pirate days out

[sophie_1003]

I'm looking for somewhere to go on a day out with a 5 year old boy who loves pirates.
Being in the Midlands however quite restricts the amount of piratey stuff there is so was wondering if anyone knows of somewhere that has
-a really good adventure playground thats really more like an assault course, i.e. lots of wood, ropes and opportunities to climb and take risks
-AND has some sort of lake or something with the possibility of going out in a boat, even if it's just a little rowing boat.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

[ladybird49]

http://www.english-he...server/show/nav.20682

[sophie_1003]

ta ladybird, that looks like it would make a great day out but unfortunately I have to arrange this as part of a uni assignment which is due in on the 18th May! thanks anyway!

[VHG]

Drayton Manor has the Pirate Adventure ride (only 1 ride but full of pirates, and you can go on it it as many times as you like).

If you have not been on it, you sit on a boat and go through an indoor land full of pirate animatronic "models" getting up to mischief.

[VHG]

Ragley Hall has a fantastic kids "adventure" park with ropes and assault course and so on.

http://www.ragleyhall.com/kids.html

It also has a lake but not sure if you can go out on a boat on it.

[4getmenot]

isnt that in London?

[mccfluff]

conkers has loads of outdoorsey stuff and has a waterpark bit, not sure if you can go for boat rides though

[moonshadow]

Have a look on the website www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk You choose the area, age of the children and whether you are looking for indoor or outdoor activities, click go and a whole load of places to visit come up with very good descriptions, opening times etc. I'm sure you will find something suitable on there.

[jno]

I don't suppose down your local market to get pirate DVDs would do...

[Ellipsis]

Wicksteed Park in Kettering.

http://www.wicksteedpark.co.uk/

[Ellipsis]

It has a boating lake, a pirate ship ride and an adventure playground. Phone them in advance to check the rides are running on the day you visit.

[VHG]

>isnt that in London?

Where?

Drayton Manor is just North of Birmingham

Ragley Hall is in Warwickshire,

[4getmenot]

what place am I thinking of then near legoland?

[mushroom25]

"what place am I thinking of then near legoland?"

thorpe park?

[4getmenot]

no drayton something

[Ellipsis]

Wicksteed Park is the place. It's superb for young kids, especially if the weather is half decent. The adventure playground even has a nautical theme, with rigging, a giant octopus and so on. It's one of the biggest playgrounds in Europe.

The pirate ship may be a bit "grown up" for a five year old but it is right next to the playground so adds to the theme.

The boating lake is good fun (as long as you can row!). It's quite large, with an island you can row around.

The boating lake and pirate ship are only open on high season days, shown in green here:

http://www.wicksteedp...uk/Opening-Times.aspx

The adventure playground is open all year around and is free...

[sophie_1003]

Hi guys, thanks for all the answers! Have decided to go for a castle instead because he likes knights as well and think that seeing as it is for uni medieval stuff has moe educational value than pirates which have been a bit Hollywood-ised! Am going for Kenilworth Castle as he's already been to Warwick. Thanks again for all the answers!

[VHG]

I am in English Heritage and got to Kenilworth Castle quite often.

They do run "special" days there when they have jousting or mock battles for the war of the roses or similar.

For a child of 5 I would suggest going there when there is an event on as a child that old may find the ruins on their own a little boring.

Here are the events at Kenilworth Castle.

http://www.english-he...server/show/nav.16879

The family Festival on 29th to 31st May looks good for a 5 year old kid.

http://www.english-he...er/show/conEvent.2780

[sophie_1003]

Ta VHG, was hoping they'd do something like that! The family one sounds fab, won't be able to go then (only have to plan the visit anyway, have to do a reccy myself though) so will try and get loads of info about the sort of stuff they'll be doing!

[sophie_1003]

Made the mistake of looking at the Warwick Castle website and have been convinved to go there as there is so much more on! Will just have to pretend he hasn't been before lol!