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.

Visited this for the owl experience and also got to handle some of the hawks. It was absolutely…read morefantastic and I would re visit this again. The owl experience involves using the gloves to handle a variety of different owls. You can feed and pet them and they look pretty happy in themselves! None of them are aggressive they all appear used to human contact with no evidence of nervousness etc. The Hawks are slightly less personable but still really interesting. Again they can be fed and flown but not petted. There is the option depending on which option you book to take the Hawks into the field and see them in their natural habitat. They quickly become distracted with animals in the surrounding area and it's really interesting to watch how they hunt naturally in the wild. Handler was really knowledgable and managed to get all of the birds to interact well. Definitely worth a visit !

An excellent day out with the children which all starts out with a ride on the tractors trailer,…read morefeed lambs & goats, see pigs horses cows and various other farm animals. This also has a great outdoor play area to keep the kids entertained.

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.]

This place really needs some money investing in it! The price is ridiculous and the place is a tip…read more The food places are disgusting. Oddly the toilets are some of the cleanest areas! However it's a great day for the kids as they're totally oblivious

I'm a roller coaster enthusiast and my friend and I booked two $30 taxi rides to and from Liverpool…read moreto try to ride the wooden coaster here. Upon entering we were informed that this was a "children's park" and that we could not enter unless a child was present. This only appears buried at the bottom of the park's FAQ on the website, this needs to be made very clear so people don't make pointless trips out to the park, like ours. Apart from being disappointed about not getting to ride the coaster, there's something ageist and weird about this policy, which I've never encountered at any other amusement park

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

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...

For all those who love what lies beneath the waters, blue planet aquarium is likely to be a…read moreheavenly visit. You will be mesmerised by a huge range of fish and sea creatures. There is plenty for all to see as the aquarium houses one of the longest water tunnels in the world. I also noticed that there were some divers swimming with the sharks...crazy people!!! The centre offers these shark diving experiences, whatever floats your boat I guess. A recent new addition to the aquarium as been "Venom". Aptly named this part of the aquarium includes some of the most venomous creatures on the planet including spiders, lion fish, vipers, insects and reptiles. If you are scared of spiders you might want to stay away from the Tarantula tower, because stepping inside you will find yourself surrounded by over 50 massive incey wincey spiders. Alongside Knowsley safari park this is the other gem of a day out for adults and kids alike. Ticket prices are similar to the safari park, £15 for adults and £11 for kids. For a day's adventure into the deep it is well worth it in my book!!! So go on dive into the world of blue planet aquarium.....

During your day out at this amazing aquarium, you'll be taken on an incredible voyage of discovery…read morethrough the underwater world. It isn't just a place with a big fish tank, it has everything from freshwater lakes and streams to rocky shores and stunning coral reefs on display. Hard to imagine but it's true. At the heart of the aquarium is the extraordinary Carribean reef, complete with its long underwater tunnel to wow visitors. There is a huge variety of species including stingrays, sharks and a collection of amphibians too. Blue Planet Aquarium is family friendly and it's easily accessible for pushchairs. Disabled access is excellent and wheelchairs are available for hire. A restaurant offers a rest bite for tired legs and a relaxing tea break if you need it (I suggest you should)! There is a themed shop to end your day leaving you with some brilliant memories and a perhaps a special gift. I can't find anything negative to say about Blue Planet Aquarium, not that I want to; I absolutely love it and would highly recommend it to others.

I want to disagree with those that say Gulliver's is just for the young kids. I took my 2 teenagers…read morewho are 16 and 14 and they had a whale of a time. If you are going to go on the train, wear some good walking shoes as you have a hell of a hill to climb. The whole park is set on the side of a hill. The best thing to do is when you go in the main entrance, Take the chair lift to the top and work your way back down. All the rides are totally family friendly so Mum, Dad and the kids can all go on together. There is only a height restriction on 2 rides so my little 3 yr old niece wasn't allowed to go on the Switchback Roller coaster or the drop tower. There's Fantasy Terrace where you can ride on the Flying Carpet and go on the Dodgems. There Western World where you can drive the JCB diggers, pan for gold and ride the Log Flume. The Log Flume was one of my favourites of the day. All children and adults can go on it yet the drop is quite awesome and we got soaked through. My daughter went on it twice. You can also buy a photo from the ride - We got Magnets to put on the fridge. Next you can take a walk through the Party house with a ball pool, big pedal tractors, A big old sandpit and a great interactive piano that you play with your feet. I took some time out to look at the breath taking views of Matlock and all of Derbyshire. Take a look at the photos to see for yourself. It makes all that hill climbing worth it. The biggest area is of course Lilliput land the home of Gulliver himself. You can play Giant chess , go over the magic stepping stones and ride the veteran cars, Find your way round the 3d maze, ride the Crazy barrel rapid ride, visit Lilliput castle, ride the teacups and the Rio Grande train ride. My favourite area was the Palais Royale area with the Switchback and the cycle monorail but boy did my legs feel it in the morning! As it is Gulliver's Anniversary this year every half an hour the 2 park Mascots Gully and Gilly would come out and sing. It was a lovely treat for the little ones so we took time out to get ice cream and donuts. OK they are a little expensive but the were really Yummy. The absolute last ride you get to go on before you leave the park is the Pirate ship which is my all time favourite ride so it was perfect to save the best for last. As for the food on the park. Well the usual is availableBurgers, Pizza, Chips and Chicken. We ate at Dixies Fish bar. You queue up at the till and order your food (Fish or Chicken burgers) and then when you paid you move round to the window to wait while the slow youngsters in the kitchen prepare your mealDon't wait until you are starving to order. It all comes in disposable wrappers so you can just throw it all away on your way out. I thought the price was quite reasonable and they don't skimp on portions either. Both my children asked if we can go again next year because they went on all the rides and had a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Quite disappointing for the price…read more Fantastic for those with young children only, but for older ones it can be quite boring. Top tip - take a picnic with you as there are plenty of benches about and the food places are extortionate!