A bit worst then Lego land but got a little Lego piece which is to remember and can only be…read moreaccessed from there.

Went to one of their fun adult nights. Two hours was just about right and I saw the European Cup…read morereplica.

Do you ever wish that you had more trampoline fun in your life? I know I do…read more Jump Nation claim to have Europe's largest indoor trampoline area, which I dismissed initially as marketing garb, until I saw the place with my own eyes. In need of somewhere suitable to take two hyperactive nephews, when I saw a billboard advertising their opening in Trafford Park I searched for them online and booked us in for an hour's slot (it cost £30 for three of us). When I told them we were going I got serious 'cool points' I tell you, it's the current big thing to go here apparently... Though located in an area of distribution warehouses (watch out for the articulated lorries), the centre is easy to find. It doesn't have many parking spaces, but you can leave your car on Textilose Road. They recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes before your time slot so that you can book in and get the rubber gripped non-slip socks (you're required to wear these and can keep them for next time - there's a £1.50 charge for each pair included in the booking fee). Free lockers are next to the ground floor cafe where you can leave your belongings. Once you're ready you're asked to queue up for the safety briefing before being let loose into the 'arena'. I have to say the staff were excellent, professional yet with a sense of fun. Ensue the carnage. Picture dozens of kids and a small number of hapless adults bouncing around on wall to wall trampolines. My only quibble was the number of people allowed in at one time - you really had to keep your full attention so as not to send some unfortunate seven-year-old catapulting into the roof space. As well as the trampolines there's a large foam pit where you can practice your tricks - this was the most popular area and the staff were diligently supervising. I have to say I had way more fun in that (long and exhausting) hour than I expected, but I wish I wasn't wearing jeans as they restrict your movement so I couldn't be as 'gazelle-like' as I wanted! Needless to say they both want their next birthday parties here - they absolutely loved it and didn't realise they were getting exercise: win win! Tip: you're allowed to take photos but only from the side of the arena (no phones or items in your pockets whilst you bounce). Tip: you can bring your own bottled water / soft drinks.

We showed up at noon at what we thought was a schoolday to find the place full of kids, which was a…read morelittle surprising, but it's very well organised and they stagger entry so you don't have so many kids around you're at major risk of kicking one of them in the face by accident (although keep an eye out, because you will if you're not paying attention!). I don't think I saw any other adults here by themselves (which was not surprising, given it was the middle of a weekday) and overall I wouldn't recommend it for a adults-only outing. The trampolines are small and don't have a great deal of bounce - my 6'4 boyfriend got a sore back pretty quickly! There was a massive queue for the foam pit so we didn't try it. It also doesn't have much atmosphere/aesthetic appeal. For kids though, it's good.

A park I've visited many, many times, ever since I was a kid. Now when we're up visiting family…read moreit's where I take the nephews as there's so much to do here (as long as it isn't raining - Wacky Warehouse further down the promenade is our go-to place for those days). In recent years it's had a major refurb with new facilities (which was long overdue). So alongside the historically well-maintained flowerbeds and woodland walks, there's a great crazy golf course (the old one was well past its best), swing boats, a play area for younger children, trampolines, merry-go-round, tennis and basketball courts, aqua play area, miniature train and a large 'natural' adventure playground. There's a cafe near the crazy golf which sells Lewis's Ice Cream which is fantastic. A lovely place for a stroll on a nice day, with lots of different activities for the nippers (just remember to bring a pocket-full of pound coins - they'll want a go on everything!).

Showboat is one of many tiny gambling arcades based in and around the city centre and often…read morefrequented by pensioners. This is one of the bigger ones and has bingo machines, roulette machines, fruit machines and digital slot machines. The biggest jackpot's that you can win here are £500 on the digital machines and £70 on the fruit machines. They offer various promotional offers from time to time to entice customers to stay longer in the hope of winning free plays. It's quite dark and dingy in here and quite disheartening that these places are dotted all over the city, especially given a time of recession. That said, I suppose this offers certain groups of people a community where they can gamble at their leisure without joining a casino. They offer free hot drinks and snacks to anyone using their machines, and the staff are friendly and obliging throughout!

Rides r a complete yawn fest I've had more fun taking my hamster to the vet. Full of screaming kids…read moreand slow walkers you would have to pay me half of bill Gates salary to return to this hell hole id rather jump into two lakes than set foot in this screaming crying kids paradise don't go for your own safety.

This is the best park I have ever seen. There is so much things to explore. And it can get…read moreincredibly fun here. Recommend coming here.

PLEASURELAND!!!…read more Sorry, just had to get that out of the way, I turned into my seven year old self again for a moment. This was the theme park I attended growing up; I'd not yet seen the wonders of Disneyworld and Alton Towers and Camelot just doesn't count, so I loved this place. It was your average traditional seaside funfair complete with rickety rides, a few high budget thrills sponsored by soft drinks (Blackpool had the Pepsi Big One and the Irn Bru Revolution, we had the TraumaTizer) and typically bad ghost trains and whiplash-inducing waltzers. That's a misleading name if I've ever I've heard one, they're far from a gentle dance. 1912 this opened! Oh, just imagine Southport back then, the promenade, the period costumes. Well, they weren't period or costumes back then, but never mind. This was the place where as a wudgy little whippersnapper I'd love to bop around on the carousel, and there was a Fun House (whole lotta fun, prizes to be won) for playful silliness - something you don't see many of nowadays. We used to bring dates here as teenagers too for that typical idealised American movie vibe, and it even had a go-kart track we used to make idiots of ourselves on. Unfortunately, Pleasureland as we knew it closed down in 2006, oh the horror! What were we all going to do? Well, for two years we didn't know. Then in March 2008 it reopened, but redevelopment was planned from those innovative people at Sefton Council. Would you believe it, New Pleasureland, yes, that is its name, opened for the 2009/10 season. New Pleasureland? Perhaps Pleasureland: The Next Generation would have been more appropriate. No more TraumaTizer, however we do have brand spanking new waltzers, a number of twisty, speedy and crazy rollercoasters and plenty of silliness for the kids alongside classics like dodgems and of course the Haunted Inn, although a fire destroyed that earlier this year. Oops. I'm sure it'll be back. If you want the authentic fun fair experience in a lovely seaside location look no further. It's not perhaps as thrilling or sophisticated as say Alton Towers, but it's got a cute kitsch value and it tries very hard. The kids will love it, and so will anyone with a sense of humour and a strong thanatos.

Oh, PleasureLand! You will forever be remembered for being the most unique and otherworldly…read moreamusement park I have ever had the *pleasure* of visiting. I stumbled upon you by accident on a day trip to Southport, England. But as soon as I walked inside I felt like I stumbled upon an amusement park from the 30's--- in Afghanistan! Indeed, the gates looked like barracks from the Taliban. It was surreal. The park was barely inhabited and most of the rides were shut down. It was like a ghost town! We both gaped and wondered aloud how an amusement park this OLD was even still running! The majority of the rides were literally from the 30's. They had a hodgepodge of different Disney characters painted on the exterior of the attractions, including Steamboat Willie! However, my favorite attraction was the cutest artisanal carousel that possessed an EXTRA touch of magic! Instead of generic plastic horses arranged in a circle, there were several different modes of transportation a young child could choose from! For instance, the red fire truck was made out of sturdy iron and if you rode in it you also got to wear the fire helmet! Another was a spaceship with designs lifted from the Sputnik era. Unfortunately, the seat space in the spaceship was so cramped I think only an infant would have been able to fit in it. Lastly, the bulky army tank was complete with camouflaged helmets! It made me forlorn to see how much work went into making this amazing carousel. The creator really took the time to create a special world for these children. It's a shame the same love, attention, creativity, *and* quality isn't shown in rides nowadays. I also deeply regretted the fact that I left my camera home! It would have been so interesting to take pictures of all of these "ancient" theme park rides. I munched on "Candy Floss" (American translation: Cotton Candy) and enjoyed walking around looking at all the rides and laughing at the outrageousness of it all! I can't even describe all the strange things we saw there. I also couldn't wait to go back, this time with the camera! One of the best parts about PleasureLand was the endless jokes one could make *without* the presence of children nearby; "I really hope you enjoyed going to Pleasureland with me, baby." We made a million jokes that day and Pleasureland and Jolly Jack were certainly some of the highlights from my England trip! [This review was written back in 2008. I understand that Pleasureland has since been renovated so I'm not sure if some of the rides that holds a special place in my heart are still there.]

Amusement Arcades come in all shapes and sizes. Most people…read moretoday think of an amusement arcade as something like a hall consisting of one-armed bandits, small kiddies roundabouts and a sitdown bingo link. Or maybe something more alabrate like Alton Towers Theme Park. But years ago in the somewhat posh area of Hunters Bar, Sheffield, people found their amusement in different ways. At the rear end of the Botanical Gardens you will find, hidden from view by dense trees and bushes, the remains of a Bear Pit. A large circular pit dug out off the soft earth, then lined with sandstones. It looks like they laid the stones as drystone walling because there's no sign of any motar between the stones. There's a large entrance at the rear, where obviously the bear was lead into the torturous pit, where we can assume the poor animal was torturously ill treated by the gawping men and women who leared over the top of the open pit. Thank God we've learnt to treat wild animals with respect these days and done away with these hidious amusement arcades of the 19th. Centruary. But having said that, if you're into historic amusements it's still interesting to see The Bear Pit, a true historic gem from days gone by.

A temporary pop-up escape business. This will disappear after its turned into a scary theme bar…read moreaccording to the staff. The theme is scary that is, not scary punters. The place is quite obviously a working building site with chipboard everywhere but they work that into the experience. We had to wait for quite a long time to start our game but apparently that was due to the previous group taking a key, that was part of the game, with them. I enjoyed the game I played which was loosely based on the film Saw. We did get out 20 minutes early and although I was with possibly smarter people than the last time I went (soz!) I felt like the game was a bit easier than others I've done. There's also a room with a contagious virus theme and another one called Cabin.

This place is a gem to visit with as a family we've visited Apple Jacks a number of times last…read morebeing yesterday for my daughters birthday inviting a few of her friends and there family's and every time we've been its been an absolute pleasure. Not only are there plenty of activities for the kids with the ability for adults to share the fun there staff presence and customer service is excellent with someone always available to assist. Although it's quite a large open place you have a sense of security that the little ones can stray that little further as they are generally within eye shot or failing that yelling distance :) I highly recommend Apple Jacks as a fun family day out as long as the weather is on your side..

I took my partner and her 12 yr old daughter to the scary night event on Oct 31st Oct. This is…read moredefiantly NOT one for younger children. Positive aspects: Very entertaining for adults and older teenagers. Food and drinks available at reasonable cost. Toilet (portacabins) on site but these are in typical portabin hygiene standard. Negative aspects: Narrow, very dark and constricted walk ways would make it impossible for disabled visitors to get around. No warning of stroboscopic lighting being used in very narrow and constricted walk ways in the haunted house is a potential hazard to photo sensitive epileptic suffers. Staff within the haunted house wearing horror character costumes and weapons do not listen to concerned parents as they push and push to scare accompanied young children to tears of terror. Un-illuminated and no signs in car park. Very muddy in parts (but this is a farm) No reply to emailed enquiries post visit. Telephone enquiries are directed to an orange answer machine and get no reply. At £52 for three this is a bit expensive for a low budget in apearance scare. Summary: If you want a potentially hazardous but defiantly scary night I would recommend the event. But I would not recommend the Oct 31st night time event to anybody with mobility difficulties, photo sensitive epilepsy or those with a vulnerable disposition. And no way would I recommend this for young children below 16 years. The event does things in the old fashioned way post health and safety commission and disability legislative requirements. In other words they maximise the scare factor but this may be at the expense of other considerations.