7 DAYS The price is right on this holiday deal
Stay Play Explore is a new family friendly holiday initiative in Leicestershire. ZOE CHAMBERLAIN reports
WANT to get away but finding it too expensive? Then there’s a great offer in Leicestershire, where you can enjoy a Stay Play Explore family fun break for just £139.
The deal, which has been available throughout the summer holidays, includes one night’s stay plus breakfast at a choice of four-star hotels with swimming pools, plus tickets to three family attractions.
Those attractions include Conkers Outdoor Adventure, the National Space Centre, Twycross Zoo and Bosworth Water Park.
We tried it out as a family and found it was a superb way of exploring new places without spending a fortune.
THE NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE
THE award-winning National Space Centre takes interactivity to another level.
Home to the UK’s largest 360° planetarium, we watched the history of the universe in just 20 minutes. It was packed with information and utterly absorbing and accessible even for the little kids in the audience. A must-see.
On entering the Space Centre, you’re given a barcode pass to check you into different challenges – including a rocket simulation ride – and discover whether you’ve got what it takes to be an astronaut.
At the end of the course, you’re given a role on Tranquillity Base and you can email yourself the results. There’s also a journey through the solar system and beyond, an opportunity to learn all about the race into space and an iconic 42m high Rocket Tower to
explore by lift.
CONKERS
THERE’S masses to do at Conkers, an indoor and outdoor adventure centre in the heart of the National Forest.
You can brave the 450-metre barefoot walk (squelching in mud and tiptoeing over stones and bark), try out the exhilarating assault course, take on a shelterbuilding challenge, listen to a story in the storytelling den, or watch a mad science show in the covered amphitheatre.
There’s so much to do in the 120-acre woodland paradise, we spent a full day there and still felt we wanted to go back to see more.
A fairy labyrinth and adventure play areas make for gentler activities for younger children to enjoy too. And, if it’s raining, there are over 100 interactive exhibits to tuck into in the Discovery and Waterside Centres too, plus an enchanted forest adventure play area and a simulated tree top canopy walk.
There’s also a train to take you around the different attractions.
TWYCROSS ZOO
THERE are more than 500 animals from almost 150 species to meet at Twycross Zoo, including some of the most endangered on our planet.
Many people remember this zoo as the home of the PG Tips monkeys.
There are still a wide variety of primates here, including the UK’s only group on bonobos.
It’s a full day out, with a great adventure playground for the kids to burn off some energy alongside their ape friends too.
There’s also a train and many other animals such as elephants, meerkats and penguins, plus the critically endangered Amur leopard too.
TWINLAKES THEME PARK
THIS theme park is packed with family rides and attractions, with animals and birds to discover too.
Set in 100 acres of countryside, there’s also a huge water splash park and log flume to enjoy on sunny days.
If it’s raining, there are indoor action-packed play zones to entertain the family.
STONEHURST FAMILY FARM
STONEHURST Farm is a proper working family farm where you can meet and feed the friendly animals, collect freshly laid eggs, swing in the straw barn, enjoy tractor rides, pony rides, hold baby animals, explore a nature trail and see what you can catch ‘pond dipping’.
There are also two playgrounds, a tea shop and farm shop and a motor museum which is ideal for bad weather.
SWADLINCOTE SKI CENTRE
YOUR Stay Play and Explore pass entitles your family to a half an hour Sno-Tubing session and two toboggan rides per person.
Sno-tubes are large inflatable rings that can be spun and linked together as they slide down the hill. It’s safe, fast, furious and fun for children and adults alike.
LEICESTER OUTDOOR PURSUITS CENTRE
SWING from the high ropes, paddle in a boat on the River Soar, brave the climbing wall or test your aim on one of the ranges.
Book your 90-minute adventure club session before heading over there.
BOSWORTH WATER PARK
FEEL like you’re at the beach in land-locked Leicestershire!
There’s a beach, a pirate adventure park and lots of lake fun to enjoy at this 50-acre leisure park.
Your Stay Play Explore ticket includes a round of crazy golf and half an hour’s pedalo hire.