LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester Review
Reviewed by David Savage
Yesterday we visited LEGOLAND Discovery Centre at the intu Trafford Centre to pick up our Merlin Family Annual Pass (the Merlin Annual Passes are currently on sale – for more information click here).
We had a voucher to exchange for passes which wasn’t a problem but as LDC had just had a new till system in place it still had a few bugs so took a little bit longer to issue our passes but the staff were very friendly, efficient and sorted out the problem without any hassle. We have Standard passes which give us access to Merlin’s 32 UK attractions (cannot be used in London attractions throughout August see www.merlinannualpass.co.uk/compare-passes.aspx for full details and to compare passes).
After our pictures were taken and passes printed we were ready to enter LEGOLAND. Both boys have been here several times so knew exactly what to expect, what they wanted to do and as was a weekday and some of the schools already back after the holiday it wasn’t too busy which was perfect.
So after the LEGO Factory Tour where Professor Brick-a-Brack shown the waiting crowd how LEGO bricks are made (with a little help from the younger members of the audience) we entered into the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride. The idea is to rescue the Princess by shooting all the baddies with your laser gun as you go around the ride. Both boys love this ride (although their shooting skills are not great).
After the ride finished we exited into MINILAND – a miniature land built in LEGO with trains, boats, canals, even the local area and Blackpool. The models are very impressive and some are interactive – try to score a goal on a miniature football pitch by pressing the buttons to move the pitch up and down or even watch boats ride around on water by pressing another button.
After MINILAND both boys headed for the LEGO pits where they both sat happily building towers before rushing off into the LEGO Fire Academy – a soft play climbing jungle gym – where they disappeared for ages.
Next was one of their favourites; the LEGO DUPLO Farm – this is small “farmyard” with LEGO cows, bricks (large and small) to create your own structures on the farm, a farmers house and attic and a slide to exit the house. The slide is by far their favourite and happily run around in a safe and padded area chasing each other before darting down the slide. At 11am and 3pm (Monday to Friday) there is a 10 minute storytime session but so far on every visit we have somehow managed to miss this (maybe next time).
As it was gone lunchtime and both boys were hungry we decided to leave and get something to eat (there is a café inside but was getting busy at this stage), but as we have annual passes we can come back again and again.
There are other attractions that we didn’t try as the boys were too young or not quite tall enough yet; like the LEGO CITY Forest Pursuit driving ride, so there is plenty for children to do from ages 3 to 10 years old.
The boys had a fantastic time at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, they got to see some great LEGO models, built their own and burnt off a lot of energy by clambering though the Fire Academy and DUPLO farm.
Rating: 4/5
Tickets cost from £9.95 if booked online in advance or £18.95pp walk up price.
For more information or to book tickets online visit www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Barton Square, The Trafford Centre, Manchester, M17 8AS
