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.]

Ok. How do you go about reviewing an experience that was incomparable with anything else you've…read moreever had to endure? I'll just see how this goes. It was via a friend that we first heard about this 'haunted attraction', located on a secluded farm on the outskirts of Ormskirk - all sounding very Lancashire Chainsaw Massacre so far isn't it? Their website succeeds in not giving very much away about what to expect when you get there, and in some ways I don't want to spoil anyone else's experience by going into too much detail. So I'll leave out the specifics and keep it as broad as possible; that way the sense of uncertainty and apprehension that we felt remains for others! It's a ticketed event so make sure you pre-book well in advance as they only run it for the month of October and it's very, very popular - when we arrived there were at least 300 people in the queue nervously awaiting entry. When you finally get inside there's a large lobby area with toilets and a snack bar (no alcohol is served or permitted on site). Off the lobby are the three zones - let's call them Zones of Terror or ZoTs for short. Each ZoT requires a bit more queuing but that only helps to add to the unease and doesn't take too long really. The organisers change the theme each year and for 2014 it was 'Revenge of the Dead'. The ZoTs were named 'Meat Locker', 'Psychosis' and 'Terror On The Farm'. You enter them in small groups. Let's just say "expect the unexpected at all times." Don't worry, you won't be touched by any of the 'cast', they have a strict hands-off policy. Apart from that, it's 'gloves off' horror and scares. The website says to allow about two and a half hours to get through all three ZoTs, but it's more likely to take you less than an hour and a quarter. I can only say you need to try it, even if you don't scare easily it's still fantastically well done - we'll definitely be going back next year. I mean come on, the horror sequels are always better...

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!).

Silcock's Funland sits proudly on Southport's seafront, making it one of the prime entertainment…read morelocations for visitors. I used to love amusements and I still do because of the variety of games I could try my luck at (without spending too much of course); easier said than done! This amusement centre is one of the biggest I have been to and hosts a whole array of gambling machines, fun games and features a small cafe. It's not exactly Vegas but for Southport, it shall suffice!

I'm sorry, but to a child this is horribly misleading. Funland? I saw that big lit up sign as a…read morenaive seven year old and went running up to it as fast as my little legs would carry me. There was a FUNland on the edge of PLEASUREland?!? I thought my heart would explode with the joy! What wonders could this amazing indoor Funland offer in addition to the vomit-inducing thrill rides and demonic-looking wooden horses of Pleasureland? What dreams were hiding behind that door? If my seven year old self knew how to swear, I'd have been effing and blinding with disappointment. Behind the garish neon glare of Funland's veneer were coughing old men, indulging in the promises of '80p tea and coffee', gambling their pensions away on fancy fruit machines. Okay, so there are a few family-friendly treats here, but mainly in the form of those mechanical animal rides they always take the mick out of on my favourite American cartoons. I'm thinking of that episode of The Simpsons where Bart's birthday party is held at Wall-E-Weasel's, slogan to which is 'we cram fun down your throat'. It's got a quaintly cheap café which sells the aforementioned inexpensive hot beverages as well as traditional meals and sandwiches, but you come here for a fill-up rather that cordon bleu. If you like arcade games it might just be the place for you, but I can't look past that youthful disappointment I once experienced. Oh well. I guess fun is a very subjective word.

Me, my wife, and 3 kids were desperate for a day out of the house, so we decided to try our local…read moresafari park. It was a very fun trip with really easy parking, the on site cafes and restaurants were a treat for the senses, we were having a great day until my son fell into the lion enclosure and was eaten. All in all great day for the family only rated 3 stars because of the weak lion fences.

Brilliant zoo to take the kids an most adults Hears…read morethere's a small fare ground Also you can get snack here Brilliant day out . Doesn't cost much either

Great slides lots of fun. Tons of variety of slides and an amazing lazy river me and my family had…read morea lots of fun would definitely recommend.

Kids always love it here. We avoid peak season time otherwise you would look like a tin or…read moresardines! There is a spectator area is tables and chairs with a cafe for food or drinks. The slides and wave pool are one of a kind!