This is a fabulous play area for kids. It only opened in 2007 and so everything is still nice and…read morenew, and they've got a really good choice of play equipment. Parents are allowed to go into the area with their kids which is always good, especially if you've got younger ones, and there's loads there to keep you all amused. Wi-fi internet is available, so take the laptop along and get on with your own stuff while the kids play. The food is really good. When they first opened I got a peek at the kitchen and it was more like something out a 5* hotel than a cafe. Most of the food is proper cooked stuff, and there's a fair choice on the menu at reasonable prices. Most of the staff are really friendly, many have childcare experience. It's run by two couples who both have families so they've taken an proper interest in making the best of the place that they can. It's close to the school so it does get very busy at around 3pm but if you're able to go in the morning then it's lovely - I'd highly recommend taking a trip through Brigg to call in here if you're passing on the M180.

We had a lovely day here last year with the tot, it just so happened to be a stinker of a hot day!…read morelovely! The place is bursting with animals - as you would expect, but our favourites must've been the fluffy chicks, which we were all given an opportunity to pick up and cuddle (sweeeet) and the baby goats, who we could quite happily watch for hours as they have this daft playful puppieness about them. The farm is really hands on, you can feed the animals and pet them - my daughter loved it! There is a nice little cafe too, which serves home made cakes and sandwiches, aswell as a little gift shop that sold lots of farm yard themed toys. It's the sort of place I can see myself going back to year upon year.

this is a rare breeds farm, and a place we visited often when the kids where younger…read more it has free car parking, a little cafe/shop and you can buy bags of sheep nuts to feed the animals with! and price wise not overly expensive! a picnicing area with wooden benches and tables it offers plenty to see and do, has a hatchery, a field where you can pet the animals and depending on when you go, they also do farming demonstrations. great for taking young children for a family day out! as they will love the miniature goats, as they all try pushing in for the bags of food. the hatchery is the best, as you see the little chicks in the pens with the heating lamps, and there all use to seeing people so are quite happy to hop onto your hands! so the place has cattle, sheep, horses pigs, goats and chickens.

My daughter has been here on a few occassions now, and has thoroughly enjoyed herself every time…read more There's a lot to do, friendly staff and good value for money. I would certainly recommend the place to anyone wanting a fun day out for their children.

FANTASTIC FOR THE KIDSMy girls for a few hours to play and they absolutely loved it. All indoors,…read moreall safe and padded with lots for the children to do. Would highly recommend!!

Honestly love all the animals.Especially all of the parrots (there so funny).Its to hard to decide…read moremy favourite animal so I have two the parrots and pigs.I'd recommend if your in the area.

I've taken my daughter here several times and we both love it. They have a fantastic range of…read moreanimals so something to suit all children. It doesn't look much from the outside but it's deceptively large once through the gates and is very well laid out. I honestly can't single out one type of animal because there are so many great ones although the meercats are ace as are the chipmunks. The staff are really friendly and helpful giving good service and taking time to talk to people about the animals if you want to. The prices are quite reasonable too. Well worth a visit if you've got children.

Funky Farm is a large softplay centre situated on the outskirts of Northallerton. Its a large…read moresoftplay with a dedicated area for babies and toddlers, a netted football / basketball area, a big (and very scary for us wimps of mothers) slide, several ball pits, soft stairs you name it - it is in there! The equipment is clean and in good repair and whether my 2.5yr old son is there or my 8 year old nephew - there is something for both of them! Peppered around the room are numerous coin slot type rides (which generally the kids play on without them moving!), some fake tattoo machines, bouncy ball machines and a teddy grabber. All extra expense but I've heard a thousand times Mums & Dads tell their little ones that it's broken Darling so most of us get away with not handing over the pennies! The food is impressive - everything from chips and chicken nuggets, veggie chilli and rice, hot panini's fish fingers - HUGE baguettes, salads, home made soups and a large choice of drinks, icecreams and sweet cakes etc. They do have some gluten free items available too. The food is somewhat on the pricey side but of a high quality and very decent portions. There are three toilets, one being a disabled / baby changing room and these are kept clean and tidy. Funky Farm also caters for themed parties and although I've never attended one I have been there when they have been on and they seem well organised and a lot of fun! Opening times are 10am - 6pm Tuesday - Sunday. There is plenty of private parking for patrons.

This is a really good facility in our region, although to be honest, they could make a lot more of…read moreit! It's basically an ordinary farm, but the public are allowed to go round and see all the animals - for a fee of course! It's council run, so the fee isn't too bad, actually. As you enter there is a little shop where you pay your entrance fee and can buy little souvenirs, and also some little bags of food for the goats. The first bit you come to after the shop is a pond and a load of ducks and geese. Beware, if you start to feed this lot they won't ever let you leave in fact they will follow you in quite a menacing way! It's a bit scary, especially if you've ever seen any Alfred Hitchcock films you know what I mean! The farm also has pigs, sheep, horses, donkeys, cows, etc. Depending on the time of year you might be lucky enough to see tiny little lambs, which are really cute. Then go back a few months later and find them actually quite scary and intimidating things with gigantic horns and an evil glint in the eye! There are also, of course, the goats. They are so cute, and will eat everything. They loved the little bags of food we'd bought so much that they not only ate the food, they ate the paper bag, too. There was nothing we could do to stop them! There is also a little play area for the children, with swings and a few other things. You can happily while away a few hours here, especially if the weather is nice. Often they have special events on, like once we went and they would actually let you have a go at milking a cow. Other events have been children's things like making Halloween masks, or making bat boxes. You usually have to book in advance for these events. All in all, it's a nice place and the children really seem to enjoy it - but I do feel it's under-used, and the council could make it so much more if they actually tried.

You may've seen the really annoying adverts for this one. I've never reached for my remote control…read moreso quickly in my life. Having said that, Lightwater Valley is a grand day out. Wow I sounded very Yorkshire even by my standards there. This is one of the more known amusement parks in the North and it will soon be open for the upcoming season. That means rides galore and silly funfair related fun. For the bigger kids (and we're included in that) there are ten adrenaline rides. We're not talking quite in the same realms as Alton Towers but they really aren't bad. The Ultimate used to be their crown in the jewel but you'll find other newer attractions to add to this now. It is still the longest rollercoaster in Europe though. For smaller people there are even more rides and I love the skate and go-karts. Ace fun regardless of your age. Everything is included in a one off admission as well so once you've shelled out to get in it's play time unlimited. The eateries are basic at best and very expensive so smuggle some pack lunch in. I also recommend trying to plan your visit around the school holidays as it does get very busy. That can't be helped and they will try getting you on the rides as quick as possible. An adult ticket costs £20 which for a day isn't too bad really. Family tickets are cheaper and they also have some special offers. Praiseworthy value for money. Bring on some oooohhhh and arghhhhs.

I want to step out of another closet here. I am a fun junkie. Ok I've said it!…read more In a previous life I was a regular visitor to theme parks as, sadly, it was part of my job. Because of this I gained a little experience of rides and theme park structure and i wish to bring all my awesome skills to bear in the case of Lightwater Valley. Discounting the great weather (which was a plus but for which I am giving LWV no credit) I am still enamoured of this wonderful place. We went for a family day out and being a family of 6 (now comprising 4 adults and 2 children) these trips are never as cheap as a miserly Yorkshireman would like but we had come by a discount voucher so admission for the whole family was £89.70. The pricing structure seems fairer than some other parks as it is based on height and therefore on how many rides a person can use (this is good as my son is quite petite for his age) A great selection of rides meant that every member of the family left happy (and in some cases quite shaken) and it's always a plus that the whole thing is set in nice countryside. I dropped a star because the catering (in common with most theme parks) lets them down portions being small and prices high. I couldn't finish without a word concerning the staff. I imagine that operating these rides over and over again can become quite disheartening and perhaps downright boring and indeed this is often clear by the facial expressions and demeanour of the staff but I am pleased to say that all the staff here seemed happy and even at the end of the day they allowed 'just one more ride' rather than sullenly chasing everyone away.

Indoor Play Centre for all ages... Great way to spend a couple of hours or a full day with plenty…read moreof activities to keep your little ones entertained including weekday bouncy castle, pottery painting, laser tag, mini go-karts, climbing wall customer café with free car park and wifi. Based in the seaside towns of Whitby and Scarborough featuring Separate baby, toddler and junior areas with the areas BIGGEST slides!!! Plus fantastic value birthday parties and term time offers!

This was known until recently as 'The Magic Garden'. It is a childrens' soft play area and cafe…read more There is also a play/function room. The soft play area is the normal maze of obstacles, slides, gates and a ball pool. It occupies the end of the room and the rest of the space is taken up with the cafe which is where the parents sit. The layout means that it is next to impossible for kids to escape the soft play area unnoticed which makes it a more relaxed place than some others. The cafe is basic but good and serves the sorts of things that kids will eat (at least it serves the sorts of things that my kids eat.) They also do a decent cappuccino. There is an activity room which I think can be hired for childrens' parties. The staff are friendly and efficient.