This week three generations of our family visited the Eden Project in Cornwall. We were hoping for a fantastic family day out with a difference. But with a double buggy, an electric wheelchair, four adults and three children under five, was there really something for everyone? And, just how did we cope with the heat on the hottest day of the year so far?
Our Visit
We have been intending to visit the Eden Project as a family for an extremely long time and this week we finally got there. Hooray! Yorkshire to Cornwall (via Birmingham) is quite a drive, so we made a holiday of it, staying just outside St Austell.
Rainforest Biome
When we arrived at EP, it was already gearing up to be an incredibly hot day. With the heat in mind, we decided to make the hottest of the two Biomes (or bubbles as the children called them) our first stop. As we walked through the sweltering rainforest we spotted bananas, birds and waterfalls. Although the highest platform was shut due to the extreme heat, we still managed to get some fantastic views. We also saw the EP team chopping down a banana tree, which caused great excitement.
There was so much to talk to the children about, despite most of the activity boards and educational displays being aimed at slightly older children. Had it not been so hot, we could have stayed in the rainforest for longer. There was a “cool room” about halfway round and we popped in there twice. We also had cool drinks for the children. In relation to accessibility, there was only one section we were advised not to go along with the buggy and wheelchair.
Med Biome
We then had a pit stop for lunch in the Link before heading into the Mediterranean Biome. The atmosphere inside was much cooler and this biome was full of the amazing colours and smells of the Med. Again, there was so much to look at. The children spotted an array of different fruits growing. There were also lots of interesting sculptures. Imagine everything from driftwood pigs to giant metallic spiders. Theo even found a wooden tractor to drive. We stayed in the biome for Storytime and then ventured outside.
Outside we meandered (very slowly) through the beautiful gardens. We stopped to have a good look at the giant bee and the huge man made out of discarded electrical goods. The children spent a long time exploring The Garden of Senses with its tactile walls, water features and xylophone. After a brief musical interlude from Theo, we continued on our way.
The Core
Next we visited The Core, which Theo entered by slide! In there we stumbled upon an under 5s soft play area with dressing up costumes. It was a great place to cool down and the three children loved it.
It was then time to go so we headed back to the Visitor Centre via the giant bridge. This provided brilliant views of the site and a closer view of those brave enough to use the overhead zipwire!
Our Thoughts...
Everyone had a fantastic day and we found there were plenty of things to keep us all entertained. The highlights for the children included Storytime in the Med-Biome; Soft play in the Core (under 5s); and exploring The Garden of the Senses. We could easily spend another day at EP and hope to return with the children at the end of the week for the special Dinosaur Uprising Event (23rd July - 4th September).
Facilities and Accessibility
The site is very child friendly and accessibility was not an issue. All the staff were helpful and polite.
There are lots of places to eat and drink as well as spots to picnic around the site. We ate in the Link between the two indoor Biomes. We can recommend the burritos, hot chicken platters and huge cakes. At first glance, the meals seem expensive but the portions were generous and the food was delicious! The kids had little food boxes with drinks, wraps and snack items. There are plenty of high chairs and space for the double buggy and electric wheelchair in the restaurant.
There are many clean, accessible toilets and unisex baby change facilities around the site. There is a breastfeeding room, which I didn't visit but instead I took advantage of several of the many benches.
There are several car parks and a shuttle bus service. We, however, parked in the disabled car park. Even from this car park, it was quite a walk to the Visitor Centre but wheelchairs are available if required. Electric wheelchairs can also be borrowed free of charge and these are collected from the Visitor Centre. We phoned in advance to book one for our visit.
There were 7 in our party (2 adults, 2 over 60s and 3 children under 5). We purchased joint annual adult membership online prior to our visit. The membership costs £75 and allows unlimited access for two adults for the year plus a guest each. The children were free. This worked out to be £20 less than the cost of the standard admission prices on the day. See the official Eden Project website for further details regarding entry prices and concessions.
Our Tips:
+Look online to find the best ticket price for you before you visit.
+If you need an electric wheelchair, phone and book one in advance.
+Arrive early.
+Pick up a free map from the Visitor Centre.
+Be prepared for the weather: Don’t forget hats, sunscreen and water if it’s hot. Waterproofs, if it’s wet.
+Wear comfy shoes!
+Go with an open mind, take your time exploring and, most importantly, have a great time!
Have you visited the Eden Project?
What was the highlight of your visit?
Our word of the week is... Eden!
