to the viaduct, down along Beech Avenue, following the river, ending at the pedestrian exit which is next to Mother Shipton’s Pub. We took a picnic with us and spent a good three hours there. You could probably do the trail in less than an hour, but where’s the fun in that?

There’s plenty of places to picnic within the site. Next to the river, overlooking the viaduct was a popular spot – picture perfect in fact. There are also an abundance of picnic tables around the park –we opted to eat our lunch at the adventure playground, which is probably a good half way point. There’s an ice cream van at the playground and Mother Shipton’s pub that had a decent food menu at the pedestrian exit if picnics aren’t for you.

The adventure playground is brilliant – and HUGE! So much to do for all ages – zip wire for the older ones, and a cute little pirate ship activity den, complete with sandpit, which my daughter loved. The kids were kept amused for a good hour or so, and I’m pretty sure they’d have stayed longer if we’d let them!

From the playground we walked along the river to Mother Shipton’s Cave and Petrifying Well. The walk is on pretty rough terrain and quite steep at places. They do advise you on the website that some pushchairs aren’t suitable, and I’d agree. If you have a non-walking little person with you save yourself the effort and take them in a baby carrier instead. Our little one walked most of it, but got tired towards the end and had to be carried. There are a few sets of stairs leading down to the caves and well area, which could be tricky for some buggies.

Teddy bears, John Wayne’s hat and Agatha Christie’s bag – to name just a few – all hang down from the Petrifying Well so the water cascades over them and eventually turns them to stone – as if by magic! Next to the well is the cave itself where Mother Shipton lived. You can walk round and through both the caves and well – the kids (and us adults) loved it!

We continued down the river to the museum and gift shop. Keep your eyes peeled for all the beautiful woodcarvings along the way. You can then exit the site, cross over the bridge, and walk through Knaresborough back up to the car park or simply turn round and walk back the way you came. We opted for the latter, and enjoyed an ice cream on the way back to the car.

All in all Mother Shipton’s got the thumbs up from us Mumblers! A lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon. They have children themed activities throughout the year including Hansel and Gretel for the May half term and Robin Hood for the summer holidays. Please see the website for further details.

Disclosure: Mother Shiptons gave us a free family entry ticket so that we could review the park however even free park entry bribery isn’t enough to make us write a dishonest review! We really enjoyed our visit and this blog is our own honest opinion.

Strawberry Picking, PYO at Spilmans: A Mumbler Review

Summer has well and truly started for us! We went along to Spilman’s Farm to pick our own strawberries last week. Find out how much fun and see how many strawberries we picked in York Mumbler’s review.

We’ve been to Spilmans for the Pumpkin Festival but this was our first time for PYO. It was an absolutely gorgeous day weather-wise and we went straight from school.

Enjoy visiting a working farm

The girls were super excited! It’s so good to be doing things again and was great to be outdoors after they’d been in at school all day. How is it that kids have a bundle of energy when you pick them up from school?!? We arrived around 4pm and it felt instantly chilled out. It’s a real working farm at Spilmans and that authenticity comes through in spades. Having said that, it was superbly organised and really easy to pre-book your slot.

Book in advance

The format is that you book a ticket online before going (£10 per car) which is then used as a credit to spend anywhere on the farm. You need to make sure you arrive within your designated hour slot and last entry to the PYO fields.

 There are multiple time slots per day and dates are released a week in advance
 There is a booking fee of £1.50
 Allow 15 minutes to park and enter the fields.
 On arrival follow signs directing you to the strawberry fields.
 You will receive an order confirmation email as proof of your ticket entry which is a £10 credit to spend anywhere on the farm during your visit (the PYO Fruit Shop, our Farmshop or the Take Out kiosks). Have this ready on arrival so it can be scanned.
 You can pre-book Pick You Own at Spilmans here.

More than just strawberry picking 

The soft fruits at Spilmans are grown uncovered in the fresh air and ripen naturally in the sunshine. The farm is spread across 15 acres, there is plenty of space for everyone.

At Spilmans they grow strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, potatoes and sunflowers that are ready to pick from June – September at various different times. Check out the Spilmans website to see what’s available for picking when you plan to visit and to pre-book your entrance.

As you can see from the photos there were LOADS of strawberries when we went, so the girls had a brilliant time picking them. Plus we really enjoyed eating them once we’d washed them when we got home.

Enjoy an ice cream or snack

When we’d finished strawberry picking as it was such a lovely day, we needed to cool down so what better way than ice cream! There is a great selection of delicious Yorvale ice cream flavours available, plus snacks and hot and cold drinks.

Kids Zone: 3 & 4 July 2021

If strawberry picking and ice cream wasn’t enough fun, a Kids Zone is coming to Splimans for selected dates during the PYO season, so you can have a full day out!

The Kids Fun Zone offers 2 hours: Unlimited Rides, Bouncy Castles, Crazy Golf, Giant Slides, Garden Games and much more for children. It is £8.99 per session per child and adults charged at 50p (booking fees also apply). Find out more information, dates and book tickets here.

Useful information

 Spilmans, Church Farm, Sessay, Thirsk, YO7 3NB

  Driving distance from York: Approximately 20 miles/40-minute drive

  Wednesday – Friday 10am-4pm, late night Thursday til 6pm, Saturday & Sunday  9am -4pm

 The small farm shop sells fresh seasonal produce, eggs, milk, cheese, meat, freshly baked cakes and much more! Open Wednesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm.

 A takeaway kiosk is located in the farm shop building and is open for take-out hot & cold drinks, sweet treats, snacks and ice creams.

 A picnic spot is available

 There are toilets available for customers with baby change facilities

 A map of the farm is available to download here

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Disclaimer: York Mumbler was invited to Spilmans for an honest review. No amount of strawberries and ice cream would ever be enough for us to write a dishonest review, therefore this review contains our honest views and opinions and we would only recommend something we genuinely enjoyed.

All prices and details correct at time of publication (June 2021). 

The Mumbler Dads review Chill Factore in Manchester

It’s a tough Job but someone’s got to do it. Mumbler Dads David & Jo were invited to try a snowboarding lesson at the Chill Factore in Manchester, read about their experience here:

“With us both being married to ‘Mumbler mums’ Jo and I are used to having to make sacrifices for the great good of Mumbler.  And so once again, we graciously gave up what we feel is the highlight of our week, (looking after our kids on a Saturday afternoon) to go off and review a snowboarding experience.  Obviously it was a huge grind but that just the kind of guys we are, always willing to go the distance for others……..

Ok, I realise no-one is going to believe that so let’s just say we said yes quicker than you can say ‘apres ski’ when our wives asked us if we fancied going off on our own for the day to visit Chill Factore (the UK’s longest indoor real snow slope) in Manchester.

So here’s our thoughts on the experience…..

Firstly, getting there.  It’s based at the Trafford Centre so it doesn’t matter where you are coming from, make sure you allow plenty of time to get there and by that, I mean anticipate traffic getting from the M60 into Trafford Park itself.  We were told to be there 45 minutes before our lesson started so I planned our route accordingly but because it took us so long to do the last couple of miles we only got there 15 minutes before we were due to start.  Fortunately, it wasn’t a problem as from the moment we arrived, it was clear that they are running a well-oiled machine.  Whilst there was a small queue at check in, there were staff on hand walking the queue to see if we already had a booking in which case we were taken straight through to where you get your clothing. From our experience, all staff were hugely friendly and helpful.  No grunting teenagers here!

In terms of gear, if you are like Jo and take your skiing seriously then you can of course take your own gear.  Not knowing the score beforehand I’d borrowed some of his spare gear.  However, the majority of people who use the facilities don’t tend to own ski gear so your booking includes a set of salopettes (ski trousers), a ski jacket, and a decent pair of thermal gloves which you get to keep which I thought was a nice touch (no pun intended).

There looked to plenty of sizes and they cater for children of all ages.  Obviously good clothing is important because out on the slopes it’s -5°C.  Speaking to the other students in my group, I can confirm that the provided clothing kept them nice and toastie for the duration of the session.  What I also really liked was the fact that the instructors were using the same kit as the students, even down to their snowboards and skis.

As soon as you get your clothes issued, you are signposted through to the changing area where there are plenty of private cubicles.  We also noted that there were also group changing facilities (which I assume you can use as a family). Once changed you can then store your personal clothes in lockers which require a £1 coin (refunded when you unlock it).  These are big enough to store kit for two people so Jo and I both managed to get all of our kit into a single locker.  Following a quick toilet trip (loos were very clean and I noted both disabled and baby changing facilities) we went off to the equipment area.

If you are snowboarding then it’s a very straightforward affair – you just need your shoe size and an indication of your leading foot to determine what size of boots you require.  If you are skiing then it’s just a couple of extra measurements to work out what length of skis you need.  Once ready we were sent over to a numbered bay where we were able to sit down on benches to await our instructor. It all felt very smooth and well organized.   From arriving to being ready to go it took around 25 minutes but I’d imagine with a couple of kids this would take more like 40 minutes; hence why they ask you to arrive 45 minutes before your session begins.

Our instructor for the day was a guy called Danny and he looked and sounded exactly like you would expect (and want) from a snowboard instructor.  Think a Mancunian version of the Turtle from Finding Nemo! Danny is a total dude, very easy going, taking the time to learn each of our names and making us all feeling at ease.  What made him a great instructor in my view was not only the structured way he delivered the session, (taking into account each individual’s natural abilities and reason for wanting to try snowboarding,) but it was clear from the start that he had a real passion for the sport.

Danny explained that he has been a snowboarder for 12 years, having spent the last 6 years teaching it in Japan, Canada, and the US.  What was nice was a little speech he gave at the end of the session about what snowboarding meant to him.  It wasn’t a sales pitch trying to encourage people to come back for more, just an overview of what part it’s played in his life and how he feels it can benefit people.  He even told us that he’s now got his 3 year old son into it!

Our group of 8 was made up of people who varied in age, physical confidence, and natural ability.  For example, whilst Jo’s somewhat of a skiing-pro having been doing it for 30 years and has some previous experience of snowboarding, I myself have only been skiing twice (where both trips I spent more time in the bar than I did on the slopes!) and have never done snowboarding so I was very much the novice.  We also had people in our group who had never set foot on a ski slope before.  Danny’s work was cut out but he handled it really well and made it fun for everyone in a patient and non-patronising way.

The session lasted around an hour which absolutely flew by, with Danny delivering it in a very progressive and methodical way including an introduction to the equipment along with skills such as sliding on the flat before climbing up and sliding down a small section of the slope. It was pretty basic but this was known as the Snowboard Fun Taster which did it’s job of leaving me wanting more.  And this is where the Snowboard Progress Card comes in.

Issued to you at the end of the taster session this record of your learning shows you the various steps to becoming a snowboarding god from beginner level 1 to 3 on the beginner slope, through Improver level 4 to 6 on the main slope, to Development level 7 to 9.  It was all a lot of fun and I would say that the best way to get the most out of it whilst speeding up your progress would be to do a session in the morning with a break for lunch followed by another session in the afternoon.

Around our session it was clear that kids of all ages are well catered for.  As well as the main slope (which is huge and features a ‘button drag’ style ski lift) the beginner slope (which is shorter and less steep featuring a ‘magic carpet’ style ski lift) was full of children from toddlers to teenagers learning to ski (and doing a lot better job at it then I ever did!).  With crash mats in place at the bottom of the slope and good instructor to student ratios it all felt very safe in a fun way.

Away from skiing and snowboarding there were toboggan runs for children and adults (which looked a right laugh), a children’s play area in the snow (Mini Moose Land for children and toddlers under 4 years old), and for those who just wanted to watch the fun from a distance (grandparents for example), a really good viewing balcony which is free to use.  Off the slopes there is also a climbing wall, free ping-pong tables, and around Christmas a Santa’s Grotto for the little ones (although I think you have to book this in advance).

All this activity leads to empty tummies so fortunately there is a variety of restaurants and café’s onsite including a Sports Bar (with live sport on the TVs), a Wetherspoons, ice-cream and pizza shacks, and of course, the ever popular Nando’s. Upstairs there is a really cool area which as well as an Alpine style café called Mont Blanc also features a private room called ‘The Eiger’ which looked perfect for kids birthday parties or group / team events.

There is also a good selection of shops including ski and walking gear (Snow & Rock and Subvert), Crystal Ski Holidays (if want to take your skiing seriously and book a holiday through a specialist ski travel agent) and a fitness and sporting goods shop.

Pricing wise, it’s best to check the website directly as it all depends on your individual needs.  Speaking to the guy at the front desk they offer all sorts of schemes which change over the year to cater for group rates, kids parties, individuals or family packages, ongoing loyalty and discount packages, etc.

To put it in context, our Snowboarding fun taster session would costs £30 per adult (£27 off peak) and lasts for just under an hour so whilst it’s not the cheapest activity you can do I found it very rewarding and a lot of fun. All in all it’s a great day out either as a couple of mates or a fantastic treat for the family.  Given that you can buy vouchers for lessons it might also make a fantastic Christmas present!

www.chillfactore.com

Chill Factore,
Trafford City,
7 Trafford Way,
Manchester
M41 7JA

Disclosure: Chill Factore did provide the Mr Mumblers’ with a free session each for the purposes of this review. The opinions that My Mumbler has expressed here is his own and he has decided that he would like to offer his review services to all “Dad” type products and reviews, particularly those which involve beer and days out with mates….