Legoland Discovery Centre
Manchester
www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk
Reviewed by Emma Baker
We were all excited to be paying Manchester's Legoland Discovery Centre visit, especially my little boy as it was a treat for his 3rd birthday. We didn't tell him where we were going and his eyes lit up the minute we were at the main doors of this massive place full of Lego.
We were met by some very lovely assistants who issued us with our tickets and maps and shown us the way to the magic place where it all happens, as I also had my partner, our 8 year old daughter a few week old baby, we were shown to the lifts as we had to go up to the next floor. But for those who don't like lift's (myself included) luckily there were also stairs which we gladly ran up.
At the top we were met by none other than Professor Brick-a-Brack who invited us to go with her through the Lego factory to see how Lego was made. My older child and partner had great fun joining in with the other families but my 3 year old needed a little coaxing but the professor was really nice and managed to convince him that it was all fun. We were all impressed at how they were made and our favourite part was how they were painted and at the end the children were given their very own Lego brick to keep.
Our first stop was the Kingdom Quest and how much fun it was going round in our very own chariot shooting lasers at the skeletons and trolls and targets to rescue the princess. I think my and my daughter was the most competitive between the lot of us trying to shoot as many baddies as we could to get the highest school at the end, which was me might I add!
We then ventured through Miniland and was amazed at the mini Lego versions of the local attractions. Not only did they look just like the real thing but they moved too! Blackpool tower lit up, the canal boats sailed up and down the streams… totally amazing.
We were already wowed by the place and this was even before we had set foot in the main part of the discovery centre, there were so much more to come.
Lego Friends… This is the one my daughter enjoyed the most, getting up on the mini stage and singing to anyone who would listen.
Forest Pursuit… This is the one my son was most looking forward to and was sadly disappointed when we realised he was too young, but that didn't stop my daughter in having her photo taken for her very own licence and driving away to catch the bad guys in her Lego car.
Being a little upset at being too young to have a go on the forest pursuit we headed for the Lego Racers Build and Test section where we had great fun putting together and building the best car and spaceship we could to see whose would go down the ramp the fastest, but most of ours managed to crash at the bottom and break into pieces but this was part of the fun.
After having loads of fun and excitement we thought it was time we had a break and headed for the cafe to have a brew, the kiddies weren’t impressed with our idea so they headed off to the 'Fire Academy' jungle gym where they burnt off more energy running and sliding about.
We had so much more to do, Merlin’s Apprentice, the construction site and the Earthquake Tables, all of which we had great fun in doing, building and knocking down each others towers.
We left the 4D Cinema until the end as this had been a must since we saw it on the map upon entry, we had experienced the normal cinema and the 3D cinema before but this was something else, not only did we get to watch a film set in Lego medieval times but it felt like we were transported right there with the added effects of the 3D glasses and the wind that blown at us as in the film, and we all found it funny that we got soaked when it started to rain during the film.
All the assistants we came across were really nice and helpful and made our visit very memorable. We had great fun and even though my 3 year old found some of the rides a bit daunting with the right coaxing he managed to join in most things and enjoyed it. The place itself is nice and open had plenty of room to get my pram around, which in some places I have found a struggle. The cafe, toilets, baby changing facilities were all to a good high clean standard.
Definitely a place we will be visiting again, maybe when the baby is older so he too can join in fun, its worth the prices as there is so much to do.
Tickets cost from £12 (if booked online) for an all day ticket or from £8.10 for an afternoon ticket. Or take advantage of a Family Annual Pass for £120 (£75 if a renewal).
A big thumbs ups from a Lego loving family.
Rating: 5/5 
For more information or to book tickets visit www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk
